Forgotten shoes

Searching through my clothes back home in Woking, I came across a pair of black brogues at the very back of my wardrobe. Immediately, a smile crept across my face. Another pair of shoes? Yes please!

The shoes needed a quick polish, but besides that, they seemed perfectly fine in quality and aesthetics. They looked smart, and I knew they would go well with my trousers and jeans. But still, I had to ask myself... Why did I hide them away in the first place?

The answer - because I thought they looked like "old man shoes".

Okay, I understand that reason seems a little stupid, but at the time, when I was 16 years old, brogues weren't exactly fashionable among the youthful. These black shoes were school shoes in my final year in uniform, and I couldn't wait to be rid of them. I didn't like the pattern and they seemed too clunky. 

However, being the sensible child I was, I knew it would be wrong to just throw them away, so I hid them at the back of my wardrobe until the day they would be of some worth. And thankfully, that day came. Now I can wear them proudly - maybe even try some of the looks featured in a recent shoe supplement from GQ.

In any case, I'm not complaining. I have another pair of shoes, and a nice pair at that.

The Royal Wedding Fashion Hype

It was the royal wedding's biggest and best kept secret, but as Catherine Middleton stepped from the Rolls Royce Phantom VI this morning, the designer behind her wedding dress was finally confirmed as Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. For the five months since Catherine and Prince William's engagement, there was much speculation as to who would be designing this centrepiece of the wedding, but the answer was only revealed when Catherine's dress was seen in its full bridal glory outside the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey just before eleven o'clock.

(Image source: BBC coverage of the royal wedding)

On the street, Bournemouth

The maxi dress and denim jacket combo is a popular choice for the spring/summer,

so it was unsurprising to see so many examples whilst wandering around Bournemouth.

This young woman, however, was my favourite - the blue of the denim perfectly

complementing the blues in her beautiful floral dress. Her long hair also helps to
maintain the illusion of height one can achieve from wearing a maxi dress.

UT, UniQlo T-Shirts: A Review

Brand new 2011 collections

Just in time for the impending summer sun, UniQlo have once again teamed up with a range of designers, artists, photographers and well-known brands to produce their new printed t-shirt collections for men and women. With a wide variety of designs, each collection is a celebration of our modern culture.

Launched in April 2007 at a Harajuku store, the UT Project began with printed t-shirts packaged in plastic cylinders similar to tennis ball containers, which customers could take from rows of steel shelves just as they would do with products in a supermarket. Unfortunately, this quirky means of t-shirt shopping is not available in UK stores, but you'll still find the same great printed t-shirts awaiting your eager perusal.

This year, designs for women include Tweety, Carebears and the soft patterns of Franche Lippée, while Naruto manga, Mickey Mouse and Dragonball Z, for example, can be found emblazoned on t-shirts for men. For both sexes, however, there is also corporate collaboration - a series of t-shirts incorporating logos and designs from Japanese and other foreign companies.

The variety of designs is outstanding, and with prices ranging from £7.99 - £12.99, you'd be grabbing a sure bargain. I personally favour the t-shirts from the men's Disney collection, featuring an old-style Mickey Mouse with famous captions and slogans. There is also a Cath Kidston collection for women I find cute, which incorporates Cath Kidston's famous floral prints into bleached designs. Sales from this particular collection will also go to help the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), which funds a safe motherhood program in Zambia.

However, looking at this year's designs, I do feel the men's collections are much stronger than women's. Although the idea is that women maintain a sense of femininity in the clothes they wear, the designs need not be so simple or subtle. For example, Naruto and One Piece manga t-shirts for men include bold prints, which I believe should be reflected in the women's collections too. Of course, one solution is that women purchase men's t-shirts, which - with the recent introduction of size XXS - could be feasible, but UniQlo should provide bolder prints for women specifically.

Nonetheless, the current collections for both men and women this year are superb in their own rights. Although I have not purchased a printed t-shirt on the two recent occasions I could have done so, I will most probably order a t-shirt or two online very soon. With summer on its way, I'd recommend you do the same.

(To view this year's UT collections, visit the UniQlo website)

Ray-Ban vs Topman

During my day trip to London, my friend, Shehryar, decided to pop into Selfridges on Oxford Street to buy himself a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. Whilst browsing through the different styles available, I came across a pair that looked extremely familiar to my own Topman shades...

Friends, Claire and Lilly, demonstrating the stark similarity between both styles of

shades. Claire (left) wears a pair of Ray-Ban Clubmaster sunglasses while Lilly (right)

sports the exceedingly cheaper equivalent from Topman

Priced at £123, the Ray-Ban Clubmasters cost roughly 10 times as much as my pair from Topman, even though their browline designs are strikingly similar. But does the higher cost mean they are any better in quality and aesthetics?

