Haight-Ashbury

Almost as soon as I published my last post, grumbling and complaining about the weather in San Francisco and my inability to shoot, the rain stopped. We instantly took the opportunity to escape the hotel for a final rummage in the vintage stores and take a few pictures.

Thanks to the chilly weather I managed to get a lot of unexpected wear out of my Alexa Chung for Madewell Tennessee dress. I bought the coat from a vintage store out of pure nessessity but I choose it because it reminded me of an English school boys blazer. The scarf from Old Navy just added to the little boy scholar look and Adam took to calling me Harry Potter.




I think a little bit of homesickness made me emphasise the British-ness in my style, mostly borrowed (stolen) from Alexa Chung. Though I liked San Francisco (I left a little piece of my heart with the thousands of darling pet dogs there and another in Wholefoods) I didn't feel like belonged. I felt forever overdressed, even wearing this coat, a pair of JC brogues and corduroy shots. I still felt like I had gone overboard. Never fear, you won't find me dressing down for anyone, not even San Francisco.

These shots where taken in Haight Ashbury, which is packed with huge vintage stores and cute boutiques, as well as a bar called Magnolia that brews their own truly blissful rose beer. Even though I don't usually drink beer, I couldn't drink enough of this one. If you are in this area, you must try it.




Please excuse any inconsistencies in this post. I edited the pictures 32,000 feet or so above North America, wrote the post somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. Now, here I am finally posting it (while a little jet lagged) from my living room in chilly Edinburgh, my the cat purring next to me and a cup of tea.

It is good to be home!

Pierrot The Clown

My stateside visit is almost over and even though I've had a great time, I'm so ready to come home. I'm suffering terrible withdrawal symptoms for Earl Grey tea, Topshop and my cat Bean. I miss Edinburgh and moody Scots grumbling about the weather but most of all I miss my kitchen. I hate not being able to cook every day!

I had grand ideas of doing outfit posts from here but in reality the clothes I packed were all wrong. The weather in Nevada was so blissfully hot, too hot for all 'summer' dresses I brought. When I stepped out of the car in San Francisco after after driving all day in shorts and a tshirt, I was hit by a nasty chill which hasn't left me since. It has poured with rain almost every day, making all my late summer clothes redundant. However, this does come with an upside - SHOPPING!

I've frequented more thrift and vintage stores than I care to admit and bought far too many thing... Hello over weight baggage! This is my favourite find, a cute 60's Pierrot style dress. I didn't think the original buttons did it justice so I replaced them with some large white ones

I shall see you back on British soil but in the mean time, if you haven't heard it already, you should listen to Jenny Lewis's newest project - Jenny & Johnny. I just bought the vinyl and it is quite wonderful.

October, I love you.

October is my favourite month of the whole year, I love everything it has to offer. Crisp clear days, just chilly enough for winter coat. Finding any excuse to bake with pumpkin and apples and of course, the main event All Hallows Eve. I still love it, even though I'm no fan of fancy dress (Thats right, I just graduated from studying costume) but this year I might just give it another chance.

This October I'll be spending most of the month on the sunny West Coast where Summer is still in residence so this weekend I've been making the most of my favourite season, baking multiple batches of pumpkin blondies, sewing winter clothes and cycling in the park before we leave for sunnier climes.








These were taken on our way back from a cycle in the park near our house. I'm so happy to finally have my lovely Pashley, she was definitely worth the wait. I have to take this opportunity to say that I have no time for anyone who says that a person can not cycle in heels, I do just fine in 5' platform clogs, thank you very much.

This outfit is extremely similar to the last one I posted but wool skirts and blouses are all I've been wearing of late. The light was fading fast while we were shooting and I didn't get a good picture of my skirt. The fabric nicest grey and navy plaid with a deep pink stripe running through it, I made it last week and haven't stopped wearing it since. I can't seem to stop making clothes at the moment. I didn't really realise just how vi sable my bra was through this blouse but hey, at least its a nice bra and coat is an old favourite that I added Grandad buttons to and added a furry collar.

I've been thinking of doing a tutorial on how to make a skirt like this and the one in my previous outfit post, would anyone be interested?