Friday Finds - Autumn Updates

Hope you are having a lovely Friday. I have been a bit lax with Friday Finds lately due to work being so busy but have saved up my favourites over the last few weeks so I hope you enjoy.

Printed Pencil Skirt by ASOS Africa - when it  first launched, I wondered at first if the ASOS Africa range might only be the sort of summery clothes that I would wear on holiday but how wrong I was. I have just ordered this skirt and it is amazing (unfortunately I have had to send to back and get a slightly bigger size). It is really well made, beautiful rich colours, a great shape and it it lined making it quite thick for the winter - a definite thumbs up and I can't wait for my new one to arrive.

Organic Cotton Maxi Dress - I just love the simplicity of this dress by new eco label Fair and True from Fashion Conscience. The perfect combination of comfort and elegance. They also do a very nice organic cotton maxi skirt.

Velvet Party Dress - with Christmas only 9 weeks away, I can't help thinking about party dresses (as if I haven't got enough already) and I love the lady like style of this Tara Startlet forties style dress. I also love the colour - brown which is quite unusual for a party dress and makes a change to black.

Lilli Diamond Maxi Dress - this beutiful maxi dress was in the vintage collection at Urban Outfitters. I love the shape and I love the colours, it is quite pricey though. 

Navy Floral Blazer - This is a great way to liven up a plain old pair of jeans. Although actually I don't often wear jeans so would probably end up pattern mixing it with a floral dress.

The £6 Vintage Dress

Lately I have really been getting into vintage clothing not only because of its obvious environmental benefits bit also because I just can't get over what amazing dresses you can get for so little money. I am a complete ebay virgin but over the last week or so I have got a bit bid happy buying myself a few new vintage dresses. I got the most amazing handmade dress for just £20 and another dress for £25 both of which I will be featuring in an outfits soon. What I can't get over is the quality of these pieces for just £20, a new piece of clothing for this price would usually be really low quality. I also find the shape of these clothes works so well for my figure. Here is a vintage dress that I bought for just £6, the best thing about it is that at that price I am more than happy to wear it to be around the house doing ironing all day, no special occasion needed.

Friday Finds - Fun Felt Brooches

Style Eyes Fashion Blog has now moved to Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog. I look forward to seeing you there.

I have been wanting a brooch for sometime now. Something brightly coloured and a bit fun that I can pin onto jackets, cardigans or tops when I feel they just need that something extra. Sometimes an outfit feels like it needs something but a necklace, scarf or belt just don't quite work. I have come across so many gorgeous felt brooches on my travels across the internet, I thought I would share. These brooches are a great way to decorate sustainable clothes as some of the felt is made from recycled wool. I just love them because they make me smile.


These Love Is In The Air Goodies from Etsy are really cute. Each one is different, I think they would make great pressies.

This flower brooch is a little more grown up but still fun and I love the colour. It is also available on Etsy here.

A very classy felt rose brooch from on Not on the High Street


I Love these! Hand embroidered Heart Brooches from Not on The High Street



This one is quite appropriate for me (a great alternative to a slogan t shirt) - short people rock badge from Misi

Handfelted button brooch from Misi




This is actually a hair bobble but this seller in Misi will actually make brooches to order.


Felt Heart Brooch - from Folksy
What are your favourite fun accessories?
Have a great weekend!
Ceri X

The Circle Skirt - Ten Reasons To Love It

Paul Smith

Louis Vuitton

Mark Jacobs

Prada

Mulberry

Bottega Veneta

It is official next season (Autumn and Winter), the circle skirt will be the latest must have item. Whilst I try not to follow women's fashion trends too much, instead opting for clothes which suit my figure (short and pear shaped), and I never knowingly allow fashion (or magazines) to dictate to me what I 'must have', I do take a certain amount if inspiration from current trends. Lets face it, come September most of the shops will probably be jam packed with circle skirts making it pretty difficult to ignore them. But actually, the circle skirt is a trend that I don't think I want to ignore and perhaps one that I am still likely to be wearing long after it goes out of fashion.

Whilst many fashionistas, will be rushing out to the shops to grab themselves a piece of the action in the form of a circle skirt with a nipped in waist, many vintage lovers have been working this look, which was popular in the fifties, for ages with stunning results and already have wardrobes full of beautiful vintage circle skirts. Looking back through fashion history, I always think there is a very good reason (or lots of them!) why some styles have with stood the test of time and made it to being such popular items of vintage clothing today.

Here is why I am loving the circle skirt for next season and beyond:

1. The full circle skirt helps to create a really feminine shape by defining the waist.
2. The full circle skirt is the perfect shape for pear shaped ladies like myself as it cover the hips and thighs and draws attention to the waist.
3. The full circle skirt has no gathers so is full but without creating bulk around the hip area.
4. The vast area of fabric in a circle skirt is perfect for embellishment and decoration.
5. The circle skirt is easy peasy to make your self. It is just a circle and a waist band. You can even make one without a pattern. If you want to give it a go, there are plenty of tutorials online, just Google it.
6. There are plenty of vintage versions of the circle skirt around making it an easy trend to follow in an eco friendly and individual way. It is definitely on trend and sustainable clothing.
7. The circle skirt looks very different depending on it's length and fabric so everyone should be able to find something to suit. For shorter people like myself a softer, draping fabric will be easy to wear and less over powering. For those wanting a more dramatic look a mid calf length skirt in a heavy fabric will create much more volume.
8. The wide hem on a circle skirt is ideal for making legs look thinner (I can do with all the help I can get)
9. If a full circle skirt (as raved about in Vogue) is too much for you, there is always the option of a slightly less full skirt - perhaps a semi circle.
10. I love the way a circle skirt swishes as you walk.

On second thoughts, I am not entirely sure that a circle skirt can be classified as a trend, I would think of it more as a classic piece of clothing. But then, lately 'trends' and 'fashions' do seem to be made up of more classic items- think blazers and camel coats. The great thing about this is that if you do choose to invest in a quality circle skirt, it is likely to be a great investment that will last for years to come.
What do you think? Will you be buying a circle skirt for the autumn or winter? or perhaps having a go at making one?
pictures from style.com

Friday Finds - Vintage Floral Dresses

Today is the first post for a new weekly feature that I have decided to run called Friday Finds. Each week I am going to feature some gorgeous clothing and accessories that I have found. All the clothing featured will have some element of sustainability be it second hand, vintage,from a clothes swap site, made locally, using sustainable or recycled materials or just quality pieces of clothing that you will last for years to come.

This week I have been scouring the internet for vintage floral dresses to satisfy my craving for patterns and in preparation for Vintage at Goodwood (my tickets arrived today and I am so excited). I am loving the a line vintage shapes which work so well to disguise my large hips and thighs.

70's Ditsy Blue Sundress from Love Miss Daisy (size 12)

Bright White Daisy Floral Mod Indie Dress from antiqueboutiquevintage on ebay (waist 32)

60's /70's Bright Floral Dress from The Looking Glass on ebay (waist 28")

70's bright halterneck floral dress from Rockit (waist 27")

80's Tropical Flower Print Dress - Covert Candy (size 10)

70's / 80's Floral Buttoned Summer Dress at Martha's Closet

This is the one that I chose to buy but check out the site for lots more lovely items.


What do you think of these dresses? Do you have any great vintage stores that you would like to share?

Have a great weekend!