What Zoe Did #3

Another week, another update. Not much to say this week because unfortunately I've been holed up writing essays like there's no tomorrow.

Here is a quick one though.

me and Steph | 90s night: crimped hair and Take That tshirt in full force | toffee popcorn

revolution platter | yet another night out, essay breaks | party chicks

first football match ever | me and 'Paolo Di Canio' | free ride home in a shopping trolley

Hello May, Where Did You Come From?

Can anyone else believe that it's May already?! This time next month we will be half way through the year, pretty frightening don't you think? Where has the time gone? It feels like only a matter of weeks ago I was toasting a vodka to the new year and here we are, five months into it.

What else does May mean? Yep, end of the uni year. Wow, I'm almost a second year which is also pretty frightening. But along with the end of the year, comes plenty of essays and for those unfortunate few, exams. Oh how lucky us journalists are. So while I'm stacked to my eyeballs with essays to write and a portfolio of my year to put together I can't help but think how quickly the past nine months have gone. 

On one hand, I can't remember not being a uni student, but on the other hand, it feels like only a week or so since I first nervously stepped through those big doors with 'University of Sunderland' written above. Scary. When it all comes down to it, it feels like this year has flown over, but when I think of all the friends I've made, I feel like I've known them forever.

Although I've only known them for nine months, and some even less than than, I'd say they were on the same level as those friends from back home who I've known for a good 10 years. Soppy Zo. 

This is merely just me reflecting on the past year, how much things have changed and how fast it's all gone by. And also, I probably am only writing this to procrastinate from this essay. Once again, hoping to stare at the page and the words to write themselves. But I'm using the excuse of 'I haven't blogged for five days' as a reason to close that word document for a little while.

Here's to another two years at uni, pass the wine.

The Perfect Match

Popping up all over seems to be these matching outfits, top and bottom with the same pattern. What do you think? I'm currently on the fence, some I love, some I hate. But then again, I'm fussy with patterns. After trawling websites and shops I've managed to find only three than I actually like. Not persuading me with this trend much, but here it goes. At least I've found some.

Topshop - River Island - Topshop

My favourites are the two skirted pieces, for different occasions. I love the pattern of the first set, and I love the style of the third set. The middle piece is a bit more 'in your face' and definitely only for those brave ones out there. Alone, I love them but together.. I'm not sure I can see it. Maybe it's the trousers, although I love them and have recently bought myself a pair of patterned trousers, I'm still finding it difficult to style them up. Help, someone, please.

The more I look at them, the more easily I'm tempted. I think I need a cute little skirt and top suit to draw me in. Yep, just persuaded myself - going to get one. I'll report back in due course.

What do you think of these 'co-ords'? Perfect match or forever alone?

Uni Trend Report - Dressed For Chess

Have you noticed more people walking around in checks that before? Yep, so have I! So for university when we were given the assignment to write a trend report I couldn't write quick enough. I already had my ideas and took to Polyvore to make sets to visual the trend for both high street and designer pieces but also celebrities that had been spotted wearing them.

Here's the final report.

This year’s fashion shows were heavily inspired by the 60s and with the new series of Mad Men filled with prints and styles from the era just shows we can’t get enough. Fashion designers have not been left short of inspiration with graphic prints spreading from not only clothing but to bags, shoes and accessories.

Spring’s catwalks saw a mass of those iconic squares originally seen on the chessboard. Marc Jacobs’ designs for French fashion house, Louis Vuitton, saw the biggest impact with the patchwork pattern, however he stayed away from the stereotypical monochrome colour scheme and used a palette of greens, bronzes and yellows instead.

Models paraded down the catwalk wearing a mix of checks in all different sizes and colours. The most popular colour was a bronzy-brown paired with a subtle shade of off-white and also a pea green and white combination.

Alexandre Hervovitch’s model wore a top and skirt both with checks, one pattern bigger than the other for contrast and a big impact. All the accessories and jewellery on her catwalk was kept to a minimum to avoid distraction. Marni’s pattern was slightly different, instead of typical checks; she used a monochrome pattern of lines and squares to create a unique style. Sportmax created a similar style print to Marni, their dresses were sheer and layered over an opaque slip.

It didn’t take long for celebrities to pick up on the trend: stars such as Kirsten Dunst and Miranda Kerr wore dresses in the pattern. Miroslava Duma even wore a matching coat over the top of her mini dress. Kristen Stewart and Jessica Alba played safe by wearing the classic black and white checks: Jessica in a floor length gown and Kristen in a playsuit with jumbo-sized squares.

Daisy Lowe was also seen wearing the pattern top to bottom in a pair of skinny trousers and a matching jacket, only for the brave and daring.

Luckily, the high street are quick to meet the needs of those with a lower clothing budget: they’ve not disappointed with a variety of garments each decorated with the squares. There is a selection of sizes and colours: Topshop have a lovely cami with a pastel yellow and white pattern while Dorothy Perkins have a shift dressed stretched with the pattern to form slim rectangles, perfect to elongate the body by illusion.

BooHoo also has a sweetheart mini dress with the checked pattern in red and black, something different to the rest of the high street. Both Asos and Missguided have the pattern on midi dresses, two trends in one!

To wear the trend it’s best to let the checked piece stand out by muting the rest of your outfit: if your dress is sporting the pattern then it is best to pair it with shoes, a bag and a jacket that matches the colour scheme.

This trend checks all the boxes.

What do you think of checkered clothing and accessories? Are you tempted?

Do You Know Your High Street From Your Designer? #2

So how did you do before? I was definitely fooled and I knew which was which right from the start!

We've got another one today to see if you really do need to spend infinite amounts of money in order to look good or if you can pass off with the best buys at bargain prices.

It's a brown leather satchel this time. A lov ely shoulder bag, both with an envelope style flap over the top and a central buckle with two belt-style fastenings. The only difference is, £1650 - not the sort of money that can be thrown about when it's not necessary. 

Ok, one is from Proenza Schoulder and costs £1685 and one is from Atmos&Here and costs a mere $36 AUD. But the question is, which is which?

Did you guess? Well infact, the first bag is from Atmos&Here and is in the sale, reduced from $59.94 and the second, lighter brown, bag is the designer satchel from Proenza Schoulder at an eye-watering £1685!

It goes to show, designer isn't always nice and...is there really much difference besides the price tag and shade of brown?