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N16 at last!

Finally made it to London in one piece! I've got the pink shelves back (not that they went anywhere) I've got my stuff back, I've got my clothes back, and I'm doing ok around the house without the crutches.. which is a surely a sign that its getting better. Happy days. 

On a note about last night, I'm so glad I made the effort to contribute to Fashion on Trial! I had two lovely young men to help me put up my work, whilst I was quite literally hopping around. I was also given an opportunity to do a little talk on my work, which was all very relevant to the subject matter being bandied around last night, and many people seemed to feel positive about the work and what I had to say, which was more than I expected to be honest! So I'll stay feeling positive too for the moment! We had some great speakers, the Artist Yinka Shonibare (who's work is up in Trafalgar Square and is a favourite artist of mine), one the directors from War on Want, and speakers from the Bangladeshi factory workers union,.. There was an open dialogue policy, so it really felt like if you wanted to raise an issue or question, you could do so.. So a great evening exploring; fat issues, identity, sweat shop fashion, and future fashion.. A great mixed bag of insightful comment and open debate.

They also had a free-for-all swap shop, with a sewing machine for alterations or adjustments (which was my job, but no one did come to use my services in the end!) In amongst the rails, I pulled these denim wonders of a pair jeans out. I'm not usually a blue denim gal, but because of the crazy bizarre print and its comfy cut, I thought I'd give them a run. The pattern is actually a bleached out print of feathers cascading down the legs - completely mad, I know. But I strangely love them a little.

Top: H&M

Lace cardi: Topshop

Jeans: second hand

Oh its good to be back at (my new) home.

 

London today, Fashion on trial tomorrow.

  

Ok so here's me with my oh so glam crutches.. The fur coat is my mother's, I'm just borrowing it, it is definitely too big! I'm finding it easier and easier to be without the crutches, but out and about I do need them. I wanted to show you a picture of my velvet coat buttoned up, so here it is:

So I'm finally coming back to London, because of Fashion on Trial being held tomorrow evening, to exhibit some of my work. Its being held at the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, and there should be a sewing machine corner to spruce up old clothes, other artists work, and good debate on questioning the fashion industry today. Topics include; the impact of fashion on body image, to discussing workers rights on the factory floor, and the responsibility of the fashion industry to provide ethical and sustainable fashion. All very exciting.. I'll be there with my crutches. Starts from 6pm! You can get tickets here and find more info here.

EDIT: You can also get tickets on the door (students get concession)

Dress: Vintage

Shoes: Office sale shop

Fur coat: Warehouse 

Venus in Furs

Ok I'm pretending here, that I can walk and am able to wear brightly coloured heels again. In fact; I'm still on crutches. That's bad isn't it? I should be advocating that wearing crutches and wearing an outfit worthy of posting, should go hand in hand and championing universal fashion. But instead, the image it takes, just reminds me of  my own frustration, that comes with not being able to be independent and free to look after myself. Because unlike some people who may have hurt their foot and have to cope with crutches for a while, may not feel much different, mildly annoyed perhaps. For me, that frustration and pain, is deep rooted. From when I was truly disabled for a large part of my late teens, from arthritis. So please don't think less of me, crutches are indeed just a means to get around. Maybe tomorrow, I will post a positive disability image. I think perhaps it should be promoted much more, as fashion need not be for the very few.

 

Who said retail therapy doesn't do anyone any good? This is one cosy coat.

Coat: Miss Selfridges

Socks: Elle via TK Maxx

Dress: Vintage (I've haven't worn this since I was 14! Just unearthed it at the back of my old wardrobe at the parents house, I use to wear it as a coat)

Tooth for Tooth

 

So the foot is holding up, but slippers are the shoe of choice still. I even got complemented on them in a cake shop! But children as always, will tell the bitter truth. Upon picking up my little nephew from school (he just started a few days ago!) the first thing he said to me, "Aunty RAISA, why are you wearing your slippers??!" They never lie. Its either going to be a really cool new trend, granny chic taken to extremes, or I look utterly ridiculous. Never mind, my foot still hurts, its only if my foot gets better and I carry on wearing them, that it will start to be worrying.

