Don't it feel so familiar

Sincere "Deja Vu" 

Last week I was lucky enough to receive a package through the post from Lashes of London after they ever so kindly selected me to be one of the lucky winners in their competition on Twitter. I simply followed them and waited patiently to see if I would be one of the hourly winners, and I was the 7th, which also happens to be my favourite number!

I had the pick of the items on their website, and was immediately drawn towards the Palms Belted Playsuit, the cut-out detailing and overall retro styling really grabbed me, and I wasn't disappointed when it arrived.

The playsuit is a really good quality, it's really soft to the touch despite it's 100% polyester label. I couldn't resist trying it on so I could get an idea of how I could style it.

I quickly slipped it on with some nude patent peep-toe heels from Dorothy Perkins. I think this could easily be dressed up or down, perfect as is if there was some nice weather to go with and a slick of bright lipstick, but would work well layered over a vest with a leather jacket and tights come winter. My only gripe is that at 5ft 10 the playsuit fits... just! I tend to forget how long I am in the body/leg department, but I definitely recommend everyone going over to their website to check out some of their pieces, there's 30% off some of it too! It would be rude not to!

KDx

Answers we guess

Rustie "After Light" Ft. Aluna George

Fashion should never take itself too seriously, I mean it's just clothes after all. And even then, the sole reason for wearing them is to cover one's modesty. 

But lately it seems that fashion is having a bit of fun with itself, and for once I don't think that the jokes on us. (Over exaggerated shoulders anywhere outside of the 1980s should not be 're-invented' in my opinion.)

Cartoon motifs are cropping up everywhere:

3.1 Philip Lim 'Ka-Pow' Print T-shirt at Matches

Truly Madly Deeply 'Bat-Ass' Tee at Urban Outfitters 

Lazy Oaf x Batman Exclusive Bodycon Dress in Logo Print at Asos

If we delve into the archives, it would seem as though Batman has always been a bit of a fave with the fash pack, just take a look at Alexa for Madewell in 2010 and before that, gone but not forgotten Luella Bartley and her Spring 2008 Ready-to-wear collection:

Alexa Chung x Madewell Sketch Book Tee via Cool Spotters

Luella Bartley 2008 Ready-to-wear via Style.com

Inspired and short of a spare £160 to get my hands on some genuine Philip Lim, I have invested in some t-shirt pens and will be scribbling my own designs-something I have put off doing for a while. In the mean time I created a little homage to superhero fashion on my toes, those that follow me on twitter will have seen this picture pop up earlier

Nails Inc Silver 'Montpelier Square,' Barry M 'Cyan Blue' 294 and 'Bright Red' 262, Rimmel Nail Tip Whitener and Sharpie Black Permanent Marker

The design was really easy to create, as the nail tip whitener has a thinner brush I could get the general 'pow' shape, I used a nail brush to sharpen the points and fill in the fiddly bits close to the white with the red or the blue. Once this was completely dry I used the Sharpie to outline the white and write my chosen Pow! and Zap! before letting that dry to add a layer of topcoat.

What do you think of cartoon clothing? (And that has nothing to do with Nicki Minaj's wardrobe) Cool? Or better left at school?

KDx

P.s I hope everyone is enjoying their Bank Holiday weekends, especially those (like myself) who are fortunate to have a 3-day weekend as standard. This time last year I was in a field at Creamfields, to date my only experience to which I base all camping trips on: muddy, boggy, damp, dank, cold, and grotty. But the music was amazing! Anyone fortunate enough to go I hope you've got a mega stash of babywipes!

KDx

Triangles are my favourite shape

Alt+J "Tessellate"

Happy Hump Day!

Mid-week treat this week consists of peanut butter, dark chocolate and banana cookies...Yum!

I used this recipe from All Recipes website as a guide, but strayed a little (baker suicide!) by adding more banana and chocolate, but I do have my reasons and the recipe still worked out. 125g of banana is about one and a half, which if you are trying to use up over-ripe bananas, kinda defeats the object of throwing half away, so I used two, which weighed about 165g in total. The recipe asks for 40g of dark chocolate chips, but as I didn't have any, I crushed a 100g bar of dark chocolate with a hammer to get chunks(ish). As a new lover to peanut butter, (no idea how it stayed off my radar for so long!) I used a combination of smooth and chunky so you could tell what was in it.

My only gripe with the recipe is that it suggests it makes 30....30? I managed 14, and even then the first batch that went in the oven were a little on the small side. If they had sights on them being the size of a Maryland cookies then objective achieved, but I was hoping for more of an American sized cookie, which I still didn't manage. If When I make this recipe again I will double the quantities and make the balls of dough twice the size before they go into the oven, and I also recommend patting them down slightly before baking as the dough has been in the fridge for at least an hour (mine was over night) they don't spread too much, but this does mean they stay nice and plump!

Fashion posting will resume, but at present my sweet tooth reigns supreme!

KDx 

P.s Don't forget you can still get 20% off at Motel Rocks... there's now a handy little link on the sidebar!

I heard he was hiding somewhere I can't see

Nas "Cherry Wine" Ft. Amy Winehouse

So today I was accepted as one of the 'Street Team' for Motel Rocks.

Those of you who aren't familiar with Motel may have spotted their wares on many  a papped celeb, girl about town, or even on a friend and not realised it. The body-con style has become synonymous with the Motel brand, combined with their edgy prints inspired originally from the vintage finds in thrift stores on an American road trip back in '99.

But this post isn't a simple gloat (although this is in part-way a little pat on the back to me) there is also something in it for you lovely readers. As part of the Street Team I can offer you an exclusive 20% off discount code to use on the Motel Rocks site, simply enter karmendeanne into the promotional code box when you have picked your items, and you'll receive a nice little discount. Not bad aye?!

