Time for a break from models wearing clothes and back to me wearing them instead. For this year's fashion week outfits, I decided to mix things up a bit. Instead of receiving the odd bit here and there and putting things with my own wardrobe, I've decided to take a complete U-turn and borrow everything. I know this seems a bit untoward, as a blogger I often prefer to receive things to keep as I believe that when you own something, it becomes a part of you and your style (soppy I know). If you look at my outfits, some of the same pieces have popped up time and time again over the years and each has a gone on a bit of a journey. Despite this consistent thought process, I had a bit of a brainwave whilst doing my last-minute.com ticket requests and thought it might be an interesting experiment to call in the main elements of each outfit. Would I be treated differently wearing some designer duds or even feel more comfortable within myself?
Now I don't have much of a swanky wardrobe, there's the odd thing here and there bought in the sale or with some sort of staff discount from a kind friend, but I can rarely wear current season unless it's under £100. So many press releases I get ask me if I'd ever like to loan items but I'd never thought to succumb, until now. Firstly it'd be too depressing the give the items back and secondly I have a habit of getting toothpaste everywhere. I go to lots of press days throughout the year but apart from Instagram-ing the odd thing, half of what I see doesn't ever make it onto the blog as I can't afford to interact with it personally in an outfit post. I've realised that lot of bloggers, editors and celebrities borrow stuff all of the time and I thought it would be interesting to step into their shoes for a week (though not literally, I've mostly stuck with my own footwear and jewellery). I decided to see if I could call in my dream wardrobe for one of the most talked about times of the year and here's how it went!
Friday
I soon realised the problem with wearing things for the supposed current season, whilst seeing things for the next, it's so flippin' hot! The weather was pretty good to us this season but I still saw people soldiering on in their Winter coats, it's like all common sense goes out of the window. This Second Female sweatshirt and skirt co-ord was a little cosier than I would have liked on my Northern line journey, but at least I didn't need a jacket at any point during the day. Most people commented that they never see me in trainers but in reality I've been living in these New Balances for all airport journeys and errands. I must wear them with exciting things more often though, I did freak out that they made my feet look massive the first time I wore them with a skirt but now I'm used to it.
I borrowed: Top & Skirt - Second Female, Bag - Rebecca Minkoff, Sunglasses - Triwa
I own: New Balance Trainers - c/o JD Sports, Necklace - Tatty Devine, Watch - Drive from Citizen
Saturday
OK scrap my disbelief at everyone wearing coats, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em springs to mind. When I saw this Ganni number in the showroom I was slightly peeved at the fact it wasn't February but decided to wear it in 22 degree heat anyway. My brainwave meant that I tried to borrow things I'd seen at press days but most of the time the samples were unavailable for LFW or someone else already had them. This coat was the only familiar sight and I treated it as more of an oversized cardigan to justify wearing it, and to stop myself feeling like I was going to a wedding. Not that that's a bad thing, this Cacharel dress is stunning but not the shape I'd usually go for. I ended up loving the volume and back detail in the end. This was probably the most complimented outfit, Stylist Magazine picked up on it and the new season Mulberry Kensington bag was definitely recognisable. I still don't know how I managed to give it back, when it arrived I did a little dance with it even though I knew the inevitable would happen.
I borrowed: Coat - Ganni, Dress - Cacharel (similar), Bag - Mulberry (similar), Sunglasses - Triwa, Ring - Lola & Grace
I own: Necklace & Earrings - c/o Anna Lou Of London, Shoes - Swedish Hasbeens
Sunday
Even though my school days are over, I thought I'd take the preppy idea and run with it in every way possible. The vintage checked skirt from Beyond Retro really should have been part of my uniform, I rolled it up in the same way I used to in primary school (my innocent mind meant that I didn't know why exactly I was doing it) and picked some sensible shoes accordingly. I don't usually do small bags but since I was channelling a more 'fash-un' frame of mind, I found the tiniest Cambridge Satchel possible and treated it in the same way I would a small child. It's just so cute! Of course I needed a second tote for all of the usual stuff I carted around but I can definitely see their appeal.
I borrowed: Sweatshirt - Ganni, Skirt - Beyond Retro, Sunglasses - Bailey Nelson, Bag - The Cambridge Satchel Company
I own: Necklace - Tatty Devine, Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell, Watch - c/o Caravelle
Monday
Since I'm being totally honest in this post, I literally threw this jacket on just for these snaps. I went for another sweatshirt and skirt combination, purely because these are the only items I had that fitted (some of the other Cacharel pieces I liked would not go near my pot belly) and I wanted to change things up slightly. For once I had to be flexible and base my choices on what was available. I gathered a lot of pieces in the week leading up to the shows and worked out full looks the night before. Still, The Apartment was a pretty handy place where you could borrow items on a whim and now I'm almost tempted to make this pink leather jacket a reality.
I borrowed: Leather Jacket - Reiss, Sweatshirt - Ganni, Skirt - Samsoe & Samsoe, Bag - Aspinal Of London
I own: Sunglasses - c/o Jimmy Choo, Necklace - Tatty Devine, Watch - c/o Caravelle, Brogues - c/o Hobbs
Tuesday
By this point, I was itching to wear some of my own stuff. Some of the things I really wanted to call in, like a full skirt or drop-waisted dress were simple non-existent and seeing others in these things made me feel a little wistful. Nothing I managed to find was very fitted and although I don't mind the odd sack-like thing, I wanted to remind myself that I had a waist. Somewhere. Instead of throwing in the towel for the last day, I stuck to my original plan of wearing this Samsoe & Samsoe dress and inadvertently stuck to a muted colour palette. If in doubt about a tricky shape, stick a heel with it and some red lippy. No one will be any the wiser.
I borrowed: Dress - Samsoe & Samsoe, Bag - The Cambridge Satchel Company, Sunglasses - Triwa
I own: Shoes - Urban Outfitters, Jewellery - Tatty Devine & Stephen Einhorn
So what's your verdict on my temporary wardrobe? I think that borrowing for me is still the exception and not the rule. I'm happy to do it for special occasions (hint Oscars hint) but this blog is about my personal relationship with the items I wear. What I realised about London Fashion Week and probably all the others too, is that it's all a big fantasy. Everyone is dressed to the nines without a thought for practicality and most have begged, stolen (in the loosest sense) and borrowed to make sure that they have a shot at the street-style galleries. Where do all of these people go when the shows are over? I rarely see any of these types doing their shopping in Sainsburys or perhaps I just live in the wrong area. Although I missed showing off the best bits my wardrobe has to offer, I felt comfort in the fact I have the rest of the year to wear everything on my own terms. Regularly scheduled programming will resume shortly!
Thanks to all of the PR companies for trusting me with your samples and Task Rabbit for helping me with returns!