November Round Up

Helen

Watching: I went to see The Lobster at the start of the month. It was so bizarre and wonderful. Not being the biggest Colin Farrell fan I was pleasantly surprised by seeing him play against type. Set in a near future where single people have to find love or are turned into an animal, this is black comedy at it's best. And Olivia Colman is fantastic, as ever.

Doing: November has been another busy month. What with the Herald Fashion Awards, the Foodie Festival and the Kilo Sale. What's been nice is the number of events popping up in Dundee. I went along to the launch of Filipa Oliveira's new jewellery collection at the DCA. The collection is inspired by crystal structures and uses some gorgeous tormaline crystals. So many beautiful pieces!
I also went along to check out Door Below, a new bar for hire under Drouthy's in Dundee. Styled by Sooz Gordon and hosting a very impressive cocktail menu this is an atmospheric and relaxed space perfect for the kind of party I'd like to attend.

Buying: I've been making a start on my Christmas shopping. I've been helped along by a fair few events - the Whimsical Lush x Brewdog Christmas Fair, the return of the One Day Pop Up and the Wasps Xmas Fair.  Shop small all the way! Obviously I can't share any of the gifts I got but I did treat myself to these sweet snowman decorations from Little White Desk and some snowflake decorations from Charcot.

Clicking: Speaking of Christmas shopping, I've been hunting online for websites full of gift ideas. Little Lies is such a site. It's full of lots of fun homewear, accessories and band tees. Hello little ghost candle and flamingo mug. Plus there is an extensive clothing section full of awesome dresses, perfect for Christmas parties. I'm especially loving this sequin covered piece.

Kimberley
Watching: I just went to see Carol and it was beautiful. I'm a little bit in love with Cate Blanchett anyway but ohmygod her hair and every. single. outfit. Be still my beating heart! The film is very slow paced, holding a good tension throughout but if I'm honest I just adored the style of it.

Doing: as Helen says, it's been a packed month with blogger events. I was excited for the Selected 2015 exhibition to open at Dovecot to showcase luxury crafts such as ceramics, jewellery and textiles. There's a lot on offer- and it's for sale!- and some of my favourites include Jode Panhurst ceramics, Jo Pudelko jewellery, Juli Bolaños-Durman glass and Lara Scobie ceramics. I totally recommend you check it out- it's open until 23 December.

Buying: I went along to the Christmas Pop-Up at Hillstreet Design House, to check out the wares of  Rene Walrus, Sarah Brown, Katie Lees Karen Mabon, Rowanjoy,and Mischke Lingerie. While I was there to shop for presents, I treated myself to another Rowanjoy dress (total bargain at pop up price so totally allowed) and I found out a bit more about the stunning Mischke Lingerie. I always shy away from pretty feminine lingerie brands, as I'm an awkward (read large) bra size so I was pleasantly surprised to find she offers made-to-measure bespoke pieces.

Clicking: like everyone else, I was clicking on the Black Friday sales and on the Cyber Monday ones too. I perused the Silk Fred sale, which has a great selection of independent brands at different price points. I also drooled over the fluffy shoes on Public Desire. There are really girly dresses over on Dahlia Fashion (and this velvet jumpsuit *swoon*).

5 Tips for Shopping The Vintage Kilo Sale

The lovely folk over at The Vintage Kilo Sale invited us to come along to their Edinburgh event last weekend. Buying clothes by the kilo is an interesting idea and can mean a whole new wardrobe for a fraction of the usual vintage prices. Brought to us by the people behind Judy's Vintage Fair the idea is simple - fill a bag with your finds, have said finds weighed and then pay just £15 per kilo. While Kimberley has a bit of experience with a good ol' Kilo Sale, I'd never been before. I was picturing elbows flying and fights breaking out. People can get a little over excited about good vintage. I was ready to be scared.



Of course it wasn't like that at all! In fact, it was all incredibly civilised. People standing aside to let you have a look. People clearing space in the changing room so you can fit in. Just a genuinely lovely shopping experience. I learned quite a lot during my first Vintage Kilo Sale experience and thought I'd share some tips to make sure your trip can be even better.

 
1.) Do you're research.
The Vintage Kilo Sale posted this very handy image to give an idea of what constitutes a kilo. Study it, memorise it and have a think about what kind of items you're after. Don't arrive and get overwhelmed by all the rails. Hone in on what your looking for: be it a new coat, a dress for a special occasion or a super soft velour jumper. Items are arranged by type, so you can head straight for what you want.

2.) Get in early.
It costs a little bit more for an early bird ticket but there's a reason for that. Getting in first means you get first dibs on the best bits. Unfortunately, on the day we hopped on the wrong bus, so ended up being a little bit later than planned. There was still plenty of good stuff but being first trough the door would have meant even more to choose from. 

