Owl Eyes

  1. http://alfredthegr8.wordpress.com/

    I think things will be moving over to here probably. Just shoving the link out there.

    2. Apr 3, 2013

  2. 2/3/13: hats

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4604923-Custom-Scenes-And-The-Parties-That-Make-Them

    Sometimes decisions made for the wrong reason turn out very well.
    In this case I think getting a hat that made me laugh for reminding me of Walt’s pork pie hat in Breaking Bad ended up getting me a job.
    But more on that later.
    I’ve been taking a tighter rein on colour palettes in my outfits at the moment. Before I know it I’ll end up only wearing black, white and burgundy.
    There could be worse fates.
    (romwe dress and hat, topshop cardigan from ebay)


    http://lookbook.nu/look/4615989-Twilight-Bloom

    For a long time I think people had me pegged as purely feminine clothing. Only dresses, only skirts, all flowers and pastels. And while I don’t deny that is one part of me, the lighting and the fact awkward angles make heels more common in my photos means another huge facet to my clothing choices is commonly overlooked

    masculine shoes.
    I always think it’s fun mixing typically masculine items in with more feminine ones (also hence the big jacket over a dainty dress in this outfit) and these shoes are basically a dream for doing that. Won them on ebay for £7~
    I suppose the mix of masculine and feminine might be some driving force in my decision to cut my hair, but I still don’t know what exactly my reason for doing it was other than kicking myself in action finally. Best decision I’ve ever made though, so I won’t try to analyse it too much in retrospect.
    (Dress is topshop but I got it from ebay, jacket is so old I don’t remember, hat is still romwe, shoes are red or dead from ebay.)

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4634533-Landslide-The-Dig

    Now remember when I said a hat got me a job?
    So did this outfit (maybe).
    Long story short, applied for a job at Dorothy Perkins, wore this to the interview and apparently my style was a large part of why I got the interview in the first place. Got a call this morning telling me I’d got the job.
    What was the common factor in the interview and getting the interview? I wore this hat!
    Also note what I said before about keeping a tighter rein on colour palettes and my amazing coordinated nails.
    (cardigan is topshop from ebay, top is dorothy perkins, jeans are topshop, hat is still romwe)

    Lookbook look title song references:

    #1 Johnny Foreigner - Custom Scenes And The Parties That Make Them, but instead I want to link The Coast Was Always Clear because I can. Don’t know why but it suddenly felt more appropriate to post
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2eiXG_n0Xo

    #2 The Daysleepers - Twilight Bloom
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMt66fwm3fc
    I found out about the daysleepers through the last.fm radio thing a  couple of years ago. They’re really very good.

    #3 Laura Stevenson and The Cans - Landslide/The Dig
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PMachuWib4
    One of those songs you get addicted to particularly easily.

    3. Mar 2, 2013

  3. Does anyone else remember in 2009 when they found that Anglo-Saxon gold hoard in Staffordshire?
    I was glued to the news when it happened. I have a not-so-secret obsession with the dark ages, and something like that is so exciting to me. I’ve watched every documentary on it that I can find (some several times, thank you Dr Janina Ramirez) and it still never fails to fascinate me.
    Now I promise this is going somewhere, I just need to set this up properly.
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    ughh, the intricacy.
    Illuminated manuscripts are pretty A+ as well. The most famous probably being The Lindisfarne Gospels (by the way, for anyone who isn’t familiar with it, Lindisfarne is the island with easily the highest interest level to size ratio of any island on earth) but the metalwork of the Lindau Gospels is also stunning (so stunning I own a notebook with a reproduction of it as the cover)
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    (that’s my notebook, obviously, not the real one)

    And then of course you get into International Gothic art, which was ridiculous but amazing.
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    (okay so this was the piece my art history teacher used to throw at us all the time as an example of renaissance styles creeping into international gothic because ~foreshortened horses~ but let’s look past that and focus on ALL THAT GOLD okay?)

    Basically what I’m getting at is gold, red and religious imagery in artwork and metalwork gets me excited and I love it so.

