the outsiders

the outsiders by whatshesaw featuring leather satchel handbags

Made in Britain: Part two.

It’s been 2 months since I originally wrote about Made in Britain fashion. Since, I have become completely obsessed with it. I’ve still only bought British clothes, well apart from one mishap involving something needed for an interview, and I’ve even got loved ones around me hooked on checking labels. I think it’s about time a bit more noise is made about manufacture in the UK. It’s become even more important to the economy and I really think it could kick start an awesome recovery. This recession is getting a little bit boring now.

10 reasons to buy British

Genuinely FAST fashion.

Ok, I’m not a fan of throw away fashion at all, but since falling for MIB clothes I’ve noticed if something sells out – it’s a matter of weeks before it’s restocked. Orders from overseas take months to fulfil. Orders from home – weeks. It just makes sense – if you love something and it sells out, it’s often over to eBay to find it because it’s not in a retailers best interests to re-order something which will be out of fashion by the time the order hits shelves. Where as if demand is high – they can be assured it’s worth restocking MIB clothing.

It’s not expensive.

If you want a Cambridge Satchel it is going to set you back £100 – but it’s worth it. It’s high quality and well made product and if you went to Zara you’d be buying something which cost a fraction of the retailing price to produce and probably spending near enough £70 on a replica – who’s really losing out here? Certainly isn’t the Brand –they are raking in the profits. I’ve bought dresses, jumpers, skirts, tee’s and none of these items have retailed above £30. How many people can say they spend that much less on clothes than me?

Staples.

There has been some items which I covert which are trend lead but actually the majority of items I’ve bought have been superb staples. Well made gorgeous classic shapes and fabrics. The throw on and go with anything kind of staple. I’m not one for Basic’s shopping – I tend to completely justify spending £40+ on a top that’s made of intricate lace and Made in China. Then squirm when my basic’s basket goes above £30 – silly eh! But the beauty of High Street retail is that to produce a range of clothes which come in at their usual price point but made in Britain means that design has to be a little more innovative. Rid of hideous over embellishment, and it’s back to basics, excellent cuts and the simplicity of the design of the garment shine because of this.

It’s on your High Street – waiting for you!

You don’t need to scour the internet, or research heavily into the market to find these gems, you just need to open your eyes and change the way you shop. It can be hard when you see an item which is lovely and you bypass it because you’re busy hunting out the MIB label. But it’s worth it when you think just how much that item means. I can guarantee at this moment in time there is a fashion garment hanging on the rails of your local high street which is Made in Britain. And you should proudly go forth and purchase it. High demand shows there is a market and desire to buy British. Therefore increasing British production. Don’t be afraid to look at the labels of what you’re buying. You do it in Sainsbury’s when you’re counting calories or salt – that’s why they started putting wheels on the packaging – see what you’re buying before committing, how to care for it, what it’s made of, where it’s made all this info is free for you see before you purchase – so have a look.  

Heirlooms.

The UK is swamped in heritage. If ever there is a reason to buy British and save and splurge – then it’s a high quality, beautifully crafted and timeless items. Now I’m talking your mulberry bags, churches brogues and Barbour jackets of the world. They’re expensive at first, yes, but cost per wear, the quality – will last a life time, become heirlooms and last the distance!

The British Fashion industry is directly worth £21bn to the UK economy.

We barely manufacture here, we outsource, and we call it British. If British brands, big and small acted more responsibly started to consider long term benefits of home-grown manufacture and were confident to make the move to home manufacture – imagine how much the industry would be worth to the UK economy. More jobs, more artisan skills, unique high quality and desirable products. And most importantly more money flooding into the economy. It’s ludicrous to thinks anyone is even stalling when it comes to this. The industry is worth so much already and with the increase in manufacture here there will be a direct knock on effect. Demand for jobs; for skills; for talent. This is something we already sell abroad, it’s time we started producing the goods to back it up.

Reputation.

