Saturday 30 October 2010

Exploring London: Day One - around Chinatown, Manga Store and The Shoe Boutique


I've decided that this half term was spent well. I had the time and opportunity to visit all kinds of must-go-to places around central London;(including the national galery,which I have never been to before; pretty shocking.) all in the space of one week which was pretty exciting. (Although Beyond Retro still remains on my list). I'm accually on the verge of becoming Dora the Explorer.I took plenty of photos because I knew I won't be going there anytime soon. On Tuesday I went to Chinatown with my friends which was lovely as I haven't been since Chinese New Year in 2008. My friend, Jesse, who has a quirky obsession with Manga(which is a name given to comics, books and print cartoons based animated Japanese people) made us go to HUGE Manga store nearby.  We were all pretty much dreading it, apart from Jesse ofcourse,  until we entered it. To my surprise, it was one of the most exciting stores that I've been to; think Disney Store but with Manga and anything for a movie Fan(they even sold Twilight dolls). In the corner, sat a wax figure of Spider Man , observing you as you entered and as you descended into the ground floor, above you there was something in the form of a mini spaceship, attached to the ceiling. In contrast to the geeky-but-cool stuff, there was whole two stands dedicated to Hello Kitty - Calling Hello Kitty Fans! I have never though something so not-my-kinda-thing could bring such fascination; but that's the thing about London, its a city full of surprises.
GOSH, cover up.



 Later on in the day, we came across this gorgeous shoe boutique called Author. It was so all homey, cute and posh. The window display (pictured) immediatly grabbed my attention, so much I had to take a picture. I found a lovely pair of Vivienne Westwood ballerina pumps pictured (below), which you don't really find in the avarage shoe store.
Calling all fashionistas, shoe-hollics and vintage lovers; this is a place for you ♥

Author
 76-78 Charing Cross Road
WC 2H 0BD
Nearest Tube; Leicester Square

MY BABIES! ^


(Other nice shoes)




 The staff was really nice too
I suggest you pay a little visit.


MORE SHOES :)


During out exploring, me and my friends came across this weird looking thing.
"strange is beautiful"



Keep a look out on Exploring London Day 2; Covent Garden, National Art Gallery, and Rokit (the queen shop of Vintage)

Love Karo ♥
All my own pictures

Tuesday 26 October 2010

The Significance of a handbag.... and a moral ♥

According to Vogue....



IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BAG INDEED, VOGUE. Just as I was thinking about doing a post on bags (while cleaning my room) I stumbled across this years May issue of Vogue. I flicked through it and found this great article on handbags and their colossal impact. and that's when I realised no matter how hard i tried, I could not express the importance of a handbag better than Vicky Woods (Vogue). So instead I took a photo of some of these very accurate quotes
 



Above, you can see my Tapestry Tote/holdall (not too sure what to call it) or in the word's of my fashion-clueless friend " an Old Lady's bag"  "It's VICTORIAN VINTAGE" i tell him. I do love it: its handy, not too big, not too small, perfect size. Although I did feel slightly awkward wearing it because my mum managed to convince me that it wasn't really "suitable for my age" which was then seconded by my friend : "you've bought that old Lady's bag with you again!"

UNTIL one day on my way to school about three weeks ago, I saw about 5 school girls around my age wearing incredibly similar bags to my one above and I was like "hmmmm".   I decided to do some research and exploring; take a look at these below
River Island:
brown tapestry satchel.
£36.99


New Look

NOW £18.74 WAS £24.99

Tapestry Design Bag

  • Price: £40.00




  • £10.00



  • SEE THE RESEMBLANCE?
    I couldn't believe that these popular clothing stores were overloaded with Tapestry handbags, selling like hot cakes, while I was hiding mine in shame, afraid someone will accuse me of wearing an "old Lady's handbags" once again.
    Well never again! I shall proudly lay my handbag on my shoulder ,expose the greatness of the tapestry patterns,  ignore the comments of both my mother and my friend and by no means feel awkward wearing it. I have learnt my lesson; do not let comments against your style influence it in anyway.

     1. Vintage leather satchel - charity shop   2.Tapestry tote/holdall- grandma    3. Marc B twister/padlock bag- TKMaxx  4. Fashion Journal- Tiger


    IN CHINATOWN ^

    Sunday 24 October 2010

    WOW.

    WOOOOOOOOOW I saw these gorgeous floral Doc Martens for 74.99 pounds in a window display in Westfields London, however, I was in too much of an amazement to accually  remember the store. BUT NO WORRIES; with the help of the little price holder I can make out it says "Schuh" which is a footwear store on the second floor of Westfields, near Zara, as far as I can remember.