    But why am I getting into this on a blog where usually I just post clothes, you may be wondering (or not if you know what’s coming or you’re just not that bothered)

    welll…
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    Dolce & Gabbana nailing it. Hard.

    Do you know how much I am in love with this all? First time I saw these photos I was left with my jaw agape wondering if they’d accidentally consulted with me on what to do for this collection.

    4. Feb 27, 2013

  4. Awwdore Review

    I never really know how to start off reviews, they’re more difficult to get going than normal posts. I suppose I ought to start by stating the items were sent to me for free, but the thoughts following are my own.

    Recently I was sent two items by Awwdore (a company I’ve been working with doing outfit posts for a while now) and it seemed a good time to do a review post considering I have quite a good handle on their products now.

    The two items sent to me appeared as following on the website:

    http://www.awwdore.com/new-arrivals/lace-with-velvet-skirt-navy#

    http://www.awwdore.com/new-arrivals/my-pearly-lacey-blouse-in-burgundy (look, I’m the worn photo for this one!)

    And they appeared in the following looks:

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4583345-The-Hurdle

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4580157-You-had-a-new-dream-it-was-more-like-a-nightmare

    As you can see the burgundy blouse is very true to the photo, the skirt is a little more subdued in person but when the light hits it, it becomes far more vibrant

    if you’ll excuse the blurry photography.

    Something I’ve come to love about the Awwdore items I’ve been sent is the amount of detail the items have. Small touches like the lace cuffs of the blouse or the pockets (velvet lined!!) of the skirt. If there’s one thing that sends me over the moon with regard to skirts it’s when I discover pockets in them. The overall quality of the items seems about similar to standard high street fare I’ve seen, I’d say about a similar level to New Look as a point of comparison for anyone familiar. The pricing seems very reasonable to me for the quality (although I am sent the products free, I know, but I would happily pay the £18 that skirt costs)

    The pros:
    + Cute, unusual items with a good level of detail
    + Very reasonable pricing for the quality
    + The staff who I’ve been in contact with are all absolutely lovely! (rude/unhelpful/difficult to contact staff can completely tarnish a brand’s reputation for me)
    + I don’t know if this is just because I do outfit posts for them or it’s a standard deal, but every time I receive an Awwdore parcel the loveliest little handwritten note is included! I think personal touches are always a huge pro.

    The cons:
    - Many items have limited sizes, and a lot only have one size they’re available in
    - No shoulder measurements! (pernickety con, I know, but it is often a useful measurement to have)

    And to round this off, lookbook look song references!
    #1 The Joy Formidable - The Hurdle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h9YmOHd1Ik
    Although I prefer The Big Roar overall to Wolf’s Law, I think this is quite possibly one of the greatest songs The Joy Formidable have done. Song of the year so far for me.
    #2 The Antlers - Two https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-BFLjyIb04
    Not going to lie, Hospice has made me cry one or several times when I’ve listened to it and I know I’m definitely not alone in that because it is easily one of the most heartbreaking albums ever written. As one very astute youtube commenter says on the video linked, “yothis song is sad”

    5. Feb 15, 2013

  5. Fallen behind again!

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4549303-take-me-take-me-to-the-riot

    Whoops! Already fallen behind again in posting these. Oh well, better late than never as the old cliche goes.
    Been a long time since I pulled out this old Romwe leather jacket, but I wanted something to “toughen up” this Chicwish skirt a bit. I think it worked.

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4556455-I-m-still-these-nervous-feet-and-heart-of-stone

    I’ve been lusting after a burgundy cardigan for a while. Saw one in topshop’s sale recently for £20 and as much as it was love at first sight I can’t stretch to spend that on a whim at the moment so I had to leave it and wish it all the best in its life. Turns out luck was on my side because then I happened across a cardigan even more perfect than that one on ebay for £3, won it and fell in love with it when it arrived.
    Large cardigan + high waisted skirt + plain tshirt is kind of my go to outfit at the moment, but it feels pretty difficult to go wrong with. It’s a shame the lace on this Chicwish skirt didn’t show up well in photographs because it’s very lovely in person.

