Tolly Dolly Posh

I’ve spoken about this topic before in this blog post about ‘sticking out like a sore thumb’, but I’m always happy to revisit the topic, especially if you guys are asking specifically, which you did… back in this blog post! If you’re interested in knowing how I’ve personally combated feeling judged and self-conscious and how you can too, then carry on reading…

I’m going to start out by saying that I’m definitely not in the worst position for being judged or for being self-conscious. There are so many variables that go into making you feel more insecure, some of which include your family and support group, your friends, your school or your work place.

I’m very lucky; I have a family that is truly supportive of me and I have parents that have never pressured me into being a specific type of person. I’m not trying to be judgey, but I know that so many people out there that do feel pressured or haven’t had the same sense of support, so I really do try not to take it for granted.

I’m also currently home schooled which means I don’t have the usual pressures that come with having peers around, although that doesn’t mean I haven’t experienced that sort of thing (I have, and I’ve written about that before too).

But, (like pressure at school), that doesn’t mean I haven’t experienced feeling judged or pressured or most importantly, self-conscicous. We all have, at some point in our lives so far, because every human judges, no matter how hard we try not to. Our brain scans things over when we meet new people, and when we see new faces in the street. It may be subconscious, but we all do it, so it’s rather hard to avoid, and that’s a crucial fact to remember.

For me personally, I’m most self-conscious about my exterior personality, although I’m at a place now that I’m, for the most part, whole heartedly happy with things. I’m happy in myself and how I come across as a person, but when it comes to how I appear, I think that’s where I hit a stumbling block. I met someone new a while back, and whilst I was getting ready on the day, the first thought that came into my head was – “Perhaps I should wear something a little more ordinary”. So, as you can see, I still expect and worry about being judged, no matter how confident I actually feel as a whole.

So, the question is – how do we get past things like that? How do we skip out those thoughts that make us pressured? How do we stop ourselves from shrinking back down into that mold of ‘being normal’ or ‘being perfect?’. Well, I’ve thought about it, and I know you’re no doubt going to think I sound crazy but… I like to think about the size of the world and the universe. Yup, you read me right… I’m getting deep.

Seriously though, sometimes it’s just great to put things into perspective. I know this won’t work for everyone, and it could quite possibly be just my teenage brain making me think about these sorts of things (my sister said she used to the same when she was my age), but honestly, when you realise how small and pointless these insecurities and fears are… you start to feel a whole lot better about yourself, and you start to look at other people around you in a whole new light.

~ YOUR PERSPECTIVE TO DO LIST ~

So, to do this, I’m going to throw in some facts about the universe. It would take 100,000 years to travel across the Milky Way. In the observable universe, there is estimated to be one hundred billion galaxies… so (according to physics.org) if you hold a grain of sand up to the sky, the tiny patch of sky that it covers, contains ten thousand of those galaxies. There’s a lot more to it than that as we all know, but those facts alone are enough to make you feel dizzy.

Nevertheless, I hope you can understand what I mean. Looking at everything in this perspective just makes me think – why should I care about that person across the road looking at me oddly for wearing something a little ‘different’ (what even is different, after all?) when there are so many bigger things to be worried about?

I also mentioned that this makes you look at other people in a whole new light, and it really does. I’ve started to just appreciate a smile, no matter who the person is wearing it. I don’t judge them or comment on the rest of them, I just appreciate what’s there and the beauty of it. Because honestly, once we’re happy in ourselves, we can start to appreciate everyone and everything else around us and we can start to make those people who felt the same way as us, get that little bit closer to being happy too.

  LOCATION: Sirolo, IT  🇮🇹

What you have to realise though, is that every single one of us goes through judgement and feelings of self-consciousness, so there’s no real way to ever combat it (like I mentioned in my sore thumb post). You just have to suck it up and start blurring things out because honestly, it’s always going to be there, no matter who you are… and in a way, that’s kind of the fun of it all.

When you do have those moments of confidence and when you finally do feel happy with how everything is… you’ll be able to look back and compare things with that perspective lens and realise there really was no point in worrying.

Did this blog post help you? Do you have any further questions about confidence? Leave a comment or fill out the form above!

Also… if you’d like to see a full outfit post for what I’m wearing here, do let me know! I’ve also just added a sneaky little feature to my blog in the form of Konami code. Have fun with that! Oh and just FYI, my next blog post is a good one! Watch out!

I haven’t put up a wishlist style post in a while, so seeing as a new season is about to set in, I thought I’d put one up. I’ve been seeing a lot of patchwork denim around the place as well as the still ever growing trend of embroidered badges so that’s basically what this consists of. You can see which are my favorites below…

Heels (River Island @ ASOS) // Surrender Badge (Rosie Wonders @ ASOS) // Purse (Springtime)* // Clutch (SPRINGTIME)* // Skirt (ASOS) // Rose Badge (Rosie Wonders @ ASOS) // Dr Martens (Dr Martens) // Wallet (SPRINGTIME)* // Pinafore (ASOS)

I’m ever so slowly becoming a shoe person, and I’m also ever so slowly starting to fall in love with heels (eek!) and this combination of a shoe, heel, denim and patchwork has me with heart shaped eyes. I’m not sure the boot style would actually fit my very slim figure though… which is a shame because they really are quite delightful.

