London Fashion Weekend 2010

Here I am at London Fashion Weekend!

I was excited, hoping to get a true flavour the industry-only event of London Fashion Week. I thought hard about what to wear and if I was inadvertently channelling Betty Suarez.

But there was nothing to be worried about. If you come to London Fashion Weekend, nothing is exclusive and there's no real dress code. You pay for entry, the catwalk show and showbag. It's really a place for designers to showcase/flog their wares.

And the catwalk show? Brought to you by Special K. I'm not joking. They played sponsor's ads between each show and the hostess kept flogging brands like an infomercial. Why-oh-why do we have to pay to watch ads???

If you want to feel like Anna Wintour, you must have a front row seat. Otherwise when the first model swans out, everybody's Blackberry, iPhone and compact camera springs out, blocking your view.

Blatant advertising aside, the catwalk show was enjoyable and inspiring. Looks like 70s and 80s fashion is a trending theme for this autumn/winter season.

Designer sales were plentiful but not worth the hype. The prices are similar to sale prices in department stores. Advertised Sass & Bide clothing barely filled a rack. There was a oversupply of Juicy Couture tracksuits and a minute range of London Sole flats.

Some girls brought suitcases to carry their shopping but I only felt obliged to buy after an hour of browsing and walking up and down stairs.

Nothing caught my eye until I saw these mega-cute Les Nereides earrings!

Vintage Gold Hoop Non Pierced Earrings

I relish the idea of someone cherishing a piece of jewelry before I did. Age gives it character. The thrill of finding a rare item is joyously satisfying.

In Britain, old means beautiful. With trends turning over faster than you can blink, one appreciates something that's forever beautiful.

When someone asks where I bought my trinket, their faces fall when I tell them "from a charity shop". (And hopefully not because it's been worn before!)

When I saw these earrings in the vintage jewelry section at Topshop, I was surprised to see they had screwback findings. The screwback is common before the 1970s and I'd love to believe that they are that old.

The earrings do a pretty good impression of 18kt gold. Maybe they're gold plated. They passed my rule of no-pierced second hand earrings and they were half price. Could not ask for more.

(Note: I wiped the contact points with alcohol to ensure they're clean before wearing.)

Temt Top and Rose Earrings

Just because I have a job now, does'nt mean I'm no longer a tight ass! Shopping for cheap thrills is satisfying and guilt-free. 

Thanks to a Vogue Forum thread re: Temt, I checked the Parramatta store. Was put off for years by their designs and quality. The quality is still dubious but if you're selective, there are definitely value finds. 

Felt like I was splurging by shopping for NEW clothes after being unemployed. Picked up this beige jersey and lace top with cap sleeves for $15 AUD. 

Due to its length, I decided to join the-leggings-as-pants epidemic. So I bought a pair of black leggings for $14 AUD at a Bonds factory outlet. 

OK, I'm a hippocrite. I bagged out this trend but damn it, I want to show off my legs (NB. not bum) because they're my only flattering skinny parts!

Also on my cheap thrills expedition, I bought pink and white rose studs. They're plastic but meh, what's expected for $3.95 AUD?  Been trying to find clay or coral ones since I saw a girl wear a gorgeous pair on a train to Gatwick Airport. 

I particularly remember that trip just because of those earrings.