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!