if we were born to hesitate

It's been such a long time since I actually sat down to write a post here. I wouldn't go so far as to say I had lost motivation, as I don't really think that it takes motivation exactly to keep a blog going. In truth, I just haven't had the time I used to have - college does take a hell of a lot of my free time, and usually when I'm not working I try and spend evenings and weekends with friends or doing art or something more productive. Also, after fashion week, I felt a little as if my blog was just getting too commercial and cliché - I want my posts on here to be creative or inspiring myself to be creative, not worn out, surface-level generic outfit posts and advertisements. Not that I think that's a bad thing - some blogs post daily, but manage to keep their posts interesting and worthwhile, whereas mine I felt were becoming a little lacking and very depthless. I am kind of pleased I took an accidental break, and am looking forward to sharing my explorations with film photography, art work, outfits and inspiration more over the coming months with a new sense of creativity, not structured or scheduled and taking everything meaningful out of it. In short, I will post more regularly and hopefully with much better content.

Anyway, I recently got my film developed that I've had on the go in my Zenit for a month or two. I quite like the idea of taking a few pictures every now and again, so the film you develop spans a long period of time, and reminds you of trivial events and peaceful days you might otherwise have forgotten about. The three pictures above were taken more recently, just before work one saturday. I wore a shirt from Blitz, cardigan and skirt from Beyond Retro, jacket and bag from Rokit, and shoes from Asos. I work now in an antique jewellery store on saturdays and love the fact I can wear anything - we are encouraged to wear as many pieces of amazing costume jewellery as we can during the day, and so it's quite fun trying to choose an outfit that will go well with statement earrings and crazy vintage brooches and big necklaces. We also get so many well-dressed customers that make it the perfect place for a bit of wardrobe (as well as jewellery) inspiration.

From an early morning walk a few weeks ago...we now have the cutest little puppy and so will soon be doing this more often, which I'm looking forward to as nothing feels better than walking in fresh heath air and drinking nutty hot chocolate on a winter morning.

I spent the weekend in Swanage a month or so ago, and used most of the film there. I love the English seaside and like the way film captures the grey, shabby side as well as the sunny side of the coastline. I also love how unpredictable it is - some of these pictures could be taken using a digital, whilst others have come out with that antique, grainy edge that make them look as if they were taken in the forties. If I could I would shoot everything on film all the time.

(The best part of the above photo being the fact that the dog isn't ours - we accidentally befriended it and then it decided to follow us).

(Jumper - Rokit / Trousers - Asos Marketplace / Sunglasses - Camden Market)

Anyway, back to the present day -  I am currently sitting reminiscing whilst writing about these pictures, drinking ginger and cinnamon tea and listening to Metronomy (I'm seeing them on friday and am so so so excited...trying to make sure I know all lyrics etc before the day arrives). I also bought tickets to go and see Peace in February and actually cannot contain my excitement. The thought of seeing them live again is just too much.
In other news, I saw the Egon Shiele Radical Nude exhibition at the Courtauld gallery today - I'd been meaning to pop down for ages but only today managed to actually go. It was really good...his pieces are so ahead of his time and still so controversial, despite current culture being so different to the culture of the time his work was originally received. It's a very small show but so worth seeing, even just to get to see something so exposing and raw in a fine art gallery.

 I wore my embroidered Topshop jeans that I've had since I was 12, glittery Topshop socks, jumper from Polomocha on Etsy, Deichmann shoes and fur coat from a market in Oxford ("nothing matters when you're wearing fur..."). I have a bit of a thing for mustard / yellow knitted jumpers at the moment, and am now the proud owner of three (all in different a mustardy shade). This one was from my current favourite Etsy store, Polomocha - it's based in Canada, but postage isn't expensive and everything is really well priced. I've ordered so much from there recently.
Finally, last but not least, I was sent some herbal teas from the lovely Teatox to try, and haven't had the chance to review them until now. As a big tea person I drink a minimum of four or five cups a day, and way more if I have a day in, so fitting the morning and night blends in with my daily routine felt completely natural. Waking up to a refreshing, cleansing cup of nettle, green and lemongrass tea with goji berries has made my mornings so much better, and I've definitely felt healthier for it. The evening blend is just as satisfying: calming rooibos, peppermint, hibiscus and elderflower makes for the best way to get to sleep. I've been religiously drinking both for about two weeks now and I absolutely love both. You can buy your own here.

 Have a good week!

-Ellie x

a witch of trouble in electric blue

I started writing this post a few weeks ago but didn't have the chance to finish it properly. I got home from school at about 12 today (all of my lessons were cancelled except double art, best day ever) so I thought I would use the time to post this from my birthday/recently. Here's what I wrote before:

So yesterday was my 17th birthday. Weird to think just how different I felt last year, listening to Neil Sedaka's 'Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen' and blowing out the candles on the makeshift tomato vine cake my friends made for me. This year was none the less memorable; halloween was spent in full Wayne's World costume with my friends, dancing to Abba, eating cookies and homemade cupcakes, then celebrating when the clock struck midnight. I then was woken up the next morning with pancakes in bed, before going out to see the Tracey Emin exhibition at the White Cube in Bermondsey. I like actually going out and doing something on my birthday, otherwise it just feels like an ordinary day, and seeing one of my favourite artist's work seemed like a good idea.

I wore a jumper and skirt from American Apparel, that were presents from my parents. They perfectly encapsulate that 60s, casual, autumnal look that I love in the movie Ginger and Rosa, and are probably going to be my staple outfit for the foreseeable future. I also wore my new shoes (a birthday present to myself...I like to try and justify buying things I 'need' but don't really need) from Asos and my old Rokit bag.

The Tracey Emin exhibition was no less incredible than I had imagined, with huge white rooms showcasing her amazing embroideries, paintings and bronze work. It felt like a very personal show, with Emin seemingly exploring her own identity and sense of self through countless self-portraits and  deep thoughts on neon signs, letting you in on and exposing her most intimate thoughts and inner vulnerability and allowing you to follow her journey of almost self-discovery. It was fairly small, however I still managed to spend ages revisiting each piece, and then having a wander through the surrounding shops (I need to go there more often, the cafés look amazing).

Sketchbook pages // Ginger and Rosa screenshots // Zeum magazine

Anyway, as of more recent happenings I have had a weird week or so back at college, as the countless strikes/cancelled lessons/focus days that have been going on have meant I've been getting home at about lunch time each day and therefore able to spend the remainder of the day in my pyjamas, eating cereal straight from the box, watching American Horror Story (my addiction has returned-I watched series 2 about a year or so ago but now have caught up and ah so so good) and doing art. Art is one of those A levels which literally takes all of your time, but doesn't feel like work as it's so relaxing to do.
Also, I finally got my hands on Zeum magazine! It is so beautiful as always, and features so many of my favourite people and designers...and has a lil' page on me! It was amazing shooting on Abbey Road with Katie Silvester (whose photography is so perfect) and getting to hang out with ultimate babes Rachel and Isobel who are also featured.

Last but definitely not least I was sent a pair of glasses from London Retro for Glasses Direct. I loved the colour as they looked much less harsh next to my skin than black or navy frames do, and the shape was actually perfect. They also came really quickly, and so if you need a pair of glasses you now know where to go!
Hope you have a lovely week,