New Wardrobe Staple, the Polka Dot Shirt?

While on my visit up north a few weeks ago, I jumped onto a train to beautiful Chester to visit my good friend Glo Mason, of InaGlo photography fame. While there we had to crack out the camera and she was kind enough to take some photo's while we wondered the streets, when the weather decided to have a rare nice moment, and we felt the warmth for the first time so far this year!
Armed with a Ray Flash , red lipstick, and a lot of windswept hair, we shot away gathering strange looks from passers by, but lacking care due to the sudden arrival of the sun after a morning of torrential rain!
Also  this was before the haircut....of course! Look at it there, all long and lovely...SOB!

Wearing a Polka Dot shirt from New Look that is the perfect copy of Burberry's latest hot off the catwalk polka dot blouses, it has been selling out fast in their stores so it took a while to find one!

 Black pants and brown bag from Zara, Tortiseshell Sunglasses from Quay Australia, and Spike Shoes from Melissa which I found at a great price of only £30 reduced from £75! Just click the Melissa link to buy your own.

This is my new favourite necklace from Meraki Handmade, my new favourite jewellery maker, and subject of a recent blogpost that you can catch up with HERE!

A little birdie has told me that new lines will be on their way soon too, so keep your eyes peeled and keep supporting our Indie companies.

I'm still having great fun swapping between my iPhone cases from Iconemesis, designed by Fifi Lapin. 

Another Indie company worth your support, you can read more about the cases on another post HERE!

The ring is from Primark, not so Indie....

 These shoes are pretty comfy, and great for running around in.
 I can't believe I managed to find them so cheap when other stores had only marked them down to £60. They also turned up right before I walked out the door for my week up north which was perfect timing.

Huge soppy thanks to InaGlo for taking these photos, to Chester for the stunning backdrops and possibly the prettiest Costa I've ever been to, and to the weather for playing nice for once!

And yes, my knuckles do say "Love Cats"

Miaow!

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Tip or Fire the Stylist - Oscars Edition!

Finally the awards ceremony that really divides opinions, families, and friendships! The Oscars!

Why the divide you ask? Well some just can't agree on an outfit.

There is always speculation when it comes to Oscar outfits, who will wear what? Who will look amazing? Who'll turn up looking dreadful and fill us with secret glee and judgement?

Let's find out, shall we?!

The "what will she wear" question fell mostly to the worlds new favourite style sweetheart, Lupita Nyong'o who stunned everyone on many red carpets this year, and lead to much excitement for her Oscar outfit where everyone knew she'd be winning something!

She did not disappoint, stunning us with this baby blue Prada number, leading to a few carpet spins, scooping up a best supporting actress statue, and getting involved with the new "Oscar Selfie".

Other favourite, Jennifer Lawrence stepped out in yet another Dior gown, a contract we can all be envious of, but maybe not so much this time. 

Sadly a little bland for my tastes, she looks amazing as ever but the dress isn't quite Oscar worthy.

Dior stylist, make it more her next time.

Cate Smugface Blanchett hit the carpet in Armarni Prive, and also scooped up the best actress award.

Between winning, and scoring that amazing dress for the night I worry, she's going to look more smug now, isn't she?!

Well, her stylist will anyway.

JoPitt, Hollywoods favourite Siamese Twin Couple, step out in non matching outfits, with Jo from JoPitt deciding that now is the time to wear a not black number, and we now all gasp and realize! 

She looks awful in the not black number.

Draining, and a mix of bland AND too over the top, even Pitt from JoPitts face shows dislike.

Stylist failed you again...last strike.

Portia De Rossi (who alledgedly gets separate invites than Ellen...) turns up 70's net curtain, and frankly, rocks it completely. 

The curtain was designed by Naeem Khan and looks absolutely stunning.

Good Job.

Amy Adams underwhelms in this Gucci royal blue number, which is flattering on the bust, but absolutely no where else. at all.... 

