Listen up people, ignore what the weather tells you: it is Spring. At least in Fashionland it is. It has been spring there for a few months so technically we are way behind and should be ashamed of ourselves for doing things as passé as wearing “berry shades” instead of pastels or wearing gloves made of wool instead of delicate white lace.   Don’t worry, the Fashion Police are more like Fashion PCSOs – they look the part but they can’t arrest you. They can give you stink-eye* though, which is BRUTAL.   Thankfully, Bookish Brunette is here to help ease the transition from the drab cocoon of your winter coat to the dazzling, rainbow coloured summer butterfly that you truly are.   What the hell did I just type? Butterflies?! Cocoons?! Dazzling rainbow colours?! Too much Ting Soda does bad things to my brain…   What I meant to say was: Bookish Brunette is here to attempt to explain/mock this season’s biggest trends in a lighthearted and flippant manner. It will be ideal reading for people who don’t “get” fashion and regard it solely as a curious anthropological phenomenon. Expect at least one Zoolander reference.   Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be blogging about the five major fashion headlines for the season. By the time I’m done it will be Autumn in fashion land but only just Spring here. Think of it as a sartorial trip to the southern hemisphere or something like that.   Here’s a taste of what you can expect to read about:   1) Why I think Prada have got it a little bit wrong this season (OR: the one where Bookish Brunette declares something “a bit tacky” – yeah, I know, scoff away.)   2) The Muse: A Staedtler Text[.....]

I really hate it when people act all coy and secretive on social media. Pseudo-enigmatic tweets and statuses that read “So excited!” or “Heard the most amazing news!” make me gag. Whatever it is, just tell us already, or face losing my interest and/or getting unfollowed.   Back when I was involved in community radio I was told: “never trail the news”. This meant that you could hint and build excitement about upcoming programmes and songs, but never be a tease about the news. It makes sense; the news transcends such cheap chicanery. As it is in community radio, so it should be in real life.   After all that, I’m now going to pull a rather dramatic about turn. Today’s blogpost is a collection of photos. This is because I’m really busy working on exciting stuff that I can’t tell you about. By my very nature, I want to tell you and squeak excitedly in your general direction (sorry). But I can’t, at least not just yet.   There you have it, I have become a cheap and tacky social media tease. I feel dirty.   Here are some pretty pictures from the day I went to Bridgnorth and Instagrammed the place to hell. If there’s one thing that the world needs, it is another blogpost of try-hard “artsy” pictures. Enjoy.   BBxx            

  I’ve wanted to post a picture of this dress for ages. I picked it up for £15.00 from Cow Vintage in Birmingham a few months back. My guess is that it is either fully handmade or two dresses stitched together at the waist (the belt makes me think the latter). It is made from silk – with the bodice in check taffeta and the skirt in slubby raw silk. The bright yellow, pink and navy are an unlikely combination but it somehow works.     Dress: Cow Vintage Cardigan: Pied a Terre Tights: Boots Boots: Jones Bootmaker Bracelet: Made   Vintage has been on my mind a fair bit recently, after reading Shopping for Vintage by Funmi Odulate. What I don’t fully grasp is the nature of being a “vintage collector”. These are people who buy beautiful clothes with no intention of ever wearing them. Really, what is the point? I doubt that this dress is of any real value to a vintage collector or a hardcore vintage fan. All I know is that it looks good and I doubt I’ll catch anyone else wearing something similar.     I’m also going through a phase of wearing lots of yellow. I’m not sure why.   BBxx   P.S. I have major bitch face in that picture. Me and my Gorilla Pod had just had an argument, otherwise I was practically dancing with joy on the inside. Honest.  

There’s something magical about Birmingham’s Great Western Arcade. It is so grand, with arches, tiled floors and fancy light fittings. It reminds me of the scene in Francois Truffaut’s Jules et Jim (OK, the Sixpence None the Richer video for Kiss Me that was based on Jules et Jim) where Jules, Jim and Catherine run through the beautiful Parisian arcade, all bohemian, androgynous and chic:     That’s enough of the artsy-fartsy French film and middle-of-the-road ‘90s Christian soft rock references. I visited Great Western Arcade on Saturday to check out Birmingham’s first vintage charity shop: Forgotten Vintage.   The shop opened back in November and it is a natural fit amongst the old world charm of the arcade. Proceeds from the shop support Trident Reach the People Charity and SIFA Fireside, both of which help homeless people in Birmingham.   Forgotten Vintage stocks garments and accessories from ‘60s through to the ‘90s, ideal for folk seeking something unique with a charitable twist. All proceeds will be split between the two charities and will be invested into work to tackle  homelessness in the city.     The shop is initially open for a six-month trial period, but there are high hopes to make it a permanent fixture in Birmingham’s growing collection of vintage retailers.   Shop Manager, Carl Franklin, believes that Forgotten Vintage fills a gap.He said: “There are very few vintage shops in Birmingham compared with other cities in the UK and this certainly  is the city’s first vintage charity shop.   “I am convinced the demand is out there and the vintage market will grow and grow in Birmingham once there is somewhere like this for people to go.”     Having paid the shop a visit and rummaged through the rails, I can report that there’s some[.....]

