Evening all 🙂 This week has been a quick one for me, I’ve been nursing an awful cold but still been at work, so my evenings have mostly consisted of watching rubbish telly, early nights, eating lots (but not being able to taste it, doh) and a few great chats with some special people ♥ you know those kinda chats… the ones that make you feel human? and that you’re not the only crazy, tired, nostalgic, passionate, overly excited, or worried person out there? I hope you know the ones I mean. S’all good in the hood though!
Someone who I have had some pretty amazing chats with over the past few months, is a wonderful gal called Ella. A blogger, but also most definitely a great friend. Ella is a full time student, but also runs her own vintage clothing business on the side – Belle Vintage! This is the name of her blog, and also her shop. This girl is your own modern day superwoman, I have no idea how she juggles being a law student AND her own business, but she does it – and she is bloody good at it! The website just launched recently, but she holds regular vintage stalls in the Canterbury area where she is based for uni.
I made a purchase from Ella’s brand spanking new website a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce her to you all if you don’t know Ella already. Now you know I’ve mentioned before that I’m not the world’s biggest fashionista, and ‘vintage’ clothing is right up there on the fear scale for me. I know everyone has their different views on fashion, and especially vintage fashion. Well, I’ve never really had an opinion, as such, because I tend to feel indifferent about a subject unless I really know something about it. As an ex costume student, I appreciate and understand various era’s of clothing, design, manufacturing etc. But with this post I am certainly not trying to pretend I have a scooby what I’m talking about when it comes to fashion – so just bear with me.
I will admit for a while I didn’t really ‘get’ vintage. I always felt intimidated, and unsure how to shop for it and was totally convinced I could not pull off any style or cut that wasn’t from the high street. Which is just plain stupid of me, because look at how much of our high street is heavily influenced by fashion from past decades. Ella’s aim has always been to share her vintage passion with people, and make it more accessible and less intimidating. She has certainly done that for me, and is always so helpful when I ask daft questions or even need her to source a little something in particular for me. The first thing I ever bought from her was a style of jumper I’d been keen to get my hands on (old school, oversized, grey, fruit of the loom with some sort of retro/school team print on it – not asking for much eh?!) and she kept an eye out for me and found the PERFECT one! Personal shopping or what 🙂
I spotted the cardi on her website and quickly fell in love. I’m a bit of a cardigan fiend mind you – and as a wee pressie exchange Ella popped in this cute compact, satchel, and headscarf too! Now I just need to learn how to tie a headscarf properly 🙂 And again, had asked Ella to keep her eye out for a nice brown satchel for me after spying all the Chiltern ones floating about the blogosphere just now. This was the one she found for me, and its exactly what I was hoping for. Ella has either got a sixth sense or a genuine eye for detail and what would suit people, because I’m hella fussy but she has got me down to a T with everything she’s found/suggested for me so far. She is helping me on my route to becoming a bit more creative with my style, and hopefully make me able to blend vintage and high street together seamlessly. I just want to be a bit more adventurous with what I wear, thrift more and not be intimidated by working vintage fashion and charity shop gems into my day to day wardrobe. But like any other 21 year old girl – I am on a budget!
My cardi and satchel teamed up with primark bow pumps, topshop leggings, new look leopard dress, and primark belt.
Ella is a great girl, I love her to pieces and she has a really eye catching and unique (but down to earth) style. Her blog isn’t full of magazine images, or press hot off the catwalk (not dissing blogs which are, I just prefer being able to sink my teeth into more wordy posts and ‘real’ images, with ‘real’ people) she just dresses so well, and is one of the most genuine people I have encountered on my blogging journey. So if that sounds like your cuppa tea, you should head on over and say hello 🙂
So it turns out that the plant my wee old neighbour Iain gave us, which I thought were tulips (David thought too, but how the hell did that get lost in translation?) actually turned out to be hyacinths! Haha faaaail. Still so pretty though, and they have been making our flat smell lovely. They grew so tall that they started to flop over, hence my quick fix of paintbrushes and loose cable ties. This was them last week, they have started to wither a little bit now. But this is the nicest (and only!) present I’ve ever been given by a neighbour ♥ D’aww. Girls, think I should bake him a wee something to say thank you?
