STYLE INSPO // OBSCURE COUTURE

Nowadays, it's rare you come across a brand that's unique, with a bold idea and the confidence to see it through. Enter: Obscure Couture.

I stumbled across the brand on ASOS:Marketplace in the search of a kick-ass dress. Long story short, O/C came to my rescue and ever since I've been drooling over their collections.

There's something so obnoxious about Obscure Couture but in the best damn way. Their pieces make the extrovert within me want to leap out.

Launcing in 2010, Obscure Couture are Glasgow based and pride themselves on being "anti-fast-fashion and anti-trends", as a brand... "we want you to be able to keep your Obscure for years and be able to pull it out time and time again." I love that the brand is all about self-expression and confidence, vocalising individuality and being ballsy when it comes to style.

I pledged at the end of 2014 I'd be braver and more experimental with my style in 2015 and I think Obscure Couture are the perfect place to get inspired. So, in my eyes here's some stand out pieces that inspire me to be a little wilder...

You guys know I am obsessed with neon/lime green and O/C fuel that addiction. I mean look at this god-damn dress, don't tell me you're not drooling...well I certainly am. [Please bury me in this little number.] I can't put into words how "me" this dress is, you guys know I love to experiment with style on night outs and stick to my tee's and jeans during the day, but com'on, I'd wear this to Sainsbury's if I could. 

PREACHER SEQUIN MINI DRESS - £150.00 [HERE]

DAHLIA SNOWJET JACKET - £95.00 [HERE]
ZIRCON JET JUMPER DRESS - £80.00 [HERE]

 As well as being totally bonkers, Obscure Couture also have pieces that you could actually wear to Sainsburys [not sure why Sainburys keeps popping up]. I'm a sucker for monochrome and the big fluffy coat in the 1st picture is the kind of rowdy 70s rockstar coat I think we all need. 

Then we have the classic long-length jumper dress with a little cut-out twist. It'd look great either dressed up or as styled above with chunky heeled boots, which lets face it will always be my go-to option.

The more vampy pieces are definitely right up my street, especially their AW13 collection "A Weekend in Hell". A million and one different looks spring into my mind when looking at the wide leg trousers bellow, I'm thinking a neon pop on top or going all out tailored and whacking a blazer and some chunky heels? Oh and the BEAST jumper, I love the off-the-shoulder vibe and the subtle texture contrast with the printed text. [I'm also having major hair-envy]

"A WEEKEND IN HELL" VEX WIDE LEG TROUSERS - £70.00 [HERE]
BEAST JUMPER - £90.00 [HERE]

WANTED RACER BACK MAXI - £55.00 [HERE]
FOLSOM GREEN LEATHER MINI SKIRT - £150.00 [HERE]

It's safe to say the two pieces above are enough to send me over the edge. I mean, the maxi dress is so delicate and gorgeous - although Obscure Couture are an in-your-face-in-the-best-possible-way brand, they also nail really simple pieces. Oh and you've most definitely seem me gushing over Twitter about it but LOOK AT THE LIME GREEN SKIRT, JUST LOOK.

-

There's a handful of reasons I'm kind of in love with Obscure Couture but their overall idea really resonates with me. As soon as I found personal confidence, style seemed so much easier and in these pieces you can't help but want to take the world by storm. It's important to remember that trends aren't everything, it's about dressing for you and behind all the whacky colours and eccentric pieces, I think that's what O/C are trying to say...fuck it, be 100% you.  

Obscure Couture aren't about manufactured rubbish, it's about quality and a real love for fashion, which goes a heck of a long way in my books. Creativity and boldness are things you rarely see nowadays, you can tell Obscure Couture love what they make and do and that's exactly how it should be. 

STYLE INSPO | BELLA HADID

The STYLE INSPO series is back! 

I'm so pumped to make this a more prominent feature on my blog, I feel that this year I know exactly what my style is and who inspires it. 

So, without further or do, the first STYLE INSPO of 2015 is all about Bella Hadid. 

