2019 Time to Sustain

Hey there you lovely people!

Today I wanted to start writing again and update you on what I’ve been up too. I've just completed my first year at university studying Fashion Technology and it has been a whirlwind. I LOVE my course (I think it was actually made for me!) as I have had the chance to decide what I want to study, whether that's a module on Ecology or 20th Century Fashion. Throughout first year, I have been conscious of the impacts humans are having on the environment, in particular the damaging format of fast fashion and over consumption. I have learnt a lot and have started to live more sustainably as well as shop ethically or not at all (as a 'make do and mend' mindset is bloody fabulous when it comes to being sustainable). In this blog post I wanted to share with you a few of my simple sustainable tips, because being conscious of our impact on the planet doesn't have to be expensive or hard.

Only buy what you need (or make do with what you have) - when it comes to shopping online or in-store many of us are guilty of buying a brand new outfit for an upcoming event or night out. But it just takes a bit of thinking and creativity to use what you already have by either purchasing some basic pieces for your wardrobe or re purposing. For example, if you have a pair of jeans you love but don't know what top to wear with them, just use a pretty headscarf and tie twice at the front or back for two different styles (if you don't already have a headscarf ask your family first as most grandparents would have some but if not charity shops are your best bet)

Put reusable bags in every bag you own - this saves using plastic bags (and if you still have some, Morrisons and other supermarkets have collection bins where you can deposit your old plastic bags if you no longer want to use them rather than disposing of them in the general waste) and ensures you are never without one if you have to pick something up unexpectedly. 

Make your own cotton pads - disposable cotton pads aren't great for the environment as production requires significant amounts of water and energy so using old T-shirts or cut off fabric from up-cycled tops/bottoms you can make reusable pads that can be washed and used over and over again without having to buy or use new fabric, which tends to be expensive. 

Reduce how much you wash your clothes - research has shown that microfibres and microplastics are in our oceans, further research will highlight the impact these contaminants will have on our planet. Therefore reducing how much you wash your clothes, in advance, will help to avoid an unnecessary amount of mircofibres entering our oceans and being ingested by very important crustaceans and sea plankton. (For more information visit - BBC NEWS)

Use Tupperware or old jars - many households acumulate many boxes and containers over time, so instead of buying cling film/tin foil stick to reusable containers. By doing this you reduce on waste (air tight containers keep leftovers from going off) and once redundent containers like jam jars and pasta sauce jars are re purposed.

I hope you found reading this post useful and if you did let me know in the comments! My blog is going to start becoming more centred around an ethical lifestyle, as well as information on fast fashion and the future of fashion as there are both positives and negatives when it comes to the fashion industry (it provides millions of jobs yet it is a very very polluting industry - I will talk more about this in a future post!)

Have a lovely weekend lots of love 

Ames ♥

Fashioned from Nature - V&A Exhibition

So yesterday I went to the V&A Exhibition Fashioned from Nature. It was honestly so inspiring! I highly recommend, if you are in the area please go check it out. This exhibition really helped me to see what I want to focus on at University but also in life (I know that is pretty deep, but it really taught me a lot and I hope it will for you too). But before we jump in here is a little bit about the background of the exhibition...

The Exhibition Video 

As the first UK exhibition to explore the multiplex relationship between fashion and nature from 1600 to the present day, Fashioned from Nature is one of its kind. Fashioned from Nature looks at the past in order to inspire design for a better fashion industry in the future. The big challenge for designers is to make garments that are both beautiful and responsibly made. The challenge for consumers is to learn and understand (from research and from this exhibition) that we are all responsible and need to make careful choices when it comes to fashion. Fashion's demands threaten the planet and endangers flora, fauna and human communities. We all have a part to play to change this negative into a positive and Fashioned from Nature helps by providing some solutions to minimise fashion's detrimental impact on the environment.

