ALASKA

ALASKA by b-ell-eb featuring velvet boots

Montana cotton shirt
£315 - 1stdibs.com

Elie Saab purple shorts
£365 - farfetch.com

Hollister Co lingerie bra
£14 - hollisterco.com

Charlotte Russe velvet boots
£16 - charlotterusse.com

Feb Future

Some hints towards my plans for Feb 14th.

Belle x

Photos sourced from Tumblr 

Bitter

Today was bitter. Today was not my finest hour. I woke up in the early hours of the morning with a horrendous throat infection, but that doesn't mean the show can't go on.

I still cracked on with life - though it might've not been the most sensible of moves as I just crashed for a good two hours! 

Hat - H&M // Cowl Neck Knit - Forever21 // Jeans - Topshop // Boots - New Look // Coat - Vintage Topshop // Wrist Cuff - Unknown vintage

I'm wearing everything from the high street, which I usually stray away from. I like online boutiques, such as ASOS Marketplace, Whitepepper and Vintage shops. But I needed a good pair of jeans that would keep me warm in the cold winters and these do the job, paired with the rest of my garb. 

I wouldn't recommend the Knit though. As wonderful as the shape is, it's itchy and prickly (but I see that as a sacrifice for looking the way I want to look). 

Until next time!

Belle x

IT'S WEDNESDAY NIGHT BABY AND I'M ALIVE!

Okay perhaps not a Wednesday night, but a Sunday instead.

Although it's very difficult for me to comprehend, Christmas is right around the corner and I'm trying my hardest to feel the christmassy spirit. But I'm not. 

To try and revive this spirit, I've made a wish list of things that I will most likely never buy for myself, but would like to.

EMERGING FROM HER PIT

I've gone and done that thing where I disappear, like I do whenever I start anything. But no! I stamp my foot to that notion now... so I'm back. 

A lot of 'interesting' (if you're a gossipy 13 year old girl) things have happened in my life recently, but on a lighter side of my spectrum I've been doing creative things! 

Once more, apologies for the shitty Instagram photos. I never really think to pick up my DSLR, but I will be scanning them in later. Hopefully to sell some for prints.

As well as picking up paintbrush and paper, I've been prepping/shooting for a mock editorial for my chosen musician, Poly Styrene. Someone I find incredibly inspiring, even after her passing in 2011.

The whole feel and idea I was aiming towards was her eager rebelliousness, she was so light hearted but her lyrics screamed for serious attention. "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!'

Belle x

ITCHING

15.11.13

I'm not going to lie to you, although I'm currently studying Fashion Promotion, I will always be an illustrator at heart. I try and mix the two as best as I can, which sometimes isn't as easy as you would imagine, so I'm trying to keep balance between coursework and slapping paint around on pages. Since my recent post I've decided to take the reins and get back on track, feeling as though I have been floating about in limbo. This year until now I've deserted the idea of pursuing some form of illustrative future, but seeing friends who are doing courses that really involve hands on art I've been itching to get back on the horse.

And what best to start off with an influence map (and a change of hair colour)?

1. tcktck's work has always been inspiring to me but lately with all these naked ladies, my weakness, I'm going to go scrabble for some life drawing blogs to refresh my anatomy skills once more.
2. I discovered Mark Lovejoy's work on tumblr a few months ago and it's been heavy on my mind since, these are photographs of pressed paints. Something I'd really like to try myself, perhaps to decorate my box (room)?
3. blairz (or blondelasanga on tumblr) is a fashion illustrator who found me on instagram, I love her messy yet stylistic images of women. It's something I can relate to in my own art, as I don't believe in being a perfectionist with keeping in between the lines.
4. To be quite honest, I think 6133's art speaks for itself.
5. I've been following 70% EtOH for quite some time, and it just keeps getting better. I yearn for a style like that I just don't believe I have the patience.
6. Sailor Moon, if you know me, has a space in my heart. And as soon as I re-watch/read it I'm scratching at my graphics tablet like no other, so I must do this soon.
7. The Last Unicorn's scenery and animation stokes me now, even though it was released in the 80's. Constantly taking inspiration and wisdom from this.

MIYAKE

9 - 11 - 13

If you're anything like me, a student from a small town without a pot to piss in, you'll know how I felt when I trekked off to visit Issey Miyake's stand alone store in Conduit Street, London. Now, I don't mean this in an offensive way, quite the opposite, I was humming with excitement, if not a little nervous, to finally be able to see these intriguingly beautiful garments on display. Only it was a little daunting. A thousand different questions run through your brain when you stand outside a building as open and grand as Miyake's is. With only a small door with the tiniest invite written above the handle (push), these thoughts are 'do I look like I'm allowed to walk in?', 'do you JUST walk in?', 'will they all be staring at me?' and as soon as I did lift a pointy plastic shoe (Monki) to step inside, those thoughts vanished.

 Everyone was polite and in their own little world, quite frankly. I explained my situation as delicately as I possibly could to the nice man in the black turtleneck, that I'm a student in Uni who's interested in doing a brand watch on Miyake and would I be able to take a few snaps? No, of course not, but you can from the outside, was his thoughtful reply. I wasn't surprised. But I was allowed to touch and feel the crafty clothes, all displayed in straight lines, rowing around the layout. Colour coded greens, blues, purples and deep pinks.  The pleats are really as miraculous as I've researched, you can stretch them and once you let go, they form back into their original place. If anything, this visit made me want to through my entire student loan at the assistants and run away with a bag from Miyake (seen displayed in images 5-6). 

I enjoyed the placement of the store, as it unsuspecting, yet spoke loudly standing on a corner, even next to scaffolding and roadworks either side of it I felt like I knew it was his store right away. The bold black 'ISSEY MIYAKE' was honest as it stood out against the open glass showcases. My only complaint is there didn't seem much of it, for a stand alone store. Due to the roadworks I couldn't gain access to the Please Pleats shop on Brooke Street, but I plan on doing so in the upcoming week. Although the Issey Miyake store stood next to brands like DIOR and DIESEL BLACK GOLD (a brand I hold dearly in my fashion promotion heart due it's influence on me), the road itself spoke more Miyake then anything. I think he chose his location well.

On my venture to visit the Japanese designer's wondrous creations, I stumbled upon Oxford Circus' Christmas displays, ready and waiting to be lit on the 12th. This is my favourite time in London, the point between Autumn and Winter, where Halloween has been kicked out into the cold to move aside for Santa and Winter wonderland. Christmas makes London seem smaller, perhaps because it brings everyone together. Maybe I'm just been daft and sentimental. 

No doubt.

Belle