Percieved Britishness, and British Style

 Jean Paul Gaultier A/W 2008

Reading one of my favourite blogs, Dapper Kid, I found a post about the notion of great british style. If only this had been about when i was writing my dissertation a few months ago, as it would have been great to reference! I wrote me dissertation with the title "Blood Sports and the Englishman's Image: Shooting Attire and its Application to Modern Menswear", and I looked at the notion of percieved English/British traditionalist style. Here is a snippet from my essay...


"Blood Sports and the Englishman's Image: Shooting Attire and its Application to Modern Menswear":

My studies as a fashion student specializing in menswear have led me to a very avid interest in the history, traditions and sartorial regulations of image within menswear. I’ve long held an interest in the stylistic sensibilities of the traditional huntsman, which I wanted to explore within this essay. But it is a particular young man I saw exiting Topman’s London flagship store with a pipe, a moustache and a beautiful tweed jacket that made me really consider the popularity of hunting-derived garments on the streets of modern England. This man was quite an anomaly in the extremity of his take on this sartorial style; he looked so interesting that I, along with many others, could not take my eyes off him. Though he was an extreme example of country style on the streets of modern England, he inspired me to investigate this topic in depth. I love the look of the traditional, so-called ‘English Gentleman’ and the modern derivations of this. I have a strong interest in the roots of shooting and hunting garments; they were originally developed for function and suitability to practical activities, but are yet so characteristically hardwearing and aesthetically appealing. While women have many varying and acceptable clothing styles that are derived from history and tradition, within the many limits and regulations of menswear I feel that country sporting attire is one of the few strong and recognizable stylistic genres that has survived and is still in some ways applicable to modern menswear in England.


Now thats just a segment of my essay, and if you are interested in the topic, I strongly advise you go over to read Dapper Kid's blog. His blog post about iconic British style can be found here, on his rather wonderful menswear blog...
http://dapperkid.blogspot.com/2010/05/brits-spotting.html

ta ta! xxx

t r u e l ♥ v e

Oh me oh my, this is the cutest thing i have ever seen! Now, when i saw pixar's UP at the cinema, i cried. and i mean REALLY cried. When i then rewatched it, I cried some more! I absolutely adore the film, especially the first part with the lovely couple (Carl and Ellie) and their planned adventures. It is so lovely. And i adore the idea of just floating off in your house, carried by beautiful ballons, and escaping.

I am a bit of a romantic, and I fell head-over heels with this photoshoot my boyfriend found here:

http://www.weddingchicks.com/wedding-chicks/engagement-sessions/37401/disney-pixars-up-engagement-shoot/

The letter: 

“Lynnette… I have a confession, I am in love with you.  It is not the ‘usual’ love, but the love that makes me remember the little things, the ‘boring’ things.  It is the boring things in life that I will remember the most.  The memories of jumping over sidewalk cracks to how the clouds talk to us.  You make me remember the moments.  It is that love that makes me believe.  Belief that I was there when you were a toothless kid.  Dancing through life, only stopping to hold my hand. Letting me know that anything is possible.  I am in love with you, ‘my greatest adventure’. – James”

The shoot:

The photoshoot was to celebrate the couple getting engaged, and it is just so perfect and beautiful.
And they look so beautiful. The fine pinstripes on his jacket, with the crisp shirt and gorgeous bowtie is a combination to die for!

I hope everyone finds their Carl or Ellie....I know I've found mine.

♥

It's been a while.....

SORRY!
I have been away far too long.
This is mainly because i have been busy finishing university work, having my graduate show, and then (luckily, after my new bed arrived) getting ill and remaining in bed for far too long!

On the 23rd of April, I had my graduate show. I have now just about finished my three years at uni, and two of those years i have spent specialising in menswear. My graduate show went well and here are some photos of my collection.....

Morbid Anatomy by Rosie Alia

Look 1:
Cells Jumper,
Muscle Shirt,
Muscle Trousers.

