Indie Hits - Janine Basil

I meant to try and write monthly about one of my favourite Indie Brands, but I am not a disciplined blogger and I write when the mood takes me and when I have time and energy as my real life job as a carer for young people can leave me really drained, so I'm not even going to apologise, my theory is if you enjoy my blog you'll bear with me.

Anyhow I am a huge fan of indie brands, I like them for several reasons.  Firstly you are buying something that probably not everyone else has, secondly you are supporting someones dream and probably I find the customer service is usually 100 times better than with mainstream brands, I don't think you can underestimate the human touch.

Anyway this time (I was going to say month, but honestly who am I kidding?) I am featuring Janine Basil a amazing accessory maker.  I have only bought her hair accessories but I knowe she also does shoe clips which look amazing and hats.

My love affair started with this beautiful star headband that I bought for my niece's wedding.  It was the most expensive hair accessory I ever bought at the time = it still might be but I have worn this often and it is much loved.

I have worn this loads and the quality is really good and it remains in very good condition.

I tend to go for a space theme for some reason so a lot of my collection is space geek.

This solar system headband that is made in conjunction with Sugar and Vice is also a firm favourite.

As well as these I also own some really pretty glitter bow headbands and a pink Hello Kitty - esque bow and some pixelated cherries that I don't have a picture of for some reason but you can find here

I also have this lovely heart glitter headband but I think I would have been better with a different colour glitter as I think it blends into my hair a bit.and again for the life of me I can't find a picture where it shows  but here it is in it's glory on her site.

At the moment I am trying to decide which headband to get for my college reunion to go with the dress pictured, so if any of you lovely souls who read could help, please drop me a comment.

There are so many things I love on her site such as the fast food bows, the unicorns, the poison ivy glitter headbands and pop art and geek inspired accessories.


I am loving her shoe clips and these burger ones combine two of my favourite things food and accessories and could really brighten some plain shoes.

To be honest there are so many things I love on Janine Basil I could do about a hundred pictures as I think her style captures what I love: quirky, whimsical, fun and colourful.  So if you aren't familiar with her stuff please look. I will leave you with this dramatic fascinator that I intend to spend my retirement in.

Plus 40 Fabulous - The February Edition

I participate with a wonderful. stylish bunch of women in a Monthly blog event called Plus 40 fabulous, as despite what people think 40 does not mean you suddenly wish to dress in beige slacks and give up hope of ever being fashionable again, unless you count the over 50 renaissance fashion seems to be enjoying at the moment with Advanced age and JD Williams having a pretty stylish over 50 range, since when did style have a age????? Any how I digress, this months rather splendid theme is:  What makes me happy?

Not to be cliched I will start with the important stuff My Family.

I live with the Hub and a rather wonderful elderly Staffrador (we think she is Staff cross lab, although at her last vet visit they said there may be some Collie, so a mongrel but we prefer Staffrador)  called Madame Beyonce.  I have to say chilling with these two is my favourite thing and I am very grateful to have them both in my life,

I have also been blessed with a wonderful family, unfortunately I no longer have my Dad but I have my fantastic Mum who is my biggest cheerleader, help, support and I am so lucky to have her.  I also have a pretty fab big brother who is big support and help to us all.  Here they are at my nieces wedding.

Friends

I am also blessed with some understanding friends as I work long hours as a carer and often am not about at weekends or when they are off, but they are always there.

And although I have not seen them all together in some time one of the things I am really looking forward to this year is my college reunion with these guys and recreating this photo,

Through Blogging I have also made an amazing group of virtual friends and one of my aims this year is try and see them a bit more in the flesh.

My Home town.

I live in Deal and although as a teenager I didn't appreciate it. referring to it as the seaside town they forgot to even open.  As a adult I bloody love the place even if it is full of expensive coffee shops and not much else it is a place of great beauty and in my opinion a bloody great place to live.

From The Telegraph

One of our beautiful side streets

Eating Out

I love good food and if I can eat out all the better.  Recently I ate a really good Vietnamese after an appointment with the eye geeks in London - that made me very happy.

Music

 I will always love Pulp, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Saint Etienne, Camera Obscura, girl bands, Amy Winehouse and the Foo Fighters.  A bit eclectic I know and I am huge Brit Pop fan and love interesting covers at the moment Postmodern Jukebox is a fave.

Books.

I have recently got back into reading and am on track for my two books a month target.  So far this year I have read Jojo Moyes, Before You and After You which I highly recommend.  A forgettable easy read called The Angel Tree and at the moment I am reading The Diary of a Teenage Girl, which is set in 70's San Fransisco which so far I am enjoying.

Authors I love are Maggie O'Farrell, Lisa Jewell and Sarra Manning, especially her new book Save the last dance,

Then there is clothes and accessories my tastes veer I guess to the quirky and at the moment I love the 60's with my latest purchase being this amazing Heart of Haute dress.

I also love prints and have several print dresses this Gnome dress is my oldest but always makes me happy, as does the fox print.

I am also having a bit of a love affair with novelty bags and the skinnydip ones are just amazing, I have just got my hands on this Ray gun bag, which my work mates declared hideous but zero effs given here.

There are other things such as Crown and Glory and Janine Basil.  TV shows like the Big Bang Theory. Bojack Horseman, Gold Rush and House of Cards that make me smile but these are the main.

Please read what is making everyone else happy and if you feel inclined tell me what is making you happy,

Cathy: http://www.southernyacht.blogspot.co.uk/
Christy: http://www.sprintingwithscissors.blogspot.co.uk/
Daisy: http://daisysays.co.uk
Kate: https://wearingmywardrobein2016.wordpress.com
Kath: https://fatheffalump.wordpress.com
Leah: http://www.justmeleah.co.uk
Lee: http://www.pinkybellesshed.co.uk/
Lisa: http://www.kitandkoboodle75.blogspot.co.uk/
Mookie: http://www.mookieslife.com/
Nikki :http://www.nattynikki.com/
Perelandra: http://www.pamperandcurves.com/
Sarah: http://www.plussizeproud.co.uk
Steph: http://www.misskittenheel.com
Yvonne: http://woosangwashere.blogspot.com

What a Girl Wants?

Today I was scrolling through my face book feed when a lady working as a buyer for a company who is re branding their "Curve" range, posed the question:  "What would I like to see in their plus size range?"  I had a little think as you do, of course I don't want butterflies, hanky hems and those crappy embellishments, because who does? I am fat, I may put too much food in my mouth but I'm not blind and I haven't had a fashion bypass.
Then I felt aggravated in the question, not this ladies fault she is just doing research, but let me explain why, I felt so irritated.  I just think it is a non question really to me it makes perfect sense yes I am fat but I am a regular person.  So here's the thing if you have a decent straigt size range then I am probably gonna want to buy it, if it is a bit rubbish I probably don't so I just want the same sort of things as your average woman whatever that may mean.
I want to be treated well as a customer I want to be able to go in a shop have some choice, try things on, not be relegated to two rails groaning with tunics and polyester black trousers at the back of the store, yes New Look ,when you actually bothered to stock Inspire near me I am looking at you.  Although I suppose there is a worse version where I am barred from entering your hallowed store in person and must shop on the internet and I must say if you do this I am loathe to give you my money as if you treating my wonderful self as a dirty secret, you don't deserve my money, honey.
I also want you to treat my sisters who are bigger than the acceptable face of fat which seems to be size 24 with a bit of respect and stock their size too. whilst we're at it.
So basically what I think is what I want is what your average woman wants and the same respect as your average customer.  It's not rocket science, is it