THE CLARA EFFECT

I'm a bit of a recent convert to the Whoniverse (that's British TV show Doctor Who to non-Whovians), but oh boy am I converted. The latest series has just started and I'm tuning in every week to see the latest Doctor (with his thick, angry eyebrows and Scottish snarl) and his companion Clara. Petite, doe-eyed and with a rather fierce fashion sense, Clara's got perhaps the glossiest hair and the most fabulous boot collection on the BBC. I'm hardly an edgy dresser (think ballet shoes and cardigans) but I've obviously watched one too many Doctor Who episodes recently because on Thursday I woke up and went all Clara-esque. Reaching into my wardrobe, I pulled out the most monochrome, androgynous, fierce outfit I could think of. Grey, white, black, leather, suede, studs - all topped off with a little gold bow necklace. Oh, and a cat. An outfit is never truly complete without a cat. Thanks for being so uncooperative, Charlie.

Kitty xx

WHAT'S IN MY (UNI) BAG?

A big warm round of applause for my trusty Cath Kidston satchel, please. I bought this wee beauty two years ago in the Cath Kidston shop in Cambridge, only able to justify the price tag because of a discount voucher. I had wanted one of these satchels for a while, and then when my sister purchased a floral one I knew I just had to get my mitts on one of my own. She's been my trusty bag for uni ever since: she's stuck with me on my daily bus journeys, treks across campus, and library camp-outs  come sun, rain, wind or snow (and believe me, there's been a lot of snow). I have always loved getting my school bag ready, and as this is potentially my last year as a student (boo) I thought I'd do a special University edition of the 'What's in my Bag?' tag. This is a long'un, so fellow nosy bag-lovers - you're welcome!

Also, for any beauty lovers reading: my nail colour is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 'Ruby Do'.

// Umbrella //

It can be a burden to lug around, but a brolly never goes amiss when I'm spending all day on campus. Compact-able and polka-dotted are two very pleasant bonuses.

 // Keys //

Featuring key rings such as a Cath Kidston fob, a Harry Potter chocolate frog (that really smells like chocolate!), and a London 2012 Olympics souvenir.

// Phone //

Samsung Galaxy S4. Peonies for wallpaper - need I say more?

// Lotion //

A must for my art student's hands/elbows. I'm not usually fussy about which lotion I have - so long as it works I'm happy - but I'm currently using The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter.

// Laptop //

MacBook Air with a Greene + Gray memory foam case. For writing essays (read: browsing Pinterest) on the go.

// Gum //

When I'm eating tuna sandwiches for lunch and I've still got four hours of classes, projects and general social interaction left, gum is a must-have.

// Pencil Case //

UK stationary shop Paperchase has been my go-to place for gorgeous pencil cases since I started secondary school. I'm a firm believer in the need to surround yourself with beauty, and prints like this make doing so easy.

// Student Card //

I bought this bus pass cover at a Paperchase in Brighton two years ago and I think my reasons for purchasing are self-evident. I mean, just look at it! I use it for my student card which doubles as a bus pass, and fellow commuters compliment it on a regular basis. 

// Notebooks //

I know that I could go to a supermarket and buy a cheap blank notebook but I just can't resist trying to find the most beautiful books for my class notes. This year I picked up this duo by Pastel at Indigo Books and I can't wait to get writing.

// iPod //

Yes, my S4 has music on it and yes, this iPod Classic is old-school, but I take it with me whenever I can. It's actually my Dad's and the reason I'm always pinching it is because it's synced up to my Dad's friend's ultra-cool, ultra-diverse iTunes Library. Cue bus ride serenades courtesy of The Smiths, Dido, Gabrielle Aplin, Tom Odell etc etc etc. 

// Micron Pens //

Whether I'm writing notes, doodling, or creating a full-on serious work of art, these pens are my faves. I especially love them in Sepia - plus, they're fairly inexpensive at my local art supplies shop.

// Coin Purse //

With all of the stuff I have crammed into my satchel I don't have room for my usual envelope style purse, so I use a coin purse for loose change and my debit card. This one by Forever England was a present from my Nan-nan.

// Paper clips //

These flower-shaped paper clips by Paperchase have been used several times to secure essays in lieu of a stapler. I don't know if I've ever received extra marks on the grounds of extra-cute stationary, but I sure should have.

