Topic: Vivienne Westwood

May 6, 2013

Tour My Closet – My Revamped YouTube Channel

I decided it was about time my long abandoned You Tube channel was revisited. I’ve had a few requests for vlogging content and I agree it does make some things easier to explain. My first video is a companion to one of my most popular posts ‘Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boots: History & How to Spot Fakes‘ where I can show details that genuine Vivienne Westwood Pirate boots have.

Next, the launch of my new regular shoes feature ‘Shoe Closet Tours’, I aim to eventually show all my shoe collection, each pair at a time! You can have a look through my channel, there are also some runway videos, but if you just want the new shoe action I have compiled them all into a Playlist, entitled ‘Shoes!’ Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel to get all my new videos. I will be doing some haul and review vlogs too. Of course if you have a channel, drop me the link so I can subscribe x

Shoes! Playlist:

May 4, 2013

Outfit: Squiggle Girl

Wearing: Vivienne Westwood – Worlds End ‘Gigot’ dress, Gold Label ‘Animal Toe Court shoes‘ and Japanese License ‘Squiggle’ socks

These socks have been long awaited by all the squiggle fans. The length is longer than the original Pirate stockings but made from a cheese cloth so you still get that great slouch effect. My tip if you want to wear them over the knee, use some body-tape to hold them up, or even a suspender belt. If you want a pair best be quick and give Lisa a call as they will sell out fast, £45 from Worlds End. This is the first thing I have tried them with, obviously this is my favourite dress at the moment and my suede court shoes! But I can’t wait to try them with my other squiggle items. Here is some squiggle sock inspiration for you!

Images via 430 Kings Road Tumblr

May 2, 2013

Vivienne Westwood Sample Sale Scores

Reflecting on the swag

I wasn’t really planning on showing my new stuff from the Vivienne Westwood sample sale until I happened to wear it but you, my friends, are so demanding! So here are a few snaps I just took whilst trying things on. I got a fair amount, two dress, two skirts, a coat, two necklaces, belt, lanyard, tights, legwarmers and some things for my mum. As much as I could carry really! Believe me I would have loved to get more, but what I did get are really incredible pieces.

My rather disheveled outfit on the way home

Taking my new coat and skirt for a whirl the day after sale worn with my Sack boots

I also got asked a few questions about how sample / warehouse sales work, its pretty simple. All the items are price by type, dresses are a set price, coats a set price and so on. The sale was dearer this year some example prices are large bags £140, red label dresses £70, t-shirts £20, with Gold Label being individually priced. It wasn’t dirt cheap Primark prices which some people bizarrely seem to expect, but it is a huge discount on what you would pay in store, even at the seasonal sales. The cheapest things I saw were Melissa shoes for £20 and plastic jewellery for £5, however getting a Red Carpet dress which can cost £3000 for £350 is still a bargain in my books, I guess it just depends on what you are looking for.

After last years crazy scrum of a sale, this year they controlled the amount of people allowed in at a time, I think around 20 people. This made queue times a bit longer but made the shopping experience so much easier and more pleasurable for customers and staff. There was plenty of time and space to have a good look around. I believe the average queue time was 1 hour which I don’t think is too bad considering, this was also the time most people gave themselves to get there early. The sale started at 10am and the queuing really began around 9am. If you don’t like to queue aim to get there around lunch time or on the 2nd day when it is quieter.There was absolutely plenty of stock, no need to panic but of course there was still some kerfuffle outside with idiots trying to queue jump. They were swiftly made to leave. You generally aren’t able to try things on at a sample sale, you can try shoes on if you can manage to do so standing on one leg. Some sales allow you to try clothes on over your own. A cloakroom is provided which means you can go in the sale with your hands free! I guess the main tip for shopping sample sales is to have an idea of your size with the brand, if it’s not a brand you usually wear then try to go into a store and try on. There is nothing more frustrating than buying something fabulous to find it doesn’t fit. If I am unsure of a size I tend to go for the bigger size as you can always have something easily made smaller, it’s not so easy to make things bigger.

Huge thanks to all the staff for organising the sale <3

April 19, 2013

A Catch Up – New Worlds End Buys & Travels

Where to start? I’ve been up to so much lately, traveling up and down the country with my new job. My iPhone has been a godsend, the camera is really good so I can still snap outfit shots without having to lug around my DSLR. That does mean you get random dodgy backgrounds, mostly public toilets! I was lucky enough to visit the V&A (of course I saw the Bowie exhibition) and stately home Canons Ashby, more on both of those in a separate post. I know what you really want to know is what I was doing at Worlds End!

