goldkohl.

I know. It's been nearly a month.
Not only that, I've had something to post for weeks; I am merely very lazy. Soz blog.

It was literally weeks ago (three, actually. Err. I think) that I worked all weekend at a warehouse sample sale situation - Premium - with a lot of other stores and brands. One that caught my eye (but I couldn't afford, even at sample sale prices. Not because they were particularly expensive, but because I am particularly skint.) was hosiery and jewellery brand kvast.

Their schtick is kitsch printed socks of varying length and vegetable jewellery. You heard me. Those are broccolis and cabbages rendered in silver and gold, respectively. Vidi:

All pics from kvast's site.

Their e-shop is here and they ship worldwide, which is always nice to hear.

back on it.

Since, evidently, I'm back on the rings (see last post...), it's pretty good timing for KumKum to celebrate their 15th (!) anniversary.

The Swedish label is about to become available in the UK and has been seen on various celebrities*, and though they do a bracelets, earrings and necklaces too, I am, of course, more interested in the rings. The bigger the better, obviously.

Intrigued by the stackable ones (to wear together or with other rings, that is the question...) but the big clusters in black or turquoise are my faves, all in sterling silver with precious stones and freshwater pearls and so on and so forth.

And props to Liselotte Watkins, the illustrator behind the second image down as part of the 15th anniversary promotion. Adore the doodled rings.

*You may note I don't talk about celebrities much on 'ere; not in the 'oo look who's wearing this label' etc sense. That's partly cos I don't care which person is wearing what label, and partly cos I wrote my dissertation on celebrity and fashion and have had quite enough of that subject thankyou.

ring ring.

Found myself in the perfect position for Kasabian last night - behind a tall man but with a view of Serge's face over one shoulder and Tom leaping about over the other.
Gigs call for flat shoes.
In fact, for the most part, Berlin calls for flat shoes. I haven't worn a pair of heels yet. SHOCKHORRORGASP.

dress asos//jacket+necklace+socks H&M//shoes topshop//belt matalan//shorts h! by henry holland

rings clockwise from top right: vintage//H&M//ebay (f21)//H&M

Today - hungover - I met a bunch of people from Couchsurfing for kaffee und kuchen at Mein Haus Am See and which led to a huge burger at a nearby American diner some hours later.

Travellers; backpackers; people moving to new cities/countries - I cannot recommend Couchsurfing enough. You have the chance to explore new cities, or even the city you live in, in a new way and through new eyes. Everyone (so far) has been wonderful: friendly, open-minded, well-travelled and interesting. If you're in Berlin any time, these Sunday afternoon coffee meetings are probs gonna be a regular thing (I organised the whole shebang, see, cos I'm dead pro-active in the making friends department) and will be up on the events page for Couchsurfing sometime in the week beforehand.

Also, travellers, you can find places to stay for free. I'm all for hostels and that but free accomodation and with (likely) wonderful people for a day or two is too good to pass up.

I wondered about adding a sort of 'things to see and do in Berlin' info page on the blog (or maybe start compiling one and adding to it as I find new places to recommend...) and perhaps one for Newcastle too (!) since I know it pretty well. Thoughts? Seems I'm slowly becoming a travelSLASHfashionSLASHstyle blog...

let it snow.

as it has been for the past week or so. the snow keeps falling off our roof so we have to pretty much climb over a wall of snow to get from our front door to the path... sigh.

i started out wearing lots of layers with my fur coat and being far too hot (i know, wtf), and gradually wore less and less layers underneath it until I was literally only wearing a dress and the coat (and tights and 3 pairs of socks and wellies, but still).

still too hot.

so today, my next thickest winter coat, plus scarf, plus earmuffs (my ears get significantly colder than any part of me by A LONG WAY.), then lots of layers again.

STILL. TOO. HOT.

at least, on the way to uni and during the day; layers much appreciated walking home at 7pm...

coat + wellies from ebay//charity shop shirt//zara jumper//vintage shorts//

ear muffs were either a present from my friend or i borrowed them from her in college and never gave them back. let's call them stolen?//

h&m mittens//asos hand...thing

oh yeah, the hand thing...

literally the first time i've ever seen something on a blog (the blog in question would be 5 inch & up) and exclaimed out loud to no one in particular "WHERE CAN I GET THAT?!? I MUST HAVE IT NOW! IT'S ONLY 12 QUID! I DON'T THINK I CAN AFFORD THAT BUT I DON'T CARE"

thank you ASOS - the S/M appears to be sold out, but note the gaps in the middle/index finger bands; i had to make them myself. all three rings are the same size... i ask you, who the hell has the same size index, middle and ring fingers? the M/L would've been far too big for my ring finger, but the S/M was too small for the other two. not to be beaten, i brought out the scissors (yes, really) and sorted that bad boy out.

thought the slits might get on my nerves by the end of the day, but this slightly less cumbersome than my other (vintage, silver) hand thing and now i have hand things in two colours, so i may be encumbered by hand adornments on pretty much any occasion.

score.

saturday post.

a veritable feast of post arrived for me on saturday morning. an ink cartridge (already emptied), my free copy of Vice, and the motherload: my Model's Own purchases.

lilac; purple grey; top coat; the pastel pack (fuzzy peach, lime green and feeling blue) and a black mascara (which is great, thanks for asking)

