I am Chloe. I do all kinds of things, bit of photography here, bit of face painting there, I never have any money, but most of the time I'm happy, I'm starting out and seeing where I go, and this is all part of it. I'd love people to read this, add their comments, start discussions...
I love fashion, but in the less conventional sense of the term. What excites me more than obsessively following seasonal trends is getting a feel for what real people are wearing. I look at everybody. I think the greatest inspirations in life are people, and I constantly people-watch, picking up on the details that get missed in the rush. What we wear is not the be all and end all, a well dressed idiot is still an idiot, but it's an enjoyable way to demonstrate your independence and creativity. Getting dressed in the morning can be a pleasure, it's your first chance of the day to create something beautiful, interesting, intricate, something that hints at who you are and what you like. And looking good makes you feel good, there's no doubt about it.
An important factor in the way I view fashion is money, or rather, lack of money. Like many, I love to soak up Vogue, but I live on a tiny tiny income, and there's simply no way I could own anything featured. I don't feel too bad about it though, having enough dollar to sustain that kind of wardrobe seems to me a surefire way to let your fashion imagination get lazy. There are so many wonderful ways of being creative with clothes that require the smallest amount of cash. But please, I implore you, don't let this include dangerously cheap high street shops. You need to ask yourself how such places can offer new clothes at these prices. You can be certain they're not reducing their profit margins, so they must be cutting corners somewhere else, and the first corners to be cut are those that we in this country don't see and are happy to ignore. Our everyday pleasures should not impact negatively on the lives and futures of others, and the way these companies work is neither ethical nor sustainable.
You don't need to be an eco-warrior-hippie-type, (although they do have fabulous style darling). Just be imaginative! Finding a gem in a charity shop really feels good, and you'll be surprised just how many gems there are. Treasure hunting is much more satisfying than sifting through hundreds and hundreds of identikit outfits, I promise.
The skill that aids me the most in my fashion quests is sewing. I don't believe anyone who says they can't sew, all it takes is practice and decent thread. Start off on scraps of old fabric, make dolly clothes, do anything you like, just sew! It's magic. A sewing machine is a worthwhile investment once you've got the basics down, since it's much speedier and gives a stronger finish, but I sewed for a few years before I had one.
I've been getting into knitting in a fairly big way over the last year or so, but I can still only get my head round rectangles, so I've only made items that are variations on the rectangle...headbands, snoods, scarves... It's very therapeutic, and simple, hand knitted items make great presents, as long as they're made with love! My boy adores his ocean blue, chunky knit headband, and my friend says the snuggly case I made for his mp3 player is probably the reason it's still in one piece!
I suppose the point I want to demonstrate is that fashion and creativity is anything and everything you want. It's fun to follow trends, and I like incorporating them into things I'm already wearing or doing, but the most important thing is to feel comfortable and happy. Don't let yourself be ruled by faddy "what's hot, what's not" columns. If you read them often enough you'll notice they contradict themselves on a regular basis, and I can't help thinking that an item's position often depends on what freebies got sent to the editor's office...
So, in celebration of beauty and creativity, every week I am going to share things I've seen around, in the street, out and about, everywhere. Anything that caught my eye, made me smile or turned my head. I'll share what I'm loving, and I invite anyone who reads to do the same.
leggings a love I've had for a good few years now, and I'm happy they're so much easier to find now! Any colour, any pattern, I love them all. They're comfortable, they're flattering, they go with EVERYTHING. Just be careful with shiny metallic fabric, they're a little less flattering on curvy bums like mine!
farmer chique a developing style for me, well suited to Autumn I think, oversize checked shirts, widely available in the men's section of your local charity shop, fitted with safety pins or a soft, worn, waist belt, chunky knitted socks and wellington boots (I've got the cheapest kind from the army surplus store. I wear them with the tops rolled down and socks pulled over).
It's practically effortless, easy to personalise and puddle-proof!
found object art jewels look out for interesting discarded objects, give them a clean, attach them to a long chain, a ring, whatever you like, and you've got a piece of eco-couture costume jewellery. Uber cheap, uber special.
