Thursday, 1 February 2018

Hippy fashion in Bristol - Just Another Passing Phase?


We all know that Bristol is a bit of a 'hipster' city. Whilst you'd spot people sporting brands such as Whistles and Burberry in the busy streets of London, the only hint of designer clothes you'll catch sight of in Bristol are a pair of vintage Levi's. With thrift stores and charity shops on every corner you turn, it's kind of hard to avoid it.

Whilst being a hippy is seen as a cultural movement or diversion from the norm in most places, in Bristol it's as common as anything to see everyone sporting harem pants and festival wristbands stacked high on their arms.

Don't get me wrong - I love a good charity shop find as much as the next person - but it got me thinking about the 'hippy' trend in Bristol. Is it ironic that someone that is seen as a non-conformist elsewhere is the complete opposite in Bristol? Is hippy fashion in Bristol just another example of people following the masses and following trends?

On one hand, I really admire Bristol's individuality and alternativeness. It is a buzzing, cultural city and really has something for everyone. On the other hand it's a bit annoying to feel like you'll be shamed for even looking in the shop window of a huge corporation like Primark.

For someone who has come from a really small, relatively sheltered town where everyone is encouraged to be a sheep and talk, dress and act like everyone else, it is really refreshing to see how people in Bristol express themselves through their clothing in an unapologetic manner. It's just very interesting how not following the trends can actually turn into following a trend. People aiming to act and dress different now all collectively act and dress the same, which sort of defeats the whole purpose and makes the 'hippy' trend a little hypocritical.

Although I wouldn't totally agree with the criticism of this article, I do find it quite funny: 

' Bristol hipsters are a special breed, and, dare I say it, the men in Bristol are miles worse than their female counterpart? While Bristol girl hipsters are of a common breed found in most major cities, the Bristol male hipsters are men who think they were born with the pussy magnet strength 10 (out of 10) simply because they managed to grow a half decent beard, play in a semi-locally-known band and work in media. The sad truth is that beyond the exterior, there seems to be a distinct lack in beliefs and conviction and they therefore have to top it up with as much craft beer and pulled pork they can gather from Grillstock.'


What I agree with is the fact that a lot of people are joining this movement, but purely for the outward aesthetics - retro clothing, quirky wall hangings - you get the gist. A lot of the people adopting this style of dressing are forgetting what it really is to be a hippie. It's not all about letting your hair grow long and not shaving your armpits. It's about love, peace and compassion. It's about kindness to humans and animals alike. It's caring about the planet and actually doing something about it.

In conclusion, I think it's great that Bristolians buy second hand and are doing their part in helping the environment, but I just hope that people don't just start following this as a trend for the sake that it 'looks cool' in contrast to the people who are actually doing it for a good reason.

What's your opinion? Do you think that hippy fashion in Bristol is a positive movement or just another passing phase?


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Sunday, 21 January 2018

I Needed A Break...

I'm aware it's very late to be saying this, but happy new year! I hope you had the best Christmas and ate shit tons of food like I did. Another thing I did was just completely chilled out and took a break from any responsibilities. 

I guess that's really why I'm writing this. Just before the Christmas break I was doing vlogmas for the first time and I enjoyed it so much. Not only did it get me really excited for Christmas but it helped distract me in the week or two I had left in Bristol before getting to go home for the break. I really think that if I didn't have vlogging to focus on, the days would've dragged as I was anxiously waiting for the day I could fly home. 

I was really in the groove of it, but as soon as I got home the flow just stopped. I still recorded some footage in my first few days back home, but I just struggled to find the time to edit it. I was more focused on catching up with my friends who I hadn't seen in months and appreciating some quality time with my family. While I was annoyed at myself for not finishing vlogmas, I said to myself that I should't feel pressured to upload anything. It takes the enjoyment out of doing this when you feel like it's a chore.

And so I decided to just take a little break from social media for a while, and I'm so glad I did. I was able to enjoy the time I had with my family and friends so much more. I wasn't mindlessly scrolling through instagram but instead I was playing stupid board games with my family and laughing so much that my stomach hurt. By the end of the break, I came back feeling refreshed and ready to take on the tasks in the New Year.

If you're ever feeling a bit swamped by social media, please take a break. I know it's a lot harder than it sounds but it is genuinely so good for the soul. You'll be able to think more clearly and solve any issues that you didn't have time to dwell on before because you were more concerned about what you next instagram post was going to be.

I think I'd like to start doing this every month. Just delete my apps and detox for a few days. Read, write and be present to those around me. Enjoy life. Look more at my surroundings. I encourage you to do this as well and you'll feel so refreshed and much happier.

I'd love to do more reading and writing this year because it really does make me happier than looking at boring, negative and uninspiring content. Do more of the things that make you enjoy life. 

Over the Christmas break my main focus was the new film camera I got. I took it as an opportunity to test out film photography for the first time and get out in nature a bit more. I got the photos developed the other day and although they're a bit shitty (it was my first time so I'm not too bothered), they hold a lot of fun memories that I'll be able to look back on. Here are a few of my faves:



















I hope you have lots of love and happiness in 2018!!

Much love,
Orlagh xx
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Thursday, 7 December 2017

Movement Boutique - Where Style and Sustainablility Meet


In my (short) time living in Bristol I've come to learn that if Bristol does one thing well, it's having an abundance of independent boutiques (what? I like to shop!).  In a crowd of so many 'quirky little stores' it can be hard to stand out, but Movement Boutique manage to do just that. 

