Cameo Appearance

So...I have been away for a really long time. I won't bore you with all the details (and there isn't really much to tell), however as some sort of excuse I will say that in a wake of finishing university and finding myself in the real world with a full time job I lost my way a bit creatively. There was the pressure of not having much time to get used to and also, I just sort of lost all my creativity. I don't really know why. I was still looking at art and fashion, and thinking about it and buying it (fashion, not so much buying of art unfortunately!) but somehow it just didn't seem to 'fit' more.
Well, that is over and I am back feeling like my old self.
I started doing artistic things again (lino prints - maybe I will show some one day) and I decided I needed to get back to doing all the things I love. The things that make me who I am. And this blog is one of those thing. So here I am, feeling positive and creative for the first time in a long, long while!

So, whilst flicking through the latest copy of Vogue with Alexa Chung on the cover , I noticed something that made me stop and take a little sharp intake of breath.


Just look at that necklace that she is wearing!
I love Cameos.
I love Skulls.
I love that necklace.
I must have it. I must have it. I MUST HAVE IT!

Oh damn it is £850.

If you are rich and have that kind of money to send of a necklace then it if from a label called Iosselliani. Only, it is not on there website any more, the Alexa factor must have kicked in and it has probably now sold out. However there are many other beautiful things to swoon over, such as:


Yes, yes, all so bloody gorgeous.

However none of those treasures captured my imagination as much as the skull cameo. So now I am scouring the Internet for something to satisfy my lust.

The best I have found are these:

Thanks to google shopping search I found this beauty, from Gemondo which I think is probably the best pendant I have ever, ever seen. Even better that the Iosselliani one, which was the inspiration for this search. It is literally perfect. the perfect colour, and with the heart and the skull it is just beautiful.
Unfortunately it is still pretty pr icy. It is £81, still a bit more that I can afford. But ugh. I am in love. I have never wanted a piece of jewelery so much in my life!

It breaks my heart a little bit just to look at it.

This one is pretty grate and very close to the original, it comes from the website Beadesaurus.co.uk which has tons and tons of super cute jewelry. I have only just come across there site and it is defiantly a bit of a gold mine!
Unfortunately the most perfect skull cameo they stock is sold out. Big frown.
It was this black one:


They do still have his smaller blue version, which is pretty damn good. I do love the mix of the skull with a pastel blue, mixing the cute and the gothy. However the blue gemstones may look a little cheap in real life, it is really hard to tell without seeing it for real.


Also, whilst trawling through etsy I found a few things that took my fancy..

This one is not really a cameo, but a pendant with a medical engraving of a human skull. I am really fascinated by vintage medical drawings, so this necklace from Schutzerland, is right up my street!



As well as the skull designs there are these incredible heart and moth pendants too. When I saw the heart one, I did fall in love, just a bit. Imagine what an amazing valentines present it would make!



On etsy, there are loads of very similar skull and cross bones cameos. I generally don't like the ones with bones so much, I am not sure, they look just a little bit emo for me. However the colours on these ones and the beautiful backings used makes these from Agonysdecay stand out as looking a little bit more interesting.


Also featured in her shop are these beautiful necklaces:
Another featuring a heart -


And these stunning cameos of The Three Graces Goddesses and Sea Form Angles



*Sigh*. So many pretty things...

(I am so happy to be back.)
xox

Wings of Desire

I've talked a LOT about feathers and my general obsession for anything that's got them on. I love hairbands and collars, dresses and jackets. And now I think I may have found my ultimate feathered accessory.

However my squeamish side is kicking in, this is not just a feathered headband. It is a taxidermy wing head piece.
Now, I am a vegetarian but I love taxidermy, yet I'm funny about touching it as the idea creeps me out a bit - basically I am a little confused on the issue. What I do know is that this wing by designer Reid Peppard is incredible.


I am not sure I would feel very comfortable with a real pigeon wing on my head, yet I want one more than anything. They are the most stunning headdresses I think I've ever seen. I'm also quite fond of the wing necklace:


Reid Peppard = much love.
Check out Reid Peppard's blog - on it there are some more lovely things plus a fair few things that are a little two gruesome for me to deal with (squashed half rat broach, anyone?)

Hello Dolly

I know I've been a little quiet of late. I have been being hiding away, having taken this fashion week off. I've been working and doing art things and generally busy so didn't have the time to go to any of the shows.

However I have not been completely out of the fashion loop - oh no, for last week I got to spend the day pretending to be a model!

I like most girls have always dreamed of being a model, however I am far to short (being only 5'2.5"), not quite skinny enough (I am also a big fan of pasta and cheese - not very model like) and not really generally 'model' looking. However recently when performing in a friends theatre instillation I met a wonderful photographer who works for the fab clothes site Dolly Dagger. A week or so after meeting her I got an email asking if I would model for a Dolly Dagger shoot - of course I said yes!

Dolly Dagger is a great site, that I have been aware of for a while now. It sells amazing 50s style dresses, cute playsuits, amazing shows and rock n roll t-shirts. I was made up in kinda "goth-doll" way with dark make-up and backcombed hair so got to wear some of slightly edgier stuff. My personal faves are the Violent Femmes T-Shirt (I love their music so was very excited by the shirt), the heart print tights and the absolutely stunning Vivienne Westwood for Melissa shoes!