...and then me and Ana went to Tynemouth Market. we bought a variety of things (she got some homemade jam, which I am reliably informed tasted goooood, and we both went jewellery mad. also i found some flying-based things for the sketchbook....)

epaulette; RAF badge thing; vintage ring...

and this. which you will have already seen if you follow me on twitter.

amazing ring/bracelet/thing.

i was sure i'd painted my nails lilac already by this point but evidently not; they are still buff pink.

the lilac, top/base coat and mascara are all i've tried out as of now, but the base coat performs it's function and the mascara is great (rather robust brush) and definitely a bargain at a fiver, and the lilac is probably the best nail polish for colour/coverage i've used.

thick, but not too thick; bright but not too bright. i could've gotten away with one coat, but slapped another on for luck. about half of my nails have chipped in 2 days, but then the only really noticeable one is the chunk missing from my right thumb, which is more than likely a result of having to wash up.

think i'll take this one off and see what one of the other colours are like this evening.

adventures in repurposing.

back to blogging.

went to leeds yesterday for to see regina spektor with daniel.

twatted about in a bar and had a beer beforehand, aka wrapped my necklace around my person in different ways.

despite significant manface in the last pic, i'm a fan of that style. note to self: more messing.

daniel did similar with his denim shirt (and my necklace, because it was gaga-tastic)

"look, it's a muff!"

oh, here are some gigpics (all a little blurry and samey, we were far back and it was dark):

leeds academy is a nice venue. long train back though (we got a later one so we didn't have to rush, hello having another beer on the way to the station)...

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so on sunday, august 1st there's a big, all encompassing international blog sale occurring. am i selling it to you?
basically loads of blogs from all over will all be selling stuff on the 1st, from 11am, and if you're taking part you should email pearl (see below) and let her know, and every blog taking part will also link all the other blogs taking part. which is exciting, non?
anyways, read all about it (and contact pearl) at fashion pearls of wisdom, posthaste.

gotta have faith.

it was my housemate's 21st yesterday - i made him a 6 layer rainbow cake; no lie - but all the post was for me. as was the package delivered around 3. (my new printer. no excuse to now be doing work now...)

in said packages were a number of recent ebay purchases.

ah, the curse of ebay. once your selling stuff, you're searching for new things that you want too. dammit.

vintage cross earrings (SOMEWHAT REMINISCENT OF FAITH-ERA GEORGE MICHAEL, Y/Y?); khaki blouse; vintage lace dress.

...worn with things found on my floor, of course (thrifted velvet dress, H! by Henry Holland cycling shorts, Oasis wedges, H&M ring, hat from ebay...)

as much as larger bosomed ladies "shouldn't wear high necks" (which is one 'rule' i do, actually, sometimes consider given that they can and do look massive in said outfit situations), i think a high neck under a strapless dress breaks it up and you can "get away with it".

which is good, cos shirts buttoned up all the way/high necks are very much relevant to my interests right now.

damn you, elaine benes.

also, this card was in the package with my lace dress. no idea why i have the earrings in this pic, but there you go. (it came from ebay store the purple lizard, which you should mebs take a gander at.)

ring, ring.

the collection.

i'm so ridiculously all about my rings right now. the 4th pic is my newest acquisitions - two long H&M numbers and an adjustable leaf from Claire's Accessories (!), which i haven't been in since i was about 14.

i need more - currently trawling ebay; although H&M is my ring go-to. they always have good ones.

i feel like posting is a little lack-lustre right now. but i'm planning a new "feature" tomorrow, which hopefully will be a regular occurance.

clockwise from top left: H&M//H&M//Claire's//thrifted//Primark//H&M//

Topshop//H&M stack//vintage//Primark stack (?)//Topshop//Primark//Topshop

studded.

DIY studded backpack//H&M stacked rings

I meant to put more studs on this thing; at least cover the flap, but I was working with what was around the house and all I had were like...little round studs. those were the biggest; and they were still tiny. pretty tiny, and then I ran out of those and only had minute ones and gave up - I had symmetry; that was enough.

the backpack currently holds my 2 maxi skirts/strapless dresses, shirt, tee, jeans, various socks and tights, belt, pumps and towel. and has my wellies tied to it with a leopard print scarf. but you can't see that.

bought these rings yesterday. they are badass.

bits and bobs

Continuing the money spending trend (must stop. must list those things on ebay. etc.), I bought a whole ton of stuff on Thursday, other than the makeup. Herein are some pictures of jewels and jangles, and a lil' outfit shot off of the evenings festivities.

2 x H&M necklaces//Primark necklace+ring

I haven't been to Primark for about a year (It brings me out in hives. Seriously. Can't handle that amount of people. It's not worth it. Not my idea of a good shopping experience.), but popped in to find a new skinny brown belt since the buckle gave in on my old one, and that's where I got it.

Couldn't find a plain one, but then there was a braided one; the only brown one left. Score. Then I found this ring, and that necklace, and a bag, and some tights, and some socks, and before I knew it a £2 was a £16 bag o' stuff. Gah.

Oh hai close-up. And a good shot of that ol' light grey polish.

thrifted dress//ebayed jacket//topshop shoes+leggings//primark ring+bag+belt//H&M necklaces

I'm so into hair braids right now. You can do SO MUCH with short hair, honest. You just need to be creative. Although, no top knots. :(

I am now leaving you with the oblig FashionCrew shoe shot.

AND OH YEAH; I've only got a right old Topshop Makeup giveaway on, haven't I?

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