3.) Try before you buy.
Figuring out vintage sizes can be difficult at the best of times. When the items aren't labelled, are from different era's and there's a lot to look through, it makes it even trickier. My advice - just forget about it. Use you're eyes to judge fit by the look of the item, add it to your pile and then try them all on. There will probably be a lot of pieces that don't fit right but it's worth it if something you love ends up fitting perfectly.  

4.) Don't be embarrassed.
Speaking of trying things on, be aware that the changing situation can be a little less than private, so there's no room to be shy. If you want to remain covered be sure to wear a slip or opt for shorts and a vest top. Whatever is easy to keep on while changing into lots of vintage.
Also, don't be embarrassed when it comes to weigh in. If you've picked up too much or you want to go back for some more, just say. The Kilo Sale folk are very helpful and they've seen/ heard it all before.

5.) Enjoy!
While not as relaxed as a straight forward vintage market, the Kilo Sale does offer a great opportunity to find some real bargains. Our bags were both under a kilo but we were more than happy with what we got. Kimberley went crazy for amazing prints, taking home a fabulous long shirt dress and pretty tea dress. I found myself a dress with a nice floral print and got prepared for chilly weather with a bright green berret and a cosy Christmas jumper.



Thanks to The Vintage Kilo Sale for inviting us along and treating us to bags full of goodies.

Styled by Helen: Nicely Eclectic

Being short in stature I usually try to avoid long dresses. I've just always felt that they'd drown me. That was until I saw this beauty. When I visited the lovely Pat from Nicely Eclectic to borrow an outfit for our Tropical Girl Gang shoot, I couldn't help but borrow this too - just to try on. The pattern and colours are just so fun! I was very pleasantly surprised when I slipped into it. For one, it wasn't too long. It's always a fear that I get tangled up in a long dress or trail the additional length in the mud. This ended just in the right place - lifting up of the ground when I put some heels on. Secondly, it features some nice vertical lines. Always good for elongating. And when you're just wee any kind of elongating is very welcome.

Dress | borrowed from Nicely Eclectic
Shoes | Topshop via Ebay

With a dress like this I felt I didn't really need to accessories. The pattern is really what it's all about so I let that do the talking. I just popped on some red heels and I still felt all dressed up. If only I had more occasions to get dressed up for! I definitely feel like this dress needs somewhere special to be taken. It's going to be hard to hand this piece back to Pat but it probably deserves a more glamorous owner than me. I still had a whole lot of fun prancing around in it.




Huge thanks to Pat from Nicely Eclectic for letting us play dress up. 

Styled by Kimberley: Nicely Eclectic

My favourite thing about blogging as a duo is having my favourite stylist constantly on hand. Not that Helen will agree- she's been styling me since we were 15 (and vice versa) and sometimes she gives a little huff when I ask her if what I'm wearing is okay. She could at least indulge my needy ways with a little compliment or five (at least daily). As soon as we go into a shop though she can zone in on exactly what I will like (it's helpful that it's often also what she likes). She knows my wardrobe better than I do, often reminding me of this scarf to match or that pair of shoes I forgot I own. Name a party or an event from years ago; she'll remember what I wore. When she advised me that she'd already picked out  my full outfit before I arrived at this photo shoot I was excited to see what it would be. And I wasn't disappointed with this girly little number.


Top | borrowed from Helen
Skirt | Nicely Eclectic
Shoes | borrowed from Helen
Necklace | c/o Sugar and Vice

Helen had popped in to see her friend Pat, the enigmatic and fabulous woman behind Nicely Eclectic. Vintage collectors are a special breed of people and they are my tribe. There's something in the way they behold and enjoy pieces that really gives energy to the clothing. We've popped along to Pat's studio before and it is indeed nicely eclectic, with plenty of beautiful and some quite out-there vintage pieces, and she always has something new to get excited about. Helen had borrowed this brightly printed full skirt, which reminds me of the BOB by Dawn O Porter swing skirts. It was a little big for me but that just added to the volume of it and a swing skirt can never be too voluminous. So much movement! I paired it with a cute swimmer crop that Helen had- the colour combo was fun and the tie front stopped the look from being too bulky overall.Unfortunately I didn't bring shoes to match so I had to squeeze my size 6s into Helen's tiny size 4s and pray they didn't look like trotters. I think I got away with it.


Look out for Helen's look on Wednesday- her dress is absolutely stunning!
Thanks to Nicely Eclectic for letting us raid her clothes rails.