To match those, this dress and and this skirt would work perfectly. I’ve actually had my eye on that patchwork denim pinafore for a while now and I’m thinking it would look pretty great this summer with a crisp white blouse (which I’m now an owner of – it’s a Stradivarius number) underneath and then quite possibly a cool pair of Dr Martens on my feet… these Valentine’s pair are pretty funky, right?

In terms of the accessories, like I mentioned, it seems that embroidered patches aren’t going anywhere soon and I’m pretty happy about that… did I mention that my socks come with a free embroidered badge, yet? 

I’ve included a few SPRINGTIME pieces there too because I love what they’re brand is all about. You may have noticed the new addition to my sidebar, which has a handy link straight to their site. When the lovely team got in touch with me, I knew I had to work with them because they have such an awesome message about achieving your dreams and spreading that passion to everyone around you. I’m all for it and the fact that they’re pieces are all very denim orientated… well it makes them that much better.

What have you been wishing for recently? Let me know in the comments!

(This is a sponsored post in collaboration with SPRINGTIME. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest. You can read my full disclaimer here.)

The reason this outfit is having a public display of affection is because this is probably the most public My Style outfit shoot I’ve ever done. There were people looking for sure which definitely makes you feel a little weird but what can I say? This is the time of the internet, you should know the drill by now! I also just really love this outfit at the moment so it should have some affection, right? I hope you like it too!

WHAT I WORE: WOW Jumper (River Island Kids – Old) // Maison Scotch Blouse (Jumble Sale) // Valentino Inspired Trousers (Mötivi) // Black Floppy Hat (ASOS) // Vagabond White Dioon Platform Heels (Mastershoe-MyShu)*

I think this outfit sums up a lot of what I’ve been wearing recently. I am obsessed with blouses (I now own six – four long sleeve, two short sleeved) and they’re perfect for this time of the year where we’re not really sure what’s going on. It really messes with your mind because you think “Ooh, it looks lovely and warm and sunny today” and then you walk outside and regret your outfit choice immediately.

That means layering is a go to option, especially with sweatshirts and jumpers, which I also have a growing collection of. I especially love this one which I’ve had for a couple of years now (which you can probably work out due to the very scraggy loose threads around the arms) and it’s still going strong. It works perfectly with every style… grunge, minimalist, khaki seventies etc… it’s a very versatile piece, surprisingly!

In terms of the trousers, well let’s just say…. I AM IN LOVE. They’re very Valentino inspired, and although I don’t usually gravitate towards knock-offs, I absolutely loved these and I couldn’t resist them when they went into the sale. They’re so gorgeous and the style fits like a glove. I can also imagine wearing them on a summer evening so I’m sure they’ll work perfectly throughout the year.

To complete everything, I usually leave my blouse hanging loose for that kind of casual vibe (it also gives me an excuse for skipping out on ironing…). My hat ties in the black from the jumper, where the navy of the trousers clash and my shoes are just doing their usual awesome thing. Honestly, I only wear these and my Dr Martens. You don’t see me in any other shoes at all… no. joke.

NOW PLAYING:
Sing For The Wind (Roo Panes) 🎶

To finish off this post, here’s a little sneak peek of what I’ve been listening to recently. I’ve enjoyed adding these little elements to my posts so far this year and I hope you have been too! I love the “Little Giants” album by Roo Panes. Super relaxing but still some nice sing-a-long tunes too. “Because love’s a journey of a lifetime… and where you finish isn’t where you start…”

What did you think of my outfit? What have you been wearing recently? Let me know in the comments!

As I mentioned in my London Fashion Week AW16 Review, I thought it would be nice to take a look at the collections coming out of Milan Fashion Week AW16 too, especially since I’m currently in Italy having a bit of an explore. There aren’t as many to list off, mainly because I’m not so familiar with a lot of the names, but I’ve tried my best to out the best of the best (well, for me personally, that is). (All images via Vogue.co.uk)

~ DOLCE & GABBANA – RATING: 8/10 ~

Just like over at London Fashion Week,  it’s yet another collection that is themed like a fairy tale. Inspired by Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, this collection is a taste of the classic princess life. It’s fun, it’s playful and it’s youthful, but the way it’s all put together shows that just anyone can live the dream, any time they like. I absolutely adored the finale too – I love that with Dolce & Gabbana, they always leave you on such a bold and exciting note.

~ EMILIO PUCCI – RATING: 7/10 ~

Inspired by alpine sports and all things leisurely, this collection is a taste of the Pucci brand… like, almost literally, seeing as there are a couple of Pucci slogans plastered across taffeta silk tops. I absolutely love the alpine prints and the colours used… it has a vintage feel but it’s still fresh and modern, and you can definitely pick out those space age feels – metallic jackets and zippers on show? Yes please.

~ FENDI – RATING: 8.5/10 ~

Fendi always intrigues me because the collections are always so fun and that’s probably got to do something with the fact that Karl Lagerfeld is behind it all. With striped fur coats (that are 100% going to be everywhere in AW16) and ruffles, it’s quite a texture spectacle.

It has it’s more watered down pieces though, with deep purple velvets and black pinafore dresses… every piece is something that you’d want to own and I think that’s the pure purpose of the collection.

