Fashion Voyeur

People will stare, make it worth their while.

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet

What I Wore: Spring Layering

It’s always around this time of year, when the weather is starting to show glimmers of change, that I panic and forget what I ever wore before Winter cascaded over the land, and my life.  The days of wearing my cherished faux furs are almost over but it’s not quite warm enough to wheel out that old Spring favourite, the denim jacket.  So, when I’m styling up a look for early Spring disguised as Winter, what do I look for?  That’s a tricky question, you know I’m a lover of the old juxtaposition.  Whether it’s prints, textures or colours, I love a mismatch and the quirkier the better.  Choose something unexpected and they’ll never see you coming, or maybe they will because if you’re anything like me it’ll be blue white and orange…

A full length picture of Blogger Pixie tenenbaum wearing a blue and white striped Primark dress with cowboy boots and an orange pointelle Topshop jumper standing by the River Tyne

Ok, so, take one typical Summer dress – there are loads of these around right now, H&M & Urban outfitters lead the pack when it comes to print choice and they range from £35-£49, or if you’re not too bothered about print options then you can pick up this very one from Primark for just £14, if it’s not already sold out.  Yes, before you say it I know there’s a big backlash about Fashion Bloggers and Influencers advocating for Primark because of what it does to the fashion industry in terms of hierarchy but on a surface level, I believe that if you’re interested in fashion and don’t have the resources to feed the runway, then fast fashion is absolutely an option.  I shop at Primark myself and believe wholeheartedly that there’s a place for fast fashion in the industry.  Can’t find this dress?  Check out Groupon’s offers on Dorothy Perkins clothing for something in a similar style.  I got you boo.

Ok, so now that’s out of the way, this button through, shoestring-strap sundress is my favourite of all the ones I’ve tried, that includes the more expensive versions at Marks and Spencer, Warehouse and Urban Outfitters.  It has huge pockets at the perfect height to be functional, (so many items from Primark have the pockets way too high, like maybe their fit models are 5’5″) and the straps are adjustable, like bra straps.  If you’ve read my Surgical Series, or if you know me IRL you’ll know that I absolutely hate exposing any chest. Décolletage, collar bones, however pretty you want to make it sound, it’s not on my list of body parts to show off.  You can opt to wear this dress as it is, or if like me you like to cover that area, you can throw on a tighter fitting tee first.

If you’re styling it with a tee underneath, choose something that’s shorter in length, more form fitting and with minimal design on the front as it’s not that visible once the dress is over the top.  This No Fake tee is made of uber light cotton so it doesn’t bunch up under the empire line.  This particular dress has diagonal dart placement in the bust creating the illusion that flat chested girls like me, actually have more up top.

When it comes to prepping for Spring, layering is your top skill.  Scratch people skills, social media and IT, layering is literally the skill at the top of your arsenal and the one that’s gonna score you the most style points.  Get it right and you’ve got yourself two totally different looks, one on top of each other and the bolder you go, the better it is.  My favourite top layer in this juicy combo is this orange knit sweater from Topshop which you can buy here. thrown straight over the top.  The orange against the simple blue and white stripe might be too much for some, but for me it’s perfection.

My footwear of choice is my trusty cowboy boots, a Summer wardrobe staple of mine and something you’ll have seen in various guises in my other What I Wore posts – a girl literally can’t have too many cowboy boots.  Low enough that you can walk around comfortably and versatile enough to pair with just about anything.  These ones are from Topshop and the good news is that they get a refresh every year so you’ll always find them in store and online during the Summer months.

So what are you waiting for Voyeurs?!  Spring is right around the corner…

Pixie x

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

What I Wore: The Perfect Denim Jacket

Love it or hate it, the trend for denim jackets emblazoned with huge motifs is going nowhere.  Embellished denim just won’t cut it anymore, in an age where we paint, embroider and customise our clothes, a simple pearl or diamante is just no good.

These days we’re all looking for that little bit of flair, something that makes us different, and that makes us stand out.  Why?  Because it’s no longer cool to be wearing what everyone else is wearing.  Gone are those school days where we all wanted the same sneakers, where wearing the right jacket gave you a silent seal of approval.  Right now it’s all about individuality, and standing out.  Personalisation came on to our radars in a big way in the noughties, with Nike’s iD Design Lab making it easy to grab a pair of bespoke sneaks.  Not just with your name, but by selecting panels and fabrics meaning you had the opportunity to create something unique and completely bespoke.  In fact, I was asked to create a pair of bespoke 90’s archive Air Max sneaks to display in the New York iD Lab as part of a fashion exhibition, but that’s another story.

So, with individuality high on our agendas, there’s never been a better time to stand out.  Whether you’re sick of conforming, or you’ve longed for a time when you could embrace your individuality; wonder no more, that time is now.  Fashion is changing, the industry itself is changing.  The shift in show seasons is a reflection of that, with some designers opting for the See Now, Buy Now model and others opting to stay within the pre-season format, everything has loosened a little and become less rigid.  Just like gender, fashion has become fluid, and open to interpretation.  You can of course conform, if that’s your jam, but where’s the fun in that?

