FASHION EXCHANGE AT STAFFS UNI - STOKE!!!!!

As i thought my dreams of setting up the first clothing swap shop in Stoke-On-Trent would become real.. alas somebody had got there first!

However, i am not bitter, just concerned of how it shall be run and if it will be effective.

And with everyone stretching the pounds, there's no need to sacrifice your style. 

The event will take place on the 26th February at the Leek Road Venue, Stoke-On-Trent. People can bring their unwanted items to the old student union, behind Squeeze Box on College Road, from Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th of Feb.You need to bring clean and wearable items, which will be exchanged for tokens which you can swap for clothes.

Style couldn't be cheaper as the new eco-friendly way to shop has never been more popular. Women all over the country  are swapping clothes in the hope to find a new second hand outfit. 

We each spend on average around £650 on clothes a year, and 900,000 tonnes ends up in landfill. Throwing away clothes adds to our carbon footprint, the equivalent to running a small diesel car.

There is NO NEED TO BUY BRAND NEW CLOTHES every fort-night;when you can create a great look from recycling old clothes, or wearing vintage.

You can ORGANISE YOUR OWN CLOTHES SWAP PARTY, and GET YOUR FRIENDS FASHION SAVVY!!!!!!!

"You can't buy style, its just confidence." Cocco Chanel

k x

The Bargain Box...

8Th February 

I went back to H&M an found more little delights for a fraction of the price. 

I could have paid £90!!!!!!  

BUT THEY COST ME LESS THAT £20!!!!!!!!

1. A large over sized beige wool tailored jacket. 

This would look great with leather gloves over a dress like this....

2. A little slightly see through top with elastic waist.... 

3. A knee length panelled navy silk dress. This would look great with pearls, long gold necklaces or a crock clutch.

Where: H&M Manchester

The Bargain Box...

7Th February 2009

I got a  full length, navy chiffon dress with ruffles on the bust.

PRICE......... WAIT FOR IT...... £5 from £50!!!!!

It looks very 20's with the material and ruffles. Could be dressed with a chain belt, corsages across shoulder, leather gloves or pearl necklace. As well as many other things you can recycle in your wardrobe 

Where: H&M Manchester.

BIG PLANS!!!!  

A GIANT CLOTHES SWAP!!!!

After having a total brain waive, yesterday i decided to organise a giant CLOTHES SWAP in Stoke-on-Trent. 

After reading up about various clothes swapping events i thought i would set up one for the students of Staffordshire University, and the local charity shops. I COULDN'T SLEEP!! Was very excited. Or a bit sad.

I have written to their Student union and hope to have a reply on Monday or Tuesday.

The event would happen at their Leek Road Venue and enable people to bring clothes, get tokens and swap them for other clothes. Hopefully a DJ would provide some great music and a bar to have the odd tipple!!

Its a GREAT way to be Eco-friendly, save the pennies and socialise. 

I hope to advertise this as much as possible!!!

SO WATCH THIS SPACE. I will have more details.

"You cant buy style, i just confidence", Cocco Chanel.

BASIC POINTS TO FOLLOW FOR PRE SPRING & SPRING 2009 LOOK

I spoke to a woman who owned a very stylish vintage store in SOHO, NEW YORK in December 2008 when i visited the wonderful city, and she had some of the worlds top designers coming into her shop and getting their inspiration for the next years runway collections. 

VINTAGE IS IRONICALLY TIMELESS. FASHION ALWAYS TURNS FULL CIRCLES. SO KEEP KEY ITEMS. 

Its important not to think that vintage fashion keeps you stuck in a particular era, or cannot be elastic and transformed to meet today's trends.

After all, this years collections and stars outfits are inspired by various decades of the past, which i will post up once i get used to this site. I hope you can bare with me.

 You must be creative and have CONFIDENCE to try new things.

TREND BREAKDOWN

Pre-spring and spring 2009 is oooozing neutral tones/male tailoring/30's&40's feminine flowers/80's bold prints and oversizing/ 20's sequins/ & platforms platforms platforms!!!

