Masculine Femininity

Buying two skinny ties was the best decision of 2013 so far! Except that I want to wear them everyday! I LOVE THEM! This is causing a little dilemma when it come to shirts... Shopping trip needed!!

I love the simplicity of a shirt and trousers/shorts; with a tie it can looks so domineering!

Sometimes when i'm sat on the tube wearing something a little edgy or 'different', i'll have a momentary consideration for the people around me and what they think. Yet, wearing an edwardian-style sleeved shirt and tie today; although hardly extravagant, made me feel quite the opposite. I hate to ever feel underdressed and don't believe in the phrase 'over-dressed'. 

I think it's fascinating how what we wear can affect us and how we feel... a pair of heels make you confident... but also awkward when you look out of place in a 'flat-shoe zone' or can't walk in them at all! 

But, I feel I could live in shirts and ties forever... forget dresses, this is the future of femininity! 

xoxo

Shirt- French Connection

Shorts- Miss Selfridge

Tie- Ebay 

The Love for Levis.

Everyone has a pair... if not the full trousers, perhaps shorts or a pair of what I call... "wanna be Levis"

SO why? It's simple... they are the most attractive pair of jeans. 

The emphasis put on the waist creates a womanly and figure-flattering shape. They don't simply appeal to one figure; however stupidly, the sizes are limited. My mum in particular dislikes many jeans; finding them hard to fit, but Levis are the solution. 


They knew it in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s... and we know it now... these beasts are a wardrobe essential! 

xoxo

Androgyny flares...

We may have reached a degree of equality with regards to men and women, yet when a girl dresses masculine and vice versa, there is an immediate stereotyping : Gay or Lesbian.

So how is that equality? If we still get questioned or boxed in for our appearance. 

I greatly dislike the expectations thrust upon women to wear body-fitting or figure flattering clothing; make-up even. I will not suggest I do not wear these items, I in fact love them! But it's the expectations I dislike or the judgement for wearing something different.

As a designer myself, I see the figure as a canvas of different shapes. I do not see gender. 

Androgynous fashion should perhaps not exist. For why should it be labeled?

I am not dressing as a man... I am a woman, wearing clothes that appeal to me. 

After all, isn't that all fashion is?

xoxo

Spiced carrot, sweet potato and leek soup

Being a student, soups are the most perfect way to use up veg before they go off (having already used them enough past their sell by date)

so... here's another one...

I'm not a huge fan of carrot and coriander soup due to the heavy taste given by the herb, but this one is delightful!!

serves 3

6x carrots sliced ( I used this many because they were going out, but I think 4 would be fine)
2x medium sweet potatoes diced
1/3 leek sliced
1x medium onion chopped
2x cloves of garlic chopped
2/3tsp hot chilli powder
salt
black pepper
2x vegetable oxo cubes
1x litre of boiling water.

(optional tbsp of greek yoghurt and pumpkin seed topping)

-Bring the water to boiling point and stir in the oxo.
- boil the carrots for 5 minute before adding the sweet potato; leave until potato is soft.
- add in the onion, garlic and leeks.
-sprinkle and stir in the chilli, salt and pepper ... boil for an extra 5 minutes.
- whisk it all together in a blender.

* pour into bowl and gently stir in greek yoghurt... sprinkle pumpkin seeds for topping

Serve with delicious wholemeal toast or a slab of crusty bread.

Enjoy. 

xoxo 

(all my own recipes) 

A Modern Interpretation

As the chaotic snow fell across London, I seized the chance to snatch up tickets to Matthew Bourne's Sleeping beauty. Watching one of his ballets has always been a keen desire and his reputation prevails. The performance was a buzzing and fresh interpretation of Sleeping Beauty, gliding you though 100 years. It was fascinating to see the change in costume and set as well as the dance choreography across time.

Nevertheless, as Bourne illustrates the deep and passionate love story, there is a sense of comedy to the performance, keeping it light hearted and the audience transfixed.

THANK THE SNOW, for ensuring that i got to see such a performance... next year i'll be buying a ticket as soon as they come on sale!

xoxo

Spiced Broccoli, Sweet potato and Leek soup...

With the chilly winter and snow falling beautifully, there is nothing like a bowl of soup and warm toast.

This is one of my recipes that has the perfect kick to start the day.

SERVES 2
1 small onion
1/4 leek
1 medium sweet potato
1/4 brocoli
1 clove of garlic
1 veg oxo stock
1/3 tsp chilli powder 
salt 
black pepper 

-Boil 1/2 litre of water and 1 vegetable oxo stock.
-Once boiled, add in diced sweet potato until soft.
- For an extra 5 minutes boil the sliced onion, garlic, leeks and broccoli
- Whilst this is boiling sprinkle the chilli power, salt and pepper.

Whisk it all up in a blender and serve with a slice of toast.

Enjoy

xoxo

When fashion fell fetish for floral...

 With a love for androgyny, feminism and trouser suits, I have fallen head over heels this season. 

Floral trouser suits are the cherry on top of the cake. And there is nothing more fun than playing around with pattern combinations. There's a sense of authority when you enter a room, top to toe in print. To see the heads turn as they eye you up and down; making there own opinions on your outfit. Yet, when a print is clashed, there is a level of rebellion in the wearer appearance. Its like breaking the rules, but via the loop holes. With a highly androgynous splurge across Mens fashion week A/W13, and Erin O'connor's graced appearance at Hackett London show. I feel even more inspired to juxtapose masculine uniform with a feminine touch. 

A point to consider... a lecture on male and female representation in fashion forced me to debate whether our gender can really be left down to our sex nowadays... after all, is it not how we perform/ represent ourselves that truly illustrates our gender?

Woahhhh... that got a bit philosophical.. 

xoxo

Jacket- Topshop 

Shirt- Yayer

Jumper- H&M

Trousers- Topshop

Patent Brogues- Hobbs