My artwork is being exhibited!

Hello everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted in literally months... woops.. I've been so so busy!

Firstly, I have just started my final year at Uni so been bogged down with dissertation stuff. I've also been getting really back into my fitness regime after a super greedy Summer.. but lastly, I've finally started expanding my portrait business!! I am so so excited about this. Up until now I've been doing the odd bespoke commission for people.. but now my little venture has taken a new direction - my stuff is being exhibited in a shop!

After being approached by Violet Rose Vintage in Shrewsbury, I've started to put together a small collection of pieces based on 50s and 60s icons. Here are a few of the pieces that are now up in the shop!

"Audrey Hepburn in blue" A3, watercolour and marker pen

"Elvis" A3 in gouache and pen

"Marilyn in pinks and whites" A3 in acrylic and marker pen

'Twiggy in blue' A2, in gouache, oil and watercolour paint.

Please please please pop in and have a look! I am really hoping that some of my work sells. :)

10A St John's Hill  Shrewsbury SY1 1JD

01743 232831

My new job

Hello :)

I haven't posted in a while because I have been super busy with:

a) my new job

b) revision   pretending to revise

 

I started my new job at Evans (which most of you will know as a plus-size high street shop) a few weeks ago, and so far it is going really well. I feel like chatting away to people about clothes is something that I'm good at, and more importantly, it's something that I enjoy.

 

Most of the ladies that come in are between the sizes of 14 and 32, and so far I feel as if I have really put my fashiony eye to the test by helping a couple of ladies choose outfits for weddings, shoes for job interviews etc etc. I find it really really fun and hopefully my sales will reflect my enthusiasm.

 

Evans is part of the Arcadia group (which also includes Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge amongst loads more) so it is a big company with very high standards.

 

 I've already picked up that I need to look immaculate for every shift (a far cry from scrubbing floors in McDonald's...) But to be honest I like that. I love nothing more than leaving the house and going to work looking glamorous.

 

So yeah. Really enjoying that. And also, it's kind of made me see that you don't have to be a bloody size 6 to look amazing. So many really curvy ladies come in and they look pristine and downright fab. (And I've noticed a lot of the customers smell really good too... which I guess makes me a little creepy but whatever.) A lot of customers come in and say they are self concious of certain parts of their body and I just want to tell them "Yes, you're a bit bigger but you look great." :)

 

Are you fur real?!

            The fur trade is always a hot topic – with animal activists and fashion addicts constantly at each other’s throats in the media. Most of us will remember Sophie-Ellis Bexter holding up a skinned fox for a PETA anti-fur campaign a few years ago, and we’ve all heard stories about activists throwing red paint over models in white fur coats.

 

            But like most people, I’ve never actually taken much notice to these sorts of things. I always thought it must be exaggerated by do-gooders trying to shock people into signing petitions. Up until recently, the fur trade was something that I had considered alongside fox hunting and animal testing – horribly cruel, yes, but I’m the first to admit that I’d never actively checked a shampoo bottle to make sure it hadn’t been tested on animals.

            Heading into the depths of Digbeth in the few weeks of my first year, I quickly became a vintage enthusiast - it’s cheap, it’s different, and it’s usually great quality if you know what to look for. Shopping was no longer a depressing trawl around Topshop pining after things I could definitely not afford. But still, as far as I was concerned, real fur was for the rich and the fabulous – a far cry from a student like me with barely enough money for a return-ticket to Selly Oak. The closest I’d ever got to fur was a shaggy pair of moon boots that I had worn to death in year four.

            During a regular shopping trip, I headed to one of my favourite little shops in the city centre - Vintage on Ally Street (down the first side road on the left as you head down Digbeth high street). I picked up a really cool jacket – a denim splash-dye number that I fell in love with instantly. I tried it on and it fitted perfectly. Barely even inspecting the collar, I headed to the till and thrusted a grubby tenner at the lady who owns, and runs, the shop. As I handed over my money, she casually said: “I should let you know that is real fur on the collar.” I didn’t think much of it, and proceeded with the transaction. My reasoning in that moment was that the animal was already dead – and if this jacket was not worn, it had died in vain. Surely, that was a reasonable argument to buy it?

