Stripes... Should you or shouldn't you?

In preparation for my holiday clothes shopping (yes I'm well aware I've rabbited on about it quite a bit) I've been checking out what's 'in' this coming fashion season.

It would appear that stripes - be it vertical, horizontal or diagonal - are going to be a massive trend this spring 2013.

photo taken from renetajstyle.com

It's a widely held notion that horizontal stripes make you look wider than you actually are, and that 'fat' people shouldn't wear stripes. 

As the below articles show, there has been much debate:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9336938/Horizontal-stripes-really-do-make-you-look-fat.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2164030/Yes-stripes-DO-make-look-fat-Unless-theyre-narrow-black-horizontal-Confused-Heres-make-work-you.html

What we should be saying is 'do you really care what other people think?'

I'm a great believer in the idea that you should wear what makes you feel good regardless of what other people think of you in it. And if you want to wear horizontal stripes then why should anyone tell you you can't?

It's all about perception and how you view yourself.

The key is to dress to suit your body shape. A fitted bodycon style dress is probably not going to look great if you're naturally wider around the middle. And a plunging neckline isn't going to help if you're lacking in the bust department, stripes or no stripes.
If you're really not sure then turn to that trusted friend who'll always tell you the truth but if you haven't asked for that opinion, don't take any notice.

Yes vertical stripes are going to give the illusion that they elongate your figure and horizontal stripes may give the illusion that they widen your hips - but do you care? 
Slip into the striped dress and look briefly in the mirror (don't stare for too long - us human beings have a tendency to over think things), then ask yourself "do I feel good in this?" If the answer is yes then think no more about what anyone else will think of it when they see you in it and have the confidence to wear that dress with pride... it probably cost you a pretty penny in the first place.

Owl Obsession

Whilst browsing through Accesorise online today I came across this beauty and suddenly realised, I'm obsessed with Owls.

Danielle Owl Cuff - Accessorise

I seem to have Owls everywhere!

Jewellery...

Bags...

Cushions...

General Household items...

I'm not sure where the obsession comes from. I just think there's something about them as an accessory, whether that's something you wear to complement an outfit or have to decorate your home.

Hidden Gems

In preparation for my holiday I decided to get my suitcase out of the loft, I'm not going for 3 weeks but the excitement is killing me so I thought I'd get started on my packing (I'll re-pack about 10 times in the next 3 weeks).

While in the loft (which is a little bit like a rubbish tip) I came across an absolute gem... A lovely retro red box that I discovered contains a collection of 45rpm vinyl records from the 50's and 60's.

These records belong to my mum and they're awesome!

There are some real classics in there:

Sonny and Cher
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Dave Clark Five
Roy Orbison

And loads more.

They don't have the covers and have my mums name written all over them so wouldn't be worth any money but they're still a great find amongst all the rubbish that's in my loft!

It's interesting to think what other things might be hiding up there, I'll have to have a good dig around when I have a little more time.

I'd love to know what hidden gems you've found 'stored' in your loft, leave me a comment and let me know...

My Red Rose

On a shelf in my room I have a photograph of my grandparents wedding. I don't really remember the first time I saw the picture I just know I was very young. They had red roses at their wedding and I remember thinking they were very 'pretty' (in the way young girls see weddings and pretty flowers).

I recently discovered this picture in a drawer at my mum's house and the meaning this classic flower has for me came flooding back.
My grandfather died when I was 15 years old and we had red roses at the funeral. 
Soon after he died I started to write a diary, he'd been my main father figure and I missed him tremendously, and like many other teenagers, I needed an outlet.
In the diary I put the front of a sympathy card someone had bought for me which had a poem about a rose passing through to the other side of a wall (The Rose Beyond The Wall - Author Unknown) and although it had religious connotations (I'm not a religious person) it gave me a great deal of comfort at such a young age.
Also in the diary I'd included a dried, pressed rose from the funeral (I pressed flowers a lot with my grandma when I was young - it was lots of fun).

The instances of the red rose popping up had little significance to me when I was young and I think it's partly because of this (and partly because I've moved a few times and am a bit scatty) that I have no idea where the diary is. I must have lost it or thrown it away by mistake during a move.

It's only recently that I've discovered the real connotations this stunning flower has for me. It has cropped up at a few poignant moments of my life, my grandparents wedding, their funerals (we also had red roses at my grandmother's funeral), my favourite painting (Salvador Dali's Meditative Rose) and now more recently in my private life.

The more recent instance I feel has allowed me to truly appreciate why this flower means so much to me. 

The significance of being close to someone. 

The emotion it evokes. 

The understanding that you can be so close to someone - geographically (living in the same area, possibly have a similar group of friends etc), not meet them for decades, and then when you finally meet realising you have this 'thing' (in this case a red rose) in common and that the significance of that item is shared. Knowing that this significance needs no explanation -  it's just there and you both understand it.

I adore the notion that you can have something so specific in common with someone you've never met.

Throughout our teens and into adult life we're bombarded with the idea that roses are romantic, that they represent love and define a relationship yet they have little actual meaning for many people.

Take St Valentine's Day for example. Specifically, roses given as a gift - just because its Valentine's Day. I'm a strong believer that you shouldn't need the excuse of Valentine's Day to show your appreciation or love for someone, but if you're going to give a gift on that day surely there should be more thought involved - not just roses because they were on display in the florist.

The roses received in this instance will simply die and be thrown away with the rest of the household rubbish without a second thought.

Like anything else - unless they actually mean something to you they have no importance, they are just  'pretty' flowers as seen through the eyes of a small child when looking at a wedding photograph.

Salvador Dali Meditative Rose

Holiday countdown #2

Who else thinks it's really unfair when you go shopping with a huge list of things you want, come away with only 3 things off that list and the person you're with, who says "I'm only going to pick up a few bits", comes back with 2 huge bags full of clothes and shoes.

Not fair!!!

Here are some of the things I did pick up...

 Mela Loves London at New Look

 H&M

 New Look

I had already bought this dress...

 New Look

And this bag...

George at Adsa

Oh yes, and the slightly less exciting but very essential walking boots...

Karrimor

Ah well, I'll just have to go again next week and hopefully be able to cross some more items off my list!