Look 2:

Back Brace Harness

Ribcage Shirt

Dissectional Trousers

Outfit 3:

Second-Skin Jacket

Cells Vest

Intestinal Trousers

 

 These are my favourite shoes in the whole world, and they finally got a decent outing at my show! I made myself a skirt out of some remnants from my collection too.

**************

SO, I've almost finished uni now, which is insane. Now starts the hellish jobsearch........

byeeeee x

a little bit growed up?

today my mummy announced she is getting me a new bed, because my current bed is the worst thing ever and i hate it and it's TERRIBLE for my back!

i am getting this beauty...
i am ever so excited.
memory foam mattress and all.

this is it, i will own a bed, to take with me in a few months when i finish my degree and move in with my handsome boyshape.
wow, i am growing up.


i can't wait to get this bed whenever it may arrive. hurry up argos! this old bed is NOT cool for being ill in, it only perpetuates the ill feeling!

on a brighter note though, today i made a shirt for my graduate collection and it is pretty well finished considering, well, i did it! this has brightened up my day no end. and so to congratulate myself i purchased myself the most perfect wallet i have ever seen IN MY LIFE.

Absolute perfection in purse form.
I want everything in the 'dandy' and 'paper planes' ranges by disaster designs.

as a brown paper and string gal, i love the wash bag disguised as a parcel....
and the plate that says 'hello beautiful'.

And the bags are to die for.....if only i could actually carry a bag. my back wont allow it, which makes life rather difficult! the result is over-stuffed coat pockets, a hideous rucksack, or a granny trolley.
Total babe, right?
yeah....not so much!

must dash! i have a dissertation to write.....and medicine to take! x

zzzz's purlease!

i have just arrived back in my london house, after a lovely time at home where i did a lot LESS work than i should have, and a lot MORE chocolate devouring than i should have!
now i am back i must get back to the gruelling work routine if i want to get my final collection ready for the show.....its soooooooooooooon!

I love this cat.

I found her on the internet.

I am jealous of her clothes.

Please someone buy me this!



I am off to the land of nod for some serious zzz's. i will probably dream about the hello kitty cat and the hello kitty kigurumi suit.......

nighty night! x

She's all fur coat and BIG knickers...

This is a slightly unorthodox and utterly amazing present from mother for easter! Giant black sequin high waisted hot pants, and a pearly hairband....nice!

Now i am supposed to be doing my dissertation right now, but am instead cheating on mr dissertation with a certain mr blog instead! My attempt last night to work on said dissertation failed miserably after having to set up camp on the stairs (the dog was slightly miffed i was in her spot) as there was no room untouched due to easter madness and lots of guests over at mother's!

Now i am back at dad's listening to kitty, daisy & lewis and not doing much better.....yet! i WILL.

Here is a few photos of those amazing items i picked up over easter weekend:

My lovely new tea dress.

Fifties kitchen scales and baking trays...

boy can i not wait for when i have a kitchen of my own to decorate!

1979 Plastic red singer sewing machine in box, to add to my collection.
1940's sunglasses in need of a bit of a clean,
and some vintage men's sock garters....definitely gonna rock those with some slouchy knee high socks! yum.
and a teeny watch bracelet. i need to put a bettery in it, but if it works it will solve all manner of problems, and allow me to function without my mobile permanently glued to my hand.

My vintage white lace dress, which is beautiful.

And the faded green 40's hat which i am probably going to live in now.

Some old man sold it to me for £3 and it was his wifes,so i shall treasure it!

 

AND.....my Bally shoes. 

finally....vintage shoes in my size! so hard to find.

yummy summer shoes!

I just got excited about my record player in a box too! 

I got this for xmas from my parentals, but havent sorted out the plug yet, but it is damn beautiful and a perfect addition to mine and my boyfriends accidental and growing collection of vintage record players too. I cant wait until we one day have a place with enough space to jive around to our old records (my boyfirend has to teach me to dance, i am too clumsy!) CAN. NOT. WAIT.

righto, really must dash....i've kept mr dissertation waiting long enough. plus i've devoured a big bag of chocolate buttons to myself.

pip pip! x