girl next door fashion has moved!!

If you’re looking for girl next door fashion, you can now find it at girlnextdoorfashion.net.

Please update your bookmarks/rss feeds/ blog rolls etc.

I will be keeping this domain but all new posts will be at my new address.

Thank you for all your support, I hope you all follow me over to my new home.

See you on the other side.

Charlotte xxx

First post at new blog.

Hi there :]]]

Okay I think I’m finally taking the plunge and moving to my new blog.

New post here.

I hope you follow me to my new home.

I scared :[[[

xxx

getting there!!

Finally imported all my blog posts to my new domain!! Just a bit more to do and then I can finally move over!!

girlnextdoorfashion.net :]]]

xxx

and I wonder if I ever cross your mind

Today is kinda a sad, but exciting day. This is likely to be one of, if not the, last post at girlnextdoorfashion.wordpress.com.  I have just purchased the domain girlnextdoorfashion.net, and within the next few days I will be moving my entire blog over there. I’m sad; I’m going to lose all my stats and comments. I’ve loved being here at wordpress but I’m ready to move on. Please please please can you update your RSS feeds, bookmarks etc as you will no longer be able to access my blog at this address fairly soon. I’m hoping to open a new account on here though when I’ve transfer with a post saying “no!! i’m not here anymore!!” so what do you have to remember?

girlnextdoorfashion.net girlnextdoorfashion.net girlnextdoorfashion.net girlnextdoorfashion.net !!

Got it? Good :]] I have a lot to update with the new URL but from deciding yesterday I was going to move my blog I am now really happy to be moving. If you click on the link you will see that it’s on its way- I’ve already added a few badges that I couldn’t have on my blog here. Obviously there are no posts yet but that should change soon!!

I’m still a bit nervous about moving- there are a lot of aspects of wordpress that I do like. I like the ability to automatically publish to facebook (this isn’t possible on blogger, right?) and I can’t seem to be able to access blog stats like I can on here, which I love too. Ahh I’m getting cold feet now!! Can someone convince me that I’m doing the right thing? I’m really worried I’m going to lose everything- including all my readers. Promise me you’ll all follow me to my new home?

These photos demonstrate that I am in fact the world’s most vain person. I started out taking these photos in my glasses (my eyes needed a rest from my contacts-wearing), but I don’t like the way I look in my glasses. After a few photos I just took them off!! So these photos are taken mostly of me when I could barely see my hand in front of my face!

This dress is one of those things I absolutely adored when I bought but then went off the longer I had it. It’s been down-graded from an evening dress to a day dress, but I think it’s pretty enough for the day time without being too OTT. I had a bit of an issue with the belt. It’s sort of fitted under the bust and then flares out which has the effect of making me look pregnant!! I wasn’t sure whether the belt should be on my waist or where the seam on the dress is. It moves around a bit on these photos!!

dress- top shop tights- dorothy perkins shoes- new look pearls- primark headband- george at asda belt- new look

I’m glad I actually managed to get outfit photos done today- there’s been a huge storm today where I live!! It’s barely stopped raining like crazy all day. Luckily I’ve spent the day at home catching up on errands and writing I had to do so I didn’t have to leave the house!! I’m glad I managed to get quite a lot done. It stopped raining about 7.30pm so I went out to take some photos. I actually quite like these; I wanted a sort of fairy-in-the-garden aspect and I like the muted, vintage-y colours.

I’m actually getting quite excited about my year abroad now. I spoke to Lauren today to discuss all the millions of things we have to sort out before we go, but we soon got distracted making plans for when we get there and going travelling and what we’re going to get up to!! I’m still pretty nervous but I’m kinda excited too. I’ve added the weather in Duluth onto my iPod and I keep checking to see what it’s like over there!!

I’m home alone tonight, which normally bothers me, especially when I’ve been home all day, but I think I might catch up on Gossip Girl and do some reading. I’ve started reading Pygmy, which I never got into last time, but I’m being encouraged to read Lolita so I think I’l pick that back up!!

So should I take the plunge and move my blog over? Eeek I’m scared!! Please send me messages of encouragement- this feel like a massively huge big deal. But I love the thought of having my own dot net url- it is pretty exciting.

Charlotte xx

Okay…

I’m actually seriously considering moving my blog to blogger. I have a blog set up and I’m contemplating buying my own domian.

