April’s Acquisitions

I mentioned in March that I was no longer doing the clothing ban challenge. I have continued to be part of the group on Facebook as they share interesting articles and are a friendly bunch. I have tried to cull my wardrobe and have put away a load of clothing under the bed so my wardrobe is much smaller and is worn constantly. Technically I *might* be doing a capsule wardrobe but it doesn’t feel that way yet as I am still working out what pieces of clothing need to be in my wardrobe. For example at the moment I do not like any of the pairs of jeans I have, I have 3 pairs – 1 skinny pair which tore at the crotch and were really unflattering but I could tuck them into my boots and I like stomping around like that, 1 longer length bootcut pair which are fine but I don’t like with trainers and rarely wear heels except at work – on the plus side these are Howies jeans and therefore are great quality, brilliant except when you don’t really like them 🙂 and finally 1 pair of baggier jeans which make me feel like I am back at Uni, when I studied not you know where I work. However, I have gained a fair amount of weight recently and until I have that under control it seems pointless to shop for any clothing let alone jeans. So on that note…

Joining the Ethical Fashion Collective

I follow the blogs of Mel Wiggins and The Owl and the Accordion written by Victoria, both are great blogs and have interesting, thoughtful pieces along with show casing various ethical brands and top tips for eBay shopping. Last week I read about an idea that they had come up with together (don’t you love it when you find out your favourite bloggers are friends!), the Ethical Fashion Collective and it immediately intrigued me. Basically it is an idea to save some space online to show off and share information about ethical fashion – this includes vintage/second hand/articles/small brands/big brands – you name it! The idea is to do this on the 1st Friday of each month, and I love it! While I have my own reservations about the phrase ‘ethical fashion’ and prefer ‘ethical style’ I see no need to prescribe that to others and I’m excited to join in.

Holiday Style

After a couple of years of resolving to post outfit pictures I finally manage to post some. These pictures were taken while we were on holiday last week. We started the week with blue skies in Glencoe and ended the week on the Isle of Mull with grey skies and a chill in the air. Chop dealt with the ferry and staying in the motorhome really well, he barked at the clear, starlit, inky black sky in Glencoe – it looks like he is a true city dog now. Leith has changed him 🙂 We did lots of walking but no skiing for me as I’m still unable to run or cycle due to this lingering virus (3 months and counting).

This outfit is typical for me at the moment and I feel really comfortable and like myself in it. I have chosen to end my participation in ‘no new clothes for a year’ challenge. I started in September and slipped up three times before stopping fully in early March. I had my own reasons for joining the challenge as I already know a lot about the clothing industry and luckily I can choose where to shop and can avoid fast fashion brands choosing to shop 2nd hand first and with brands whose ethics I agree with. I also still like to support local companies and my love of Finisterre shows no signs of abating!

Jacket – Finisterre, Jumper – 2nd hand WhiteStuff, jeans – 2nd hand Next, boots – Dublin River boots (these are actually my horse riding boots), scarf – gift from my sister, bag – Boden

I found the challenge was making me miserable. Many of my clothes didn’t feel like me. I felt uncomfortable in them and just wanted to have a clear out. My taste outstrips my sewing skills and ability, I don’t want to end up getting frustrated and giving up sewing when I can’t make the things I would like. This made me revise my idea that I could make what I needed to fill any gaps in my wardrobe! My black trousers were wearing out, the jeans I have I don’t particularly like and many pieces simply don’t fit in with my lifestyle.

I also discovered through the Facebook group that most other people on the challenge were really enjoying it, I found myself constantly window shopping and I felt like a failure. That was until I chatted with Katie from Sustainability in Style the original creator of this challenge. She told me to go back and look at my original reasons for doing the challenge – had I achieved them? Do you know what I feel I have, I have definitely worked out my style. These outfits are my casual go to style. Now I accept that I want to replace the jeans as they aren’t the best but that can wait – I’m now working on stopping the cycle of payday spending but without any new challenges instead just step by step. First up a big clear out is taking place, not only in my wardrobe but in the whole flat – don’t worry the puppy stays though.

On the ferry to Mull. Hat knitted by me, Seafolly jacket by Seasalt.

Fancy an interesting online read? I would recommend Katie’s post on Freetown Fashpack, enjoy the awesome style on show in that post 🙂

Knit One, Purl One, Chase Puppy Around to Get Your Yarn Back

Two posts in one month – aren’t you all very lucky. I did one of those things that all bloggers recommend, I actually looked at what people seemed to like reading on this little corner of the internet. Unsurprisingly reviews came out pretty high and it made me think that there are actually quite a few things I have made, bought or done in the last few months that might be useful to others. I also have plans for a slight revamp on the blog but more on that in March. Today’s post is about a knitting kit and some free knitting tutorials.

