End Of An Era

Bit of a melodramatic public service announcement today, but the moment we've all been dreading is almost here.  Google Reader will cease to exist on the 1st of July and although I've not been running around like a headless chicken, I'm somewhat bewildered that one of my favourite ways of reading blogs will be coming to an end.  I think I now understand how Take That fans felt when they split up (I was never that bothered at the time and preferred Eternal) as this handy way of keeping RSS feeds has pretty much changed my life.  To add a bit of context, I've apparently read 267,871 items since September 14th 2008 and seem to power through over 2000 articles every month.  Please tell me I'm not alone with my crazy stats?  When I first discovered this corner of the internet, I had a few RSS feeds in my bookmarks and somehow stumbled across Reader when looking for easier ways to keep up to date with things.  Since then I check it several times a day and get a smug sense of satisfaction on the rare occasions I can get everything down to zero.  I thought I'd share a few alternatives so that you can still get your fix here and I'm also open to any other suggestions if there's something I've missed.

How To Follow IWYTK

Bloglovin

Previously I've used Bloglovin as more of a bookmarking service for places I want to remember but recently I've started to import most of the blogs I read and sort them into handy categories such as 'Pretty Pictures' and 'Whimsical Vintage.'  This means if I'm having a busy week, I can quickly skim through the 'Friends' category and feel that I know what's going on with my nearest and dearest.  They've upped their game with a new iPad app and the profile feature, so you can now have a nosey to see who people are following and find any similar blogs you might like.  I think this feature has a lot of potential if they can hone it down bit better, though I'm not going to dispute that it says I'm 'similar' to Natalie Off Duty.  I'll take that, thank you very much.

Follow IWYTK on Bloglovin - Import Your Subscriptions

Feedly

Although I signed up to Feedly early on, I've been in denial and not using it too much, so I'm still getting used to the interface.  Fortunately I've downloaded the apps to every possible device and categorised things so that all is ready for the big day.  Once you have it installed, it's easy to add any new blogs via the icon that appears on screen and you can read articles in more of a magazine layout, as well as the traditional way you might be used to.  The best thing is that it remembers any starred items from Google Reader, meaning that I don't have to painstakingly go through and bookmark all of the random posts I want to keep.  I will probably use this for the more wordy blogs I read, such as The Cut and Thought Catalog as they update so frequently.

Facebook 

I like a few blogs on Facebook and it can be nice to see them pop up in my feed every so often, amongst all of the engagements *shudders* and statuses about the weather.  As well as including new posts, I try to post any interesting snippets of information I've found as a result of said blog reading plus anything I'm coveting at the moment.  This Topshop skirt has gone down well, so I'm going to try and hunt it down tomorrow!

E-mail

In the sidebar you will see a little box indicating that you can follow by e-mail, if that floats your boat.  It might be preferable to separate anything blog related into a certain folder so that they don't get mixed up with spam and 70% off sale blasts.  I've noticed a few blogs have newsletters and although I wouldn't rule it out in the future, I want to actually make sure I have enough to write about first and that all of my organisational issues are sorted. 

How are you going to cope with the demise of Google Reader?  I guess it's just a natural result of things updating and moving on (anyone remember Geocities) though it does seem a bit premature.  I can always start a support group if needed, so stay strong!

P.S I'll still be keeping GFC up for the time being but I'm preparing myself for the worst, or at least a Google+ amalgamation.

Rainy Day Dressing

You'd be forgiven for thinking that jeans are not my kind of thing.  Nine times out of ten, my outfits will consist of some sort of dress or skirt combo and when I do wear something of the trouser variety, there tends to be a print involved.  Well it's time to confess that I'm a major denim lover.  Sure my collection may be relegated to times when lounging is the main order of the day, but I'm starting to wear them out and about more whilst finding ways to add a little bit more interest.  It's almost been a year since I posted about my desire to find the perfect relaxed pair of jeans and even though I managed to find a nice faded Acne pair in the Copenhagen outlet, I'm now ready for a bit of variety.  Thanks to Jeanography that prayer was answered, it has a handy service that allows you to try on up to three pairs of jeans in the comfort of your own home for no charge.  Changing rooms are the very reason why I haven't managed to jump on the Joni or Easy Jean bandwagon and it's very scary putting a few different sizes on your card when you know that you only need one.  I selected this pair in a couple of sizes, scored a positive result by fitting in the smallest pair (I do love a bit of 2% elastane) and got excited for the practical outfit possibilities ahead.

Trench - COS

T-shirt - Mary Katrantzou

Jeans - Hudson c/o Jeanography

Satchel - Cambridge Satchel Company

Swedish Hasbeens - c/o Zalando

Jewellery - Tatty Devine, Monki

These pictures were taken in Neal's Yard, the kind of place I seem to stumble across and never find again.  It's a colourful courtyard in Covent Garden, full of healthy shops and cafés and thus perfect for this sort of blogger malarkey.  Luckily a break in the rain allowed me to do my best Blue Steel before donning my coat as a makeshift umbrella for my torrential trek back to the station. It's almost impossible for me not to show any ankle when I'm wearing jeans or trousers, which isn't the best idea when it's chucking it down but a look I'm willing to sacrifice comfort for.  My t-shirts tend to make an appearance when it's warmer, so I dug out this Mary Katrantzou charity top from last year with a print that I still get excited about. 