            For a fair few months I felt tremendous wearing my jacket. Friends would touch the fur and ask if it was real, to which I would proudly inform them that it was. Many recoiled in disgust, but I felt glamorous and fashionable so for some time that was enough to keep it as a firm wardrobe favourite.

            The tables turned took a dramatic turn recently when I was doing my daily trawl of my Facebook newsfeed. A friend had shared a video entitled “Olivia Munn exposes Chinese Fur Trade.” I would advise that anyone who stumbles across this video should not watch it unless you have a very strong stomach. By the end, I was in tears and felt physically nauseous after seeing terrified animals being electrocuted, chocked and even skinned alive. The sheer disgust and anger that I felt after watching this absolutely revolting and shocking cruelty to such beautiful, innocent creatures stayed with me for several days. I grabbed my jacket and when it started malting, I felt like I had blood on my hands.

            Since then, I have researched the fur trade – trawling through websites detailing some of the appalling realities of the fur trade. But it’s not only the fur trade that is so disgusting – leather is just as cruel as fur, pulling in £600 million from Great Britain alone annually. Countless campaigns have been set up by animal-rights activists to abolish huge fur and leather firms, but most of the time these efforts come to no avail, as the demand for these materials are still so high. What I found particularly upsetting was that much-loved, familiar pets such as cats, dogs, rabbits and even guinea-pigs are mercilessly killed to feed the hungry fur trade – with around 2 million being killed every year in China alone and being sold on to European traders. I felt sick at the thought that my fur collar could have come from a puppy.

            Typing “fur trade in Birmingham” into Google, I was surprised to find that there are so many fur traders in Birmingham who are feeding this terrible industry. Formally, these businesses are called ‘Furriers’, and most are not based in the city centre. One in particular that caught my eye was “Madeline Ann” – a small shop in Solihull that sells fur items.  This shop has been targeted by a local activist group who are campaigning to stop the shop from selling fur by sending angry letters to the owners and discouraging locals from entering the shop. I felt a pang of relief that something was being done, but at the same time a sad realisation that these efforts would probably come to nothing. Most vintage shops in Birmingham sell fur coats, and the vintage scene is most certainly thriving. Fur is fashionable, and unfortunately not enough thrifters are aware of the disgusting processes behind their ‘bargains.’

            However, I have started doing my bit. I can’t deny that I still love the jacket, but it mainly lives in the depths of my wardrobe these days. When my grandmother recently offered me her old fur coat that she wore when she was “a girl... and a size 10” – the first question that I asked was “Is the fur real?” My fingers were firmly crossed as I observed the beautiful garment, until she assured me that it was fake. The coat is my new favourite item of outerwear. When people ask me if it’s real, I can proudly tell them that I no longer wear real fur, and that fake is most certainly the way forward.

Semtex by JSTJodie (for Jodie Marsh)

When I first saw pictures of Jodie Marsh in all her golden body-building glory I was horrified. But at the same time I was strangely intrigued and impressed - it was evident that she had literally pushed her body to its limit to look like that. It had been early mornings, late nights and massive changes in habits to achieve it. Before being a fitness crazy body builder, I was used to seeing Jodie as a stick thin glamour model with ridiculous boobs. Somehow I preferred the new Jodie.

Now I've always liked Jodie Marsh - she seems down to Earth and actually very bright compared to a lot of airhead models that act as fodder for the celebrity world. And now it seems she's quite the business-woman too.

