if i had a pot of gold...

In my recent hunt for a debs/prom dress it became apparent the unavailability of the gorgeous yet reasonably priced evening gown. Believe me they do not exist. When I began to search for the 'dream dress' I had so many ideas and notions in my head - the colour, materials, embellishments, shape had all been mapped out with months - but unfortunately, it wasn't to be as I had actually envisioned. Many of the debs dresses I tried on were lurid, eye - watering creations and often ridiculously over - priced. Howrver, I did find one in the end that I liked. A difficult feat though - I am, after all, notoriously picky.

If by some chance though I had a few grand lying carelessly beneath my bed, my first port - of - call for a glamorous, 'dress of my dreams', 'Cinderella for a day' dress would be The Frock. This website is filled with seriously bloody amazing vintage dresses. These are the real McCoy, the kind of dresses that set the heart alight. Princess dresses.
The type of dresses that remind you why it is you love clothes and fashion. These garments with their heavy swathes of material and twinkling tapestries of sequin embellishment are so far removed from the fashion of today with dirty haired It girls and 'effortless' androgyny. The embellishment on some of these dresses makes my eyes water for entirely different reasons than above. Seriously, when I see such detailed decoration my stomach does little summer salts.. I have a major thing for beading and the use of the sequin..and there's some tulle in there too..

click to enlarge.. and cross your fingers that one day you'll be in the company of such beauty

happiness is...

...making collages and painting

in appreciation..

Those trend reports always makes me laugh: "Safari is hot for spring" or " A statement coat is this season's must have". It's all a load of piss really with one of their favourites being the "80s' revival". That particular trend though is no pain for me to indulge in and it's no hardship if I so happen to turn out "on trend" because I really do love that decade! My adoration is such a defining feature of my style personality that it is mentioned in my 'About me' - now that's love! I quite frankly never tire of an ol' 80s' revival - tis deliciously sparkly and sometimes vulgar, but most importantly, it's fun just the way I think clothes should be.

In a recent shopping binge, I bought..somehow 'nabbed' seems more appropriate here..this turquoise leopard print dress in a sale in Miss Selfridge. Now, let me say turquoise is a colour I personally never ever wear, my mother has quite the soft spot for it, but I, on the otherhand, find it bit sea - sickness inducing. I'm not sure if it was the drop waist, the leopard print - embossed satin, the colour or that lovely 80s' ruffle running along the side or merely a combination of all the above that made it scream "buy me" as on paper the dress was a disaster waiting to happen. Of course, I hammed up the 80s - ness on a recent night out with orange nails, leggings and pointy silver heels - I never know when to draw the line..

it's cool to be dapper

I have a major thing for that 1950s' rock 'n' roll look, particularly men's style of that period. Wouldn't it be nice if modern rock stars dressed like Buddy Holly (above) - skinny suit trousers, chunky glasses, neat knits, bow and slim ties, and long jackets. Seriously, enough with all that scruffy nonsense, so not cool anymore.

"we wear the same clothes cos we feel the same"

During my recent festival outing, I observed something sartorial related that to my mind is most interesting. Amid the free - spirited, jovial, perhaps, just perhaps, a small bit drunken atmosphere of a festival, a large majority of people suddenly become mad, neon tutu wearing, rainbow tight sporting, funky jewellery donning, face embellished, stop you in your tracks, fascinating creatures.

images courtesy of fashionising.com

I'm first to acknowledge there is the typical 'festival look' as recommended to you by 'Heat' and 'Look' and their ilk respectively - Kate Moss and Alexa Chung, the Geldof sisters, you know the drill - and I know too that we all like to indulge in this, including yours truly...lame checked shirt in tow, of course! But, that is not the point I am making. Instead, in my honest opinion, everyone suddenly looks so fun and stylish and ironically, different, even if we are all thriving for this so - called 'festival look' despite it being a bit cliched. I cannot speak for other countries, but I do believe that here in Ireland, standing out in the crowd due to your clothing is a relatively modern phenomenon and is often something many choose to avoid. My point is, therefore, amid the happy - go - lucky, "we're all ker - azy here" atmosphere of the festival, it no longer matters if someone throws you a look of disdain for wearing a technicolour jumpsuit because at the festival it's cool to be 'standy - outey', it's cool to be maaaaaad, it's all about letting go and not giving a damn.

