A fine day for a swim

I've just returned from my European road trip so that means I'll be bombarding you with photos for the next few weeks. These snaps are from Italy where we rented a villa near Venice for a week. Luckily it had a pool because the area was suffering from a heatwave and the temperature peaked at 35°C. So I took to the water at least once every day, spending the rest of my time lounging by the poolside. On one day I decided to take some pool photos, and here they are. Wearing my swimsuit which mimics the waves of the water, I blend right in.

It's been weighing on my mind for some time, so I just wanted to share a few words about body policing. After discovering some comments made about me on ask.fm (here and here, that linked directly to my blog and showed up in analytics), I was upset and a little put off. Yes, sometimes I don't shave and no, I don't care what anyone thinks of it. However it upsets me when people are so closed minded that they are willing to spread my blog and declare my hair disgusting just to confirm their own prejudice that I'm not conforming to their strict appearance norms. But that's all I'll say, because shaving is possibly the most dull topic imaginable and I don't have the patience. No hard feelings though.

swimsuit//Kling, gift

I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees

When I was very young we had a massive garden, or it felt massive at the time, to my 4-year-old self. It had a big old tree in the middle of the sloping lawn and the wild strawberries that grew by the fence. I don't remember much, but I do recall climbing the tree beside the house after dark, getting covered in sap and then crying because I couldn't get down on my own. That was the last time I had a garden. Recently, after I graduated from high school, my parents moved back into a house with a garden and every time I'm back home I love to spend time in it. No massive trees but plenty of birds and bees and things to look at.

This outfit is probably much simpler (just a nice way of saying plainer) than most that I post here. But with the heatwave simple is best otherwise I run the risk of ending up as a sweaty mess sprawled on the tiles trying to cool down (I do that anyway, but that's beside the point). I also made a small capsule wardrobe for the 4 weeks I'm away so I toned down the statement pieces and chose easier-to-match staples.

The shorts are a pair I made from fabric I picked up from a charity shop and the pattern was drafted by following the the pattern of another pair of shorts that I picked up. The fit was so perfect that I had to copy the hip to waist fit and the dart placement. Overall I made them a little more high waisted (never too high) and longer on the leg. I'd make a few slight changes to the pattern; lower the back, straighten out the front, and put a little more room in the butt area of the crotch curve.

shorts//handmade    top//People Tree    shoes//thrifted

Oranges and Lemons

It's been a while. I missed my blog, I missed taking photos, I missed the interaction. On the other hand it's been a welcome break, a chance to feel free of pressure to post and reply to comments. I guess rather than trying desperately to document my life I've just been living it. (Ew, since when did I become a soppy puddle of cheese?) Well I'm back and having left London I officially have even less to do than before which means I can go back to photographing all the time. I have lots of things to document (maybe I should consider a profession in professional document keeping, like working in the natural history museum).

Also my hair changed colour! About a month ago, at the time of the last blog post. It was blonde for a while and now I'm trying to restore the natural golden undertones and build up my hair colour again. The orange is... very orange.

Also if you follow me on twitter or instagram you'll have seen many photos of my newest flatmate, Lemon the cat. She's tiny and adorable and I love her. I should also mention that she recently gave birth to four little mini Lemons. We almost certainly have homes for all of them, we've had more than enough interest. More pictures of them soon, mostly on twitter but maybe I'll sneak a few onto the blog just because I love my kittens!

dress//vintage and sewn    hat//belongs to my flatmate

Hair tutorial: How to tie a scarf in 7 ways!

So I haven't taken any photos lately, I could blame the fact that I recently lost my tripod in an incident involving a picnic and a department store bathroom, but really I'm just lazy and too shy to photograph in public. Instead I have a post involving about tying a scarf in your hair, 7 ways! I actually love wearing scarves in my hair, it's fun and looks nice too! It's good for summer when I like to carry a light scarf in case the weather turns sour or if it starts to rain.

The scarf I'm using is one I was sent by Front Row Society (FRS) late last year, I've introduced them before but I thought I'd write a little more now. FRS create a variety of products; scarves, swimsuits, leggings, bags, and shoes. The twist is in the fact that they allow anyone to submit designs according to a theme (approximately monthly) and then a small selection of winning designs is chosen through votes by the public. The winning designs then go into production and anyone can enjoy this democratic product. My scarf is still available and on sale for £18.

Method 1: Ponytail bow
Pull hair in a high ponytail, loop the scarf around the ponytail a few times and then tie it into a big bow on top.