I was given a pretty amazing present this week from Julia. She is an insanely talented artist and has recently been painting her favourite bloggers. I was totally awe-struck when she decided to paint lil old me! I’m such a big mushy thing when it comes to stuff like this, but this is such a special gesture and I have spent the rest of this week just staring at them on my desktop haha. Thank you Julia, from the bottom of my heart. If you enjoy some sweet ass (yes, that is a technical term) art and illustration, head on over and check out Julia’s blog. She is Scottish too, which is even better! 😉 Seriously, so many crazy talented people in our midst. Gives me a real sense of pride and inspiration to be involved in such a creative community.
This weekend I am doing the decor for a friends charity night in glasgow tomorrow, and on sunday I was meant to be going snowboarding up north with some people from work. But, it’s not a definite anymore and I’m wondering if a day in the snow is going to be the best thing for my wonderful cold. Hmm! Maybe not my wisest move? On monday… it’s V-day! I know we all have mixed feelings about that day, but me and David are staying at home and having a nice meal together from the Wagamama cook book (he is cooking, ovbz!) Im actually looking forward to telling y’all about the pressie I’ve got him… its not your usual pink and fluffy valentines day gift. But the sneaky sod sometimes has a read of my blog so I’ll need to wait until next week until I can share. Have a lovely weekend whatever you’re upto ♥
Ayden x
29 Comments
Spinal Lou
Julia's painting of you is amazing!! X
February 12, 2011 at 12:16 amJess
The flowers are soo lovely! How lucky are you, those vintage finds are perf for you!
Hope your feeling better soon sweets!
February 12, 2011 at 12:53 amx x
Cher Dynamite
I saw the paintings of you somehow, maybe twitter? They are 'all kinds of awesome! You n yer boyo look dead cute in that picture 🙂 hope you have a good weekend and shift your cold! x
February 12, 2011 at 1:49 amLilyLipstick
That's such an amazing painting of you, Julia is really talented.
February 12, 2011 at 8:35 amLoving your outfit here, Ella's store and blog are fab. x
Victoria
*heads on over there immediately!*
February 12, 2011 at 9:30 amMadame G
Love your new cardi! As a cardi fiend myself, my heart melted a little when I saw it – great vintage colour! And Julia is just awesome!
I'm off to see Steven leter today for round two of my peacock tat. Will try and talk Mr G into taking some before and after shots.
Have great weekend x
February 12, 2011 at 9:51 amAlison
BIG LOVE FOR ELLA! Yay.
Your flowers look lovely! My mum always used to buy some of them for the window sill. They smell so nice. I think it would be lovely if you baked him some little cakes. Even if he doesn't like cakes (who doesn't like cakes? Apart from my weirdo boyf!) it still a nice little token to show your appreciation.
That painting of you is A-MAZING. I am so envious of people who can paint like that! Gonna go check out her blog now.
February 12, 2011 at 10:30 amGem
Ella is such a sweetie, I wrote a little bit for her site about the many uses of a vintage scarf. She choses really accesable and wearable pieces.
February 12, 2011 at 10:50 amLove the painting!
Hope you have a fab weekend xx
Michelle
Oh they sound like some lovely evenings to me Ayden, obvs aside from being ill! Hope you're feeling better today though (: I love a really good chat, especially over films and pizza and not watching the film. Ooh I love Ella, she's an absolute doll, so lovely of her to pick out some pieces for you: I can definitely see you in them (: Those paintings are so amazing, wish I could paint as well as Julia! xxx
February 12, 2011 at 11:18 amRosie [a rosie outlook]
You look gorgeous in your new cardie and with your new satchel! How lovely of your friend to pick out some things she thought you would like! I am a bit useless with finding nice vintage things, and I never find anything in charity shops, I wish I could find lovely things like other people manage to, I don't think I have the eye for it!
February 12, 2011 at 11:22 amI love your hyacinths propped up with paintbrushes 🙂 Hope they carry on growing.
That painting of you is uh-mazing!
xxx
♥Music Fashion Clutter ♥
Aww Ayden, such a lovely post!
The flowers… the kinds gif of a bag and the paint.. it's things like this is life that touch you and make you smile eh ? I'm being all mushy ha ha
Love the cardi.. as you know I'm a cardi-whore too! You chose your first bit of vintage well and it's all look great with what you are wearing.
