fashion posts

UPDATE: Life Overhaul

August 27, 2014

You may notice that I infamously promised that I’d be back on the blogging scene sometime last month, and mysteriously vanished shortly after making such a bold claim – I apologise, but I HAVE MUCHOS NEWS. After my fight (which sometimes felt disturbingly literal) to secure a graduate job without drowning to the bottom of too many merlot bottles first, I happened to get an interview for a very exciting position on the still rather new and incredibly dynamic Web Team for Primark.com – and guess who got the flipping position as Womens/Kidswear Content Assistant? That would be me! *Insert many streamer emoticons*

So, since the 3rd August, I’ve been trying to get my head around a completely different town in a completely different part of the country: I’m now a big ol’Southerner and I live in Reading. Bit of a wander from the likes of Lancaster and Manchester that I’m used to haunting, but I’m finally starting to get my bearings and have just put down the deposit for a gorgeous studio apartment that I snapped up this morning – so all systems are go – go – go with regards to new life planning! Since I got here (less than a month ago!), I’ve already experienced some amazing times: snagging a Saturday day ticket to Reading Festival and going with a complete stranger (who turned out to be fabulaaaarse and I can’t wait to hang out with her again), a whirlwind work trip to Dublin and far, far too many bottles of red wine (happy bottles though – makes all the damn difference!).

I just thought I’d drop in and remind you all that I still know how to type and (hopefully) construct reasonably interesting posts – and will be doing far more proactive things with my blog now that I’m officially part of the fashion industry and incidentally, have developed an absolute obsession with buying new (Primark) clothes. So if you want to know anything Primark-related from hereon in; I’m your girl. Once I get settled in my new apartment (which is totally OOTD-background friendly, woo), I’m going to be setting up my tripod (wheey) and posting more fashion-focused posts, rather than my verbose ramblings. You can thank me later.

 

 It’s good to be back. xo

WISHLIST: Graduation

June 16, 2014

graduation

Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial Champagne – £40.99 | Ted Baker iPhone Sleeve – £20 (usually £29) | Olivia Burton Big Dial Lilac + Rose Gold Watch – £125 | Miss Selfridge Nude Paisley Gown – £150 | New Look Nude Courts – £19.99

As you may know, I manage to claw my way out of the stormy depths of undergraduateland recently, and will be graduating (escaping) university forever next month. However, before then I also have a Graduation Ball held at Blackpool Tower which, with the addition of the questionable line-up of Chase + Status (DJ set…), Miss Dynamite and someone I can’t even recall, is hopefully just going to be a very fancy piss-up. So this wishlist is going to be a lusty amalgamation of my Graduation Ball outfit wants and my graduation gift wants. I think the dress and the pink Moët are a definite though. Be mine.

 

 

NEWS: ELNfashion is moving.

June 15, 2014

I have news. I have colossal news and, my sweet Mary Jesus and Joseph (paying homage to Grandma there: this post wouldn’t exist without you), you would not believe how psyched I am. The second half of yesterday was spent in a perpetual state of on-the-brink-of-awesome tears and, despite fending them off, I still went to bed with exhausted little piggy eyes and a racing brain. So, what’s happened/happening, you ask? Well… after spending the last six months nurturing an unrelenting sense of financial doom, and fearing that I’d end up stuck back in a box room at my mum’s after university, I finally discovered: I can move to London! It must be the karma train after this monstrosity of a year I’ve had, but everything seems to be aligning amazingly – I came into some money (for the second time ever, I ain’t no trust-fund baby, believe me), and now I’m going to be viewing flats this Wednesday with a view to move in sometime next month. Excited isn’t the word!

Now I have two options. Given I have two job interviews in London on Wednesday, I can hope that I’ll score one of those and start on the career ladder straight away. Otherwise, I’m going to use this (incredibly rare) time in my life to take advantage of the situation (of, uh, being taken advantage of by the fashion industry) and seek out fancy internships whilst I still have enough income to stay alive and, most importantly, well dressed. Today I’m calling out to you wonderful fashion folk and asking:

  • Where’s best to live? I’m eyeing up flats in Kensington and Holloway as we speak.
  • Where are all my London-dwelling fashion bloggers at?
  • Am I going to survive? (sod that, I’m ‘ard as nails)
  • Also – is there ANYWHERE in London where you can get a rental and still get a cat?

I cannot wait to properly start my life, get my blog at the forefront of my life and get really involved in Britain’s heart of the fashion industry. Has anyone else got any stories of London life they’d like to bestow upon me? Something tells me I might need some guidance…

Enjoy my posts? Don’t miss a beat on Bloglovin’!

EVENT: South Beach Swim at Lola’s.