I am obsessed with the Hadid's. Gigi [19] and Bella [18] just nail that effortlessly cool vibe. Both girls have crazy busy modelling careers but juggle that with education and I think that's ace. I love their natural approach to both make-up and style, they don't ever look as if they're trying hard to be something they're not. Naturally, I definitely gravitate more towards Bella's style. Annoyingly, there aren't many pictures of her so I had to rely on what Tumblr and Instagram had to offer, but you'll get the idea. 

Bella has a tomboyish vibe to her style and I love it. There's a definite 90s influence, a real throw on and go - scruffy jeans, Converse and a baggy tee. It's so simplistic that I guess in a way, when it comes to style people often look for something more complex and expensive, but I love the cool laid back approach instead. However, Bella has the ability to go from 90s babe to high fashion gal real quick. I've discussed it before over here on T-L-L but I absolutely love that contrast when it comes to style.. I absolutely love that by day, Bella is the girl next door but can nail something a lot more structured and sharper at events and night time.

I'm not a make-up person in the slightest but I think the Hadid's fresh-faced nature just adds to the style. Their confidence shines through, they don't need a tonne of make-up or to be strutting about in heels while hanging out with friends, [besides being uber rich and models] they're normal gals and I think that's another reason I am so attracted to their sense of style. It's them and you can tell it came from them, not a stylist, which I appreciate in people. I mean obviously, I might be wrong and I know that for photo shoots there is obviously a stylist present but day to day, it seems to be a really unique to both Bella and GiGi, their personality shines through.

One of the reasons I take inspiration from Bella's style is that it's consistently evolving. 

You can tell there are staples in her wardrobe that she relies on but at the same time, especially at events, she'll take a risk and wear something a little bolder. I've also noticed that there are subtle changes in Bella's night style, she tends to lean towards a bolder lip and slicked back hair, emphasising her cheekbones a little more so than during the day. I absolutely love the jumpsuit she's wearing alongside Gigi in the picture above, I think that looks so classic and sophisticated, the girls just come across really classy. 

For a born and bred American, there's something about Bella's style that's typically British to me and maybe that's why I am so drawn to it. Whereas Gigi is more of a Californian beach babe, Bella would fit straight into London life. 

I forecast my style to be pretty similar to Bella's this spring/summer and I think she's a great person to take style inspo from, even if she is a tad bit younger than me! 

If you're looking to get Bella's daytime look, here's some essentials bellow. 

2015 // STYLE INSPO // MOOD BOARD

2014 aka the year of experimenting. Now it's 2015 I am feeling crazy inspired style-wise. I want to strip it back to basics, keeping that tomboyish vibe but look at structure. Contrasting more laid back pieces with sharper elements. Layering jewellery, implementing colour and mixing textures.

 Here's a little taster of some pictures I found on Tumblr that are goals for my style in 2015. 

I'm going to be writing plenty more "STYLE INSPO" posts this year, I did a handful last year but I feel like I have more of a definite idea as to who inspires me these days. I hope these snaps give ya a clue as to what I'm currently loving, I'll go into more detail soon!

SUNDAY STYLE | HOW TO STYLE | NIKE DRI-FIT SPORTS BRA

Sportswear isn't going anywhere anytime soon, SS15 is full of it. 

I definitely go through phases of being obsessed with the gym. I tend to be here there and everywhere 24/7 anyway, so that helps to keep me toned but whenever I do hit the gym I'll be head to toe NIKE. They've become one of the coolest brands around, as well as having some of the best sportswear I've ever worn - NIKE are also becoming a central piece to the sportswear trend we've seen a lot this year. Whether it's a simple black top with the NIKE tick or NIKE trainers, in my eyes they've become an extremely 'fashionable' brand.

If I know I'm going to be running round like a mad women, I'll often swap my normal bra for a sports bra. It keeps those boobs in place so I can complete my missions and it's also ticks all the sportswear trend boxes that we've seen this year and on the runway at the SS15 fashion shows.

Here's three ways I'd style a NIKE SPORTS BRA.