Bad job stylist, even we know, stick with plunging necklines.

Now this is how to do royal blue!

Sandra Bullock stuns in this Alexander McQueen blue satin gown, and it must feel so much better to walk the Oscar carpet for a film like Gravity, rather than the premiere carpet for Miss Congeniality 3.

I think she upgraded her career, and her stylist.

Speaking of blue....!

Liza has decided on this outfit as a nod to The Lego Movie, even the hair got a lego make over.

This is a whole lot of no, designed by Halston who no.

No stylist would okay this.

Still playing on the Great Gatsby trend, Jennifer Garner in a 20's inspired Oscar de la Renta gown with fun fun shimmy fringing! 

Thumbs up to the stylist for having a bit of fun.

 Do. Not. Like.

Is it long, short, strapless, sheer, what? what? what?!?

Anna Kendrick confuses in this J. Mendel dress type thing, the icing on top of the cake being the sheer middle with herpes scab details.

Fire your herpes riddled stylist.

Special Mentions Category...!

 Pharrell Williams somehow convinced Lanvin to make the first red carpet Tuxedo Short....

Shuxedo? Tuxort? 

Also no socks with shoes, very east london...

 Kate Hudson wearing Zuhair Murad, and this deserves special mention for being a fantastic dress that didn't make it to the red carpet, opting instead to wear for the Vanity Fair aftershow party.

Very very good work.

Special mention to Lady Gaga for bringing....

A) Her Grandmother

B) her mother

C) Gollum in a blonde wig?

Answers on a postcard please....

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Cheap Fakes Vs The Real Thing - Jump From Paper Martini

Fakes are something the fashion world is constantly fighting, worrying that knock off's devalue their products and copying their hard worked on designs, but not everyone can splash out £2,000 on a fancy lipstick sack.
Now even the quirkier and more independent companies who's designs may be splashing out a little at around £100 a bag or for a pair of shoes are having their designs copied and sold for as little as £8.00 with free shipping, that's what I paid for this knock off after I splashed out a hard earned £100 for a handbag from a cute little company called Jump From Paper due to customs charged adding onto the price.
I'd lusted after this handbag for a long time before eventually buying it, it got so many compliments and it's a fantastic little accessory to add some charm to your outfit.
So when I saw a cheaper, and frankly cruder, version on ebay I had to buy and compare for all you readers out there.

Even they way they arrive is a huge difference, The knock off arriving in a brown envelope in a plastic baggie. When the Jump From Paper bag arrived it did so in a box, which held inside their branded protective bags. It feels a lot more special this way.

As you can clearly see once out of the packaging, the bags are so similar, but also, not quite right. The knock off seems smaller, the handles considerably so and the pattern is also incomplete with a dot missing in the bottom left hand corner.

As you can see from the back, the stitching isn't quite right and not very good quality. The fabric is also a cheaper quality and the stitching is poking out the side.

From a close up you can clearly see that loose thread, and the handles which haven't been made of the right fabric to match the real deal. The bow fabric is a red glitter fabric, which isn't actually similar to the original.

Here's the Martini close up, where you can see the quality of the handles, bow, and the fabric used to make the product. It was a bit of a budget breaker for me, but I do think it was worth it as I loved it so much.

Even the inside and closure of the bag isn't the same, Jump From Paper hiding the magnetic closure in the lining of the bag.

Side by side, you can really see how much they tried to emulate it.

If none of the photo's previous to this one really showed why it's always worth paying for quality then this one does.

Quality items will be with you for a long time, and mean more to you than a quick fix item that will fall apart, while not actually looking as good. It took a few goes for the fake bag to stand upright for this shot, and even when it did you can clearly see how poorly made it is compared to the original that stands proudly next to it's counterpart.

So I say save your pennies, invest in the good accessories as they are what complete and compliment your outfit. Bargains are great when picked up in sales, or on offer but save your money and avoid buying bad quality goods, that only damage the companies they copy.

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