I much prefer vintage/charity shop mixed with a little but of topshop so I will deffo be checking Ella out!!
Have a lovely weekend, glad you are feeling much better
Joanne
xxx
February 12, 2011 at 12:15 pmBelle xx
Ayden those paintings are incredible! I'm so jealous of people who can produce something amazing like that. As for your mention of me, well I must say I am so flattered and you deffo brought a tear to my eye. Thank you so much! Blogging can be tedious at times but meeting such a lovely lady makes it all worth it xx
February 12, 2011 at 1:09 pmDani
Love this post, and love that you've written such lovely things about Ella because she deserves it! Those paintings are absolutely stunning, really really lovely!
February 12, 2011 at 2:35 pmx
dan
That picture of you is amazing! She's so talented. Hope you have a great Velentines day 🙂 xx
February 12, 2011 at 3:30 pmAnonymous
wow, lovely painting! x
February 12, 2011 at 4:34 pmRachael
Thank you for sharing the bellavintage blog and shop with us – perfect!
February 12, 2011 at 7:08 pmdaisychain
that cardi is amazing on you, off to check out her shop!
February 12, 2011 at 7:49 pmAnonymous
That satchel is amazing, I love it! Will deffo check out her blog:)
February 12, 2011 at 8:39 pmhah aw I love the way youve propped you hyacinths with paintbrushes, so cute! Hope they keep growing, they look so nice!
Sounds like you have a busy but lovely weekend,I hope you enjoy it! :D:D
dominique
those wee flowers are totally lovely missus, i wish my neighbours would do something like that 🙂 maybe i should give them something? 🙂
Missin u lady! xxx
February 12, 2011 at 10:37 pmGemx
I love the satchel and those paintings of you are amazing! I love the style 🙂
February 13, 2011 at 1:42 amYour neighbour is so sweet to give you flowers! My neighbour gave me a paperweight bible verse…I don't know if that is nice or if they just think I'm sinful :S
Ash
julia's painting is unreal! she's so talented. Loving the vintage gems too
February 13, 2011 at 12:36 pmx
Luisa
Pretty lady! I love cardigans, Ian and I both are big cardigan people…we're a cardigan couple! Weird? Definitely.
I'm making enough lemon muffins to feed a cardigan army at the mo – wish you were here to enjoy the experience with me!
At the moment my hours are mon-fri, 9-6, so by the time I get home it's about sevenish, and obviously I have to shower off al the nazi zombies. Is it looking like you're going to come play with us soon? Either that or we could partake in a little bit of a late night goss session sometime in the week if you're up for it? My place is right next to Queen Street so it's not it's not too huge a trek for you to get home later. Let's do that. Shall we do that? Oh, let's!
Only don't be giving me any of your diseases! I have many of my own.
Squeeze ya later 😉
Xx
February 13, 2011 at 3:11 pmjenny aka. little j.
Awww how sweet! I really hope you're feeling better soon, Ayden.
And yes, I TOTALLY know the kind of chats you're referring to 😉
February 13, 2011 at 6:06 pmRaffles Bizarre
Aww you've been a lucky girl this week with these suprise presents! Just what you need to make you feel better when you're ill!
February 13, 2011 at 10:05 pmSaskia the Style Fairy
That painting is blinkin amazing!! so beautiful! x
February 13, 2011 at 10:48 pmStefany
Lovely post, I love the items you were given. So gorgeous!! Really like the paintings too, it's so exciting when you see something someones created specially for you xxx
February 13, 2011 at 11:00 pmVintage and Cake
How sweet of both Ella and Juila, Ella choose out the perfect pieces for you 🙂 And Juila's painting is insanely good of you I love it. AWWW you deserve nice things like this kitten as you are such a great blogger to talk to and you always have time for everyone. You look lush in that dress BTW and I just as lush in the painting xxxx
February 14, 2011 at 12:18 amYona
I'm in a hurry but that cardigan and bag are amazing! <3
February 14, 2011 at 3:04 amAlice
Ella is so lovely and such a vintage queen when it comes to running her business.
I always feel a little cautious when it comes to vintage clothing, don't get me wrong I love seeing it hanging on the hanger, but sometimes just can't imagine it on myself/how to wear it etc.
I think the cardi looks fabulous on you, and the satchel is so timeless too xx
February 14, 2011 at 5:29 pm