Spotted.

REVERSE FLORAL.

  Sorry we've been a little naughty and not posted anything recently. I promise that we are back on form!

Bumped into this fellow ginge at Detonate in Sheffield last night and we got over excited because she was wearing leggings to match my top (both H&M spring line.) We also both had the same phone. It was like meeting some kind of twin.

I am in love with this top, its so summery and versatile. Infact, the whole H&M spring range is really quirky and cute and most importantly CHEAP. I'm starting to enjoy shopping there as much as I did four years ago.

I wonder if anyone has worked the top and the leggings together. I reckon it would be so Cher from Clueless that it actually could look pretty cool?


In other news, I want this girl's gold crop top.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Models Wanted!

A small request..

Wear Nice Clothes readers are being given the opportunity to model in a forthcoming fashion show.

 

The event, which sounds mega exciting, will take place on March 11^th at Sheffield United Football Club and will showcase glamorous 1940’s style outfits made out of clothes donated to St Luke’s hospice. All the proceeds will go to St Luke’s Hospice.

I love the idea of recycling fashion for charity and the 1940's theme sounds amazing!

Event organiser, Rachel Arthur, said: “The event is a celebration of real women. St Lukes Hospice found ten older models and I am looking for twenty younger models of any shape or size."

Readers who want to strut their stuff on the catwalk and are free on March 10^th and 11^th should contact racharthur@hotmail.com. with their name, age, phone number, height, dress size, shoe size, and bust line, waist line, hip, inner leg length, outer leg length measurements so that a custom outfit can be made for them.

You need to get in touch before Tuesday so be swift!

Written by Kate Lloyd.

To Tan or Not to Tan: Marleena vs Kate.

Fake tanning, the great debate.

Spot the tanner: Kate and Marleena.

Kate: "Arguments in Support of the Ghostie."

Recently I went to buy a foundation and caused uproar in John Lewis. No counter in the store had a foundation pale enough for me. The assistant at Clinique saw me and exclaimed: “Good god, you are pale!”

Usually, this would send me running back to the tanning bottle; being ginger and very fair skinned, it’s the closest I can get to tanning naturally, other than building an impenetrable layer of freckles. Fake tanning, however, involves extreme effort - so much can go wrong.
If you don’t tan naturally, and don’t spend a lot of money, it will probably look fake. On so many occasions, I have looked back at photos of myself and realised my hair is the same colour as my skin.

Also if you don’t spend a lot of money and time on tanning you will go streaky. In order to get an even tan one must exfoliate, moisturise dry spots, use a tanning mitt and buy St Tropez. I don’t have the hours or energy for such activity.

After all the application activity is over, good fake tans usually take six hours to develop before you can wash off the excess. In these hours one goes major orange and thus can’t leave the house. I would prefer to leave the house.

Even if your tan is successful, after its prime it will start to go mottled and vile. Even the super expensive, perfectly even, gorgeous, professional St Tropez spray tan I got for my sixth form prom faded in to a patchy skin disease mess after four days- and yes, I did exfoliate. Imagine experiencing the patchy skin four days into a beach holiday- not a good look!

I’ll be honest, when summer comes around, its highly likely I’ll be whipping the tan out again, but until I have to get my legs out, I think I’ll leave it. Even if in the winter months my skin becomes so pale it’s translucent, I’d prefer to be out partying, drinking from bottles for six hours at night than in my house tanning from them.

Marleena: "Fake Tanning is my Religion."

St Tropez, Piz Buin, Fake Bake, Garnier Soleil, and not forgetting Tesco Own Brand Tan, are all dear friends of mine. Having sampled each variety of orange stuff, it’s safe to say I’m a wee bit addicted.

My hundred ‘carrot’ gold tan makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like my skin’s been on holiday even in the minus two degrees, arctic, English temperatures. A healthy glow can make you look skinnier and healthier and just generally better.

Im no UV junkie, faking it gives me the optimum glow ‘fo sho’: the soggy brown applicator mitt confusing my boyfriend when it is left in the bathroom. He also comments on a certain lingering biscuit smell in the home….I plead guilty, and tanned.