  Cardigan: Topshop Black Top: Florence and Fred at Tesco Jeans: Topshop Boots: Jones Bootmaker Skull Pendant: Lynsey Luu Horn of Plenty Pendant: Mom found it on the car park at Dudley Zoo in the 90s. True story. Probably Elizabeth Duke at Argos.   I haven’t posted an outfit picture for a long while. Don’t worry; I’ve still been looking smoking hot. I’ve just not felt like posting pictures of myself. I’m not 100% certain why, but here are some options:   1) Plastering pictures of myself all over my blog still makes me feel uneasy and silly. (With the exception of the ones I had taken by the brilliant  Alex Styles that you’ll see on the “About”  page of this site, I want to plaster those everywhere with an accompanying note stating: “I look like this ALL of the time”.)   2) My winter wardrobe is a tad predictable – short skirts, opaque tights, skinny jeans, cardigans and riding boots in a variety of combinations. Yawn.   3) It is dark when I leave the house and dark when I get home. I used to take my pictures on my way out in the morning, hence why you can probably see eye snot in them.   I was all ready to put my half-assed attempts at “style blogging” to bed, and then I bought this cardigan. I blogged about my love of sequins before Christmas. Since then, several sequined cardigans had caught my eye, but I couldn’t bring myself to shell out £50.00+ on something I knew would be heavily discounted two weeks later.   Lo and behold, I picked up this ritzy little baby yesterday for a mere £15.00 from Topshop. That’s correct, £15.00. Reduced from £55.00. It is the best bargain ever and I’m going to wear[.....]

  There has been lot of stuff that has baffled and bemused me this year. I kind of wish that I’d kept a list of all these things, it would have made writing this list easier and have resulted in a far superior piece of work. Well, there’s always next year…   1)    Downton Abbey: Not seen it, don’t want to see it. Bring back The House of Eliott, now that’s what I call a period drama.   2)    How Facebook is ever going to make any money: You don’t want to know how much of my time and energy has been wasted pondering this issue. Best solution? Fine users for the following infractions:   i.     Status updates that hint at political allegiances with the EDL ii.    Status updates whilst in labour iii.   Spelling “with” as “wiv” iv.    Stupid chain messages/statuses suggesting that I can help cure breast cancer by sharing my bra size and colour with all and sundry. It isn’t funny, it is just plain creepy.   There are more but I’ll stop there.     3)    That Fenton video on YouTube: It is an old dude chasing a dog through a park. I can watch my Dad doing something very similar on a daily basis.     4)    Thatcher “nostalgia”: Yes, she’s a powerful woman. This doesn’t mean that I should respect or give a shit about the heinous old cow.     5)    Why everyone suddenly became a current affairs pundit/satirist: I blame Twitter for this one. From Hackgate to Higgs Boson, everyone has suddenly decided that their opinions and gags are so important and hilarious that the WHOLE WORLD needs to read them. I really hope 2012 is a slow news year.     6)    The Kate Middleton look: Hurrah! Sloane for the 21st Century! That’s just what[.....]

  I’m not one to gush about high street and designer collaborations. The last one that got me genuinely excited was when Giles Deacon first teamed up with New Look – the silk leopard print tea dress encapsulated everything that I love about clothes. Since then, designer collaborations have left me cold. Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles briefly grabbed my interest, only to lose it with the £300+ price tags. Versace for H&M made me smile, but that was because I found the mental image of my husband in these pants quite amusing.   This morning’s announcement that H&M have teamed up with Marni has melted my icy heart. I love Marni. I can’t afford Marni, but I love it.   Excuse me whilst I go all gushy and fashion smashion on yo asses: Marni is fashion for the thinking woman*. It is complicated and beautiful. It scares boys.   This video provides a glimpse of what the collection will be like – the prints and colours immediately appeal and  I’m digging the “kooky girl” styling with the knee socks and silver pumps.     Tim Blanks, from Style.com, hits the nail on the head with his comment about design that appeals to “sensuality of the mind”. I feel the same way about Marni that every trendy architect/graphic designer I’ve met feels about Comme des Garçon. It is fashion for fashion nerds. And I’m proud to be one of them.   Now, if only Miuccia Prada could collaborate with M&S (Laura Ashley at a push), then my kooky and sensual lady mind would be blown. Someone make it happen.   BBxx   *Let me be clear: all women think. The (ghastly) phrase “thinking woman’s fashion” is normally used to describe anything that doesn’t flash boobs or legs and involves lots of cardigans.[.....]