It’s lusty and makes you drool just a little bit, and that’s essential these days because social media is what makes the world tick… and social media is full of snaps of things we like to drool over, and I’m certain Instagram will be full of Fendi come autumn time.

~ MAX MARA – RATING: 7/10 ~

A 20s inspired collection that kicks ass. It’s full of pant suits (or trouser suits) and bold shapes that pack a punch, it’s a really great range that doesn’t say too much, in a great way… and there’s even more faux fur stripes. Colour blocking stripes are another noteworthy trend, this is just a great Italian example. There’s also crayon, head-to-toe looks in mono colours (where else did we see that? Oh yes, ASHISH). It’s simple, it’s sharp and it’s smart. Outerwear at its best.

~ MSGM – RATING: 7/10 ~

If I had to put a label on MSGM AW16, it would be ‘sporty granny chic’, whether that’s the intention or not, I don’t know, but I kind of like it. It’s almost a way of just saying, wear whatever because anything works, because it really does. There are a few 80s shapes again with the oversized coats and bomber jackets, but for me it’s the mix matched pieces which are drawing me in the most. I especially love the half-and-half sweater… now that would make an interesting DIY project, wouldn’t it?

~ PRADA – RATING: 8/10 ~

This is a really interesting a collection by Prada. For me it’s like Hollywood meets World War II (not that World War II should be romanticised like that, but you know what I mean). It’s glamorous but dark, it’s layered yet simple and it’s also telling a story from start to finish.

What I didn’t see until I looked a little closer, was the books that hang around the necks of each model, or the books that hang around waistbands and belts. What are they a nod to? Are they a nod to the attempt of trying to bring peace? Books of spells to cast upon the world, or are they a nod to the many accounts of World War II and it’s survivors? It’s an interesting touch and it definitely gives the collection more depth, although it doesn’t really need it because the clothes all speak for themselves.

~ SALVATORE FERRAGAMO – 8/10 ~

More colour and stripes! This honestly must be the most colourful AW for a long time and I’m so happy about that. Missoni-esque chevrons, fluid streamline shapes (that you guys know I love), exposed zips and disco inspired prints all feature amongst even more wacky faux fur. It’s bold and dazzling yet it has that very minimalistic Italian feel throughout, even when it comes down to a chessboard style checkered blouse.

~ TOD’S – RATING: 9/10 ~

I’m mainly featuring Tod’s because of the fact that I have actually passed their HQ in Sant’Elpidio a Mare (Italy) many times now, which is quite exciting, so now that I know of their brand, I’m much more interested in seeing what’s going on, especially at MFW. Artist, Vanessa Beecroft, set the scene with an installation at the show which involved Karlie Kloss being sewn into a leather one piece (a nod to the leather work that Tod’s is known for, especially in the footwear department).

As we saw at LFW, the 70s is still in and I really love how Tod’s proved that. Laid back knitwear and suede are big features, along with tartan and huge fur collars that remind us of the shearling jackets that are a big hit currently.

Of course we should take note of the shoes too, which are tied up with laces and bows that pull things altogether. I really, really like it, even if I am slightly bias to the fact that I’m currently not too far to where the origins of these designs came from.

~ VERSACE – RATING: 9/10 ~

I was interested to see where Versace went for the women’s AW16 collection because I was actually pleasantly surprised by the men’s. I’ve never been a huge fan of Versace but perhaps that’s because I tend to associate them with the logo splattered pieces and rather marmite like golds… but I think they’re starting to win me over.

Donatella says it was a collection to bring the power back to every kind of woman, and quite like that. It’s more evidence that for us colour loving people, AW16 definitely won’t disappoint. They’re wearable colours too… navy blues with muted corals and neon yellows that break things up, all in very sleek and modern shapes that are a nod to what we saw at the men’s show indeed.

There are also pieces for those of you who prefer the more ice queen, pastel shades for winter, as you can see on Kendall Jenner (I think that’s her name – I honestly don’t follow the happenings of that side of social media but fashion week and model castings keep me upto date). It’s actually really nice, and I am definitely a fan. Versace are in my good books, people!

What do you think of Milan Fashion Week AW16? Who was your favourite Italian designer? Let me know in the comments below! 

So now that London Fashion Week AW16 is over, and it’s about time we get to the reviewing and reflecting! I might be doing a Milan Fashion Week review too, seeing as I’m currently in Italy (it seems rather fitting). AW16 seems like it’s going to be a good one, especially in the footwear department. So let’s check out what happened at Brewer Street Car Park… (All images via Vogue.co.uk)

Alexander McQueen // Anya Hindmarch // ASHISH // Burberry // Holly Fulton // House of Holland // Mary Katrantzou // Molly Goddard // Mulberry // Richard Malone // Topshop UNIQUE // Vivienne Westwood

~ ALEXANDER McQUEEN – RATING: 8/10 ~

Another thing you should know by now from my past reviews, is that I love intricate detailing that takes clothing and fashion to a new level of an art form. I love precision and beading and embellishments and all of the small details that come together to create something transformative… and all of that is within the Alexander McQueen AW16 collection.

