Styled by Kimberley: Dr Martens

Happy Halloween!

This month has been quite the whirlwind of Halloween features (again) and I've enjoyed it. Alongside all the sweet treats and dressing up, cult boot maker Dr Martens invited me in to check out their Halloween collection and experience their latest instore offering: the Shoe Shiner. I was so intrigued, I had to head along.

Dr Martens had a special visitor from The Dungeons in form of the spooky Shoe Shiner on Tuesday, who was offering a very special shoe shining service! A cute, fun welcome and attempt to clean my shoes with a vial of 'blood' and and old rag, he also kindly offered to chop off any toes that might be stopping me from buying the boots of my dreams. I, along with any children who came in, left with a stick of rock. He's clearly a decent judge of character.

The Halloween collection has a lot of great boots, and I spotted some glow in the dark Skelly boots that Helen would just love, but I'm not really into spooky dressing on a day-to-day basis. I was very tempted by the ink blot boots but then I heard about these reflective ones and they were all I saw. During the day these boots are quite subtle, with a slight camouflage print effect from the dots. On these dark evenings is when they come to life- the print and laces light up like cat's eyes in flashes or headlights. As usual, I'm attracted to anything that is a grown up reminder of my childhood (psycho analyze as you wish) and these make me think of that national road safety campaign when I was in primary school. We were given reflective EVERYTHING. I personally had the super cool shoelace charms, and the stickers that everyone got for their school bags. I think I had some Lucky Book Club ones too (remember that?).

Top | H&M
Pinafore | Primark
Coat | Urban Outfitters
Boots | c/o Dr Martens
Bag | Hannah Zakari
Pin | Clo's Line x Savage Pins

This outfit is one you won't have seen before. I've had the coat for years but I put it away in storag and only just retrieved it. I like to think of it as a Cruella De vil coat, although it's not even an animal print. It's oversized and fluffy and warm. Perfect. I thought I'd do some layering in neutral dark tones to complement the DMs, so I've got an on trend khaki polo neck under a simple grey denim pinafore. Accesssories are at a minimal for once. I just wasn't in the mood for jewellery. Ian took these photos for me on a lazy Sunday afternoon (I remember it like it was yesterday... because it was), when we walked around Princes Street gardens/ the Castle with a hot chocolate after surviving night one of Lucie's three day Halloween Seshstravaganza. That girl knows how to throw a party!

So there you have it- some easy on trend styling for winter that works even for a hangover. A dress and fluffy outer layer keeps the look girly enough for me, while the colour palette makes it a bit edgier, as DMs demand.

Bonus: the DMs become ten times as fun at night!

Thanks to Dr Martens and Dungeons for a fun wee Halloween afternoon, and to Ian Finlayson for taking my photos without complaining.

Blog Crushes 26

Kimberley is crushin' on... Skinny Decxf Latte

Singapore based blogger Aqy is the perfect mix of cute and grunge, with a dark dark wardrobe and kawaii accessories. Her look is edgy without trying too hard and sticks to trends. Maybe not an immediate choice for serving up Halloween, but she has a constant goth aesthetic that is just soft enough for girly me to enjoy. I wish I could rock a jogger like this. She seems to be as excited about Halloween as we are, with multiple fashion and beauty posts throughout the month.

You can catch Skinny Decxf Latte on Twitter and Tumblr.


Helen is crushin' on... Becky Bedbug

Becky's blog is full of bright colourful photos, fun outfits and exciting trips. Her pretty yet clean blog design and chatty writing style make me feel right at home while I'm reading. But, what I love most about Becky is just how much she embraces all aspects of Halloween. Perfect for getting me in the mood for my favourite holiday. From her creepy book wishlist to her seasonal Lush review and right through to her post about Halloweens past and her many spooky outfits, there's been plenty for a creep like me to enjoy. 

You can also follow more of Becky's Halloween adventures on Twitter and Instagram.


