Dragons, Snakes & Wall to Wall Kitsch- Gucci’s Autumn Winter 2018 Ready to Wear Collection

Severed heads, dragons and snakes on the catwalk along with Alessandro Michele’s gloriously quirkily campy and kitsch designs for Gucci as they showcased their Autumn / Winter 2018 Ready to Wear Collection in Milan this week.

I love it as there’s a real 70s and 80s feel to a lot of the tailoring. There are designs that remind me of air hostess uniforms of yesteryears, and power suits of the 1980s’.  

You can check out every single look, and there are close to a hundred, on the Vogue website. 

I can never afford even the Ready to Wear Collection, but I do keep my eyes peeled for accessories that are ‘heavily inspired by’ Gucci designs like this arm band.  

Bees are out, but tigers and snakes seem to still be in, as well as dragons, so those are the beasts to be looking out for when you are searching for bags, jewellery, shoes etc. if you want a Gucci look but not the price tag. Add some red and green and you’re all set! 

Swimsuits Making You Feel Too Self Conscious to Enjoy the Pool with your Kids? I Found a Fab Alternative, a Swim Dress from Peacocks

This is the very one I bought

Taking your kids to the pool is some serious fun it's all too easy to talk yourself out of. It's expensive, you all need swim wear, it's a hassle, you'll get in shape and THEN you'll take them. Well the time is now. You'll soon realise everyone else there is too busy having fun to even notice your lumps & bumps, and if they ARE worrying about them, they are probably more interested in their own! 

I'm a size 14 on top & needed a 16 in this. Worth trying on instore, or buying one size up I think

There is also the bothering of having to shave your legs, bikini line etc every time. Well the swim dress I found means you don't necessarily need to be waxed to the nines every time you swim either. 

It sits like a little dress, which is so forgiving for 'pregnant shape' people like me, constantly looking three months pregnant in something as tight as a swim suit. This amazing   modesty saving swimsuit from Peacocks also has 'tummy control' that sucks you in like Spanx.

We were in the fun, leisure waters in Bangor this morning. That's slides, wave pool and hot tub and we stayed almost two hours. I was so comfy the whole time. It didn't ride up or hurt in the bust. I'm really happy with it. 

Back view, bust is structured but comfortable

I thought I would feature the swimsuit here on my blog as so many people said this was exactly the sort of thing they were after when they saw it on my Instagram.  

Retro dottiness in a bikini too

Peacocks also has click and collect for orders over £25, and 20% off most of their online stock, so go forth and shop! 

Want a Black Milk Style Star Wars Swimsuit, But For Around a Fiver...?

AliExpress is my new favourite thing. Like eBay it has thousands of individual sellers, you pay via a third party secure system, and you can rely on feedback from previous buyers to let you know, or sometimes even see with photos, that the product lives up to the description. This is vital as all the products seem to be coming from Asia, and previously there had been problems with the quality of clothing that turns up from sellers there, compared to the photos of what you were supposed to be buying. AliExpress does away with that risk. Although the risk is small anyway as everything is dirt cheap & postage mostly non-existent.

I use the app for accessories. Rip off designer bags, jewellery, scarves. You just have to work out what to search for. 

Today I'm sharing listings of Black Milk type swim suits. Look carefully however, as some are swimsuit material vest tops, but these could easily be work with bikini bottoms. 

This is the one I have

In some pics I've left the title so you know what to search for, but 'Black Milk Swimsuit' will find them anyway. I've also left the prices, all these pieces are under or around a fiver. 

Let me know if you buy any! 

If you aren't a Star Wars fan, then how about these other pop culture swimsuits? 

Today, I Come Clean And Admit My Secret Love : Crocs

I'm on a mission to change your mind about Crocs. The words 'stylish', 'fashionable' and 'aspirational' aren't ones you would automatically pair with the world or Crocs shoes. They are thought of as a brand only worn by the under 5 year olds & the over 50 year olds around the house. Classic Crocs are those bright plastic clogs with ventilation holes around the toes, you know, your Grandad has them for gardening. 

I thought would rather go barefoot to a fashion event than turn up in classic Crocs and be 'that awful shoes girl' for the rest of my sociable life. That was until I stumbled upon an article about Crocs written by a woman about my age, about how she couldn't walk in heels, but found her feet in a pair of wedge pump Crocs. 

She said she never could master walking in heels, but wanted to be one of those women who walk around in heels all day with the same ease as if they were barefoot. She asked a friend how she did it, without having painful feet, ripped to shreds by the end of the working day. She shared her secret- Crocs branded heels. 