This, however, simultaneously makes me happy and somehow sad. How wonderful it is for everyone just to have a little fun with clothes, experimenting with outfits, having a laugh with make - up and so forth, but isn't it disheartening that this can be only done amongst the other 'mad eijits'/loony toons at the festival for at home we would be laughed, sneered and stared at? Perhaps, I'm being too idealisic, of course people couldn't and maybe even shouldn't wear some of the down - right hilarious festival attire, but as someone who has been dissed about my personal style in the past, it upsets me to think that many people are reluctant to wear slightly more unusual clothes on a daily basis due to the fear of causing a few glances.

"all the people, so many people"

Off to Oxegen tomorrow, excited, but have yet to pack. Especially looking forward to Blur, love a bit of Britpop, me! Could take or leave all those Killers and monarchy of Leon. Ha..feels like it could be 1995 again, I saw Oasis a few weeks back and now I will be seeing Blur! Unfortunately, I currently have no parka so a regular hooded raincoat will have to do. I can see myself unleashing my inner hippy too; my 1970s' purple folk waistcoat is coming along and a peacock feather for my hair and woven headband, all ironic since I'm not one for the hippy look at all. That's what festivals do to one's style, I guess!

Back soon.

Kat x

craving..

street style shots courtesy of Garance Dore

I hate to be a shameless celeb - trend whore, but when it comes to Alexa Chung and her penchant for denim shirts/dresses, then I have to raise my hand and admit that yes, I'm a lame copy - cat. Alexa has been rockin' ...eek, a fittingly lame word... such denims for what seems like ages, and even now on her new MTV show she continues to wear said item and continues to have the lay man wondering why we don't all own an oversized denim shirt.

Of course being the shirt enthusiast that I am, I bought a denim shirt last summer, after seeing the Chung sporting various denim garments, and loved it. I could throw it own over a t - shirt, or button it to the very top, but now only an oversized denim shirt will do.

cinderella in summer

It probably appears that I sit around all day thinking of very particular items of clothes that I want... and well, I wish I could say that couldn't be further from the truth, but alas that is not to be. The sad fact is: the activity in question eats into a large chunk of my day, indeed, I'm a rather lame individual who thinks about clothes before I go to sleep at night. Anyway, enough talk about my rather questionable past times, the latest item which I am salivating at the mere thought of is an flouncy, ballerina - like, preferably white skirt. Material wise, I dream of white tulle, but organza would be rather spectacular too. Or maybe, just simple, white cotton - ish material with a tulle underskirt beneath. Regardless, I have been lusting for this type of skirt for a few months now, especially since I own a black skirt that fits the description, but is perhaps just a wee bit too Gothic for my liking. Enormous voluminous skirts are one of my favourite things and paired with a graphic t- shirt is a look that equates to rainbows and pots of gold for me.

florence welch

A few months ago I heard Florence and the Machine's song 'A kiss with a Fist' on some Channel Four ad, and instantly loved it. I'm not one for songstresses usually, but Florence Welch is one pretty cool lady. As a friend of mine aptly pointed out, she resembles some artistic muse or Renaissance portrait (a Titian, perhaps?) with that mane of burnt red waves and strong features, and I completely agree. And the clothes are all lovely dovely too, may I add. Bright, garish florals, lace, feathers, satin, sequins and wonderful 'muse - like' dresses - long, floaty, feminine, very Renaissance. Overall there's an alluring treasure chest/dressing - up box feel to her look which I love, especially with all those jewels and fancy hairpieces she appears to like.

I want that peach satin dress (top right) so bad. And check out the jewels (top left).

Vogue UK July 2009 (click to enlarge)

Watch: (for some reason, which really does annoy me, I cannot post videos!)
Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)

Kiss with a Fist

Dog Days