What Kimberley Wore: Herald Fashion Awards

Firstly, whaat? Here we are- finalists at the Herald Fashion Awards.
I'm not even sure what pushed us to enter. We had gentle nudges to enter last year but otherwise we wouldn't have even considered going in for it ourselves. While we love to get out there and meet other bloggers, designers and photographers, we don't really take ours very seriously.
I mean, we're the colourful goofballs of the Scottish fashion scene. Fashion nerds.
In the lead up to the event I've been made suddenly aware that real people know who I am from the internet, and this is something I can't compute. It's cringe. I think we have a bit of credibility now but I don't know at what stage I will be comfortable with it all. It doesn't stop me enjoying being part of the amazing creative scene that Scotland has to offer though, and maybe it is our unedited version that makes the blog worth reading. We are not cool but we have knowledge of the industry and a genuine love for the clothes we style up. Perhaps this comes across- one of the things we were repeatedly told at the Awards was that we are exactly like how our blog reads, and that is nice.
So, if this event has taught me anything, it's that you should just be you and put yourself out there.


Now for the best bit- my outfit! As Helen and I were representing our cities, I only had one designer in mind- the amazing Rowanjoy! She's best known for her unreal bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses (so so incredible) but she also has flattering feminine ready wear in the most amazing prints. They are like gold dust to get your hands on though. As soon as the stock goes out it's snapped up. I made a special trip up to Rowan's studio at Hill Street Design House to try on some of her samples for the event but when I saw this gold flecked wax cotton I knew I needed it. I made a very dramatic dash across town- in the storm- to pick this beautiful Jessie dress up from Godiva. I'm gonna wear this to death.
With so much going on with the dress, I kept accessories minimal with these beautiful killer Dune glitter heels and earrings. Our Best B*tches lunchbags may have been a bit unwieldy when filled with shoes, cameras and life essentials (like my granny rain bonnet for the storm) but I'm completely in love with them. I didn't intend on wearing glasses but my IOLLA Muir frames are just too cute to leave at home.

We spent the evening hanging out with loads of creatives- especially the babes of Dreamland Clothing, sparkle dream team Isolated Heroes and our table mates Twisted Time.

Dress | Rowanjoy via Godiva
Shoes | Dune
Bag | made by Helen
Earrings | H&M
Glasses | IOLLA


Thanks to Rowanjoy and Godiva for sorting me out with my dress on a soggy evening, and to the girls from Benefit at House of Fraser Glasgow for sorting my face (and for the endless compliments to build a girl up).

What Helen Wore: Herald Fashion Awards

Sunday night saw the second Herald Fashion Awards, dedicated to celebrating all things Scottish in the online fashion world. We we're super chuffed to be finalists in the Blogger of the Year category and I for one couldn't wait to get all dolled up to celebrate. I knew I wanted to wear a Dundee designer for the occasion and there's really only one that has the amount of sparkle required for such an event. It just had to be Isolated Heroes! Having finally met Samantha McEwen (the awesome lady behind the brand) at the Wasps Open Studios a few weeks before, I was even more excited to wear one of her fabulous designs.

I opted for this amazing glittering planet dress. I love the dropped hem and the sheer fabric. Wearing just a swimsuit underneath was slightly more daring than I'd usually dress but it's fun to be a bit more risky (and risqué) every now and again. Plus the length and high neckline of the dress meant I didn't feel overexposed. I decided to accessorize with another Dundee designer and clinched in the waist with my Dreamland belt. I think they make for a great combination.

Dress | Isolated Heroes
Belt | Dreamland
Shoes | New Look
Bag | DIY
Glasses | c/o IOLLA

It wouldn't be a special occasion without me trying out a bit of DIY. Inspired by our La La Land Best Bitches necklaces, I opted to make a pair of coordinating lunch bag clutches. Well, Kim and I had to match somehow. The leatherette fabric I used wasn't quite as sturdy as I would've liked but the sizable shape meant we could fit in some flats along side our other essentials. And speaking of shoes, my DIY continued onto my heels. These chunky beauts were my bridesmaid shoes. I decided to jazz them up a little by painting the heels gold. I did want to add some glitter (because all outfits need more glitter) but unfortunately I ran out of time.




Huge congratulations to Honey Pop Kisses for winning the Blogger of the Year award, so well deserved! And  congrats also go to Isolated Heroes for bagging the award for Best Use of Online Marketing! I had such a fun night hanging out with so many creative and fabulous folk.

Blog Crushes 15

Tonight is the Herald Fashion Awards!
We were so pleased when we found out we were finalists in the Blogger of the Year category and even more chuffed when we saw who was also up for the award. We've already crushed all over Honey Pop Kisses (and still do because she is fabulous) so we thought we'd celebrate our other fellow finalists because they're pretty amazing too.

