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Hiiii. I feel like shit at the moment really, bit lost after coming back from England and leaving my Jamie behind.  However, I DID get some new glasses in the UK that are making me feel a bit better. The cost of prescriptions and frames is a heap cheaper in England, so I scored myself some Ray Ban glasses for reading and a new pair of tortoiseshell wayfarer sunglasses. I know these take up most of my face. It's because my face is small. 

I want to be in Englandddddddddddddddddddddddddd gbinhfvdsmoivyutcyxtcybiuonjibtrcviubonp 


Also, thanks to Spinal Lou for naming me as "most versatile blogger". I'm not sure I'm currently in the state of mind to be writing out all the things associated with receiving that honour, but it is much appreciated nonetheless :)

IN ASHES

So I've started a new blog. I'm still going to continue Photoboothkiller, but as you know, I'm finding that my style has changed and the way I want to go about buying clothes has changed dramatically. I was finding it difficult to fit this new way of thinking into this already-established blog, and particularly to keep an aesthetic going (I can't resist posting pictures of horrible clothes I hate, but I don't like the way they make my blog look!) so I thought I would start another blog dedicated only to my search for those perfect items.

 IN ASHES will not be updated as often, but each post will be of quality and I will be able to maintain the aesthetic I want  :) It's really just a blog for myself. 

You can see my new blog here. 

P.S I really appreciate this blogging community. You guys keep me so motivated and I really, really value the inspiration and friendship I've found. Thanks!

Vivienne Westwood's London

Whilst on the plane on my way back to Australia (in my upgraded-to-business-class chair-slash-bed) I watched the documentary "Vivienne Westwood's London". I now have the utmost respect for her as a designer and a generally intelligent and inspiring person. Vivienne focuses on why culture is essential for people to understand the world around them. She particularly focused on art, and how it inspires her designs. This video is not from the documentary (which I recommend you watch if you can find it) but I find every word she speaks so compelling- she is so wise. After perusing the renaissance section of the Louvre with Jamie, (who could tell me who each piece was by without even looking), I have developed a new appreciation for art and I expect it will begin to influence my fashion choices more significantly. 

"Death of Actaeon" by Titian is Westwood's favourite painting. Coincidentally, Titian is Jamie's favourite artist too. 

Who are your favourite artists? Do you take influence from art? 

    

YSL Touche Eclat

This stuff is amazing. After hearing a load of hype about it, I gave in and purchased it today. I have horrible sun spots under my eyes (natural redhead + Australian sun don't mix) and this is the only product I have found that reduces their visibility. AMAZING, and certainly worth the price tag. 

Does anyone else use this? Do you love it? 

Ashish for Topshop

I'm sorry, but I'd rather spend $10 on an all-day breakfast and then throw up on myself. 

The ultimate wardrobe overhaul.

The above is a picture of my boyfriend's previous  wardrobe. His ENTIRE wardrobe. I personally cannot really see many things in this photo that resemble clothing- although there may be something made of cotton underneath a pile of electrical cords, and a considerable pile on the floor. Needless to say, something had to be done.

And done it was. Jamie now actually has a wardrobe, and chest of drawers that can house more than old receipts and blank CDs. Some of the pieces we found stuffed in the alcove were INCREDIBLE and had been in his wardrobe since he was about 15. Here is a pretty decent before and after- 
From this- 

To this- 

I think he's done alright.

Hourglass

The hourglass- symbol of the place between the past and the future, something I need to focus far more on. 

La Parisienne.

 

Whilst in Paris recently, Jamie and I spent a whole lot of time wandering around bookstores. I found a book, that although in French, I couldn't resist buying- La Parisienne- Ines de la Fressange. I believe you can get it on the net at various online stores :)


Spending time in Paris made me appreciate simplicity and quality in garments. I tended to simply put too much shit on, with too many layers and too many "bits". I have now entirely changed the way I will be approaching shopping and wardrobe building, and my year-long obsession with building a basic wardrobe (which has been entirely unsuccessful so far) is finally coming to sense. I thought I would share some things this book describes. 