It’s very feminine in terms of shapes and styles, with lace bras and sheer fabrics being a key focus, but it still has that toughness running through which I think designers have started to do more and more over the years. It’s yet another collection that hints to space and all things dreamlike, with symbolic moons and stars dotted throughout.

It’s regal and every piece has a sense of presence, and I think that’s most definitely true to McQueen. A big congratulations to Sarah Burton on a wonderful collection, especially since she is heavily pregnant… incredible!

~ ANYA HINDMARCH – RATING: 9/10 ~

After becoming slightly uninterested in the whole ‘novelty’ fashion theme, Anya Hindmarch has won me back again with a very tech based, Tetris and Pacman inspired collection that makes for a good inbetween with novelty and good old, high fashion.

First of all, I’ll talk about how incredible the show was (on live stream)… the set had moving Tetris pieces that created and an incredible backdrop to the cast of models, which were walking down the catwalk to a beat that turned into a computer generated voice before they lined up for the final presentation.

It was really quite interesting and I love the question of “Do computers dream when they sleep?” that went along with it. In terms of the actual collection, I also loved it. Like I said, it was a great balance of novelty and true designs all of course with a classic Hindmarch twist.

There were Pacman handbags, Minecraft inspired faux fur and a nod to previous collections with the fried egg symbols and the sticker covered shoes. It was all around, a wonderful collection and such a great show, that will be sure to be a big hit next season.

~ ASHISH – RATING: 6.5/10 ~

Gah, I really do love ASHISH but I think this season was lacking in something. I really love the crayon box inspired idea, with each look being top-to-toe one colour, but it just doesn’t feel as dramatic and exciting as usual. I won’t lie, I’d still like to own most of it, but unfortunately (and I am being very subjective here), this isn’t my favourite collection of the season which is rare for me and ASHISH. It’s a bold move though, with everything being so simple, and for that, I applaud Gupta.

~ BURBERRY – RATING: 6.5/10 ~

With the news of Burberry becoming one of the first brands to transition from the usual fashion week schedule of see now, buy later, it’s interesting to see what’s in store next. What I think is interesting, is that every look is quite different. There is of course the overall theme of masculinity mixing with femininity, slouchy seventies etc… but I would say that usually with Burberry, you can spot out pieces in different variations.

Perhaps this is to do with the change… with people needing things that are totally new. One big thing you can spot is texture; there are sequins and heavily embroidered garments. It is different, but it’s still very Burberry and I’m sure it will be a big hit to those people who get to have a chance at pre-ordering their favourites.

~ HOLLY FULTON – RATING: 7.5/10 ~

Another designer who always sticks to her routers, showing a definite signature style throughout is Holly Fulton. Although inspired mainly by David Inshaw’s painting “The Badminton Game”, I can still feel those space age style themes running throughout in a slightly mechanical style… whether that’s just my eyes, I don’t know, but I like it nonetheless.

Intricate, folksy style prints across wide A-line pieces are mixed in with organza creates a lot of drama and activity to a collection that could have been a lot more basic. I love the muted pink tones (I’m a big fan of them right now) so that small addition definitely wins me over.

~ HOUSE OF HOLLAND – RATING: 8/10 ~

A meet in the middle of seventies and twenties inspired pieces, I think I’m starting to fall back in love with HOH. There’s flapper inspired sequin dresses (you know how I love sequins, but really, does anyone do them better than ASHISH? Actually, maybe they can this season…?!) and laid back fits in the form of loose jumpsuits and oversized robe style jackets.

There’s also a hint to the ‘space’ trend that has already started popping up all over (we saw it with Versace’s men’s collection). I would say it’s a nice nod to the late, great, David Bowie, but that was only a small portion of his career so we should take note of that. I think this collection is one of my favourite HOH collections for a long while now.

~ MARY KATRANTZOU – RATING: 8/10 ~

I sort of fell out of love with Katrantzou over the past two seasons but I think this one has won me back, surprisingly. Although there are strong, western cowboy themes throughout, all I can think of when I look at each look is; disco. It’s a party collection at heart and that’s proven by the flashy metallics and bold star prints.

Of course the shirt dresses were a big focus, and they will most definitely be an inspiration for the high street, there’s a lot of other things to be looking out for too… like the faux fur coats which is super interesting to see Mary focusing on, especially in such a bold manner. It really works though and I LOVE it. It’s such a fun collection, that you can still class as beautiful and ethereal, just like last season.

~ MOLLY GODDARD – RATING: 8/10 ~

I love seeing what Molly has to offer because it’s always so genuine and you can tell that so much love and genuine creativity is put into her work. It’s also love to see such a diverse casting of models too… it’s just refreshing. Everything she does is refreshing and I love that.

If I were to personally put a pin into what the collection is to me… it’s a bit like the 2010 version of Alice In Wonderland. It’s dark, mysterious but still playful and girly. There’s bright pastel tones in the form of puffy dresses, but there’s still the full, deep textures and darker shades. It’s a really lovely collection and I’m still totally obsessed with her signature style.

~ MULBERRY – RATING: 7.5/10 ~

I feel as if this collection will cause some form of controversy regarding the heritage of Mulberry and its previous collections because as you can see, it’s definitely something new… but is that really a problem? In my opinion, no. I think it’s really refreshing to see something new from such a brand, no matter what we’re used to.

