Cartoon Capers

For some people, a love of cartoons doesn't go away when you grow older. I am one of those people. Sometimes it can be difficult to show this through fashion in a way that is quirky and stylish without being tacky or (sometimes) just simply strange. As collaborations become more and more popular, here are a few of my favourite recent pairings, who I feel have managed to strike the balance between whimsy and wearable perfectly...

I was super excited and intrigued when I heard a few months ago about MAC Cosmetics' plans to unveil a collaboration with Disney for fall 2010. The Venomous Villains collection draws inspiration from some of Disney's most glamorous ladies, including Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen from Snow White & the Seven Dwarves.

More information is frequently becoming available about the collection, which is said to include 40 items, in the lead up to its release in September. The Hello Kitty collection last year was amazing, and this collaboration is shaping up to be just as good. As a Disney fan and a self-confessed MAC addict, I can't wait! The teaser advert for Venomous Villains can be viewed here.

A pair of Converse Chuck Taylors are a basic style staple, I know very few people that don't own a pair. Now Converse have teamed up with childhood favourite Dr Seuss to create a collection of Chucks boldly decorated with colours and characters from the popular series of stories.

I can't decide which pair I like best! The collection can be viewed here and includes shoes for adults and children.

A lot of girls (and boys) are obsessed with Hello Kitty. As I mentioned earlier, their collaboration with MAC last year was excellent and sold very quickly. I wish I could explain the appeal to those who don't get what the fuss over Hello Kitty is about, but I can't. I suppose it's like marmite, except very kawaii! You either love it or you don't.

So! When I heard about the collaboration between Hello Kitty creator Sanrio and Dr Martens I know that cuteness would be the order of the day, and I wasn't disappointed.

The collection consists of 5 pieces - three pairs of classic 8-hole boots (as above) and two pairs of mary jane shoes. Bright colours and bows ensure that all 5 designs are eye-catching and unique.

I'm sure we will be seeing more and more cartoon-inspired fashion in the shops and out on the street. Will you be shopping any of these collections?

Girl About Town

Over the weekend I was out and about in Glasgow.

In my last blog I wrote about the lovely people at Jodie's, one of the stores I visited. I also went to Vivienne Westwood (it's almost impossible for me to walk past Princes Square and not want to go), who like most shops at this time of year, are currently having a sale.


Ah, I do love a good sale! And this one is definetly A Good Sale. It's set to last about another two weeks and there's up to 60% of selected clothes and accessories. Highlights include the large pale blue patent Ebury handbag, which is reduced from a whopping £680 to a not too shabby £272!
As well as the sale, Vivienne Westwood are now starting to get their new season stock in, including the ever popular Melissa collaboration shoes . The hotly anticipated Anglomania + Lee collaboration will also be stocked in the store and I'm told is due in at the end of this month. Really looking forward to this one, I've seen some pictures of the collaboration and can't wait to see the rest!

Phew! After all that excitement, it was a hop, skip and a jump onto the subway so that I could go for lunch.


Lunch at Cafe Pop on Great Western Road was yummy (and yes, that is also my cake lurking in the background). Great service and a stylish interior.

All in all (in the words of Ice Cube), it was a Good Day.

Shop: Jodie's Jewellery Boutique

When an outfit needs something special to give it that extra bit of va-va-voom, only a good piece of statement jewellery will do the job. The cherry on top, the icing on the cake. After the shoes, the dress and the hair are sorted out, it is the jewellery that is the finishing touch and can set you apart from the crowd.

Which is why, tucked neatly in Argyll Arcade, Jodie's Jewellery Boutique is where fashionistas in the know go to accessorise.


The store opened in summer 2008 and is a Glasgow family-run business. With its bubblegum pink carpeting, big mirrors and pick n' mix selection of jewelry & accessories, it is pure girlie fashion indulgence. Jodie's carries the popular brands that we know and love like Tatty Devine and Disney Couture, and introduces us to ones we may not be as familiar with, for example Glasgow's own And Mary and the quirky and fabulous Silver Service.

Disney Couture 'Alice in Wonderland':

Tatty Devine:

I am a firm believer that the shopping experience is almost (if not as) important as the items we purchase, and with its friendly atmosphere, cheerful staff and wonderful attention to detail (from the themed cabinet displays to the cute carrier bags), Jodie's makes for a very pleasant customer experience indeed. The girls in the shop know their jewelry and have the same passion for the designs as their customers.

New season Tatty Devine:

Attention to detail is in the bag:

What I also really like about this store is their knack of knowing what brands people want, ones that may be difficult to get (even online) and they make them accessible. I had to resist buying one of the Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers-style brooches by No Tail (maybe next time...) and caught myself looking longingly at the new-in handbags by Helen Rochfort. Back to the task at hand, I chatted to Louise of Jodie's, who filled me in on their best selling items and the store's annual birthday bash (which unfortunately has just passed - but there's always next year). The birthday events are very special, with a prize draw, champagne, cake and discount vouchers all featuring in the celebrations!

Ruby Slippers brooches by No Tail:

With prices starting at around a fiver, Jodie's is refreshingly unpretentious. They are worth visiting because they offer high quality and unique pieces that don't cost an arm and a leg, and provide a lovely atmosphere to browse for them in. And isn't that what it's all about?

I finally asked Louise why people should visit Jodie's Jewellery Boutique, and her response?

"If you haven't seen this stuff, you haven't lived".

And I can't say I disagree.

Chic-ologically friendly

It's pretty safe to say that green is the new black. Recycling is not only smart - it has become widely acknowledged as the stylish thing to do for some time now - remember the frenzy surrounding those Anya Hindmarch canvas bags in 2007?

Two of my favourite cosmetics companies, MAC and Lush, are offering their customers stylish incentives for being Eco kind. MAC operate under the Back to MAC programme, a scheme in which they will exchange the return of six empty containers online or at a counter for a brand new lipstick of your choice. Not bad at all! Helping the environment and a brand new Ruby Woo (or whatever your favourite colour may be) to boot? I could get used to this...

Lush, who have recently refurbished their lovely large Buchanan Street store, offer a similar trade-off to their customers. For five empty black pots (normally filled with treats such as moisturiser, cleanser or hair products - to name a few)brought into the store, the staff at Lush will give you a pot of fresh face mask free of charge. This initiative has been cheerfully named Many Happy Returns.

Will you be going Back to MAC and/ or bringing Lush Many Happy Returns? Leave your comments below!

Lady Madonna

Anyone that knows me knows my love of 80's Madonna. The clothes, films and - most of all - the music - they express rebellion, confidence and femininity in equal measure. I can't listen to Get into the Groove without picturing Madge strutting her stuff in Desperately Seeking Susan and smiling.

So, you can imagine my intrigue and delight when I heard that Madonna and her daughter Lourdes (or Lola as she is also known) have teamed up to design and release a new clothing line, Material Girl for US department store, Macy's. Having seen photos of the new line, aimed at teen girls to females in their mid-twenties, it's easy to see that Madonna's grungy 80's style has played a big part in inspiring the look. Flashes of lace, bustiers, leggings and leather all make an appearance and the collection will also feature accessories such as handbags and jewellery.

Madonna fans will definitely love this line and as it is so affordable, it is predicted to sell very well. I remember the Madonna for H&M collection that was released a few years back and that was a hit. Madonna, ever the multi-tasker can also be seen modelling in the recent (and very sultry) Dolce & Gabbana campaigns.

The Material Girl collection is said to retail at prices between $12 and $40 and will be in stores next month. Pictures of the collection can be viewed here.

And you can dance. For inspiration.