A Century of Style to Inspire a Year of TRYING to Style

On Saturday my friend Tom and I stumbled upon a gorgeous exhibition at The National Theatre: Norman Parkinson's Century of Style. 

It was this photograph that caught our attention initially:

Isn't it wonderful? Look at those hats!

As we are about to embark on a project set in 1960s NYC together (more on that another time) we were drawn to the image. Even though it is clearly 40s/50s, we just had to see what else there was to see! And we weren't disappointed:

Deemed by many to be the father of modern fashion photography, Norman Parkinson is famed for changing the way fashion was photographed and for bringing a sense of humour and creativity to his work, as is evidenced in the self portrait below:

Tired of restrictive studios he prided himself in photographing his models in unusual settings and circumstances and sometimes with the odd prop (or animal)!  

His images definitely have an air of theatricality about them and manage to really bring the clothes to life, I think.  

Somehow he makes them seem wearable, even the crazy stuff, don't you think? 

He was also a damned good portrait photographer to boot.  Check out Dame Maggie!

This exhibition marks the Centenary of his birth on the 21st of April 1913 and, thus, his Century of Style.  It is worth a look (just been extended to the 27th of May) and certainly helped to inspire and bolster me for my own year (not quite a century, but hey!) of 'shopping-less' style. 

This next one, entitled The Art of Travel, from Vogue in 1951, made me have a quiet little chuckle to myself...

Look how teeny weeny her suitcase is! She certainly has got travel packing down to a fine art.  I would be extremely frazzled, lugging a ridiculously heavy oversized suitcase (like the one discussed in this post) and look a little more like this:

I LOVE this skirt.

(All photos Corbis/© Norman Parkinson Ltd/Courtesy Norman Parkinson Archive) 

This is what I wore:

Outfit No 40 Saturday on the Southbank
Crochet Collared Sheer White Blouse - Primark
Velvet Green Skirt - Ebay
Leggings - Topshop
Pumps - Office
Ring - 99p Store(!) 

Over and Out

M x

Digging Deep

So on Monday I gave the third item from the The Zara Bag of Shame its first outing. 

A pair of black Zara Harem pants. 

Outfit No 34 Fancy Harem Pants 
Pastel Green Sheer Batwing Tee - eBay

Zara Black Floral Embossed Harem Trousers 

Office Phoenix Ballerina Pumps

I've been waiting until the weather was nice enough to be able to wear pumps because I don't think they would look right with boots 

Who am I kidding? 

The real truth is they have been crushed into my seriously overloaded wardrobe since I took them out of the bag and I couldn't be bothered to iron them . 

THAT, my friends, is another reason why a lot of my stuff doesn't get worn. I discover an item hiding in the messy mass of fabric that is my closet, contemplate wearing it, realise I don't actually have time to iron it, shove it back in and pick something else. 

I REALLY need to sort out my wardrobe. 

I'm sure many of you have started cotton on to the fact that most of the stuff I have been wearing since starting The Challenge was purchased within the last few months and thus hangs out somewhere near the front of my wardrobe. You have seen some of the same pieces crop up quite a few times, such as that Miss Selfridge studded leather skirt and those amazing fringed tops. 

In fact, I suppose that up until recently I was technically still living out of that suitcase that I packed for Ireland.  To be honest, I just shoved its contents back into the wardrobe... (how many outfits have I made out of that now?!) I suppose in a way, and entirely by accident,  I have been demonstrating that you CAN survive on a capsule wardrobe.

But, the thing is, my wardrobe is far from capsule sized... 

I've been planning to do The Great Wardrobe Clear Out since I committed to The Challenge (I wrote a bit more about the overwhelming wardrobe situation in this post) but work and life have gotten the better of me and I haven't managed it...YET.

Anyway, since I started chronicling my endeavours on here, a number of people have suggested that I get involved with / organise a clothes swap which is something I DEFINITELY want to do. It may be my only opportunity to breathe a bit of new life into my wardrobe (Remember I'm NOT allowed to BUY but I AM allowed to SWAP and accept gifts)! Also, I could really do with giving someone else the opportunity to wear the stuff I'm not. One woman's tat is another woman's treasure, after all! 

So this weekend I WILL at least START the clear out, I promise...