It’s still sleek and streamlined and there are still nods to the shapes that we’re used to, but it feels lighter and I love that. I also love the shoes – I think that’s one thing I’ve noticed across the whole of LFW – AW16 is going to be a good season for footwear.

~ RICHARD MALONE (Fashion East) – RATING: 8/10 ~

Malone is definitely a designer to keep your eyes on. I’ve mentioned many times before but I love streamlined collections that are simple with not too much fuss, yet they still pack a punch, and this is definitely one of them. I absolutely love the use of stripes and shapes. It’s almost nautical, especially with the different shades of blue and the bright yellow breaking things up. I really do love it, and I’ll definitely be looking more into his work.

~ TOPSHOP UNIQUE – RATING: 8/10 ~

With Topshop comes a very similar colour palette to what we saw over with Holly Fulton. Dreamy, woodland colours (and prints) with a strong balance of monochrome at the same time. It’s deep, it’s dark, it’s mysterious and it definitely pulls you in… and dare I say it, a few of those dresses could be classed as sexy. It’s a strong collection and it shows that Topshop are finally finding their UNIQUE feet.

~ VIVIENNE WESTWOOD – RATING: 7/10 ~

When I was watching the show, my first thought was “It’s a marmite collection – you either love it, or you hate it”, so when the Style.com review says that too… well, then I guess that’s exactly how to put it. It’s a classic Westwood collection once again, but that’s nothing new. Every Vivienne Westwood show has classic pieces that you can pick out in each line up.

The shows are rare for that because although you can obviously pick out similarities, it always ends up looking so different with such a different feel. There’s the classic neck lines, there’s the outerwear that hasn’t aged a day and there’s the draping… but it’s all new.

Personally I believe there are nods to the cyber world, a bit like Anya Hindmarch, but then I might just be picking up on similar prints and patterns. It all adds up though… every small detail goes towards the next season as a whole, so I’m sure this collection will influence it.

What did you think of London Fashion Week AW16? Are you excited about what’s in store? Let me know in the comments!

As part of my Scrap Social series, I thought it would be interesting to take a look into the scrapbooks of other bloggers and creatives in the form of a Guest Scrap Social feature! We’ve previously taken a flick through the pages of Holly and Jacky, but now I have the wonderful Areeba from Not Your Type. (Also big shout out to Katie for introducing me to her!)

Why do you use a scrapbook? I’ve always used a diary/journal to write or make art so it has become a part of me after all these years and I feel like I can’t live without one. It helps me to give my creativity energy a way.

What are your favourite methods? Layering. I love putting pieces together, pasting different things on the page, making a lot of layers, balancing colors and drawing on pictures. I try to do much more on 2 pages than looks possible.

Where do you find the images for your pages? They’re mostly from calendars (my nanna has a lot of them) or newspapers. All of the magazines that I have are mostly about literature so they’re usually disappointing when it comes to visuals. So I’m always looking for calendars or maps because they have waters or skies, which are my most favorites.

Has your scrapbook inspired you to go further with any other projects/ideas?I started an art journalling project with a fellow blogger in January called #ohjournaletc, it’s mainly based on Instagram to give the teen artist community a direction to channel their creative energy into something.  We have weekly art journalling prompts to help them come up with excuses to make art. It’s been going pretty well so far.

This is my favourite page (first image above), which is your favourite out of this selection? The one with ribs and Lorde lyrics all over them. I’m a Lorde freak and these are my top 3 songs from her. And it feels like a little tribute to her through my art.

Do you think each page represents a period in your life, or the mood you are in? Not the mood, but the life changes I’m going through. I like spilling my current life phase on the paper to see how it looks like if turned into art.

When and where do you create your wonderful collages? Mostly in my room after midnight or in late afternoon. Mainly when I can’t sleep. I have this little wooden table by my bed and it’s loaded with my journals and art materials so it’s always easy to reach my creative tools whenever I want.

Do you think your scrapbook is a representation of your personality? Definitely yes. It’s creative, different, abstract with a touch of madness. It is so me.

Paint or Ink? Paint. I feel at freedom with them. Also, paint brushes are my most favorite tools.

Glitter or Puffy Paint? GLITTER! Give me some glitter and liquid glue and I’ll be the happiest girl in the world with pages full of glittery art.

Neat or Messy? Neat. I like all the pieces in their position, all colors balanced and blending perfectly with each other.

You’ve bought a new magazine which would be perfect for scrapbooking. do you chop it up straight away after reading, or wait a little while until it’s considered ‘old’? I’ll cut it into piece right after I’m done reading, if it has something that would make my art journal look prettier. I don’t care about magazines much.

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~ ABOUT AREEBA ~

Areeba is a creative lifestyle blogger who celebrates being different over her blog Not Your Type. She reads a lot of psychology thriller books and always has an excuse to make more art. She’s a professional fangirl and she is in love with a city. Culture and human psychology are two things she is always curious about.