Helen's crushin' on... Brass Buttons & Confidence

Monochrome, stripes and camel coloured coats, Sarah does classic style perfectly. But what I also love about her blog - Brass Buttons & Confidence - is that she also shares personal parts of everyday life. From casual Edinburgh coffee stops to family trips it's good to see chic style working so well for real life. Plus she has one winning smile.

Catch more of her daily happenings on twitter and instagram.


Kimberley's crushin' on... Florals and Corals

 Lucy's blog is striking and is one I've followed for a while. She has a very sophisticated style and strong aesthetic beyond her years- it's all simple looks in muted tones that are shot in an 'on the go' style. This is an almost entirely visual blog with little writing, she's up on the trends and leaves the focus on the outfit rather than herself.

I recommend following her instagram for her daily snapshots.


This month we're also lovin':

• Dreamland designer Ruby Coyne is one of ASOS's Fashion Graduates of the year. She'll be taking Dundee design to the Clothes Show Live.
• Aymee Charlton's super cosy Scottish knitwear is perfect for the colder weather.  
• Glasgow cutie Lynnie-Bop just got married in the most stylish, understated way in New York- wearing Topshop Unique! Congratulations!
• Fellow Glasgow babe Glasgow Fashion Girl just had a dream shoot with Miss Selfridge.

Best of luck to everyone nominated for tonight's awards and we look forward to partying with  you!

November Wishlist

1.) Ouroboros Ring | Almanac for June
This shop is full of beautiful jewellery. Like, jam packed! I especially love this little snake ring. Simple but fun.

2.)  Love Cat Shirt | Miss Patina
Slowly working my way to crazy cat lady status, one piece of clothing at a time. How perfect would this shirt look with my Kerrie Aldo dress?! I love a quirky collar and this one is just too cute.  

3.) Babe with the Power Scarf | Phiney Pet
You remind me of the babe! I absolutely love the Labyrinth. It's one of my all time favourite childhood films. So Phiney Pet's latest collection is right up my street. Full of powerful babeness I want everything with this slogan on. The scarf would be especially useful for chilly winter days.

4.)  Jungle Swing Coat | Kerrie Aldo
Speaking of Kerrie Aldo, the new collection just dropped and it's all looking full on fabulous. I was dreaming of a bright yellow wax jacket with gingham trim (so practical and yet so fun) but then I saw this number. Not quite so practical but that jungle pattern is amazing. 

5.) Chelsea Winklepicker Boots | The Gothic Shoe Company
A good pair of boots is a requirement at this time of year. Silver space boots are a bit more of a luxury. Having small, fat feet I love any footwear that can give the illusion of them being longer and slimer - these winklepickers would do just that. Plus they're rather affordable for being handcrafted in London. 



1.) Rorschach test necklace | Black Hole Creations
Creepy and beautiful, I'm not going to give away what I see when I look at this rorschach test but this bug- shaped necklace is unusual and satisfying to look at. Want.

2.)  AIZA Boots | ASOS
Cruela Deville eat your heart out- these easy to wear chelsea boots have just enough fun to print ot make them pop. A different take on animal print that works with everything.

3.) 90s phone case | The Small Print Cases
Although I just got a new phone case (to match Helen's, obvs) I have my eye on this graphic triangle design from the same brand. Actually, I have my eye on quite a few of them. And they are one of the few decent case sellers to provide for Samsung. Buy all the things!

4.) Be Kind tote bag | Oh No Rachio!
Kindness is a really big deal to me. Now I can remind strangers to sort it out. It may also help strangers with my Resting Bitch Face issues. I am nice, honest!

5.) You're Like Really Pretty mat | Be There in Five
Sometimes a girl just needs a little reminder.

Styled by Helen: Dreamland

I love my brightly coloured Dreamland dress but it would have been too easy to wear it again for our Dreamland Style By. Granted, it would have made the two of us look like we were in some crazy cool Saved by the Bell girl group (that day will have to come soon now that it's in my head). Instead I opted to wear my new Dreamland belt. I matched it up with this fun tshirt that I picked up in City Retro. It definitely has some similar 90s vibes to Dreamland's collection. I thoroughly enjoy the light pink colour and squiggly patterns.

And (as Kimberley says) when you're wearing pink it's always a good idea to add more pink. Pink pom pom shoes and a pink blazer were a pretty good start and my furry clutch bag finished everything off nicely. This sparkly brooch has been decorating this clutch for a while now. It was DIYed by Kimberley for our friend Susan's hen do. Everyone got a glittery heart and the bride to be got a sparkly diamond ring brooch. I love a bit of glitter, especially when it reminds me of a fun day with some of my favorite ladies.

Jacket | Primark
Tshirt | City Retro 41
Jeans | New Look
Shoes | ASOS
Belt | Dreamland
Bag | Wee & Twee
Brooch | Kate Rowland
Glitter Heart Brooch | Made by Kim