Midi Inspiration

Not content with the level of sophistication that a wide brimmed hat brings to my wardrobe, I’m now on the look out for another classic, the midi skirt. I love the idea of taking a twist on this super feminine piece by adding a masculine shirt, high-necked tee or sneakers for a slightly more androgynous feel.

Pictures taken from Pinterest

Tartan Delight

Introducing the other half of my oversized coat duo. I had been on the hunt for a coat in this shape and style for a long time and finally stumbled across this vintage one around Christmas time last year. Although after I got it home I did find the lining was torn in a few places, I don’t notice it on a day-to-day basis and it is to be expected when buying second-hand. For £25 I'm happy to overlook a little wear and tear.

For someone that tends to play it safe most of the time in muted colours of black, blue, grey and white, I took myself by surprise with this pillar-box purchase. Part of me is always a little wary of vintage shopping, as it often involves making a snap-decision or buying on an impulse as chances are you won’t see the piece in question again and can’t return it if you change your mind. This time though it was a no-brainer, the coat ticked all the boxes and I knew it would definitely work with and brighten up the monochrome madness of my wardrobe.

One year later I still love it and coincidently it's bang on trend this season. Big thanks to Phoebe, Jill, Stella and co. for sending oversized checks down the runway and letting me latch onto the tartan fashionistas that are gathering en masse.

 Photos taken by the very lovely and super patient Rosie Keighley.

The cunning high street and how to use it sustainably

Britain is famed for its flourishing high street, with numerous stores offering customers a huge variety of clothes at affordable prices. Affordability is a fantastic thing but it can also trick you into thinking you’re saving money when you’re not. The high street actually has the innocent customer in a tight chokehold as cheaper prices come at the cost of poor quality products. And so we are drawn into the vicious circle of buying more clothes, more often, to replace those that are falling apart.

The high street also increases our accessibility to catwalk trends by providing various interpretations (or often exact copies) at extremely low costs. Customers are becoming increasingly infatuated with the latest must haves and bargain prices allow us to freely indulge in these fickle trends. We no longer seem to enjoy love affairs with our clothes, but instead brief flings and awkward silences.

Last week I tagged along to a Geography lecture recommended by a friend to hear about the perils of the fast fashion industry and the inner workings of fast fashion extraordinaire Zara. A few statistics show just how easily we fall into the trap of treating our clothes as temporary, disposable items.

Zara’s success plays upon its ability to respond very quickly to the latest trends. They can produce a new line of clothing in as little as three weeks as opposed to the industry average of nine months. 85% of in-house production happens after the season has started so as to mimic runway trends and quickly offer customers designer looks at affordable prices. It is anticipated that pieces will only be worn about ten times, so by the time the seasons up, so is the extremely short life span of the clothes.

With regards to sustainable fashion, for the foreseeable future at least, the high street will remain somewhat of a question mark. Affordable clothes will of course remain a necessity, but what needs to change is the disposable culture they promote. As the customer, you can change the way you use the high street; avoid the cheap flimsy pieces that you know will fall apart after three washes. Instead, seek out the mid-range quality staples that the British high street still excels in, and that will last you multiple seasons.

Hold on to your Hat

Photos from a few weekends back, enjoying this beautiful Autumn at home before St Jude's storm set in. On the whole, the Cotswolds seemed to escape the barrage, although I would strongly advise against wearing a wide-brimmed hat when high winds have been forecasted...

Despite its impracticalities, I'm still in love with this hat, especially on a bad hair day. It brings a touch of glamour to an outfit, particularly in the case of my second hand roll-neck and black skinny jeans; both of which I'm very reluctant to take off at the moment. 

Photos taken by Jamie Biles