Outfit of the Day

I bought a few things from asos. com last week, and I was thrilled to get them in the post this morning. I love all four items, and they fit, so that's a win. The frilled blouse is different to anything else I have, I never even wear black really. So I decided to brighten up the outfit with my beloved leopard print mini.

I'm loving the print clash with the ugly curtains!

This skirt was purchased this past summer, while I was in Thailand.  Anyone that's shopped in Thailand knows how  reluctant market stall vendors are to let you try on the clothes, I guess people have run off on them in the past, so fair enough. It means you're taking a gamble by buying something however, I came home with a few too many ill- fitting dresses! I was in Chattachuk Market, a complete fashion lovers paradise, when I came across this skirt. I was stretching it out to see if it would fit, when the lady who owned the stall very sweetly asked "Ooh, you pregnant?" Ouch. major ouch. Next to tiny Thai people, all Westerners look massive. Ah well, I still love the skirt. I'll start the diet next week.

Ridicule is nothing to be scared of

I wish I'd had this blog back in November when I went to see Adam Ant's gig, the memories would be a lot fresher. It's okay though, I remember the night in a hazy kinda cool way. Well, i know it ended with me losing my wallet anyway. This is getting off topic. I just decided today, after wearing my Adam Ant t- shirt yet again, to do a short post on that great decade which saw such odd and inventive style.

Adam deserves two thumbs up, more photos of this outfit on Chictopia...

Eighties fashion fascinates me, it was so... ugly in a great way. I barely scrape into being an Eighties baby, I was born in August '89, so my view on the fashion scene is purely from music, tv, and films. Men wore make- up, women dressed in trouser suits, it was all delightfully subversive. Adam's return to music and touring after a long hiatus proves that the eighties are still relevant. There's a lot we can learn from a decade which persevered through an economic situation like the one we're facing now, and triumphed. Let's do as our 1980s counterparts did, and party through it. Maybe dressing up a bit crazy won't solve the recession, but it sure makes me feel a lot better!

So Statuesque

Last night, I had the good fortune while flicking channels to stumble across a favourite film of mine: "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar". When I first heard about this film, the premise sounded too ridiculous to bother with. I mean, Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo as drag queens... it should never have worked. But it did so much more than simply work, it shone! This bizarrely wonderful road trip comedy has so many amazing fashion moments, it fills me with glee. The film opens with a little Salt n Pepa, banging out "I am the Body Beautiful", accompanied by Swayze and Snipes getting dolled up. You haven't gotten dressed up for a night out until you've done it slinking about to this song! Most. Fun. Ever.

This film celebrates freedom in so many ways, it provides enough material for a dissertation. The costumes are entirely influenced by this. Extravagant and exuberant, they contrast beautifully with the dusty, sleepy town our three heroines find themselves stranded in. Each character has a distinct style to fit their role. Swayze's character plays on classic elegance; plenty of skirt suits and just about as proper and ladylike as a drag queen gets.

Leguizamo's character is younger, less jaded with life, but as a result lacking experience. I actually find myself really enjoying her style, young, flirty, plenty of denim! I love the idea of flouncing about in a little white nightie as in the image below, but I'm realistically more of a flannel pyjamas type.

Wesley Snipes cuts an impressive figure as a lady, Ms. Noxeema Jackson sports some impressive maxi dresses, and some delightful nineties prints, two things I'm loving right now.

Before I blather all night about all the great quotes and scenes in this film, I'll cut myself off, and simply do a countdown of my top 3 "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar" fashion moments.

3. Noxeema and Vita (Swayze) explaining the difference between drag queen, and "little Latin boy in a dress" to Chi Chi (Leguizamo).

2. Vita teaching a lovesick protege to copy the moves of Miss Anne Baxter in "The Ten Commandments", in order to catch the eye of a boy.

1. Noxeema reduced to speechlessness when finding a cache of unsold Sixties clothing in the back of the otherwise drab clothes shop.

My Life in Fashion

Aside from the obvious Beatles admiration that is apparent in my blog's name choice, "Laura in the Sky With Diamonds" is an apt description of me when it comes to fashion. Transported to a magical place where everything makes sense despite its otherwordliness. I embrace and combine everything I see that pleases me visually. There are days when I crave simplicity, a pared down Jil Sander look might describe it best. But I mostly go a bit over the top with colour and texture, velvet and lace, wearing more rings than I have fingers to support. What better way to express this than with a nice collage of some images that I find appealing.

Marchesa-  love that 20s fringing

Tilda- fashion hero

Spiked Lita- up there on the wishlist

Alexa Chung looking gorgeous in Stella McCartney

 I could overload this post with images and thoughts, but I'll save that for another day.

First Outfit of the Day

This blog is a continuation of a post I put on Chictopia, found here... http://www.chictopia.com/LauraInTheSky For those unfamiliar with the website, it's a massive online community of fashion lovers who post inspiration, every day looks, and general fashion discussions. I've been addicted to browsing the website for about two years now, and I've finally decided to start posting. This decision also brought about the start of the blog. I've written on fashion before, and yet I never thought to start a blog. Well, perhaps I did think about it, but the sheer number of existing fashion bloggers is... intimidating. So, I'll throw my hat into the ring with no expectations, other than to create something that I enjoy! Lovely posts full of fashion, not just awkward ones of me attempting to post a passable outfit of the day, but what inspires me also. Working in fashion is all I can think of now that I've finished my degree (B.A in English and history, if you were wondering). I don't want to make a rambly first post, so I'll merely add in some photos from an impromptu photo shoot in the garden today, taken for my first outfit of the day post on Chictopia.

Perched on the edge of an empty pond... deep.

I did add a coat on top later for a stroll to the shops.

Yes, a somewhat awkward turnout. But not bad for a first attempt. I was trying to show the beautiful drape of the sleeves, cue much awkward posing. I'm much more comfortable writing the words, honest. And I do love this outfit. I was told by an elderly lady in the queue behind me in the shops that I was a bit dressed up to be out buying the papers on a Sunday. I'll take that as a compliment.