Britain still has a renowned reputation for quality products, yet the skills are dying out and not being passed down through generations. Globally our homemade products are desirable and a sign of wealth and luxury. There is a culture of intellectual property in the country at the moment, you’re not a success unless you’re talking about stuff or selling stuff, unless you’ve got a investable idea, you’ve got a degree, you’re manager to a service, designing something virtual and creating something which – in reality doesn’t physically exist. 

What happened to doing stuff and doing it well? Making stuff, building stuff using your hands and being proud of producing high quality stuff, trial and error, not getting it right first time, learning, inspiring developing skills. Artisan skills. You really don’t need to be artistic in order to sew clothes, to build stuff and make stuff. Yet we’re all dying to be creative’s. Why? Surely creativity isn’t a state of mind but is actually the physical production of a creative idea? Being creative, to me is getting hand on, trying stuff out. There’s nothing theoretical about it, it’s about the end product and achieving that.

Intellectual property, sure it does exist, but all the Mickey Mouse degrees in the world (and yes, to some extend I am part of this) are producing an employment market which is over saturated, everyone is selling an idea, not a physical product. We all have ‘transferrable skills’, we need to be thinkers, analytical, problem solvers, strategists. These are desirable skills in the employment market.Everyone is being fed this idea, told they must further their education to get on in life. But what’s wrong with having a garment manufacturing degree? A search on UCAS shows just two courses which fall under garment manufacture in the whole of the UK. Neither of these are specialist. What’s wrong with saying I want to make clothes on your CV. Seems a bit taboo almost – is it anyone’s aspiration to do this? Why not? It’s an amazing talent. To put it bluntly we need to cut the fat. Encourage those 99 who simply can’t match up to 1 other applicants per job to consider another route, another option. Otherwise we’re going to turn into a country of drones all sitting behind desks and feasting on cakes and not getting much done. Frustrated because we haven’t ‘made it’. If you want to make it in the fashion industry, why not start making fashion happen? How about doing something, being proud because the next time you go shopping you see something you’ve made/manufactured hanging in rails and Grazia picking it up as the must have item of the week. Won’t that fill you with pride and achievement? We need to lose this culture of making an individual name for ourselves, being famous for no reason.

Responsible and SUSTAINABLE.

By manufacturing here – we can start responsibly sourcing too – we can be assured that the raw products we are using can be ethical, sustainable and offer clarity of the supply chain. As well as peace of mind that the working conditions are of a high standard that people are being paid fairly and that health and safety in the workplace is a high priority. None of this H&S gone mad, it’ll actually have a point! Imagine that! We can ensure that factories have an excellent environmental impact and that corporate social responsibility is of high priority. Regenerating towns, income, economy. Fashion is a constant. There will always be demand and there will always be orders as a result. It’s not a dying industry by any way shape or form.

Designers do it.

Mary Katrantzou does it. Peter Pilotto does it. JW Anderson does it. Mulberry does it. Paul Smith does it. Victoria Beckham even does it. In fact so many British young and heritage designers do it with much higher overheads, price points, slimmer profit margins and strict quality control – it really is any wonder why the big brands aren't doing it too!

Change is a foot.

Seriously you’d be surprised how many brands are engaging in British manufacture and if we all go out and buy this stuff –  not only will other places take note – but these brands will also listen and rise to demand. Philip Green, Arcadia boss, announced yesterday that they currently use 47 different British factories which is a 20% increase on last year. John Lewis, ASOS, Matalan, Asda, River Island, Jaeger, Topshop (and the rest of Arcadia of course!).. the list goes on.. but also there is a bubbling industry of smaller designers/brands, dead set on producing at home. And it’s fantastic. We need to buy British and support our own. The bottom line is – we’re looking after and investing in our nations future. Our greatest achievements as a nation are vast and wide. One thing is for sure – being British is being curious – we were a nation of doers – and we need to carry on our nature of doing. Often our perception of our little nation is twee, old and overly polite. But if 77-year-old Beatrice can be enlisted by Mulberry to hand knit one of their new season, £995, scarves – don’t you think we’re going about this all wrong?