    Took a trip to Nottingham this weekend just gone and, as I posted on my other blog, visited “Batman’s House”. Or Wollaton Hall as it’s better known. It was the house used as Bruce Wayne’s manor in The Dark Knight Rises, but is actually a museum inside so I managed to get a few “inspiration photos” from what I found within.

    I often feel the best inspiration comes from more abstract sources. Direct outfit inspiration is all well and good, but I prefer to use anything and everything I can find.

    And to round things off, lookbook look song title references
    #1 Stars - Take Me To The Riot
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxeIivNDtFU
    #2 The Gaslight Anthem - Casanova, Baby
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv25hbTWM9w

    6. Feb 13, 2013

  6. 2/2/13

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4530789-I-Give-You-Two-Seconds-to-Entertain-Me

    I’m a little spoiled at the moment by trends - particularly tapestry style items and burgundy. I make no secrets that I, much like a 5 year old, have a favourite colour and it just so happens to be burgundy (although when the weather lightens up it shares its spot with mint green and ice blue and sometimes even pine green when the mood strikes) so for it to be everywhere at the moment is quite the blessing for me.
    And the fact tapestry style items seem to be popping up everywhere is also good news for me and helps me feel that little bit closer to living inside a cross between a pre-raphaelite painting and some dark age manuscript.
    This is probably my absolute favourite outfit in a long time, it’s just a shame I can’t wear it forever.
    Cardigan and tshirt are Olive, snood is Asos, shorts are Romwe


    http://lookbook.nu/look/4534347-You-got-used-to-the-sound-of-mornings

    See what I meant by being spoiled at the moment?
    It’s a shame it’s not lighter at this time of year so my ~awesome coordinating skills~ could be fully appreciated and my burgundy socks could be seen in full glory.

    I’ve become a jewel-tone convert over the past few months and I never want to look back.

    Also to end this part of the post, I have a quick request! I’m going to be moving to Nottingham later in the year for university and wondering if any of you know of any places to check out (not restricted to clothing, just any interesting places) in the area? Thanks in advance!

    And to round off the post, lookbook look title song references!
    #1 Northern Portrait - I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y23z_NF8VkQ
    I challenge anyone to listen to that and not get the last part stuck in their head for the better part of a week. I just enjoy Northern Portrait so much, even if they are basically The Smiths (but better because they never caused anyone to meet and fall in love in a lift)

    #2 from Johnny Foreigner - Dark Harbourzz
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nClbGiMcato
    They ended up my most listened band of 2012 and deservedly so (first band to steal that title from Los Campesinos! since 2009). They occupy a now permanent top 5 spot in my heart these days and I’d kill to see them live one day even if I would inevitably get crushed in the crowd.

    7. Feb 2, 2013

  7. 26/1/13

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4499395-january-is-endless

    I re-found this skirt while clearing out my wardrobe the other day. I got it ages ago in a topshop sale, but forgot all about it because I had nothing to wear it with at the time. Over the moon re-finding it again because it really works well with the love of tapestry style items I’ve developed.

    Also look at this gorgeous necklace! I’ve been turning to etsy more and more for my jewellery needs. There are so many unusual things on there.
    I’ve developed a small obsession with crows, ravens, rooks etc (hence my recent profession change on lookbook) so this seemed a fitting tribute to the subjects of my newest obsession

    http://lookbook.nu/look/4510227-Criminal-Art-Lovers

    Also while clearing my wardrobe I happened upon my slip! Thought I’d lost it but it was hanging inside a dress to summery to take off its hanger at this time of year. But now I can wear my lace tops and dresses again so all is well in the world.
    Etsy is once again to thank but this time for my nails. I’m addicted to Kate Broughton’s nail stickers. I want them all! Also I bought Essie Ballet Slippers recently so decided to give it a whirl. It does live up to the hype as a wonderful milky creamy pale pink shade to me, but my mum disagrees and thinks I’m only saying that because everyone else says it’s so wonderful.

