hilkat

At the moment I am well and truly into colours, prints and embellishments, which is why I’m adoring my fleuro zebra print tunic. The trainers are from New Look, and I’ve been waiting for them to come into my local store FOREVER, but I eventually gave up and went to a bigger branch with a friend. And there they were, just sitting on the shelf, waiting for me to take them home. I can feel it’s the start of a beautiful friendship…

No, I haven’t had some sort of extreme haircut - it was the morning after the night of the Other Half’s birthday dinner (there was wine…ugghhh…) and I was in dire need of comfort clothes for my coffee date. I thought this was the ideal time to bring the boyfriend fit jeans back for a second outing and show my Zara fringed dress to the world…

Pardon the rather blank-eyed expression, I do actually have pupils, but was watching my son bashing his buggy toy just out of shot. Hence the sideways glancing.

The plan for Hilkat was always as well as being somewhere to blog and write feature pieces, to be a platform to sell handmade goodies and vintage finds (those that didn’t end up in my cupboard anyway). So I thought I’d post pictures of jewellery that I’ve finally finished - I’m not some sort of expert jeweler, I just take apart old things and rework them into new. Some of the pieces are a little… controversial, such as the bracelet based necklace, but if you don’t try then you never know. I really like the chain interspersed with chunky beads, and am definitely going to be working with chains and metal a lot more before the shop is up and running. Anyway, here’s the results so far….

And I suppose you could always wear it all at once….

So since having my son, I’ve developed a loathing for heels. I adore looking at them, and have a couple of pairs for dinner dates and so on, but the skyscraper heels that adorn every shop wall are just not practical, sad but true. I’m currently having a love affair with flats - not a total disaster as I’m 5ft 7″ anyway, so height is on my side - and I’m trying to source the best, most creative looking flats around. I definitely do not want to be stuck in ballet pumps every single day, so I was quite happy when I found these floral beauties from Topshop for a bargain £22.

I also found something rather marvelous in Aldo when I went shopping with my friend, and am sad to say I left them on the shelf. But now I can’t get these cage shoes out of my head - I think a trip back to the shop is on the cards…..

I’m a bit in love with i.D magazine this month. Countless interviews from all industries in all countries detailing, amongst other things, what books people were reading (big geeky bookworm over here) so I could add freely to my ‘To Be Read’ list.

Without a doubt though, my favourite parts were the fashion editorials - three shoots styled in very different ways, with clothes sitting at various ends of the style spectrum. Variety is the spice of life after all…

Considering my latest obsession with colour and embellishment, it’s no wonder I was drawn to their Miami inspired shoot. Popping colours and sequins abound, I felt like a magpie rooting around for the shiniest of all the pictures, and decided I loved the Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga dress in the first picture and the glorious Balmain jacket in the third the most. In fact, I’m a bit in lust with all of the S/S09 Balenciaga collection (and it was Natasha Poly stomping the catwalk for Balmain that gave me my obsession with ripped jeans), and I realise that I should probably be blogging about ‘what we’ll all be wearing in Winter’ or even ‘predicting trends for next summer’, but I like to work in the here and now. So here are my two favourites, in all their catwalk glory:

The second spread was a sportswear-gladiator vixen hybrid, where the models glared out from the pages wearing the toughest architecturally detailed clothes, teamed with headgear and sleek wrist guards. I’m a big fan of sartorial artwork, the sorts of clothes that you almost can’t wear, but look fabulous, so this editorial was just grand in my book. I particularly liked the Alexander McQueen leggings in the first picture (it’s that print detail that gets me every time) and the top by Givenchy in the last picture. Almost unwearable, but amazing to look at. (And anyway, I’d give it a bloody good go…)

The last shoot was by far my favourite. It’s the sort of Mary-Kate-and-Ashley-tatty-vintage-music-arty-DIY fashion that I love. I’d wear the blazer-jeans-studded sandals combo (studs and ripped jeans, you’re spoiling me) in a heartbeat, if only my measley savings would stretch to vintage YSL. Same with the be-tattered corset and dress from Maison Martin Margiela (all hail), but my favourite has to be the royal blue dress with holes. I’m currently thinking of buying a bodycon dress and snipping holes - surely there would be that ‘tights effect’, where one tiny snip leaves a big hole? I can feel some fashion experimentation coming on…

Well, they’re mine actually, but in the grand tradition of ‘trying things that will probably make me look like a bit of a tit’, I decided to go with the slightly odd combination of rolled-up baggy boyfriend fit jeans and heels to go out to dinner the other night.

