New Year, New Loot - Part Two

Welcome to New Year, New Loot - Part Two. If Part One was an insight to my fashion-forward mind pre-Christmas, then consider this post to be a look at how my brain works during the January sales.

Every year I read (and write) about how to shop successfully during the sales, what items to look for (the words 'classic' and 'wardrobe staples' spring to mind) and how to avoid the pitfalls and frenzy that only the January sales creates.

Then, every year I go and buy something like the layered vest top, below, simply because it costs a fiver and has a smiley face on it....

That's not to say I won't wear this vest (H&M) a lot - I will and it looks ace with black leggings - just that I get a little over excited at all those big red signs. This was my first purchase of a day out with some friends at Cabot Circus and while we were trying lace dresses and skater skirts I also came across this silk dress, below.

This has a tad more longevity and could work well as a dress or as a smart day-to-evening top when paired with some tailored trousers. The tie-dye pattern isn't something I would normally go for but that is a benefit of sales shopping - a price drop allows one to try out new styles, colours or patterns, without the fear of wasting a lot of money.

Once I'd warmed up a little I found The One, below, the dress that respects the rules of sales shopping and that made my heart skip a beat. It is a flattering, feminine shape, has a unique pattern, a vintage vibe and, crucially, goes with lots of other items I already own. Sadly as with all sale items there was one slight flaw - there was only one size left, and it was slightly smaller than I usually wear.
You can see it in the photo above so I obviously bought it. Does it fit? Well yes actually. Would it fit a little better if I were half a stone lighter? Probably, but at least this way I have a goal to aim for... at least that's what I'm telling myself...

Dispatches: Fashion's Dirty Secret

I've just come back from a romantic trip to Venice and I was planning on putting up a few outfit posts and general holiday snaps but instead I thought I would write about what I'm currently watching, which is arguably more important than me prancing around in front of the Rialto bridge.

After getting back from the airport minus M, who has gone off on a business trip to Germany, I thought I would catch up on some telly when I came across Dispatches: Fashion's Dirty Secret. The documentary, which aired last week, investigates the working conditions in UK factories that supply the likes of New Look, Topshop and Peacocks (these links will take you to the ethical polices for each brand).

From what I'm seeing the main issues seem to be subcontracting within approved supply chains and while the point of the documentary is to be 'hard hitting', having seen documentaries like this before, I am not as shocked as I should be that this kind of labour is taking place in Britain.

Most savvy shoppers will have seen the likes of BBC Three's Blood, Sweat & T-Shirts and be aware that cut-price fashion can come at a cost. I wrote a post about cheap frills myself earlier this year and have become increasingly aware that in the fashion industry, words like 'ethical' and 'organic' are bounced around with little care.The shock factor with this film is that the long hours, poor working conditions and barely-there wages are happening to workers in Leicester.

Most of the brands approached for a comment either denied all knowledge of the work and/or agreed how it contravened their ethical trading policies. It's hard to love high street when a programme like this shoots down brands such as New Look, which I had always naively assumed was sounds its fashion responsibilities.

Take a look and see for yourself what the real cost of a £25 jumpsuit or Breton t-shirt is and have a read of Ethical Trading Initiative website where there are details on New Look's reaction and response to the film.

Bristol Street Chic with OSOYOU.com

Bristol listen up. Your fair, fashionable city has been shortlisted as one of the style capitals of the UK on OSYOU.com. Obviously you and I know that Bristol is a fashion-forward city that could rival London or Manchester, and now we have a chance to prove it.

Last Thursday the folks behind high-street fashion website OSOYOU came to Cabot Circus to find and photograph the best of Bristol. Unfortunately, as they picked a weekday, I think they missed out on capturing many of Bristol's stylish residents but they did find some cracking shop workers and students, see below.

I particularly like Amie's look, above, with that gorgeous blush pink skirt and blouse combo - it's like the lovechild outfit of a prim and proper librarian and a rockabilly Gucci model. If you missed out on the event itself the fear not as you can still vote for your favourite Bristol gal to win, earning her some new threads and Bristol its rightful title of most stylish city.

You can go straight to the voting page for Bristol here. My money is on Amie but what does everyone else think?

Calling All Students!

The loans are in, exams are looming and Spring/Summer trends have hit the high street so take a break from the books and head down to Cabot Circus for this Thursday's student evening.

Ah, university. The three year ride of discounts, student nights and blagging as much stuff for free as possible. Yes, I do remember staying up till 6am to finish a project, high on Pro Plus and surviving on chocolate digestives, but come on - all the parties, discounts and shopping sprees made it worthwhile. Come to think of it, I probably wouldn't have been up until 6am, high on Pro Plus and surviving on chocolate digestives if I hadn't gone to all the parties, or used my discounts on numerous shopping sprees but that's another matter...

Cabot Circus was still a building site when I was at uni and although this meant missing out on events like these, I think my bank manager was pretty grateful! But now Bristol's most fashionable footpaths are becoming student paradise from 4-8pm on the 28th as discounts, goodie bags, nibbles and live music take over Cabot Circus and Quaker's Friar.

Participating stores include A Wear, American Apparel, Warehouse and Urban Outfitters so just bring along your student ID and enjoy. If you're strapped for cash then look out for plenty of freebies from Rituals, Tampopo and and G Star.

Cabot Circus Student Night, Thursday 28th April, 4-8pm.

Click here for more information.

Something for the weekend...

This weekend sees the return of the Cabot Circus Fashion Show which I had the fortune of attending last September. The host of events taking place throughout Cabot and Quakers Friar are free to all visitors, with competitions, makeovers and catwalk shows taking place across Friday 16th and Saturday 17th April.

Cabot Circus has only been open for 18 months but it has already made its mark on the South West fashion scene, with high profile stores such as Harvey Nichols, American Apparel and Kurt Geiger taking their place alongside the usual high street suspects such as Oasis, Next, Topshop and House of Fraser.

The A/W anniversary show was fantastic fun and I'll be taking my new camera down to capture the action. If you're still unsure of what you should be wearing this Spring or just fancy a fun afternoon and lots of discounts and goodies then check out the Cabot Circus website for show times and details. To read the Ship-Shape post on the last Cabot Circus show then click here.

Blog of The Week: Bargainista Fashionista

For the first Blog of The Week of 2010 I was won over by a teddy bear, or rather a teddy bear beanie hat to be precise. Bargainista Fashionista caught my eye in Sunday's Observer Magazine as part of a 'New Year, New You style feature called 30 Ways To A Better Life, which is definitely worth a read if you're stuck for a New Years resolution.

Anywho, there was Susie Wong in the cutest woolly hat I've seen all season (from River Island in case you're interested), chatting about her blog and how to be a savvy shopper on the high street. The concept of her blog is simple: bargains on the high street in 'real time' - if Susie blogs about it on her lunch break then you can guarantee it will still be there by the time you finish work.

The reason this blog works is because the fashion on show is accessible to everyone. High street, eBay and etsy pieces crop up and River Island, Topshop and New Look all make regular appearances. Susie's genuine passion for fashion extends past item must-haves to how one could where the pieces and what trends they go well with, and of course, every post is about what is in stores NOW, this very second.

The only downside of reading this blog is the likely hood that you will turn into a raging shopaholic...