Styled by Helen: Space

Tshirt | Abandon Ship Apparel
Skirt | Carnabys Dundee
Jacket | H&M
Shoes | Youth Rise Up
Headband | Crown and Glory
Earrings | Sugar & Vice
Bag | Accessorize
Ring | Kirsty Isla Nicholson

Unlike my sister, I find space rather terrifying. I've watched enough sci-fi to know that nothing good happens out there. Either your head explodes, your spaceship explodes or you just float off into the abyss. I'd rather take my chances here on earth thanks very much. While you're all off colonising other planets, I'll just stay and help Wall-e tidy up. One thing that does fascinate me about space is the thought of alien life forms. While I'm not convinced that there's anyone else out there, a diet of ET, Mars Attacks, Mac and Me and Xfiles has left me rather entertained by the idea. So for the space theme set by Heather Mac I decided to to put together my best alien inspired outfit.

The first component was these rather fabulous Sugar & Vice earrings. They'd been on my wishlist for a wee while so when I spotted they'd gone into the sale I was straight on it. They're so glittery and green! To continue my little green man theme I picked out my ASA tee. The green slime design definitely makes me think of alien goo. There's always some kind of goo involved in an invasion from outer space.





More green was added in the form of these creepy shoes and my fabulous ring that I picked up at the DJCAD degree show a couple of years back. Other finishing touches included my camera bag and flower crown. The bag because aliens are always coming to observe and study human kind and the crown because I'm obviously an alien princess.

I also tried something a bit alien to me when it can to my makeup for this look. Usually I head straight for bright reds, pinks and oranges when colouring in my lips but not this time. I got this Illamasqua gloss in the ASA Kewpie party goodie bag. The colour is Facade and is definitely not something I would usually go for. This is the fun of a goodie bag though, it can introduce you to something different. Putting it on I liked it much more than I thought I would. I was a bit worried it would make me look washed out but it actually has a nice caramel colour to it. I probably won't be putting away my bright lipsticks just yet but it's nice to have an alternative to play with now and again.





I'm pretty happy with my space themed get up and always enjoy an afternoon wandering around graffiti covered abandoned buildings. Don't forget, you can challenge us to style up your favourite outfit theme by being our next guest. Details can be found on our contact page.

Photos by Ross Bull. 

Be Our Guest: Heather Mac

It's been a while since our first Be Our Guest post with Miss Vicky Viola and we thought it was about time we invited someone else to be part of our Wardrobe Conversations. Heather Mac is Helen's wee sister. She was compelled to write a rather hilarious blog post in reaction to one of her favourite books getting the Hollywood treatment but hasn't blogged since. Until now that is! In an attempt to encourage her to get back into blogging we invited her to share her style and make fun of our blogger faces.....  





Jacket | Borrowed from an acquaintance (and never given back)
Jumper | Charity Shop
Jeans | Primark
Shoes | Primark
Shirt | Primark
Necklace | Sugar & Vice
Ring | Jolly Good
Brooch | Rachel Elliott
 

Sometimes I think I’d quite like to be a blogger. Then I realise I don’t have the energy, the fashion sense, or in fact, anything interesting to say. I don’t really know why my sister has asked me to write this guest post. I imagine it’s probably because she thinks I’m totally amazing and secretly wishes she was as cool as me.

When it comes to clothes I’ve never really been terribly fashionable. I went from tracksuit bottoms and t-shirts to jeans and t-shirts to a short lived emo kid phase and back to jeans and t-shirts. I missed the class on being a proper girl that all the other girls got (seriously, when did that happen? I’m still waiting for someone to teach me how to put make up on) and I’d much rather be comfy than totter around in high heels. But I have to say that having a super fashionable sister like Helen, not to mention super fashionable honorary sister Kimberley, does rub off on you a little. I see how much fun my sister has with her clothes and how she uses them as an expression of herself and I like this use of fashion. So maybe I have started trying a little harder. While my staple outfit for work is still jeans and t-shirt (got to be comfy!) when I’m off I like to actually look in my wardrobe and try to put together new outfits. I’ve started thinking WWHD? (What Would Helen Do) and then I pick all the patterns and pretty jewellery. I’ve still got a long way to go before I could possibly be Super Blogger Extraordinaire but it’s a start. 

 Super Blogger Extraordinaire faces 

When I shop I tend to choose Stuff with Things On. And these things tend to be Stuff What I Like. So rather than, ‘Oh this top will totes go with that skirt I have or this dress will really bring out my beautifulness’ it tends to be a case of, ‘this shirt has Batman on it and I like Batman therefore I need this shirt immediately!’ Which I think is a perfectly acceptable way to choose your clothes.