Back to the harem pants: aren't they fab? 

The fabric is what makes them so, I think. 

It is just so gorgeous that it makes them dressy enough for meeting clients AND they are pelvic roll friendly so I can teach in them too! Yay!

They got a second outing on Tuesday but this time with the black version of that fringed top I love so much (Sometimes going all black is just super chic, I think), only this time I tucked the fringes in to make a feature of that nice crochet detailing at the collar. 

Outfit No 35 Chained Up Tuesday
Crochet Detail Top - Primark
Necklace - Primark

I broke up the black with an ace chained statement necklace from Primark (I got this not too long ago so it may still be in the shops).

I normally wear A LOT of black but have definitely worn less since starting The Challenge. It really has forced me to have fun with colour and my clothes again. I am actually really enjoying it! 

Over three weeks in and I haven't found myself hankering after too much at all. In fact, I dandered around the shops on a couple of separate occasions last weekend, with two different friends, both of whom looked aghast when they suddenly remembered about The Challenge and realised where I was. I quickly wiped the guilty looks off their faces and assured them that I wasn't bothered. And I'm proud to say I meant it. It was actually lovely to walk around clothing heaven and take in all the lovely, pretty things at my leisure with no ridiculous, all consuming 'I NEED to have that,' getting in the way of enjoying the company of my girlfriends.

However, at only 26 days in, I KNOW I am still very likely to be in the honeymoon period of my relationship with The Challenge. After all, we're still only getting to know each other and it's all still rather new and exciting. Give it a few weeks and I reckon you'll start to see some cracks appear...but only faint ones, I hope... 

I'm sure the sunshine has a lot to do with my chipper mood too. Crazy to think that 3 weeks ago I was wearing fur (faux) and today I'm sporting a not-so-chic sunburned neck. Got a bit over excited on  Wednesday and dug out my sandals and a kaftan: 

Outfit No 36: Summer's here! Dig out the sandals and a #Kaftan! 
Kaftan Dress - Forever 21 last year
Leggings - Primark
Sandals - Topshop

In the spirit of discovering my wardrobe I also dug out another dress from its recesses.  This beautiful pastel floral number that I picked up in the H&M sale last year: 

Outfit No 37 #PeachyPastels
Dress - H&M
Leggings - H&M
Office Phoenix Ballerina Pumps

Yesterday I was working from home, but still tried to 'shop my wardrobe' a little and wore this pretty little top for the first time in a while: 

Outfit No 38 #dressinglikekitchenchina 
Top - Primark
Denim Shorts - Topshop
Leggings - H&M

But last night I couldn't resist the chance to give the leather skirt its first night out on the town so it got ANOTHER wear.  I paired it with the black version of the Primark sheer crochet collared blouse that I also have in yellow and white:

Outfit No 39 Friday Night on Brick Lane
Blouse - Primark
Skirt - Miss Selfridge
Ring - 99p Store (!)
Tights - Primark
Boots - Aldo 

Over and out

M x

Working Girl

3 weeks in! Well, 21 days 10 hours and 33 mins, to be precise!  I'm coping well...I think...  The fact that I have been so busy with work probably has a lot to do with that and also explains my silence - Sorry!

Speaking of work...what to WEAR for work is always a bit of a dilemma for me. I don't have your average 9-5 job so office wear isn't really necessary. Yet, although I am self employed, I feel like I need to look well turned out. I suppose you could say I am my own brand ambassador. 

As I work in the arts, I think that it is important to look fresh and creative but I also need to look professional enough to be taken seriously, particularly because I am really pretty young to be doing what I do. 

Being so young is usually a plus for me in my job. I think it stops a lot of my younger clients (and often the older too) from being intimidated by me, which is really important in my line of work, but sometimes it can be a bit of a pain. 

At least once a week, I hear some variant of 'How did you end up here, I mean what age are you, like 12?'

So when creating outfits I try to keep them fresh and fun, to let my personality and love of clothes shine through, but at the same time I like them to give off some sort of air of professionalism. Tricky. It is hard to put together looks that make me feel nice (and like myself) but are practical and suitable for work. 

AND, to make this task even more challenging, I often teach very practical voice classes so need to be free to move without showing ... erm... too much of myself to my students... 