My addiction may have massacred all of my white underwear, towels and a cream rug in its messy path of destruction, but our relationship still remains strong.

Sure, some actively enjoy to work the pale and interesting look, but for me it only comes in one successful form, that of Edward Cullen, and not my complexion.

Written by Marleena and Kate Lloyd.

Nice Clothes and Things.

A little monthly update on our comings and goings.

January is ending and so are our exams. Wear Nice Clothes has now been running for three months and there are some major exciting Wear Nice Clothes articles and ideas in the pipeline. Hopefully February should be a month filled with interviews, photoshoots and features.

(Terrible phone photography)

Rosanna Lee and I went to a poetry and art night at Bungalows and Bears in Sheffield last week to plan what is going down blog style. As well as being very productive, we laughed very loudly at a boy in a hilarious fur hat until he shamefully removed it (I'm sorry) and also wrote a poem about Wear Nice Clothes (shameless self  promotion) that, fingers crossed, will end up in poetry zine Unquiet Desperation. I hope it gets in because it was a "quality" piece of promotional writing. I can't remember it all but it kind of went:

Wear clothes in the day,

Wear clothes in the night,

Wear less clothes in the heat,

Wear more clothes in the ice.

Underwear.

Outerwear.

We always Wear Nice Clothes (.blogspot.com)

I think you will agree that it is a masterpiece. Speaking of masterpieces, I actually love whoever wrote this comment on the poncho piece!

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Why Did We Ever Wear the Poncho?

 We never learn...

OH THE PONCHO..

Out of all the traditional cultural outfits to emulate in fashion form, why in the early Noughties did we select that of the Mexican? I mean, Mexico as a place is gorgeous and they have nice food and drink tequila: all’s good in the hood. Their traditional attire? Not so stunning… A massive square of knitted material with a head hole in the middle; otherwise known as the poncho.

Not only did the poncho make us look like we couldn’t afford a coat and had instead draped a blanket around our shoulders (leading to embarrassing “donation” incidents whilst sitting on doorsteps) it also made one’s shadow look like a giant triangular sandwich with the filling dripping out. Try it and see. 

They didn’t have arm holes, making it impossible to manoeuvre without hitting someone in the face as you flicked the poncho over your shoulder, and you could see none of a person's figure when they were wearing them. If you are going to wear an impractical item, at least wear one that flatters you.

Apparently ponchos are going to become cool again this season, but I doubt anyone still owns one. Well, anyone other than confused old ladies who pick them up in a charity shops and are gutted to find a massive hole in their new rug when they get home.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Review of the Year.

The good, the bad and the crazy.. 

2009 IN FASHION.

I think we can all agree that 2009 was a year that some may call crazy. Blame Gaga, blame Beyonce, blame the mad cap designers of the world, but I’m sure that by the time we reach 2019 we’ll be looking back on our clothing choices last year and having a little giggle. Hell, I’m giggling now and I’m still wearing 2009’s fashions! Not that this is a bad thing, years of Victoria Beckham and Rachel Zoe had taken the integral fun out of fashion and it was the eccentric playfulness of 2009’s fashions that made it an exciting year for clothes lovers.

The major influence on fashion this year was the ‘80s. We all knew it was coming, the leggings and the slogan t-shirts of ’06, ’07 and ‘08 were building to a maximum impact Dynasty fest in ‘09, with a sprinkling of ‘80s Madonna.

Balmain reintroduced us to the shoulder pad in their 09/10 Fall Collection, Beyonce single handedly brought back the leotard in her ‘Single Ladies’ video and Gaga rocked underwear as outerwear even in a chilly British January. Pattern tights and PVC leggings popped up and denim jackets, Ray Bans, crop tops and body con skirts were the staple items in fashionistas’ wardrobes.

