Day Fourteen

Claire is wearing green and yellow ribbons (in hair) [Leeds Kirkgate Market], mustard cotton jumper [Leeds Vintage Kilo Sale], dark tan belt [Spanish charity shop], woollen blend dark moss-green culottes [Spanish charity shop], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing magenta, lilac and blue ribbons [Leeds Kirkgate Market].

Ribbons are not mere school uniform matchers or present adornments, they're pretty cool! They're also cheap: I got three 2 metre strands for 1 pound at the market. There are so many possibilities now open to us with these candy-coloured sheeny strips: belts, wrist ties, hair bands and extra strands, chokers and, for the adventurous among us, garter bows. I have tied mine into my halo braid today for extra plait length and colour. With so many ribbons out there, you could match all your clothes! 

Continuing on my mission for co-ordination, I have matched my ribbons and my main garments. Sometimes it's nice to go all out and completely match, clashing is great, but sometimes it's nice to wear all one colour or match blocks of colour. 

My black tights act as base. I was told that black works as a base for more or less everything and as much as I tried to fight it at the time, it's quite true. Black, brown and grey are my key base colours. However, for instance, a black bag or shoes won't necessarily go well with every outfit; brown and tan, I think, are much more versatile in this respect, and softer in colour.

Watch for more ribbon action (and my tan boots yet again)!

Day Thirteen

Claire is wearing a paisley print red shirt [St Michael, from a jumble sale], black stretch-cotton skater skirt [Topshop], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing a red edged jungle and animal print scarf [Spanish charity shop]. 

Today was a challenge; I had to present an activity to Year 11 for my schools placement. I needed some power clothing without traveling back to the 1980s or looking comically overdressed. Instead of power shoulders, I opted for a power colour! RED! 

Red is the colour of blood, fierceness, Valentines cards and (as quoted from the fantastic film 'Kinky Boots') signs that say do not enter. It is a colour for the brave, or those who wish to feel it. And, I think it worked, my activity went smoothly! My theory is, generally, if it works, great, if it works and it's a placebo, still great. Embrace the devil's own colour and be fiercely hot (because I know there's a shade out there that will make you look fab).

Paisley print is wonderful and shouldn't be limited to scarves. It has a lovely 70s feel to it, I think my shirt may have been designed for that era. A fun fact for all, the droplet shapes that comprise paisley prints are called boteh, from the Persian word for bush. As patterns go, I'd say it's the indie version of polka dots, better shapes in my opinion. 

My shirt is made (in the UK) by my favorite vintage brand: St Michael. St Michael is the original Marks and Spencer brand, and I haven't met an item of their clothing I didn't appreciate. The quality is brilliant, the cut/fit is great and the patterns and fabrics are lovely. Often items I've picked up, when checked, have this magical label of assurance of quality. 

Keep an eye open for it!

Day Twelve

Claire is wearing hand-knitted dark coral cropped cardigan with cream bobbles [charity shop], light grey men's t-shirt [Primark], dark tan belt [Spanish charity shop], woollen blend dark moss-green culottes [Spanish charity shop], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a mustard thick-knit woollen scarf [Spanish charity shop].

The weather is against us once again, slippery snow and cold, wet pavements are the daily enemy. We are wrapped up snugly for a day inside. My housemates have been particularly complimentary today; I am either a 1930s PE teacher or a character from an Agatha Christie novel.

Woollen leggings or trousers are great for this weather, especially when layered over tights for extra warmth. I have taken it a step further with my culottes. I love culottes, there're the best! For those missing out on this ingenious invention, the look like skirts, but are in fact wide-legged shorts. They stop the dreaded chub-rub (when your thighs rub together, ooh the friction) and still look floaty. The best ones are usually second-hand/vintage with a high waist, although Topshop have recently recognised their amazing-ness and put some in their summer/autumn range last year.More frequent in summer, this is the first winter pair I have stumbled upon. My legs are doubly insulated, although the static of tights and fabric is a little unnerving. 