Let’s get inspired by Beatrice, hone our skills and put the Great and United back into our country. So I’m asking anyone who reads this - to share this – maybe not in my words but in your own. Agree to start changing the way you shop being a more conscientious shopper, you don’t need to commit to only buying British unless you feel it’s something you can easily switch to. Start building the demand. Creating a voice of young, responsible and fashion conscious shoppers. Start being the reason we’re out of recession. Don’t rely on banks, the next big thing to hopefully come along or technology to start rebuilding the economy but to start thinking what is your actual skill, what can you contribute to our nation, what can you bring to make us stand out, be different and unique? Highly proficient is MS Office doesn’t need to be desirable skill. We really should change the way we do things. We’re just one country, one island, and in terms of BRIC nations and other manufacturing hubs, they won’t suffer without our business, they will evolve and move on – it’s time to start looking closer to home and looking after ourselves. 

Hoorah!

Andrea x

home alone

home alone by whatshesaw featuring pottery mugs

VM | Dublin | August 2012

I went to Dublin for the first time last month.

This is a bit of a weak post in the fact that I only essentially took pictures of two windows. But I was busy having fun and didn’t actually have time to fully scope out Dublin’s heavy VM scene. Plus I wasn’t really in the mood to go to all the chains – because I was in a new place and didn’t fancy walking down the same high street. So essentially I’m going to blag it a bit.

I was drawn into Powerscourt Townhouse Centre by a intricate window made of ribbons in one of the back lanes of Dublin. I didn’t take a photo – THE FOOL - but the shop was a specialist ribbon store funnily enough and is called A Rubanesque, it was a Aladdin’s cave of all things ribbon. I want that much ribbon when I’m old enough to own somewhere large enough to store that much ribbon.

After being mesmerized by 48 different types of blue ribbon, I walked out and realised I was somewhere pretty special. It was a unique shopping centre specialising in independent boutiques, although All Saints and French Connection are both based in the centre, probably because they thought it just as ‘cool’ as I did. The centre is an old court yard which the rest of the building is centred around, they’d put a roof over it and placed a very nice café/restaurant in the middle with a pretty awesome chandeliers in the centre. The shops varied from homeware to fashion, jewellery to florists, cafés and restaurants, an exclusive club and even had doll house hospital. I explored every shop.

I came across Bow. Now I previously mentioned that I want to own a concept store when I’m older much like DSM. But what I haven’t mentioned is the concept. I want it to be all British made goods but not in the heritage, traditional sense. In the unique, modern and quirky way in which artists and designers are working today – I want it to be a destination and showcase for British designed and made products – fashion and otherwise. Of course it’s just an idea at the moment but I don’t want it to be OTT “oh look I only sell British goods’ and Bow were doing this; very nicely but with Irish made goods obviously.

Bow's window

 The window was unique - hand drawn on both the inside and outside of the window and using lace, paper doyleys, buttons, feathers to provide a beautiful 3D element and texture - and it wasn't a permanent feature to the window. The displays, the products, the layout – everything was just such a nice environment to shop in and very inviting. And the idea behind it was lovely, three independent Irish designers who are all focus on different areas in the store all under one roof, but all retailing separately (so they had three card machines, one for each designer). They thought everything through and was such a little gem. After a bit of digging too (i.e. googling) I’ve actually discovered I’m not the only one to have fallen for its charm – but last year they were voted one of the most inspiring independents in the UK and Ireland by Drapers Record 2011. Pretty impressive (and this has inspired a new post people, I’m really getting into blogging lark hurraaaaaaahhh).

 

Another really nice store in Powercourt (you can tell I loved it) was a homeware’s store called Article. All the homewares are edited by the owner, John Adams, and you can tell that the range is a personal yet cohesive collection. Basically I wanted to live in the home he created, which is always nice for the owner to know he had that effect.