That’s why I got very excited when I spotted this jumper in a charity shop in Edinburgh. This jumper had space on it and I like space and therefore I needed this jumper immediately. I really didn’t think it was going to fit as it’s technically a Topshop size 8. All I can think is it was supposed to be the baggiest jumper in the history of the world as I am most definitely not a size 8! But it did and I bought it and the world was good. 

This brings me to another fashion problem I have. I have zero idea what goes with what. I’m not even kidding, if I’m going out I would much prefer someone to choose my outfit for me and I’ll just sit in the corner and drink wine until they tell me to get dressed. When I’m left to my own devices I tend to just fall back on straight up matching which is what I’ve done here. Space jumper is good so space jumper + space necklace is even gooder! I just really like space. 

I have enjoyed pretending to be a super cool blogger like my sister. Thanks for letting me have a go and sorry I made so much fun of bloggers when we were taking the photos! And if you take anything away from my guest post let it be this. Space is really good. 

Thanks for sharing your space themed style with us Heather! We are agreed that Space is really rather good and will be sharing our Out of This World looks throughout the rest of the week. Heather can be found on Instagram so go an pester her to blog more. If you fancy being our next guest and setting us a style challenge, do get in touch - wardrobeconversations@gmail.com or check out the contact tab for more information.

Fashion Revolution Day

Happy Fashion Revolution Day, lovely readers!
   
Even if you haven't heard of Fashion Revolution, you have probably seen the iconic hashtag #WhoMadeMyClothes floating around and, if you're interested in clothes, you really should be interested in their source. This stance isn't new to us; it's something we have built our blog around. We are all about shopping small and shopping local.



Over the past ten years there have been many moments when high fashion also appeared to be taking its responsibilities seriously, including the "I am not a plastic bag" Anya Hindmarch X Shift campaign to reduce environmental damage, and the organic cotton push of 2012. With constant high profile anti- fur efforts, it seems that sometimes the people who make them are forgotten about, and the collapse of the Bangladesh factory is still fresh in all our minds on this day, the second anniversary of the tragedy. You don't have to be some vegan-hippie-eco-warrior to give a s**t about other human beings. As the (new-ish) adage says, someone is paying the price for you cheap clothes, even if it's not you.

Graphic from FashionRevolution.org

The main way to join the campaign is by getting your selfie on like this. Just upload a selfie to social media with your label showing (or clothing inside out) and add the message "I want to thank the people who made my clothes. @[brand] #whomademyclothes?" and nominate 3 friends to do the same. There are plenty of brand horror stories around. You can read a history here to put you in the mood.

And if, like me, you have a wardrobe of cheap basics purchased on a whim to pull together a specific outfit, fear not! Owning Primarni doesn't automatically make you the devil. Here are some tips to make your current clothes count:


1.) Pass it on! Lend it, sell it, donate it. Make sure your items get a new home and a second life. This is a badly- kept secret of many of the bigger bloggers (such as J for Jen) who buy second hand and then pass it on. It's still fast fashion for you.

2.) Tailor! Don't let something you have go to waste just because it doesn't quite fit anymore. Take it to a tailor for a few tweaks and you'll get loads more wear. (see events below for more info).

3.) Borrow! We already did a post on this here but sharing clothes can double your wardrobe. And it's free. The best times we've found to do this are special occasions, when you need a fancy outfit to wear just the once. No one will even remember that time your friend wore it when you've styled it up your way.


4,) Customise! Or, to use a term that doesn't remind us of 90s bedazzling, upcycle. Take that item and spin it into something new. With the prod of The Great British Sewing Bee, we are all itching to get our needle and threads out, and this way you don't have to start from scratch.

That being said, both of us are attempting to buy less and buy better. Mostly because we've fallen in love with so many independent designers (as I'm sure you've noticed) but also because we like to support other people. If you need help to boost your eco-fashion credentials without the hessian, there's a great beginner's guide here for Wear to Start and there are plenty of events going on to get you on track: in Glasgow, a pop-up exhibition of What Made My Clothes? will be held at The Lighthouse 11-5 today (Friday 24 April 2015). Sewing extraordinaire Iona Barker will be on hand 3-4pm with a masterclass in upcycling your clothes. There's a film VERT going on at Glasgow School of Art with a range of short films. Online, there's a global Thunderclap Project here.