This cardigan is one of my favourites! It's like wearing arm warmers with a back covering and collar. The knitting on the sleeves involves several loops of wool as the stitch is made, so my arms are covered in Ioops. All very sensory, as clothing should be: it must feel nice as well as look attractive. Originally, I thought it was a cropped cardi, until someone pointed out that its length, in combination with its sleeves makes it a child's cardigan. Never-mind. 

Wool is not just for jumpers and scarves and children's clothes (if you can fit in them) are not just for children!

Scarves

Scarves are one of the most important classes of items I own. The best kinds are life companions! They keep you snug in winter, save you from those crisp summer breezes and evenings, serve as towels for accidents, hide your hair, be a picnic blanket or a blanket in general, hold your things, be a good skirt and if the issue should arise, be an oversize Kleenex. My favourite is a second hand tribally-striped cotton orange, pale peach, navy and purple number with some small cotton tassels on two sides. It’s big enough to be warm in the cold, but thin enough to be a summer shoulder sun protector. I love it and will never part with it if I can help it.

There is a time and a place for all kinds of scarf: these creatures are never born without purpose! The thin ones for belts, those square silk ones (frequent fodder at vintage fairs) and bandana are perfect for neck ties, bag decoration and hair bands. Meanwhile, thick woolly ones are your winter buddies and pashmina shawls are just right for keeping warm in the evening when out somewhere special and big Spanish-style tasselled, bright showstoppers are fabulous for enlivening evening wear. Finally, football scarves! The shorter woolly ones with the team colour stripes and logos, great neck-warmers, in and out of the stadium.

Remember not to forget a scarf clip if you're doing a silk square necktie, or if you want a bit of glitz without having to stab holes in the fabric with a brooch pin. 

Moreover, the pattern potential! Scarves can update an ensemble and add splashes of colour and focal points. It’s also a chance to experiment with crazy prints if you don’t want to wear a full sized item. Some of my favourite prints include corn kernels (recently acquired), a giant leopard in a jungle, zebra heads in each corner, ladybirds and a grey lion head.

They’re very easy to wear, you just need to start! Once you begin to incorporate a scarf into your daily wear, it’s second nature to question where you’ll tie one next! The trick is to hang them so you can see them easily. This may sound a tad obvious, but scarves are tricky things; they hide each other, slide around in their containers and smaller ones get a bit lost, tassels get tangled and you, in the midst of your busy and important-ness, cannot allow yourself to be swamped in your own finery everyday. It just won’t do! Last year I purchased an Ikea scarf hanger on my first ever visit to the shop: a hanger with circles of solid canvas hanging from it. I had hopes it would revolutionise my life. It has, well, now that I have placed it on the back of my door after I feared for the structural safety of my wardrobe pole. I can tie them on in colour order, in pattern grouping or however the heck I want! And I can see them all! An alternative occurring in the room above mine is a length of ribbon and string tied from a curtain pole to a nail in the wall, just take care not to overload the line or hit live wires.

Decoration for the body and room!

Day Eleven

Claire is wearing a black leather jacket [charity shop], grey shirt [Leeds Kirkgate Market], batwing orange, black, white and grey patterned long-line cardigan (just seen) [Yessica at C&A, from a charity shop], black leggings [Primark], grey thermal socks [George at Asda] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing a leopard print scarf [vintage sale] and a zebra scarf [Blue Rinse Vintage shop] (woven together).

Leather (or the ones that look like it) jackets are, I believe, on the list, there must be one out there, of classic items one must own. I decided, well I saw it for a tenner and it fitted me, to invest earlier this year. My purchase was not without its doubts: as a classic wardrobe item, rather a lot of people have one and they can look a bit samey. In a previous shared house, there were 3 black leather jackets in residence, someone thought they'd lost theirs only to find it hanging in another, oblivious, owner's wardrobe 3 weeks later. Distinguishing features are a must, it wasn't the one with the badge and sheepskin lining that was misplaced! My jacket has bands of suede patterning along the hem, cuffs, neck and bands along the shoulders. I have been told it makes me look like a futuristic Victorian. And as Horrible Histories will tell you, they were pretty cool.

