Touch of Leather

What I'm Wearing: Zara Leather Sleeved Tee, Zara Leather Trousers, ASOS Stud Leather Collar, Kurt Geiger 'London Calling' Sneakers, ASOS Spike Bracelet & Alexander McQueen Twin Skull Ring.

Boy oh boy it has been a long day today. 8 hours in the studio, cutting, sketching, slashing, sewing - I think the dot and cross paper has made me go a little mad. This leather sleeved tee is one of my Autumn wardrobe must haves. So easy to throw on over anything for a perfect on trend effortless look. I've teamed it with my favourite studded collar and faux leather Zara trousers to accentuate my absolute undying love for this wonderful fabric. A wardrobe without leather is seriously missing out. How do you guys style leather into your winter wardrobe?

Red Spikes

What I'm Wearing: Forever 21 Vest, Zara Studded Shirt, Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Jeans, Kurt Geiger Saffron Boots.

I am forever a lover of flannel, to make a relaxed effortless look. This shirt is the perfect balance of being right on trend, yet still ridiculously comfortable for a full day of working on the portfolio. Since buying it a couple of weeks ago now, it has been my everyday day go to, to simply layer over a white tee or with a pair of distressed jeans. Off to Fabworks tomorrow with the girlies to pick up all things leather, lace & knit. Road trip!

DIY Denim

I love customising my clothes. It's an easy way to create that one off piece with your own twist of uniqueness and individuality. You don't only end up with a piece of clothing that you can wear with absolutely everything, but its a piece that says something about who you are, what you're like and how you express yourself through you clothing. 

Anyway, I had this old oversized vintage denim shirt in my closet and have been dying to jazz it up for a while now. I ordered some DIY diamanté studs from my favourite haberdashery website in the whole wide world - Josy Rose, which I have sworn by for all my glitter, sequin and ribbon needs, ever since my Textiles GCSE. This is the simplest and easiest thing to do to update your old denim shirt (or whatever old shirt/jacket you want to use) without forking out an absolute fortune, and expressing you're own style in youre own unique way.

Here's what you need:

1 x Denim Shirt

Handful of sew on studs/diamantés

Needle & Thread

Scissors

Tailors Chalk (or a non-permanant pen)

Start by placing on the diamantés to see where you want them on the shirt.

Mark the spots where the diamantés were so you have a guide when sewing them on.

Sew each diamanté on securely (I did each of mine twice) to make sure they don't come loose when it's washed.

After each diamanté is sewn on knot the thread securely at the back.

I've added some to the pocket, but you can add as many or as little as you fancy (depending on your patience of course).

Et voila!

Your own customised piece of clothing.

What I'm Wearing: Customised Vintage Shirt, Zara Peplum Bandeau Top, Miss Selfridge Leather Leggings, Kurt Geiger Biker Boots, Marni for H&M Sunglasses & Topshop Rings.

This shirt-come-jacket is so simple to throw on over anything to give you that model-off duty sort of look (if only I grew a ft taller), and knowing that no-one else will have the same jacket as me is an extra bonus. I was/still am totally in love with the Zara camouflage diamanaté shirt which seems to be sold out in ever Zara I step into, so this is my very own denim version, decorated just for me. When it comes to customising your jacket you can of course go for the easy option of heat press studs which you iron on, which are "meant" to not come off, but I would always go for sew on studs - if you handy with a needle (could always get granny on the case?!) - or studs with teeth - which you press down on the reverse of the fabric to secure them in place (you can get a very sore finger doing this so make sure you use a thimble or something hard to push down the teeth with). Have fun DIYing!

Go Go Gadget

Lets just start by saying that I am a bit of a gadget geek.

iPhone, Macbook Pro, iPad... a self-confessed Apple product junkie. 

The new iPad 3 is absolutely fantastic and the clarity and resolution is just out of this world.

My only one issue was finding something suitable to put it in. 

I have been cradling my new iPad like a baby for the past few weeks, making sure I dont put it anywhere where it could get scratched, fall or even get slightly tarnished. But the decision between sleeve, clip on case, skin or cover was all getting a bit too much, and with way too many choices out there, it was making it far too hard to decide. 

Finally the day has come. My iPad is all suited and booted and I no longer have to treat it like a precious child. 

I thought the days of Juicy Couture were behind me, back when I was 14 with my matching velour tracksuits and Terry towling handbags, but this hardshell case from Shopbop was just love at first sight. No little dog emblem or crown in sight, just arty sketches of my favourite city in the world, New York. Light enough to still pick up and play Temple Run, with enough coverage to stop it from being scratched. 

But of course one case wasn't enough. The studded leather iPad case turned clutch from Kurt Geiger is perfect to just carry it in when I'm out and about and just big enough to fit my iPad in with its hardshell on too. And having mine studded to my own specific design requests at FNO just makes it that bit more fabulous. 

A quick shout out for my new Wonka Bar iPhone case from Red Bubble. I get a this wonderful feeling that I'm going to visit Willy Wonka's factory tomorrow with Grandpa Joe, every time I look at it lets hope that feeling never wears off. 

Despite taking over a month to arrive from all the way over the pond, I love it!

Fashion's Night Out

magazine.motilo.com

Vogue's Fashion's Night Out was one to remember last night, with the whole of London's W1 being painted red by flocks of fashionista's.

Top: Fashion Union Skull Blouse
Shorts: Topshop Leather Shorts

We spent the evening sipping on endless streams of free champagne, filling our arms with shopping bags full of goodies, whilst rubbing shoulders with top designers, including Mary Katrantzou and Roksanda Ilincic. 

Now let me point out that FNO is certainly not for the faint hearted. Hoards of frightfully fashionable people fighting their way to the front of the crowds in order to get this exclusive product or that amazing freebee.
Vogue really knows how to throw a street party, and they did not hold back one bit. Organised dances outside Burberry, puppeteers in Burlington Arcade - even the animals came out two by two to join in and be a part of the momentous occasion.

Kurt Geiger was where my party was at.

It was all 'Pretty in Punk' on the South Moulton Street store, with the girls from WAH offering punk manicures and even an in-store Punk Princess customising some of the Kurt Geiger products to order.

I decided to treat myself to a couple of bits from their 'punked-up' selection as well as a few pairs of new shoes. 

Well, who can resist 25% off on all of their brand new A/W collection. 

A huge success of a night on all parts, and already looking forward to next years event. 

FNO in NYC...? Yes please!