COLOURS

TIP- Dip-dye and old white top and create your own pastel colour effect.

• PEACH
  
• BEIGE/IVORY/ROSE
  
• PASTEL PINK/BLUE/YELLOW/GREEN
  

DENIM

TIP - Buy an old pair of jeans from a charity shop men's or ladies, and cut away! Customise with flower patterned fabric on the pockets. Remember stick to pastel shades. 

• LIGHT & VERY LIGHT STONE WASH
  
• RIPPED SKINNY'S
  
• 3/4 TURN UPS (AGAIN VERY LIGHT BLUE)
  
• DENIM SHORTS (RIPPED/TURNED UP/ CUSTOMISED)
  

TAILORING

TIP-Find an old suit jacket, preferably a mans with detailed lining and place over a shift blouse or shirt (tied to just above the belly button), maxi-dress or plain coloured top). Starch the collar and roll up the sleeves.

• Long suit jackets
  
• Shortened straight legged trousers
  
• Simple shirts, jackets, trousers

PRINTS

TIPS- you can create your own 70's inspired look by stitching jewels around the neckline of a plain top. Or you can create a great belt buy draping heavily patterned fabric around your waist and tying at the front.

SAFARI prints are highlighted as a spring look. 

I know H&M have a a great couple of dresses in their Trend range. The zebra print is not striking, but created to look worn and authentic. One dress has the waist line cut out and knotted. 

• DELICATE FLOWER PRINT
  
• 30'S PASTEL FEMININE PRINT 
  
• 80'S RETRO 
  
• PAINT SPLASH (you could make this yourself with paint and  plain top)
  
• BUSY ASYMMETRICAL 
  
• LEOPARD 
  
• TRIBAL ZIGZAG 
  

TROUSERS

TIPS - Old English colours like muddy green, pastel brown, beige and ivory are great for trousers and shorts. Cut up your dads old suit trousers into shorts Just above the knee & turn the bottoms up to give a hem. 

• EARTH TONES - GREY, MUDDY GREEN, PASTEL BROWN, BEIGE, KAKHI
  
• TAILORED WITH CENTRE CREASE AND SHORTENED
  
• ORGANIC MATERIAL
  
• EXTREME WIDE FIT
  

 (All of these trends can easily be found in your local charity shops, you just need some IMAGINATION)

DRESSES

TIP - Have a good route in your gran's wardrobe to see if she has any gems hidden away. All dress styles are appropriate. 

• CROSS BREAST
  
• TIGHT BODY HUGGING
  
• 70'S TAILORING
  
• PLAIN 
  
• SEQUINED
  
• LEOTARDS & DANCE
  
• 1920's SILK GRECIAN FLOATERS
  
• KIMONO
  

SHOES

TIP- you will find good quality second hand shoes from any charity shop or car boot sale.

Vintage shoes love to hide in these places. If you pay more that £40 you've been ripped off! Remember vintage shops buy their stock in FROM CHARITY SHOPS & BOOT SALES !!!!!!!

• PLATFORMS
  
• BROWN STRAPPIES
  
• STUDS
  
• RUGGED BOOTS!
  

BELTS

TIP- Use patterned fabric as a waist belt and tie all around and end at the front. Pin in with large Victorian broach.

• PALE LEATHER (beige, ivory, light pink)
  
• ROPE DETAIL
  
• WAIST HIGH
  
• SUEDE FRINGE!
  

BAGS

TIP - Have a route on EBay, i bought a Mary Poppins rose and brass bag from the 1960's for £11. 

• OVERSIZED!
  
• LEATHER - LIGHT TAN
  
• BOXED
  
• TOP HANDLE
  
• PASTEL PINK
  
• FEMININE FLOWER PRINT
  

Last but not least, have good route. Look at styles you like and pick out the aspects you like the least about it... and change it! EBay is great, Amazon and your local car boot sale.

"YOU CAN'T BUY STYLE, ITS JUST CONFIDENCE", Cocco Chanel.

Take Care

K