This is an old coat of my Mother's. She's letting me have it for the winter, but I doubt I'll wear it as its probably too long for me, but I love its Miss Marple appeal, probably one of my biggest style icons. Ha. But no high street coat is appealing to me yet. Coat dilemma, in a sea of camel.

Today, hobbling in the garden:

Tweed coat: Hand me down

Belt: Found at the back of the wardrobe

Riding boots: Russell & Bromley

No Berlin for Me

 

Ok, so we've had this mini holiday booked for a while, just before I start my new life in London, we (Ashiya, Helena and I) were flying off to Berlin, staying in a wee hostel, and coming back in two days. It was going to be good.  I was really excited - last time I went on holiday with Ashiya, I think we were 14 and it was a beautiful cottage in Wales!

But the day before I am due to get the train back to London, and fly at 6am the next morning after that; I have a nasty fall, trip up on my bloody doorstep, and incur a hair line fracture on some weird bone in my foot. 

So no Berlin for me.

Instead, I'm curled up at my Parents house watching dvds and feeling sorry for myself. On the plus side, I've found this old fur coat and it's from a trip to Paris one time.. Its very comforting indeed..just what I need. Oh and I'm unable to wear any sort of proper shoes, so these fluffy slippers are the only "shoes" I can bear to wear, for more than three seconds.

 

In the parent's garden.. feeling cosy

Wooly hat + Fur coat + Fave Mini dress + Fluffy slippers = Comfort overload.

Hope you're all sunny and having a great week!

Dead Stock

I look quite tired in these photos, mainly because I've run out of concealer again, and I'm sporting the panda look. But never mind, I'm wearing possibly my favourite 70's shirt, with some killer platforms, and some belted cord trousers by Zara. Whats not to like? I've probably not mentioned the fact, that before the peg-leg-carrot-cropped trouser trickled onto the high street, I had previously never worn trousers. Purely for the sorry reality that I have a 24inch leg, and that pretty much means tailoring any trousers that you care to buy (yes even the petite ones.) But with these lovelies, all you need to do is roll 'em up, and without looking really daft - well at least I think so. I have another pair also from Zara, in the exact same cut, in a grey herringbone wool,  and I liked them so much I've bought these, which just come up all 70's in their wonderful orange tan corduroy. I've even done an arse shot, even though I'm extremely self conscious of my derriere, ah well...

 

 
Trousers: Zara

Shoes: Office

Shirt: Vintage dead stock

Coat: Primark

 

Wardrobe Carousel

I've been travelling a lot recently, up and down from Manchester and London, and between The Boyfriends new flat, and my parents.. So I've resorted to carrying an overnight bag, and keeping it in the car, and alternating my wardrobe with a few key pieces and different tops/tights/cardi's. This skirt has been a bit of a life saver, mixing different things with it each day, before I go back to my stored wardrobe to swap clothes for the next few days. Its so easy to wear and goes with nearly anything I currently own. Its one thing to wear a completely different outfit everyday but to take one item, and restyle it for four days in a row, is a different task altogether, and one, most people probably do everyday without thinking. 

Shirt: Topshop

Skirt: H&M

Belt: Marks and Spencer

Shoes: Office

Sunny Delight

Ok, so I'm carting round a buggyful of nieces and nephews around M&S, making a B-line for school trousers and gym shorts, trying to keep said niece and nephew within looking distance, with difficulty, and getting stared at by rich Cheshire folk buying their weekly shop. Anyway, looking forlorn on its on own, on a sales rack, this dress beamed at me with a big fat £12 sticker on it. I grabbed it, stuffed it on top of the buggy, and along with the school gear made it to the till, and eventually out of the shop. Very pleased with myself. Today I nicked my mother's sunnies, and I've been driving around in the sun today, feeling like it's actually summer!

 

Jacket: Olga de Polga

Dress and Bag: M&S

Shoes: Office