Tie-Dye a Sweater

Tie dying is really 'trendy' at the moment. And it is really easy to do it yourself.

(Aka don't go to Urban Outshitters.)

I grabbed this sweater from the boys section in Primark, mainly because I liked the colour. But as you can see, it is tres boring... so I need to do something to it to set me apart from all the other Primark-wearing people in Birmingham.

What I'll need:

the sweater

elastic bands

some household bleach

a washing up bowl

a clothes airer

Most student houses in Selly Oak should have these items. (But, if like me you don't have elastic bands, you can get a big pot of assorted ones from Poundland.) So go and get an old sweater - preferably a darker one that you don't mind playing around with. This one was £8, so I won't cry if it goes terribly wrong!

Now scrunch it up bit-by-bit and randomly shove elastic bands round the scrunched up bits relatively tightly. It literally doesn't matter where you put them - the more mental the better!

Do that until your sweater looks something like this...

Now go and fill the washing up bowl 3/4 full with warmish water and about 100ml of house hold bleach (make sure you're wearing an old t shirt or something in case you get splashed... And rubber gloves so your hands don't get itchy.)

Shove the jumper in, making sure it is submerged. Mine didn't quite go fully under, but I just moved it around a bit every now and then.

Leave it in there for a good ten minutes. If you can't really see anything happening, add another 100ml of bleach and give it a bit of a stir. Leave it for another ten mins.

Tip: If there are any random bits sticking out of the surface, drizzle (and I mean DRIZZLE) a bit of neat bleach over the top to get some paler splashes... looks really nice.

Tip the water away and it should be looking something like this...

Now go outside with a clothes airer and let it drip dry for a bit so that all that nasty bleachy water can drip away.

N.B. Last time I bleached some jeans I didn't bother washing them before I wore them and I ended up with legs like a Leapor. So you MUST wash stuff you've put bleach on or you'll have irritated skin.

Don't put the jumper in with any other clothes, you could knacker everything. Put it on a low heat wash (30 degrees preferably!) and give it a good, long wash, with nice smelling washing powder to get rid of the nasty bleach smell. Don't put it on anything higher or it will fall apart!

Wait for it to dry.

Put it on. (I'm gonna wear mine with glam jeans and shit-loads of chunky jewellery!)

Are Student Lock-Ins worth the hype?

Student lock-ins are shopping events held frequently around Birmingham - enticing all students in the city to squander their loans by taking advantage of big discounts and offers.

Shopping on a Saturday in the Birmingham Bullring is, for most, as enjoyable as attending a 9am seminar with a hangover. Personally, I believe that student lock-in events can be a similar experience.

Lock-ins tend to run outside of day-to-day shopping hours (usually between 6pm and 10pm) and involve the big-name chains such as River Island, H&M and Topshop offering out-of-the-ordinary discounts for students.

But here's the catch (well, one of them) - it is key to sign up online for these events, which involves a tedious online form. Then, upon arrival at the Bullring, there is a queue to pick up your confirmation of registration before you can actually start shopping. This whole routine is what one might call - for want of a better word - a "faff."

Granted, if you are willing to go through the motions, lock-ins can be brilliant when it comes to finding bargains. For example, Forever 21 - a huge high street store exclusive to Birmingham and London in the UK - has, on several occasions, offered a huge 21% discount for students. So, if one had seen something in there prior to the event but couldn't justify paying full price, these sort of events can make buying a treat less of a blow to a student purse or wallet.

However, with some of the shops (Mango for example), there is a further requirement - having a standard University ID Card is not enough. For a few of them, you'll need an NUS card - so it is a good idea to check the small print before setting your heart on something.

The main thing that personally turns me off is the sheer amount of people. Topshop during a lock-in can get pretty claustrophobic, and if you're more of a 'browser' the packed shops are not ideal. In addition to this, it's near impossible to try anything on as the queues become ridiculous.

On the other hand, lock-ins can be a great way to socialise - making a refreshing change to a night out. And for some, a lock-in may prove to be a cheaper alternative! As well as the shopping perks, a lot of food chains also offer deals during these events - big names such as The Homemade Burger Co. usually make an appearance on the list. So it does provide a cheap meal out for a group of housemates who don't fancy 9p noodles for the 4th night running.

