2012 is nearly over!

So . . . has everyone eaten enough turkey? Did everyone have a wonderful Christmas? Sick of Christmas pud-pud yet?

The Davies household has been very busy with Christmas celebrations and this is the first time I have had a chance to sit down behind the computer. I can't believe it is New Year's Eve tomorrow and it will be the end of another year. I wanted to do a review of the whole year but instead, due to wanting to spend the holidays with my family and not tied to a keyboard, I've decided to share another one of my major passions. 

Below is a playlist of my favorite music and bands of this year.  Music is such a huge part of my life and so many of these songs have a special meaning to me, so I hope you enjoy them too!

I hope to have another post soon going through some of the amazing gifts we received this year, so in the meantime, turn it up and have a cracking new year celebration!

AKA Hooting Miss Owl

1. Little Dragon - Sunshine
2. Father John Misty - Hollywood Forever Cemetry Sings
3. Jack White - I'm Shakin'
4. Alt-J - Taro
5. Bat For Lashes - All Your Gold
6. Jessie Ware & Sampha - Valentine
7. Friends - I'm His Girl
8. Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny - Dodecahedron
9. Tame Impala - Elephant
10. Foals - Inhaler
11. Atoms for Peace - Default
12. Field Music - A New Town
13. Chromatics - Cherry
14. Django Django - Hail Bop
15. Poliça - Wandering Star
16. Beat Connection - The Palace Garden, 4am
17. Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny - Atlas

REVIEW: Monochrome love with Ahai

I love shopping online and recently I discovered Ahai. Ahai is an online shop and they specialise in Korean street-wear and accessories for women at really reasonable prices. I had my eye on some very cute vintage style dresses but decided to get this black and white jersey number as it was only $9.99 (approximately £6.20). Bargaino! Not only that, but they offer free shipping worldwide. Bonus! 

The dress arrived before I knew it and the quality was surprisingly good. I have bought several items from Asian shopping sites before and have been disappointed when they arrived. Even after wearing several times, the dress has kept its shape and the seams seem to be pretty strong. 

I decided to team the dress with some thick black tights and black & white accessories to embrace the monochrome look. I think it would also look very cute with a white shirt underneath. Can't wait to experiment with it some more :)

I am wearing Ahaishopping.com dress, Underground creepers, vintage scarf and New Look necklace and bag

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Hollywood Costume at V&A

I was one of the lucky few to be invited to a special viewing of the Hollywood Costume exhibition at the V&A on the 6th November. It's really quite a marvelous exhibition and I highly recommend it. There are over 100 costumes to view, which took over 5 years to put together. The layout and the way the V&A display everything is clearly very well thought through. The exhibition is split into 3 acts with a wonderful gift shop at the end selling replica ruby slippers and yummy popcorn, amongst many other things.

It's hard to say which were my favourite costumes but I especially loved seeing Scarlett O'Hara's green dress from Gone with the Wind, Indiana Jones leather bomber jacket, The Adams Family's gothic costumes and Charlie Chapman's tatty tramp suit. It was surprising to see the size of some of the costumes as the majority of the dresses had itty bitty waists and the height of Darth Vader's costume, for example, emphasised how tall David Prowse actually is.  Charlie Chapman was definitely a short man, by the way. His tatty suit from The Tramp (1915) was tiny even though it's of a very misfit design. He couldn't have been much taller than me and I am only 5ft 2.

Below is a small selection of some of the astounding costumes on display. It's clear these garments have been well cared for, as some of them are nearly 100 years old! It was thrilling to see some of the most iconic items of clothing ever made, right in front of me. This exhibition is a must not just for movie lovers, but for anyone interested in how fashion, and cinematic costume has changed over the decades. 

1. Judi Dench's costume in Shakespere in Love
2. Judy Garland's costume in Wizard of Oz
3. Ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz (one of four pairs known to exist)
4. Helena Bonham Carter's costume in Room with a View
5. Blurb about the ruby slippers
6. Marilyn Monroe's costume in Seven Year Itch
7. Tippi Hedren's costume in Birds
8. Keira Knightley's costume in Atonement
9. Marilyn Monroe's costume in Some Like it Hot 

It wasn't just clothes on display. Original artwork and designs for the costumes in the first act tell the stories behind the clothes. Headless mannequins having small flat screens displaying the characters moving head was a really nice touch. The second act had a fantastically put together  multi-media platform, showing videos  of the actors and directors that brought these characters to life. The third act was the finale and had a party atmosphere, with guests like Superman, Dorothy Gale, Marlyn Monroe and Harry Potter! It was like the best fancy dress party you could ever wish for! 

This wonderful exhibition finishes on 27th January 2013, so with Christmas fast approaching to take over our lives for a week or so, there's really not much time to go see it!

GO!

Big love,

AKA Hooting Miss Owl


PS - If you do go, let me know what your favourite costume was!