Orange Fiber and Salvatore Ferragamo tunic and skirt

"If we know what our clothes are made from and how they were produced we can make better choices" - Fashioned from Nature

How whales were used by humans - for light, for food and for umbrellas

The exhibition is split into sections and the first section 1600 - 1800, is all about trade, exploration and war. New sources of raw materials were found and recorded just as everything else was at the time. This period highlights how waste was not an option and how clothing was often reused over and over again. Raw materials found only on animals were imported to Britain and used in fashion, from beavers to whales and elephants. The exploitation of non renewable global resources, the promotion of built-in obsolescence and the release of pollutants into air and water supplies, has been a tradition in the fashion industry ever since the beginning. Yet the scale and therefore impact has never been so great, until now.

How elephants were used by humans - for travelling, for food and for ivory

1800 - 1900 was all about new methods of transport, cheaper books and therefore greater opportunities for middle and working class people. Although in the nineteenth century British fashion was led by the royal family, nobility, aristocracy, and those eligible to attend court - collectively known as 'society'. The growth of ready made clothing was facilitated by the falling cost of textiles as the industry mechanised. It became much easier to pattern cut, to sew garments and to speed up production due to the sewing machine (used commercially in the 1850s) and use of cheap 'sweated' labour. The business strategy of fashion even in this period involved fixed prices, cash sales, fast turnovers supported by low costs and margins as well as eye-catching advertising in good locations on shopping streets.

During 1900 - 1990 technological and scientific changes revolutionised transport and communication. The two world wars (1914-1918, 1939-1945) impacted society as a whole a vast amount, especially in mass production. The growth of the fashion industry and its increasing dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels, chemicals and energy had a corresponding impact on the environment. Environmental tragedies increased public awareness of issues, for example when in 1967 the Torrey Canyon tanker released 36,000 tons of raw oil into the sea, marine life and birds were severely affected.

Alexander McQueen's futuristic design inspired by his obsession with nature

Nature provides the source for every garment we wear as our second skin. Fashion is dependent on nature. Land, water, air and people form the supply chain. However fashion is taking from nature at a rate that cannot be sustained. Resources are stressed to the extent that if we continue on the path we are on, demand for water by 2030 will outweigh supply. From 1990 - Present drastic change has happened in the fashion industry...

Jean Paul Gautier beaded faux animal skin dress 

More chemicals are used in growing cotton than any other crop
Between 2000-2014 clothing production doubled
In Europe 8.4 million tonnes of textile waste is land filled or incinerated each year
Around 60 million people work in fashion's industries worldwide which in some cases offer fulfilling livelihoods
Yet fashion's manufacturing is usually done by females who are paid less than half the amount considered to be a living wage
An estimated 21 million people live in modern slavery - the human impact of fashion cannot be underestimated
Campaigning for climate change involves highlighting all these issues as the practises happening right now in fashion are destabilising this planet.

Emma Watson's Calvin Klein Met Gala dress 2016

I really hope some of you found this post helpful, inspiring or just a good read! 

All my love

Ames 

xxx

Summer Review

Hello you lovely bunch of people long time no write :( Sorry about that but I have just finished my A-Levels and it's been a whirlwind. So I thought I would write a little post about my summer so far and all the bits and bobs I have been up to (the summer after A-levels is honestly one of the best in my opinion because a) you appreciate free time a lot more and b) you just can spend time with the people that mean lots to you before going to uni)...

  

This summer I was lucky enough to go to Italy with my family - it was so so lovely I recommend saving up your pennies and planning a holiday to this country, pronto! I love the window seat on planes and these photos just show how different England is to other countries - the patchwork green grass is just beautiful but then again so was the Italian terracotta buildings. Seeing Pompeii was pretttyyyy amazing yet surreal at the same time, I mean, to think that a natural disaster preserved this place...it's crazy. Also I knew it was a big city but honestly it was way bigger than I expected!

Oh the food in Italy. It was insane I really recommend looking on Tripadvisor for places you can go - but make an effort to visit the small independents (the Italian only speaking are the best!).

