Friend Friday #48: Locational Influences

Taken from the balcony of the apartment where I stayed with friends on a trip to Paris last Spring

This week's Friend Friday topic is all about how where we live has a lot to do with how we dress.

1. What part of the world do you blog from? (feel free to be as specific or as vague as you are comfortable with.)

Cardiff Bay: taken with my gorgeous vintage Olympus OM1

Cardiff. Wales. UK. Europe.

I mention all of these as each plays its own specific role in influencing how I dress.

2. If you had to describe the overall mode of dress for where you live what would you say?

There are two faces of Cardiff: the student face which is all about hoodies, jeans and flip flops. Mainly. And the WAG-wannabe face which is all about looking good on a night out - short dresses, high heels and a lot of make-up.

And then a third which is somewhere in between.

3. Do you fit in with the status quo around you or do you break the mold?

I'm somewhere in between. I used to be a student in Cardiff and so have favoured the hoody, jeans and flip flops look in years gone by. But then I graduated and started an office job and had to find my own sense of style. I guess my style fits in pretty much anywhere as I try to buy classic pieces that will last for a while rather than lots of on trend clothes that will last only a season.

4. If you have lived or traveled to another part of the country/world did your clothing choices evolve?

I've lived in Italy and in Brussels. I guess that by developing a style that is pretty much transferable wherever I am has been a result of this travelling in my early 20s.

Of course, in the age of globalisation and the internet, it is easy to be influenced by styles and trends from 100s of 1000s of miles away.

5. If you had to describe your style by naming a specific city, what would you be?

Paris in Autumn

I'd like to think, Paris. But that's probably wishful thinking.

All I know is, I feel completely inspired every time I go to Paris and last Autumn when I was in the French capital, it seemed that every second person was carrying a Longchamp Le Pliage bag - and now, as a result, I am the proud owner of one!

Do you find yourself influenced by the place in which you live? Or somewhere else? Maybe somewhere you wish you lived?

Remember to check out the other responses to think week's Friend Friday topic, over at ModlyChic. You can also find more information on how to get involved over on Katy's blog too.

Please nominate me in the "Established Fashion Blog" category

Projects: Now and New

This morning I was busy bemoaning the fact that the mist and fog was so thick in Cardiff that I could barely see the cars on the road from the pavement as I walked to work. By lunchtime, it had all cleared and Cardiff Bay was bathed in beautiful sunshine. I often forget that I actually live by the sea. But then half of the time, I can't see the sea!

As everything looked so beautiful with the sun shining on it, I decided to test run my new mobile phone, courtesy of Samsung, the Wave II:

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Ivor Novello statue, Cardiff Bay

Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay



Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay


Since receiving the phone at the weekend, I've been having fun playing with it. The camera and its many many edit options provided hours of entertainment when the boyf and I were stranded on a train for two hours in the middle of nowhere on Sunday night! A few weeks ago I mentioned wanting a new compact camera but I think this phone will fulfill all of my compact needs!

If you would like the opportunity to win one of these brand new phones, you can submit your photographs (taken on any camera) to The Now Project and you'll be in with a chance of having your photo featured in an exhibition at The Design Museum next month. I have already submitted mine here.

After uploading my photos, I checked out some of the other entries. These are a couple that caught my eye:

Elisabeth of Thrills and Frills: the only ones on the beach

birdcages by Jazmine Rocks of Jazzabelle's Diary

Some REALLY pretty Shoes by Kit Lee of Style Slicker

You might also have noticed that I have played around a little with the design of the blog. I'd love to know what you think of the new layout.

Cardiff Mas Carnvial: 31 July 2010

A week ago, as I walked to the station to catch a train to Bicester, I came upon the Cardiff Mas Carnival making its way up Bute Street. I stopped for as long as I could to take some photos of all of the wonderful colourful outfits as they paraded past.


*Click on the photos to see a bigger view.

Monday Morning Pic-Me-Up

The boyf took this photo about three years ago but I love it. It is the carousel in Cardiff Bay.

Doctor Who and Cardiff Bay in the snow!

Yes, you did read that right. Doctor Who actors and film crew decided to take advantage of the snow in Cardiff Bay at lunchtime and I managed to get a couple (of not very good) photos! The final one is probably the best as you can just about make out the new Doctor - Matt Smith - and his red-haired assistant - Karen Gillan!

Here are also some of the rest of the Bay!

From top, the Senedd building of the National Assembly for Wales, and again, tourist signpost, Ivor Novello statue, Pierhead building, Pierhead building clock, memorial instalation outside the Senedd

I hope you all have snow with you.

Snow time!!!

It started to snow in Cardiff late last night but I still managed to drag the boyf out into it for a snowball fight!!!


Here I am playing in the snow! (Wearing Topshop skinny jeans, M&S man's jumper, Asda scarf and EMU boots.)

Here is the view from outside our block of flats. Does it all look pretty?

It's still snowing here, so hopefully there will be photos of the Bay in the snow later!