Style Scouting Attempt #1

Wednesday was my very first attempt at ‘Style Scouting’. A scary prospect for someone who is ultimately very shy and self-conscious despite some sort of outgoing vibe that I supposedly give off.

I headed straight to Topshop on Oxford Street, a spot where I have seen countless style scouts lurking in the past, spying out the fashion elite. My other theory is that people who head to the Oxford Street Topshop would have to be fairly dedicated, because that place is imposing, and very scary to those who don’t know how to navigate it. Someone hanging around Topshop on Oxford Street is bound to be confident and seeking style approval, and who will be there to provide just that with a flattering comment and the request of global recognition on my blog? Moi.

It was a slow day, but the weather was gorgeous which always helps, and I soon got into the swing of it and met some really interesting people. Here’s a snippet of my findings:

Name: Charlie

Age: 17

From: Hull

Occupation: X-factor hopeful. Watch this space!

Comment: Loving this look, I met her and her 3 x-factor band mates, all of whom had an awesome and individual sense of style.

Name: Ghamerique

Age: 20

From: Camberwell

Occupation: Artist

Comment: Triple Denim. What else needs to be said?

Name: Rita

Age: 21

From: Portugal

Occupation: Topshop employee

Comment: I love the way the Topshop employees make their uniforms individual by customisation and accessorizing . I love the vintage edge to Rita’s look.

Name: Jesse

Age: 22

From: East London

Occupation: Urban Outfitters employee

Comment: There’s so much going on here. A very difficult look to pull off, but essentially a very eye-catching combination of pastel pink colour blocking, leopard print, and a cheeky black fox fur tail. Love it.

So there you have it, a few of my favourite looks from Oxford Street. I have to say, standing outside Topshop for 5 hours straight is not only torture for a shopaholic such as I, but also really makes you doubt whether you made enough effort when you got dressed that morning. Next time I’m wearing a hat. Everyone looks like they’ve made effort when there’s a hat involved.

Hello there

So you have found your way to my little blog. Hi. My aim for this blog, for now at least, is to fill my abundance of post-grad free time write about the thing that really interests me, mainly the relationship between clothes and personality. Quite a wide topic, you may be thinking, but that's just it. I am fickle with my interests, so it may change sooner or later.

There's probably a few things you should know about me first, and a few other things that I'm going to tell you anyway. 

My name is Emily, I'd quite like to be known as Millie, and I'd really like to be called Lorelei. 

I have just graduated from the Arts University College at Bournemouth with a degree in Costume with Performance Design. 

My dissertation title was What role does clothing play in defining youth identity and what are the effects of the post-subcultural movement? Gives you an idea of my interests.

Ideally I'd like to be a stylist in every sense of the word. Photography, music videos, theatre, film, adverts, personal styling, commercial, avant garde. You name it, I'd quite like to have a go at styling it.

I have a shopping problem. I love the fact there's a career out there that fulfils the needs of people like me.

I'm fickle with my own style. You name a youth style and I probably tried it. I am now in a phase combining some sort of inauthentic 50's with high street casual and anything else that takes my fancy. I don't do well with style confinement. Last year I was a bohemian princess. A few years ago I fancied myself as a bit of a scene kid. And of course, emo did once happen. It was inevitable really.

So. Who knows what this blog may provide. Hopefully it will be vaguely interesting. We'll have to wait and see.

Finally, here's a picture of me frolicking on a bed. You lucky things. This outfit pretty much sums me up right now. My state of mind. Effort in some places, but practicality and ease win out in the end. I'll never be completely polished. And I like that. Make it perfect, then mess it up a bit.