New Styles Of Dr Martens

The year cult shoe brand Dr Martens celebrated its 50th year. The DM boot has had an iconic place on footwear history with its role in many different youth sub cultures from punks to skin heads and Goths. In my teenage years my black DM boots were permanently welded to my feet, these were the days before I started crippling myself with high heels. As a teenager I was a bit of a Goth (although I think Goths were a bit different back then to they are now) and also went through various stages of dressing in a way that could probably be described as Indie or grunge. My outfits consisted mainly of long skirts or shorter skirts with black opaque tights and velvet jackets from second hand shops with black Dr Marten boots.

With the whole grunge revival going on, I have been really tempted to invest in a pair of Dr Martens. They are so versatile and comfy and I know I would get loads of wear out of them. But another part of me thinks that I have already been there and done that.

I was really pleased to discover a whole range of alternative Dr. Martens on Spartoo. Ideal for a fresh take on my old favourite and perfect for the grown up grunge girl.

Elena Black

Ina Green

Tana Green

Did anyone else used to wear Dr Martens? Will you be wearing them again?

Ceri X

The Wang Effect

I am just sat here typing, with my Wangesque braid, considering what it is about Alexander Wang that means he can take something seemingly mundane and make it hip, cool and trendy. I would never usually even consider plaiting my hair for fear of looking like a school girl or even worse an old lady but I just can't get enough of a my lopsided plait at the moment.

Take leggings for example, I swore that I would never wear them again after the horrendous abuse of them that I witnessed in the eighties. Yet here I am a few decades on, in worse shape and living in my leggings in the name of fashion (well actually they are pretty comfy as well and go with almost anything). I have a rule this time around though, leggings are only to be worn with dresses or long tunic style tops.

Grey marl is that non descript colour that no one really took much notice of until Alexander Wang brought it back on the hip list (OK there are a few others who have been using it too like Isabel Marant). Strangely I have always had a bit of a thing for grey marl perhaps because it reminds me of my youth. Slouchy jersey another Wangism that is just about every where. For years I would never have considered wearing slouchy clothes, but when cleverly cut and layered, not only are they warm, comfy and practical beyond belief but they look pretty good too in an understated way.

Then there are crop tops. There are somethings in life that you just can't wear at my age after having 2 children. So why is a crop top (in grey marl) featuring right at the top of my must have list for this summer? Admittedly, this time around I will be layering it so there will be no midriff on show. I think I may be turning into a full time Wang-a-be.

And then there are the trackie trousers - but I won't be going there, well I don't think I will anyway!

So what is the 'Wang Effect'? Is he an exceptionally talented designer, is it just the hype or is he managing to tap into just the sort of look that everyone wants to wear? I think it is a bit of all of these. A lot of his ideas are nothing new, almost nostalgic (although probably won't be for most of the twenty something Wangites wearing his clothes) but Alexander Wang seems to be able to do comfortable, wearable and relaxed it in way that is fresh and hip with just a hint of glamour

Just out of interest, does anyone have any other Words derived from Wang to add?

Pictures from:

Alexander Wang at mytheresa.com

Blue Inc Woman Work Boots

I know that you can't always be practical when it comes to fashion but with shoes, there are times when comfort is at the fore front of your mind. If I am walking a long way heels are not only impractical as they are hard to walk in but they also wear out quickly. That's partly why I love these work boots from Blue Inc Woman. The other reason is of course because they are ultra trendy, a little bit military and a little bit workman. I just love the way that they can be used to dress down a really feminine dress or tunic for that grunge appeal that is going to be so big this spring.

I also spotted a few other pieces I liked at Blue Inc

Vintage Lace T shirt

Tiger Face Sweat Top

Denim Belt Dress

Sales Shopping

I haven't been out much this week, I am starting to feel like a recluse and slipping into a comfort zone of dressing for warmth and slobbing, so when my new clothes ordered from the online sales turned up, I decided to try them on to cheer myself up (I know I still look pretty miserable but that's just me). I didn't actually intentionally buy them as an outfit, I don't think, but I think they go together quite well in grungey kind of way - Isn't all that coming back in fashion again? I would like to add a little bit of colour to the outfit so am now on the lookout for some pale lime green socks, don't know why but that is what I want.

The jacket was picked up in the Next sale for £14. I wouldn't usually go near a Next sale with a 10ft barge pole for fear of ending up with a load more boring tops just like many I already have or just been squashed in the scrum. But I spotted this jersey biker style jacket on my way to the childrens section and loved the washed out colour and seam details.

I loved the dress by Australian Brand Something Else (and posted about it a while back) so it was an obvious buy when I saw it reduced in the sale. I am constantly on the look out for new patterned leggings as for me leggings are the new jeans, so these burnout lave patterned ones (again from Urban Outfitters) were perfect.

The shoes (from Urban Outfitters) were compromise after a mamouth hunt, or should I say wild goose chase for that perfect pair of wedge shoe boots was a complete failure, I am hoping some might turn up as the spring colections appear. I settled for these shoes on the basis that I loved the punched out texture, loved the colour - I have never had a pair of grey shoes before, they were cheap and flat, so easy to walk long distances in.