FLATFORM TRAINERS

BRING ON FLATFORM

Flatform shoes have finally arrived in our high street stores.

With designers such as Prada, Marc Jacobs and Derek Lam bringing back the flatform shoes to the catwalk, it was only a matter of time before high street stores such as Urban Outfitter, River Island and Topshop Flatform in store.

Check out these awsome flatforms from Urban outfiters, definitely worth checking out!!

                                                                                                                                                               

House of Holland Superga £70

Kimchi Hightops £38

Why not check out these TOPSHOP Flatforms with studs, for an edgy twist!



£32 - not unlike the Jeffrey Campbell's

From High top to Aztec, floral to studs, there are many different styles out there to suit all. If you maybe feel creepers are a bit to ‘chunky’ or to ‘out there’ as some people I know feel… then why not give the flatform trainer a try! Celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Carly Rae Jepson have both been spotted in Jeffery Campbell’s very own Homg Flatform shoes.

They can be woren casully with a pair of denim shorts, turn up jeans or why not go all 90’s and team them with a floral dress.
They really are the next thing on my wish list, cant wait to bag myself a pair!

Any questions, or if anyone wants to share there thoughts on flatforms, then just comment below!!

Byalxpicken

Festival ESSENTIALS

With Rockness and Radio 1 Hackney weekend kicking things of for this summer’s music festivals of 2012,  T in the Park last weekend and Wickerman on its way, we should all be taking advantage of the high street summer sales and get our festival must have’s.
Printed Leggings, Denim Shorts, and fringed leather jackets are only some of festival fashion essentials, along with the obvious wellies and waterproof jacket. With high street brand such as Topshop, Urban outfitters and River Island all having a festival section on their websites, and it’s even easier to find your festival must haves!! No matter what you were if it’s a loose baggy Ramones top, Band and Vintage Levis. You will be rocking the casual festival look!

A Festival must have is definitely a headband; with three day festivals and no shower to wash, a hair accessory is an essential along with the dry shampoo! Head accessories are becoming more and more popular, ranging from your original printed hairband to glamorous feathered head piece and floral spiked band.

Urban Outfitters

Topshop

Urban Outfitters

  A 2012 Fashion Essentials is DEFINETLY tie dye and dip dye. Wither it is shorts, jumper, leggings or dress. This is something that will be EVERYWHERE this year. Britain has been invaded by both dip dye and tie dye, wither its hair or clothing, and we really are rocking the look. Throwing on your wellies or D.Martins with you dyed clothing. You will be looking bang on trend and ready to party!!

Urban Outfitters

asos

Urban Outfitters

With the British weather you never know whats going to happen; So prepare for the worst and hope for the best. This does mean Wellies, Jacket, and hat!
People often get frustrated that they have to wear a jacket to stay warm and it covers up your well thought our festival outfit! The only solution is, get an on trend jacket that you love, it will ensure that you don’t mind it covering you up cause you know how good you look and FEEL!

Miss Selfridge

Topshop

Topshop

Don’t be to ‘glum’ if the weather forecast is getting you down, be optomistic and  take your Sunglasses!!

alixpicken

Bling Bikinis

Finally summer is *ahem* upon us…

The British weather might not be Ibiza temperatures, but we sure are getting into the spirit of things, whether it’s a girls holiday or a romantic trip, the one thing us girls can’t resist is a new bikini. You may already have 10 in your wardrobe but; A new year, new holiday = new bikini!

We have found a cure to spruce up and recycle your swimwear, why not ‘bling up’ and embellish last year’s bikini by adding studs, beads, chains, or floral embroidery to your simple, cheap bikini, and make it look a ‘million dollars’ with its own personal touch!

If you search on the internet or take a trip down to your local haberdashery store there will be an incredible variety of embroidery and embellishment that would make your bikini go from Primark to Prada.

A great website to look at is www.love-craft.co.uk and especially their studs and spikes range
http://www.love-craft.co.uk/studs-spikes-1.html
(If you buy in bulk, they are often cheaper)

Happy sewing!!


ONE LAST THING!!
Please check out the all new Edinburgh Online Fashion Week
Website: Edinburgh Online Fashion Week
Like there Facebook page: Edinburgh Online Fashion Week Facebook Page
and follow them on twitter @EdinOFW
A new exciting project I am involved with... stay tuned!!


