My Week In Outfits...

in an immediate follow-on from my last post, I have documented some of my favorite outfits from the last week to share with you. I hope you like!!

For a day in London at Winter Wonderland...

Some amazing charity shop purchases; cream cardigan with a fur trim and studded cuff flats, teamed with a sheer collared blouse and bow tie, and vintage silk Parisian scarf worn as a turban

Christmas Day...

a leopard print Topshop skater dress with Chanel-inspired cardigan from h&m, studded ankle socks (also Topshop) and my Christmas presents to me from me: Kiss Like Daisy leather collar and wide brim hat! (I was absolutely chuffed when I was told numerous times on Christmas Day that this made me look like Stevie Nicks!)

and finally...Boxing Day...

my very beat-up but much loved Dr Martens which really do go with anything, and my gorgeous new fur coat helped to protect me from the rain as I ran some errands for my mum during the day, with my (charity shop! great find) festive jumper underneath teamed with a midi skirt I made myself from some vintage-patterned material, an ICE watch which was one of my lovely Christmas presents, and another treat from my Daisy package the Glitter Cat Hat (it's even better in real life!)

I actually got my hair done at a salon this week, so the more observant among you may have noticed that my hair has gone from my trademark white blonde to a more on trend ombre.... not sure how long I will last with this but really enjoying it for the moment!!

and finally, I was so flattered when Katy asked me to help her out by doing a spot of modelling for Kiss Like Daisy! I'd had such a gem of a week with the charity shops and it seemed a great opportunity to showcase the garments. Here are some of my favorite shots:

This black velvet top is a size 18 so I'm having to be really careful what I wear it with incase I end up looking like a potato, but I am such a sucker for velvet so really couldn't resist! Worn with denim flower print turban by Kiss Like Daisy

I had been searching high and low for a new fur coat as the lining of my last one had torn beyond repair, so I was so so pleased when my mum found this one in a charity shop in the next town along from us for only £20!! Faux fur has really made a comeback this season and I was struggling to find one for less than £80, so this was a real bargain. Its a jacket rather than a longer coat like my last one, but I'm quite enjoying this at the moment- its much more wearable. Katy and I teamed it here with the quilted pink double bow from Kiss Like Daisy.      

Last but not least, we teamed the black corduroy bun bow and striped chain bag with a high shine collared shirt that I got from Oxfam for £12. This is a power shirt if ever I saw one: gold buttons, huge collar and shoulder pads with batwing sleeves- so 80s it hurts, but so, SO good!! We teamed these with a little pair of sienna pleated shorts that I picked up from Sue Ryder for £4, then Katy swept my hair into a high side pony/bun to give the overall look a very "Madonna" feel- which, obviously, I loved. (the 80s was when Madonna was good...)                                                                                             

In light of all these outfit posts I have decided to get myself back on lookbook! So any fellow lookbookers can find me here: http://lookbook.nu/siairv

I'm not doing very well on there at the moment so any familiar faces would be more than welcome!! Coming up are some posts about some subjects other than my clothes ;) but nonetheless, I hope you have enjoyed, and had a lovely Christmastime!! <3

What I'm Wearing

I've decided recently that I do actually have enough faith in my wardrobe and the ability to put an outfit together (!!! We'll see) to share with you what I'm wearing and possibly in the new year revive my long neglected lookbook account....
I'm not really one of these people that stays "on trend", even though I wish I could. I might buy one or two key pieces each season (my budget only ever stretching to Topshop, Zara or Asos) but primarily I stick with simple pieces that I know work for me, and charity shops!!
Some of my most important wardrobe staples have been purchased from a charity shop and rarely cost me more than £10. Take, for example, my Joop! handbag. It's a circular box shape which is why it caught my eye- really different from anything I'd seen on the high street, with 2 gold clasps and long shoulder straps. And it cost me £5! Granted, the clasps come undone rather a lot and I have to clip them back in, but it's a small price to pay to have such a unique, beautiful and cheap (yes! I said it!) bag.
The other thing I love about charity shops is the sporadity of them. Sometimes you can come away with whole new outfits, and other times nothing at all. I also find this nice in the sense that if something doesn't fit, it doesn't fit- there's no carrying on with sizes and fretting that in the last 15 minutes, you've suddenly grown 2 dress sizes since the last shop you tried on a pair on jeans in, resulting in you sobbing in a heap in the changing room floor of Topshop with a pair of size 8's around your ankles. I've got a weird body shape anyway (broad shoulders, small boobs, teeny waist, big hips, long legs) so often find myself of an evening sat with my mums sewing box making alterations.... And if it goes wrong, who cares?! I only spent £3! 
So I'm hoping that even though my outfit choices aren't necessarily what you will find in the shops, that they will inspire you to try new combinations, dig through your wardrobe to reinvent long forgotten pieces, and look upon the weird granny shirt in your local charity shop with a new set of eyes. Enjoy! 