They take the biggest selling point of regular Crocs, their comfort, and engineer that into other shoe designs like wedges, sandals and cute pumps. The woman in the article bought her first pair of Crocs wedge heels and was a convert. My interest was piqued.

I guiltily opened up a private browsing tab and loaded up  Crocs UK website. I went first to check for bargains on the sale section of the store.

I found a pair of grey wedge heels for £20 and chose size 4. They arrived and were true to size for a size 4 wearing with tights. I couldn't believe the comfort. Usually even with flat pumps you are in with the risk of them hurting the back of your foot while you 'break them in', but the Crocs wedges were soft and comfy. And yes! I could walk in them! 

Crocs also sent me a pair of summery pumps, the Sienna design, in a bright red. Again the size 4 was true to size and needed no breaking in, even wearing with just tights. I've had compliments wearing them out and about, and everyone is shocked when I tell them they are Crocs!

So now I'm an unofficial Crocs ambassador! I sing their praises for heels to learn to walk in, and comfortable shoes that don't cut the ankles off you. And yes, I'm going to a fashion event on the 5th of May and I'll be proudly wearing my Crocs!

Here are some of the current styles on the Crocs website, and make sure you join the  Crocs UK Facebook page to be the first to hear about offers and new styles.

AliExpress Yourself With These Huge Statement Necklaces, None Costing More than £6

Ali Express is a website/app with everything under the sun at crazily low prices. I think it's because everything comes from Asia, but if you don't mind waiting six weeks for a purchase to arrive, you can find some real bargains.  

I've screenshotted some crackers I found, so you can see the price and what to search for to find it yourself. 

They are all under £6, and most sellers offer free shipping. 

This is so futuristic and cool

I love big, colourful statement necklaces like all those, but I also love a quirky acrylic laser cut style necklace too. 

Lastly, he doesn't fit in the under £6 category, but I had to include him. Tacky and magnificent.  

Daring Double Denim Launches West Coast Cooler Belfast FASHIONWEEK

Yesterday the well-heeled of Belfast & beyond gathered for the launch of the schedule of Belfast Fashion Week, March 10th - 13th 2016. 

We will see the return of nightly catwalk shows featuring collections from both the high street as well as from independently owned boutiques plus local designers’ work and the popular Sushi Saturday and Style Sunday events to round off the long weekend of fashion.

 THURSDAY 10 March, ALL DAY ‘Cutting It’ Workshops & Seminars. An all-day event geared towards those seeking careers advice or inspiration/information on careers in the fashion, film & costume industry locally. For more information, contact BFW on 02890421509

THURSDAY 10 March, 8.00PM - DESIGNER BOUTIQUES AND LOCALDESIGNERS. Tickets priced at £20 or £30 for FROW available from 028 9024 6609 or via www.belfastfashionweek.com

FRIDAY 11 March, 8.00PM - HIGH STREET. Tickets priced at £20 or £30 for FROW available from 028 9024 6609 or via links on www.belfastfashionweek.com

SATURDAY 12 March, 2.00-4.00pm - SUSHI SATURDAY “The Director’s Cut” at ZEN. To book, call 02890421509price £30pp.

SATURDAY 12 March, 8.00pm –FASHION AWARDS.  Tickets priced at £20 or £30 for FROW available from 028 9024 6609 or via links on www.belfastfashionweek.com

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER, 2.00-5.00pm - STYLE SUNDAY in support of Action Cancer at Deane’s at Queen’s. To book call 02890381555

Fashion Week director, Cathy Martin (in the above video in gold sequins) usually enforces a 'no jeans rule' on fashion week catwalks, but she's bending her own rules this year for the 'daring in denim' trend. It's easy to do: wear as much denim as possible in one go! I loved the outfits for this look. Denim pinafores, huge flared trousers, and a sequin badge adorned jacket from Diamond Dolls in Banbridge. 

Check out the sequins jeans on the model on the left, in mermaid colours of blue & green. 

Former Miss NI absolutely rocking local designer Nor Lisa striped dress

The second highlighted trnd was pretty, girly ruffles. Lots of wedding guest wear, but I love the cheeky edge of the Topshop silk bomber jacket on the model far left.

The final look on the models combined acid brights and sequins, both going to be huge this spring.  I love brights, especially wearing neon orange. See you at Fashion Week!

Ta-da! My Mega Glitzy Ultimate Christmas Party Dress

Okay, so in my George at Asda post this week I ran through the benefits of wearing jeggings and a huge Christmas tee or jumper on the 25th, for maximum food intake. I still stand by that statement, but I do have other Christmas events to attend that might frown upon me showing up in my comfies. 