Why not give it a go and let us know how you get on by sending pictures of your DIY Bikinis to Megan.eofw@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in our follow up post on Edinburgh Online Fashion week...



Alix Picken

Scottish Fashion Awards

I apologise for not posting in so long.. Been very busy since my holiday working two jobs, helping at the Scottish Fashion Awards, and I'm also involved in a new project which I will hopefully be able to reveal soon!!

The 7th Annual Scottish Fashion Awards was held at the Cylde Auditorium for the first time this year, Monday 11th June brought designers, press, celebrities to Scotland! I was lucky enough to get work experience at the SFA's, with a 9am start myself and the other helpers made our way to a room insided the SECC and Cylde auditorium 'passage way'. And it wasnt long before all the helpers were ensuring that the Clyde Auditorium was ready forall the guests to arrive!!

With the models getting their hair and make-up done in peperation for the Swarovski catwalk during the ceremony, and the helpers been given there brief.

Five o'clock wasn't long on approtching, where the red carpet was rolled out, and ready for the international celebrities and judges to visit Scotlands biggest fashion awards.
It was then my job to get our VIP guests from the Champagne reception at the Crown Plaza to the Clyde auditorium and seated in time for the ceremony to start. It was very stressful 'mingling' with the likes of Karen Gillan, Brix Star, David Gandy, Millie and Proudlock from Made in Chelsea, and preformances from Dionne Broomfield and Tallia Storm, we had to ensure everyone was seated in time before the award ceremony to began, hosted by the one and only style queen, and international fashion icon, Alexa Chung.

 

My next task was to usher one of the award winners to the media room for interview and photoshoots with InStyle and The Herald, I was lucky enough to be given 'Designer of the year' winner, Christopher Kane, who is one of the nicest people I have met, very down to earth, doesn't let all the famous and cameras got to his head. He certainly made me feel alot more relaxed, during the stressful night!

 

There were some incredible nominees and winner at the event, from Colin McDowell, founder of Fashion Fringe, was awarded Fashion Ambassador 2012. Karen Gillan won Fashion icon of the year, Joanne McGillivary won graduate of the year, bagging her a intern with Marks and Spencers.
Hayley Scanlan won Young Designer of the Year, up against some inspiring young designers such at Obscure Couture, and Isolated Heros.

I found the whole experience very interesting, eye opening and inspiring!
If you have any questions i'll try my best to answer,
I will also do a follow up post in the next few days, about the fashion on the red carpet..
Stay tuned.

alxpickenxo

 

Yesterday's Purchases

I'm jetting off to Florida this weekend for two weeks with the family, doing the usual Orlando Florida Parks - Universal, Islands of Adventure, Seaworld, Aquatica, Bush Gardens and Down town Disney.. bit of shopping here and there, and OBVIOUSLY some major tanning sessions!

As we all know about my slight obsession with denim shorts and I always say I'd love to live somewhere, where I don't have to wear tights with my Levi's. Though, I felt wearing denim shorts around the parks, going on the water rides might not be the most comfortable. AND with me not being the biggest fan of dresses, I popped into town yesterday before getting my hair cut, and bought myself some cotton shorts to wear around the parks that I know will dry easily after going on Popeye (the water ride) ten times!!

Topshop: £10

 

 

Primark: £4 (Score)

Love the Aztec print, I think these shorts are a great buy £4!! Just mean an extra pound change from a fiver can go towards a Starbucks or Costa.

Topshop: £20

I know this is a dress, and has some pink on it (You rarely see me in anything pink) but I thought it would be great for throwing on over a bikini and for summer in general.

The lucky 'choosen ones' that are coming to Florida with me.

And my UO Bumbag..
(along with some Levis... You can never say No to Levi's)

 

Teamed with my Scull top, Topshop

Cream Top, again Topshop

 

Thought I'd team my dress with my black studded bumbag!
Everyone loves studs..

I have also desided that bumbags don't get as much praise as they should,
They casually just hang from your waist while your hands are free to do anything!
I LOVE BUMBAGS!

please comment, follow and ask any questions.. I'll try my best to answer..