Appearance-wise, there are a few subtle differences. For starters, Topman's sunglasses have slightly wider lenses than the Clubmasters. The colour of the metal used in each style is also different, with Ray-Ban preferring gold rather than silver. In addition, there is a small variation in the detail at the corners of the frames. Therefore, in terms of aesthetics, personal preference ultimately decides which style looks the best.

However, in terms of overall quality, Ray-Ban is victorious. Unlike the pair from Topman, the Clubmasters' plastic frame is reinforced with metal, naturally lessening the chance of breakage. Of course, this also makes the sunglasses heavier, but I believe this is acceptable if there is added strength.

Nonetheless, in my view, a price tag of £123 does seem much for a pair of sunglasses, regardless of how good the quality might be. However, this did not stop Shehryar from purchasing a pair of black Wayfarers at the same price. I suppose at the end of the day, you just need to ask yourself whether you want to pay for the designer label or not. For me, the cheaper pair from Topman will do.

On campus, University College London

My friend, Aisling, wears a soft colour palette in her outfit - a beautiful, silk, floral

dress with a drapey cardigan to elongate her small physique. I especially like her

wedge heels - made with grey suede and satin ribbon for laces.

Kingston Shopping: A Review

A true shopping experience

If you desire a shopping experience as diverse as Oxford Street without losing yourself among the imposingly huge stores, Kingston-upon-Thames is the answer. When I lived in nearby Thames Ditton, I came to love the town for its riverside setting and many stores, although its prime as a fashion hub did not catch my eye until I was 15. With a vast array of high street and designer retailers, a shopping trip here is never worthless. 

The focal point of the Kingston shopping scene is The Bentall Centre, where you'll find 80+ well-known retailers, most of which aim to provide you with the latest fashions. The main outlet is the Bentalls department store, which stocks a vast collection of designer brands, including All Saints, Fred Perry and Karen Millen. The make-up department also has many popular beauty brands to choose from, including MAC and Bobbi Brown.

Within the rest of the shopping centre are four floors of high street and designer stores. My personal favourite is naturally the double-storey H&M, which - due to the rise in metrosexuality - now has a whole floor dedicated to menswear. Other retailers include Zara, Esprit, Republic, Levi's, Bank and a brand new Hollister.

If you're looking for a bite to eat, Bentalls has a selection of cafés and eateries, although the cheaper option of McDonalds can be found on the lower ground level. However, if you choose to eat here, do not be surprised if you have to sit outside the fast food outlet on the shopping centre floor, as this particular McDonalds is always busy and doesn't have additional seating. Out on the streets, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants dotted about, although - if the weather is fine - I would personally recommend purchasing food from the nearby Marks and Spencer or Sainsbury's and eat beside the river. A loaf of bread wouldn't go down too badly with the local community of swans and geese either.

Also on the streets are many more well-known fashion retailers. The pedestrianised Clarence Street has the largest number of shops, including Gap, French Connection, River Island, two Marks and Spencer stores, and separate Topshop and Topman outlets. My favourite here, however, is the UniQlo at the far end of Clarence Street, which has recently been refurbished to provide a larger menswear department.

The newly refurbished menswear department in UniQlo

At the other end of Clarence Street, towards the River Thames, is a TK Maxx, but opposite this on Wood Street is Kingston's other large department store, John Lewis, which - like Bentalls - provides a huge selection of designer clothes and beauty products. Even if you don't want to purchase anything from here, I find it's still nice to have a brief wander around each open-spaced level. There is also a Waitrose below should you wish to buy any food or drink.

But don't think that's all there is to Kingston shopping. Opposite the Bentall Centre, towards the market square, you can find more popular fashion stores such as Accessorize, Office, White Stuff and JD Sports. Then at Market Place itself, you'll find Sunglass Hut, Next, and a Cath Kidston just around the corner on Thames Street.

In addition, there is a second smaller shopping centre in Kingston, the Eden Walk Shopping Centre, which can be found on the other side of the larger Marks and Spencer. Here you'll find even more retailers, including Boots, BHS, Ann Summers and a smaller H&M. However, if cheap clothes are what you're after, there is a three-floor Primark opposite Eden Walk on Effingham Road, which tends to be relatively tidy despite being rather busy.

As a whole, I would say Kingston-upon-Thames is the best shopping location in Surrey. Whether it's for a shopping trip or a shopping spree, Kingston will have what you're looking for and so much more. There are dozens of stores to choose from, so if you're a dedicated shopper, you'll need to give yourself at least a few hours. But don't worry about car parking - there's plenty of that too.

Looking east along Clarence Street

So if you're ever in need of satisfying any shopping cravings, get yourself over there! Because even if you don't end up spending any money, I promise you won't regret spending your day.