This is the outfit I wore yesterday- I finished off my Christmas shopping in my local town, sat and had a coffee and begun reading David Mitchell's "Back Story", and then went to the pub for dinner and bingo with my girls Amy and Emily (I won a fiver!)

For all I've just been harping on about charity shops, it has just occurred to me that this isn't actually the best outfit to reflect that!! However, it was still put together on a shoestring budget, and I had a really good charity shop haul yesterday so I will soon make another outfit post about the items I purchased. 

The skirt I am wearing I actually got from Topshop in the January sales at the beginning of the year. It only cost me £10 and I was so lucky, there was only 1 left and it was a size 10! The weird fluoro-mustard colour got a bit of getting used to at first, but it teams so well with neutrals, and the lace panel detail is so lovely and really makes it stand out. 

I couldn't wear this with anything too busy so I popped into my brothers wardrobe and "borrowed" his denim shirt, which tucks in nicely to prove that I do actually have a waist, whilst also being satisfactorily oversized and androgynous at the same time. So with that in mind- and inspired by my recent Kiss Like Daisy post- I dug out a very old bow from my mums sewing kit and attached it to the collar, and for the sheer cheek of contrast teamed it with my beautiful DKNY watch that I got for my 21st birthday, and my battered old Dr Martens that I bought for £7 on eBay when I was 16. Done!

Have you met Daisy?

If you're a regular to 'Alas, I cannot Swim', you will have seen "Kiss Like Daisy" featured on my winter wishlist a few weeks ago. Daisy is the creation of Katy Louise Dyer, a 22 year old media graduate based in Reading, and is a luxury online boutique offering beautiful handmade jewellery and accessories for the urban fashionista.
I'm lucky enough to know Katy in real life- having worked alongside one another at House of Fraser (her on Ted Baker, me on AllSaints) and it is so wonderful to see her going from strength to strength after setting up her own business from scratch. All of her items are handmade with care and precision- so you are guaranteed to find something you'll love. And there is so much to choose from!! Here are some of my favourites:

The Double Bow

The Double Bow headpiece is Katy's fresh take on the classic bow- the staple Daisy item. Combining an oversized bow with a smaller counterpart creates a bold, chic, catwalk-inspired look, and being on a headband can transform any outfit in a matter of seconds.

I love the idea of this statement headpiece transforming a basic outfit into something quite sensational. The double bow is big, brave and bold- and comes in a variety of materials to suit this: black leather or coloured corduroy.
Team this item with an oversized cable knit jumper and jeans to make a daytime statement, or a simple little black dress and heels to turn heads in the night time. The Double Bow retails at £22.


The Leather Collar

I am such a huge fan of the current detachable collar trend, so this item is a real must have for me. Once again, Katy's unique take on styling comes into play- this is not the twee sequinned Peter Pan collar I have seen over and over again on the high street, but black leather with a gold drop chain- edgy, androgynous, and stylish. I love the way Katy has styled her collar on bare shoulders- giving the more feminine and classic necklace a miss for a really up to date look, but this collar can also be worn on top of shirts, or even plain-neck tshirts and dresses to give an old outfit a completely new lease of life.
The leather collar retails at £35

The Daisy Chain

Now, I couldn't make this post about Daisy without showing you the key Daisy item: The Daisy Chain! Katy has put her signature bows onto a gold chain for you to wear around your neck. I think these are fantastic and again come in a variety of colours and materials including floral, leather, denim, and corduroy.
The great thing about the Daisy Chain is the variety of ways in which it can be worn. Wear it long as a necklace or shorten the chain and fasten it under your collar for an androgynous bow tie effect. I love the idea of a masculine/feminine clash by wearing the floral Daisy Chain as a bow tie!