Lock-ins can be fun. But if you are looking for an easy amble around the shops then you're better off going on a weekday. If, on the contrary, you are a ruthless bargain-hunter with your eye on the prize, you could find a real gem. Or a pair of gems.

My new houndtooth jeans.

Look at my new houndtooth jeans.

Aren't they just da bomb? I was bored of wearing blue and black jeans all the time so I thought "bollocks to it" and bought these little beauties.

They were actually only £15 in the River Island sale (although I've just looked again and they've gone down further to £10... FML.)

Nice little crotch shot there.

So yeah, I'm in wuv. I wore mine with an oversized, red, woolly jumper and I looked like a massive Scottish haggis but I don't even care. Long live Scotland. And long live my new jeans.

Mr. Bird's Emporium



So this place looks brilliant.

Check out the latest addition to Digbeth's vintage clothing scene, Mr. Bird's Emporium.



Was given a flyer in Urban Village and I cannot WAIT to get down there. I've heard very good things. My housemate came back with a lovely, cosy-looking Christmas jumper covered in reindeers. So I better get down there sharpish!

So this is happening. Wow. Goodbye money, was nice knowing you.


Will let you know how I get on and what bargains I find. I have needed a velvet burgundy blazer for ages now...

And a bow tie.  :)

Bastille

Wednesday the 17th of October, 6pm, HMV Institute. Bastille are playing, and I'm as excitable as a Jack Russell puppy.

Casually trying to forget the 9am seminar that I had the next day, myself and two friends from home got the train into town and made our way into the depths of Digbeth alongside a throng of terrifying Trivium fans - as they were playing too.

Lois, Holly and I getting a quick snap outside HMV, exciting times

The queue moved quickly, and before we knew it we were in 'The Temple' room of HMV, where a warm-up band were helping out with the sound checks and having banter with the crowd. Because we'd got there early, we were right at the front - giving us an amazing view of the stage.

In what seemed like no time at all, the supporting band, Swiss Lips, were up on the stage. Now, I'd done my research on them beforehand so I knew what they were like and got familiar with their bigger songs "Danz" and "U Got The Power", which they played. However, they had such a fun vibe that everyone was dancing after the first song - even though most people probably didn't know who they were. If you're a fan of The Black Keys and/or La Roux, you should definitely have a listen to them. They were really friendly too - I had a chat with the keyboardist who promised to check out Uoblogfest!

Great view of Swiss Lips, check out 'U Got The Power' here

Then they appeared. Bastille are what you might call an 'indie' band. They're an up and coming quartet from South London, who have recently found success after their latest single 'Flaws' was made Greg James's 'big thing' on Radio 1 - and after this evening, I have no doubt that their success will only continue to grow.

I've been following Bastille on YouTube for a while after hearing "Flaws" on the Made In Chelsea advert about a year ago. When it comes to their sound, they're a perfect mix between electronic and indie, and I've yet to find a rotten egg in their collection of songs so far.

Starting with the rousing "Icarus", the front man Dan Smith had the crowd going wild within minutes. But he wasn't your typical cocky front man - he was very humble, as were the other members, thanking the crowd after every cheer. You could see it in their faces that they are still coming to terms with their rapid success, and were genuinely amazed by how much love they were getting.

After a few more of their bigger hits (some of you may know "Laura Palmer") everyone was waiting for one of their brilliant covers that have been particularly popular on YouTube. We didn't just get one though - we got THREE. A slow, sensual cover of Lana Del Ray's "Blue Jeans"; their fantastic version of City High's "What Would You Do"; and towards the end, the pounding 80s anthem "(Rhythm) Of The Night". Their covers are barely even covers though - they literally take a song and just make it undeniably better.

Still, the highlight of the night was yet to come, and I was getting exceedingly "squiffy" (as my mum would say). When Dan jumped into the crowd - that was it. I was like a feral child, treading on everybody and anybody just to get near him.

And my barbaric behaviour paid off - my friend and I found ourselves sandwiching him, belting "Flaws" down the mike. I was like a twelve-year-old who had just got an autograph off H from Steps.

I am not ashamed to admit that I did indeed lick his face.

So open a new tab now and get on YouTube if you haven't already - you'll be hooked quicker than you can say "sweaty moshpit." 

Go to see these guys if you ever get the chance, and I advise you to go sooner rather than later - because they are destined to be HUGE.