    It was love at first sight. I almost licked the window (as I couldn't enter the actual store- it was closed) but no worries, I managed to control my self

    SO I took a photo instead......

    OK you may not like it, understandable.
    Some people aren't into docs.

    WAIT, NO, WHAAAT? HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE IT?

    ______________________
    Although the official website states that "Prints Originals have become a summer staple for more than a decade"  it was only recently that these Vintage Rose and Victorian Flower patterned Doc Martens appeared in stores as far as I'm concerned. And It was also recently (we're talking like 40 years ago, here) that Doc's became popular among different groups of society other than punks and skinhead, because throughout the 1970's and 1980's The Doctor Marten boot was STILL a key aspect of rebel youth-wear.  



    THE HISTORY OF DOC MARTENS

    Once up on a time, in the gory years of World War II, lived a doctor named Klaus Martens who has served in the German army. One Day, whilst on his vacation in 1945, during skiing in the Baravian Alps he has injured his ankle. Although this was quite an unfortunate experience (for him) it was the outcome of one of the greatest fashion inventions of the century, as well as a start of a new trend, a new era.  He noticed that the army boots provided were too uncomfortable for his painful wound therefore during his recovery, he made some major improvements to the boots by adding air padded soles and soft leather. Once the Second World War was brought to an end, many Germans stole valuables from their cities. Marten thought that leather would come in handy. With the stolen leather he made himself a pair of boots, which were later thoroughly developed with the help Dr. Herbert Funck. In the year 1952 they had opened they own company as the sales of their handmade shoes were going incredibly well. Since then Doc Martens became a craze, not only among skinheads and punks but (believe it or not) housewife’s and females in their 40’s.  Doc Martens has won two awards for their 14-hole black leather boot won two fashion awards; one for the 'most popular men's footwear in latest fashion' and the other for 'best counter-cultural footwear of the decade'.

    And everyone lived happily ever after, Proudly Striding  around the world in the magnificent Doc Martens.


    Here are few more examples of the floral doc's

    Print 1460 8-Eye Boot-TAUPE
    DR MARTENS 1460 BOOTS - TAUPE VICTORIAN FLOWERS
     1460 8-Eye Boot-BLACK





    Dr Martens Ladies Mini Tydee


    Print 1460 8-Eye Boot-OFF WHITE
    PRINT 1460 8-EYE BOOTOFF WHITE CLOUD ROSE


    The three images above from the official doc Marten website:
    www.drmartens.com.
    you can find all the details and prices there.
    I do not own.

    PS:  AGYNESS DEYN WEARS DOC'S TOO :)
    LOVE HER.

    image from: http://messynessychic.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/screen-shot-2010-09-10-at-08-16-11.png?w=233&h=497

    SO what do you think of Doc Martens? A bit too bulky? A bit too "punky"
    do you like the floral docs? what makes you love docs?

    Thursday 21 October 2010

    This is me.

    I love love love my mums denim jacket. We have pretty much established that it  belongs to me as I am VERY strongly attached to it. It gives that EDGE to the outfit
    but at the same time enhances the innocence of the dress.



    I'm wearing a headband that i made in litrellaly 10minutes.
    (although you can't see it very well, apologies for that my dearies)
    Im planning to write about my headband making method in my following blogg
    so if your interested keep a lookout for it :D



    I must admit, the heart shaped sunnies ARE from Primark: i feel slightly ashamed to admit that, due to Primarks terrible reputation for making little kids working in their factories, but then again I do love the sunnies, and i shall not deny it. Infact, many other companies have children working their factories in LEDC(less economically developed countries, that geography lesson did come in handy ;) ) however people failed pay attention they only aim for the obvious so the spot light is on Primarche (as some people like to call it)



     BUT ANYWAY, lets move on to the image of my Harajuku perfume below.




    This is the doll part of my perfume, used as a the lid. THAT IS ONE FUNKY LID I TELL YOU. It is majorly the main part of the perfume as a whole, which all the girls adore. The gorgeous fragrance is called Harajuku Lovers; Music by Gwen Stefanie. And as you may have known she is absolutely obsessed with Harajuku girls; she even made a song about them, take a peek










    My hand is the light source :)






    Holding my precious Harajuku Lovers Perfume

















    HARAJUKUUUUUU POWEERRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    :)




    Denim Jacket from my mother (purchased from a charity shop, i suppose.
    The label says Vertus Jeans, not quite sure where that is, appologies)
    Dress from River Island
    Sunnies as mention previously from primark
    perfume - Boots