We are also lovin'

• Another featured blog crush She Might Be Loved has a whole load of amazing amazing Halloween looks and tutorials #SheMightBeSpooky
• It couldn't be a Halloween crush post without mentioning Frankly Ms Shankly. She is a kindred Halloween spirit.
• Ada Lovelace x has a John Carpenter film round up just for you.
• Gary has guest posted some horror movie recommendations for our spooky soul sista Miss West End Girl.

Unlikely Horror Icon: Lydia Deetz

Halloween is less than a week away and I'm getting pretty excited. It's safe to say that the spooky season is one of my favourite times of year. I've decorated my living room, been binging on horror films and have pumpkins just waiting to be carved. The only thing that I haven't got prepared is my costume. Ooops! I usually like to wear something different from what's featured on the blog for my Halloween festivities but at least I know I have this outfit as a back up. And it's not a bad back up, even if I do say so myself.

My look is based on Winona Ryder's character in Beetlejuice, Lydia Deetz. She has some awesomely scary style throughout the film but this particular getup is based on her wedding outfit. Granted, my dress doesn't have quite as many frills as in the film but it's red and there is a subtle wave of fabric going on. In place of a veil I opted for my Crown & Glory headband. This baby has done me through quite a few Halloweens now but I can be found wearing it at other times of the year. I added this skull necklace because I love the coulourful little details, rather Tim Burton-esque if you ask me. The shoes were actually a last minute switch. I'd been planning on some black boots but then came across these zig-zag numbers, the black and white is perfect for the Beetlejuice world. I've had them for absolutely ages and love them to bits. They weren't the most practical for wandering around a graveyard in the dark though, that's for sure.

Flower crown | Crown & Glory
Dress | The Vintage Weigh and Pay
Necklace | c/o Kitsch Kitty
Tights | Primark
Shoes | Irregular Choice
Rings | Made by me
 
Again, as with my Eleven look, the finishing touch was the hairstyle. Or in this case, the fringe style. Lydia certainly has a distinctive look when it comes to bangs and I couldn't miss out on giving it a go. I would be quite happy to wear this outfit for a night out but the spiky fringe is what takes this to the realm of costume. Well that and my incredibly pale face.



I absolutely love Beetlejuice. It's definitely up there on my list of favourite Tim Burton movies. What I love most  about Tim Burton films is his very distinctive style - creepy and cartoonish in just the right ways. Even when I'm not a huge fan of the story, the styling is usually spot on. My top five goes a little something like this and makes for some rather ghoulish Halloween viewing (and it's in order, that never happens!):

5.)  Sleepy Hollow
A good old fashioned ghost story done rather well. Plus it has Christina Ricci in it and she's just fabulous and endlessly watchable in her own weird way.

4.) The Nightmare Before Christmas
Not directed by Burton but being based on his story and characters it certainly has a lot of him in it. In my head this is more of a Christmas film than a Halloween film but it certainly works for both. The stop motion animation is stunning and the songs are rather fun too.

3.) Beetlejuice
It has a tiny model village, monsters and some genuinely terrifying scenes. Not to mention the set design, costumes and Winona Ryder. Michael Keaton's over the top performance is just the right side of annoying and Catherine O'Hara is brilliant as Lydia's mother.

2.) Edward Scissorhands
Again the sets, costumes and over all style of this film are spot on and the tale of an outsider being accepted and then rejected from society is rather moving. Plus it has Vincent Price and that can only be a good thing.

1.) Mars Attacks!
This may not be everyone's favourite but it's my number one! I love the colours, costumes, craziness and cameos in this wonderfully ridiculous sci-fi film. I remember ordering the book from one of those school book clubs purely based on the cover, which was an image from the film. When I finally saw the film it did not disappoint. It may seem slightly clunky and awkward at times but that just makes me love it more.




What are your favourites from the Burton back catalogue? And what will you be doing, watching and wearing this Halloween? I want to know all the Deetz ;)  

Unlikely Horror Icon: Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

How else could we celebrate an Unlikely Horror Icon, except by hanging out in a genuinely creepy cemetery in the dark? For this year's wearable couple costume we picked the classic 80s comedy horror film Beetlejuice. My childhood friend Shiobhan was obsessed with this film when we were kids, so I am more than familiar with it... but I really didn't get it as a child and I found it quite creepy! It was sleazy and a bit gross. Who can resist a bit of monochrome and backcomb though?