Tell me about it, stud

I love studs.

 I've already got 11 of the little bastards pierced into my flesh.

So when the whole obsession with studs on clothing began, I was all over it like a rash. Tops with studs on. Shoes with studs on. Blazers with studs on. You name it, I loved it. But still, the gypo in me refuses to pay for it.

This shirt is divine. Anyone who denies it is a liar. But it... 30 quid from River Island. For a student, £30 is 6 Fab tickets. Or a fortnight's worth of food. So I just can't justify it.

So that's why I do studs like a cheapskate. Oversized shirts are really easy to find in charity shops - most of the time you can actually find really good brands (I found a tartan flannel Ralph Lauren in Marie Curie going for £6) so there's no excuse to buy a shirt brand new. Just grab one from a jumble sale and it will be easy to make it look good. And all of the shirts that I own are men's ones, because they are just generally easier to find and have a looser, comfier fit.

Here are my hints for making any shirt look like it fits:

If it's too big in the body, tuck it into your jeans or tie it in a belly knot. (I am rocking this look as we speak.)

If the sleeves are too short, roll them up and sew them in place.

If it's too tight over your chest, wear it open with a cool t-shirt underneath.

Simples!

Similarly, River Island are flogging this little number for £20. Wtf?! It's just a black t shirt with a few studs round the neck. Evidence that the high street will rip off people who are uneducated in self-customizing.

So. How does one go about studding?

(That sounds dodgy, soz.)

Adding your own studs to clothes is easy, and it's a great way to bring an old garment up to date. Take the shirt that I wore today, for example...

 

 I bought this for £2 at my local charity shop. It was a bit of a boring shirt before - I'd only bought it because I liked the colour... So I went on eBay. And I bought some studs, and did this...

The amount of compliments I have recieved is unreal! Just go on eBay and type in "studs for clothing" and there are pages and pages of gorgeous studs sold by independent sellers for really really really cheap prices. And I mean really cheap. Like so cheap. (I wouldn't bother with Amazon though, they don't have little private sellers on there so they tend to be a bit more.)

You get sent a little packet of them, and then you just pierce them through the material where you want them to go, and flatten the back down with the end of a fork or some scissor handles!

Voila!

 

Levi's extravaganza

So today was a bit of a denim overload. Denim shirt. Denim shorts. I was just all over the double denim look.

Me rocking the double denim.

I was a bit scared that I would end up looking like

this...

 

 

But luckily I think I left my Britney/Justin obsession with my velvet hair scrunchies and inflatable chairs. And I think if you do double denim right (aka, not with a denim suit jacket that is almost certainly ten sizes too big) it can look pretty good.

 

My obsession with denim shirts is a bit unhealthy. I have a denim shirt with studs on. One without sleeves. One that is dyed about 30 various colours. And I still feel as though I want more. And, ever since Levi's shorts (or 'denim knickers' as my Grandad calls them) became cool, I have worn them non-stop - even if my lovely housemate Phoebe is confused by the pockets.

 

Where to buy vintage denim in Birmingham

 

When it comes to denim, nothing is as good as Levi's. Urban Village is the best place to go for Levi's shorts in Birmingham - no question. Granted, Cow has more stock, but in terms of price, they can be a bit silly. On more than one occasion I have picked up a pair of shorts only to find that not only are they dirty, they are waaaaay overpriced (often pushing £30.) At Urban Village, it is easy to find a good pair for £15.

 

And as for denim shirts, pretty much all of the ones that Urban stock are genuine Levi's, whereas some of the 'vintage' shirts in Cow are actually just out-of-season high street ones that they charge £25 or more for. Don't be robbed. Most of them in Urban are never more than £15.

 

 

Sometimes a baggy Levi's shirt can look like a blank canvas. So I put this gaudy Forever 21 necklace on with it to add a bit of sparkle. (This was one of my bargainous Forever 21 finds!)

 

I wore mine tied in a belly knot so that it didn't look like I was being a slut and wearing it as a dress. I think this is a trend that can work if you do it properly. I don't really agree with getting belly buttons out, but with high waisted shorts it can look really cool.

 

Over and out!

 

 

 

Munrow Rant

For me - going to the gym is a chore. It's something I do to keep myself healthy. And when I leave, I expect to depart with a sweaty crotch and my mouth feeling like I've been licking a roll of Bounty for an hour.