So, the point of this post, yes, denim jackets.  So, there once was a time where a little lace trim or a carefully placed pearl was considered a fashion risk.  Why would you want to add to denim, it’s perfect the way it is right?  Well yes, but it can be so much more….

Here’s my favourite denim jacket, now just as an aside, I haven’t been paid to write this, I wasn’t gifted the jacket, I bought it at full price and probably the retailer doesn’t even know I’ve written this, but this is my top pick for getting you through Spring and Summer as the most perfectly versatile cover up.  It’s a simple mens fit denim jacket (that means you get the 80’s sleeve rather than the tight fit stretch denim), until you see the back.  This one is from North East independent retailer Flaura Rose, she customises each piece individually and they retail at around £60 depending on the intricacy and size of the design.

fashion blogger Pixie Tenenbaum wears a denim jacket by Flaura Rose with red elephant design on back

I spotted this one on a market stall and fell in love with it, it’s stiff denim so the collar stands up without flopping and it’s the perfect wash.  I’ve worn it with my beloved Daisy Duke’s, these vintage golf trousers and a million other things because that’s right Voyeurs, it goes with freaking everything.  So, that’s it, my ode to the not so humble, bespoke, individualised, crazy freaking awesome denim jacket.  It’s a real talking point to, people always ask me where I got it from, and I never tell them.  Until now.  You’re welcome.

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet

What I Wore: Styling the Racing Aesthetic Trend

The racing aesthetic has been bubbling under for a little wile now.  After appearing on the runways in Spring 2016 it’s been one of those trends that’s gathered pace until it literally bursts through the pack to claim first place.  The Fenty Puma Spring Summer 18 collection saw motocross inspired designs take centre stage, whilst actual motocross riders put on an x-rider style stunt show around the models.

By the time the Fall Winter 18 show season rolled around, the racing aesthetic trend was well and truly cemented.  Designs from Off – White, Supreme, Fenty Puma and the final “See Now, Buy Now” TOMMY x GIGI collection, aptly named “Speed”, featured motocross style pants and chequered flag detailing meaning only one thing:  the high street would soon follow.  Now this is a tricky trend for the high street to respond to, it calls for high quality materials and tricky top stitch and pipe binding techniques – it’s easy to fall short of the finish line if you get this trend wrong and trust me, that’s easy to do.  The look is straight off the 1980’s speedway, get it right and you’re guaranteed a place on the podium, get it wrong however and you’re likely to end up with a ride through penalty and find yourself way down at the back of the grid with zero style points.  The trick to pulling it off?  Something that pays homage to the original style aesthetic and attitude in abundance.  Check and check.

Pixie Tenenbaum wearing GIGI x TOMMY Leather Speed Pant £410

When you’re styling out the race inspired trend steer clear of pleather, vinyl, plastic or any other types of trashy fabrics.  This look works because it stays pretty true to the original aesthetic.  If you’re looking for motocross inspired pants, they’re pretty hard to find.  I have the TOMMY x GIGI Leather Speed pants and whilst they look great, the quality is appalling, at £410 Tommy Hilfiger should be exercising better quality control, I’ve ordered these three times now and the first two pairs arrived with the seams slashed.  The third pair hasn’t fared much better, after just 10 minutes of wear they were already torn.  Not cool Gigi, not cool.  I adore these pants and yeah, I look cool AF in them but I’m seriously thinking of switching to these:

4 images of the Wreckreation Superchargers collection which is a series of items based on the motocross trend and not fitting a specific ideal
WRECKREATION

Wreckreation’s Supercharger trouser is a great alternative and the brand is based right here in the North East.  When it comes to nailing the trend these are probably your best option.  Fashioned from sturdy denim in a whole variety of colourways, these are hardwearing, durable and on trend.

When it comes to race inspired clothing the Forever 21 x Honda collection is pretty damn good and very authentic looking.  Remember, the idea is not to sex up the look, it’s to try to keep it pure.  If you start throwing PVC and stiletto heels in there that’s a whole different ball game.  Primark are likely to pick up the trend if you’re on a budget, expect lots of black and white race themed flag detailing and leggings with go faster stripes down the side.  Remember, show season is a full season ahead of the high street so you can expect to see this trickle down over the coming months.

Handy with a sewing machine?  Grab some ponte style leggings (like a heavier jersey style) and add your own coloured panels with brightly coloured fabric – it’s something I’ve done before and it’s definitely not as easy as it sounds, this is definitely one for people who are confident at sewing and crafting, oh yeah, and uber patient.  If it pays off they look great, mine definitely had a short shelf life!

Found something awesome that fits the racing aesthetic?  Then hit me up and I’ll see you on the grid….

Pixie

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

What I Wore: To the Duke Ata Clubhouse Launch

Voyeurs, this event has been a long time coming.