After posting teasing snaps on Instagram (@SuperElevated) and Facebook I guess I should spill the beans on what I brought home with me. If you haven’t guessed already I got the huge Clomper Pirate Boots in brown on brown squiggle! I hadn’t planned on getting these actually, I thought I would get the Mock Croc Elevator court shoes however they just didn’t fit me, 5 too narrow and 6 far too big. They are a narrow fit and if you are a half size like me I think you will struggle with them. I wanted to try on all the new Gold Label shoes, as a duty to everyone who couldn’t get to the shop and needed sizing info (See how good to you guys I am, I tried on all those shoes just for you). I find the Clompers are a wide fit but they are a small fit due to the low vamp (bit where your toes go) so I would recommend you go up a size, they don’t fit the same as regular Pirate boots, I went for a 6 in these. The same for the Slave Clomper sandals, which are now available in a myriad of colours!

When I tried the Clomper boots on I was surprised how comfy they were, heavy yes, but once you get used to them they are so fun to stomp around in. Eye wateringly expensive but I couldn’t leave without them, simple as that and it’s not often you feel that way about a pair of shoes (lies, all lies). Alright, alright I do often feel that way about shoes, but can we times that by 10 for these!! I also got the dress I am wearing here, its called the Gigot dress and is on the Worlds End label, it’s available in white or black at the moment, however I also have it on the Gold Label in Union Jack print. I’ve wanted this for ages, it will be my summer staple. I also wanted something light and billowy to balance out the Clomper boots, no idea what else they are going to go with yet. I can add more info on all the new Gold Label shoes if anyone wants, just drop me a line, right I’m off to do some stomping!

1. Fashion galleries at the V&A, 2. packing issues, 3&4. Wearing Vivienne Union Jack print Gable trousers, 5. Lichtenstein coffee, 6. Casual wearing Anglomania sweater dress, 7. Trying on Elevated Courts at Worlds End, 8. Westwood ribbons, 9. Bedpost carving at Canons Ashby (more on that soon), 10. Comfy Pirate Boots, 11. Cuppa with the gorgeous Zoe from Penny Blossoms blog, 12. Clompers!

Beautiful Vivienne Westwood shoes!

April 11, 2013

Outfit: Jumbo Tartan Scarf

Wearing: all Vivienne Westwood – Anglomania ‘Limpish’ coat, Gold Label tartan scarf, ‘Rubbish’ print Pirate boot, double prong Alex belt

I LOVE this coat so much, it is smart with a military edge. I actually wear it most days but because I tend to take my coats off for photo’s I’m not sure if it’s even been on the blog?? This scarf is immense, it’s basically like a blanket and something which has been my must have all through winter. It’s a really old scarf, my mum actually bought one years ago and I’ve been trying to steal it ever since – with no luck. One came up on ebay last year and I snapped it right up! It is similar to the World’s End scarves, though not so big, I’d love one of those too one day. These boots are a bit good aren’t they, for some odd reason one foot is a bit tight so I don’t wear them much. I decided today was going to be the day I broke them in and took them on a tour of the post office and supermarket, oh yeah my life is so fashion. What I really need right now are some new Wellies, it hasn’t stopped raining lately. I’ve got my eye on these cherry red hunter wellies aren’t they fun and they would match my scarf.

Here are the boots on the Vivienne Westwood runway from S/S 2004. This as with many other collection gone before has me longing for pieces from it! The print is called the ‘Rubbish’ print and was made from photo’s taken of the rubbish in Westwood’s studio.

April 1, 2013

Outfit: Tweeds & Tartans

Wearing: all Vivienne Westwood- Red Label tweed jacket, Anglomania dress, Meg boots, Pelle belt, Winter tartan bag and scarf

Rich wearing all Vivienne Westwood – Red Label tartan jacket, MAN drop crotch trousers, Worlds End Seditionary boots, jewellery Gems TV.

Hope you are all enjoying the Bank Holiday! A quite one for me spent with family. Just a couple of shots of what Rich and I wore to go for a coffee – obligatory peek in TK Maxx of course!

March 30, 2013

Happy Easter!

Wearing: Vivienne Westwood- Anglomania ‘Monday’ dress, ‘Rubbish’ print boots, ‘Pelle’ belt, ‘Cupid’ tiara; Miu Miu tortoiseshell Cat-eye sunglasses c/o SunglassesShop.com.