Perhaps it was the credit crunch that sent us running towards stylish comfort, but the year also introduced us to the holy grails of comfortable leg wear; the hareem and the, now student essential, jegging. A hybrid of the legging and the trouser of the decade, the skinny jean. The streets were full of people with full flexibility, their legs no longer restricted by their tight denim cage. The streets were also full of camel toes, but we’ll skip over that little issue.

Now that we were all wearing underwear as outerwear, mainly due to Christopher Kane at Topshop, we needed some layers to cover up under when we got chilly. What was better than a vest top/dress with arm holes down to the midriff to show off our floral bra-let, possibly with a black and white print of an obscure rock star on, or Kate Moss? (Thank you Ark.) Perhaps a translucent lace number to show off your leather bra and tuck into your sequin hot pants?

2009 was also the year that we all fell in love with the wolf motif, once only worn by people who bought their clothes from QVC and Bret from ‘Flight of the Conchords.’ We all wanted a wolf t-shirt in the summer, preferably a vintage wolf, and as we headed into autumn, we all wanted a vintage wolf sweatshirt.

Chezza Cole tried to keep up her fashion icon status on ‘X Factor’ but often ended up just looking weird. You must remember the weird mini dress/floor length cape combination. However, I think we must thank her for the longevity of the one-shoulder dress. Other fashion icons included Alexa Chung, who, after landing a US MTV chat show, was now a worldwide icon. American youths finally cottoned on to her sailor, tomboy style and winged eyeliner. As well as Cheryl and Alexa, Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni, first ladies of the USA and France, reintroduced us to Chanel and classic style.

The ‘It’ bag was seen as a thing of the past and we all fell in love with ‘It’ footwear. Stacked heels, lots of colour, lots of strap detail. Sometimes it was a shoe, sometimes a boot, more often than not a shoe-boot, but all of them were amazing. Whether it was the hoof like footwear in Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’ video or the invisible mirrored shoe, they were all ‘fierce.’

 Not only did clothes become extreme in 2009, but make up did too. People fell in love with false lashes, dark berry black lips and matte grey nails. Hair was scraped back into high buns or decorated with designer bunny ears. Often it seemed that designers were designing for non human muses and sometimes they were. Marc Jacobs designed clothes for Miss Piggy and Christian Louboutin’s muse for part of the year was Barbie.

Like the outrageous Aunt that I only see at Christmas; 2009 was mad but lovable and I already miss it. I really hope that 2010 is equally wild.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

What I Wore for New Year's Eve 09/10

We ask our writers what they threw on for NYE.

KATE LLOYD.

This year I went on my traditional New Year's holiday in the Lake District with my family. We went out for dinner at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant and watched some fireworks from our balcony at midnight! It wasn't wild, but it was a good time!

 I wore an Ark black skirt, black tights and a vintage, deep purple, sequin, shoulder padded top and I changed into some little black ballet flats before entering the restaurant!

I also wore my GORGEOUS Shu Uemura limited edition brown eyelashes (a Christmas gift for me, from me!) which were a dream!

I had to wear my walking boots with my outfit to walk down to the restaurant because of the ice! I looked hilarious!

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Welcome to 2010!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Today is the first day of 2010 and is a day closer to British University students' January exams! Over the next couple of weeks, articles cannot be guaranteed as, for once, education takes priority. Thus, in order to satisfy your Nice Clothes desires we shall be posting pictures of what we wore on New Years Eve instead so that you can have a nosy into our lives.

Thanks for reading in '09! Stick with us in '10 please?

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Procrastination Station.

Our favourite vaguely fashion related material on the web.

Possibly the best (and only) fashion game on the internet.

Play: WHO SAID IT? KANYE OR KARL?.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Procrastination Station.

Our favourite vaguely fashion related material on the web.

FAVOURITE PROCRASTINATION STATION EVER.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Spotted.

Style on Sheffield's streets.

PRACTICAL COOL.

These girls show us how to keep warm (despite Sheffield's arctic wind) without compromising on style.

 

Nora Francini, visiting a friend in Sheffield.

