and I've been putting out fire with gasoline

 

Happy Friday lovelies! Before I start rattling on, let's all just take a moment to appreciate the fact that this is my second post of the week...crazy right?! Maybe I am getting better at posting after all. Anyway, on Sunday my parents and I took a lovely afternoon trip down to Brick Lane to get some bits and bobs and grab a coffee somewhere. The weather was absolutely gorgeous for once, and as us English get a little over-excited at the rare occurrence of a sunny day, there were even ice cream vans out. It was also incredibly busy as Sunday is the day of the Sunday Up market on Brick Lane, which means stalls of food, games on the street, an indoor market...the list goes on. It's by far my favourite day to visit, and I got a good few things for school and upcoming birthdays and the like. 

 

 

 

 

 

I wore my cut-off dungarees from Beyond Retro, shoes from Rokit, shirt from the east end thrift store (it worked out to cost me less than £1!) and socks and bag from Topshop. My necklace is from Urban Outfitters. The bracelet I'm wearing is from Hirst Antiques, which I wrote about in this post. I love bangles and felt this one added just enough of an edge to my outfit without being too attention-grabbing.

 

 

 

(collage I saw on a wall...I wish I knew who the artist was)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(beautiful magazines. I like to treat myself to one every now and again....on this occasion I bought a copy of Excess (It is so perfect, each shoot is like a dream) though I have been known to opt for Oh Comely, Lionheart, Nylon etc.)

 

(street art I liked...acknowledge that I had to take this picture out of a car window. The things I do)

 

 

 

 

I'm going to be Bridesmaid at my cousin's wedding tomorrow, which is both equally exciting and slightly daunting...I am supposed to be having my hair and makeup done professionally, which will be a totally new experience as I usually like to do it myself and the way I like it. I'm excited though, as the artist did the hair and makeup at the wedding I went to in April and it looked amazing, so fingers crossed it will turn out just as nice on me! I'm sure I'll get some photos for this here blog so you'll be able to judge for yourselves.
Have a lovely weekend,

ellie xo

the times where we come from couldn't lose in blue

 

Apologies in advance for the mismatching-ness of this post...I found these pictures from Borough Market a few weeks back and felt like I may as well post them. I do have a better post on the way, but as you probably know I have been crazy busy ever since I started back at school, with weddings, ceremonies, appointments, exhibitions, birthdays and the like, but after this weekend I am going to regain my status as a FREE WOMAN. It has been so long since I have been able to take some time out for myself or hang out with my friends and I literally cannot wait to just do nothing for once (though I'm not sure how long it'll last...I have a habit of taking on way too much and so always having something I should be doing). Hopefully my new-found freedom might result in better blogging, who knows.

 

 

(lunch in borough market was an amazing raw vegan salad...despite the fact that I am not raw vegan, or any type of vegan for that matter)

 

 

 

 

(cardigan and necklace from Beyond Retro, shirt from spitalfields market, shorts from Rokit, shoes and socks from Topshop)

 

On Saturday my family and I had a 60's themed party for my Dad's birthday, which resulted in us buying (and me eating) way too much food, dancing to old music (and the arctic monkeys for some reason?) and dressing up in ridiculous 'sixties' costumes. I say 'sixties' in inverted commas as there was some issues with costumes, meaning amongst the Beatles, two hippies (one looking very similiar to Gandalf?) and an extra from Hairspray there was Iron man and Thor. It was a lovely evening however, made even better by the absolutely fabulous cake from Coco's Cakes. (pictured below)

 

 

 

Not only was the cake made with the lightest, freshest, tastiest sponge in the world, it was filled with fresh cream and strawberries, dusted with icing sugar, and topped with a sugar paste miniature of the birthday boy himself. I've had a good few sponge cakes in my time, and this one was by far the best I have ever had the pleasure to eat. What is even better is the fact that Coco's Cakes pride themselves on using only fresh, natural ingredients (so no horrible preservatives) and still manage to create delicious (and amazingly designed) cakes at the same time. I thoroughly recommend you check out their website and like their facebook page...you won't regret it.

 

 

 

 

I wore the most gorgeous 60's shift dress I picked up from Absolute Vintage on Brick Lane last weekend, with my mum's wedding shoes. I can't believe I didn't get any proper photographs of my outfit, but I'm quite sure I'll be wearing it quite frequently and so will take some next time. I hope you are all having a good week, and I'll be back with a proper post in the next few days.

ellie xo

well you are still a young girl, and you've bought everything in style

 

On Friday evening I was lucky enough to be invited to attend a Jewellery party at Hirst Antiques in Notting Hill, and able to take some photographs in store to share with you guys. The shop itself is an Aladdin's cave, full to bursting with the most amazing antique and costume jewellery collected by it's owner Amanda Wrigley (who is so lovely). There is so much to take in, from real Vivienne Westwood and Karl Lagerfeld pieces to cute, quirky little animal rings and brooches, and enough diamonds to keep a thousand girls happy. You could spend forever browsing the busy cabinets, organised into shelves depending on colour and style, and are sure to find at least ten things that you absolutely must have...and can have, too, as prices range from bargains to a hundred pounds and over. Each piece sold has been chosen and displayed with so much care, and you get the feeling that, despite being a good business, Hirst Antiques is about sharing a passion for beautiful things, and not about just making money.

 

 

 

 

The shop was closed for us to browse, and we were treated to Prosecco and Lemonade in gorgeous glasses, tied up with ribbon and decorated with rings or charms (like the shoe earring pictured above). I genuinely felt like a celebrity, or a member of the royal family or something (though unlike our Harry I managed to keep my clothes on). I couldn't get over how beautiful everything was...everywhere I looked their was another pair of earrings, or a bangle or bracelet that caught my eye.  

 

 

 

I didn't get a full picture of my outfit but I'll tell you anyway that I wore a cardigan from Clothes Show Live, a football shirt from the East End Thrift Store, and a belt and tartan skirt from Beyond Retro. The skirt is one of my favourite pieces at the moment as it makes me feel like I'm in Clueless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each shelf is like a shrine; heaped with jewellery and inspiration, and pictures line the cabinets, giving you even more to look at as you browse items from both now and days gone by. You almost want to climb inside and physically explore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I had an absolutely wonderful evening; almost dream-like, it was so perfect. The shop is a gold mine of classic, eccentric and kitsch pieces, and is so worth a trip if you live in London or are visiting the area.

 

Check out Hirst Antiques  HERE

 

ellie xo