Happy Easter everyone, hope you are all having a fab bank holiday weekend.

March 29, 2013

A Tale of Two Wedding Dresses

Something which I have always been interested in, and that now forms part of my new job (I know, I know will tell you all about that soon enough), are the different ways museums and galleries choose to display exhibits. These two dresses might be the last things you would expect to find in an art gallery, but here they are in Manchester Art Gallery, Mosely Street. The small exhibition illustrates how the designer Vivienne Westwood took inspiration from the 18th Century by showing one of her dresses in a room full of period paintings and of course a dress from 1765. Designers often state times and places of inspiration, yet it is difficult to get inside their mindset without having prior knowledge of what they are quoting. This exhibit lets the viewer envelope themselves in the art work of the time, whilst also having the rare opportunity to compare an 18th C dress with a Westwood design it inspired.
I am particularly interested in peoples history, so was delighted to read that the Westwood dress was in fact the wedding dress of the museum director. How wonderful to see your wedding dress everyday in your place of work, than have it hidden in the back of your closet!

Raiding History: Vivienne Westwood and the 18th Century

‘..it’s so important to look at the past. Because people did have taste, and they did have ideas of excellence, and those things are not going to come unless people look at the past.’ Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood is famous for her re-interpretations of historic dress and textiles. Here we have displayed one of her couture gowns with a dress and portraits from the 1700s to show how the art inspires her.

Wedding dress 2010 designed by Vivienne Westwood (1941-)

Evening gown in printed blue and silver chine silk. The delicate fabric, pastel colours, full skirts and corseting of this gown recall the open and sack back dresses of the 1700s. Typically of Westwood however, the dress is not a copy or pastiche. The past is combined with her own ideas to create new and original clothes for our time. This dress was worn as her wedding dress by Maria Balshaw, Director of the Manchester City Galleries. Dress on loan from Maria Balshaw to Manchester City Galleries.

Wedding dress (Open robe) 1765

(Sack back) gown or ‘robe a la francaise’ in pale blue and silver figured silk. The ‘Sack back’ gown was the most formal type of women’s dress in the late 1700s. It was reserved for official occasions such as receptions, weddings and appearances at court. Like many silk dresses from the period this example has been altered a great deal. The dress is said to have been worn as her wedding dress by Sarah Gamson from Gringly-super-Montem in Nottinghamshire. Sarah was born in 1750 and married age 15 in 1765. Manchester City Galleries 1947.137.

Funnily enough, the day I saw this exhibition my friend Chris gave me these two books on historical fashion one including dresses from the 1700s!

March 27, 2013

Not Quite Snow Boots

Snow in March, snow in March and what looks to be snow continuing into April. For a change we have been quite lucky up North and have just had constant blusters with nothing settling. I have to confess I really love it, its like movie snow! All the pretty flakes and none of the trudging through sludge, ruining my shoes. Which means I can revel in my snow-movie outfits of flowing capes and towering high heeled boots just like Carrie Bradshaw! My favourite look at the moment is tall boots and knee length dresses. These Vivienne Westwood boots are surprisingly comfortable for such a high stiletto, I adore them.

March 25, 2013

Outfit: Tartan Alien – Another Case of Fashion Karma

Wearing: All Vivienne Westwood – Worlds End tartan Alien Jacket, Gold Label jumper, Anglomania Centurella skirt, Pink suede Cossack boots, Pelle belt, Duffle bag.

It was only the other day I was whining to my friend Jason, how utterly gutted I get each time I see him wearing his blue tartan Alien jacket. I get the pangs of regret for not getting it myself a couple of years back. There aren’t many things which I have fashion regret over but this was certainly one high up on my list. It didn’t help that Bryan from Rather Dapper and Joey Ma have the jacket too, all three guys looking incredible in their jackets, making me kick myself again and again! Anyway the day after I had been going on about this jacket, what should appear like a juicy carrot dangled in front of my little donkey nose! Yup the very jacket! Of course I wasted no time in snapping up this beauty! In my excitement I forgot to ask what the size was and ended up with a jacket I could have made a tent out of but the tailors soon had it sorted – although blooming heck for anyone that uses Stitches in Manchester they have gone so expensive, any tips for a good tailor with reasonable prices please send them over. I love this tartan so much and of course my beloved Carrie Bradshaw boots! I don’t tend to play favourites with my shoes but, these would be up there if I did have to choose.