As you may have already gathered, I REALLY like clothes and really enjoy the fact that they can be a wonderful mode of self expression. I don't want to sacrifice that just because I might have to do a pelvic roll at the drop of hat! 

Pretty, practical and professional - not an easy balance to master! But I guess you've got a year to watch me muddle through and try to get it right... 

Jeggings are great because they look like a trouser, so I can wear them with my staple heeled ankle boots no problem, yet I can move in them like a legging. Win! Hence they have become my fallback over the last couple of years.

BUT pre Challenge I really started to let myself fall into a JJ (jeggings & a jumper) rut when it come to work wear. 

My lovely friend Emma tells me that isn't a big deal and that I still look nice because the jumpers are lovely ones and not the Fruit of the Loom variety. And of course, it isn't REALLY a big deal, like benefit caps or, arguably, the cost of Thatcher's funeral, but the fact is I don't FEEL very nice. Some days simply don't feel JJ days. I'm bored of them and I really miss my dresses and skirts. 

The thing is that, for me, clothes are so much more than just something I put on in the morning to keep me warm and protect my modesty. I like mine to reflect how I feel and help get me ready to face the day. I dress to suit my mood and I also let my mood be affected by what I wear. I suppose you could call me a fashion chameleon (or just a clothes whore). I dress according to the role I want to play that day. 

A few years ago I had a job as a librarian and went all out to play that role - heels, pencil skirts and even the tortoise shells! Ridiculous, perhaps, but I had a ball! It was DEFINITELY one of the best things about the job. 

Maybe my history as an actor is to blame but I LOVE that clothes have the power to alter how you see yourself as well as how others perceive you. The right outfit can go a long way to getting you in the right mindset to deal with whatever the day throws at you. If you were to wear jeans and a jumper to a job interview, not only would you give the wrong impression but, it's very likely that you wouldn't feel right. Where do you think the term power suit came from?!  (Interesting history of that here) 

Anyway my JJ rut has only led to me FEELING like I'm in a rut. It is just too casual and effortless. Sometimes we need to make a bit of an effort to inject a little sparkle and energy into life. 

SO back to my work wear dilemma: 

I would love to get more wear out of my skirts and dresses but the  issue there is of the student flashing variety. Skirts have to be paired with tights, which are neither dignity, nor pelvic roll, friendly. 

'Well, why not wear leggings instead?' you might ask. BUT if I substitute the tights with leggings it impacts on the footwear choices. Some shoes just look stupid with leggings, particularly in the winter months, when you have to wear socks. The heeled ankle boot, leggings and socks combination is not a winner. 

Anyway, since starting The Challenge I have been trying to break free from the JJ and give my varied and vast wardrobe the attention it deserves. 

So last Monday I wore a skirt (that nice Miss Selfridge studded pleather number that so many of you seem to love) with tights, thinking that I might be able to avoid the sort of exercises that might result in flashing:

 

Outift No 27 -  15th April 2013  - Studtastic Monday
Studded Denim Shirt - Primark
Studded Pleather Skirt - Miss Selfridge
Khaki Tights - Primark
Studded Tan Boots - New Look

Big mistake: the inevitable need to spine roll ensued... 

But I think this is a pretty great outfit.  I would normally have resisted the stud overload but I was feeling frivolous that morning and I actually think it really works.  Rules are made to be broken after all! 

I've had these studded tan boots since last November but have never worn them before (a sin, I know, but, hey, I'm doing something about it).  They are actually the same as those black New Look babies that I keep banging on about.  Sold out in the shops now but you can pick up a similar pair on Amazon here.

Here are some of the other outfits I have worn to work over the last couple of weeks:

Outfit No 21 - Monday 8th April 2013 
Kimono Dress - H&M
Headband - Accessorize
Blue Skinnies - Primark
Nude Pumps - Office

This one was great because it WAS pretty and practical, 

maybe  not particularly 'serious' looking 

but I didn't need that on that day.

Outfit No 22 - Tuesday 9th April 2013 - Keeping it Simple
White Shirt with Lace Detail - eBay bargain
(it has a lovely back)
Necklace - Primark
Skinny Jeans - Primark
Boots - Aldo
This was a great outfit for work - def one I'll whip out again. 

