Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Hello lovelies,

I have been having a rather jolly time - it was Mr FF and my first Christmas spent together. So we got the tree and decked the halls and of course were well a truly spoilt!

So this post is to share with you a few lovely presents I received, our tree and just general Christmassyness! :)

Our Christmas Tree
A cosy tartan rug

Some very lovely tea sets and china. I am a big fan of Tea-pot-tea (said as one word!) Fun to say and the best way to drink tea.These books are marvellous - I highly recommend them. And a beautiful bird print scarf.

Thank you to my family, boyfriend and friends for these wonderful presents. I hope you all had great Christmases and got everything you wished for. But hasn't time flown? I feel this year has just whooshed by... It is already new years eve and this blog's 2nd Birthday tomorrow! I hope you have all had a good 2011 and I promise to be more vocal in the new year!!

Very best wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

Oliver Bonas

The most wonderful shop has opened in Cabot Circus recently that I can't go a day without stepping in to. Oliver Bonas has opened its first shop outside London and it is in Bristol :) Oliver Bonas has 27 shops in London and was started by.... well you guessed it - Oliver Bonas! It all started from him bringing home interesting and different gifts for his friends.It has a wonderful selection of homewares, gifts, womenswear, things for children and of course at this time of year Christmas stocking fillers. I have already managed to find a couple of unique Christmas presents here and have dragged Mr FF round it and pointed at quite a few things. So if you want to find a beautiful gift or just want to spoil yourself do check out Oliver Bonas online, in London or even in Bristol. If you do pop in Bristol you will probably find me there... I just can't get enough.... My Christmas list is getting longer...

Anyway speak soon lovelies!
Fashion Fantasist xx

Pop-Up Christmas

A lovely Pop-up shop has, well, Popped-Up in Cabot Circus this month...

This year, the run up to Christmas has seen over 100 local artists come together as part of ‘Pop-Up Bristol’ - a new initiative from Made in Bristol that has showcased a diverse range of independent galleries and creative talent on the high street for the first time, adding a new dimension to Christmas shopping at Cabot Circus this year. The pop-ups offer the opportunity to purchase quality gifts and one-off pieces by up-and-coming artists.

Drawn in Bristol is a newly formed, locally focused illustration collective which hosts regular events & shows in the city. The collective has 50 members and celebrates the work of Bristol based illustrators by providing them with a platform to showcase their work. Their stunning shop can be found in Quakers Friars and features original illustrations, prints and cards, handmade toys and locally designed T-shirts.

‘Upfest’, established in 2008 and now Europe’s largest graffiti art festival, adds a new dimension to Level 1 of the Glass Walk in Cabot Circus with an urban art and graffiti gallery, ‘POP-UPfest’. As well as urban style artworks, the gallery will feature Bristol street art photography and weekly live drawing events.

Along with these, the ‘Smithson Gallery’ pop-up provides a platform for a variety of talented artists and styles, offering original art and prints alongside great cards and original gift ideas including bags, cushions, tea towels, ceramics and decoration.

Pop-Up Bristol will be hosting a party to celebrate the one-month countdown to Christmas on Thursday November 24th at 6pm across their three temporary festive galleries at Cabot Circus!

The event will offer guests a fantastic opportunity to see and purchase all the brilliant artworks the shops have on offer and will also feature live drawing and music. There will also be a chance to meet all of the diverse and talented artists involved in the project along with some exciting special guests.

So if you are around in Cabot this Christmas season make sure you Pop by! They will be open as follows:
POP-UPfest: Open now - 24th December (level1, Glass Walk)
Drawn in Bristol: Open now - 3rd December (Quakers Friars)
Smithson Gallery and Gifts: Open now - 24th December (Level 1, Glass Walk)
Bristol Creatives: Open now - 24th December (Quakers Friars)

For more information check it out here!

Best wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

P.S I am really excited about Christmas! :)

Elvis isn't dead...

Hello Strangers,

It is crazy to think that this time last year I was enduring the long bus journey from Oxford to London and then an hour long underground trek - enjoying an internship at French Connection!It was an interesting experience but it already feels like it was a million years ago. What I really enjoyed was being able to help out with print a bead work. It is very strange to see some of the pieces I helped with sitting in the shops waiting to be bought. Gives me a little skip in my step when I see an advert for a garment I saw at it's beginnings. It was a fantastic experience and I really enjoyed it! Thank you to the people who helped me get it and who taught me a great deal about what the industry is like.