May 30, 2014

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Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with a bunch of bloggers I’d never met before and heading over to Lola’s in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, for South Beach Swim’s #SouthBeachSummer event – and what a little scorcher it was! For what could potentially be the first time in my life, I was ten minutes early for the do – but not that we were complaining, as it gave us first dibs on the (terribly, terribly) moreish custom-named cocktails. I will confess now, that despite polishing off a good five of these beauties by the time I had to leave – I still didn’t don a bikini and start a conga train. Such a let down, I know…

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Our little group (Abi of Kemples, Emma of MissPond, Amy of AmyElizabeth and Beckie of BeckieRackham) settled down with our cocktails and soon after were ushered into the next room – the next room of cake heaven. Now, I’m not usually one for a sweet tooth, but for starters, marshmallow and chocolate brownies (with fizzy flying saucers on them)? They’re kinda something else. As for the cakes – oh, the cakes: one chocolatey delight adorned with what looked like the lining of a fat toddler’s stomach – but in the very best of ways, the other an adorable beach scene. After scoffing half a tonne of crisps and a cheeky nibble of cake, I’d like to thank South Beach Swim for feeding me for the remainder of the week…

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Then came every #bbloggers favourite phrase: time for manicures! I opted for a quirky OPI colour in a deep purple which dried matte with a sand effect: very strange, but very cool. Thank you to @SkinHealthSpa for the manicure – I will definitely be in for a facial soon with this post-exam face. Another bunch of cocktails and fancy nails down, we finally got to checking out the clothes – at least after a cheeky selfie with my new boyfriend – the dead tiki cocktail-mixer skeleton. Both Abi and I fell madly in love with this adorable little nautical number that I may have to invest in if only to parade around my flat wearing it, given the sad lack of holidays on my horizon. Cue violins.

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We all had a really great time, and if anyone fancies whisking me away for a cheeky sun-break: I know exactly which bikini I’ll be wearing.

Thanks for the invite, guys!


 

Ones To Watch: Rufflee SS/14 ‘Funfair’ Drops Today.

April 23, 2014

There’s something really quite special about happening upon an emerging designer – to watch their line grow and flourish from a fledgling into something majorly exciting seemingly overnight – and my latest little treasure trove comes in the guise of Rufflee. This bold new Manchester designer focuses predominantly on kaleidoscopic prints and clean cut wardrobe staples, with a twist. Recently showcased at the London Bloggers Fashion Week ’14 and Manchester Fashion Week ’14, I truly predict great things for this guy – and will definitely be snapping up a few pieces for myself from his latest collection: ‘Funfair’, which drops on April 23rd and can be found here.

Here are some of my favourite picks from the collection, taken from a recent show at Manchester Fashion Week:

Cape and Skirt Co-ord – £28 and £32 respectively

If you’re not acquainted with the terms ‘co-ord’ or ‘separates’ yet this season, I’m slightly worried for you. Once a mythical creature confined to the depths of the nineties and beyond, now a huge storm for SS/14 and found with its own category on the likes of Topshop, Missguided and ASOS, the co-ordinates are here, and they’re here to stay. Most high street labels have taken the route of matchy-matchy t-shirts and bottoms, or straight-up jackets, but Rufflee takes pride of place for being the creator of the first cape co-ord I’ve set eyes on this season. Pair with summertime bare legs (and girl, you don’t need that fake tan), white cleated platforms and fishnet socks to be horrendously on trend this season. If you don’t fancy baring your midriff, a lace camisole will do the trick.

Cotton Candy T-shirt – £36

With the pastel hues of this easy breezy t-shirt, you can insert this right into your SS/14 wardrobe – alongside jelly sandals/holographic clutches/endless cleated footwear/pastel heaven. A perfect way to get a unique print away from the samey-samey racks of high street stores – team with a clashing print for a real fashion blogger feel.

rufflee-manchester-fashion-week-rollercoaster-shirtRollercoaster T-Shirt – £36

If the onslaught of girly pinks is getting a little too much for you this season, you can always cool it down a little with this pale blue number. Throw on some ripped knee skinny jeans and some heeled ankle boots for a twist on the infamous ‘off-duty model’ look – Starbucks cup optional.

Check out the other pieces and get following on your preferred social media channels – this guy’s going to go far!

Website: Rufflee.co.uk

Twitter: TweetRufflee

Instagram: InstaRufflee

PREVIEW: Primark SS14 Collection.

February 27, 2014

Okay, hear me out on this one – as you might currently be as confused as me. I posted about Primark’s SS14 preview drop a month or so ago, but they’ve hit back with a whole host of new pieces to add to the collection. Are they all going to be coming out at the same time, or will these be out in summer itself? The answers, I do not know – but I’ll do my best to find out and follow up on this.

After sitting in a glorious patch of sunshine this morning, eating my second or third bowl of Sugar Puffs in the kitchen, I fantasised heavily about the slow but eventual onset of summer. Is it just me, or has it been winter forever now? Do sandals even exist? What IS a crop top? Ice cream? What a sick joke. I hate the cold – being ghostly pale and blessed with pathetic circulation, I can’t wait for the days where I can ceremoniously burn my winter coats and dance upon their ashes. Or at the very least, gleefully stuff them under my bed. Perfect excuse to buy a pastel pink jacket then, right?