Outfit No 23 - Wednesday 10th April 2013 - Bottled Up
Bottle Green T-Shirt Dress - Topshop
(this is the same one that I dressed up for Outfit No 9
it really is super versitile)
Black Tights - Primark
Jacket - Zara 
Boots - Aldo 
I love this dress but the outfit is a bit on the dull side, I think.  
Definitely a hump day...

Thursday 11th was a 'pick yesterday's outfit off the back of the chair' day...

Outfit  No 24 - Friday 12th April - Fringy Friday
Top - Primark
(this wonderful top is the same as the black one you saw me wear in Outfits No 6 & No 17
isn't the detailing just gorgeous?)
Leggings - H&M
Boots - Aldo
I really like this one - cheery for a Friday, but 'well turned out' enough for work.


Outfit No 28 - Tuesday 16th April - Trashy Leopard Print Tuesday
Blouse - eBay
Black Tube Top - New Look
Skinny Jeans - Primark
Wedge Trainers - Primark
(there is a very funny story about these...another time)

The fact that the trainers have heels dresses this whole thing up a bit.

Blouse is also nice tucked in: 

Outfit No 29 - Wednesday 17th April - Rumours on a Wednesday
Fleetwood Mac T-shirt - Topshop 
I got it off eBay.  
I don't normally wear tops like this one but Rumours is one of my favourite albums 
and I think the image is beautiful
Black Chiffon Skater Skirt - eBay Bargain
Ski-foot Leggings - Primark
Kimono Caridgan - eBay

These ski-foot leggings are a great alternative to leggings because you can wear them with boots and ankle socks -so you can wear them like tights but your modesty remains intact.



Outfit No 30 - Thursday 18th April - Rolling Out of Bed and Hiding Behind a Necklace

T-shirt - Pull & Bear
Necklace - Primark
Black Chiffion Skater Skirt - eBay Bargain
Ski-foot Leggings - Primark
Kimono Caridgan - eBay

Now, what to wear today... 

Over and Out 

M x

Lighter, Brighter and Richer

This morning I hit Oxford Street. 

Panic not! I didn't buy anything! In fact, I left the house laden with bags and returned feeling lighter and richer! Happy days! It felt very weird doing everything back to front but I was returning a load of stuff that I had bought Pre Challenge. 

It was also incredibly empowering not to have to fight the urge to shop. Buying just wasn't an option I allowed myself to entertain so instead I browsed whilst feeling safe and secure in the knowledge that I could look (and touch!) but not buy. I found myself looking at things in a different way and instead of thinking, 'I HAVE to HAVE that!' my thought process was something like 'that's really nice and would be so lovely with my ****.  I wonder do I have anything like it, or anything I could MAKE like it?' 

There are some lovely tops in the shops at the moment that look like they have been made using silk neck scarves. I have an abundance of these so could whip up my own interpretation of this look in no time, if I put my mind to it. I love sewing. Even have a little sewing station in my flat (absolutely LOVING The Great British Sewing Bee. Anybody else watching?!).

Last year I made a couple of lovely little pieces for myself that I was very proud of, including this lovely Thai silk maxi skirt:  

Maxi Skirt - Made By Me(!) 

I made it using fabric that my mum was given as a gift once upon a time, before I was even born. I had such a love affair with it when I was growing up.  It sat, wrapped in clear plastic, at the bottom of her wardrobe for years and as I child I would often take it out just to look at it - it's just so pretty! 

Anyway, I LOVE this skirt. It is not perfect by any means but looks lovely on and people always ask where I got it from. It feels very good to say I made it (much better than telling someone you got it in *insert shop name here*) and to know that it is one of a kind and that there is a story behind where the fabric came from.  Can't wait for the sunnier weather so I can give it a few outings.  

This year work has kind of gotten the better of me and I have fallen out of the habit of sewing and creating stuff.  I really miss it.  Perhaps The Challenge will help me to get back into it...I actually have a bit of that gorgeous fabric left... Watch this space!