Of course the World Cup was going on over summer and I was home for the final which was one of the only times I have ever followed football but I loved how it brought everyone closer - plus beer gardens are the best!

I went to my first weekend music festival Boardmasters. It was honestly such a good weekend I mean there are always dramas here and there but overall I had the best time with the best people! One of my highlights from the weekend was going down to the beach with tropical sunshine and dipping our toes in to the sea - it was lush!

There are so many other memories from going on nights out, a city trip to Liverpool, visit to London for the day with my mum going to the V&A to see the Fashioned from Nature exhibition, walks, lunch dates and lots of good food! 

This summer has been one of the best I have ever had! I hope you all have had an amazing summer too!

All my love 

Ames 

<3

Get to Know me better...

Hello lovely people today I fancied having a little chat/to answer some questions so that you would be able to get to know me a little bit better! Hope you enjoy and of course feel free to copy the questions and do a similar post yourself!!

1. Are you a morning or night person? Morning definitely 
2. Are you afraid of the dark? No but at the same time I like to sleep with my blind up to wake up with the day 
3. Are you an extrovert or introvert? I would say an ambivert so a bit of both really, however I definitely lean more towards the introvert side
4. Are you double jointed? I don't really know, I can bend my thumb really far back though
5. Are you left or right handed? Right 
6. Are you more of a tidy person or a messy one? I'd say I'm more of an organised chaos 
7. Are you on time or always late? Normally on time I don't like being late
8. Are you ticklish? Yeah I don't understand how people can't be
9. Can you curl your tongue? Yes I can 
10. Can you ice skate? Yeah not amazingly but I can almost skate backwards (that's my only party trick lol)
11. Can you wiggle your ears? No I can't 
12. Coffee or tea? Water, I don't like hot drinks (you can call me weird haha)
13. Cookies, cake or donuts? Cookies 
14. Did you ever participate in a talent show? Yeah I did but our primary school held an X factor so it was just singing but me and my best friend performed HSM 'When there was you and me' and won! woo!
15. Did you go to prom? Yes I did - it was fab!
16. Did you like school? Yes I LOVED school because I love learning and being around my friends everyday. 
17. Do you believe in ghosts? Yeah
18. Do you bite your nails? Yeah :(  I'm going to try and stop soon though.
19. Do you consider yourself a good cook? I can cook pretty well actually but have had a few near misses I can't cook baked beans - bloody burnt them the other day 
20. Do you enjoy dancing? Love it but never gone to a dance class in my life
21. Do you enjoy DIY or crafts? BOTH
22. Do you forgive easily? Yeah I do - I forgive but try not to forget 
23. Do you have a nickname? Yeah a few, ames, small round and amesy cakes (lol)
24. Do you have any allergies? Used to be allergic to cats, peanuts and lobsters but grew out of it I think - don't really want to find out tho haha
25. Do you have any phobias? Yeah I don't like the touch of flock its like velvet but rougher
26. Do you have any piercings or tattoos? Just my ears are pieced 
27. Do you have children? No
28. Do you have pets? Yeah two rabbits 
29. Do you have siblings? Yeah one sister 
30. Do you prefer dogs or cats? Cats - I wish I was one 
31. Do you prefer Mac or PC? I don't have a preference 
32. Do you prefer the beach or the mountains? I love both but nothing beats the beach at sunrise
33. Do you prefer to bath or shower? Shower
34. Do you sing in the shower? Yeah all the time
35. Do you smoke? No - I really don't like it 
36. Do you speak any different languages? No sadly - I try but don't speak any fluently 
37. Do you still have your wisdom teeth? I don't think I have them yet
38. Do you still watch cartoons? If you mean Disney princess cartoons then yeah of course
39. Do you/have you played any sports? Yeah i love keeping fit so do running a lot and like to swim but I haven't competed except for netball at school 
40. Does your name have a special meaning? It's a name my parents liked but in French it does mean beloved which is quite cute 

<3

Empties of the Month - No.2

Hey sweeties so recently I haven't found anything I really love, product wise, but I have been able to get rid of quite a few products - I won't lie it has been very satisfying as I went through a stage of just starting different types of products and not using them up! So I decided to get round to it...