Anyone who attends the gym knows that there are certain rules of etiquette that one is expected to follow - such as: Wiping stuff down if you've sweated all over it; not hogging popular machinery; keeping your increasingly moist upper lip under control... You get the gist. And at the Munrow, these unwritten codes are more apt than anywhere else because it is likely that you will bump into someone you know/have had an awkward night with during Freshers.

 

 

Appearance at the gym is a big deal. Countless times, I have witnessed some truly dreadful gym couture on both male and female members. It is my belief that when you go to the gym, you need to be practical and comfortable.

Firstly, some of the boys who strut around the Free Weights room can be quite astounding. I am not lying when I say I have seen several string vests. Please guys - this is not a Nipple Pageant, and surely your nips must be chafing?!

Secondly, I don't understand why girls insist on wearing their hair down at the gym.

I cannot see how they can effectively work out with their hair flapping around in their face. I opt for a far more practical 'Mulan Bun' which leaves me with a shocking resemblance to Mrs. Trunchball from Matilda. Granted, it isn't a great look, but I never have to pick my hair out of my cotton mouth.

And don't get me started on Sports Bras. Only last week I saw a girl wearing a horrendous, nude M&S bra that her mum had clearly bought her in year 8. Firstly, the bra didn't fit, and she has armpit fat hanging freely. Secondly, she was wearing one of those vests that are in at the minute - you know the ones with the big gaping arm holes? You get the picture. It looked awful.

Now, I may sound like a bitch. But the gym isn't a sodding fashion show. We go to the gym with a dream of leaving it looking like a supermodel - we shouldn't go in there pretending to already be one.

Creepers

Check out my new Creepers. :)

 

Creepers (or Brothel Creepers, which is their historical name... because apparently pervy men wore them when they went to the brothels so that no one would hear them sneaking around..) are massively in at the moment.

 

 

You can get them in most shops, but they are pretty expensive in most places. There was a pair I really wanted from H'n'M, but after looking on eBay, I realised I could get real vintage ones for really cheap - and a lot of them were unworn. I literally just typed in "Creepers size 6" and there were shit loads of pairs up for grabs for seriously cheap prices. Some of the high street style ones were going for about £5. Not bad!

I did fall in love with these though simply because they're mustard... and I am a SUCKER for mustard. Granted I paid £20 for them, but I'm not going to see anyone else in them, which I like.

My jacket's first outing.

Today was a lazy day. I got up late and didn't have much to do. One thing was clear though - I was DEFINITELY wearing my camo jacket.

Because it's quite big, I needed to layer it up (plus - has anyone noticed how cold it's suddenly become? Been freezing my tits off all day) so I chucked on an oversized zip-through jacket underneath. Teamed it up with splash dyed skinnies and a fitted black denim shirt (done all the way up of course, because I am quirky as fuck) that I had bought from Forever 21. And my trusty old Topshop ankle boots.



So this is me in today's outfit. In the gym changing room.
Just realised there is probably a rule against taking photos in there.
Awks.

But seriously, get down to Forever 21 asap. Usually, I enjoy Forever 21 as much as I enjoy eating wool. The lights are so bright, ant the number of clothes in there probably reaches a figure higher than the population of the West Midlands.

But...

The sale at the moment is brilliant - 2 for 1 on ALL the sale items - that's including shoes, bags, bras, jewellery.. the lot. And if you enjoy rummaging then it's a delight. There is a lot of shit in there, but some of it is seriously lovely if you can be bothered to browse. My shirt was £10.99 on the rail, and when I got to the till it was £5.99. Arguably the best feeling in the world? I think so.

ALSO... Look at this...

 

Oh my days. A jumble sale. In SELLY. Make a note in your diaries, bargain-hunters. Because there is nothing more wonderful than finding gems at charity rummage sales.

 

Plus... there's a DJ?! Genius.

Birmingham Vintage Fair

Today was a big day in Birmingham.

The Vintage Fair arrived! 4 times a year, The Custard Factory in Digbeth is overrun with vintage-sellers flogging their wares to people looking for something new. (Or looking for something old? Works either way.)