    Anyway, lookbook look title songs:

    #1 A line from Bloc Party - Waiting For The 7.18
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlMC2MuV9Q4
    A line that pretty much sums up my thoughts on this time of year and a song that always makes me sad. Also sounds exactly like taking the train out of London on a winter evening and seeing the lights of the city blur into movement and streams of colour. (Something I used to have to do regularly late 2009/2010)

    #2 Northern Portrait - Criminal Art Lovers
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gQ4SDf0AP0
    Listening to Northern Portrait is a bit like listening to The Smiths without any of the assumptions associated with listening to The Smiths and also without Morrissey, so it’s a win-win situation.
    But joking aside, Northern Portrait are criminally (eh, eh, see what I did there) underrated. I could listen to them for days.

    8. Jan 26, 2013

  8. Just letting anyone who is interested know, Romwe are holding a big sale starting soon

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    Up to 40% off from 1/30/2013 - 2/01/2013 
    http://www.romwe.com/manage_activity/best_seller_sale/

    9. Jan 26, 2013

  9. 25/1/13


    http://lookbook.nu/look/4483303-Goodbye-England-Covered-In-Snow

    Snow necessitates layers, and I’m okay with that.
    I never understand people who say English winters make skirt wearing difficult. If anything I find that preferable in cold weather and especially in snow. No soggy trouser hems and layered tights (I’ve had anywhere up to 4 depending on thickness this week) make for a better combination in my mind.
    I’m living in big cardigans at the moment and this sheinside one has a hood, which makes it even cosier! Describing clothes in terms of cosiness in winter is pretty common for me, sometimes I’ll text my boyfriend all excited that I have a new jumper that’s particularly cosy. I think it’s important to have priorities in winter.
    (Skirt is Awwdore, top is a dress from Olive)


    http://lookbook.nu/look/4487077-The-Everchanging-Spectrum-of-a-Lie

    Bit of a confession here, not actually an outfit for that day but more of a speculative outfit for when I have occasion to wear this dress.
    I realised all my dresses are a bit too dull for going out, and considering I’m off to university in September I need a few dresses that are more approriate to nights out. I’m a bit too much of a homebody to have a wardrobe full of dresses that suit drinking and nights out.
    (Headband is from topshop, dress is sheinside)


    http://lookbook.nu/look/4491125-Blue-Monday

    Back again to outfits only properly described as cosy. Apparently the Monday I wore this is the most depressing day of the year. Well why not fix that with jumpers and scarves.
    Saw a thing once about how orange and blue are the most used colours in movie posters and it makes sense with how good they look together. I think they’re pretty hard to go wrong with.
    (jumper is from sheinside, scarf used to belong to my mum.)

    Now, lookbook look song titles:

    Laura Marling - Goodbye England (Covered in Snow) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-87ivR7igWc
    It just makes sense to listen to in the snow.
    The Joy Formidable - The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONlLmXuZBI0
    They had a new album out recently and I’ve still yet to listen to it, despite their first album being absolutely amazing. One of those bands that received a lot of NME attention that I think was probably detrimental because they’re legitimately a good band and don’t deserve the stigma of being a band made by NME over them.
    and of course New Order - Blue Monday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftJZomwDhxQ
    How very topical. I used Blue Monday on blue Monday.

    10. Jan 25, 2013

  10. 18/1/13




    http://lookbook.nu/look/4480055-Clouds-in-your-eyes

    It’s been snowing! Doesn’t usually snow here, and when it does snow it’s never usually much so it’s always exciting when proper snow happens.

    This was about 10am this morning, it’s about 3-4 inches thicker now.


    So pretty.
    But all so white that I wanted to wear something a little bit colourful today.



    So this Awwdore jumper does the trick.

    Might not seem a lot of snow to people outside England, but we never prepare properly here so even two inches incapacitates the country. Everyone has been sent home from college/work/whatever so the house is full of snow-sodden family watching Deal or No Deal and catching up on old episodes of Lewis. It’s like an extra bit of Christmas.

    Now lookbook like song reference time, this time a line from Wild Nothing - Chinatown
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbAISMzd7vA

    I am a massive Wild Nothing fan, and I’ve recently managed to convert my boyfriend as well so it’s all good. I know a lot of people love Nocturne but I still don’t think Gemini can be beaten (apart from maybe by Golden Haze but does that count if it’s only an EP? Who knows.)

    11. Jan 18, 2013

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