Being a self-confessed Twitter addict, I started following Jodie, and was immediately impressed by her endless promotion of healthy eating and exercise. What I wasn't aware of was that Jodie has launched her own brand of fitness supplements - including Herbex (a herbal concoction claiming to aid acne and promote a glowing complexion); Bulldog (a meal replacement); and Semtex, a thermogenic fat-burner that staves off hunger pangs and heightens energy levels during work-outs.

Semtex immediately interested me. Masses of both men and women were sending in before and after shots of themselves to Jodie's Twitter, and almost all of the results were really impressive.

 

 

I'm no stranger to working out. I go to the gym most days for at least an hour, combining a lot of hard cardio and weight machinery to aid toning. I'm also a healthy eater, living on a low carb diet to minimise bloating - which I'm really prone to genetically. (I've had a pot belly since I was 12.) But sometimes I do look at myself and think - "Is it actually doing anything? I still don't look like a model despite all this hard work." I still go any way though - my mum is a fitness freak so massively encourages exercise. It also improves my asthma and helps me sleep better.

So I thought I'd try Semtex. Why not? I've had thermogenics before that helped me lose weight fast, but gave me nausea and dizziness; and the weight was back on within a fortnight of coming off them. It seemed like a good idea to try something different that was obviously working for other people.

I must admit that I bought mine off Amazon. Jodie promotes her website "JSTJodie", but as I got to the checkout I realised that p&p was a fiver! Amazon sent them without a delivery charge - so it was a no-brainer for a skanky student like me to go for that instead. (Sorry Jodie!) It is advised that you take a single tablet in the morning on an empty stomach. I'm not a big fan of massive breakfasts, so I usually just have a cereal bar and a cuppa. I was starving this morning so I had one about half an hour before popping my first pill and setting off to the gym...

The first thing I noticed was that it makes me very sweaty. Disgusting, I know. I'm usually not a massively sweaty person unless I REALLY go for it, but on Semtex I was sporting soggy underarms just from the walk to the gym. This is unheard of!

I started off on the rower - my favourite piece of machinery. It makes me ache afterwards, which I like! Plus it's a good way to tone up arms - which a lot of girls tend to neglect. I can usually manage twenty minutes before starting to feel tired, and usually burn 170 calories in that time. Today was different though! I managed half an hour, with energy still to spare, and burned 285 calories. So not only had it extended my work-out time, it had increased my performance.

After this, I hit the arc-trainer - which is like a cross between a stepper and a cross-trainer. It was a doddle for a full half hour. I felt so energetic! I'd burnt another 330 calories - taking my total so far to over 600 cals. By this time my back and cleavage were sodden, but I still didn't feel tired. I'd done a full hour and was still not waning.

So what next? I felt invincible. Sprint intervals on the bike. This involves cycling a pattern of medium and high effort, to really get your heart going. The programme I go by is usually a minute at level 12, then 30 seconds at level 21 - which I'm forced to stand up for and really really go for it. I usually get really really tired after doing this, and get it out of the way half way through a gym session. Today I felt good - it was no harder than usual, if anything it was easier - and I'd already worked out for an hour. I burned 110 calories in 20 minutes - which isn't huge, but it's great for toning and blitzing cellulite.

(One thing I would say at this point is make sure you have a BIG bottle of water or squash with you when working out on Semtex. My mouth was as dry as Ghandi's flip-flop, and my lips felt chapped. Obviously the amount of sweat pouring off me was seriously dehydrating - so I was thankful for my litre of water.)

After the bike I was DRIPPING. I needed a sit down to cool off - so it was time for some weights. Hip adduction is one I like to focus on (the one where you sit with your legs apart and have to push weighted pads inwards.) This machine is great for inner thighs - I don't dream of having a major thigh gap, but I know it's possible for me as I have naturally slim legs, and I usually do have a thigh gap. I also get bad cellulite on my inner thighs - so this is a good one for me. I did 100 reps at 90lbs. It hurt, but was achievable. I would have usually give up at 50 reps. I know that I will ache a bit tomorrow - bu no pain no gain eh?