Such a good vibe here. There's a few little boutiquey shops set up in actual shop fronts by various sellers, which are really fun to look around. There was a particular one that had a lovely little section devoted to vintage pyjamas and nighties... But the thought of someone's naked boobies on a vintage night-gown gives me the heebie-jeebies. They were pretty to look at though. But more in a museumy way.  The best established shop by far though is Urban Village. (But I will bore you more about that in a bit.)

Me getting my tourist on just outside. Backpack and all.

  

I'd heard about The Custard Factory Vintage Fair last year and had really wanted to go, but the usual hurdles of first year (namely stonking HMV-hangovers) had meant that I 'never really got round to it.' So this year I vowed that I would go.

It pretty much was what I expected. My pet peeve about these sort of events is that sometimes, when something is given the 'vintage' title, some sellers take the piss. My housemate found the Primark blouse that she was actually wearing on one of the rails (incidentally - she had paid £1 for it.) donning a pricetag of £12. You've got to be kidding me. If you were to find the same item in a charity shop it would probably be being sold for what it is genuinely worth. Not playing on people's willingness to pay to follow fashion.

There were a mix of stalls in the actual fair, some specializing in certain areas such as jewellery/costume pieces, and others that were more like jumble sales. One glamourous granny was selling all tops for a fiver, which in my eyes is reasonable for on-trend second-hand clothes. At the other end of the scale were sellers who had 'reclaimed' older pieces by splash-dying them and sticking studs on. For a quick fashion fix these sorts of stalls are brilliant - studded Levi's shorts going for £20, when people are paying £40 for an identical pair in sodding Urban Outfitters. (Fucking hate that place.) However, the skin-flint in me would never actually BUY anything from these stalls unless something really stood out. A lot of the things you can do yourself if you put your mind to it. But if you can't be arsed, then this sort of thing is perfect.

 

To be fair though, even if you don't BUY anything, the Custard Factory is a pretty cool place in its own right. I mean, look at this massive wooden scarecrow. Makes The Bull look like a crock of shit.

So in the end I only bought one item from the actual fair (a lovely silky smock top with silver and black flowers all over it... I envision it worn with leggings and Cons.) for a fiver off the aforementioned Glam-Gran. But I couldn't help popping in to Urban Village on my way out to look at the camo jackets...

A Lesson In Purchasing a Camo Jacket

This camo-jacket is being sold on the Urban Outfitters website for £48.00. Similarly, in Topshop there are a few going for over £50. I got my genuine, gorgeous, lovely lovely lovely camo jacket from Urban Village for £12. I shit you not. I am in love with my new jacket. They have a rail devoted to them in there, all different sizes and styles. Granted, mine had a couple of German badges on the arms, but they were easy to quickly unpick when I got home. Moral of the story? Don't buy one from a high street store. You'll get ripped off.

Will upload a picture of it tomorrow... All that rummaging has worn me out.

Old Joe

Was walking into Uni today when I stumbled across a part of UoB that I'd never seen before. It's the back of the new Music Building - I felt like a bit of a tourist taking a photo, but doesn't it look so pretty!?

Just starting out.

I'm new to blogging, but I can no longer stand by and let all the gorgeous things I see around Birmingham go unrecorded any longer.
I'm Meg - and this is me looking somewhat smug on holiday.

 

I am currently in my second year at the University of Birmingham, studying English Language - with the hope of going into a career involving fashion media.

 

I'm loving my course, loving the city and loving most of the things that people wear here.

I say 'most' because there are a few rotten eggs flying around (I didn't realise people still owned ponchos?!) but ever since I've been here, I have never been more sure that I want to do something related with fashion after I finish my degree. Brummies dress amazingly; the shopping is brilliant and the city is a constant hive of activity.

 

So, I guessed a blog would be a good place to start as I've heard it's the 'cool' thing to do.

 

I'm not really sure what I'm going to post on this - just everything in my life to do with fashion I suppose. I'll be documenting shopping trips, my attempts to customize my own clothes as I refuse to go into Urban Outfitters. (Because that place literally is daylight robbery. Most of the stuff you could just buy from a jumble sale and do yourself. But NO, they charge £40 for a moth-eaten jumper. Rant over.) And I guess it'll be a place to write down my thoughts about things I see around campus, as well as stuff in the city centre that catch my eye on day trips and nights out.

 

This blog may well turn out to be a pile of rubbish but I'm going to attempt to be cool any way and almost certainly 100% fail. So bear with me.