In the meantime, I hope you’ll join me in drooling over these upcoming beauties (slightly weird image when you think about it – maybe less of the communal dribbling, eh):

Prints

  • Printed Beach Fringe Kimono – £15

  • Grid and Floral Print Shirt – £12

Monochrome

  • Tailored Playsuit – £14

Pastel

  • Jade PU Fitted Skirt – £10

  • Lilac Almond Toe Court Shoe – £12

Miley Cyrus Bares All (Again) For W Magazine

February 7, 2014

miley-cyrus

Pretty sure I’ve seen more of Miley Cyrus’ skin than I have my own, of late. The infamous pop sensation just can’t seem to keep enough of her clothes on – despite having a bank balance that would easily dress half of Europe in Chanel. As something of a self-proclaimed Miley-cynic, I usually can’t help myself from writing scathing pieces about her latest faux-pas but today, I’ve hit a crisis: I may actually like these images.

For once, Cyrus’ new look is almost, dare I say it: tasteful. Instead of tacky barely-there Santa girl costumes, or hideously niptastic fishnet monstrosities, this shoot is stripped back in all the right ways. Yes, she may be completely starkers but this time, she’s looking more Donatella Versace than dirt cheap, right? And even better, there’s not a hint of Robin Thicke in sight.

Of course, the subtlety of her sexuality on the cover doesn’t last long, as the inner spread reveals shots of her getting back into that aforementioned ‘niptastic’ mode. However, even though I’m caught face-to-face (or should I say nip-to-face) with her ‘bangerz’, I don’t want to start pelting things at my laptop screen in disgust this time. Maybe it’s because her tongue is well and truly at bay, or maybe it’s because of the artsy monochrome effects – maybe it’s simply because those bleached brows slightly disguise the fact that she’s actually Miley Cyrus. I just can’t hate it.

If this was some foresight into a new era of Miley, I may actually end up hanging up my bitch crown and becoming – perish the thought… a fan. Admittedly, amidst jealousy and judgement, it’s sometimes too easy to forget that Miley is just a young 20-something, just like me. Saying which: you wouldn’t find me licking sledgehammers on your average Friday night. I guess all I’m trying to say is: keep doing what you’re doing, girl – we’ve all seen enough of your nether regions by now.

Over to you guys: are you a fan of this side of Miley? Have W Magazine helped change your tune, too? Drop me a comment or hit me up @Ebzo – I can talk about this girl all day, trust me…

 

 

WISHLIST: February’s Fancies and Image Overhaul.

February 4, 2014

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Revlon ColourBurst Matte Lip Balm £7.99 (on 3 for 2) – Boots | Pastel White Mini Satchel £6 – Primark

Lavish Alice Mint Green Pointed Collar Dress £41.99 – Ark | ALLSORTS Chelsea Boots £45 – Topshop | Retro Patterned Co-Ord Set £19.59 – Choies

Read more ›

LUST: Shop Dixi Stackable Rings Picks

February 1, 2014

dixi-ring-collection-ss14If you have a little scroll-y on down, you’ll spot my first ring ‘LUST’ post: Accessorize. Dixi is a bit like Accessorize’s grungy older sister, and she’s a tad more expensive too. However, when I’m feeling flush, I will definitely be treating myself, painstakingly one-by-one, to these gorgeous pieces to add to my budding stackable ring collection. There is nothing better than disguising stubby fingers with a slick of grey/black/burgundy nail varnish and some distractingly purrrdy rings.

Moonstone Poison Box Ring – £32 | My Little Moon Ring – £26

Silver Wishbone Midi Ring – £8 | Kingdom Turquoise Amulet Ring – £16

LUST: Accessorize Sterling Silver Ring Picks

February 1, 2014

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This year, rings became my super-duper, #1 jewellery priority, after spending pretty much the entirety of 2013 lusting over perfectly decorated hands following the 90s goth trend. Now, I’ve already started my mission to collect a number of stackable and mix-‘n’-match-y rings – you can find that post here. However, after buying a moonstone sterling silver ring from last season’s collection, and watching as the other cheaper ones discolour around it, whilst it remains shiny and new – it’s got me hooked on buying more. I mean, if I’m going to be wearing them everyday: they should be of good quality, right? These are my favourite picks of the current season:

Sterling Silver 3x Bands Ring Set – £12 | Sterling Silver Sirocco Mop Ring £12

Sterling Silver Mandarin Turquoise Ring £12 | Sterling Silver x2 Ethnic Midi Rings £10


Ebony. 25. Manchester.
Marketing Manager who likes to mouth off on here about stuff she cares about. Expect mental health, Borderline Personality Disorder, and reviews - from restaurants, to books, to fashion. Talks to cats more than people, but seemingly has a lot to say.
ebonylaurenn@gmail.com