I had high hopes for last Christmas, I would spend some time practising crafts and baking – then come December time I would lovingly make gifts for friends and family while listening to Christmas music. That really didn’t happen, but I did manage to make way more presents than ever before and even made some I was proud of. I did end up briefly stressed as I realised I had dropped stitches on some knitting and had to rip it up and start again but on the whole I enjoyed what I did make and I aim for more this year although I am going to plan more thoroughly.

My Vintage Sewing Pledge 2016

If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen that for my birthday I received a sewing machine! I decided to get a Janome CXL301, which is a computerised one – part of me still hankers after an old fashioned basic one, in fact a treadle one would be brilliant but let’s be realistic something that helps me sew button holes is always going to be helpful. It is also the machine I used at my dressmaking class I took B.C. (you know, before Chop 🙂 ), I loved the fact that it has an adjustable speed for the foot pedal and the set up of it was a breeze. Of course the fact I had the lovely Rachel to advise probably helped there.

Penny for your Thoughts

Recently I have backed a couple of projects on crowd-funding websites – this method of funding companies and individuals appeals to me and I enjoy being able to read the stories and plans of those asking for help with funding. A couple of the projects I have backed have been cycling related and one is soup related. Today I thought I would flag up one of the cycling ones which is still open and able to be backed.

Now you might have heard of Penny in Yo Pants – it came out of the Glasgow Cyclehack last year. Actually the Cyclehack is happening around the world now and I would recommend following the hashtag #cyclehack on Twitter to get some inspiration and just see normal folks creating innovative solutions for cycle problems they have encountered.

I Made a Skirt!

So I made a skirt! Then I finally took some pictures of it. I am really pleased with this skirt actually, I think it fits really well and has turned out to work with nearly ever top I have.

Cheers Mum!

Happy mothers’ day! I thought today I might post a wee blog post kind of about my mother (she would hate me if I did a full post actually about her). I have three items of clothing that I essentially stole from her wardrobe, all are denim and all are from the 70s. I love them and they are brilliant in the way they fit and of course are unique and have their own story behind them. The denim shirt I actually wore as a teenager so as well as reminding me of my mum it also brings back memories of the odd layering choices I went through at school – I wore it with purple chenille (anyone else remember chenille) jumper and thought it looked awesome – luckily no photographic proof remains of most of my bizarre fashion choices, that has to be a rite of passage hasn’t it? Some bizzare clothing choices you put together and will remember for the rest of your days, I remember in my school it seemed to be a challenge of how long you could go in Autumn before finally sucumbing and wearing a jacket to school – I live in Scotland, you should always wear a jacket in Autumn in Scotland!! Okay I have drifted off course there.

My mum dug out some great pictures of her wearing the jacket and shirt for me to share with you guys. I’m not sure anything I own will last as well as these have, perhaps my Totty Rocks mac, but I hope these denim pieces last me even longer.

Doing double denim on a motorbike

#SecondHandFirst – Taking the TRAID Pledge

I know it is December and I should be posting all festive stuff but I quickly wanted to rewind to November and TRAID’s inaugural 2nd hand first week. TRAID are a brilliant company, or I really like them anyway (you can see the leggings I bought from them last year here). They are London based, they take the clothing that is donated to them and use it as resources whether to sell directly through their shops or turn into new items then they use funds to help with education and to fund projects throughout the world. I also love the fact that they focus on a circular and sustainable approach with the addition of the education element and working to improve conditions for those in the traditional garment industry. As yet I haven’t made it to their shops on my annual pilgrimage to the big smoke.

My Edinburgh, Part 2: Godiva’s Christmas Party

Last Wednesday night I had my first mulled wine and mince pie of the festive season. Myself and a couple of friends headed along to the boutique Godiva in Edinburgh for their Christmas party. We joined the other happy late-night shoppers for a drink, mince pie and the opportunity to pick up some presents for 15% off. In typical IHR style I had just bought presents from here on the Monday but it was a lovely atmosphere and the staff are so friendly and sweet that it was a nice way to spend an evening window shopping (some heavy hints have been dropped to Mr IHR). Godiva is one of my favorite shops in Edinburgh. I only discovered it a year ago and since then it has become one of the few places I still buy clothes “in the flesh” rather than online.