COMPETITION!! Read On...

Since January I've developed quite a ridiculous Diet Coke habit. In an attempt to stop having my mid-afternoon chocolate or cake, I began substituting it for a can of the evil elixir. Terrible, I know, one step away from an eating disorder n all that... Well, it would be if it lasted more than a week. Instead, mid-afternoon Diet Coke break turned into at least 3 cans a day (and I still have to have chocolate at least once a day too).
Last week I mustered all my will power and successfully swapped the black bubbles for pure still mineral water. My body breathed a sigh of relief.
Monday morning arrived and I popped down to the cafe to grab my water and what's staring me in the face??

THIS!!

A pink leopard print can offering me the chance to WIN an outfit from ASOS.com! WTF??

Needless to say, I'm hooked - again.

Today's intake. Note the 'Sons of Anarchy' mug (I also have matching mouse mat), presents from my other half. My keyboard is also a Genius...

Slurping away on can number 3.

I can't tip my head to look at the camera cos I've totally buggered my neck - note the tube of Ibuleve on the desk behind (and the H&M bag containing 'bad buys' that need to be returned!)

While I won't know for 72 hours whether or not I've won an outfit, I do have 3 spare voucher codes to give away to you lovely people out there! Each code entitles you to £5 off a £20 minimum spend at ASOS.com between now and 1st June.


All you have to do is follow me on Google Friend Connect and leave a comment telling me what your current addiction is. I'll choose my 3 favourites this weekend.

Whip It, Whip It Good

Whip Me Stockings from Agent Provocateur
"Whip Me, Bite Me, Eat Me, Tease Me"

Black Is The New Black

Since being able to choose my own music and dress as I please, the colour, or non-colour, BLACK has featured heavily in my wardrobe. I keep a box of Dylon in the cupboard at all times - just in case!
I've been a fan of the Comme des Garcons/Antwerp Six deconstruction since the early 90s, but my interest in fashion as more than 'cool clothes that cool bands wear' didn't really ignite until Gareth Pugh's degree show. Until then, I was beginning to feel as though wearing all black defined me as a 'goth', a label I was keen to drop as more and more 'emo kids' and 'teeny goths' started popping up all over the scene.Well, with more and more black skulking down the runway, I feel vindicated and wear black from head to toe on a regular basis! Imagine how excited I was when I read about the new exhibition at Antwerp's MoMu on Diane's Shaded View of Fashion:

"BLACK: Masters of Black in Fashion & Costume"

The history of black as a non-colour used to express feelings of mourning through to it's current association as chic, is explored through paintings, historical costumes, jewellery and of course, contemporary design. On display are garments designed by Ann Demeulemeester, Olivier Theyskens, Dirk Van Saene, Givenchy (Riccardo Tisci), Chanel, Gareth Pugh and more. The exhibition runs from 25th March - 8th August. A wee weekend in Belgium wouldn't go amiss this summer!

Givenchy couture dress designed by Riccardo Tisci. Photo by Frederik Vercruysse.

Ann Demeulemeester. Photo by Frederik Vercruysse.

To Cut A Long Story Short

At the beginning of this year my hairdresser decided to go travelling - the usual places, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia etc. Great.
"When will you be back??"
"Well, I've got enough saved to do me til mid-April, but hopefully I'll pick up some work and be able to stay longer"
"Eh?? Like 6 months??"
"Oh, at least. I'd like to make it 9 or so"
"What the hell am I supposed to do for 9 months??"

So, I decided, fuck it - I'll just grow it. I haven't grown my hair past my chin since I was about 21 and quite fancied the idea. I can keep my fringe in check as I always trim it myself anyway.
To cut a long story short, I couldn't put up with the 'not long enough to tie up, but too long to sit properly' length any longer.
At the beginning of this month my pal recommended a girl in the Gorbals (a pretty scary area of Glasgow). I was a bit dubious, but adored what she'd done with Christina's hair so... I booked myself in for last Thursday night.