I love shopping, but more so shopping for clothes without the trying on part, but when I spotted this stripy sequin dress in the window of TK Maxx in Bangor, I knew I had to have it. 

Horizontal stripes are sort of my trademark, but I've never had anything so sequinned in my life. 

The dress was £24.99 and although I'm a size 12-14 at the moment, I went for the 16 for the aforementioned, all important food intake! The dress's style allows for going up a size & a half without losing shape, as there aren't any fitted areas; I've plenty of room for the carvery at La Mon for my family's annual meal out.

ASOS seem to be the main online store for Club L, with dresses in plus size as well as the usual high street sizes 8-16, so everyone can be a stupid amount of glittery this Christmas.

Dr. Martens: Do You Remember Your First Time?

Last week, Dr. Martens got in touch and wanted to offer Michael his first ever pair of DMs. They currently have an  Adventure Time themed collection, in kids' and adult sizes.

Fans of the quirky cartoon will love these, and you can even wear your Adventure Time fandom subtlety with the Marceline design in black & white. 

So as it was half term, Michael and I took a trip up to the Belfast Doc Shop so he could choose a pair, and of course pop into Yo Sushi, it would have been rude not to. 

The Cornmarket sited store is packed with designs for all the family, right down to newborn sized booties. 

Belfast Dr. Martens store downstairs.

Belfast Dr. Martens store upstairs

Also blue patent on the top shelf out of shot

So Michael had a lot to choose from, but after looking at the designs online when we got inside, he just threw a bit of a strop and wouldn't even try them on. I think he was dying to get to Yo Sushi, so instead the staff suggested I pick myself a pair. I know, blogging is tough sometimes ;-)

 I was pretty peeved off that Michael wouldn't choose a pair, as it's a really great quality boot to have, and go only has trainers really. But what can you do? I wasn't going to force a pair on him. Although when he found out later his best friend Connie has a shiny black pair, I think he wished he hadn't thrown a strop?

I actually am 'well stocked' in Dr. Marten's boots myself. I have mid-calf high zip up boots in black, which still are as new despite being worn for three winters of icy school runs and coastal path danders. Before them I owned the same design in brown.

My newest pair I wore along to the store visit. I got them last October and chose a design with a little more height, ox blood, matt, knee-heigh zip ups. That's them below.

The leather used in these casual, daily wear style boots, is a lot softer than the classic Dr. Marten eyelet boot. There's no 'breaking them in' process, and they keep their shape and don't slouch, even on matchstick legs like I have (spindly legs yet still have a double chin in this photo!) 

In the store's flash sale they had this ankle boot, Gayle, down from £95 to £65. I think for the quality and longevity of a pair of Doc Martens, that's a very decent price. You could look at it this way; they last so well that in 7 years time when you are still using them for Autumn and winter, you'll have paid less than £10 a year. It's simple, shopping mall mathematics, or rather any excuse to buy some lovely boots.

The tweed print is what drew me to this pair, which is also available in black. The buckles are adjustable, but with my tiny ankles I don't need to undo them to put them on. I'm not a huge fan of ankle boots, but these I like.

Detail on the Gayle boot in brown

And to keep them looking new every autumn, they included this water & stain spray, which I can use to liven up my existing pairs, and even leather handbags, or suede, or nubuck.

So I was disappointed that Michael didn't want to play along and receive his first ever Dr. Martens, but it made me remember MY first pair. I was about 13 or 14, so it must have been the early 90s.

EVERYONE had Dr. Marten boots. I remember one non-uniform day at Sullivan Upper, my schoo, and at least half the class proudly sporting the cherry red, ox blood red, or black boots. I really, REALLY wanted a pair. 

It wasn't the price that was the problem, my Mum didn't mind paying that sort of price for winter boots, but my parents really didn't want their little 13 year old girl, stomping around in big boots that they were used to seeing punks wearing. 

My first Dr. Marten's, bought around 1993 when I was 13

Finally they gave in, but I couldn't get leather, or black, or loads of height. My first pair were suede, green, six eyelet boots and I LOVED them. 

So, thinking Michael was supposed to get his first ever pair, and thinking about my green, suede wonders, I decided to ask Twitter did they remember their first pair of Dr. Martens.

So many people replied, with fond stories about them at that age, or what they got up to in their first pair. Many, like me, had to convince their middle class, church-going, Northern Irish parents, that Dr. Martens weren't just for punks or naughty boys & girls. Now we would think nothing of getting a child a pair, there's even newborn baby size!

So it's clear Dr. Martens as a brand means more than just fashion, when people have such clear memories of their first pair. Signing off, here's a selection of the replies.