Today it was a miserably grey day here in London Town so I decided to cheer myself up with a bright pop of colour:

Outfit No 25 - Brightening a Grey Saturday
Orange T-Shirt - Primark
Studded Leather Skirt - Miss Selfridge
Necklace - Primark
Tights - Primark
Nude Pumps - Office 

Over and out

M x

'Shopping My Suitcase'

Well, it's been over a week. Well, TEN and a half days to be precise, but who's counting? (Me.) You'll be pleased (and, some of you, no doubt, shocked) to know that I have managed to stick to The Challenge (so far...still 354 days to go...).

What I haven't been so good at is keeping you all informed, but that's because, as those of you have been following will know, I was on holiday at home in Ireland. I have since returned to London and my normal routine, which involves a lot of time sitting on public transport, thus plenty of regular opportunities to tap tap tap the touch screen (surely it is better to tap those thumbs than to leave them twiddling?).

As I have mentioned previously, one of my big reasons for setting myself The Challenge was that I have SO MUCH stuff and hardly wear any of it. I really want to rediscover my wardrobe and learn to 'shop' it so that the shops don't seem so tempting...

My job means that I very rarely work in the same place, or with the same people, more than once or twice a week so it is very easy to get away with wearing the same thing, or some variation of it, two or three days in row. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that but when you have a wardrobe the size of mine (it's not small), and are STILL buying, allowing yourself to fall into a uniform of sweaters and jeggings is nothing short of a sin. I know that one of the main reasons for this, aside from a lack of time and sheer exhaustion,  is how overwhelmingly cram-ram-jam-packed it is.

A Typical Maevey Morning:

I open the wardrobe doors, take one glance at the chaotic squish of fabric lying within, threatening to surge over and submerge me in a suffocating mess of cloth, and a huge wave of indecision engulfs me; I feel sick.  Totally defeated by the sheer number of choices, I opt for grabbing a pair of skinnies from the jeans pile and one of my many many many jumpers.  It's gross.


o·ver·whelm 

1. To surge over and submerge; engulf:
2. a. To affect deeply in mind or emotion.
b. To defeat completely and decisively.
3. To present with an excessive amount.

ENOUGH is ENOUGH! I refuse to keep losing The Wardrobe War. I will no longer be defeated by my closet.  After all, I need it to be on my side for the next 51 weeks...


Thus, I have given myself the extra challenge of sharing what I wear, in the hope that it will encourage me to wear more of my clothes and force me to put a little more thought into what I put on in the morning. Let's face it, knowing that I have to show you all what I am wearing is bound to force me to think outside the box and I won't be able and less inclined to pick yesterday's off the back of my chair...I'd be busted!

So, despite my silence whilst I was at home I still kept careful track of what I wore each day so I could show you. 

Needless to say I am not very good at packing. It involves actually tackling the wardrobe... I have so much stuff that choosing what to take with me is not easy (Oh woe is me). I also hate planning ahead so, somewhat inevitably, I overpack.  Last week I took a pretty sizeable suitcase home with me...

These are the outfits I created using its content. If you have been following me on instagram (if you haven't, why don't you @maeve_rose?) you will have already caught a wee glimpse of some of these.

Outfit No 7 - Sat 30th March - The Belfast Shopping Day

This was the day after the Biffy Clyro gig and my last day of shopping so I wanted to keep it comfy. 

I also got dressed in a hurry.

Jacket - Zara

Mint Jumper - Primark (as worn the day before as part of this outfit)

Mint Studded Vest - Primark (just seen)

Bag - TK Maxx

Outfit No 7 - Saturday 30th March 

 Evening Coffee Catch-Up

Just a quick change to head out to meet some old friends.

Peacock Cardigan - Pull & Bear

I shoved off  my  Zara  Jacket and threw on 

this lovely Pull & Bear cardie

(See the gorgeous peacock on the back?) 

& one of my new Primark  necklaces 

Isn't it fab?

 It was super cheap & people have stopped me in the street to compliment me!

Faux Fur (aka my new baby) - Charity Shop Find
(It' first outing!)

Outfit No 9 - Easter Sunday - Family Party

Dress - Topshop

This is actually from their Maternity range.  

Don't worry, I'm not hiding anything...
(other than the fact that I'm a classic pear and there is no better way to disguise that than an empire line)
Kimono Jacket - Winter Kate (similar here)
I ADORE Winter Kate stuff. Nicole Richie designs the most beautiful pieces.The Kimono style bed jackets are to die for but are REALLY expensive, some going for well over 100 squid at full price.I got this vintage silk one in the Harrod's sale for £30.  Happy.