I’m currently undecided and sitting firmly on the fence. I like it, but then again there’s something not right with it. Individually, I like everything, but I think I could have done with wearing a looser top in a different colour. I really wanted to wear my vintage though, as I bought it when I was pregnant and have only just managed to fit in to it. The bag is vintage as well, so surely points for that…?

So, I was thinking how much I’d like to try the whole ripped jeans thing, but resigned myself to the fact that being such a tightwad, I really wasn’t going to spend money on a trend that will probably die out fairly soon.

So I got a little scissor happy with an old pair of Topshop’s finest, and added a pair of gladiators and a tiger tee… .

Admittedly, they didn’t look much on the hanger, but I was pretty pleased with them in action.

I’m a firm believer that on a good day you can get an excellent haul from the charity shop. Last Friday was a great example of such a day….

Black and white print top, left, and beaded jumper, right.

Shirt raided from the Mothers wardrobe, left, and sheer shield print top, right.

Printed silk panel cardigan, left, and sheer leopard print shirt, right.

Star print blouse, left, and sheer black and white wrap, right.

I got some great new clothes, while the Rowans Hospice and Marie Curie gained some much needed funds - there’s just no excuse not to go charity shopping!

I finally got round to wearing my bargain Matalan hippy-chic dress, and not wanting to be predictable, teamed it with my grey pumps and Oasis vintage-esque sunglasses. Not a gladiator sandal in sight…

I love, LOVE the new take on leopard print for the summer, literally anything goes. Here’s my favourite fierce finds….

Parka jackets are one of the best fashion coats around. Always on the style radar, they can be dressed up with a dress, heels, and a sizeable amount of defiance to traditional evening wear, or thrown over jeans and a breton top for casual indie-chic. It was inevitable then, that I’d fall in love with this Miss Selfridge Leopard Print Parka, £45, that would brighten up those days full of summer showers.

What else would we expect from Christopher Kane except for the most colourful leopard print garment around? Indulge in a touch of extravagence with his Cashmere Sweater, £695.

The leopard print trend this season is so flexible, and apart from being able to dabble in bright colours, there are also a hundred different sized prints on offer. This Karen Walker for Urban Outfitters t-shirt, £145, is a great example of outsize animal print, and would look fabulous either teamed with leggings, skinny jeans or tucked into a skirt. Versatility at it’s best.

Rebel against all the giant scarves this season and keep it small and sweet with this animal print scarf, £15, from Miss Selfridge.

Taking the more traditional approach is Sara Berman for Urban Outfitters, with her puff hem party dress, £299. Every girl needs a classic piece of old-style leopard print in their wardrobe, and this is a perfect example.

It’s acid coloured, it’s body-con, it’s leopard print - it’s bang on trend for the summer. Topshop come up trumps with their body-con skirt, and at £18, it’s credit-crunchtastic. Guilt free shopping, just the way we like it.

Leggings are a staple of most wardrobes these days, whether worn under a dress or skirt, or alone as a piece in their own right. These leopard print leggings, £35, from French Connection have certainly earned their place in my cupboard.

Sunglasses are a staple accessory for summer, and these animal print beauties from Topshop, £15, will be sure to shield your eyes in style.

I think of all the shoes I’ve seen lately, these are my most coveted pair. The Charlotte Olympia lace up sandal, £475 from Net-a-Porter are a chunky platform to die for. Perfect to match with those leather leggings and black tunic to make a statement whilst dancing the night away.

Ethnic has gone chic this summer, and they don’t come much more sophisticated and on-trend than this silk leopard print kaftan, £695, by Temperley London. Keep cool while looking hot, hot, hot.