“We stock a personal collection of items for the home offering quirky yet functional products that have captured our imagination from sourcing trips or travelling. We don’t aim to stock everything for the home, but we hope Article will  be a place that people can come to for a gift or to add to their home, or simply to call in, browse and be inspired” is what I've lifted from Article's website and I think they absolutely managed it - worth a look at least if you're nearby.

Next stop was Grafton Street, it’s was pretty samey, samey for the chains but walked past the department store Brown Thomas and they had a pretty cool – what I can only assume was alluding to the Olympics – window. Stupidly only took a picture of one window but they managed to construct a boxing ring – rest assured the other windows had swimming, equestrian and gymnastic themes done to exacting standard of this one. Pretty cool and I haven’t had a chance to go to London to see what any of the department stores there have put on for the Olympics so was nice to see some celebratory VM. I only wandered past during the day so have mega reflection in the windows - but you can see what they've achieved.

Brown Thomas

Brown Thomas

Anyway, shamefully, that’s kinda it. I went; I saw; I forgot to document. Must do better.

Now I'm just going to strategically place some pictures that I took of other stuff to distract you from my lack of err.. visual merchandising - oh look the spire.. and is that, no it can't be, Bieber Fever (I actually rather embarrassingly filmed this group of Bielibers dancing - and to anyone that asks it was 'accidental' filming)

Bieber Fever

The Spire

Just liked the colours together - Dublin Castle.

An awesome front door - wow can't believe you fell for this!

Peace out, a town.

☮

Made in Britain

Rather quietly I decided to embark on a quest to only buy British made clothing. It’s killer. Do you know how friggin’ hard it is to find clothes only manufactured in the UK.. yup bloody hard. Quietly also because I thought I’d fail. It all started when I went on a vintage spree with my sister back in March. We bought a ridiculous amount of stuff all second hand and cheap. And it got me thinking, I can dress fashionably and sustainable – really easily.

This really is Made in Britain AND affordable!
Image: topshop.com

Now I’ve always been an advocate for British manufacture and often got into debates about my views of the dark side of the fashion industry. I’ve often been quoted as saying ‘I want to get into the fashion industry to make a difference’ and I still do. I admire and I am inspired by the industry and I respect it – but there is a hell of a lot wrong with it too and I suppose I want to be a bit of a fashion crusader and promote good and best practice. I disagree with fast fashion and cheap clothes. I rather spend a little more to get something that lasts a bit longer. I believe you get what you pay for, and that couldn't be more of the case in fashion. I don’t want to be ‘in’ fashion for a week; I want to remain constantly stylish.

Many of my friends have wardrobes bulging with clothes and often forget what they even own. I am, or was, just as guilty of this. Yet I was a massive contradiction – although always believing in this and stating my morals of the industry – I too would buy into £3.99 vests from H&M and never looked at the label before purchase. I’m not sure when the epiphany was that made me decide to only buy British was but since I’ve felt nothing but a twang of guilt for clothes which aren’t manufactured in the UK.

I’ve turned into my own worst enemy and all righteous and stuff and riddled with guilt for liking stuff manufactured in Romania and China. So basically, I haven’t been shopping in months. Well, that’s not completely true. I’m still happy to buy second hand regardless of where it’s made and I have bought a few new things since March too! Apparently you can buy British on the high street – just not very much.

My favourite buy came in June when I was in Whitstable for a weekend away. I had seen this dress in River Island. It was a nice cut and fit and most importantly it was Made in Britain! Winner! And only £30. I took a chance hoping that it’d be in the Canterbury store and the last one in my size was there – fate! Since I have discover River Island do quite a bit of stuff Made in Britain. Mainly simple cuts and printed fabrics but that’s brilliant really it makes me want to shop there again! And for my birthday I asked for this skirt and I love it!!

I also discovered Oh My Love, a label I had no idea about – but I stumbled across them during a sample sale. It’s a bit hit and miss as to whether they manufacture it all in Britain (I did e-mail them to ask – but they never replied!) but I have discovered if in the bio it says “Made With Love in East London” it’s a good’n! So far I’ve bought this and this and a couple of things they only had at the sample sale.