I’ve very scared I’m about to lose everything.

But this could be amazing.

Any last minute advice? Please?

Charlotte xxx

wordpress annoyance!!

WordPress is starting to drive me mad.

Why can’t I have certain codings in my text widgets?

I’m really starting to feel like wordpress is limiting the options for my blog.

Does anyone have any advice about moving blog platforms?

Is there a way to import all of your blog posts into a new platform?

What platform is the best to move to?

Charlotte

sushi pjs

I am supposed to be a style blogger. I am supposed to be inspiring and fashionable and quirky. I should be dressed by 10am. But instead I am wearing these:

How cute are these pajamas?! Okay, they cost me an arm and a leg but it’s going to be cold in Minnesota and sushi-print pajamas are definitely the way forward!! I also working on getting the junk food ones in exchange for clearing out all my old pajamas. (I have a couple of nighties I’ve had since I was 8. Seriously.) I think I’m ready for “grown up” pajamas.  These pjs just really make me happy. Really happy. LOOK AT THE CUTE LITTLE SMILEY SUSHI!!

top and lounge pants- both David and Goliath

I don’t have work til 2 so I don’t need to leave here until after one and I didn’t want to waste an outfit on getting dressed and it was this or sweatpants (what’s happened to me?! I never used to wear sweatpants or pajamas unless I was sleeping. I think I’m getting old and now I like to be comfy. ) I do love my sweatpants though- they’re proper University Sports ones and they have University of Birmingham Dance Society down the leg. They’re fab. I like them because I can wear them and people won’t be like “ew what a tramp” they might be like “oh she’s going dancing”. Hmm. Maybe.

Anyway, back to actual fashion!! These photos were taken on Sunday. I’ve had a fab few days actually. Saturday was just work and then I went to pick my parents up from my Auntie’s (who fed me!!) and I stayed for a bit and they were all quite drunk which was quite funny. I was shattered after work though and didn’t enjoy not being in bed until 1am!! But on Sunday I went to meet one of my best friends and we went for coffee and a wander and a talk which was lovely, and then we went food shopping at work, came home and watched two episodes of Sherlock. Did anyone else watch it? Wasn’t it fab? I love his coat. I read a great article the other day on how they’re hoping Sherlock’s character will inspire men to dress up more. (ooh found it) I’d love a guy who dressed like this. I love all the Victorian-style dressing- like early Panic at the disco. I love waistcoats and long coats. Victorian style was just fabulous. There’s also a piece here on Sherlock Chic.

I know what you’re thinking “omg, photos outside of the house area!!”. Indeed, these are OUTSIDE MY HOUSE. I didn’t get very far!! I get too embarrassed posing around with my tripod in public. I know I need to man-up and do it. The park near my house is gorgeous but I just get too shy. I took advantage of the fact it was a quiet sunday evening when I took these!!

I had an absolutely fab.u.lous. day yesterday. I found out on Saturday that I wasn’t working yesterday so I quickly text my friend Briony who is back in Birmingham and asked if it would be cool with her for me to come down to Birmingham for the day. So yesterday I got up early, parked my car near the station and popped off to Birmingham for the day!! Briony met me at the station and we had a fab day of shopping, coffee breaks and LOTS of gossip. Briony was my first friend at university (we met in a Library induction both dying of freshers’ flu!!) and sat next to each other in lectures every monday and tuesday of first year. We struggled to arrange to meet through second year but the best thing about uni is sometimes you do lose touch with people you were really close with in first year because everyone is so busy but it’s so easy to rekindle a friendship. Whenever we see each other it’s like nothing has changed, and I suppose nothing really has!!

First stop was the Apple shop to get my ipod fixed. Now they say that when you get good customer service you tell a couple of people, but when you get bad customer service you tell everyone. Well I would like to tell every single person who reads this blog how amazing my customer service from Apple was!! My ipod was dead, basically. I could still use it to listen to music (ish) but the backlight was broken and so was the internet. I gave the man my ipod and he said it was out of warranty by 4 days (I almost cried!!) and it showed signs of water damage, which isn’t covered by the warranty. I thought, shit, that’s it isn’t it? Bye bye £250 on a new ipod. He then said it would cost £120 to be fixed. I asked him if I could have some time to think about it (I thought about buying a new ipod in America and making do for now). He said Apple like to show their customers that they offer great customer service so this one time he’s completely replace my old ipod with a brand new one for free, despite it being out of guarantee.  He said it was a one-off and next time I’d have to pay, but then produced a brand new 32GB ipod touch. A few signatures later and it was mine. Wow. I actually can’t believe it. I am now completely indebted to Apple now forever, and am definitely going to get an iPone next year. What great, considerate service!! I was over the moon!!