Next for hip abduction, which works your bum and outer thighs. Mine aren't flabby, but have patches of cellulite. Another 100 reps at 70lbs. I felt good, and by now a bit tired. So off I went.

 

Overall, a great first day on Semtex. I haven't felt too hungry either which is nice - usually between meal my tummy is grumbling away! Will keep you updated with what I have achieved same time next week :)

 

#SEMTEX #SEMTEXBUNNY #SEMTEXARMY

 

@JSTJODIE @JodieMarsh

 

 

My favourite items at the moment...

My loooovely housemates had a little surprise in store for me the other day. Coaxed to the Bullring despite a hangover from Hell, I was greeted upon my arrival with a...

PIZZA HUT BIRTHDAY PARTY!

No joke, salad bar, ice-cream factory: the lot. I am not lying when I say I was moved to tears.

And to top it all off, they bought me a prezzie too... This gorgeous rucksack.

 

 

Upon asking where it had been sourced from, I was answered with an ambiguous "somewhere" - which gives me a sneaky feeling it may be from U.Outfitters. (Getting stuff from there as a present is a delight - don't get me wrong. I just disagree with their business morals. I do not disagree with this bag - it's amazing.)

As well as this bag, I've treated myself to a new "school bag." Getting a new school bag was always one of the few perks of going back to school.

Year after year I would pester my mum for the latest must-have bag - which were mainly, in hindsight, horrendous. I endured the Warehouse epidemic, the Jane Nor fad and I even have faint memories of being the envy of my friends with a (somewhat dykey) Animal rucksack. But any way - here it is...

 

Only £18 in the monsoon sale. YUM.

Now, just because it's snowing does mean you shouldn't look G. I've been LIVING in my pink Timberlands. Great grip, eye-catching.. I get a lot of sticks from the housemates for looking like a single mum called Shaneekwa but I love them. They're so sturdy. And make me feel a bit less white. :)

So my blog is being a wanker and won't let me post any pictures...

Happy Chicmas

I got so many lovely jubly things for Christmas.

My very nice boyfriend bought me Burberry Brit (channelling my patriotic chic) and Mum got me Rihanna's new perfume. I hate Rihanna but this smells like something an actual angel would wear. Would definitely recommend either of these scents.

My Grandma got me a lovely purse... maybe it will be bring me better luck with regard to not wasting all my student loan? (Unlikely) And a loooovely floaty skirt (also from River Island.) It's a black A line skirt. I've tried on a few A-lines in the past but to be honest they just don't seem to suit my body shape at the moment. After piling on some pounds over Christmas, I have what looks like a 4-month baby bump, and skater skirts just don't seem to cover that very well - quite the opposite in fact... They cling to it and attract unwanted attention. So I picked out a skirt with buttons down the middle, made of a nice floaty chiffony material, high-waisted, black of course, with a nice vintage-looking belt. I wore it for my 21st birthday meal this evening... I felt the dog's bollocks! (Not literally... I mean, where does that expression come from? No bollocks, regardless of species, are particularly remarkable... so why say it? Any way I'm rambling about bollocks here.. move on)

I also got lots of the usual gift cards. I used to consider gift cards as pretty naff but now I welcome them with open arms. In fact, I relish them. I would much rather a gift card so that I can choose something I actually like rather than receiving a complete and utter turkey. (One time, I got a salmon beanie hat with a rose embroidered on it. Needless to say it got a one way ticket to Barnado's. So not chic.)

This year I got £15 to squander in New Look. Needless to say I was down there first thing on the 27th to spend it on something in the sale. And the sale was BRILLIANT. I'm not knocking New Look but to be honest, I haven't really been in there in years. The last thing I bought from there was actually a very fetching pair of flared grey cords that I recall wearing to my year 6 disco. But today it really was excellent. Got a new khaki blouse for lounging around in (£8), a nice rock-chick necklace (£3) , and a watch (£6) which looks a million dollars.