Finally, I am massively lusting over the Topshop’s Made in Britain range. It’s perfect; it’s everything I want and more; and it is expensive. I am yet to take the plunge even though the clothes are beautiful. And timeless. And I’d wear them forever (exaggerating and justifying obvs!). Top of my wish list are this, this!

I’ve also been discovering small, young and independent labels – places like Etsy and Big Cartel offer the chance for young designers to sell their goods online and affordably and the vast majority of them are manufactured here, in their bedrooms at 2am in the morning (or y’know 3pm in the arvo, no insinuating illegal stuff or anything!) and maybe this is exactly who I should be spending my money with, not the big high street stores doing it to look good and PR – whilst still happily manufacturing the vast majority of their products in Bangladesh.

There are the classics which are still made here like Barbour jackets and the odd Mulberry Bayswater (which is still top of my made in Brit list ahem) but what I’ve mostly struggled with are shoes and undies. Portas piped up a bit and made a good three part documentary about making kecks in the UK and I praise her for highlighting this! But where do you buy a British made bra? I can’t seem to find the store which Underworld on Coronation Street supplies. Secondly, shoes! I love shoes I own probably dozens of pairs. Brogues make me weak, in glitter and patent and leather and print -  I love them. I can’t afford Churches. Maybe one day. But where else make affordable shoes? And sandals? Luckily without a summer I’ve survived w/o investing in a pair and managed to survive on old battered pairs.  I’ve had to bend the rules a tad too, for example, Zara is Spanish. So should I support their economy and only buy Spanish made goods from them and so on and so forth? I can’t find a basic tee to save my life! Where in the UK manufacture sweatshirts and tee’s? How do I get around that one? I’ve toyed with American Apparel but can I justify using them? I mean they freely promote sweatshop free manufacture. But they still have to ship in. Nightmare.

Finally, and this is the biggest problem. Apart from Topshop’s specific collection and the bit on Oh My Love – no brands actually freely admit where they manufacture garments in online descriptions. I literally cannot internet shop! It’s funny how they have to put it on clothing labels but there is clearly no requirement to list it on t’internet. I know that the vast majority of people wouldn’t check the labels of the garment before buying something in store but I do and it’s has massively changed the way in which I shop. I would like to think if it’s clearly marked on a garment people would be able to make an informed judgement on what they are buying – and therefore if it’s listed online the same would apply – but I’m being self-righteous and annoying myself again – no one else shops like that – and that’s ok, but I really think that if it’s on the label of the garment it should be on the listing of the garment online – it’s only fair.

Do you think you could only buy British? Would you even want to try? Or more importantly do you know any brands which are UK manufactures or carry UK manufactured goods – if you do – please let me know. It would be great to be able to list them all together!

Andrea x

London College of Fashion: year one.

I’m 23 and I’ve just completed my first year at London College of Fashion.. and passed! Woo. This time last year I hadn’t even applied. It was at the back of my mind and after a, hmmm, somewhat turbulent start to 2011 it was after my birthday (which is today, scheduled post!) last year that I thought I’d just go for it.

I was living between friends houses and my sisters after being heartbroken and made essentially homeless and thought that things need to change. Uni felt like the only option to make a worthy change, a new job wouldn’t have satisfied me yet the prospect of applying for a full-time course via clearing wasn’t an option either. I needed to get my life on track and not run away and start again. I’ve always known that LCF offered part-time courses it was just deciding which one to apply for.

I applied for the Fashion Retail Branding and Visual Merchandising (FRBVM) course. I’ve always been obsessed with fashion. My mother studied at St Martin’s and I was brought up around sewing machines, Vogue and taught to appreciate Liberty print fabric – my obsession continued and I studied textiles throughout my education. After my A-levels though, I chose full-time work and fashion just became an interest not a viable career option. After all, you need experience and internships and I couldn’t afford to do that.