I also bought a few more things when I went shopping (I know, I’m so naughty!!). I finally got some black skinny trousers from H&M which I can’t wait to wear, a blue cardigan (I’m still after a red one, and my mustard one should be on the way!!), a cropped blazer (I wear so much high waisted stuff that a long blazer looks silly) and a pretty little white pussy-bow shirt- all from H&M. Oh and my adorable pajamas!! Briony tried on the most amazing mustard-coloured-poodle-print blazer which would have looked hideous on most people in the world. It looked amazing!! I hope she buys it!!

black top- H&M leather jacket- H&M jeans- top shop shoes- debenhams scarf- mum’s

I hardly ever, ever, ever wear jeans. I just get bored by them. I am always in skirts or shorts or dresses, which is weird really because I’ve always hated my legs. I just don’t know what to do with jeans. I always have to wear something different. I find it hard to stand out in jeans. But this was an outfit I wore for my work experience and my dad absolutely loved it. My mum showed me this gorgeous scarf and I was just in love. I decided it would look great with a really simple outfit with just a hint of leopard- my current favourite print.

Well there’s three weeks left and still so much to do!! I need to go ring the doctors, the dentist and the opticians to make sure I’m all checked over before I go (and for a year’s worth of contact lenses!!)- Thursday is the day I plan on getting all that done!! Tomorrow I have work all day and then we’re going to the pub for tea- a rare but nice treat!! Thursday is my day to go through all of my to-do list- Lauren is going to give me a ring so we can try to sort out all the things we may have forgotten to do!!

I’m sure I’ll get chance for an update on Thursday, if not before then. What are you up to this week? Anything exciting? Let me know in a comment. And if you have any comments/problems/ideas etc. feel free to drop me a comment or email me- girlnextdoorfashion@googlemail.com

Have a fabulous Tuesday!!

Charlotte

Love, Lust and Links.

Well this is a new weekly feature I’ve been wanted to start for a while. I know a lot of blogs that do this or something similar and it’s always a nice read. I’m hoping to do a post like this every weekend of my favourite things  this week!!

1. Rollercoasters

I am a massive rollercoaster junkie. Massive. My actual dream would be to be one of those people who just go round the world going on rollercoasters!! I went to Alton Towers yesterday and had a really fun day but I came home absolutely exhausted!! I really want to go to some of the other theme parks in the UK- I really want to go to Thorpe Park!! I hope I get a chance to go to some theme parks next year- I read there’s a great one in Ohio. We managed to get on most of the big rides yesterday- 13, Rita (one of my favourites), Nemesis, Oblivion and probably my ultimate favourite, Spinball Whizzer. Alton Towers is such a great day out!! Thank you Ed for our free tickets!!

2. Leopard Print

(How cute are these little baby leopards?!) I am obsessed with leopard print at the moment- dresses, bags, shoes, scarves… everything!! I just think it’s so subtley sexy but so fun. I just need an excuse to wear my new leopard print dress!!

3.  Red bags

I don’t know what it is about red bags, I just really want one!! Bags are my downfall wardrobe-wise. I have a couple of standard black ones, a brown one, a green one, a yellow one and a nude one and that’s about it!! I’d love a red bag to brighten up a simple outfit or as a great complement to a blue outfit.

4. Skinny trousers

This could be a sign that I’m growing up but I really want a really simple pair of black skinny trousers. I just think they’re really simple, sleek and sexy. I think I’m starting to get really into formal wear. Am I a grown up now?

5. Tartan

I don’t know if it’s catching up on Gossip Girl (I’m so behind!!) or my anticipation about Autumn/Winter, but I’m back to my yearly obsessed with tartan. The actual picture I wanted was from Gossip Girl- The Debarted, where the new It Girls were all wearing tartan skirts, jumpers and blazers and looking unbelievable. I really want a couple of new tartan skirts- red, green, blue… perfect winter wear!! I’m hitting up ebay!!