After dodging the dog shit and stepping over a few junkies, I found the place.
"Hiya! Fancy a cup of tea? Just popping the kettle on."
"Erm, cheers, that would be nice"
"Let me take your jacket - ooh - that's gorgeous and I love your boots!"
"Thanks, I could say the same about yours - are they KG?"
"Yip! Picked them up in the sale"

After another 5 minutes or so of mutual 'I like your...', 'well, I like your ... more', Stacey set to work on my moptop.
I should mention that going to the hairdressers for me is like going to the dentist. I hate it. Hate the mundane chat. Hate people touching my hair. Hate the 'advice'. Generally find it a necessary evil and come home and attack the new style with my own scissors.

Not this time however. Got exactly what I was after. And to top it all off, once Stacey had finished cutting, out popped the 'goth dust' - ya dancer! I can't get enough of this stuff, OSiS 'Dust It'. Been using it for months and was pleased as punch that Stacey didn't even need to ask before she went about back-combing and 'dusting' til I looked like I'd been on the walzers with a can of Studio Line in a storm.
"That'll be £20, please"
20 quid?? Couldn't believe it. I usually pay between £45 and £65 for a cut n blow dry.
Whipped out my debit card, beaming about the excellent service and price!

DECLINED

Eh? I didn't get paid til the next day, but I'd checked only that morning and there was plenty of cash in my account. Maybe it was the machine. I apologised and popped round to the cash machine. Of course, it was 'out of order'. OK, no cash, no card and I'm stuck in the Gorbals...

Ah! Got new credit card in my bag. I can activate it using my iphone - bingo! Sat back down, looking rather sheepish by this point. Think my hair was even beginning to flop.

"The s-i-x-t-h d-e-c-e-m..." etc etc

Goddamn automated service.

"Sorry. Please repeat your date of birth"
"Sorry. Please repeat your date of birth"
"Sorry. Please repeat your date of birth"

Shit!! No worky. What the hell am I going to do now? Offer to give her my leather jacket she liked so much?? Not really an option. It was pissing it down outside and anyhow, my jacket cost way more than 20 quid!

"Will you take payment over the phone?"
"Erm...ok..."

"Hi honey. I need you to do me a favour. I'll explain when I get home. Have you got your bank card handy? Can you pay the hairdresser 20 quid, over the phone? Thanks."

Sorted. What a 'riddy'*!

*West Coast slang for having an emabarrassed red face

Topshop black leather jacket // Miss Selfridge grey dress // River Island scarf // H&M dotty tights // crap Dorothy Perkins boots

Looks That Kill

Got my hair cut tonight - first time in 6 months. This is what it looks like.
FUCK YEAH!

Got a big spot on my nose. Will post photos at the weekend x

A Friend In Need's A Friend Indeed

I saw this on a blog a few months ago and have just been reminded of it.
It's a Companion Parrot by Tithi Kutchamuch.

"Jewellery as part of home that you can bring with. Keep them save, and bring back to complete your forever friend at home."

Go Green For Spring

You know spring has finally arrived in Scotland because the wind picks up and it starts to rain.

Not all the time, so you never know whether to leave your leather jacket in the house or wear a mac. Nor is it still cold enough to wrap up warm and wear hats n scarves n gloves. Instead, heavy showers pelt down from the sky with little warning. The wind doesn't blow from the north, the south or the west, no - it blows up, down and all round about so your brolly is knackered before you even leave the front porch.

Hence the need for a light-weight, showerproof coat (that covers your bum) with a hood. I'm hardly an 'anorak' kinda gal, so the hunt is on for this year's 'spring coat'. I bring you: "The Parka"!
Yes, I can hear many a scream as we all remember Liam Gallagher and co trying to reinvent the "mod", but I'm thinking more "army jacket" - Travis Bickle or Trent Reznor...



Vanilla Scented from Chicotopia is rocking exactly the sort of coat I'm after - pity it's vintage...
I'll be scouring the vintage shops in the west end this weekend, but please keep an eye out for me!