Botanics gentle cleansing cream

So this product worked quite well at removing makeup which was minimal yet didn't work so well for heavier amounts of makeup, it had a nice smell and is very gentle but if you have extremely sensitive skin I would be careful as it has a fairly perfumed smell (which can irritate fragile skin)

Ari by Ariana Grande perfume 

I was lucky enough to be treated to this fragrance for Christmas and hadn't used it for a while before I began to constantly wear it (especially through the winter) it is sweet, floral and smells so good! 

Wild Bluebell fragrance by Jo Malone

This scent is actually mind blowing I once again was very lucky to be given this for my birthday yet I have been so sparing that it has taken me a good two years to actually finish this perfume! I would recommend this for anyone as it is young and fresh yet very classic and pretty! It is on the more expensive side yet it is worth it I can assure you.

Clinique moisturising lotion

This product was fab for any dry skin patches I had during the colder months that cleared as soon as I used this, it hardly has a smell and is so nourishing I really felt it changed my face for a while. Yet I don't think I will buy it again as I have a lot of other moisturisers to try out at the moment.

Caviar Illumination Capsules 

One of my friends recommended this product to me and I think it is fabulous, you are given two types of capsules one for day and one for night. You can purchase the capsules at Aldi and all you need to do is add a few drops into your moisturiser of choice and then you will get the best out of your moisturiser! I will definitely buy again as they lasted such a long time.

All my love

<3

Barcelona - escaping from reality

Hello lovely people, hope you are all well!

I have decided to share with you my little trip to Spain and just talk to you as if this is a little review of my holiday (it's funny because when I was younger, we always were asked in primary school to write a report of our summer holidays and I literally hated it, but look at me now voluntarily writing this down). I went to Barclona last summer but really wanted to talk about it so during the January blues I thought I would reminince. 

Right so first of all we arrived in Barcelona and there was the usual whoosh of heat as we stepped off the plane but sadly the sky was an ashy grey which was quite strange (it had been gorgeous crystal blue skies from where we were departing previously that morning) yet I was excited to be in a new place. To begin with I didn't know how close Barcelona was to the sea until we flew over the beach and landed straight after.

The first thing we did was go to a place called VEGETALIA for dinner and it was fabulous, because it a) had English translations which I will tell you now, is like a god send and b) was full of lovely meal options, I had a Thai green vegetable curry!

I also started to read a really good book which was laying on my bookshelf for years so decided to crack it open ~ 'Coco Chanel...The legend and the life', I really think if you are interested in fashion and how it has changed over the decades it would be a great read, also if you were just interested in Chanel and who she was as a designer. It is an eye opener as by reading it I found out that her life was actually quite dark and lonely - yet she had fame and money. Just shows money can't buy you love or happiness. 

So on our first full day we basically went all around Barcelona by foot, we firstly went to the Parc de la Ciutadella and then saw the Arc de Triomf of Barcelona and also managed to visit the outside of the La Sagrada Família and then La Pedrera and the Casa Batlló. It was a busy day but great for taking pictures and learning lots about Barcelona's culture. Did you know that the Sagrada Família has taken longer to build than the great pyramids?

Our second day was more relaxed but we still went to Parc Guell which was really lovely as we woke up early to get there before the crowds (top tip it gets busy by 9 o'clock in the summer holidays). By the afternoon we were knackered because we had walked all the way back to our apartment in the heat of the day alongside the beach (which is actually artificial and hasn't been around for a long time as it was built just for the Barcelona Olympics, crazy!) so we decided to have a siesta then went out for dinner a bit later.

On our last full day we visited Mountjuïc which had amazing views of the city, we decided to go up the cable car because apparently it was a long walk up the mountain. At the top of the mountain there were so many water features, we walked around jumping over stepping stones until we found a lovely place to get ice lollies and ice cream to cool off. We then trekked back down Mountjuïc to find a graffiti square that wasn't too far away. I was amazed by the whirlwind of colours and designs we stumbled across.