6. Scarf-tie-ing

I am awful at looking cool in a scarf, but I absolutely love this chart- especially the 2nd and 4th tie styles!! You can read more about it here.

7. Trying to be a Brilliant Woman

Courtesy of this link!!

8. The Vanity Fair Best-Dressed List

Of course!!

9.  The beginning of the month

For me, the beginning of the month means one thing- new magazines!! I’m really looking forward to my favourites- Glamour and Cosmo, and of course, the September Issue of Vogue! This chart is a great guide to the September issues.

10. Bret Easton Ellis

I started Imperial Bedrooms last night and oh, Bret, I love you. I don’t think I quite love him more than Chuck Palahniuk yet, but he is such a fantastic author. Dissertation inspiration perhaps?

siobhan mckenzie.

Well hello there!! Sorry I’ve been a bit quite the past few days!! I worked on Sunday and Monday and then I had a great day with my mum on Tuesday. We went to see my Grandparents which was lovely and then walked into the local village which is lovely for a spot of book-shopping and lunch!! Lunch was amazing- I had a butternut squash and goat’s cheese quesadilla and we shared an eton mess. mmmm :]]] Book shopping was equally amazing. My mum treated me to Imperial Bedrooms which I haven’t started yet, but I’ve heard it’s very disturbing so I hope Bret is true to his usual form!! When I’ve read this I will have read all seven of his books- yay. I also, I have no idea how!! managed to get the Teen Vogue Guide to Careers In Fashion from her, even though I insisted she just remember it at Christmas. I’ve wanted it for ages since seeing it on amazon and instantly adding it to my wish list!! I’ve only read a bit so far but there’s a decent chapter on fashion writing and editing so I’m very excited to get reading it!! I also showed her the £30 fashion book I want for Christmas!! I think I’d just like fashion books this year!!

dress- courtesy of siobhan mckenzie tight- top shop boots- office jacket- h&m

This fabulous dress, and the other which will be on some of the photos later in the post, was personally tailored and sent to me by Siobhan Mackenzie. We’ve been corresponding for a while and she chose these two dresses for me and tailored them especially for me. They’re both absolutely gorgeous and made so beautifully. I’m writing a piece on her for Student Fashion Blog so watch this space- I’ll pop the link up when it’s posted up, which should be sometime today or tomorrow. The dresses are both gorgeous quality and fit (although do not wear either after eating- the food baby look is majorly not cool in such a fitted dress!!) and I love the beautiful lining of the Ziggy Mini Dress. They’re both perfect for day or night, but unfortunately I had nowhere to go in my Ziggy dress!! Thank you so much Siobhan!! Please go check out her site!!

Speaking of writing, the second part of my 20 Classic Pieces is up at College Fashion so you should go check that out!! I’ve also just finished my now-fifth piece for The Fashion Buzz. I am absolutely loving all this writing, it’s such great experience!! I’ve also just written another piece for the local magazine that I’m writing for. It was based on one of the interviews I did back in May but the lady who I interviewed sadly lost her battle with cancer last month, so it was an emotional piece to write. Apparently I made my editor cry, hopefully in a good way!!

dress- courtesy of Siobhan McKenzie shoe boots- charity shop earrings- gift

I seem to have so much to sort out for my year abroad. First stop, health insurance!! I was reading through all the International Students information last night and it’s all so much to take in!! I feel more excited now after reading it all. It’s all starting to feel real but there was lots of advice for international students that I found really helpful. I also got really excited reading about all the different student groups at the university. I’m definitely going to get involved in the newspaper and definitely dance, but I might get back into theatre and there’s a literature discussion group that I think I’d love. Is it bad I saved the link about being a cheerleader? Oh come on, it’s every girl’s dream!! No-one really cheerleads in this country, well they do but it isn’t as much as a big deal. Oh it looks so fun!!