// Sunglasses //

I've had my Ray-Ban Wayfarers for years and I will never get sick of them. Never ever ever.

// Lip Products // 

If I ever empty my bag, I usually find half-forgotten lip products in every single pocket. My current loves are Clinique Almost Lipstick, Burts Bees Lip Balm, and Revlon Colorbust Matt Balm in Complex. 

Kitty xx

TAKE ME TO PARIS

 // top: Old Navy // Jeans: J Crew // sandals: New Look //

// sunglasses: Ray-Ban Wayfarers // watch: Fossil //

I'm not a t-shirt girl and I haven't been since I was 11 years old buying pink tees covered in cartoon chimps and featuring phrases such as 'just monkeying around'. As a general rule I'm not an overly casual dresser, but since I've already broken that rule this summer by bringing Birkenstocks into my wardrobe I thought I'd indulge my rebellious streak and buy myself a t-shirt.* Yet even I can't get too casual, and so when I saw a t-shirt featuring the word 'Paris' on the front I realised I'd found the perfect balance between casual and classy - doesn't Paris just class everything up?

Cue some slightly awkward outfit pics (will I ever get used to this whole posing thing?) outside in the hot August sunshine. I find closeups so much easier than full-body shots... am I the only one? You regular readers will notice that once again I'm wearing those tan sandals... they've been my ultimate Summer 2014 staple. 

In other news, I've launched myself into a new story idea and have been doing a fair bit of writing this week. I always struggle knowing how to explain what I'm writing to people - "story" just sounds amateurish, but to say I'm writing a book makes me feel squeamishly precocious. I usually just stick to "I'm writing stuff..." and hope that I don't sound too pathetic. 

Kitty xx

*Yes, this is pretty much the most rebellious I ever get. Oh, she bought a t-shirt! Quick, alert the riot police...

A RUBY RED SUMMER

Readers, meet my sister Ruby. Yes, this doe-eyed wisp of loveliness really does exist and, yes, I'm lucky enough to be related her. I begged and begged this girl to let me take a few pictures of her this afternoon, and finally (albeit begrudgingly) she let me drag her to an old mill by our house and get snap-happy. I quite frankly could not get over how divine she looks in these photos (can you believe I took these on my phone?!) and I've been ooh-ing and ahh-ing all the way home.

Earlier this summer, Ruby went on a volunteer charity trip to Haiti and returned with gold-streaked hair and a camera full of photos. She's spent the subsequent weeks swimming, walking, getting sunburnt and tickling her kitten Charlie's stripy belly. From her freckled nose to her painted toenails, Ruby lives and breathes summer and I hope in this smattering of photographs I've managed to capture it.

Bring a little more zest to your summer by ensuring that you're following Ruby's five must do's:

1 // Eat your weight in watermelon.

2 // Ride a bike fast enough to feel the wind through your hair.

3 // Have a BBQ at least once a week.

4 // Become half-mermaid and live in the pool as much as possible.

5 // Plant and nurture a vegetable patch.

Happy August!

Kitty (& Ruby) xx

THOUGHTS ON CLOTHES

// dress: GAP // shoes: Franco Sarto // watch: Fossil //

// lips: Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Crayon in Poppy Nude //

A couple of lovely friends suggested that I post more about what I'm wearing, not because it needs to be pose-y and vogue-y, but because they know me and know that I find pleasure in clothes. Outfit posts are a bit of a grey area, however, as they could easily slide into that uncomfortable category labelled 'self-indulgence'. It is indeed a rather self-indulgent thing to ask someone to take photographs of you as you twirl and tilt to demonstrate your (hopefully) most flattering angles, and then to later edit and crop and select images of you to post in succession on the internet. It could all get very self-congratulatory very fast and that's why I hesitate to make outfit posts. Yet, on the other hand, I love clothes. Sometimes I worry about saying that so frankly because such a statement is usually followed by thoughts like shallow and materialistic, but I do - I enjoy pulling together outfits. I love colours and silhouettes and patterns and shapes and fabrics and - most of all - I love how wearing lovely clothes makes me feel. I don't think this makes me a materialistic person, I think that this just means that I enjoy beautiful things. I have an artist's mind and so visual aesthetics are important to me. That's just the way it is, and enjoying clothes is just part of who I am, and this blog is just a way for me to express myself, so I am going to tell myself that it's okay to make outfit posts. It's okay.