BLOG – TWITTER – INSTAGRAM – PINTEREST – #OHJOURNALETC

Unfortunately LFW fell at a bit of an odd time for me to do London Fashion Blog Week this season, which is why this post has absolutely no reason to the great fashion month that has already kicked off. This post is a little lifestyle-y but with a small outfit thrown in too. My family and I traveled to Rome for a nights stay in an AirBnB (our first ever experience), so that my brother could go off and see Ronaldo do his thing against A.S Roma ⚽ and so I could go and take a look at some of those great Michelangelo paintings. So here are some pictures from the two days we were there…

WHAT I WORE: Black Faux Fur Coat (Jumble Sale) // ASOS Dip Dye Jeans (DIY) // Blue Mono Pascal Boots (Dr Martens) // Floppy Hat (ASOS)

I’ve actually been to Rome a few times before but I couldn’t really remember that much of it, so it was nice to really soak it all up. I especially loved the architecture, and how colourful it all was. Italians seem to love their painted houses and Rome was full of colourful buildings, especially in gorgeous muted pink tones… perfect for outfit snaps as you can see from above!

We were actually lucky enough to take a trip to the Vatican museum which takes you through the Vatican all the way into the Sistine Chapel. It was a really cool experience but definitely don’t go unprepared without a good pair of shoes… it’s a long walk! Some of the art work really is quite incredible and you’re lucky enough to be able to take photos which is quite rare (although not in the Chapel… they made that very clear).

WHAT I WORE: Black Faux Leather Biker Jacket (ARK)* // Geometric Maxi Dress (ASOS) // Floppy Hat (ASOS)

The paintings really are quite incredible, mainly because they’re all in such good condition. The Last Judgement really is quite spectacular… it’s huge and you don’t really get enough time to take it all in due to the fact that you’re crammed into the chapel with hundreds of other people (they really need to only let in a certain amount of people at one time). I’d recommend it though! The whole tour was definitely worth it, even if you’re not necessarily that interested in ART… to be able to say you’ve been around the Vatican is quite a statement.

There was also a Matisse exhibition showing which was exciting for me as I’m a big fan of his work…. a picture in front was of course obligatory. Excuse the messy hair… long days with long hair = frizz and mess… a hat is an essential item! There was also a collection of lots of different artists including Salvador Dalí, but sadly most people were just walking on past. Stop and appreciate it, people!

DR MARTENS: Blue Mono Pascal Boots (Dr Martens) // Black Virginia Leather 1B99 Boots (Mastershoe-MyShu)*

LOCATION: Via dei Coronari, Rome, IT 🇮🇹

So I’ll talk a little about my outfit… I accidentally wore a combination that gives the illusion of blue knee high boots. Oops. It didn’t look so bad in real life, but in photos you could most definitely mistake my trousers for boots!

Talking of boots… I officially have four pairs of Dr Martens thanks to winning the Facebook page give-away they run every week. Definitely worth the two minutes of filling it out because now I have another pair in my collection!

Have you been to Rome? Where did you visit? Let’s chat in the comments!

Today I have another interview for you (not a Pen to Paper one unfortunately but this might even be a little better!), which is with the wonderful and talented Daniel Lismore of SORAPOL. I’ve been in contact with Daniel for a while now so it’s an honour to have him answer some of my questions in such fabulous detail. If you’re not sure who Daniel is and what he’s been up to, there’s a short little bio below… (Images courtesy of SCAD) 

At what age did you start to experiment with fashion and self-expression, and why do you think you were interested in it?

When I was a kid, my parents were antiques dealers. So looking at all of the historical paintings and things that they were bringing in, as a kid, it really made me think a lot. Star Wars and Star Trek also really inspired me; I loved the uniforms and the aliens and how chic they looked in a sci-fi way.

I was about 16 when I started to wear make-up (my mum’s orange make-up) and started to grow my hair. I used to wear ‘Swear’ shoes (they were big platform boots that looked like boats), so my idea was then to look like a Hollywood alien as that’s what I was being inspired by at the time.

I had braided hair with florescent green plastic sticking out of it. That’s when it first started, I’d say around 16. I then started going to some goth concerts, and I started to go partying in the town that I’m from, underage… that’s when I started to really change how I looked.

Can you name any specific artists that influence you?

I’m constantly inspired by different cultures from all over the world, not necessarily by one artist in particular. But there are artists like LaChapelle, Bjork, Picasso, Dalí, Warhol, who have all created their own kind of thing, and I’ve always admired that in an artist.

I’ve travelled a lot around the world and I’ve been so inspired by the Maasai and all of these tribes that I’ve seen. Also tribes that I haven’t seen; there’s a tribe in Papa New Guinea where they all go out and go to the ‘Sing-Sing’ and all the men dress up in feathers of rare birds and loads of make-up. They make really crazy outfits and they inspire me more than anyone, I think.

You currently have an exhibition called, “Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Taken” open at the Savannah College of Art & Design, over in the US. How did that come about?

I wrote an idea out for an exhibition, and a week later a friend of mine called me up and said, “Would you like to exhibit your clothes?” so obviously I said “Yes, here are my ideas.” and he said “Yes, of course.” His name was Rafael Gomes and he was at Vivienne Westwood for about ten years.

He kind of understood what I do; he’s seen me grow a lot and interacted with me at (Viveinne) Westwood at certain times while I’ve been working on Climate Revolution. So all of a sudden he was at my mother’s house. We went to the storage and we spent days and days in the cold going through my archives.