Barcelona was a lovely place to visit filled with good grub and so much sangria. I loved seeing the beautiful buildings as well as the colourful graffiti, the city was vibrant and lovely to spend a few days escaping reality.

All my love xxx

Just a little walk with nature

Hello once again! Today I went on a walk with my mum and it was so beautiful out and we had such a lovely time so I thought why not upload some of the photos we took! As I do Textiles at A level we went out and were on the hunt for fungi as my title was worn and weathered but I was so surprised we found so many, much more than I ever imagined of finding. There's nothing better than being surrounded by nature and even the tiniest things can be so beautiful.

'We ought to walk through our lives not looking for flaws, but looking for potential'

all my love

<3

Library Trip - if you are anything like me I recommend this book 100 times over...

 

We are all Molecules #No.1

Firstly this book was completely found on the off chance (which in itself was really cool as I had no idea what the book really was about until I started to read it) and it mainly caught my attention as it had the word 'molecules' on the cover. As I take Chemistry at A level I was curious why this book was in the fiction section. But it was the right choice to make, as I won't kid you I read it in 6 hours! (BTW that is unheard off for me as it is quite a chunky book as well) One evening this past week I got into my bed and just read non stop (besides dinner) If I'm honest I couldn't put it down.

Anyway let us get to the review - the story follows two teenagers Stewart and Ashley who are forced together due to their family situation - they essentially become stepsister and stepbrother. It is really a book about growing up in a scary new school for Stewart and how he learns that he can be smart and interact really well socially. Ashley on the other hand is a popular girl at her school and is trying to make her way to the top of the social ladder. She doesn't like it when Stewart joins her school and gets in the way. But the deeper reason lies with her feeling betrayed by her dad so takes it out on her new family, Stewart included. 

Overall this story made me laugh, made me cry and made me feel very attached to the main characters and their family. The main characters are complete opposites. And yet, they have one thing in common: they - like everyone else - are made of molecules. I would recommend it to anyone!

I picked up two other books that I am in the process of getting round to, one is about Edward VI the son of Henry VIII and who only lived for 15 years. It is really interesting but there are so many names of people used who I don't know anything about so have had to keep looking bits and bobs up. I also took a book out about Margaret Thatcher who I have been studying at sixth form so thought it would help to do some background reading. 

All my love

<3

Summer To - Do - List

Hey everyone!

As summer is here (unless you live in England as our summertime is always mega sporadic) I thought why not share what I am planning to get up to this holiday with you - which hopefully will either give you a few ideas of what you want to do, see or go (I decided to choose 20 things - so I would class this as a biggish list but still achievable and I will fill you in on how I do!)

1. go on holiday to a hot country or road trip around your area
2. swim in the sea (cold or warm - I'm not fussed)
3. read 3 books minimum (I'm a slow reader normally but sometimes can be a bookworm - so I  thought setting a small goal would be more achievable and easier to accomplish )
4. spend quality time with all my family
5. do yoga watching the sunrise
6. go ice skating
7. keep knitting the jumper I started

8. learn how to touch type 

9. do more embroidery - buy some little embroidery hoops
10. make some more clothes/upcycle
11. write my personal statement for university
12. ride a bike in a foreign city
13. play inflatable rounders
14. keep fit - swimming, running and walking
15. learn how to do the splits
16. progress my textile/fashion knowledge
17. write more blog posts
18. go to parties and see friends
19. have a picnic in the sunshine
20. feel ready for my A levels next year!

All my love and wishes for a fab summer holiday

<3

College Life and 5 ways to living life in general...

College. wow it has been a big step up from Secondary School for me personally and also as in the the change in work load. GCSE to A levels is a big jump! For a bit of an addicted workaholic like me that is okay usually but some days it isn't and I really feel there is never enough time!