Swallow Necklace - Primark

(as seen in this post - another cheapie gem 

- seriously get your bums down there..)

Bottle Green Heeled Court Shoes - Carvela

 (Just seen - don't worry you'll see these babies again)

Outfit No 10 - Casual Easter Monday

Coral Batwing Top - Topshop

Peacock Cardigan - Pull & Bear

Leggings-Primark

Boots - Schuh 

Outfit No 11 - 30th Birthday Party (not mine, ta)

Kimono Jacket - Winter Kate

Bracelet - Superdrug

Bee Brooch - A birthday gift from a lovely friend

Playsuit - Miss Selfridge

Outfit 12

 - Tuesday 2nd April -

 Dinner with the family

T-Shirt - Primark

Necklace - Primark 

(see! get down there!)

Studded Leather Skirt - Miss Selfridge (as seen worn here)

Outfit 13 -  Wed 3rd April - Spring is finally here!

Skirt - Primark
the lovely one I bought when shopping The List for £10!
T-Shirt - Pull & Bear
the lovely one I bought as part of the basics shop
Look at the lovely detailing on the sleeve

Necklace - borrowed from my mum
(so sad I had to leave this one behind)

I wore my little office nude pumps too.

Outfit 14 - Wed 3rd April - 
A Girlie Family Dinner

So I pulled off my skirt, put on some skinny jeans instead and threw on my trusty Zara Kimono Jacket ( it's 3rd outing) & a great pair of heels.

Kimono Jacket - Zara
Primark Skinny Jeans
Pull & Bear T-Shirt
Necklace - borrowed from my mum
Carvela - Bottle Green Heeled Courts

Outfit No 15 - Thursday 4th April - spring has sprung in sunny yellow

Primark sheer crochet collared blouse in yellow
This is the same as the white one I wore last week.
I also have it in black .  They're great and may well still be in stock.

Outfit No 16 - Friday 5th April - 
Lacey Love & Shopping with my Mama 

(don't worry I didn't buy anything!)

This top is great.  I picked it up in New Look for next to nothing.

The Primark Skirt again 

(told you it would be like jeans for me).

Primark Leggings

Office Pumps

Zara Jacket

            And my ace new topshop tote! 

     (here's the tan version) 

Outfit No 17 - Saturday 6th April - 

A day of lazy sunny walks and cooking

Primark T-Shirt

Underneath I am wearing the same fringed top that I wore to the Biffy Concert the week before.  Pre Challenge I had actually looked at buying a t-shirt with fringing like this - very chuffed I was able to use stuff I already had to create the look!

Mum's necklace

Topshop Heavy Weight Leggings

These are great leggings that you really can wear like trousers because they are so thick. Almost like ski-pants or jodpurs. 

                                          Black office pumps

Outfit No 18 - Saturday 6th April - 

That night I had a Mexican themed Birthday party to go to...

Cactus, Moustache and Sombrero - courtesy of the hosts
Amazing genuine Mexican Poncho - borrowed from my fabulous Uncle Pat
Let's face it, Pre Challenge Me would probably have bought something...

Outfit No 19 - Saturday 6th April - 

Under the Poncho...

Red Waistcoaty thing - Charity Shop Find
Black Vest - Primark
Leggings - Primark

Outfit No 20 - The Weary Traveller Returns

I LOVE this cardigan.  My gorgeous Auntie Maureen gave it  to me when she was clearing out her wardrobe because she didn't feel it was very her.  It's practically brand new!
(You see! A love of clothes shopping is definitely in the genes.. I really do think she gave it to me just because she felt sorry for me not being able to shop for a year)
Necklace - Primark
(you've seen this already in outfit 7 but I just decided to wear it back to front
 - I might even like it better this way)
Primark Leggings
Office Nude Pumps

There you go.  I don't think I did a bad job of making my suitcase work for me. What about you?  Any favourites? I managed to conjure up more than 13 outfits and of course didn't even wear HALF of the stuff I packed.  Next time I will really try for a smaller case... maybe

Over & Out 

M x