And The Leopard Got Snowed In!

My Building: The Fashion Institute

   After 15cm of snow falling on Toronto today I think it can definitely be classed as a snow day which means not braving it outside unless absolutely necessary! So far I've only stepped outside once today and that was to run across to 7/11 for some much needed study snacks! My Hunters proved their worth on the way there as the snow was almost up to my knees in places!

Black Patent Wellies/£89/Schuh
Leopard Print Trousers/£42/Topshop

Mesh Detail T-shirt/£8.50/Forever 21

   I'm starting to get the hang of this camera! Check the blurred background and focus foreground in this shot, I am no longer an aperture amateur! This top was an absolute bargain and I've already worn it both during the day for class and at night for a girls night out! It's super comfy and because it's black it literally goes with anything! 

/From Left/
Statement Necklace/£5/Primark
Snakeskin Print T-shirt Dress/£5/H&M
Gold Detail Pumps/£25/Topshop
Rottweiler Jumper/£17.95/Forever 21
Black Leggings/£2.50/Sears
Colour Block T-Shirt/£10/Topshop
Printed Bodycon Skirt/£8/Forever 21
Holographic Pumps/£11/Urban Outfitters

   So here are the latest additions to my wardrobe! My only defense it that I've not bought anything overly heavy so my luggage allowance shouldn't suffer too badly! This dress was something I was going to end up with eventually, whether I was in Canada or Scotland! I had eyed it up a few times back home but never actually committed to buying it, so when I saw it on sale for $5 in the Eaton Centre I couldn't resist it any longer!

    The colour block t-shirt is definitely going to be on trend for Spring/Summer so it was an investment piece, especially as it was in the Topshop sale! It is so comfy and has a really nice zip detailing at the back and although I've only worn it a handful of times I've already received quite a few compliments on it! The skirt also has a nice zip detail which runs down the back of the entire skirt, I'll have to watch myself on nights out though!

   This jumper has a really cool detail with the studded neck, which is a nice change for me as I usually wear my jumpers with statement necklaces. The rottweiler design is a take off from Givenchy and I've been looking for a good copy for a long time! Although the design is different from the Givenchy original it still has the same idea which any fellow fashionistas would recognise!

Co-Ord Style Dress/£13/Forever 21

   This dress has been my favourite purchase so far! I spotted it a few times in Forever 21 and finally gave in and tried it on! I've yet to wear it so I think I'll save it for something special! I love the zip at the back and the way it connects the skirt and the top makes this piece definitely look more than £13! It has a lovely sixties print and for me you can't go wrong with anything sixties style, it never really goes out of fashion!

Selfie!

  So that's all my latest purchases from Canada, and with SAAS coming in tomorrow and my trip to New York getting closer I'm sure these won't be my last! 

   I am absolutely loving it here and I'm yet to get properly homesick! I do miss my little car a lot though, and there's been a few hangovers where Irn Bru would definitely have improved my mood!

  Before I left so many people told me "you won't want to come home!" and I never thought I'd say it but I could actually stay here for a lot longer than 3 months! Everyone has been so lovely and welcoming and it'll be sad coming home where no one thinks my accent is cool! Family day is in a few weeks and my friend Alexandra has kindly adopted me for the weekend so I'll have a blog post about that coming in the near future! 

And The Leopard Went Behind The Scenes

All clothes on models are from The Closet, Aberdeen.
MUA Make up Palette/Boots/£5.99
Sequin Fur Coat/River Island/£25
Black Ripped Skinnies/H%M/£19.99
Nike Blazers/Office/£69.99

   This was possibly the funnest piece of coursework I've ever done! Watching every image come together, knowing that you have contributed to every detail from the clothes to the make up to the poses the models are holding was such an amazing feeling. The theme for our shoot was "Retro Fashion" and with the generosity of The Closet we managed to shoot some stunning original vintage garments mixed with some of our own pieces that we integrated into the outfits.

   Retro is a trend that will never date. Fashion is something that is always recycling itself, with today's current trends taking a huge inspiration from previous decades. The sixties mod look is a trend that was adapted and reworked on many catwalks for Spring/Summer 2013 by designers such as Prada, Moschino & Marc Jacobs.

Moschino S/S '13
Marc Jacobs S/S '13
Prada S/S '13
All images from Style.com

Here is a link to The Closet Facebook page for anyone that has a love for vintage. There are also some beautiful fur coats for any fellow fur lovers out there! https://www.facebook.com/closet.shop.3?fref=ts

  

The Leopard Takes New York

 

   New York Fashion Week. Every second of every minute of every day is reported. Not by the press, or the news stations, but by the dedicated bloggers. Standing outside the Lincoln Center all I could see were tiny figures in huge high heels clearly doing what they loved. Some were tweeting before the next show, others were posing for photographers, showcasing their stunning outfits.

   Watching them made me realize that fashion isn't just for designers or celebrities. These bloggers are creating a connection between the real world and the fashion world, making these catwalk shows and designer clothes accessible to anyone who follows their blog. This has inspired me to do the same with my blog, giving my followers a unique insight into the life and style of a fashion student. 

   

The Leopard That Changed Its Spots

   
   If you ask anyone that knows me well, they will tell you that I cannot resist anything leopard print. Whether it be fur coats, jumpers, leggings or shoes, if it's leopard print, I will want it! I almost cried with joy when I read that leopard print was in fashion for Autumn/Winter '13. It's a timeless trend!
   Through this blog I will show you that some leopards can change their spots. I will be sharing my outfits and wish lists, which I can already admit will be filled with leopard print! But I will try some other trends too, forever resisting the urge to just dress head to toe in leopard print!
   Moving on from my slight addiction to all things leopard I should probably introduce myself! Thankfully my Mum made the smart decision to call me Louise, instead of Verity which was in the running for a while. I wanted to be a marine biologist until I was about 14. Then I discovered fashion magazines. I was pulled into this inspiring world of beautiful clothes worn by beautiful people. As much as I still loved sharks and starfish, I spent my high school years aspiring to study fashion. 
   I moved to Aberdeen last year to begin my Fashion Management degree at Robert Gordon University. From the first day I have been absolutely in love. Every lecture, every tutorial, every module interests me more and more and makes me realise how much I love this industry.
   To close my first post, I want to take a quote from my favourite film, "The Devil Wears Prada". 

"You go to your closet and you select out, oh I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back...  However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room"

   This sums up everything I feel about fashion. So many people think they are unaffected by fashion because they don't read Vogue or buy the latest styles, but no matter who you are or where you're from, fashion will affect you in some way. So just because you don't study fashion doesn't mean you can't enjoy my blog!

(Glezps,2011)