University Outfitters

I have a somewhat romanticised vision of going to university next autumn, not least because I envisage my teenage self spending my days reading Wilde by the river, running errands on a vintage bike, singing in the college chapel, rowing, performing in every drama society play possible, dining begowned in the Great Hall and scribbling essays in the medieval library. All of that, of course, in suitable university attire: rugby shirts, blazers, cable/aran knit jumpers and plenty of velvet skirts. Jack Wills and its younger sibling Aubin & Wills have already provided substantial contributions to my collection of the above (as if you didn't know that already from my blog); there's a reason the former calls itself University Outfitters... For me, it all started with this video:

From then on, my collection of handbooks, almanacs and clothes has spread across several shelves in my wardrobe... I am especially fond of those old films and collections, although I love what Aubin & Wills have recently accomplished as a brand - especially the latest almanac and the Aubin Cinema. And yes, that is a young Jessica Rose Brown Findlay (of Albatross and Downton Abbey fame) in the film! I must be world's best stalker as I found out her name afterwards and knew she was destined for great things...

~
Shirt, Jack Wills
Aran jumper, Jack Wills (similar sold by Aubin & Wills)
Skirt, gift
Cable knit jumper, Ralph Lauren
Brogues, vintage

Skater Dress: Motel on Ice

 I got this dress at a Motel event a few months ago. It was organised by the lovely Selina, and it was a pleasure to meet her for the third time, and a few other ladies including Lucy, Becky, Eloise, Rebecca, Daniela, Fiona, Sherin, Jazmine, Florrie, Kristabel, Amy, Harriet and Daisy. As several hundred people went, I didn't want my post to be a duplicate of so many others, so I thought I'd approach it with an idea I've had whizzing in my mind as soon as I saw this dress. It's what I would call a skater style, with a nipped in waist and voluminous skirt. It's uncertain where the term "skater dress" originated, but it suddenly became flounced around left, right and centre by various online shops, magazines and catwalk reports. Of course, no-one ever suggests that you should actually, well, skate in it, merely that it's similar to what a skater would wear (presumably not daH onezz wiv dA sk8boards dat Avril fell in luv with)? Well, I went and did it anyway, and yes, I did wear a skating skirt underneath to disguise moments of flashery... Please tell me you love the Marge Simpson hair going on as much as I do!

Heidi Dress, c/o Motel

Jumper, vintage

Platforms, Schuh

Bag, thrifted

Bear ring, thrifted

Key necklace, c/o Gogo Philip

Glasses, 3.1 Philip Lim

Ice skates, stylist's own heheheheh  (could.not.resist.)

eBay Time!

A Lula magazine, rare Topshop silk maxi and brogues/creepers, all waiting for your bids. Click the photo to go to my eBay page!

Bethanien: inside the Berlin Print Workshop

 Outside, it's rather Hogwarts-like, except for the graffiti splattered on the lanterns and parked bikes as opposed to broomsticks. Originally an old hospital, the building now houses one of Berlin's less well-known art centres: the Bethanien print workshop. The stunning architecture seems so alien - by the end of the week, we have become accustomed to dreary tower blocks that appear fired at daily with neon spray cans... Inside, we are welcomed by a guide, who takes us around the numerous rooms of the workshop. The Bethanien is a labyrinth of creativity - each room offers something different, and we mutter excitedly amongst ourselves as we spot something new to examine - be it a colourful hand-printed plate, a treasure chest of tiny letter stamps, or an elaborate off-set lithography machine that looks like it could eat someone. The team of printmakers, artists, designers, craftswomen and men all carry on in the most professional manner, as if a congregation of gaping art students in their cramped workspace is nothing out of the ordinary. Some do not even glance up, busy inking up a metal plate or preparing a screen for screenprinting, others stop and offer a curious look or even, in one man's case, an utterly fascinating presentation on making paper out of pulp (before it all went wrong because of the pressure of us all staring). My favourite section is decided as soon as I go in: the book binding (or "Buch Binderei") area. Then again, I will be a literature student in the making come October...