insert eye pun here

Choosing new glasses always simultaneously excites and terrifies me - I can go in to the store with the best of intentions and a Really Good Idea of what you want, but inevitably I'll be overwhelmed and end up picking something that looks great, in theory (as I squint impossibly at my blurred reflection in the mirror). The Great Lens/Frame Switchover happens for me about once every two years, and it's a big decision - it's an 'accessory' I wear a lot. Luckily at my most recent eye test, I was told that my eyes (I'm shortsighted) have actually improved, so these glasses herald a happier, weaker new prescription. 

I've shied away from what I perceive to be 'huge' frames for the longest time, but the optical assistant assured me that these didn't make me look like a dumbass. I don't know how convinced I am, but for the moment I'm content with taking dorky close-ups.

iron fist

I'm never usually an 'impractical shoes' kind of girl - I own a few sets of heels, but they're normally in boot form. I live in boots, partially because I like the support around my ankle, and my feet are an awkward size so shoes often either squeeze or fall off. But every now and then I get sucked in by a pair of stilettos, and today was one of those days. 

 After spotting these babies in Birmingham, it was difficult to walk away without at least giving them a try. Egged on by my husband (who is constantly trying to coax me into ridiculous/unwearable fashion) I gave in when I realised they were actually somewhat comfortable. Fancy footwear always seems like an ungodly extravagance to me, so it felt kind of strange bringing them home... but I love them, and I do intend to wear them (though not when I'm standing for long periods of time...)

Open-toe platform stilettos with stud, zip and sequin skull detail, by Iron Fist.

style idol: Misa Amane

Those 'Steal Her Style!' articles in fashion magazines always puzzle me. Sure, the fashion-forward starlets (usually) look pretty nice, but most mainstream style advice seems to centre around playing it safe. There's not enough creative ammo for those of us who like to be unpredictable. With this in mind, I thought I'd start a ongoing series of posts detailing my own style inspirations (and I have plenty). I think part of the joy of 'alternative' fashion is that you can literally find inspiration anywhere, and it doesn't have to be from a season lookbook or glossy publication. I know most of my sartorial heroes come from fiction, which means it's sometimes difficult to translate their look into real life - but therein lies the fun sense of challenge. It's not about cosplaying as a character - it's about adapting elements of their aesthetic to suit YOU. Everything is wearable, somehow.

Misa Amane (Death Note)

I used to dress like Misa Amane long before I ever knew what Death Note was; but occasionally I'd see pictures of her on custom LJ layouts, and she began to filter her way into my style. I was dressing like a Catholic schoolgirl - kilt, sweater, cross necklace, knee socks and platforms - all in shades of black, white and grey. Misa is modelled in the Gothic Lolita fashion, but she was never meant to be a picture perfect example. It's clear that her look barely conforms to the rigid rules that are evident in EGL today, and she flaunts a fairly trashy interpretation. I had no idea of 'the rules' when I first got into lolita, and in fact I doubt there really were any, so this kind of look easily influenced me. 

Misa plays a large role in the Death Note manga (and anime) series, madly in love with Light Yagami, whose feelings for her are merely a twisted facade. She's a fairly tragic character, but her bouncy personality and flirty tendencies tend to counteract this. I think her style perfectly balances the light and dark aspects of her story. 

It's pretty strange looking at Misa and noticing how many key pieces of her style still exist in my own wardrobe. As I mentioned in my previous post, it's difficult to get away with overly cutesy concoctions without long or at least longish hair, so doing a 'Misa' from head to toe doesn't always gel with my current self. Still, the leather jacket, the chokers, the religious jewellery, the short skirts, the knee socks and the fishnets - I'm usually wearing them, just not in quite the same way.

In the live-action movie version of Death Note, Misa Amane is played by Erika Toda (above), and her look was adapted slightly - most notably her hair was changed to a more feasible colour for a Japanese actress. This makes Misa look more subtle and palatable stylistically; this outfit seems little too juvenile for me to copy straight, but I think the pigtails are a major part of that. Misa, at her introduction into the series, is 19, around the same age as I started dressing this way, but I could rarely pull off pigtails even then.

One of the awesome things about loli, and its myriad offshoots, is the wonderful dress-up opportunities for those of us who are languishing towards thirty and STILL get mistaken for an eighteen-year-old. This happens to me no matter what I wear. So occasionally I'll get the urge to suck up to the system and present myself as the age I'm accused of being if I ever try (and fail) to buy alcohol. Looking like you're just out of high school and then showing your ID is nothing short of hilarious.