Then he came to London, this is after packing everything up, around 3,000 items. We had to write everything out by hand, it was a nightmare! Then we sent everything to America and he came to the SORAPOL studio in Hackney (London), where we went through the archives of everything I’d worn and been a part of, so we sent those pieces and then I went to my wardrobe in London and sent nearly everything that I have, so I have no clothes to wear right now.

When we got there (Savannah College of Art & Design or SCAD), we opened all the boxes and I put everything in colour, texture and shape. That’s how I create an outfit usually… and I used lots of safety pins; more or less the whole exhibition was safety pinned together. For me it was more real, because that’s how I reuse my clothes; I buy a piece of fabric that I love, I have it forever and I can wear it in a million different ways.

I love what you said about your extraordinary personal style… “People are going to stare anyway, so I think I may as well give them something to stare at.” …how did you get to that stage in self-confidence?

I’ve always been stared at, ever since I was young. I remember getting on a bus one day and never even knowing about men dressing as women or whatever, or men wearing make-up and this man was like “Oh hello young lady, you can get on the bus before me”, and I was like, what the hell?

So, people have always reacted to me in a particular way. I’m in Dubai at the moment and they’re not sure… “Is that a man or a woman, we’re not sure?” They’re going to look at me because I’m 6ft 4” and at the moment my hair’s down to my waist. So I love to give them a reason, if they’re going to stare at me, you may as well give them a reason.

Really, I don’t think I’m that confident. I was a model for years and I struggled with an eating disorder (bulimia) and that really didn’t make me any more confident, and I think it held me down for a while but I got over it. Later on, wearing masks, I realised, give a man a mask and he’ll be himself (it’s an Oscar Wilde quote), so if you wear a mask, you can kind of do anything you want. That really helped build up my confidence, weirdly.

The make-up aspect also helps because you can change your character. I don’t do that all the time but sometimes I add a bit more to me… I get inspired by someone like Johnny Depp or something, and it comes into my character and I go out for the night in that character, but usually I don’t do that; usually it’s just myself.

I don’t think I’m that confident. The armour helps.

You were recently working with H&M on their sustainable fashion campaign (Close The Loop) – What are your honest opinions on what the high street is doing about these issues? How big is the problem?

To be frankly honest, when H&M came to me and said “Would you do a campaign?” I thought, yes, and then they said about recycling and I was like, hold on, how can H&M promote recycling? Then I thought about it and I realised that they’ve got such a massive voice, that anything that can help or even promote, I think I should be a part of so I said yes to it, even though they mass produce everything.

It was like music to my ears, it’s something that I care about and it’s also good for me as a brand. I do think it’s a huge problem, mass consumption is a massive problem that we all face and it’s going to effect the environment and our families of the future.

If we stop buying so much, we can really make a difference, especially if we buy wisely or buy things that we can reuse. I reuse my fabrics, I wear something around my waist and then I wear it on my head and I wear things that aren’t conventional (not everyone’s going to do that but that’s how I solve those problems) … I’m not sure how we’re going to do that but the fact that Chanel is doing recycling right now, is a good sign.

So hopefully the industries will start to turn it into a trend and progress with it. I’m not really sure how but if they all start to recycle a bit more; it’s going to help.

What’s one thing you think needs to change within the industry as somebody who networks within different areas?

There’s a lot that should change, it actually is changing and it’s changing so fast that no one knows how to deal with it. I remember a few years ago, ‘blogger’ was a swearword. I was a blogger. At the same time Bryanboy and FaceHunter were starting, I was blogging… and I was seen as a blogger and it was kind of not a good thing to do, but then it all changed, so that’s one thing.

We just need to go with it.
The whole industry needs to be reinvented because nothing works. There are systems in place which hold people back. Sometimes the top people in the industry are hired from outside of the industry and they really don’t know what’s going on.

Obviously it’s about business at the end of the day so I believe that there should be more help for young designers and businesses in the fashion industry, and think we all need to start supporting each other even though we’re competing against each other.

I’m not sure to be honest, it’s a really tricky thing. A lot of designers at the moment are going bankrupt or are going to work with other people because they can’t continue and this is because the buyers are buying pre-collections and they’re not going to Paris and they’re not going to these trade shows. It’s kind of failing.

Big designers are closing shops. Huge designers; American designers, English designers… the best that we have, are kind of disappearing, and years ago everyone was all for helping the new designers and making everything better but I think it’s just because of the economy… and we have to move with it, but I’m not sure how.

But then on the other side, there’s couture.

At SORAPOL, we were told to do Ready-To-Wear, and then all of a sudden we decided it wasn’t working for us because the system wasn’t working for us. So we decided to stay with couture which we’re good at and we know we can sell (and we do sell) … and now we’re moving from London, the most creative city in the world (most of our inspiration comes from there) and it’s the cultural hub of the world… but the problem is, that the establishment (and I’m not scared to say it) are not helping young designers.

We’ve only been around for four years and I understand that no one would want to help us too much because we’re quite young but there are other people around who are failing miserably and they’re so more talented than anyone else on schedule.

We did our show in Brewer Street car park, and they laughed at us, but then all of a sudden that’s where London Fashion Week is. I went to book the car park and they said “London Fashion Week has it” and I’m like… what? So, that’s how it lies in London.