The Daisy Chain starts at £18, but has a special promotional Christmas price starting at £8, so is a great stocking filler for your loved ones and a wonderful way to introduce them to Daisy.

Glitter Cat Hat

In my opinion, this item is not only absolutely ingenious but completely adorable! Adding a new, feminine twist to the current beanie hat trend, the Glitter Cat Hat is such a cute way to keep your ears warm as the weather gets colder this winter. I was never a huge fan of the knitted "animal face" hats that seem to make an appearance this time of year, but Katy has come up with a much more sophisticated version by using a glitter material and leather ears. This grown up yet quirky look very much reminds me of Charlotte Olympia's chic and fun designs. The Cat Hat is a must have, and retails at £24.

Trio of Roses Headpiece

I have saved my absolute favourite item until last- I ADORE the Trio of Roses headpiece! Although I adore the masculine edge of some of the items available at Kiss Like Daisy, the Trio of Roses really stands out to me as a very beautiful, delicate and feminine item (although- it goes without saying!- the leather look material gives it a rock chick edge. I LOVE the juxtaposition of this- Katy's items work on so many levels!) Inspired by alternative bridal wear, the Trio of Roses headpiece offers real tailor made luxury to the girl wanting a unique look for a special occasion, and retails at £84.

Intrigued by the ideas behind these items and to find out more about Daisy herself, I interviewed Katy to find out more...

SI: Hello Katy! First and foremost, who is Daisy?
KLD: Daisy is a made up person. She is meant to represent the ‘ It girl’ that most girls either know or aspire to be.  She might be your friend or someone you admire. She is a strong, confident and comfortable with herself and style. I chose the name ‘Kiss Like Daisy’ because essentially what I mean by ‘Kiss Like’ is ‘Be Like’. Therefore, I want my target market- young women in the UK, to be like Daisy, the strong and confident girl who is not afraid to try new fashion and strive for whatever path in life she may choose.

SI: Your degree was in media. What led you to the world of fashion, and more than that, the tremendous feat of opening your own business?
KLD: Fashion, Drama and Film have always been my strongest interests. I  think I have a natural common sense and self-taught attitude towards fashion and design, therefore I decided by doing a media orientated degree that involved the technical side of film, I would have a broader knowledge in my interests that would help once finishing Uni and beginning my career. The desire to work within the fashion industry completely overtook my interest in film and drama during Uni, so I started looking for fashion internships as soon as I graduated. I did a short PR and marketing internship at Luna&Curious and here I saw how young designers like myself were making money from being stocked in the boutique. Then one day whilst being at the boutique, I thought I would open my own boutique. This way I could sell my own products whilst performing various fashion roles that were of interest, such as website design, PR and marketing.  I decided an online shop was the best option considering I knew I would be funding this completely alone.
SI: Your range includes accessories that can spice up an everyday outfit, to more statement pieces such as the Trio of Roses headpiece. This clearly isn't an everyday item- to me it seems very high fashion and "catwalk". When you designed this and other statement pieces, what or who did you have in mind?
KLD: This piece is bridal inspired. It is for the alternative bride-to-be. It is a statement piece and I hope it shows my customers the more bespoke side of Daisy. I love big and extravagant  headwear, therefore I had to incorporate this into the brand  design concept and by making it Bridal inspired it is more fitting to my customer base- women aged 16-30.

SI: The staple Daisy item is the bow. Why is this?
KLD: The bow is something I think is complementary to all women. I personally love them. I incorporate what I love into all my designs, because I find I can only design and produce products that make me excited and appeal to my personal taste. For me, a bow is completely classic. It can make any women look instantly classy and elegant; for example in an evening dress, but at the same time girly and cute if in casual, sport or day wear. It’s transferable from season to season, day to night. No matter what your style: punk, girly, glam, whatever... I think you can add a bow to and look super stylish!


SI: You launched your online boutique in October, but how long had you been planning your business venture?
KLD: I have worked on it since August 2011. I have had to learn everything about business from scratch; however I am quite impressed that I have done it all in just over a year. I have worked full-time and had three jobs at one point whilst setting this up. However, I think if you really love and want something you will strive to finish and see it through, even if it means you get a little less time to yourself.