And I finally got a NEW LEATHER JACKET.
I finally got one. Finally. And I feel amazing in it. It is an XS... (awkward) but it was the only one left, half price in the Oasis sale so I pondered, and came to the conclusion that it would be absolutely stupid if I were to not buy it. Luckily it just about fits, and I have worn it non-stop since! Only £40. So if you are a size 6 - 8 on top, go and get this jacket. It is absolutely lovely. Very flattering and looks really expensive. As far as I know, only XS are left though :(



 

Pat Butcher, eat ya heart out

I have been a very very spoiled girl this year.

 

I don't really know where to start - but I think it all really started a few weeks when I was round at my Grandma's house. It was the start of the Christmas holidays, and I was happily chilling with Grandma when the inevitable question arose:

 

"Have you thought about what you want for Christmas?"

 

I hate this question because I always feel like I'm being really greedy by asking for something. My Grandma has always been excellent at presents, but as I've got older she's asked me what I want so that she knows it'll be something I will actually wear/use.

 

So I bit the bullet.

"I really really want a fur coat."

 

My Grandma smiled slightly put down her sewing.

"That's handy," she said.

 

Now I should give you some background information here. My Grandma, having had my mum at 19, is a pretty young Grandma. She's very feisty, and is never seen without a full head of highlights. In short, she's a very trendy (ew, hate that word) Grandma, and cares a lot about what she looks like. Which I guess is maybe where my mum gets it from, and in turn, where myself and my sisters get it from.

 

"I have one up in my loft. I was planning to send it to the Hospice Shop with Grandad."

 

 

 

This is my Grandad. ^ My Grandad is the love of my life. He's very soppy and silly and has spoilt us girls rotten all our lives. He's retired but he works in a charity shop for the local Hospice every Friday. Before I knew it, Grandma had dispatched Grandad to crawl around in the loft to look for the garment in question. I waited in excitement until I heard the words:

 

"Here it is! I've got it!"

 

It. Is. Perfect.

 

A dark mahogony brown, with a small, single latch to fasten it at the front. The sleeves are just long enough for my lanky arms - which is always a pain for me when buying jackets. It's a size 12, but that's okay because I can always wear one of my big chunky jumpers underneath to pad it out.

 

 

The photo just doesn't do it justice... but I'll upload some photos of me wearing it soon! (It's not actual fur by the way. Just in case you were wondering. I know I have admitted before that I am all for fur but this is faux-fur, and therefore even better.)

 

I've worn this coat to death ever since Grandma gave it to me. I've worn it out for meals, I've dressed it down with jeans and boots in the day... I even wore it to bloody Morrison's for God's sake, and I have never felt more middle class in my life.

 

 

 

I've been called everything from Pat Butcher to Cruella but the truth is - when I wear this coat I feel fabulous. and it has that gorgeous 'Grandma smell' that we all know and love.

 

So thank you, Grandma!

I have been made a very happy girlie with this coat.

Macklemore - Thrift Shop

Everyone should listen to this song. It literally sums my blog up in about 3 minutes. Plus it's as catchy as Chlamydia!

Ode to thrift

At dawn I wake, with good intent

To make sure all my money's spent

I'll head to town, I will not wait,

Knowing my day will surely be great.

don't have a job, hence little cash,

To squander on this worthy trash.

But what I've got, I must make sure,

Is destined for velvet, silk and fur.

I head to Digbeth, knowing full well that,

There I will find my abundant tat

I'm greeted by satin in all patterns and shades,

My desire for bright colour never fades.

Before I know it, my hands are full,

With denim jackets, blouses, and wool

It smells of must, but I don't care,

Some are even a little threadbare.

I try them all on and to my delight,

They all fit wonderfully, perfectly right!

It's amazing how, in piles of junk,

One can find such wonderful funk.