Here are my top 5 picks from Motel

The multi-tasker:

Zoe Bodycon Dress £28

This dress has that 90s vibe that is happening everywhere right now, so will work equally as well dressed up with a smudge of red lipstick and some chunky heels as it will dressed down with a denim or camo jacket, ripped tights and some Doc Martens for a take on grunge.

The one to see you through to next season:

Jet Plunge Neck Playsuit £48

This colour will be bang on trend come Autumn/Winter with designers such as Alberta Ferretti and Lanvin using rich jewel toned colours against black, meaning this playsuit will work with the last of the summer tan (albeit a fake one!) as it will layered over opaque tights.

The Jean update:

Jodie Cropped Skinny Jean £48

Cute, pattered and cropped. Sold. These have an air of the Americana trend I blogged about here, so team with a tie waisted shirt and a bomber jacket, make like the girls in Grease and get down to the fair and get covered in some candyfloss!

The one to take on holiday:

Salene Sleeveless Dip Hem Shirt £38

This is a great additional to your holiday suitcase, worn undone it can be a beach cover-up, or thrown over a bodycon dress such as the Zoe dress above for day or night, worn buttoned up  with a statement necklace, or with denim shorts for a kind-of take on double denim.

Lastly, the classic with a twist:

Coco Bodycon Backless Dress £28

Every girl needs at least one LBD. This one looks unassuming from the front but has killer cut-out back detail. Just enough flesh flashed to ensure that all eyes are on you even when you are walking away.

What are your favourite pieces from Motel? Have you managed to bag any pieces using the discount code? Be sure to let me know!

Happy shopping :)

KDx

I try to run but see I'm not that fast

Kid Cudi "Day 'n' Night'

A couple of outfit posts that contrast like night and day.
Last night drinks and dancing:

Topshop dress via ebay, Miss Selfridge earrings, various jewellery from H&M, Matalan, Disney and Topshop and New Look shoes

Today I went to a christening, my first, which is another sign that I am actually growing up. It feels a bit like a domino effect is taking place... 

Topshop dress and wedges via ebay, vintage leather satchel, various jewellery from H&M, New Look, Topshop and Matalan

My nails for the weekend:

Nails Inc 'Caramel', Nails Inc 'Lanesborough Place' (gold ring finger), Barry M 'Bright Red' tips, Rimmel London 'Beige Babe' leopard spots, and Sharpie marker to finish the leopard off

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. First weekend post Ibiza and I think I have finally come to accept that This Is England.

KDx

Let me catch my breath

Disclosure "Control" Ft.Ria Ritchie

Seriously suffering from a bad case of holiday hangover. I'm sure I am not alone. In fact I know I'm not as I can pretty confidently vouch for the other 7 girls I went with. I love being at home, but I'd like it to be more of a pit stop between holidays, opposed to a long stop between short holidays. But enough of the post holiday blues.

What did we learn in Ibiza? 

Well, the last time I went to Ibiza, when I say last that was the first time three years ago at the tender age of 21, fresh out of uni as a graduate, practically still clutching my 2:1 degree.... I've noticed things have changed somewhat. Not least of all the fact that food is more important this time around. I cannot live on the yummy mallowy goodness of a flump and a pizza alone on a daily basis.When you take the time to realise there are restaurants selling damn good food at a reasonable price, you wonder why you would let the crap cut it. (The flumps were still welcome though!). Definitely a sign that my head is closing the age gap between itself and my actual age.

Ibiza fashion has changed. There is definitely a distinctive 'look' that has developed, both for the guys and girls; there are a lot of cross overs. Here's a break down:

Sunglasses: Only wayfarers will do. Any colour, preferably real, but it's hard to tell amongst the plethora of fakes being thrust upon you at every opportunity. So if you are going and you haven't had chance to buy your Ray Bons, or Rey Bans (other versions are available) ebay is the place to go. Buy them cheap and don't get attached to them.

Footwear: The ladies tended to lean more towards Converse hi-tops, but a few low tops still made an appearance. And for the gents, Nikes. A hi or mid Blazer, or a Dunk high top, but preferably in tonal colours, I saw a few green on greens, blue on blue and red on burgundys. Whatever they were they had to be suede-which considering what people tend to get up to in Ibiza is crazy. But then maybe it was a good sign if they managed to keep them clean? I have no intention of doing a shoe analysis.

Shorts: Were short. Both men and women had lost a few inches off the hem line. Ladies were flashing a bit of cheek at every opportunity, irrelevant to the perkiness of the behind, but always in denim. Ripped, studded, adorned with jewels and tie-dyed, just make sure it's denim. As for the boys, brightly coloured running style shorts cutting more at mid thigh length to knee length, worn with nothing but a ripped torso.

Bags: The bum bag was the bag du jour for both sexes, wore low slung in leather leaning towards the more 90s style, opposed to tourist practicality.

Socks: The curve ball look of the holiday that couldn't go unnoticed, despite my concern over awkward tan lines they were white, calf length with two or three sports stripes in varying colours.

So with that in mind here's a little holiday shopping list if you're planning on making a trip to the White Isle and want to look part of the set as soon as your Converse wearing feet touch down:

Stripe Calf-High Sock £7 from American Apparel

Nike Blazer Hi Suede Vntage Aqua Green £66.99 from Office

BDG Studded Cheeky Short £45 from Urban Outfitters

Colour Wayfarer Sunglasses now £3 from Asos

Teal Swim Short £22 from Topman

Bum Bag now £12.99 from Amazon

Converse All Stars £45 from Schuh

What do you think to the 'Ibiza' style? Would you rock this look on holiday? Have you ever re-visited a place and noticed how the style has changed?

KDx