Essential items for the Parisian woman- 


A smoking jacket (blazer)
LBD
A leather jacket
Tailored pants
Sweater- (navy blue)
Trench (Burberry, specifically)
Pencil skirt
A diamond necklace
Leather moccasins
An evening dress
Ballerina flats
Men's pants (boyfriend pants?)
Pearl necklace
Chiffon dress


For effortless style- 


Wear a small cashmere sweater over a dress.
Buy clothing from the men's section of H&M. (I had a look, and it's true- you can get gorgeous 100% wool sweaters and great tailored pants- why is the women's stuff so shit!?)
Wear tailored pants with a very soft cotton tee- stay away from printed tees, unless you are young. 
Wear a parka over a chiffon dress. 
When you get sick of your clothes, dye them (they specify navy) to give them a second life. 
Collect old men's scarves and wear them with everything.
Buy clothes from a surplus, and wear them with antique jewellery.
Wear knee-high cashmere socks of all colours.
Roll the cuffs of a shirt over the sleeves of the sweater you are wearing.
A coat should not end halfway down your body. Either make it shorter or longer.


Golden rule: If you are wearing wide pants or a voluminous skirt, your top should be fitted. If you have skinny pants or tights on, your top half should be voluminous, baggy or loose-fitting.


If you want to read more about building a basic wardrobe and dressing with simplicity and impeccable quality, go look at Dead Fleurette's blog. I don't have the discipline to refrain from buying shit in the way that she does! She has also previously mentioned this book in her blog. I'll be making my own list of basic items, and will be buying far less from now on. My new "do not need to be replaced" items include-


- Black Mulberry Bayswater
- Vintage Burberry trench- I've just purchased this, but I need to get it taken up.


Finally, I will be able to begin the new page on the blog with my basic wardrobe list because I have pieces that I am actually happy having on there! Last thing- The three questions I will be asking myself from now on, when tempted to buy a $30 top from Sportsgirl or Topshop that I will inevitably throw away in 6 months-


- Will I still wear this in 5 years?
- Will I ever want to replace this item for a better one?
- Am I only buying this because it is cheap?

What do you guys think? Is the way you currently dress different to the way you WANT to dress? Would you invest a lot more money on key pieces, or are you happy to buy trend items and replace them every season? 

A cape, a conversion and a fragrance world gone mad.

Photos by Jamie

I got this gorgeous cape coat from Zara and I am utterly in love. It is sooo cozy and warm, and a beautiful charcoal that breaks up my far-too-black wardrobe. Soon to be blogged is my newly completed basic wardrobe list and this cape coat is definitely an inclusion. Resigned to the fact that I can't realistically afford to spend thousands on each item, Zara will do me just fine :) I had a horrendous experience with a walk-in hairdresser in Leicester, so I borrowed some scissors from Jamie's shaving kit and re-cut and dyed it myself. I don't think it turned out too bad!

Speaking of Jamie, he has become a self-confessed fashion follower and has blogged about his conversion here. It's interesting to get a viewpoint on fashion from a guy who, 3 days ago, had a wardrobe full of LA Lakers tops and has previously owned a pair of Wu-Tang jeans. In his blog, the shopping mall he talks about is the Galeries Lafayette in Paris. Jamie also has difficulty understanding the styling, branding and advertising of fragrances. I'm sort of with him- it seems every celebrity has their own fragrance now. 


Including Alan Cumming.

Just a quick one...

I don't think this photo really requires an accompanying blurb. I look THAT hot.

I'm now back from Paris, and will be able to start blogging more regularly now and have a couple of interesting ones coming up. Being in Paris again has changed the way I'm going to start looking at wardrobe building and has even changed the way I want to dress. I feel as though I've neglected this blog so much! Anyway, Hai Mulberry Bayswater.

Off to Birmingham this weekend!