Thanks to Lucy for taking these photos!  I can't get across the amount of strange expressions and dodgy poses that it takes to get a few pictures that I'm happy with, so I'm glad to have found an ally that can help me put my best foot forward.  There's been a little bit of debate about the longevity of these sorts of posts and although some of the arguments are interesting, I think that there's still a place for them if done well.  Who doesn't like having a nosey at what people are wearing?  This outfit is an amalgamation of all of the blogs I read mixed with whatever my mood was that day and although I'm not quite sure where all of this documentation will lead, I'm certainly having fun whilst doing so.  Let's just wait and see what happens!

Tools to recreate:

The New Class

There's nothing like a new class of fashion graduates to get you quaking in your boots.  Now would be a good time to insert an appropriate comment about two years passing since my collection was shown; promise to stop this once I reach five!  It's a stressful and exciting time, you've put everything you physically can into making multiple outfits before unleashing it on the world, without knowing what's coming next.  My decision to attend the Nottingham Trent show at Graduate Fashion Week was a bit of a last minute one, I started off with a bit of doubt and disbelief that it was that time of year yet again, before realising that I didn't just want to look at the pictures online.  I can't vouch enough for the Total Fashion Show Experience and it's well worth trying to get tickets for these shows if you've got a design obsessed bone in your body.  Seeing all of the fresh ideas in combination with the carefully chosen music, formation of the models, and even the little styling details is a really exciting moment.  I'm glad I didn't go straight home that day.

Hover over the pictures to see the names of the students!

When at a particularly knitty fashion show, not only am I trying to figure out how to make the inner workings of my camera cooperate, but also racking my brains as to what techniques have been used.  Most of the time, I end up completely bewildered.  As expected, my eyes were drawn to the bright, eclectic and patterned, so collections by Naomi Lewis and Thea Sanders were right up my street with the plush and playful sleeves of Lewis making me want to jump right up and have a feel there and then (spy on her Pinterest board here).  Thea Sanders' award winning collection inspired by floor tiles wouldn't have seemed out of place at London Fashion Week, with an array of eclectic textures and jacquards created by any means possible on a domestic machine.  I was also mesmerised by Samantha Pearce's spliced jacquard maxi dresses and jumpsuits, combining careful pops of orange with gentler tones to give a new lease of live to the East meets West trend that is forever present.  Styling definitely didn't seem like a last minute decision with Vanina Yankova's tactile collection.  The seemingly avian inspired dresses were only enhanced further by the choice of jewellery and winged sunglasses that I'd love to nab for myself.  I've been having a nosey at her Pinterest to try and see where her inspiration might have sprung from, though sometimes it's good to have a few unanswered questions.



Did you see any Graduate shows this year?  It's definitely important to see what the creatives of the future are up to, even if you've been slacking yourself.  It's typical that I've picked a field to work in where you can't really switch off from it and need to constantly be updating, looking and drawing but I know it'll be rewarding in the end.  You can see the rest of the Nottingham collections here and let me know your favourites!

Not Quite Honolulu

Long before I started blogging and loving geeky shoes, satchels and midi lengths, I was always partial to a retro dress.  After developing curves in some of the right places, I realised that the 50s silhouette was the way to go and became obsessed with finding these creations whether vintage or on the high street.  For a while I've been distracted by the sea of smock dresses that have been appearing everywhere, but every so often I'll stumble across something in my beloved style and wonder what I was thinking.  When I eventually found this Hawaiian print dress in Topshop (I'd seen it in a magazine before but it was sadly uncredited), I was undeterred by the cut-out mid-section instead likening it to a matching set without the separation anxiety.  I'm forever guilty of buying things and stockpiling them, thinking 'I'll wear this on a day when it's 30 degrees and I'll be by the beach with a Pina Colada.'  Typically that perfect moment never arises.  After seeing this blogger channelling a similar vibe in another Toppers ensemble, I decided to bite the bullet, suck in the tummy and wear it, taking these pictures in a usually un-leafy Canary Wharf.

Leather Jacket, Dress - Topshop

Swedish Hasbeens- c/o Spartoo Shoes

Bag - Cambridge Satchel Company
Bracelet - Primark
Ring - Me & Zena 
Custom iPhone case - c/o Caseable

This dress is definitely made for travelling so I'll be taking it with me (along with an extremely edited wardrobe).  I'm seriously looking forward to wearing things I wouldn't get to normally due to the lack of tropical climate and exciting scenery; I haven't been on a (non-English) beach for three years!  My beloved clogs will definitely be missed, as I'm not sure how appreciative I'll be when they're weighing down a backpack.  Remember to keep any Thailand/Vietnam/Cambodia recommendations coming in, as I'd particularly like to know the best beauty bits to pack and whether three pairs of shorts is a tad unnecessary when it's going to be rainy season.  In keeping with the all-over printed theme, I've switched my initial phone case for a custom made Caseable one with my background design.  Although it's come out a bit bluer than the original file, it looks professional and I can show off a little when people ask where it's from.  It's mine, all mine!

Have you found the perfect Summer dress yet?