With an air of effortless cool, Nora's colourful Italian scarf and vintage bag add interest to her outfit and brighten up her dark Benetton duffel coat, leggings and boots.

Hannah Usfun, 6th form student in Sheffield.

 

Hannah also brightens up her coat using quirky accessories, wearing several A/W '09 trends. Her floral leggings are Topshop and her patent brogues were an amazing £4 from Primark! She leaves her Hollister parka open at the front to reveal her vintage top and cute jewellery from Cow and Majorca. The highlight of her outfit? The Decathlon shopper.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Procrastination Station

Our favourite vaguely fashion related procrastinatory material on the web.

This week I shall be posting two Links of the Week, mainly because I forgot to post one last week! They are both video based procrastination and they are both a bloody gorgeous good time.

The first is Kandee Johnson.

This amazing lady posts videos about make up, jewellery making, customisation and baking. I love her customisation videos as she makes some nice stuff! A word of warning though, she is very peppy and not one to watch with a hangover headache!

The second is  Fashion Face TV.

There are so many makeup tutorial videos on the internet, but these videos are definitely my favourite! Done by two very different, very pretty, makeup artist sisters, their makeup videos are simple to understand, but you still feel like you have learnt something new after watching. 

My love for these videos and obsessive viewing of them is quite extreme, so I hope you love them very much too!

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Customisation Station.

How to turn something old, borrowed or blue into something new.

In honour of our new NYC writer, I thought I would show you how to make an 'I LOVE NY' top look less Mary-Kate and Ashley Oslen 'New York Minute' and more Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen 'Elizabeth and James' Fall Collection.

(If you haven't seen 'New York Minute' -WATCH IT, ITS AMAZING!)

Customisation of the t-shirt was a simple procedure. I cut off the sleeves and the tight neck bit and pulled the material so it stretched and curled up at the edges (no need to hem.) 

I wanted it cropped with a curved hem at the front. I put the top on and marked the length I wanted it at my sides and in the middle and then cut between those marks and stretched it again. SIMPLE.

To tone down the bright red heart, I found a black lacy top (absolutely vile) in my 'to cut up' pile and lay a square of it over the heart. I pinned it down and sewed (using a running stitch- two steps forward one step back) about 0.3cm away from the edge of the heart. Once completed, I cut around the very edge of the heart. 

 

This would look pretty snazzy done with any sheer fabric, but I like the lace as it looks a little gothic.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Procrastination Station.

Our favourite vaguely fashion related procrastinatory material on the web.

The Procrastination Station Link of the Week is:  
Go Fug Yourself.

I have been addicted to this site for a couple of years now. It basically ridicules hilarious celebrity fashion choices in a light hearted way and is funny without being (too) mean.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Spotted.

Individual style on Sheffield's streets.

We spent a murky November afternoon hunting down people with their own personal style until we started too feel a bit like stalkers and got too cold and had to return to our (equally cold) homes.

 

Sarah Barnes, a 3^rd year at Sheffield University

  Sarah is wearing Topshop harem trousers that she got for £3 and wears because they are as comfy as pyjamas. Her scarf is also from Topshop, her cardigan belongs to her friend’s Nan and her bag is her housemate's. When she isn't borrowing clothes, she shops at Cow, Topshop, Ark and on Ebay.

Stephanie Danylyk, a 2^nd year Sheffield Hallam student.

Stephanie hides her work uniform under a cosy fur coat that she got at Principles last year (she clearly was ahead of the fashion followers who have only just started working the faux fur). She got her hair band from Accessorize, but tends to shop at Cow, H&M and charity shops and loves All Saints.

Soven Kudsk – Iverson, a student at Sheffield University.

  The mix of colours and textures in Soven's look made him stand out in the crowd (and his colour coordinated scarf and gloves). Clearly well travelled, Danish Soven’s bright hat is from Finland, his scarf is from Nepal , his jumper is from Denmark and his trousers are from…..John Lewis. He likes to pick up bargains from Oxfam in Broomhill.

Gemma Marshall , Sheffield resident.