Anyway the reason I rave about some of the garments is because I have recently purchased one. It was in the sale but £325 reduced to £150 I think is still fair :). It is the Broiderie Brogue dress in cream leather with a laser cut pattern. I can tell you the silly thing I get excited about is I remember photocopying the pattern and trying to make it match at the seams and also drawing the pattern on to a working drawing. Silly but it gives me a little thrill.I did have an occasion to splash the cash and get such a statement piece - it wasn't just for wearing round the house! It was Mr FF's Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary at the end of September = A big deal! A lot of his relatives were there, some travelled from Italy and America to come and celebrate. It was lots of fun with a five course lunch and a Dean Martin impersonator serenading us all and in the evening there was a hog roast and an Elvis impersonator. It was so much fun!! I have added some pictures in this post so you can see mine and Mr FF's outfits and some of the crazy shenanigans!

Mr FF and I
Mr FF and I with Mr FF's Bro and GirlfriendThe Grandparents = awwwAnd a rather close call with Elvis!

Anyway speak soon!!
Fashion Fantasist xx

(Thank you David D'Elia for the event photographs)

Song of the Rainbird

Good Morning lovelies,

One of the things I really love about being a blogger is unique designers I hadn't come across before sending me press releases and imagery of their collections. Imagine my joy at finding one such email earlier this week from Australian designer Kelly Love. I had not come across Kelly's work before and I am so pleased that she has shared it with me because I adore her AW11 collection - 'Song of the Rainbird'.It is a collection inspired by the 60's with references to the correlation between muses, fallen rock stars and beautiful birds in cages. I really love the print work, black and white mixed with navy contrasted against bright pops of yellow. I wanted to know more about the collection. So contacted Kelly back and asked her a few questions:What is your inspiration?
Inspiration can come from anywhere but my label is mainly inspired by femininity, 1940's and 1960's, textured fabrics, foreign films, Parisian actresses, folk music and antique furniture.How do you start designing a collection?
I start by writing - anything from a short story to a song. For my AW2011 collection 'Song of the Rainbird' I collaborated with the band Nova's Basement who wrote music to my lyrics. You can listen to the song here! Whatever I write is written as the girl who would wear my collection, almost like an imaginary muse. I then do a mood board, start sketching and pick colours and fabrics.What made you move to London?
The Industry is so much bigger in London than in Sydney so I knew there would be more opportunity. I also love to travel and there are so many places just a hop, skip and jump away? Plus it is such an inspirational city with so much to do and see.How long have you been designing?
I started designing at school and loved it. I've always known I wanted to do something creative. My label started in 2o08 when I launched my first collection "Beautiful Side of Everything" at the New Generation Show of Australian Fashion Week. My latest collection for SS12 'Pocket Full O'Posies' is my third collection in the UK and is inspired by bunches of posies, vintage lingerie and 1940's cocktail parties.I really like this collection and enjoyed speaking to Kelly! I hope you do too!
Best wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

P.S she also has a shop on her website!!!

Behind The Sun

The drizzly, darkness of winter seems to have appeared. I have that horrible numb feeling in my brain from a rather horrible cold. So this blog post may not make muuuuuch sense. Hehe! We did have one last lovely weekend of beautiful weather however and the papers went mad calling it our Indian Summer. So in natural Brit fashion we took to the park with picnic in hand and disposable bbq in the other.

Now this is my first outfit post so please be kind... I have managed to find myself a lovely pair of wine coloured skinny jeans for the winter months. Coloured trousers - jeans and chinos are becoming a big winter trend for women and men. Imagine my joy when instead of teaming these jeans with chunky jumpers I was able to wear a strappy top - in SEPTEMBER! :)

Head scarf: Charlotte Taylor
Top: Topshop
Jeans: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Miss Selfridge
Bag: Primark

More posts soon - the fashion weeks have not gone unnoticed!! I am now going back to my hot chocolate, blanket and Red Hot Chili Peppers 'What Hits' and the talking dolphin.

Speak soon lovelies!
Fashion Fantasist xx

All the Jewellery I Never Got

All The Jewellery I Never Got from GrandBoy on Vimeo.

Don't you just love it when you stumble on to wonderful fashion whilst browsing the Internet? Natalie Coleman's hand drawn quirky illustrations caught my eye recently. Her Spring Summer 2012 collection features hand drawn, water coloured jewels digitally printed and pleated. The collection is flirtatious, sexy and full of whimsy.Natalie Coleman is a fashion design MA graduate from Central St. Matins and has worked for threeASFOUR in New York, Ragna Frodadottir a textile designer in Iceland and Joanne Hynes, Ireland.'Inspired by the stories, the secrets and longings for individuality in all women and with a background in strong narratives and quirky romance, Natalie has recently established her own fashion business and label NATALIEBCOLEMAN.'I really like this collection and with the weather turning cold I am already thinking about next season when the sun will hopefully come back!

Enjoy,
Fashion Fantasist xx

Uni City Fashion Face Off

Which Uni are you from Bristol or UWE? I am a UWE graduate and think they might just have what it takes to win this face off...