I dash to the counter, tenner in hand,

This escapade has gone just as planned.

So remember this, my frivolous friends,

A real fashionista customises and mends.

Jumpers are like dogs

I'm aware that I have already written about jumpers but I have had a stressful few days and my jumpers have, strangely, lifted my mood.

Jumpers are warm.
Jumpers come in all sorts of colours.
Jumpers cover every lump and bump.
Jumpers never go out of fashion. (Apart from V necks... Shudder)

 

And I've eaten lots of biscuits as well. And crisps. And chocolate

 

My jumpers are the equivalent of dogs to me.

Some are small and cute; some are big and loud; and all of them always seem to be pleased to see me. I am aware that I sound CRAZY. But please, observe my reasoning.

 

 

 

 

This is one of my favourites. I bought this jumper when I first discovered eBay for about £4 and I have worn it to death ever since because it really does go with everything. With regard to its canine equivalent, this jumper is my answer to Clifford the Big Red Dog. It's happy and it's soft. Just like Clifford. 

 

 Then there's this one. My beige one. 
 

 

I wouldn't usually buy insipid colours but this was £4 from Cancer Research and I bought it in grey as well. Yes. I bought neutrals. It's like a little beige corgi. I love to hate it.

 

Now, this jumper was the birthplace of my obsession.

 

 

 

 If this jumper were a dog it would be a Black Labrador. Reliable. Cosy. Good with children - including big kids like me. I just LOVE this jumper. It's got a slight polo neck which is always risky, but I think the pattern is so mad that it's okay!

 

 

Now this one might be pushing it. In fact it definitely is.

 

 

 

There's a close up for you, just in case you were wondering if your eyes were deceiving you.

Yes, they are cats.

 

I got this jumper from the Cat Protection Society Shop.

I wish I was joking. It would be churlish to compare this sweater to a dog - as it is clearly covered in cats... And I hate cats. But this sweater is an exception.

 

I guess judging from this, I am fashion's answer to a crazy cat lady. I am a crazy-cat-jumper-lady.

 

 

I hate it when people take photos of themselves in the mirror but this is my Christmassy jumper that I wore today, and I didn't want to take it off because I can see my breath in my room..

 

P.S. Clashing patterns is cool. I did it today ^ and I felt like the beezneez.

Now I need to get into bed before my fingers freeze off

 

 

 

 

What I wore today - don't judge me

I do love having a GOD. No, I'm not going all religious - I mean a Good Outfit Day.

Today was one of these days.

I was off into Uni today (which always warrants dressing up for - as I only have 6 hours a week, education has become an occasion) so I thought it was a good day to wear something that I haven't worn in Uni yet.

Brandishing a pair of perfect black jeans that I got fitted in America (the sales assistants in H'n'M US walk around with measuring tapes - so much better than the UK!) and one of my finds from the Sack Sale - a satin, green, floral shirt - I wasn't quite content.

Now this is where you may - quite rightly - judge me...

I own an item of fur.

I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!

But it was just too gorgeous (and too cheap) to leave on the shelf. It's a splash dyed 80s denim jacket with a rabbit fur collar that quite frankly feels like

Heaven. Whenever I feel down I rub it on my face like a comfort blanky. (Jokes) It malts and everything - it's the closest thing I can get to a pet at University.

Up until now I've always been against fur. It really is horrific what happens to animals in the name of fashion... I'm not even sure if I agree with medical testing sometimes. But my reasoning is that I'm not actually fuelling the fur trade by buying this jacket because I bought it second hand. So surely I'm just helping a small business by buying Cruella DeVille's cast-offs. It was £12, but when I wear it I feel like a million dollars.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank the little rabbit that gave its life for this jacket.

ALSO. Follow me on Twitter - mkevans92

#threelostboys

I know it's not really fashion related...

© My drawing of Jamie Laing, Oliver Proudlock and Francis Boulle - hope you like it! All three of them retweeted it which was pretty amazing!