Handbags & Heels - The Lightbox, Woking

Essential Accessories: Handbags and Heels at The Lightbox gallery and musuem in Woking is a small yet fascinating exhibition, exploring the history behind women's most notable accessories - bags and shoes. Displaying collections from the Tassenmuseum, Amsterdam, and the Shoe Collection, Northampton, the exhibition is a treat to the eyes as well as educational.

Showcasing shoes and bags from as far back as the early 17th Century, The Lightbox delves into the development of women's biggest sartorial pleasures throughout the last four hundred years. Expect to find carefully preserved high-heels from centuries gone to handbags from the late Alexander McQueen. Also expect to see many examples of various styles and materials, including red ballet shoes with monster heels and a freakish lizard-skin bag complete with lizard body.

Unfortunately, I was not permitted to take any photographs of the amazing collections due to copyright law, however the exhibition is free should you wish to see it for yourself. If you live in or near to the Woking area, I would recommend a visit.

(For further information about the exhibition, including workshops and tours, or to find out more about the other exhibitions at The Lightbox gallery and museum, visit thelightbox.org.uk)

On the street, Kingston-upon-Thames

Another "spring transition" style, by which this lady maintains warmth in wearing a
light sweater (or fleece?), but moves towards a spring feel with a white and lavender
check pattern, a colourful neckerchief and classic shades.

I don't find football shirts to be fashionable, but this one caught my eye today due

to the unusual yet witty labelling on the back. It's perhaps the most novel football

shirt I've ever seen. Well played, sir. Well played.

Bumblebee dress, Woking

Since my sister, Leanne, chose to hold a fancy dress party for her 17th birthday,
I thought I'd take advantage of the situation and take a few photos of the costumes.
Unfortunately, everyone was too busy 'partying hard', so the only exciting costume
I could capture was Leanne's. As the host, she opted for a cabaret-style bumblebee
outfit appropriately accessorised with black high heels.

High Street Style

Today's featured style comes from Topshop. Colourful stripes - whether vertical or horizontal - draw the eye and help to flatter one's figure, while vintage-style pieces give each outfit a retro quality. These summer looks also seem flexible in that they'll look great whether you're wandering around town, strolling along the beach, or going for a walk in the more rural end of the suburbs. Bright and fashionable, chic but casual.

The unstylish kind of fur

Having returned home for the Easter break, I find myself in a style dilemma I am no stranger to. Over many years, I have found ways in which to prevent this particular problem from getting out of hand, but I have yet to stumble upon a solution to eliminate it altogether.

So what's the source of my distress...?

Clockwise from top left: Bailey, Chloe, Indie and Tiptoes

My cats - both a joy and pain to live with. My life would not be complete without these cuddly creatures, yet - as any cat owner will know - wearing dark clothes is dangerous business. If I were to say I've never worn fur, I would be lying, because it's hard to escape my house without having my indigo jeans or black jumper covered in the stuff. This is fur at its most unattractive. 
 
At this point in the blog post, it would seem appropriate to feature a photo of my clothes covered in my adorable cats' not-so-adorable moultings, however that would involve me purposefully allowing them to be carpeted in fur, and that is not an option. Instead, I've included an image of the cats' blanket, which is currently at a stage I hope my clothes will never ever reach.

So for the next few weeks, I'll be trying my hardest to prevent my clothes from becoming nearly as furry as the cats themselves, but no doubt it will be a challenge with four felines scampering around at my feet every single day. Here's a rundown of some of the potential victims this Easter break...

Black pinstriped shirt, Topman

Black 511 skinny jeans, Levi's

Star Wars t-shirt, Divided by H&M

Navy granddad jumper, Topman

  
Hopefully, the four items shown above - along with the rest of my dark clothes - won't be subjected to a similar fate as the cats' blanket, though I reckon I'll need the clothes brush at least once during my stay. As the days get warmer, the house is going to get furrier, but alas that is the price I must pay for such wonderful pets.

Nonetheless, the point still stands - I've never worn a fur coat of my own, but I reckon I've definitely worn theirs.

Decibel Soup

Throughout my multimedia journalism course at Bournemouth University, plenty of my fellow first-year comrades are demonstrating great journalistic potential. But to me, the most successful of these so far have been Ryan Bassil, Ed Cooper, Errol Anderson and James Embiricos, the next-generation bloggers behind the freshest and increasingly popular music blog, Decibel Soup. Bringing its readers news and reviews on the latest music to reach our ears, this "cocktail blog of monstrous decibels" gained 150,000 views in its first month alone - no less than an astonishing success.

From left: Ryan Bassil, Ed Cooper, Errol Anderson and James Embiricos - fellow BAMMJ

comrades and the faces behind the increasingly popular Decibel Soup

But don't think these guys just know what makes great music. They also know what makes great style... It's not about following a trend, it's about knowing what looks good on you and wearing what you love to wear.