Styled by Helen: Bright and Bold

Shirt | JOY
Skirt |H&M
Blazer | Primark
Shoes | Dorothy Perkins
Tote Bag | c/o Abandon Ship Apparel
Earrings | Cheap Frills
Hair Slides | Luna on the Moon
Sunglasses | Sun Glasses Shop
Name Ring | c/o Bonnie Bling
Brooch | Rock Cakes

Sunshine! It's been so nice seeing a bit more of that great big ball in the sky. And it's meant I've been able to put my new sunnies to good use. I won these Ray-Ban beauties through a Sunglasses Shop giveaway over on the fabulous blog - Burkatron. They arrived a couple of weeks ago just as I was beginning a week off work. Talk about perfect timing! Not only are this pair super bright in colour they also have a nice velvet finish, meaning the feel as good as they look. Since I wear the same pair of glasses pretty much everyday, sunglasses allow me to mix things up and be a bit more outlandish with my eyewear. This pair certainly fit that bill.

Since the sun was out, I decided to go for a full on tropical outfit to match my bright shades. Any excuse to get my Hawaiian shirt out. I paired said shirt with a simple blue skirt and light blazer but then added more bright shades with my accessories. I've had these Luna on the Moon hair slides for quite some time but hadn't found a way to wear them. After experimenting with some milkmaid braids I found the answer - just pop them in anywhere! Who doesn't love a bit of pom-pom to top off an outfit.






In another act of perfect timing, I found the best backdrop to use for photographing this colourful outfit. The day before Spex Pistols had been sharing photos online of some new graffiti art going up by the shop. The finished result was this Amazing Spectacles sign in big bold comic type. I love finding new artistic graffiti and it provides great backdrops for outfit photos (see here and here). Plus it adds interest and vibrancy to an area, without being too permanent. More of this sort of thing please!

Being in such close proximity to Spex Pistols it would have been rude not to pop in. I hadn't been in since the shop had it's refurb and it is looking mighty fine. There's now a mezzanine space which houses a neat little lensing lab and allows much more room downstairs for loads more glasses. The only thing is that more glasses means more choice. While looking around I found several beautiful pairs and feel head over heels for one set in particular. Seems that my sunglasses prize will ultimately lead me to spend more money on glasses. Ooops!

The Haberdashery Project

There have been a few crafty adventures on Wardrobe Conversations recently. There was a whole afternoon of it for Hillary's Crafternoon, some gift DIYing for the Girl Gang and not forgetting the amazing Scarf School. It's safe to say the crafting bug is going about around here. One of the things that can sometimes get in the way of this creative spirit is getting my hands on suitable supplies. There's been many a time I've ordered some bits and pieces online only to have lost interest in the project by the time the supplies arrive (what can I say, I'm fickle like that). As a result I'm always on the look out for bricks and mortar locations were I can stock up on supplies and get my hands on the nessacary ingredients as soon as the bug bites.

So, it was with great interest that I headed along to the opening of The Haberdashery Project in Dundee. The city has a few crafty hotspots, most notably the giant that is HobbyCraft. What with this superstore being located out of the city centre though, it's great to have another alternative popping up in town. The brain child of fashion and textile designers Claire and James Adholla, the shop offers a colourful array of crafting supplies with a focus on those pastimes that involve needles. I'm talking embroidery, sewing and tapestry, of course. While the shop is small it has a good variety of stock and plenty of pretty colours. As well as stocking the means for you to create your own items, it also has a nice wee line in local and independent designers. This range includes work by homeware brand Fun Makes Good, DJCAD graduate Jennifer Heilbronn and jewellery designer Collette Paterson. So if you haven't got time to craft up a gift you can always buy one ready made. With a promise of more stock on it's way and whispers of creative classes being held in the space I'm looking forward to see what's to come. 







The Haberdashery Project is located within the back aspect of Wool & Co, another business catering to Dundee's crafty creatives. Not being a big knitter ( I leave that particular craft in Kimberley's capable hands) I've never had a look inside Wool & Co but have admired their fun window displays over the past year they've been open. More fool me! Checking out The Haberdashery Projects offerings gave me the opportunity to see that Wool & Co are much more than just knitting supplies. While they do have these in abundance, they also stock jewellery, candles and artwork from the likes of No Nonsense and local lass, Karen Smith. On top of all that they also offer workshops. I might just have to sneak along to one and give Kimberley a run for her money in the knitting stakes.