Our unlikely style icons are always picked to be easily achievable and Beetlejuice's look is so recognizable that it is a no brainer. I switched up the striped suit for this skirt with the same vertical stripe. I kept the suit idea with a vintage blazer in contrasting pinstripe. As a little nod to his wedding suit I included this white ruffled shirt and faux bowtie necklace. The shirt was really bulky under the skirt so it's not an outfit I'd wear myself but it's fun to mix it up for Halloween. Beyond that I just backcombed my hair and made my eyes and lips dark.

I think my favourite part was the lips. I was pretty pleased to have an excuse to resurrect the purple-black ombre that got me so many compliments for last year's Bride of Chucky look. It makes me realise how much of a look is in the hair and makeup, which I often neglect.

Blouse | Pepperberry
Blazer | Armstrong's Vintage
Bowtie necklace | Lady Luck Rules OK
Skirt | Topshop
Shoes | back of my wardrobe!
Nails | c/o The Roxburghe Hotel

These kinds of posts are so much fun to do, as you may have noticed from our Moonrise Kingdom and Stranger Things ones. You can be a bit more dramatic with both outfit and idea. Photographing at night was quite a challenge though, and posing/ stumbling around in the dark (sans glasses) was even more so! Extra extra thanks to Helen who had her editing work cut out for her with my devil red eyes.
It's a grim reminder that winter is upon us and the sun is now setting in Edinburgh before 6pm. Photo quality takes a dive along with the daylight so we'll have to work even harder to keep the pics looking crisp. Any tips for bloggers to get decent outfit photos outside in waning light?

P.S. If you're a loyal reader (we love you), you may know that we've had a Beetlejuice before in the shape of our Halloween Girl Gang babe Miss Vicky Viola. Her take was a much sparklier rock'n'roll one than my own but there's always space for more! Catch Helen's Lydia on Wednesday for a full set.

October Wishlist: Moonrise Kingdom and Stranger Things Special

We hope you've been enjoying our Unlikely Style Icons so far? We sure had a whole lot of fun shooting them. So much so we wanted to share some of our "couple shots". The lovely Heather Mac got some photos of us together in our Moonrise Kingdom outfits. We're usually taking photos of each other so getting actual blog duo pics is a bit of a treat. These ones might be sickeningly sweet but we think they're rather cute. They're also making is miss summer time, why does it have to get dark and cold!

Anyway, onto the matter in hand. Because we REALLY love Moonrise Kingdom and Stranger Things we thought some themed wishlists were in order.    



1.) Coping with the Very Troubled Child Notebook | You Can't Go Back
The books that Suzy carts around in the film all have amazing covers but the Coping with the Very Troubled Child book is our favourite. We're also big stationary fans so this notebook is the perfect combination.

2.) Green Beetle Earrings | Ailsa Whittet Ritchie
These bug earrings are beautiful pieces of jewellery and, with reference to the ear piercing scene, they also give a subtle nod to the film.  

3.) Crosley Cruiser Turntable | John Lewis
We might be more inclined to stick on Spotify than a record but there's no doubting that turntables are pretty, especially this teal coloured one. It combines Suzy's suitcase and record player in one stylishly hipster object. 

4.) Moonrise Kingdom Patch | For the Love of Patch
Sam's shirt is covered in patches showing off his achievements. We can show off the fact we've watched Moonrise Kingdom with this rather lovely one.

5.) Suzy Mustard Dress | Vintage Style Me
This might have already been mentioned in Kim's post but we though it deserved to be included here too. The fact that the pink version of this dress would be suitable for Eleven from Stranger Things leads us nicely into our next wishlist...




1.) Strange Glow in the Dark Tee | Hero & Cape
Probably the least specifically Stranger Things item on the list but it's still awesome. The baseball style fits in with the characters outfits and the writing glows in the dark! Spookily good!

