St Andrews Style

Hot new tights

2008-09-16T23:56:00.002+01:00

Bebaroque is a hot design partnership from Scotland. You have to love all of their funky tights. Susie Bubble is a big fan.

I keep visiting the site - trying to either work up the courage to place an order or convince myself that I shouldn't be spending more money. Eventually, I'll buy a pair.

I see the future ... and it's cuffed.

2008-09-09T22:10:00.002+01:00

Katie Holmes was the first person to visibly revive this trend. In keeping with my why-is-this-fashion-from-my-childhood-coming-back theme, I remember wearing my first pair of high heels (1.5 inch heels, I was so proud) with pegged and cuffed acid washed jeans at the ripe age of 11. It was really annoying, my heels kept sinking into the grass during recess. I think the next time I wore them was Christmas.

Anyway, the dreaded pegged and cuffed trouser appears to be returning. I thought it would be restricted to trophy delusional actress wives, but St Andrews is infected as I witnessed earlier this evening.

Let's just hope that the skinny jean has prevent the second phase of this horrible trend - when the pegging goes all the way up the leg. Augh.

New Obsession: Post Earrings

2008-09-05T18:09:00.004+01:00

After nearly a decade of long, dangling earrings, the posted earring is back on the rise. And I'm obsessed. I keep trawling charity shops for cool vintage ones. Two months ago I spent an hour searching the internet for the perfect starburst shaped, pave earrings. I found them and placed my order - paid more for shipping that I did for the earrings. They never arrived, my search continues.

Here are some favourites of mine right now:

Both from www.asos.co.uk

Complete Fashion Show Slideshow

2008-06-02T22:24:00.002+01:00

Cabaret Performance

2008-04-21T21:02:00.004+01:00

St Andrews students always do it with style. This year, they are putting on a Cabaret performance and fashion show to benefit the National Aids Trust.

Here is their promo video:

From their marketing:

Here Couture meets Cabaret.
Sexy, theatrical and avant-garde, we aim to take you back to the belle epoque where we will exploit the bohemian lifestyle of extravagance and excess.

Three course dinner at the Old Course Hotel, alongside a traditional cabaret, with all profits going to the National Aids Trust.

I'll be at the show this Saturday, will let you know how it goes ...

Spring Fashions

2008-03-24T21:49:00.002Z

Fashion Era, a fantastic website with fashion history and modern trends, has posted the new trends for Spring which include funky shoes, volume (in various forms), safari and Americana.

Check out the entire list here.

St Andrews "Fashion Week" 2008

2008-03-23T23:56:00.004Z

For the second year in a row, both major charity fashion shows in St Andrews have been within a week of each other

Like last year, DONT WALK was held at Kinkell farms with a catwalk in a single ramp. The clothes kept the same vibe - small, independent designers with a funky edge - but this time on models with retro makeup and hair. In a stroke of genius, clothes from the runway were on sale at a local club the Sunday after the show.

FS:08 was held at Younger Hall again but with a square-shaped catwalk (which made it interesting for those seated on tables inside the square.) The focus was decidedly on the music and included a live performance by Tiger Lily. FS this year switched gears slightly and included some more independent designers alongside mainstream designers.

Fashion shows seem to popular this year with other St Andrews groups staging fashion shows this year. Photo from DONT WALK.

Shoes!

2008-03-22T12:02:00.002Z

Here is a great narrated slideshow from The New York Times and the blogger of The Sartorialist:

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/fashion/20080322_STREET_FEATURE/index.html

Alas, none of these beauitful shoes are practical for navigating cobblestones or in rain, but if the Parisians can get away with it ...

Behind the Scenes at a St Andrews Fashion Shoot

2008-02-12T13:29:00.000Z

OT: Islamic Fashion

2008-01-06T18:11:00.000Z

I'm currently traveling in the Islamic Republic of Iran. No, this post has nothing to do with St Andrews. It does, however, have something to do with style. Islamic style. According to the laws and customs of the country, women have to wear either a head scarf and 3/4 length jacket or a full chador (both options in neutral colors.)

Sounds rather unfashionable, right? Wrong. You would be amazed at what Iranian women can do within these rules. I have seen countless beautiful trench coats, belted tweed jackets and tailored coats. Scarves are perched precariously on hair teased up to twice its size. Shoes with heels that look like needles. All topped off with perfectly applied black eyeliner and long Persian eyelashes.

Self-expression through fashion is, apparently, universal.

Academic Tartan

2007-12-13T23:17:00.000Z

To add yet another "only in St Andrews" news item - the School of Management has commissioned its own tartan. I can't help but think it was a clever, calculated move to get good publicity - which seems to have worked given the BBC has covered the story.

Above is a photo of the new School of Management tartan. Designed by Dr. Wishart, a researcher, the tartan is meant to evoke both the Saltire (St Andrew's cross) and the University Arms. It reminds me of a brighter version of the Diana memorial tartan seen below.

MUJI makes my day

2007-12-09T00:31:00.000Z

Call me strange, but I am midly infatuated with these MUJI nail clippers:

Like all MUJI products, they look pretty cool, have no label and function well. But these nail clippers have a hidden secret - See the translucent plastic around them? You probably thought that was just the style. Actually, that little plastic thing stops (nearly all) of your nail clippings from flying around.

Fantastic. You can buy them at MUJI stores or, if you're in St Andrews where the closest store is a five-hour train ride away, here.

Mug Shot Mania

2007-12-04T16:03:00.001Z

Mug shots, it would seem, are all the rage.

The Dont Walk Charity Fashion Show fall campaign at the University of St Andrews photography by Kayhan:

Fox's coverage of the "scandalous" political mugshots of members of the Bush administration by artists Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese. (I have to disagree with Fox's coverage - I think they're great.)

Photo from Fox.

Chic Shopping in the Highlands

2007-12-01T21:03:00.000Z

(Having resigned myself to not being able to recoup all of my old blog, I am resuming posting.)

Today marked my third annual trip to the House of Bruar annual sale. This year I was later than usual, but the haven of all things wool and cashmere did not disappoint - ₤30 cashmere scarves, ₤25 lambswool sweaters and gourmet foods significantly below St Andrews prices.

House of Bruar itself is a mystery. Situated about 10 miles north of Pitlochry, it is essentially in the middle of nowhere. And yet there it is, with its luxury brands in spread over several buildings in seven departments - House of Bruar seems to be doing just fine.

It's Alive!

2007-11-27T09:24:00.000Z

My blog was mysteriously ressurrected yesterday! Unfortunately, it seems to be on a different address, so I will try to get it over here.

Thank you oh wonderful Blogger People!

Stupidity

2007-11-22T00:35:00.000Z

It's 12:30 in the morning and I've just done a very stupid thing. I deleted this entire blog accidentally. I've contact Blogger in the hopes that they can perform a miracle ressurrection.