Why did I chose FRBVM? Well having taken a break from study and education, and admittedly my sewing machine, I didn’t have the portfolio or confidence to apply for anything design lead. I worked in retail when I was younger and I was involved in implementing the VM for the store and I always enjoyed the process – but it’s when you’re in the city and look at the department stores windows you really appreciate it as an art. Secondly, it has been my dream to own and create a concept retail space (yes, I’m being very generic) bit like Dover St Market I guess. If I want to do this then I need to know how to brand and visualise it. This course was ideal and I was studying at one of the most prestigious fashion schools in the world. I think I would’ve happily applied for anything.

I was ecstatic when I got my invite to interview – I had less than a week to prep and I went into overdrive. The interview was a test followed by a group interview where we’d present ourselves to half the group. I was up first and it went ok, but I was very intimidated by the others in my group, these people had proper skills – I was just winging it.

Obviously, they must have seen something in me; I had got in.

First term seems like a blur and so long ago. I was travelling down to London three times a week to attend night lectures and studio sessions all day Saturday. It was a massive time and financial commitment. And I’ll admit I struggled. I was still working full-time and crashing at my sisters.

me being vain in uni loos

We were given introductions to everything and being part-time things seemed to take a long time to get off the ground. Our first lecture was an introduction to a yearlong collaboration with Amnesty International. Our first assignment was to design a t-shirt for Amnesty, after finding my feet in the first weeks, I had left it to the last-minute to actually put a design together ready to submit. I had lots of ideas but when it came to digitally designing it nothing seemed to work. I was left to just submit a basic core idea of what I originally wanted to do. To my utter shock, 2 months later, it was announced that I had won and my t-shirt was going to be put in production to be sold in the Amnesty Boxpark store. I couldn’t believe how much my life had changed in 4 months

Amnesty Swing Tag

The past year has been incredible, the course is great and I’ve met some truly amazing people and friends. LCF has changed my life so much for the better and I am so pleased I applied. I never considered uni as an option or that I would have the opportunity to work in fashion. The part-time course can be at times frustrating, not being there or not be able to be at uni as much as you need or would like is hard. Dealing in e-mail and relying on blackboard (UAL intranet) is frustrating in itself, the time and financial commitment is massive, and shouldn’t be underestimated if you are considering applying. When I applied we didn’t have student loans available to us. I received little financial support and the course needed to be self funded which I had to loan from my employers. You don’t have time to see people as much as you like and you’re often knackered. Trying to fit study and assignments around full-time work as well as contact sessions at uni leaves you with almost no time to yourself.  A silly example but, I dyed my hair lilac over Christmas and physically didn’t have the time to do the upkeep.Given the chance though, I’d absolutely do it again, you just find the time to do it all, you learn to manage and adapt and you learn to afford everything. I managed to set up a blog, train for a mammoth walk (Trailwalker) and I am currently in the process of exploring ethical fashion label called adore + endure. Things I never considered I’d do a year ago let alone have the time for. I also live independently again (yay!) and have met a very lovely boy. I have the best friends (old and new) and amazing family and so much support that they put up with me.

I can’t wait for next term. I am so inspired to do my best and get a good grade out of this course. We’re working on something very exciting next term too. I might not become a world class visual merchandiser after this, I accept this, but the creativity it has inspired in me and the confidence that it has given me to go on and make something from my life and more importantly, something I want to do, is amazing and something I never knew I’d feel.

If you’re considering applying, just do it. It will change your life, just prepare to be committed. But you won’t regret it, at times you will struggle, but carry on and believe in yourself.

Ok, this is starting to turn a bit cheesy. But yeah. Do it. And let me know what you applying for!

xoxo

Why fashion is important.

He looks a bit pensive! Probably thinking about the importance of fashion.
Image from Distill Magazine (remember that?)

Hello,

I'm interested in Fashion. Such a broad statement, actually, and one which is often met with a scoff or a rather condescending "oh really" and a look which says "isn't that nice for you, precious".