However, everybody can feel like this so in order to combat these ugly stress levels and work loads together I felt it was time I sat down and wrote a new post...A SECRET WHISPERS' 5 TOP TIPS TO LIVING LIFE PROPERLY BUT WORKING HARD AS WELL...

1. MUSIC ~ I know it's sometimes the wrong thing to do but if you are sitting reading this I am sure

 you have a few extra minutes to go and listen to some of your favourite music tracks! here are a few that have helped me to feel upbeat and happier in minutes (plus they do say music calms the mind!)

Ed Sheeran - Castle of You

Adele - Water Under the Bridge

1975 - Someone Else (Cover) ~ this isn't a super happy song but it's one I haven't become sick of yet (which is rare and it's such a lovely song)

Ed Sheeran - Shape of You

2. DO SOMETHING FOR YOU ~ This is an important one because you always come before anyone else! (yes that is a tad selfish and I don't believe in being selfish to the extreme level but hear me out!) No matter who you are you are going to be no use if you aren't in a positive place yourself because you will just impact on people around you in negative ways if you feel under the grey clouds. So go on a walk with yourself or with loved ones, just take a break, go paint your fingers and toes, sew yourself a new outfit, do some painting. The options are endless but do what for feel you would like to do 'if you had the time' because you actually do if you get down to it :)

3. SMILE to strangers and talk to people you don't usually talk to, you will learn something new I guarantee it!

4. STAY ORGANISED ~ get a sheet of paper and write it all down! Everything you want to get done TODAY! because that way you won't be stressing about the whole week just one day and remember there is 24 hours in a day, 8-9 for sleep and 10 strong hours for work and bettering yourself!! (5 hours can be spent the way you wish - I know I haven't factored eating and travel buttt I just want you to see the outside perspective on your day!)

5. LEARN SOMETHING NEW EACH DAY ~ no matter how BIG or small make sure you go to bed knowing you have bettered yourself in one way or another because it will give you such a boost knowing you have improved even in the slightest of ways!

   Lots of love

        <3

P.s remember your life is yours and nobody else's!

Sweater Weather Tag

Hello you lovely lot!

Today I wanted to do something Christmasy so felt that this tag would be a good idea as it will help us to get to know each other a little bit more ...

1. Favourite candle scent? My favourite is sweat pea but in the winter there is a lovely scent my auntie bought me last year called Frankincense which is so lovely! 

2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? I don't like hot drinks but if I had to choose I would go for a home made hot coco - my grandma makes the best ones

3. What’s the best thing you have ever been given at Christmas? When I was around 4 or 5 we had Christmas at my grandparents and me and my sister were given a pink dolls house and it was the bestest thing ever

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner? I love dark lips but hate that it makes me look unwell I think I need to keep searching for the right colour! 

5. Best fragrance for Christmas? I think my yearly fragrance which is Ricci Ricci by Nina Ricci or Jo Malone Peony and blush suede (it is such a luxury but so bloody lovely)

6. Favourite Christmas food? The roast potatoes and chocolate log (am I allowed to say two things?)

7. What is autumn weather like where you live? Fab, it is crisp and sometimes icy but I love it because the leaves turn from green to yellow and then you get to spend more quality time with family and it's just a lovely time of the year

8. Most worn sweater? One from a charity shop which is maroon and is from Fruit of the Loom - it is so comfortable and cosy and cost so little

9. Must-have nail polish this fall? A light pink which is opaque enough that you can't see the lunula on your nail bed

10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles? I think both would be fun but I'll chose jumping in leaf piles 

11. Skinny jeans or leggings? Mom jeans?

12. Combat boots or Uggs? Converse?

13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype? I don't know but I love cinnamon 

14. Favourite Christmas film? This is a horrible question! But I of course love Elf and I also would say Serendipity 

15. What song really gets you into the Christmas spirit? I would say Santa Baby by Ariana Grande or All I want for Christmas is you by Maria Carey 

Love you all heaps 

<3