The lovely ladies at MyStreetChic.com have given students the opportunity to win £50 to spend at Merc Clothing and an exclusive MyStreetChic beauty goody bag.

During freshers weeks an undercover 'glam spy' from MyStreetChic will be scoping out both universities and snapping pics of the most stylish students. “The two universities have a history of friendly rivalry, so we’re hoping they’ll be pulling out all the stops to show us who has the best style,” commented Gina Dyer, Editor of MyStreetChic.com.

Just to make it fair the looks won't be chosen by the MyStreetChic team. Instead the users of the site are able to cast a vote so if you want your fellow students to win you need to log on and vote. Voting will open Wednesday 5th October.

Best wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

Bling Bling

Just a short blog post to announce that www.jonrichard.com launched on 22nd September! The lovely people include have put in every effort to make it a first class jewellery and accessory shopping destination.

The website retails jewellery and accessories from Jon Richard, MOOD, Simply Silver, Jon Richard made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, Jon Richard Bridal, and our newest brand – Disney Couture!They are also offering the first 300 customers who make a purchase an £8 pair of Cubic Zirconia earrings as a welcome gift. Also to celebrate their launch they are running a competition for the first month. All you need to do is enter your details and you will be in with a chance of winning a Jon Richard made SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS goody bag worth over £300!!The site is clean, simple and easy to navigate. To those of you who are getting married a Bridal Boutique has launched and it allows customers to download a bridal brochure and view all their bridal jewellery range. The site also features a Look Book page, which showcases all the latest trend looks and pieces to buy to re-create the look!

As well as the website there is also a brand new blog featuring fashion trends, press events and new products.

I hope you will have a browse.
Fashion Fantasist xx

Gok-Tastic!

Last Wednesday I was completely star struck on the front row of the Gok Wan's fashion roadshow in the centre of Cabot Circus. Thank you to the lovely ladies who PR for Cabot Circus I was able to sit on one of the pink seats and use the voting paddles.

The first season of Gok's fashion roadshow Gok was up against Brix Smith Start with a designer versus highstreet face off. This season Gok is up against.... well... Gok!! He has turned his hand at creating an affordable collection, where each outfit cost up to £50 and a more expensive, where each outfit cost up to £250. I wont reveal too much about them as the programme will be airing later this month but I am looking forward to finding out where everything came from.

There were also three lucky ladies who had a Gok style make over and looked like they really enjoyed the experience. It was nice to sit where I did as I got to see the family's reactions, since they knew what they had looked like before. At the end I was grabbed for an interview.... Which I really hope isn't aired.... "I voted for the pink one... because of such and such a reason..." All very embarrassing - but I was pleased with my outfit and actually have a snap here with some of the other guests (Picture source mystreetchic.com). Skinny Jeans, over sized cream shirt and clogs. Managed to successfully wear those and not fall over much... hehe!All in all I had a lovely time. It was nice to also meet the girls behind mystreetchic.com who I sat with.

Enjoy and hope you manage to catch the show!
Fashion Fantasist xx

A Lesson In Style

A group of the UK's finest young stylists are told to get creative with Converse Bags. With the new term just around the corner the stylists were asked to draw inspiration from their school days when they drew on their school bags to express their personal style. They were given a Converse Bag and a pencil case... The results ranged from the classic to the extrovert and extraordinary and they definitely expressed that person's unique style.The Brief:

With Converse launching their first bag collection just in time for the new school year, a handful of the UK's finest experts on style and self expression representing fashion, music and culture reminisced about what defined their own unique style, getting nostalgic about what it means to be an individual once the new term begins. Provided simply with a canvas duffle bag from the Converse Bags & Accessories launch collection, a pencil case and notebook, they got creative to express their personal style in their very own special way...
Alexis Knox:
About Alexis Knox: Style Mentor on T4's Style the Nation alongside Giles Deacon and Nick Grimshaw, Alexis Knox is an expert on expressing personal style. By Day she is Fashion Director at Notion magazine and a renowned stylist and by night she is a host at the surrealist club night ‘Circus’.
Describe your school style?
Accessorise to the max! I went to a Convent school where the uniform was pretty strict.... a kilt! So it was all about customising to the max with plastic bangles, kids accessories and gweebo bunches!

Britta Burger:
About: Britta Burger is acting Fashion Editor at surf, skate and snow title Cooler magazine.
The inspiration behind the bag:
The duffle bag really reminded me of all-American High-School basketball heroes, the whole sporty collegiate style. It’s also about the way I grew up, the whistles remind me of my parents who were sports teachers and the poms poms are kind of like balls. The canvas of the bag was just asking to be drawn on with the markers and I suppose it's also an abstract take on the classic stars and stripes, but I was inspired by the iconic pop art aspect of it, not the fact that it's a national flag.