I want to work in industry, sure, but when you say you want to work in fashion it's met with the assumption you want to be a designer. I am currently studying Fashion Retail Branding and Visual Merchandising. A little known area to the outside world but a crucial part of the retail operation.

I read the papers, I watch the news and watch educational programmes, I read books and have an interest in music, the arts and culture. I'm a massive foodie. I like to keep up to date with current affairs be it political, environmental or international. And so does Fashion as it is influenced by all of these too.

"You can't have brains and be "into" fashion"
"If you have a brain why would choose a career in fashion"

 The industry is considered to be filled with idle bimbos. And it still has this stigma attached. People can't help but think its a vacuous interest. Maybe it's just my perspective and from what I've experienced - but unless you're in it - generally - people don't 'get' it.

Hardly, it's the second biggest employer in the world. Yes, the world. From design to retail there are millions of people employed globally to ensure this industry keeps ticking over. Imagine a world without fashion. Some may rejoice but in actual fact our whole economy would collapse.

Whilst the rest of the world has seen dwindling business over the past few years - fashion houses have been getting bigger, richer, stronger. How many other industries are recording quite the same sales percentages and figures as Mulberry and Burberry? At this precise point in time couture - one of the most exclusive and expensive forms of fashion - is actually turning a profit. Ludicrous to think that garments which retail for tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds were only just breaking even and have only just become a profitable part of a fashion house.

Aside from the top end, the industry is operated by highly skilled, creative and imaginative individuals and is driven by analytics and forecasting and intricate planning - we may see the designers and the clothes - but there is an awful lot more about the industry than just 'it' bags and new season must haves. It's not for the faint hearted either, its tough industry to gain respect in, you really can't be a floozy and whilst with every industry there is the element of who you know not what, fashion, from my perspective at least it's not something you can blag.

I'm not an industry insider or fashion authority and I don't want to attempt to be. But fashion is plural, accessible, inclusive. And I want to promote this message, the importance of fashion. You don't need to be a fashion designer or model or editor in chief of a top magazine to be a part of a beautiful and inspiring community. And you certainly shouldn't be afraid to explore it and experiment.

If fashion teaches us anything it's to express ourselves and accept one another - different is good; different is inspiring. A contradiction perhaps considering fashion is trend based. But fashion isn't about creating clones. Instead it should be an interpretation - an expression of your creativity and your imagination and an extension of your personality. The beauty of the industry today is social media makes it even more inclusive than ever before. You can steam previously exclusive high fashion shows - LIVE. Street Style is the eternal trend - reimagining and providing more longevity to out there items. Rejoice!

Why is fashion important? It's what inspires people like me to see the beauty in everyday and want to share it with the world. At the end of the day it's just clothes innit?

Andrea x

Dr Martens x Liberty | Liberty

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Is it just me or is the collaboration between two great british brands one of the best ideas ever. Now I love a good blah X blah and of course the shopping list extends further,  I want shoes and satchel combo now too!

I'm in British Heritage heaven.

On the VM side it did say "Wild Nature" but I think the result is more "Urban Nature" which actually suits the collaboration more dontcha (oh I'm so PCD saying dontcha) think?

Happy Lollydays | Oasis

Oasis doing wonders again to celebrate the Jubilee. Not sure they can do much wrong in my eyes at the mo..

Afternoon Tea | VM Round-up

Dahlia, Carnaby Street

Jack Wills

Graphic, Irregular Choice

Jaeger

River Island

Oasis

Liberty London

Dwell

Urban Outfitters

Laura Ashley

An abundance of bunting and diamonds has washed over the High Street! Here’s some snaps from some of the display’s I've seen out and about. Once again apologies for the poorer quality pic’s iPhones really don’t match up to cameras!! What do you think – who has done the most inspiring and patriotic displays? Or are you a little bored of Corgis? Hope you have a lovely extended weekend whether you support the royal family or not :) and muster up a little pride for the weekend!!! Happy Jubilee!