There are many similarities between today's clothing and yesterday's; know there is nothing wrong with re-wearing things day after day (necessity of washing garments aside)! Variety may be the spice of life, but you need some plain rice along the way as well.

It may sound obvious, but doing your hair differently can make a big difference to your clothing, or even distract or make up for it. I have halo braided mine (one of those plaits that goes round you head). It's surprisingly easy, so don't be afraid, and if you are watch a video on Youtube of someone else knotting their hair first.

A final note on batwings today, they are very hungry sleeves, so take care around pots and plates of food as they'll be dipping in before you know it! 

Day Ten

Claire is wearing marbled grey plastic beads [Spanish charity shop], gold plastic beads [table top sale], white beaded necklace [charity shop], grey cotton t-shirt [table top sale], batwing orange, black, white and grey patterned long-line cardigan [Yessica at C&A, from a charity shop], black leggings [Primark] and tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a zebra scarf [Blue Rinse Vintage shop].

I'm in a flap over batwings today! They add extra interest to simple cardis; long line cardigans are great for casual days, or days when you're flying around. Batwings work best on longer items so they drape, on shorter tops it could look like you have actual wings under your arms. Mine has elasticated cuffs on it so my hands don't get tangled in my wings, and they help produce wrist draping! 

The print is great, it has paisley sections, some tiger heads, rust stripes and art deco pattern bits. It's all very busy on my torso today. The colour palette holds all the various prints together, so I look textured and funky, not eyesore-ish. I have attempted to co-ordinate my neck stack of beads with the same colours. Co-ordination is key! I previously ignored the rules of co-ordination, but this year it has been my mission to discover what I have been missing. I'm pleasantly surprised. 

Today I have also noted the brand of my charity shop batwings. Yessica is a brand under the wonderful umbrella of C&A. Vintage, basically older, clothes from both I've found to be great quality and wearable designs (my prom dress was second hand Yessica, long, plum, gentle shine to the fabric). My cardi is also 'made in England', which is a label I love finding as it generally means less miles traveled (less c02 emitted, more green, etc), supporting local industries (your local charity shop perhaps if it's now a second hand garment) and I think it's all round niceness to have a piece of design/manufacturing/fashion heritage from your country.

Day Nine

Claire is wearing a gold and black shimmery scarf [charity shop], leopard print bra-top [Urban Outfitters], black jersey low back dress [H & M], black leggings [Primark] and black hi-top trainers [Dunlop from Sports Direct], holding a grey cotton sweater [Leeds Kirkgate Market].
Covadonga is wearing a grey jersey scarf [charity shop] and scrunchie [Leeds Kirkgate Market]. 

Black and low back is back, and during the day too! Recycling last night's night-out/party clothes is an easy way to look like you just (literally) slung something on and sashayed out the door that morning. Or crawled out, depending how heavy a night it was. The key is nothing too soiled should be re-applied, so watch out for drinks sloshes (and mud scuffs if you venture to wilder venues).

Low backed things are very wearable in the daytime, and low key, as long as they're in casual, comfy fabrics. Jersey is great for this and it feels nice and soft! Cropped jumpers or bralet/top things providing a broad strip of fabric across your back help cover up and keep you a bit warmer. 

I feel this is a very sport luxe kind of look. I'm not entirely sure what that means having read it in a magazine, but I believe it's the wearing of items based on sportswear and its fabrics, without the real intention of, or your clothing allowing you to, actually exercise. 

Suits us lazy leopards.

And why would you want to ruin the fresh trainer feeling with any pavement pounding?! The whiter than white on my shoes makes me feel like a twinkle toed sneaker goddess. It's a great feeling wearing new shoes, although I am well aware of  the lack of arch support and scuffing that will occur soon enough in my fake Converse (the real things are actually too narrow for my wide feet and I have no intention of spending more money than is necessary to torture my feet, especially as several pairs of shoes I already possess do that sufficiently). The hi-top silhouette is a favorite of mine: it covers my socks enough, yet allows lower calf room for turn ups and protects my ankles from the elements. It's also rather trendy, just like Cova's scrunchie. 

Day Eight

Claire is wearing a scrunchie [Leeds Kirkgate Market], grey cotton sweater [Leeds Kirkgate Market], double-string of black plastic beads [table top sale], marbled grey plastic beads [Spanish charity shop], black-speckled teal beads [table top sale] black stretch-cotton skater skirt [Topshop], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and blue with lime trim trainers [Nikes from a Spanish charity shop]
Covadonga is wearing gold plastic beads [table top sale] and yellow wooden-beaded necklace [Spanish table top sale].

Beads, beads, beads! Beads are great! Like most humans, they're happier in pairs (or threes or fours if they're feeling adventurous). Plastic beads are fairly cheap, and they can look cheap, so the bigger and more shapely the better, Likewise marbling and speckling can look great and break up block balls of colour. I prefer weightier beads, but make sure your neck muscles are up to the challenge before layering (which you should do because it'll make you look like you're armoured).

Plain sweaters are very comfy, practical and easy to dress up or down! Especially in classic grey. Invest and never be cold or stuck for a base top in winter again.

The trusty scrunchie and (second-hand) Nikes are atop the hipster spotter's guide, but comfy and textured! They also help the cool colour palette I have going on today, perhaps more bright highlights next time; but, live and learn!

Night Seven

Claire is wearing a green cotton ruffled high-neck dress [Spanish vintage shop] and pink patterned, gold bead-lined metallic belt [charity shop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a lime green sheer scarf [charity shop].

Kermit is a fashion icon, just like Miss Piggy! Green should be seen, and this dress has several hues in splotches on it. This ensures the more slime greens blend with the nicer ones so you don't look like you've sneezed too hard.

Although, it comes with pockets on either side, so a tissue would have been handy to avoid such an unfortunate incident.

You don't need a giraffe of a neck to wear a high necked item, but if it tickles your chin too much, approach with caution. Likewise, embrace ruffles! Extra fabric doesn't equate to extra body surface area; strategically placed ruffles highlight and flatter, and flap (clothes need more exercise, they should move more)!

Remember, bright colours don't have to be paired with black,white or grey; they can be by all means, but clash bright with bright! Hot pink and green go together, who knew, I just didn't want to wear my black belt...

Day Seven

Claire is a wearing green sheer blouse patterned with angel heads and flowers [table top sale], gold circle scarf clip, [Leeds Kirkgate Market], black stretch-cotton skater skirt [Topshop], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a gold woven scarf (worn as halo) [unknown origin].

Why be an angel when you can wear one?! Angelic clothing can, and should be, reclaimed from an exclusive pastel based palette with kitsch emblems. Today I have taken it in literal terms: my shirt has floating, painterly women's heads and flowers dotted about it. Eye-catching patterns are fun and funky, and if you're a tad nervous of walking around with something garish or odd strategically placed on your being, sheer is a good and quieter way in.

Take care when wearing sheer, polyestery materials if, like me, you fear your own seat glands. The slippery material simultaneously conducts a static electric charge while making me sweat more than usual when moving (a potentially lethal combination as any children's electricity science book will tell you). A cotton top underneath may be a safer bet all round.

As ethereal as my blouse appears, there's a lot stopping it floating away! Scarf clips are something you may have seen among second hand jewelry (and thought they were blunted, odd brooches). They have a circular clip on the back to thread your scarf through, holding it in place around your neck. In my case, it's clinging onto my bra for dear life, thus anchoring an otherwise impractically low v-neck. Such anchorage lets you go low and stay classy, without exposing any brassiere!

Day Six

Claire is wearing a mustard cotton jumper [Leeds Vintage Kilo Sale], black stretch-cotton skater skirt [Topshop], black leggings [Primark] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing a necklace of gold plastic beads [table top sale], yellow wooden-beaded necklace [Spanish table top sale] and double-string of black plastic beads [table top sale].

Every week I have days where my school placement requires me to wear something that sits on the respectable end of the non-naked to formal spectrum. Behold the wonder of this skirt! It's black, an apparent staple in the world of work-wear, its length (I have been assured by others) is not indecent and I like that much I wear it when I'm not required to be presentable to authority figures. 

Skater skirts are a good bet in general: they highlight your waist, flare out nicely over your hips and mine makes my rear appear slightly more rounded (enhancement at the back of any body I think is an improvement, I sometimes feel like the other side of our bodies is sorely lacking flattering attention and detail clothing wise). 

Finally, although it is hard to tell (it was made awfully clear by the bus lighting at 8am this morning) I am wearing odd socks, a navy and a black. After minutes of tugging and rolling of socks and leggings,I discovered the best way to deal with any such situation is to own it. Be nonchalantly cool about it and other people will think it's edgy and deliberate. 

This hipster-esque rule applies to a lot of things, test it today!

Day Five

Claire is wearing leopard print scarf [Christmas present, unknown origin], wooden triangle earrings [present from Barcelona], grey shirt [Leeds Kirkgate Market], black leggings [Primark], grey leopard print thermal socks [George at Asda] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing gold starfish clip-on earrings [vintage shop] and leopard print scarf [vintage sale]. 

Crown your greasy hair! Then wash it, or at very least dry shampoo it. 

Scarves are friends worth making; they will save you on many a hideous roots day and serve as extra decoration, should you need any. Wrapping it around like a hairband not only allows you to look like an (unpretentious) princess, but gives added height. 

Also, not to be forgotten are earrings! Dangling earrings and collars can be centimetres apart and live in harmony. Dangling earrings should be embraced in daylight hours, they're not just nocturnal ornaments, but if you too have an irrational fear of stretched lobes, don't wear Beyoncé chandeliers everyday.

Finally, enjoy grey! It can be just as good a base as black, it goes with dark or bright colours and it can be casual or formal. Grey days can be the best days.

Day Four

Claire is wearing a leopard fake-fur lined straw coloured parka [Spanish charity shop], mustard thick-knit woollen scarf [Spanish charity shop], black leggings [Primark], green hand-knitted mittens [Leeds Kirkgate Market] and green wellington boots [Lord knows, some cheap shoe shop, I've had them since Year 7]. 
Covadonga is wearing a woollen hat [charity shop].

The weather is upon us, quite literally falling from the sky. It is snowing, sleeting and icing.

I am here to tell you to wrap up, boot up and wear some protective headgear for your hair vanity, if not your ear warmth. 

This weather is the perfect excuse for wellies, the best kind of boot; with their grip and water-proofing for the calf and foot, they're ideal for kicking other people's better snow figures over (not that anyone should undertake such actions...) and wading through slush puddles. The frog ones with the eyes are particularly fetching. But remember thermal socks, underwear is as important as outerwear! 

Coats are mandatory in case of slipping: a jacket will rarely cover your rear and in the event of a fall you will not only be bent double, but the protruding behind in question will inevitably be soggy.

Mittens or gloves, and handwarmers like those ones you microwave or click for those cursed with poor circulation, are advisable.

Finally, I'm also here to tell you that size matters. Not to boast, but my scarf is approximately 1.5 metres long by 0.5 metres, tassels included. And I still think there's room for improvement! Invest in a block-coloured chunky-knitted one and you'll never regret it, or knit one yourself. And remember, wool thickness is just as important as the stitch used and width is just as important as length.

Day Three

Claire is wearing a scrunchie [Leeds Kirkgate Market], an elephant black and white jumper [charity shop], black leggings [Primark] and white creepers [charity shop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a zebra scarf [Blue Rinse Vintage shop].

Monochrome! A classic look and ideal solution for colour pairing, a pairing so great they (whoever they may be) bestowed a power name upon it.

Black is supposedly slimming and ever-fashionable and white, as long as you don't wear it to someone else's wedding, is nice enough too. 

But White is also a scary colour! If you're accident prone, or just unlucky around tomato sauce or other red foods, wearing white becomes a minefield of accidents waiting to splatter you. I'm still unsure of how I managed 11 years of uniformed education with my white polo shirts intact. However, wearing monochrome items helps alleviate this fear: the stain will blend in the pattern, or hopefully land on the darker fabric.

Moreover, elephant print never seems to go out of fashion; elephants are never forgotten, like they never forget.

Finally, creepers are very comfortable and give me the extra 2 inches on my height my hair cannot stretch to. Combined with my wonderfully textured velvet scrunchie they form the ideal traditional hipster pairing. 

Remember, there's nothing wrong with dressing like a hipster as long as you really believe in the style! Don't pretend and pose, you should always wear what you really want to, regardless of who's look is edgeh-est (or edgy-est if you're not in the North).

And laugh at yourself and what you wear, it really helps.

Day Two

Claire is wearing a grey cotton t-shirt [jumble sale], men's bleached-denim fake sheepskin-lined jacket [Spanish charity shop], gold leopard necklace (worn as choker) [Avon], thin denim trousers [charity shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing frayed-edge denim shorts [Leeds Kirkgate Market] and a chunky gold chain [New Look].

The only thing better than denim is durn nuh durn nuh durn nuh DOUBLE DENIM! 

Blue is the hue, and don't be afraid of wearing two (shades). 

The trick, learnt the hard way, is to wear differing shades; mix up bleached, acid washed (sounds rather daring I always think), dark, not-so-dark, pale, you get the idea, together. Obviously if you wear coloured denim, this rule of blue doesn't apply (and you could even triple denim!)

The fear of double denim-ing should be embraced, jeans and jean jackets go with everything, so they obviously got with themselves.

Accessorizing with items that aren't blue is best. If you dislike long necklaces (I prefer to have my chest than my navel stared at personally) then change the chain length or remove the charm off it. Adjusting jewelry is easy enough, especially if you have some pliers handy, but watch your fingers! Especially if you also want to wear rings, which you definitely should!

Day One

Claire is wearing a mustard cotton jumper [Leeds Vintage Kilo Sale], thin denim trousers [charity shop], red jungle animal printed scarf [Spanish charity shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a yellow wooden-beaded necklace [Spanish table top sale].

Comfort: an underused selling point of fashionable clothing! Clothing should look nice, fit nice(ly) and feel nice. 
Cotton is one of my favorite fabrics. It's hard wearing, snugly (especially if you're not allergic to and can use fabric softener), keeps you cool or warm and you can sweat in it.
Elasticated or cord waistbands are similarly genius, all that comfort and versatility. These trousers allow me look like a 90s boy band member (baggy) or a fisherman (hoisted up the waist) in seconds.
Thirdly, pockets, always handy! My jeans have deep enough pockets to hide my wallet, my brick phone and a chocolate bar. I wish every garment covering my lower half was equipped with them.
Meanwhile, the rolled hem lets me look edgeh but stops my short legs dragging my hems along the pavement. It's not hipster, at this height it's necessity. 
Finally, the power of the primary colours! Colour blocking while colour clashing, no need to chose between them.

Hello and greetings stylish ones,

I am Claire (the Pard), this is Covadonga (my Spanish soft toy) and this is our clothing experiment (the wardrobe).

We have decided to write a blog detailing our clothing adventures (and slightly beyond!) as an incentive to wear the-things-we-don't-really-wear and to document our fashion habits. 

There will be a daily photo, some comments from myself and my housemates and lots of leopard print, accompanied by the occasional item/idea-specific post.

If we're feeling particularly confident, we may even offer advice.  

Now let us find magical Aslan within the Ikea chipboard closet!