We’re moving to Paris, hopefully we’re going to do well. We’ve had lots of support from Paris already. VOGUE has said they’ll do us a dinner. There’s more support in Paris than there is in London for young designers.

So, the industry really needs to reassess itself, I think. I’m speaking as an outsider and an insider; as someone who’s worked in most parts, whether it be a stylist, or photographer, or model, or a designer or someone who’s worked with make-up or worked with trends or has consulted for companies. I’ve seen a lot and read a lot… of course I don’t know if I’m always right but, I think that’s the way things need to go.

It needs a whole shake-up. I think people will come out of it shining, others will just disappear because they’re talentless but that’s just my opinion.

Thank you so much for the wonderful answers! Truly insightful.

What are your thoughts on these topics? Let me know in the comments!

As I mentioned in this post, I want to start really talking with you guys about different topics especially on the line of being yourself and confidence. I asked you guys whether you had any questions (not necessarily directly about being yourself) and an interesting one I received was about ‘ART & Film’. Seeing as these sorts of things can be a huge influence on personal style and fashion in general, I definitely had to give a go at answering it! I’m mainly going to focus on film in this one, but if you’d like to see me delve more into ART, let me know! (Images via Tumblr)

❓ How do you incorporate ART & film into what you wear? ❓

~ THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS ~

(1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6)

Films and fashion go together in a really funny way, because it’s not all about the clothes. If it was all simply about the clothes, catwalk shows would simply just be a selection of models walking down a runway with no make-up, no specifically tousled hair and no music to keep in time with their footsteps.

Fashion is all about the whole feel and mood of everything, from step one (of waking up in the morning) to step one hundred (taking your shoes off at the door)… there’s so much in between that adds up to our personal style each day, and films are a great way to look at it all like that.

I hate to say the word because it’s probably rather over-used nowadays but certain films come with a certain aesthetic which set the tone for the costumes, make-up and hair and overall the fashion. 

So of course, a great place to start is the wonderful array of Wes Anderson films we have to watch. My personal favourite (out of the ones I’ve so far managed to watch) is The Royal Tenenbaums because of Gwyneth Paltrow’s character.

My sister says that Margot reminds her of me (?!) but in one way that’s kind of cool because of her awesome outfit choices. Margot’s me when I’m moody. She wears simple pieces but she has to top it off with something extra, usually in the form of a fur coat.

So you’re probably wondering? How do I actually incorporate the vibes and general tone of The Royal Tenenbaums and it all comes with? By taking certain elements subconsciously and channeling them into my outfits… like collars and muted tones; faux fur and flat shoes. I don’t necessarily have to seek out to end up looking exactly like Margot Tenenbaum… it just sort of happens organically whenever a picture shows up or I end up re-watching the film.

~ GOD HELP THE GIRL ~

(1&2 // 3 // 4 // 5&6)

However, there are times when I do purposely seek out to recreate a character. The thing with fashion and dressing is the fact that you can transform into whoever you want to be, and sometimes I just really feel like channeling the ways of Eve from God Help The Girl. I mean, that leopard print and stripe combination? It has me written all over it.

There’s actually a really nice clip in this movie of the character, Cassie, doing her make-up in the style of Aladdin Sane (David Bowie), but then she ends up scrubbing it all off, and I think that’s a nice way of summing up how it’s okay to recreate styles and personalities from what we see on TV/social media, but it’s also okay to try and do your own thing, even if that person truly inspires you.

So although I have sometimes felt like being Eve, there’s always that Tolly touch to things and I don’t think that will ever go away. After all, the question I received was about how I incorporate art and film into my outfits… and I guess that’s exactly what I do.

~ THIS IS IT ~

On the other end of things, there’s also fashion films which are specifically created to add depth to a collection or brand. It’s usually a short video that revolves around a couple of characters at most, with items of clothing on full show, but a strong sense of plot still there.

I’m not going to lie, the main reason I included this specific fashion film is because it includes Alison Brie (from the show Community – my favourite TV show ever… I’ll take any chance I can to promote it (#andamovie!)) but I do genuinely like it.

It’s not necessarily in keeping with my current personal style, but the dreamy lighting and general idea of it really pulls me in and for some reason any ART film that includes roller blades seems to attract people’s attention. It’s actually for the designer jewellery brand Irene Neuwrith and I think it’s a pretty awesomely put together piece.

How do you incorporate ART & film into what you wear? Let me know in the comments!

Today’s post is just a quick one! So… you may have noticed recently, that there’s been a bit of a change in terms of my banners up there beneath my header? Well, there’s been a bit of a change elsewhere too because my very own collection of socks is now just that… my own! The (originally known as) #MooiEnLiefbyTDP collection is now underneath the Tolly Dolly Posh name! Exciting 🙂

The shop is now back open and you can have a quick purchase of your favourite pairs! But be quick as this is the last stock of them before they’re gone. Who knows, there may just be another product in the pipeline sometime in the future. I really hope you enjoy picking up your socks again! Make sure to give a tweet with “#TDPSocks” this time, so I can see who’s been buying pairs.

~ SHOP THE COLLECTION ~

Let me know if you like the new shop or if you’ve made an order, in the comments!