THE "KIND-OF CHEERLEADER" LOOK

bomber jacket DOROTHY PERKINS | button skater skirt H&M | nike sports bra

Now we're heading into October, this probably is the least appropriate look of the bunch; but if you're heading somewhere cool or maybe to a house party - this is a great shout. Obviously, the skirt could be interchanged for a midi/mini or maxi skirt depending on your preference but I kind of likes the sportsluxe/cheerleader appearance to this outfit. 

I absolutely love bomber jackets, they're super simplistic but super cool and surprisingly warm! This  particular look accentuates my waist [which I find most flattering] and shows off some leg, but the bomber keeps me covered and doesn't allow too much skin to be on show. 

THE "CLARK KENT" LOOK

leather midi skirt DOROTHY PERKINS | shirt TOPSHOP | nike sports bra

Yanno in superman when Clark Kent rips off his shirts and there's the superman logo underneath, I kind of feel like the NIKE version of that. 

This is probably one of the smartest options for styling a sports bra. You could either leave the shirt unbuttoned as I have or do it up half way and tuck it into the skirt, it's one of those versatile looks. Teamed with a fedora and pointed Chelsea boots. I'm absolutely loving shirts as a styling piece at the moment and I think this particular blue [finely stripped] Topshop number contrasts really nicely with the black and leather texture. I've talked about it a little bit before but I've always loved mixing a really sharp, formal piece such as a shirt with something with a sportswear or grunge edge and I think it just looks edgy and a little bit different. 

THE "UNSURPRISING ALL BLACK" LOOK

duster kimono TOPSHOP | disco pant dupe H&M | nike sports bra 

Last but not least an obvious styling option. High waisted trousers of some shape or form are always a cool accompanying piece to a sports bra. I think it exposes a really flattering part for most people and keeps all the bits you don't want on show hidden. I chose to ditch the jeans for this post and rock my H&M disco pant dupes to add a little more sportswear vibe. To keep the outfit sharp and add a little layering I added my Topshop duster kimono. It's a pretty simple outfit but the different lengths, exposed skin and a little bit of texture through the trousers makes it cool. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this post, it's something a bit different. I'm going to try and do a similar post every other Sunday featuring a different piece to style. 

Obviously these are just my interpretations of how to style a sports bra, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea and these looks are reflective of my own personal style.

- G 

STYLE INSPO // SKY FERREIRA

STYLE INSPO POSTS // Daisy Lowe's [here] // Matty Healy [here]

I started this STYLE INSPO series back in May and in just three months my I've revamped my style and it's definitely evolved. I think part of the reason is that now I'm working full time, all the clothes I used to lust after to create the look I wanted but couldn't afford, now isn't a problem. As well as that, autumn/winter is on the horizon which has a massive influence on my wardrobe. My style now is a lot sharper than it was back in May, I know who and what influences me a lot better than before which means these STYLE INSPO posts are going to be more accurate. Today's S.I post is centred on a lady that in my eyes is the ultimate cool babe and that lady is Sky Ferreira.

Sky is one of those Marmite girls, you either love her vibe or totally hate it. 22 years old, an American singer song-writer and model she's got the grunge style with a hint of 80s influence down.

Influence wise, I love that Sky has a really simplistic style. Similar to what I said in my Matty Healy post, I think it's much cooler when an outfit consists of basic elements and it's your persona that adds to that vibe, if that makes any sense whatsoever? I think style is all about wearing ace clothes and knowing your individual style, but it's also about the vibe you give off. We all know I love the 'just rolled out of bed look' and lets be honest, Sky exemplifies all my hair goals. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think her make-up is really cool as well. I love a red lip and strong brows, which she pulls off effortlessly and her eyes always have that "I was born to be grunge" feel.
I've noticed that Sky tends to stick to one look but varies her pieces. She loves little mini skirts, with a t-shirt or blouse, leather or denim jacket and a good pair of boots. If I had her legs, I'd be rocking mini skirts left right and centre but I love that she's got her top half covered [call me old fashioned, but I just thinks it looks cooler not having everything on show]. I wonder how many times I'll say 'cool/cooler' in this post, eh?

I'd say Sky and I are similar in a way, we take male elements such as a bulky leather jacket, chunky boots, baggy tee's, plaid shirts and give them a feminine twist, Sky's twist being having her ace legs on show. I think it's refreshing that in the 'celeb' world, Sky has such a laid back, casual style.