 

alxpickenxo

CASUALY CREEPIN' ABOUT

Im pretty sure if any of you know me really well, you'll know I have serious trouble trying to find shoes to fit me, I get told I have really cute feet, though TRUST me - you don't want them.. In the UK womans heels start in a size three and sadly im no where near a three. Im a small two, and in converse a one. *Sigh*

This doesn't help the fact I LOVE shoes, I think heels are incredible the way they make a woman feel, enlongating your legs, making your posture better and confidence increase. But sadly my real shoe collection is no where near my dream collection.

THOUGH . . . . I am very pleased to say I finally own a pair of size two, YES SIZE TWO, Underground Creepers (some love them, some hate them) I personally think they're cool, young and totally 'hip'.

I had originally bought a size three hoping an insole would do the trick, though two insoles later and foam round the heel of the shoe with thick fluffy socks, it was safe to say I could not go out in public like that. My sister then told me she would buy them off me, though seeing 'MY CREEPERS' on my sisters feet, felt so wrong, and I new I had to do whatever it took to find a pair that fit me.

I came home from work one day, to find hidden under my dressing gown on my bed....a box, a shoe box! And Yes you've probably guessed it? My sister had surprised me and bought me a pair of creepers size two, though an insole was still needed.. I NOW OFFICIALLY OWN CREEPERS!!
To anyone that know me, this is a big deal... I've been trying to find them for ages, and I now own a pair that are happily sitting in my cupboard, as I write this post.

I want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to my sister, for bying me the creepers I seriously love them..

alxpickenxo

Menswear Project

With the summer holidays officially begun, and the sun pearing through the thick scottish clouds. I finally got my menswear folio and garments back when I headed back to Gala (Narnia) for my exam (which was luckily only 20 multiple choice questions).
During semester two we were to pair ourselves with a partner (Hannah) and had to create mens t-shirt,  using techinicial sewing machines that we previously hadn't used, and seperatly create a 60's graphic that we felt woud be seen on a mens T-shirt. As a pair we had to combine our jean design ideas to come up with a pair that we later had to create in the sewing workshop.

For my folio I selected three T-shirt designs I had created and took them forward and put them into my menswear line-up, I finally select a design that was going to be my final graphic. I was pretty pleased with my final line up, as I didn't use photoshop, I managed to do all this on publisher (I won't lie it was a challenge, especially without a mouse and only the touch pad) But who doesnt love a challenge?

Below is Hannah and I's Final menswear i-D cover, we were asked to photograph the clothes we had created and use appropriate text for i-D magazine.
Living in Gala there are limited male's to model our clothes, so Hannah and I came up with the idea of crumpled, ripped and torn paper, With models from magazines, and images of our jeans, t-shirt, and 60's Graphic, in a collage! (not unlike Clash Magazines recent cover)

Hannah and I are still waiting for our grades for our Menswear and are unsure how the lecturers are going to take the i-D magazine cover we created, they will either love it or hate it!
Let us know what you think. I hope you like what we have made.
Speak soon

alxpickenxo

Wishlist #1

Just thought I would post a few things I've been eyeing up lately, though sadly I'm unable to buy practicaly everything on my wish list due to the price. I guess thats why they call it a wish list.

 

 

 

All Saints

Printed Shirt £95

I'm in LOVE with this shirt though the thought of paying £95 when I'm a student isnt something I should consider.

Creepers £84

Urban Outfitters

Sparkle & Fade Chiffon Insert Jumper £35

Not sure which collar clips I would like

though I wouldnt say no to these

I would love to be able to pull of the

Printed Blazer-Shorts suit combo

 

There are alot more things I  would love to own, though that would be greedy

Inspiration #1

Not been on in a while (I'm sorry) though I thought I would post some images that inspire me, from photogrphy, models, clothes, and inparticular a map of the world - This is a scratch map that my friend got me for my 18th cause she know how much I want to see the world, I cant wait till the map goes from gold to colour... enjoy!!



Jaw Breaking

World Scratch Map

Charlotte Free

Creepers keep creep'n

The Ragged Priest

Georgia May Jagger

I got some of theses images via: JawBreaking, Dazed&Confused, Topshop, The Ragged Priest..