SI: What gave you the idea for Daisy, and how did you develop the concept?
KLD: I am a very empathetic person; therefore naturally I always feel a strong desire to help others. By building a business like this I knew I could inspire other people, especially young women who may have the same dream or are unsure about how to go about doing something in life. The concept of Daisy is how I want to inspire other women, I want them to be confident as people and not be frightened or scared to do something in life, because it is no secret how many anxieties can overwhelm a lot of young women these days, therefore I want to provide a little bit of hope and inspiration to other women.

To discover Daisy for yourself and find your own signature Daisy item, visit www.kisslikedaisy.co.uk
Katy currently has a selection of items on offer for Christmas, so grab yourself a bargain from as little as £5!!

Winter Wishlist

I think I must be the only person in the world who enjoys the weather turning colder. In a true homage to my Scottish roots, I am just not a creature of warm weather. To me, Autumn and Winter means beautiful colours, hot water bottles, and an excuse to drink a lot of delicious warm drinks (tea, coffee, hot chocolate, mulled wine....I'm not fussy.) Now that we have well and truly found ourselves in winter, I have created a wishlist to keep us warm in the frost, and to get us through those long winter nights. Enjoy!!

5. The new range of GORILLA PERFUMES at Lush

https://www.lush.co.uk/gorilla-perfume-home

Those of you who know me in real life will surely know about my absolute obsession for all things LUSH. Now that they have released their Emotional Brilliance makeup range, they are literally offering the full package as far as I'm concerned. I've always loved the perfumes that Lush has to offer, however I never found my "signature" scent amongst their range (In typical murphy's law fashion, my boyfriend has 3 "signature" scents from the original Gorilla perfume range- Dear John, The Smell of Freedom and Dirty).
Anyway, I digress...
I was waiting with bated breath for such a long time for these perfumes to come out, and when they did I was certainly not disappointed! It took me 3 days to decide which scent was for me, and eventually I decided on the beautifully subtle yet exotic "Sikkim Girls"- a jasmin based scent, but less heavy than "Lust", Lush's previous jasmin infused scent.
Close contenders were "The Voice of Reason", a tobacco-y scent inspired by the beat writers, "Devils Nightcap"which is a fresh, nippy scent, "Hellstone" which to me smelt like Patchouli despite having none in it, and "Furze", a feminine, flower-and-coconut perfume (I really want to get this for my mum for Christmas!)
Have you smelt the new Lush range? What is your scent? Let me know in comments below!!

4. Christmas drinks at Starbucks!

Like the Coca-Cola advert and seeing Christmas decorations come out in department stores, you know the festive season is well and truly here when Starbucks start selling their Christmas special coffees. I can't wait to try the praline mocha this year, and I'm very happy to see the return of last years favorite, the toffee nut latte :) Which is your favorite?









3. Winter Colours
In all honestly, I don't need an excuse for wearing a darker makeup palette, no matter what the season. Give me a wine lip and burgundy nail colour any day. BUT! I do love seeing all my favorite brands getting on board with autumnal/winter colours. Topshop have not disappointed on this front- in fact, I have been singing the praises of their makeup range ever since it was released in 2010 (fun collections and cruelty-free testing? gimme!!)
Here are a few of my favorites:

Topshop Nails in "Ruthless"

Topshop Lips in "Beguiled"

and it's not just Topshop....

(of course it would be Lush...but I TOLD YOU!! EMOTIONAL BRILLIANCE IS INCREDIBLE!! Patent plum lipstick...yes please)

2. onesie+hot water bottle combo. yeah, i'm guilty, don't even care. next!

1. KISS LIKE DAISY

SO, a lovely old friend of mine Katy Louise Dyer has just opened up her very own online boutique, Kiss Like Daisy. And I am IN LOVE. 

The staple Daisy piece is the bow, which can be bought as a necklace, hairpiece, incorporated into a clutch bag or even as a stylish travel pillow. But Daisy is so much more than this. Each hand crafted item comes straight from the creative mind of Katy herself, who has found a unique gap in the market to create beautiful high fashion accessories at high street prices. 

If Daisy sounds like your kind of girl, start shopping at http://www.kisslikedaisy.co.uk/# and come back soon to find out more about Daisy- I will shortly be publishing an interview with Katy, revealing more about Daisy, the concept and the creative mind behind the business.

Much love!

Sian