Gemma mixes American sneakers, a scarf from a boutique off Ecclesall Road and a coat by snowboarding make Nikita, with her Mum’s Mulberry handbag for an eclectic daytime look. She hates Meadowhall shopping centre and prefers to shop on Division Street and Fargate Street.

Adam, a 1^st year student at Sheffield Hallam.

Adam makes a generic student outfit look cool with his vintage t-shirt from Blue Rinse in Leeds.. He’s even working the laptop bag. He hasn’t got round to shopping in Sheffield yet but he likes vintage stores.

Written by Kate Lloyd and Marleena Cronvall. 
Photography by Sally Alstead.

Procrastination Station

Our favourite vaguely fashion related procrastinatory material on the web.

The Procrastination Station Link of the Week is:  
The Sartorialist

It's basically a website filled with pictures of people wearing cool clothes, what's not to love?

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Spotted.

Style in the gym in Sheffield.

So, I was in the gym changing rooms the other day and I had a moment of EXTREME fashion envy.

You know one of those moments where you actually want to follow the individual who has the clothing item around until they take the clothing item off and then steal it? (In this case that is less creepy than it sounds as the clothing item is a coat.) 

Well, I bumped into an old friend from back home and she was wearing an item that I have dreamed about for 100 years. A waxed Barbour coat.

Now at this moment you may start to think that I am some form of Alexa Chung wannabe. This is not the case. I just love old person clothes. My current Winter coat previously belonged to my Grandma, as does my favourite thick navy cardigan. I also love the Marks & Spencer Footglove shoe and the Clarks Airsole brogue. Comfort is key in my life, I am twenty going on eighty.

Anyway, back to the case in hand. Usually Barbour coats cost £250 (waaaay out of my budget), but my old friend informed me that she had got hers for a measly £90 because she bought an age fourteen one.

So now I am left with a dilemma, do I buy a kids Barbour coat and risk the humiliation of running into her in it and explaining I stole her idea, or do I sit and brood until the day I can actually afford the real deal.

Only time will tell.

Written by Kate Lloyd.

Procrastination Station

Our favourite vaguely fashion related procrastinatory material on the web.

Our first ever Procrastination Station Link of the Week is:

It hasn't been updated in a while but its powerful combination of humour and pictures of Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl keeps me entertained for quite a while.

XOXO

PS. Seriously, you want to click on this bad boy as well, I could literally stare at this picture for HOURS.

Written by Kate Lloyd

How to Wear Faux Fur Coats and Not Look Like a Giant Furby.

Working out how to wear the trickier trends.

I saw an article in Look magazine about fur coats being an investment piece for the season, but in the wrong hands they could look hideous.

When I was at Primary School, I played Aunt Sponge in a performance of ‘James and the Giant Peach’. For the role I was forced into a big, bushy, cheap, pink, faux fur coat, not dissimilar to many that are on the catwalk at the moment. It was intensely hot and made me look a little like a marshmallow. However, it is possible to wear coats of the large, faux fur variety and look pretty cool.

First of all, it’s all about proportions. In order to balance out the giant nature of the coat, the wearer needs to be tall (or heeled) and have slim legs. Otherwise one could easily start to look a bit like a big fur ball. Secondly, in order to avoid looking like a prostitute, its best to wear it with plain dark clothes – black skinny jeans would be a good call or a body con dress and tights. Just make sure that leg wear is clearly visible below the coat.

When selecting your fur coat, go for a natural colour, non-natural coloured coats will definitely look cheap. Brown or black is a good idea.

Makeup wise, keep it simple. Black winged eyeliner can give your outfit an edge without overpowering your face. Hair wise, unless it’s short, it’s best to wear such a coat with your hair up so it doesn’t look like an extension of the fur.

A faux fur coat is very much an investment piece. There is no point buying a cheap, vile one because it will look cheap and vile and you’ll never wear it. Go top end high street or vintage.

The best example I have seen of someone working the faux fur in a non-Furby manner, is the picture Claudia Winkleman at a Halloween party recently.

Written by Kate Lloyd