2.) Personalised Name Necklace | Sugar and Vice
Ever wanted to see your name in the Stranger Things font? We know we have! Sugar & Vice have some amazing customisable name necklaces and this one just shot to the top of our favourites.

3.) Eleven Cushion | Pilfered
We can make sure no one steals our spot on the sofa by having Eleven guarding it. Pilfered have so many colourful cushions and this one is no different.

4.) Friends Don't Lie Pin | Punky Pins
This pin is a nod to all those other Stranger fans out there with the fairy lights and line from the show. Kinda like wearing a secret handshake.

5.) Stranger Things Tote Bag | Verameat
This bag has the whole Stranger Things gang on it, Eggo's and all! It's a pre-order at the moment, along with some other themed goodies. That Barb keyring is something special.

Unlikely Style Icon: Eleven - Stranger Things

Yay for Stranger Things Unlikely Style Icon! I've been wanting to do this one since I saw the show and the lead up to Halloween seemed like the perfect opportunity. Kimberley's Barb was absoulutly excellent so I'm in no way going to top that, but I did do my best to style up Eleven - the girl with psychokinetic powers. I even tried putting on my best mind control face!

This outfit is made up of stuff I had in my wardrobe (and some stolen from Kim's). I probably wouldn't wear it on a regular day but it all fits in with Eleven's somewhat haphazard style. I was on the hunt for a pink dress for the occasion but then I remembered I had this skirt and jumper combo. In fact, I wore both of these items way back when for our valentines shoot. Sadly I didn't have a bomber jacket so my denim one had to do. I then went for extra pink with the shoes and socks combo. Not quite the sneakers and sports socks she wears in the series but I wanted to show off these fun Eat Me Do socks. Since the show is on the sci-fi side I wore my Lucky Dip Club x Bonnie Bling spaced out brooch. I then made my Eggo brooch and added my Cheap Frills Christmas light necklace because of the whole fairy light scene. See, it all makes sense for the Stranger Things theme!

Jacket | Charity Shop
Jumper | She Inside
Shirt | Borrowed from Kim
Skirt | Wear Eponymous
Socks | Eat Me Do
Trainers | Charity Shop
Planet brooch | Lucky Dip Club x Bonnie Bling
Eggo brooch | Made by me
Necklace | Cheap Frills

The real finishing touch was the hair. Now I'm not so committed to Wardrobe Conversations that I'd shave my head for a post, but I did do my best to make my hair look as short as possible. It was kinda fun seeing how I'd look with a different cut. Personally, I don't think I have the face shape to pull it off but it was easier than finding a wig that would look as good as the one in the show.




It was pretty inevitable that I was going to love Stranger Things. I grew up watching ET and this show certainly has a strong Spielberg feel. Plus cool monsters and Winona Ryder! How could it be anything but a winner? What I was surprised by was just how soon I got round to watching it. When it comes to hit TV series' I'm usually pretty slow off the mark. It took me about 5 years to get round to watching Breaking Bad, I've only just caught up on Game of Thrones and I'm still making my way through The Walking Dead. Often I can be put off by all the hype, plus I hate waiting for new episodes week by week. Luckily Stranger Things came highly recommended by people who's taste I trusted and the whole first season was right there waiting for me. A couple of days later and I'd finished the whole thing. Thanks Netflix!

As if Stranger Things wasn't enough to make you love living in the streaming age, I thought I'd include some more reasons I love on demand TV:

1.) The binge
Binging is now my favourite way to watch a TV series. I have a pretty bad memory sometimes so being able to watch episode after episode, season after season, means I have a better chance of remembering what the hell is going on!

2.) New and old
I can't seem to log on to Netflix or Amazon Prime without a new show popping up. Whether it's something brand new or an old favourite there's usually something there for me to work my way through.

3.) It remembers where I am
I love that I can just log back on and it tells me where I'm at. I don't have to think or remember, I just have to press play. This is something I feel is lacking from a few on demand services.  4od, I'm looking at you! But I'm very thankful for the ones that have this function. 