Method 2: The 'turban'-style headband
Centre the scarf at the back of your head, bring both ends to the front and twist them around one another by 180°. Bring both ends back around your head and tie them into a small knot at the back, tuck the knot under the middle of the scarf to hide the ends.

Method 3: Grace Kelly
Drape the scarf over the top and back of your head then loops the ends around your neck and tie into a small knot that can be tucked away. Put on sunglasses for the full Grace Kelly effect, be fabulous!

Method 4: Twisted flower
Start by tying the scarf around your head with the knot at the front. Twist the scarf ends in opposite directions then twist them together. Continue twisting until the scarf starts to fold in on itself then arrange it in a spiral. Once you reach the ends, tuck them in under the spiral and through the centre of the flower You can use a safety pin if you're scarf doesn't stay on it's own.

Method 5: The full 'turban'
Wrap the scarf around the back and top of your head. Twist the ends around one another by 180°, bring them to the back, tie a knot and tuck in the ends.

Method 6: The slightly 70's hairband
Wrap the scarf around your head and tie it at the back, bring both the ends over one shoulder.

Method 7: Bun bow
Pull hair into a high bun, wrap the scarf around and few times and then tie a bow in the back.

Short walks and circle skirts

Yet another set of photos taken during the surprising warm spell that brought sunshine to these dark lands. Another day spent sitting in the park, just soaking up the rays, buying into the story that sunlight and fresh air will cure any malady and soothe any aches. If only the sun worked that way, I would move to the Caribbean and live a happy, healthy life on some tropical beach drinking lime and coconut. Or I might grown some fins and go live under the sea as a mermaid, that would be ideal if it weren't for my sensitive eyes irritated by even fresh water, let alone salt. Ah, I've gone off on another tangent, back to the point - it was sunny.

My hair is no longer as pink as in these photos, in fact it's much lighter and I intend to dye it a mouthwatering shade of candy floss tomorrow. Have no fear however, for I have the dark pink shade on hand if I regret my decision in any way. I may post about my hair journey at some paint, I do have many photos of the intermediate stages. They're not pretty but might give hope to those aspiring to new pink-haired heights!

As for the blog, I'm working on putting together a bit of an ethical retailers directory page. I used to think ethical brands were far and few between but recently I've come across so many new websites that it would be a shame not to share with everyone. Until then, dream of pretty frocks, much as I will do tonight!

dress//c/o Lovestruck    ring//People Tree    shoes and bees//Asos    bag//thrifted    arrow bracelet//Delilah Dust

Walking in an alpine grove

Firstly I find it most important to inform you that my hair that my hair is still pink, I was a little hasty in posting my first pink post just because I was so excited to share my newest hair adventure. The problem is that I now have a small backlog of photos pre-pink which might be a little confusing. For the time being I'll try and disperse them evenly amongst the pink until I have no more left. That is, if I can be bothered to post them at all. These photos were taken as I was leaving my friend's house in Surrey and heading back to our London abode. He has a lovely flowering bush in the front garden that seems to be in bloom almost all year round. I also had to take these in front of at least three builders standing no more than 20 metres away. They didn't make a single comment, which must be a first!

Another reason for posting this now is the lovely, lovely dress. It's yet another Orla Kiely for People Tree piece (what can I say? Orla has a way with clothes) that I got at yet another People Tree sample sale (what can I say? I'm too poor a student to buy things full price). The exciting thing is that this time I wrote this post prepared, prepared to write about how you, yes you, could obtain these sweet, sweet clothes for the same low, low price. The answer: yet more sample sale! There is one small difference, I'm volunteering there on Friday and Saturday. So if you live in the south of England and can get to East London this weekend, come say hi! (I have pink hair, it's hard to miss). On the other hand, I'm terribly shy and make very awkward conversation so perhaps it is best that you stay at home and admire the clothes on the internet.

And if for some reason you don't like in the south of England (I can't think of a single reason why you might not...) then the goody bag from people tree is a random selection of archive pieces that one might find at a sample sale, but with an element of surprise!

dres//Orla Kiely for People Tree    sunglasses, shoes//thrifted    flower comb//handmade

orla kiely for people tree by dressesonaclothesline featuring lotta

Dr. Martens chunky heel sandals, £96 / LOTTA floral headband / Jeepers Peepers round frame sunglasses, £19 / Orla Kiely Alpine Grove Flared Dress / Borders & Frontiers Maths Things Shopper, £13