High Five

Five reasons to go out pronto and bag yourself a new, old, retro or gold pair of high top trainers. Is it that obvious that last week's purchase of grey and white Nike high tops were my first? Well they were, and I just LOVE them.

Numero Uno: Oh so comfortable! Not only do they complete our jeans and tee combination, but they are like pulling on slippers carefree and so darn comfy.

Two: They come in every shape and size, so you can quite literally fashion a pair whatever your age or colour/ print preference. There are a pair of these babies to wear at any and every occasion, there are no limits so go all out.

Three is the magic number: They just look COOL! Now, either I look completely ridiculous in mine and the double takes that I have been receiving are down to lacing them up the wrong way or they are the approving acknowledgments of my new footwear. Hmmm is this dude opposite me on the train thinking my, clearly very new, high tops to be well chosen? Well suited? Well sported?

Are there rules to this look I wonder? Do you stick with high or mid tops? Puma or Nike? One colour, any colour, all colours? Is there a time frame, I mean is it strictly Saturdays and week days from 6pm or can we push boundaries and wear them all day every day?

I say MIX and MEASURE, mix it up and choose a pair that you instantly love, wear from the moment of purchase and cant bear to live a day without. When I say measure I mean wear the loud outrageous hot pink pair with a low key outfit to do them justice. My Muma always taught me that subtlety is KEY.

Four: You can get yourself a pair almost anywhere! If you can't quite bear JD Sports, no problem as you can source them online, off line, in Offspring, Topshop, Ebay, and many a high street store. Prices will vary but you can get yourself a pair easily without breaking the bank, mine were about sixty quid but you can buy from twenty upwards!

And my number five: You can work them out! Trawling the town or training up you feel top of your game. Mine make me want to sky punch and hollar Adriiiiiiienne.

Highstreet Fashion Week Vs Two for a paaaaund!

Oh I can haggle alright, perhaps not with the assistant in topshop although it has been known, but I can definitely give it my all. I was born and raised to sniff out a bargain, a diamond in the rough, a total steal. And there lies my love for charity shops, vintage markets, bric-a-brack and quirky little boutiques.

Yes this love affair has brought me some little treasures that I hoard and fashion at every possible occasion. I am certainly not trashing our beloved highstreet stores, everyone needs a touch of Primark and a dash of H&M especially on a student budget. But you can find some amazing gear in second hand shops you just have to have the heart and the holding power to riffle through.

Plus everything comes back around; fashion is a carousel of trends, textures and tailoring. So Nan pass me over that corduroy dress and cameo, yes the chunky knit too, yo Grand-dad nice flat cap! Another thing too, once you've paid next to nothing and washed/ Febreezed, fumigated (JOKE) your purchase, you have something to sport that will be different to what every other Stella, Donna, Zara are wearing.

I swear I have contemplated volunteering to work Saturdays in my local Fara (Richmond) to delve into and ensure first pick of the designer drop offs, what better way to do my bit...AND they have a weekly SALE where the hefty prices are slashed OMG!

I am not ruled by the runway but, like most, I like to know that I can collage together an outfit that's all me. What I wear and the way I present myself is very important, it’s my suit of armour that some days can make all the difference. There are endless styles and looks to 'rock' but I think it’s much more about wearing what YOU feel good in and being a bit individual in the process. My best pieces are vintage hand-me-downs whether it’s my fur coat or my olive green leather belt.

Here are some of my best bargain buys: the mentioned belt, a gold sequinned fcuk dress and a peter pan collar blouse.

There are so many quirky places to find ‘gold’ as I call it; I work in Camden so often stumble upon some great vintage/ retro locations. Here are a few that are definitely worth locating:
1. Episode, a Dutch founded company who have several second-hand shops across Europe. The Chalk Farm branch is an Aladdin’s cave of wonders and I ALWAYS fall for something here.

2. Mero Retro, Camden Market. A lovely little boutique of handpicked vintage garments where I am a familiar face and big spender...fab dresses, head scarves, handbags and much more!

3. Trade, now trade are obviously an AMAZING charity who resells second hand clothes in attempt to ‘wear poverty out’. You can find stores nation wide!

4. Fara charity shops, another brilliant charity who source second hand everything to raise money for disadvantaged children. What’s more is that they have RETROMANIA in Victoria which specialises in ‘vintage, avant garde and retro clothing as well as designer pieces and memorabilia’…sold? Me too!