So anyway, he is me - playing at being a model!


Wearing: Violent Femmes T-Shirt, Striped Tights, Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Shoes, Black Fascinator.


Wearing: Sunsuit, Striped Tights, Oversized Rose Corsage (in hair).

Wearing: Hoodie, High Wasted Skirt, Heart Tights, Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Shoes.


Wearing: Lightning Bolt Dress, Peep Toe Shoes (which I can't find on the site).

Wearing: Mudhoney T-Shirt, Heart Tights, Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Shoes, Gold Facsinator (I can't find this on the site at the moment).

So. Much. Fun.


And if you haven't heard of Dolly Dagger before be sure to have a browse, they have some to-die-for things on there!

All pictures by Emily Barnett for dollydagger.co.uk

News

For a while I have tried to cover a number of topics on this blog, mainly fashion and art. However I think having more than one topic confuses things a bit a makes the blog lose it's impact. Most of the people who read my blog are other fashion bloggers and so the art bit has kind of been left behind. This was fine as some light relief when I was spending all day, everyday making art but now that uni is over and I have to do normal things like have a job, my art time is becoming more and more important.
So, I have decided to start a new art only blog. If you are interested please have a look at it! I will write about my own work, reviews of shows, artists I like and me generally struggling to find my way in the art world.
You can fine my new blog, With Quietness and Beauty, here.

Please do not fear, I shall of course keep going with this blog. I am still very much obsessed with clothes and will continue to post as often as possible. I just think will be easier and better for each blog if I keep the art and the fashion separate. I hope you all read them both.

Best Wishes
Christina x

So...I Did It.

My hair is now very red.
It is very strange. I've never dyed my hair, I've been blond my whole life. I'm very happy with the results. I'd love your thoughts.....

A Glamourai Neckalce

Recently a friend and I started making our own headbands and accessories out of broken jewellery and bits we picked up in charity shops and markets. We made lots, but were still left with a huge bag of jewels, beads and chains. It has been sitting their for a week, waiting for us to feel inspired and start creating again.

Then I was checking my favourite blogs this morning and saw this brilliant tutorial from the Glamourai. In case you haven't come across the Glamourai before, her blog is just stunning - she always looks incredible and makes the most fantastic jewelry. She has the kind of blog I can only ever dream of - her photography is so good and she is always so immaculate and stunning - I have a serious case of blogger envy. Well, now thanks to her tutorial and my bang of broken jewels I can have my own little bit of the Glamourai's style!

This is the gorgeous necklace she created:


So, I gathered everything I needed. If you want to have a go yourself you will need, some scissors, a needle and thread, some ribbon, a selection of necklaces (these can have broken clasps as that bit won't be needed).

Please remember I am following instructions from The Glamourai, so if you are going to make your own, remember to refer back to her (much clearer) instructions.


Now, lay out the necklaces you've selected in the order you want them to be. I used five, a mixture of gold chains, peals and a cute key pendant.


I love gold and peals, very Chanel! And I think the little gold key is a cute touch, I was very happy to discover it amongst my tangle of beads!

Then cut two lenghts of ribbon to about 25 cms each, the Glamourai used grosgrain ribbon, which is thicker. I only had satin ribbon to hand, which may not hold up as well over time.

Start sewing the ends of the necklaces onto one it of the ribbon, about 5 cms from the end, starting with the shortest chain, ending with the longest. Then sew the other end of each necklace onto the other bit of ribbon.



Then finish of, and strengthen the ends by trying a little knot in the ribbon, around the chain ends. I did two knots to make it extra strong.

So all finished. It was so quick and easy to do, probably only took about 30/40 mins, and now I have a fab new necklace!



So what do you think?
I am rather pleased with it.
Thank you Glamourai! x


P.S If you don't fancy making your own then the Glamourai also sells her fabulous wears in her Esty shop and on Shrimpton Couture.

Seeing Red?

I am seriously thinking about colouring my hair.
I have never dyed my hair - apart from using wash-in wash-out things when I was 14 (pink streaks, at the time I thought it rocked!). And whilst I do totally love my naturally blond locks, I can't help feeling like I want a change. Loads of people tell me not to tamper with my hair, normally they have dyed their hair loads and wish they hadn't. However it is easy to say that, they have been there and done that - I've never even tried. Surely it is better to try something and then decide if it is good or not that to forever be wondering!
I really feel like I need a change. For a while I wanted brown, but today I had an epiphany....
red.

not bright red. I'm thinking along the lines of Nicola Roberts (my number one girl crush) ginger.


This is the shade I want.
But here are some of my other redhead inspirations:

Even Rachel Wood. I love her make-up here to, a look I will copy if I do go for the colour.

My teenage fave - Shirley Manson from Garbage.


And all these pre-raphaelite beauties.

So...should I go for it?
I am thinking semi-permanent and I will get it done by a professional. As a hair-dye-virgin I don't think DIY is the way forward.
My hair is blond naturally but with red tones so I think it would fade reasonable naturally as well. But I need advise.
This is me now...


Please...tell me what to do!

x