It's quite hard to word what I'm about to say, but go with it and lets hope for the best...on nights out/events I tend to ramp up my style and go for something a little unexpected [even though I'm 99.9% sure it'll be all black]  - but at the heart, it still has a 'Gabi' feel to it and I think that's exactly what Sky does at events. All the looks above are very 'Sky' but especially in the 3rd photo it's a bit sharper and sleeker than what she usually wears. I read an interview with VOGUE that spoke to her stylist Ian Bradley and he mentioned that she loved Saint Laurent and I got rather excited because it's no secret that I am obsessed with that brand. Everything about S.L is sharp, the use of black, the tailoring, the campaigns. One of my weaknesses in the fashion world is taking something as iconic and sleek as Saint Laurent and contrasting it with a grunge style, as Sky demonstrates perfectly.
If anything, I think Sky's style just establishes my point that it's incredibly important to know what you like & what suits you. One thing Sky seems to love is messy blonde locks and a red lip, we've already discussed her classic combination of mini-skirts and a jacket, through that she looks fierce and incredibly stylish but that sense of style is very much within her own parameters.

I'm well aware that everyone has different opinions on what 'stylish' is and many people will look at this post and think she needs a good bath, some concealer and her hair brushed - but I absolutely love that grunge/messy look. Even though it's simplistic, there's something very classic about Sky's sense of style. There's a lot of parallels I can draw from this to my Matty Healy post. I mentioned that I tend to dress like the female version of him and if you haven't seen that idea in the outfits I wear on this blog, I think Sky is the best visual representation of the female version of Matty. I wear extremely similar things to them both on a daily basis and there's not a look in this post that I wouldn't recreate.

Sky influences my style with the concept 'less is more', a plain white T and leather skirt, with a good pair of boots and a denim jacket is sometimes just as cool, if not cooler than something overly complex and in your face. As well as that, Sky, in my opinion, is a great demonstration that style isn't just the things you wear, it's how you wear it. Her attitude and persona make up at least 40% [if not more] of her image and I think that's key. I've learnt that firstly you have to decide what suits you, what you feel comfortable in and then work with that - Sky emphasises her legs, other people might show off their tummy - but once you pinpoint that style or that particular look, confidence shines through and that makes you 10x cooler & 10x more attractive.

STYLE INSPO // MATTY HEALY

It's only when I come to write these posts that I realise how hard it is to organise my thoughts and write something that actually makes sense. 

I planned for today's Style Inspo instalment to be based on my 'guy look' and/or Tumblr influences, but mid-post I decided to scrap the idea because it's actually really hard to explain in blogpost form. In the frustration I came up with a much better idea [hopefully] and decided that today's Style Inspo will be based on possibly the coolest guy, ever...Matty Healy.

two fave pictures ever of Matty

There aren't any words to justify how much I love the 1975. 

It's hard to explain but their EP's and album are so generationally reflective. If you're 18-24, you'll understand what I mean; the themes such as relationships, drugs, sex, alcohol, self reflection and nostalgia are all so relatable. The lyrics are complex and intelligent, if you actually sit and read them they're incredibly deep. Soundwise, the 1975 have a really atmospheric vibe and it's totally unique. Their EP 'Sex' has includes my favourite song of theirs 'You', [I'm definitely a EP 'Sex' kinda girl rather than the album version], plus the EP's 'Music for Cars' has another of my favourite song of theirs 'Me'. 

Aesthetically, the band is a work of art. Everything is so unique to them, their style and creativity seems extremely natural, they're effortlessly cool.

Style wise, Matty Healy is my soul mate. 

The running joke of autumn/winter 2013 between me & my mates was that I dressed as the 'girl version' of Matty, which I'll quite happily take all day every day. Now I'm earning my own money and I can actually fuel my style, I think as the winter approaches you'll all see just where this statement came from in my outfit posts. I don't 'copy' Matty as such, I naturally prefer all black outfits and the classic simplicity of his style; but as far as style inspirations go, Matty is my icon both creatively and fashion-wise. 