So, after that rambling spurt of self-psychoanalysis, I will allow myself to post about my outfits but:

I'll try not to take myself too seriously (let's put a limit on pouting, mmm?)

I'll use them as opportunities to share creativity,  not as 'look at me I'm so fabulous' fashion spreads

I'll to be honest (minimum photoshopping, and no pretending I don't have bad hair days)

I'll try 100% to be me

I won't apologise or feel guilty about making outfit posts. They can be a reflection of me just like posts about art work or days out are. I will be passing my camera to someone and I will be asking them to snap what I'm wearing and I will be trying to arrange my limbs in a way that is camera-friendly and I will be doing all of this because I do rather enjoy clothes.

What I choose to wear is just another part of who I am - and that's okay.

Kitty xx

P.S. This particular outfit is what I put on during a swelteringly hot day for a job interview. I sweated most of my makeup off and my hair grew a halo of frizz, but boy oh boy was this ensemble comfortable. Thank goodness for shift dresses and bare legs.

CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW'S SHIRT

// blouse: H&M // shorts: Joe Fresh // bag: Topshop // necklace: American Eagle // sandals: New Look //

I wasn't going to buy anything at all when I browsed around the shops one Saturday a few weeks ago, not one thing. Then this blouse happened. It was $7 on the sale rack in H&M. $7. Yes it was four sizes too big for me, but it was $7. And it was white. And it was summery. And $7. I was at the tills before I knew it and when I opened my purse instead of noticing the soul-crushing lack of money all I saw was $7, and when I approved my purchase on the debit machine all I saw was white - summery - $7. 

The blouse made its debut today and as I examined myself in the mirror this morning I realised just how big it is on me. Due to its billowy nature I was fairly limited on the bottoms side of things and so paired it with these navy chino shorts (another purchase made on that Saturday I left my self-discipline at home). It was all a bit boho, so I thought I'd go all the way and bring out the feathers and the tassels. I like the shirt but I do feel a bit like Captain Jack Sparrow. It's the looseness that does it - put on a hat and a waistcoat and I'm ready for a sword fight. But $7.

I wasn't actually going out anywhere today - just pottering and ticking off to-do lists at home - but I find that getting dressed up increases my productivity. I'm a bit all or nothing: I tend to dress up to the max when I step into the world but as soon as I get back through the front door I'm straight into my pj's. On days I'm not leaving the house I don't even bother to shower - atrocious, I know. Am I the only one who does this? Anyway, this blouse is comfy enough to pass as a pyjama top. And it's white. And summery. And $7.

Kitty xx

NOTTING HILL

// dress: Banana Republic // bag: Fossil // sandals: New Look // 

// lipstick: Revlon Matt Balm in Complex //

I've only been to Notting Hill - the pastel-coloured district in London frequented by Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts - once before, one Saturday in the middle of my GCSE's. I went with a friend and her mum to Portobello Road Market and the streets were thronging with people out to buy knick-knacks and flowers, or to dig a bit deeper for some statement antique jewellery. If I tell you that a Notting Hill Oxfam charity shop was selling designer dresses for £500, I think that create a rather accurate idea of what this corner of London is like.

I finally went back a few weeks ago with a different friend, the lovely Hannah from Verman Photography. I was back in England for the month of May and asked Hannah to pop into London with me to visit some much-missed art galleries and museums. We finished up early and so for the rest of the afternoon decided to head over to Notting Hill as Hannah had never been I fancied going back. It was midweek and not a market day (does anyone else have to sing that song from the old Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks when I say Portobello Road?), but the quiet streets gave us the chance to have a wee amble amongst the sweetie coloured terraces. 

We shared a late lunch at Gail's Artisan Bakery - including a fantastic-looking dark chocolate cookie that we shamelessly forgot to photograph - and then we just wandered up and down streets, peeking surreptitiously through victorian bay windows and speculating on the price of flats (£1 million at least, according to Rightmove UK). We even thought we spied a genuine Banksy graffiti piece thrown in amongst all the colour - really, is there a more picturesque place in London?

Kitty xx