Yesterday was a bit of a rubbish day but I managed to get quite a lot done in the end. I wasn’t sure if I was working so I sort of spent the day waiting to see if I was going to get a phonecall so ergo I spent the whole day in the house. Like I said though I got the article written for my local magazine and got these photos taken (the ones in the black skeleton dress were taken on Tuesday) and watched Masterchef. My plan for today was to get the piece written for Student Fashion Blog, which I’ve done, write my next article for The Fashion Buzz, which I’ve done, and update my blog, which I’m doing so I might spend the rest of the morning reading and drinking cups of tea!! I’m meeting my best friend Shaunagh at 2.30 before I have work at 5- I haven’t seen her in about 4 months so I’m really excited to see her for coffee and a girly catch up!! Then I have work 5 until 10 but I don’t think it’ll be too bad tonight.

the lovely lining of the ziggy mini-dress

But tomorrow is exciting Friday!! I’m going to Alton Towers tomorrow!! It’s going to be crazy busy and I don’t think we’ll get on many rides but we went for my birthday a few months ago so I don’t mind if we don’t get on everything (even though I am a massive rollercoaster junkie. Massive. I will go on anything. And not hold on.) especially because we’re going for free because one of my best friends works there (HI ED!!) And then I think we’re having a sleepover at my other best friend’s which should be great fun!! And then I think I’m working a lot next week but it’ll be nice to get the money together for going away- especially as everything is looking like it’s going to be crazy expensive!! I do plan on going to Birmingham on one of my days off next week to see one of my best friends Briony and say goodbye to my favourite city for a while :[[

Well it’s 11am- I think that’s time for a cup of tea!! I’ll probably squeeze a post in on Sunday- sorry I’m so busy!!

Have a fantastic Thursday!!

Charlotte xxx

Woman in Uniform.

Both my post for Rosie (below) and starting work again has had me thinking about uniforms. Partly uniforms in terms of things we have to wear; school uniforms, work uniforms etc. but also in terms of our every day uniforms- day wear, evening wear, what is and is not appropriate. In school, in the UK anyway, we are taught that wearing a uniform stops jealousy and competition; we wear a uniform so we’re all the same, so we aren’t divided by the labels on our jackets and price of our jeans. It encourages conformity, but also stunts our self expression. My school was particularly strict about uniform and as a sulky teenager I tried to push the rules as much as I could- badges on my school blazer, short skirt, wristbands and eye makeup. Although I left high school over 4 years ago now, I am now back to working in a uniform. My uniform on the counters section of Asda is made up of a white and green shirt, Asda black trousers, a lime green tabbard, hair net, net trilby hat and plain black shoes. I cannot wear any jewellery or nail varnish and my hair has to be tied away in a hair net. There is no place for self expression. This is entirely practical.

I find this understandable, of course, but incredibly frustrating. There is no part of my uniform that I can customize. And often it kills my self expression for days. Occasionally the fact that I live in this uniform means that I cannot wait to dress up on my day off, but more often than not it kills my creativity. Clothes become boring and practical. Clothes lose their fun.

I have more freedom of expression with my other uniform at my bar job. Our only compulsory item of uniform is a black polo shirt, which I find a fantastic challenge. I’m always testing out new ways to feel unique in a uniform where I look like everyone else. Bandage skirts, shorts and floral bubble skirts break up the standard uniform of jeans and ballet pumps. My uniform gives me a chance to express myself while still representing my company. I don’t feel constricted at all, in fact it’s inspiring and liberating. Often a sort of variation-on-a-theme outfit is a great challenge.

But my Asda uniform is frustrating. Even my bright pink hair, my trademark, is covered up under a hat and hair net. I hate blending in, I hate looking like every body else. This was something that never really bothered me at school- I looked forward to own-clothes days to really express myself and the weekends, and enjoyed not having the agonizing decision over what to wear that I heard was frequently the morning ritual of girls in American high schools.

Some sociologists argue that uniforms are unnecessary and “demean and humiliate the working-class” and “It is another subtle way for the ruling class to assert their power over the working-class: dress them up in clownish clothing”. While I don’t believe a uniform can possess this much power, it is interesting how some jobs (usually the lower paid jobs in the service industry) have set uniforms and others do not. Yet, is a shirt and tie “business casual” not a uniform in itself?

Perhaps there is a time and a place for self expression. Perhaps this is the reason why more creative industries seem to demand less of a uniform, and the service industry requires less as there are lots of people doing the same job.

Some days I appreciate the fact that I don’t have to think about what I have to wear the days when I’m working, but I do miss feeling nice when I leave the house in the morning and knowing that I’ve put something unique together myself. I guess I’m just one of those people who likes to express myself through my clothes, and I find having that liberty taken from me distressing but interesting. A uniform forces me to express myself in a different way, and self expression is new ways is always a great skill to learn.