A good friend of mine, and one of my most favourite people in the whole world, has finally opened his bespoke menswear studio: The Duke Ata Clubhouse.  I can’t tell you how many times Duke and I have sat down to discuss plans for creating the most perfect launch event, all culminating in a home for his made to measure tailoring business, Duke Ata Bespoke.  You’ve heard me talking about Duke, we affectionately refer to each other as “my favourite” and I kind of feel like if you were to assign someone with the title of my Work Husband, Duke would be the proud bearer of this title.  Suffice to say, we’re good mates.

When Duke called me to first berate me for not keeping in touch over the past two months, and then tell me that he’d found the best location for his new studio I was psyched.  Well, less so about being bollocked for being a shit friend but the bit about the studio rocked my world because he’s been searching for what feels like forever.  As Duke and his awesome team knuckled down and got to work refining the space and creating somewhere that would feel like a real escape, I got to searching for the perfect outfit.

Duke specialises in mens tailoring, in a similar vein to Joshua Kane (without the dramatics) Duke’s work is classic, distinguished and instantly recognisable.  From the cut, to the finishing details, he’s a perfectionist and if you’ve never met this dude, he’s like a slicker, more tidy version of Andre 3000, he plays football on a weekend – I’m positive he does it in a suit.

An image of Blogger Pixie Tenenbaum wearing vintage Dieter Heupel from Trendlistr at the launch of the Duke Ata Bespoke Clubhouse in Jesmond

So, back to my outfit, when my invite landed I knew I couldn’t rock up in my usual scruffy chic and by total chance, found this vintage Dieter Heupel tailored jacket at vintage hotspot Trendlistr.  The fit is perfect and the cut is clean, it’s not my usual neckline as I usually avoid anything with a deep V, or anything that exposes my chest but the print is just too good to not wear it.  I opted to wear it as a solo piece with a black cage bra underneath to max out on that perfect fit.  As the jacket is midnight blue with varying shades of blue throughout, I paired it with a midnight blue velvet sock boot and some polished latex trousers from a fetish store in Soho.

With my pink hair and signature MAC Heroine lip, I’m chalking this up as a pretty awesome lewk.  High five, air punch emoji, winky face.

Pixie x

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet

What I Wore: As a Nod to Dior’s Prairie Girls

We’re in the midst of Winter and that means cosy sweaters, faux fur tippets and baker boy hats at every turn.  Sometimes though, you find the perfect dress that just encapsulates the season.  This Voyeurs, is that dress.

Blogger Pixie Tenenbaum wearing a Prairie Girl Style Dress

The best thing about this particular dress is that I spotted it and tried it on in Topshop during a Fashion Styling Challenge I was set by Intu Eldon Square.  I planned on buying it right away but as our event ran late, we were moved on to the next part of the challenge before I had the chance.  The next time I saw it it was in the Topshop sale and was reduced from £79.99 to £35.  That’s the very definition of the best sale bargain – if it’s something you planned on buying at full price, you know for sure that you’re not acting on impulse and that you’ll definitely wear it.

Now, don’t be fooled if you’re perusing the rails of Topshop, whilst this particular dress doesn’t look much at all on the hanger, it’s a doozie when it’s on and it’s toned to perfection for Fall / Winter.  Again, a sale buy that fits the current season and beyond is a good buy.  It’s a super lightweight dress so I’ve stuck on a pair of fishnet tights for warmth as these were all I could find in my drawer, however I think black opaques would probably look better.  I’ve dressed it with these flat studded boots from Marks and Spencer (my current favourites) to give it a nod to the Amish look that stormed the runways for next season.

As far as trends go, this is very much in line with the Western theme that emerged largely from the Dior Resort 2018 show so despite this particular dress having been moved to sale, you can expect to see a lot more of this style hitting the high street over the next few months as stores and high street designers pick out key runway themes to stock as translation trends.  If you want to really pay homage to Maria Grazia Chiuri’s cowgirls then pair a prairie girl dress with cowboy boots for a look that’s straight off the runway and actually, pretty classic in terms of trends.

I’ve since worn this dress with a fine knit black polo neck sweater underneath which works equally as well and gives the whole thing a more urban vibe.  Personally, if I find something I really love that fits my personality on some level then I know I’ll wear it to death – particularly if it’s a versatile piece, and this dress is definitely that.

Blogger Pixie Tenenbaum showcasing a prairie girl style dress with flat boots

One of the best things about finding a great dress is the simplicity of it.  With just one piece, I can easily update my look and twist it up by throwing a sweater underneath or a fifties style bra on top.  This one has hint of pale pink and gold in it as well as black lace-edged hoop hemming to give it structure, meaning that even when it’s windy, this clever detailing will prevent it from blowing up around your ears.  Winning.  Now where did I put that Stetson…..?

Pixie xo

Pixie Tenenbaum Editor's signature with fashion illustration graphic