Hope Von Joel:
About: Stylist and Accessories Designer Hope Von Joel’s fashion credentials begin at home, as Niece of Supermodel Jean Shrimpton, Hope studied knitwear at Central Saint Martins, working for the likes of Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh, before becoming Fashion Editor at The Super Super . From styling London Fashion Week shows for Charlie Le Mindu to fashion editorials for titles such as Elle Girl,Tank, Arena, Oyster, Dansk, and UK Vogue, Hope is now contributing Fashion Editor at Fiasco and one half of the talented design duo behind http://www.eyeoftheworlddesigns.com/ with Liam Motyer, creating stunning handmade wooden accessories, available exclusively at Browns Focus.
How did you style up your school uniform?
With a big smile and old paisley scarf, fur muff to keep hands warm and old second hand shoes in a shiny 60s black and white!

Chantelle Fiddy
About: Chantelle Fiddy is a journalist and renowned commentator on London's grime scene, whose music credentials include penning for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, RWD Magazine, Mixmag, Sunday Times Style and Dazed & Confused as well as presenting on Channel 4's 'Generation Next' and making multiple appearance on BBC Radio 1's Review Show. You'll mostly find her online.
Describe your school style? My school style flitted between record bags and (hideous) rave jackets (I hereby admit to rocking a Technics number) to holding my (entire mop of unbrushed) hair up with felt tip pens and wearing leg warmers alongside my yellow shirt and green blazer.

About Converse Bags:
For AW’11 Converse took the illustrious heritage and iconic style, that has seen their classic sneakers and Chuck Taylor All Star logo omnipresent since the 1900s, to create their first ever dedicated Bags & Accessories Collection. The debut collection reflects the simple and versatile styling synonymous with Converse complete with the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star logo, steel eyelet details and the ever versatile canvas.

The new line of Converse Bags & Accessories is available now at stockists including Schuh, JD Sports and www.blackleaf.com. Prices range from £19 - £54.95

Enjoy, Fashion Fantasist xx

(Images include Alexi Knox's creation, Hope Van Joel's wooden masterpiece and Britta Burger's collegiate style creation)

It's oh so quiet.... shhhhh shhhhh

Right it is time to blow the dust off this blog and banish the tumbleweeds and get with the programme! I have no good excuse for my lack of activity and can only apologise for being dull and say thank you to those followers who have not left out of sheer boredom!!!

I have a few dozen posts lined up but I should probably fill you in with what I have been up to...

As you know I finally managed to get a paid office job at the end of February. I shall not divulge the company name but I was there with an agency on a temporary bases. On 1st June I was offered a role within the company to work permanently and I started on 1st July! I am currently 2 months in to my 3 month probation period and I feel it is going well. I enjoy working with the people I work with and I think that is what counts... My hours are also pretty cool 9am - 4pm, which means I have actually had some time to draw :) I also am really enjoying office wear = smart/casual can be lots of fun and I am also becoming more experimental with my weekend style. I hope to incorporate some style snaps for you on this blog going forward.

(Yes this is a work shirt... Tucked in to a black pencil skirt it looks pretty cool!)

Mr Fashion Fantasist and I also have two new little members of our family in the shape of two very mischievous kittens who , I'm not going to lie, keep us on our toes. They are Bea and Rosie. Bea is the runt of the litter and is a tiny, black short hair and Rosie, her sister, is a black long hair. At this very moment I have both of them sitting on my knee batting at my fingers on the keys and the screen. Most of the time they can be adorable but they can be little terrors as Mr FF found at his peril when they chewed through his skype head set whilst he was mid conversation.... ooops!! But look at their little faces - you can't be mad for long! They also seem to have some sort of death wish throwing themselves up and down the stairs...
Stairs? Yes you read correctly! Mr FF and I have moved out of our one bed ground floor flat in to a two bedroom house! Yay! To be honest I am just as excited about the stairs as the kittens!! Hehe! It is still rented but it is a lovely Victorian mid terrace house with features, a garden and I have converted the second bedroom in to a bit of a studio space, which I plan to shut myself away in whenever I come home from work. However coming from a one bed flat in to a house one notices a severe lack of furniture so I have become a tad obsessed with interiors at the moment and I think my Tumblr blog will start to reflect this... I need to buy a scanner, mine went to scanner heaven, as I have a big box of image clippings I plan to share with you on that blog!

Front room
Bed room
Second bedroom/Studio!

Anyway that's the life update over... I am very much looking forward to writing a few posts I have lined up and sharing with you my Autumn favourites that are now in the shops. But for now, how are you? and what have I missed?

Speak Soon!!
Best wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx