Nautical is a go-go

Is it bad to already be planning another weekend spent on the beach? I think not. But fear not, adequate time has been put aside to fulfill one, if not two, of the DIY ideas I am currently obsessing over. Think lace and scallops this weekend... And yes you are correct, below is yet another outfit dominated by a nautical tee, I picked this one up recently from my favourite thrift shop. Hope you like!

Asos floppy fedora, studded pouch bag, vintage nautical soft jersey tee, DIY caramel shorts, ebay cat eye sunglasses, topshop balconette bikini, river island gladiators.

DIY Multi Colour Bodycon Dress

I saw these multicoloured rugs down at my local dollar store, which are made out of recycled jersey t-shirts. They have a great amount of stretch to them so I bought a few for fun. I fell in love with the multi-coloured, ever so slightly tribal look. After making the skirt you may have seen a few days ago, I also decided to make a dress.

DIY
You need: 4 rugs, a long white zip for the back, a sewing machine.
1. Sew two of the rugs together at the long edge to create one large piece of fabric. Do this to the other two rugs as well. I just hand stitched this.

2. Pin the zip down the middle of one of the pieces of fabric.

3. Sew the zip onto the fabric.

4. Cut the fabric where the zipper has been sewed on to complete the opening.

5. Trace out the dress shape onto the fabric using a bodycon dress.

6. Pin the two large pieces of fabric together flat and sew down the marked pattern of the dress.

7. Cut the excess fabric off along the stitch line - its best to do this once the seam has been sewn as the fabric starts falling apart once you cut into it.

8. This is what the finished dress will look like - turn it inside out and away you go!

Here's the back.

F*ck Yeah, Lanterns!

I bought a whole heap of these lantern lights to go on a friend's rooftop and around the flat while I was in Malaysia. Aren't they pretty? I'm sure if you've been to Thailand you will have seen them in every market - was very pleased to find them in Penang too. Can't wait to show you pics of them strung all over the house and the rooftop. (The bf is well pleased by this thought as I am sure you can imagine).

wearing: DIY tassel earrings, lace shorts designed by me, thrifted red silk shirt, studded pouch bag.

Whats in my suitcase: Malaysia

I have lots of travel planned this year (not going to bore you with the full details) so I've decided to make 'what's in my suitcase' a regular post. Living in an international city like HK really allows you to get out and see other parts of the world. And while we got out and about a fair bit when we were living in London, destinations around Asia are so very cheap to visit and stay in. Hopefully we'll have racked up a few air miles by the end of the year. Although I'm sure my mum is sweating thinking about my carbon footprint - I promise I'll go out and plant some trees to compensate mum. I'm heading to Malaysia this weekend for a girls trip with a (small) suitcase of comfortable, beach friendly outfits. I chose a palette of basic blue, black and white tones with a little camel, rust and khaki thrown in. Laying the contents of your suitcase out on your bed while you pack really helps you to visualise your outfits and reduces any potential 'why the hell did I pack this?' moments. (Shop my closet here).

whats in my suitcase? (bottom to top) DIY camel shorts, Lace shorts designed by me, Whistles denim shorts, thrifted white tee, H&M khaki hooded jacket // topshop blue and white balconette bikini, American Apparel black bodysuit, thrifted nautical stripe top, Asos floppy fedora // DIY camel silk maxi skirt, DIY Gucci inspired tassel belt, leather shorts via Fashion Zen, thrifted rust coloured silk t shirt, cat eye sunglasses from ebay, studded pouch bag // River Island gladiator flats, suede ballet flats, Mango bootines, thrifted denim waistcoat, Christian Dior vintage sheer mens shirt.

DIY Camel Maxi Skirt and Tassel Belt

I very much hope you aren't sick and tired of seeing my DIY maxi skirts. With access to such beautiful fabrics its hard not to make a few. I used the easy method I showed here to make this one in a gorgeous camel colour. I'll be taking it to Malaysia this weekend, but will probably stitch the split shut temporarily as its quite a conservative country, and as you can see in the bottom photo when the wind blows it can be a bit revealing. I'm also wearing a DIY tassel belt - black rope with two tassels glued on. (Also, there's a few more items added so shop my closet here).

wearing: black country road singlet, DIY skirt and tassel belt, river island gladiators, cat eye sunglasses from ebay ('intouchwithstyle' seller). Thanks to my lovely friend Katie for taking these pics - was a very fun day of wandering around HK Island.

Addicted to long weekends...

In hk we've had five long weekends in a row, and I've planned a four day travel one next weekend... How am I ever going to get used to the 5 day working week? Here's a little snap of an outfit from today. Really pink innit? Apparently it really hurts the bfs eyes - another man repelling outfit to add to the list.

Korean Boutique pink dress, handmade suede flats, studdd pouch bag, Asos floppy fedora.

Lover One Piece

Sooo much beach time this long weekend gone. This was day uno - paisley lover backless one piece with other bits and bobs. Love to throw some mini shorts over a one piece.

wearing: lover backless one piece  (given to me by my cousin - ta!), vintage christian dior mens sheer silk shirt, whistles denim shorts, ebay cat eye sunglasses,  river island gladiators, navy blue leather notebook for listmaking - looks rather like a passport doesn't it? But no, I didn't go anywhere.

Sick to the power of rad

Ok so I have a confession to make - I am completely rubbish at doing outfit shots. I hate annoying my boyfriend by asking him to take pics of me, and never get the time to do them on my own. So you get another outfit layout - I hope you don't mind. This was easter Thursday evening - for dinner that somehow turned into a rooftop allnighter (argh). Tried not to look like too much of a hipster-cool-kid-wannabe with all sorts of shit going on but it was hard...

sequin short with ribbon belt designed by me, denim waistcoat from a thrift shop in north london (missing a button... sad face), sheer white tee from a random japanese brand, Nars laguna bronzer, mango bootines, awang pouchette.

DIY Plumbing Bolt Necklace

Have taken to staying as far away from clothes stores as possible during lunchtime at work - stumbled onto the most amazing and well stocked plumbing store ever and spent a few honky on bolts and whatnot. The Chinese workmen going about their usual business thought I was completely mad. I then used some velvet ribbon to layer a few bolts and make a necklace. Shop my closet here.

DIY Beaded Belt & Side Split Maxi Skirt

 Wearing: DIY Beaded Belt, DIY side split maxi skirt, country road singlet, river island gladiator flats, M&S cat eye sunglasses.

So I found an amazing beaded umm something in the Sham Shui Po Fabric Markets - we weren't really sure what it was supposed to be - a big collar perhaps. I cut it in half and made a belt with it - each half was perfectly symmetrical which was a bonus. I hot glued velvet ribbon on the ends and kapow, really fun belt. I'm making another belt for my friend with the other half (so we can be twinnies). Also, this is the full length version of the side split skirt I made for the wedding I went to. Very versatile. Hope you like it! Shop my closet here.

DIY Black and Watermelon Maxi Dress

A little last minute change to my DIY outfit for the wedding I went to in Sydney on the weekend. Ended up layering a watermelon DIY floor length silk skirt (with a big side split) over a black elasticated bodycon dress with cut outs in the back. I sewed a black silk waistband directly onto the skirt while it was on to make it look more streamlined. The skirt had such a beautiful flow to it when I walked  and was so nice to wear. The candy store tiled walls of the bathrooms in The Ivy made a perfect (albeit random) backdrop for a few last minute pics.

Shop my closet here.

Wearing: DIY watermelon full length skirt with side split, whistles elastic bandage dress, black crystal bracelet.

Yesstyle

The longer I live in Hong Kong (5 months and counting!) the more my style becomes Asia-fied. Sweet, feminine flippy skirts, lolly colours and a little Japanese bob (which I didn't exactly ask for ahem) have replaced the London look. Found myself pondering over bedazzled hello kitty iphone cases last week and realised its really only a matter of time until I'll be begging my friends to come to cantopop karaoke with me...

Just for fun I joined LOOKBOOK. Come check out all my DIYs and outfits in one place - and get busy 'hyping' and 'fan-ing' all your favourite outfits.

Shop my closet here! x

DIY Nautical Color Blocking

Beautiful Australian beaches, does anything really compare? Shop my closet here! x

Wearing: DIY color block mini skirt, vintage breton top, suede ballet flats, cat eye sunglasses from M&S, mac 'lady danger' lippy, h&m yellow and white tote.