Guilty pleasures

When it comes to what I wear, I do push it a bit sometimes.

I'm a true believer in "if you're confident enough, anything looks good"... but on more than one occasion my housemates have ripped me to shreds for wearing pink Timberland boots and a cord patchwork shirt.

Yes. I have these.. Don't judge me.

There is something exhilarating about wearing something hideous.

It's a challenge as to whether you can actually make it look cool or not.

I like the idea of someone looking at my Timberland boots and thinking "Good God those are brave." All attention is good attention. What we wear says a lot about who we are - it tells whoever glances your way if you're a conformist or a boundary-pusher. Or just downright mental.

My guilty pleasures get me stick, yes. But I still can't help but love them. I'm a SUCKER for velvet. My sister bought a black velvet shirt from our local Salvation Army for 50p and I genuinely considered stealing it and taking it back to Uni with me. Am I a bad person?

Another guilty pleasure of mine is furry things.

I wouldn't go as far as to wear furry space boots (although I did bloody love them in year 6) but I definitely am all over the fur collar coats that are so on-trend this winter.

Look at this jacket. Om nom nom.

Click here to have a mosey at it...

I like to wear something completely weird - because weird gets noticed. And surely that is better than just being another boring pawn in Urban Outfitters' evil game!

Wool Jumpers

Gosh I haven't written in so long! Had loads on at Uni and just haven't got around to it. :(

My love at the moment is woolly jumpers. The jazzier the better - I believe that a jumper should be a statement. None of this beige or burgundy nonsense (although I do love burgundy.) What's the point in wearing something if it makes you look like every one else?

The best places to buy jumpers are in charity shops or on eBay. Literally go on eBay and type in "Woolly jumper" and you will get thousands of results. My top tip is to NEVER type the word 'vintage' unless you want to get ripped off - this is internet sellers' best way to make a quick buck so you're better off buying a genuine old jumper that someone's Granny gave them.

If you change the preference to 'Used' the price will drop dramatically. Make sure you check the material type as well, because photos can make anything look better than it is. If you want good quality - check for 'genuine wool' rather than 'nylon' or 'wool alternative' - they just don't feel or look the same. Another top tip of mine is to look for a men's woolly jumper if you're a girl, they're usually bigger and cosier!

If you're not too savvy with eBay (it can be pretty bloody scary) then the vintage shops in Birmingham are a good place to start. Try Mr. Bird's Emporium (mentioned in one of my previous posts!) because they literally have rails and rails of them. But beware for grubby necklines, because wool can be a bugger to wash.

Other than that, the charity shops in Birmingham are pretty good. If you go up towards the Western Arcade, there are some really good ones (such as the British Heart Foundation) with lots of stuff.

Get your rummage on and you will be rewarded!

Sack Sales on New Street

Now we all love a bargain. And there really is no better shopping feeling than finding a treasure in the Topshop sale or old-school designer in a charity shop.

But "Sack Sales on New Street" has taken the bargain hunter experience to an entirely new level.

 Looks promising doesn't it

 So, you go in and on the bottom floor you are greeted by a sound system playing stupidly loud music. (A pet peeve of mine.) The ground floor is dedicated to all the second hand clothing that these entrepreneurs have obviously fished out and deemed worthy to be labelled as vintage. A lot of it was actually nice.

But then they had to put a sour edge to it, didn't they? Looking at some of the very 'in' Levi's shorts laid out, i smelled a rat. ..They'd been clever here. Upon closer inspection, only about a quarter of them were ACTUALLY genuine Levi's - the rest were nasty denim shorts that had cheekily had (probably fake) Levi's labels stitched on the back. And people will pay for this... Quite frankly it seemed a bit naughty. And a few pairs were absolutely filthy. The fact that there were dirty items immediately made me doubt the quality and, indeed, hygiene of the rest of the shop.