4.) It knows what I like
When it come to TV series I generally like supernatural shows and my TV knows this. That iin itself is a bit freaky but sit does mean I get plenty of good recommendations for other things I'll like. Most of the time it's pretty spot on! 

5.) My watchlist
As previously mentioned, my memory isn't that great at retaining certain info and the names of TV shows is one of those things. Now I can add all those talked about and recommended shows to my watchlist so they're ready and waiting for when I have a spare duvet day.



What TV shows do you love? Make some recommendations and I might even get round to watching them... sometime.

Unlikely Style Icon: Barb - Stranger Things

We are ramping up the ridiculous with this week's Unlikely Style Icon edition. The hit Netflix series Stranger Things has been successful thanks to its throwback 80's Goonies meets Stephen King vibe and I'm just about in the right age bracket to fully enjoy it. Normally with these, I quite like a subtle nod to the main elements of an outfit but you can't do Barb without going the whole hog.

I really commit to character.

Barb isn't a main character in the series, but she's captured everyone's heart with her Molly Ringwald attitude, skepticism and those ridiculous trousers. (Spoiler) She isn't in the series for long but has prompted the strongest reaction from fans, spawning #JusticeForBarb and the promise that she will have a tribute in series two. It's quite clear why she has struck such a chord with the public- the show is dripping with nostalgia for classic coming of age films and Barb is us as teens. She's the dorky side character; friend of the attractive lead, largely ignored by her high school peers, who has spunk and personality (under those frilled layers). People are going crazy for those 'the actress who plays Barb is actually really attractive in real life' photo stories because it's like seeing a 'here's what that hideous kid actor looks like now!' article in real time. Barb is our 'before' in the high school ugly duckling story and it resonates with us all.

And let me tell you- I am one of those girls. I sometimes forget that what people see now is not the girl I think I am. That chubby, bad haired, nerdy teen in school with the gap teeth and granny hobbies. In a really non-ironic way. I accidentally ended up with Barb's haircut (and colour) in high school, at a time when it was definitely not cool. There was no glamorous makeover montage for me either, I just kind of grew up and into myself. Now I have the confidence to wear this frankly ridiculous ensemble without giving too much of a care... Although I'm not sure even Wardrobe Conversations has what it takes to pull this look off.

Here are the elements to perfecting the signature Barb style:

1.) The glasses.
Gotta have a huge pair of plastic grandma glasses and these pink oversized ones I bought years ago have been waiting in a drawer for their moment to shine. I've been channeling my inner Barb for some time, it seems.

2.) The hair.
Oh, the hair! I think most people would just go with a short ginger wig but I thought I'd try the 80s Diana style. It's my favourite part because I personally find it hideous. I wasn't born in the wrong era where this bouffant is concerned. It possibly doesn't help that I happened to have a grey toner through my hair when we shot this- I still can't decide if it's as much Barb as it is Deirdre Barlow but it's certainly a look! #FreeTheWeatherfieldOne

3.) The frill.
You need frill. Barb actually favours a fetching patterned pussybow shirt with huge ruffles (more is more) but I had to compromise with what I had. Yes, I had this jumper. I've had it for years, and I actually wear it too. Not with a big collar and tie underneath, obviously.

4.) The trousers.
Our Barb is a BIG fan of the mom jeans shapes. But in the way we remember 80s mom jeans, not the slimmed down 2016 version. Big, baggy and rolled up at the ankles. She's also fan of a similarly shapeless pair of cargo trousers. The closest I had were these old brown Topshop carrot top trousers with a questionable crotch pouch area. For my Victorian gentleman look.

5.) Sullen expression.
This one is a talent that comes naturally to me. It was really fun to relax into a miserable face that goes even beyond my usual Resting Bitch Face to complete the Barb transformation. An eye roll, pout and look of disdain are all a must.

So there you have it. Easy 80's ugly duckling style with Barb. For extra points you could accessorize with this season's puffa jacket and a Friends Don't Lie pin from Punky Pins.

Blouse | Urban Outfitters
Jumper | H&M
Trousers | Topshop
Boots | Office
Glasses | Pie in the Sky

RIP Barb.