With a beautiful little shop in Clifton as well as an online store, Movement Boutique managed to achieve Times' 'Boutique of the Week' and it's not hard to see why. 

What makes the boutique different to others is that it's pieces are carefully curated by Marcelle, the store owner, and will only make the cut if they fall under the category of 'beautiful, ethical, stylish and sustainable', and make people feel comfortable and confident - what's not to love?

Capturing this idea of confidence is the brand 'Sita Murt' which is stocked in the boutique. Sita Murt is a chic, playful and feminist brand who's collection is for real women to express themselves. Although stylish, the brand creates classic, ageless pieces which means they don't contribute to fast fashion (which is always a bonus!) 




Another one of my favourite brands in the store for accessories is 'April Doubleday'. I absolutely adore how this brand combines sustainability and beautiful craftsmanship. The pieces are made from recycled silver and and only made from ethical or fair trade precious metals. The jewellery is understated but really stunning.






Movement Boutique is the ultimate shopping destination, whether you're looking for a gift, something to put on your wish list or even just to treat yourself this Christmas. The store has something for everyone, and the welcoming atmosphere as well as the excellent customer service makes it the all round shopping experience.

If you want to find out more about the store, here are all their links:

https://www.movementboutique.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/movementboutiquebristol/

https://www.facebook.com/movementboutiquebristol/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf

https://twitter.com/Movement1357

Happy shopping!

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Monday, 27 November 2017

ASOS MARKET PLACE FINDS

I don't know about anyone else, but the ASOS website can initially be a bit confusing and overwhelming if you've never used it before. I mean, once you get the hang of it, it's almost too easy  to spend way more than what you have, but I thought I'd help you guys out and help you save time scrolling through page upon page to find just one amazing item. 

If you've never used of/heard of ASOS marketplace, it's an amazing outlet section of ASOS where independent brands and stores can sell their pieces. This could be anything from vintage shops to boutiques. There are some amazing finds on it for really reasonable prices so I thought I'd pick out all my favourite pieces! (All you have to do is click on the photo of the item you like and it'll take you straight to the link to purchase it - you're welcome in advance!)














































Much love,

Orlagh x
























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Friday, 17 November 2017

Fashion Practitioners Who Inspire Me

Petra Collins

Petra is an artist/photographer who captures the female experience - from sexuality to femininity - and focuses on teenagers in particular. What I love about her work is that she portrays the reality of growing up as a female, but does so with the most dreamy, pink tinted visuals.





Ashley Armitage

Ashley is one of the first fashion photographers who really caught my eye. Her instagram account, @ladyist, showcases her fantastic work in which she photographs the reality of being a female, such as pubic hair and tampons. She doesn't filter femininity, which I find so refreshing in a world where all girls are made to feel ashamed of their body and the hair that grows on it. Ashley is using photography as a medium to diminish these social constructs, in the most visually pleasing way possible.





Tavi Gevinson

Tavi started her fashion blog, The Style Rookie, at the mere age of 11 proving that age does not define success, as her blog blew up and became very  successful, so much that she now has her own magazine - http://www.rookiemag.com/ - where she focuses on subjects such as feminism and the effect of pop culture on young people. I really value her hard work and entrepreneurship from such a young age. She is really a lesson in not waiting for opportunities to come to you but rather to go out and grab them yourself.





Leandra Medine

Leandra really inspires me as a businesswoman in fashion. She is the brains behind the well known blog, https://www.manrepeller.com/, which wonderfully mixes fashion with a little bit of satire. I really love how she has brought a fresh, witty and almost mocking outlook on fashion. Leandra inspires me in terms of finding a niche and making it into a huge success.





Jess Farran

Jess is a recent University graduate who studied Fine Arts in Photography. I discovered her work on The Messy Heads website and was immediately in awe of her stunning photography style. She dabbles in fashion and sexuality photography, and her aesthetic is so dreamy and futiristic. Although only relatively new on the scene, she has been extremely successful and has won many awards. Her skill of creating original and individual pictures whilst still sticking to a particular visual is really inspiring to me.







Mika Francis

Mika is a fashion/lifestyle blogger and youtuber who combines her love for fashion and spirituality in her enviously, amazingly edited videos. Showcasing her bold and daring style in lookbooks and on her instagram, she preaches self love and acceptance and constantly inspires me to seek more from life and express myself unapologetic ally through my clothing.





Adwoa Aboah

Adwoa is the new fashion 'it' girl, featuring as the cover girl of the new Vogue cover, which has just changed editor's. She is refreshing as a model and I really appreciate the fact that she uses her platform for good. Adwoa has created an organisation called Gurls Talk (@gurlstalk on instagram), which is a place for girls to be honest and real, and feel like they can talk about anything. It is empowering and encouraging - I'd definitely recommend following them.





Estee Lalonde

I've followed Estee's blog and youtube channel for a long time, but recently I've been loving her rebrand and change of content. In recent years she has used her fashion blog to address issues like feminism, and has become an educated, articulate and down to earth voice for the blogger industry. Her podcast, 'The Heart of It', has been such an amazing venture out of her usual work, and discusses subjects from makeup to strength, keeping it light-hearted and interesting.





Who are your favourite artists in the fashion industry? Let me know!

Much love,

Orlagh x


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