In numerous interviews, Matty describes his style as "black & expensive". We all know black clothes make up 80% of my wardrobe & I'm happiest in all black everything, duh. He also mentioned [here] that "90's R&B/soul inspires me...but I dress more like an Englishman...I'm very 80s". Personally, I think Matty is quite indie but just title just doesn't do justice to how cool his style is, 'indie' has just become a throwaway term to describe the way an enormous bunch of people dress. BUT it is actually really hard to pinpoint Matty and his style, it's just very 'the 1975' and that's the best way to describe it. He dresses in a really classic way, however there is an element of street style within his look, but it's not as obvious as George [Daniels, the 1975 drummer ] who seems to channel the A$AP Rocky's vibe quite a bit. 

Outfits heavily based on all black, with an emphasis on layering and textures; if stripped back, the elements to Matty's style are really basic. Ripped skinny black jeans are a staple in his wardrobe, varying between oversized black tee's, shirts and loose knit jumpers; Matty isn't afraid to wear sheer and/or floral shirts, but it's still never looks out of place with his style. Boots are another fixed element in Matty's style, varying from Doc Martens to black loafers. Matty experiments within his own style perameters, if you're a fan you'll remember when he wore the floral shirts for the first time; but he manages to take something so in your face and make it his own.
Compared to Matty, I'm definitely leaning more towards 90s grunge than 80s influence, but there are so many overlaps within our styles and I find myself looking to him most out of everyone for new inspiration. I'm forever watching their videos and searching his tag on Tumblr to have a look at his style and how I could rework it for myself. 

THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO MATTY'S STYLE 

SKINNY JEANS - a good fitting pair of skinny jeans are an essential in any wardrobe. I think the trick is to try out lots of different places, cheap and expensive; then when you find that pair that make your legs look ace, stick with them. I love Topshop Jamie jeans. Black is a necessity. 

LEATHER JACKET- i'm not saying go out and by a £300 All Saints leather jacket, but finding a leather/pleather jacket that you can sling on with anything is everything. I have a faux leather jacket from H&M and it's brilliant, it goes with everything and anything. I like to buy mine a little oversized for that 'guy' look, so maybe even try out guys jackets while you're in the market? 

A JAZZY SHIRT - i'd love to wear all black day in day out, but sometimes you need something a little bit different to keep your style fresh. Maintaining black throughout all other elements of an outfit but choosing to add a little colour through a shirt or top is your best bet. As black works as a neutral pallet, it leaves you a lot of room to go to town on something jazzy. 

A DUSTER COAT - i'm obsessed with duster coats, long structured blazers and all that at the mo. They're a great way to add a little layering to an outfit and they look super effective with all black outfits as Matty shows in the pics above. 

A GOOD PAIR OF BOOTS - it takes a while, but it's essential. There should be a bank holiday dedicated to hunting down those boots that you'll wear until the heels are hanging off. It's all about finding the right shape for you, pointed toe, rounded toe, whether you want something Chelsea boot esc, something a little more sleek such as the Saint Laurent heeled boots or something a bit more grunge such as Doc Martens. 

BLACK/WHITE TEE'S - these should definitely be in your wardrobe already, but a good quality black and/or white t-shirt are super important. I'm loving the oversized T and jeans look at the moment [think Proudlock off MIC] but regardless, t-shirts are vital. 

ACCESSORIES - Matty's style can on the surface appear to be very repetitive, adding different accessories always gives the illusion of more effort/thought into an outfit. In my opinion, black bags are always a great thing to have laying around, I'm obsessed with backpacks at the moment. Plus, having some dainty jewellery to add to an oversized black tee and skinny jeans just adds a little something to the outfit without detracting it's classic nature. 

All in all, Matty Healy is without a doubt my no.1 style icon. He's so effortlessly cool and classic with his style which I think sometimes we all need to take a little inspiration from; stripping things back to basics and playing around with textures, layering and monochrome is sometimes more striking than layering prints and what not. 

I'm really excited for it to start getting cooler so I can show you guys what I mean by my style being similar to his, it's always autumn/winter that it's most evident.