But, nevertheless, i powered on. Having heard about this place through a friend, and having been to a sack sale in the USA, i had high hopes. Basically, you are given a binbag and you can fill it for a tenner, half a bag for a fiver. (Btw, you must excuse my lack of capital i's. My i button has annoyingly broken so i have to copy and paste a lower case one in every time. The most frustrating thing ever.)

This is what i found up the stairs. Literally piles and piles of clothes, seemingly designated into sections such as dresses and denim.

There was a LOT of shit.

And i mean really shitty stuff - stuff you wouldn't even see the tramp that lives on Dawlish Road wearing. (My friend bought a hideous sequinned gypsy skirt simply because it made her laugh.)

i was not going to give up though. i threw myself into the musty piles in true retail-magpie fashion and managed to claw a few little gems out. But only a few. i did find a nice army jacket tbf, and it's made up of more beigey tones than my other one... So i can see it working with black jeans and worker boots. Other than that, there were plenty of funny old slogan t-shirts that have tie-dye potential for wearing to the gym!

But seriously, only go here if you have a lot of spare time and you have plenty of hand-sanitizer. 

i left the place feeling (and almost certainly smelling) like a dirty crack-whore who had been foraging around in a bin. it's good fun - but i dare say that the irritating music and the fact that the clothes were dirty made me yearn to be in a trusty Cancer Research shop fishing out fresh-smelling second-hand clothes that i could be sure that a prostitute hadn't died in.

My top 10 fashion peeves right now.

10. Football shirts.

Ugly. And common. Just horrible.

9. Girls getting their midriff out during cold weather.

I don't know why but when girls do this outside of a night-out it just looks slutty and "look-at-me!!" ish. Good fashion should grab people's attention... but keeping your internal organs warm is more important.

8. Duffle coats.

These should be left to anyone young enough to be sitting their SATs. They're just not in any more. Get rid.

7. Badly fitting bras.

Ladies - you want your boobs to sit up and say "hello world, look at how perky I am." You do NOT want to cut them in half with a bra that is too small. Two boobs are better than four.

6. Wife-beater vests.

Especially if the guy has excessive armpit fuzz or b'acne. They just make any boy look like a disgusting dole-scrounger. Even worse if worn with a chain.

5. Sports trainers.

Worn outside of the gym. Just NO.

4. Ill-fitting jeans.

There is just no excuse. Go into any high street shop and there are literally endless pairs of jeans. And they're not even expensive. Granted, a truly great pair of jeans is an investment for a student. (I find River Island never fails - they cost between £35 and £50 usually, but they're really good quality denim and fit my shape brilliantly!) There really is nothing worse than a saggy denim bum and faded knees. Please girls. Throw them away or cut them into rocky shorts.

If you put on a pair of jeans and they don't make you feel fabulous, they're not worth the wardrobe-space.

3. Guys wearing flat-peaks/snap-backs/whatever they're bloody called.

To me, boys at Uni wearing flat-peak caps is just an annoyance. Whenever I see them, I half expect the guy in question to be donning Vans trainers and a Quiksilver rucksack... The skater look should have been left in the dark depths of Year 8. Hideous.

2. Knitted Uggs.

I don't like Uggs that much at the best of times to be honest but why would anyone want them in a chunky knit with a big ugly button on? Uggs should be worn in their original state - tan suede. End of. None of this yarn nonsense.

And my number one pet peeve...

1. Wearing leggings as trousers.

The ultimate mistake that any innocent girl can make - believing that Primark leggings can be worn as trousers. Just no. Too many times I have found myself walking to Uni behind one of these poor creatures - with an eyeful of their ill-fitting knickers and far too much arse cheek for one to to cope with. Please ladies. If you insist on doing this - buy some nice THICK treggings. I'm all for wearing cheapie leggings in front of the telly, but only your very closest and dearest friends should be subject to the sight of thinning cotton stretched across one's bottom. Good god.