I've recently been watching far too much Death Note, and revelling in the playful charm of Misa's dress sense - in a moment of madness (spurred on by a friend!), I bought a pair of black patent platform Maryjanes from the high street. I wore them to joyfully clomp around my living room for a hour, before hiding them in my wardrobe. But I have a tiny Misa-voice in my head, telling me to wear them out with knee socks and a kilt. Damnit, Misa! (Whether or not I'll listen to her... we'll just have to wait and see).

wigging out

 I recently added a new wig to my arsenal - long, black, and almost exactly my hair circa 2007. It was primarily purchased for Tifa Lockhart cosplay - but I've since realised there may have been a nostalgic reason as well. It's been making me remember silky, swishy hair (disregarding all the times it was too thick, tangled, matted on my pillow) and craving all the cutesy, girly looks I used to get away with four years ago.

It looks strangely... right, but I don't think I'm ready to give up the short hair just yet. It's one thing to pine for long hair that behaves like a hairpiece, it's another to have to wash it every other day!

rachel freire AW11/12

So I'm a sucker for Rachel Freire, but her latest collection blows her previous stuff out of the water. Even so, it was easy to choose a favourite piece; this catsuit jumped out at me instantly. 

Everything about this appeals to my personal style - sure, Freire's work is often presented in an off-kilter way, at least for the fashion masses - but I wouldn't care to try and dress it down. The catsuit's perfect for the types of clubs I frequent, but I could also see myself wearing it as an everyday item - just a fierce step up from my favored sleek trousers/top combo. The sheer panels add just the right amount of sex whilst remaining modest, and it genuinely looks as though you could kick ass in this thing. Five stars.

Go here for the rest of the collection and more of Freire's work.

legionary

I recently did a photo shoot with Yvette Bessels here in Warwick; the first shoot I've done since last September and actually my first outdoors shoot, ever! I was heavily inspired by science fiction and my favourite animes. 

The styling was relatively easy for this one, as much of the items are directly from my everyday wardrobe. I don't always put them together in such an overt way, but I still felt pretty comfortable walking around the uni campus in them... really, this is just another extension of how I often dress! But more on that another time.
Makeup was a collaboration between myself and Yvette.

fresh start + what's in my bag.

In the spirit of spring cleaning (which I have been doing tons of, around the house) I decided to give my blog a fresh start, and finally do that age-old fashion blogging meme of 'what's in my bag.'

I'm cheating a little, 'cause I literally just bought this bag today... but I've been after it for a while, as a replacement for my old bag. I'm not really a bag girl when it comes to fashion (or a shoe girl, for that matter, but that's another post). I generally have one or two favourite bags at any one time, and they're nearly always black or grey, to match with my main aesthetic. A little boring, maybe, but I like being able to grab my bag, already full of everything I need, and not have to worry about it overshadowing or clashing with my outfit. 

I usually shop in the guys' section for bags as they always seem to have designs that I like and aren't overstated. This one (and the one I had before it) was from River Island. 

This bag's actually pretty spacious inside. I only use a larger bag for when I need to carry anything A4 sized, or more items than I'm used to. Smaller bags usually fit all of my everyday stuff quite comfortably. 

2011 diary: I don't always carry this, but I am a little obsessed with my diary - I use it to schedule events, meetings, plans for the weekend, and most importantly, my to-do lists for each day. I love ticking off things when they're done.

Moleskine notebook: Yeah, I'm one of those people. XD I'm not really, I just picked up a pack of three a while back and thought they were nice. I'm not a Moleskine snob... otherwise my diary would be a Moleskine. ;) I use these to generally scribble in, in case I have any ~amazing ideas~ on the go. These could be anything to do with writing fanfiction, styling, or reminding myself to buy cotton buds...

iPhone 3GS: I'm not very interested in the iPhone 4 or 5, the 3GS works fine for me. It's my first smartphone,  I got it a year ago and it is basically my life.

Glasses case: I keep meaning to add some cool stickers to this, but for now, here is the blatant evidence that I get my glasses at Specsavers.

iPod 80GB: Even though I have room for some music on my phone, I prefer having an iPod with masses of storage. I literally need to have all of my music with me, as my taste is so eclectic that I never know what I'll want to listen to. 

Comb: I barely ever use this, but I like carrying it anyway. 

Wallet: Another item designated for guys. I love wallets. 

Black pen + red pen: I write to-do lists in red, and everything else in black.

Hand mirror: Again, just something I like to have around, though I hardly ever touch up my makeup in public, because I'm lazy.

MAC Fresh Brew lipstick: I don't wear lipstick much anymore, but Fresh Brew has been a favourite of mine for years as it's nice and neutral and looks good with dark eye makeup. 

Keys: For getting into my apartment. XD The 'keyring' is from a pendant.

Sunglasses: I'll often wear them whenever's the sun's bright because a) I have very sensitive eyes and b) I like looking like an asshole on the street, which is just what some styles of sunglasses do to you...