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A little place called Lewes

Vintage faux fur coat // Vintage Greek goddess shirt // Tulip skirt from H&M // Black bow from ASOS // Blue cardigan from H&M // Hat from Topshop // Creepers from Underground

I went on a little day trip to Lewes the other day with Miss Sutherland, my friend from I Love It. If you don't know Lewes,  you can find it nestled in the South Downs, 7 miles from Brighton. The river Ouse meanders slowly through the town, which has a large selection of antique flea markets, vintage shops and a handful of beautiful boutiques containing colourful curios for the home and soul. Miss Sutherland and I had a lazy afternoon, perusing through the cobbled lanes, and she took me to her favourite shop, Wickle, and I fell in love with it instantly.

Maybe it's the Castle? Or the glimpses of the misty Downs? Whatever it is, there is something quite dark and magical about the atmosphere of this little town. It was quite quiet when we were there. But every year the streets of Lewes come alive with 80,000 people coming together with blazing torches and crosses to celebrate their biggest event, Bonfire Night. I haven't been yet but I have heard it is unforgettable.

Here are just a few things I love to do when I go to Lewes

• Munch down some brunch at the first ever Bills (they make the perfect poached egg)
• Head to the Snow Drop Inn for a roast.
• Visit Wickle on the High Street. (They sell gorgeous bits and bobs for home and family at really reasonable prices. They also have a cute little cafe at the back with mismatched vintage teacups and saucers, and offer scrummy homemade cake.)
• Visit Lewes Castle
• Have a picnic down by the river
• Visit Harvey's Brewery on Cliffe High Street
• Have a peruse around the Needlemakers and a coffee in the cafe.
• Lots of thrifting to be done. There are around 8 charity shops, Lewes Flea Market and Lewes Antiques Centre to have a nose around.

Photos of things I saw around Lewes (left to right)

1. Getting on the train to Lewes from Brighton Station
2. Beautiful bottles of pink lemonade at Bills 
3. Everything on the shelves at Bills have amazing packaging
4. I love these tins of amaretti biscuits
5. 1960s doll at Lewes Antiques Centre
6. Pretty pink bead detail on vintage dress
7. Teacups and saucers at Wickle
8. Vintage polka dot dress at Hobo Vintage in the Needlemakers
9. Cute 1950s plastic buttons I bought in a little antiques shop on Cliffe High Street

Hope this post has inspired you to visit this wonderful town.

Browse. Buy. Cherish.
AKA Hooting Miss Owl

Modcloth 'Tis the Season Sale

It is time for the ModCloth 'Tis The Season Sale today through 25th November with huge savings! The ModCloth 'Tis The Season Sale is an amazing sale including 100s of brand new stunning styles at 50% off! Now is the time to stock up on great styles for the holidays and beyond

These are my fave picks from the sale!

All eyes on unique dress in birdcage 

Pixelate Afternoon Dress

Precious Please Dress

Sari Home Companion Jacket

Recommended Reading Coat

Happy shopping!

Hooting Miss Owl x

My Day in Photos: Sunday Walk with Friends & Family

There is nothing better than getting wrapped up, jumping into a car with friends and family and heading off into the countryside for a couple of hours. It does wonders to the soul and definitely blows out any cobwebs that may be lurking.

So, go for a walk. Take a camera. You never know what you'll find :)

Big love!

          AKA Hooting Miss Owl

P.S
I'm wearing a vintage mohair cape with my See by Chloe wellies. Tights were stenciled by myself.

Also, I did a little collaboration with Attack / Panic recently. I would love to hear your feedback. Have a listen to the track Mr D and I sing together below.....

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Make Away Pop-Up Shop

On Saturday, Mr D, Molly and I visited a new pop up shop in Brighton called Make Away. Make Away sells prints, jewellery and t-shirts but also gives customers a chance to get hands on and have a go at screen printing. There are 9 designs to pick from, all unique and contributed and designed by local artists. You can print your chosen design on to paper, tote bag, tea towel, t-shirt or apron (the t-shirts costing the most, but still very reasonable at £15). If they don't tickle your fancy you can always bring in an item of your own (costs £10). 

Make Away is made up of 12 young volunteers aged between 16-25. They are all part of a skills development and volunteering program, powered by The Retail Trust and Retail Ready People. This new initiative offers budding retailers the chance to set up and run a high street shop in their local area. The shop is only running till the end of November so get there soon before it's gone! These prints make great Christmas presents and you can proudly say, "I made it!"

I went for a design by, I Lurk in Bushes. It's of an Edwardian bear in a harlequin costume and top hat. I've been a bit obsessed with harlequin print lately, so this design was right down my street. I got a bit excited by all the colours and took a while to choose, but after much ado, I settled on pink and blue for my print. 

The process is quite easy to do. First you lay your screen with your chosen design on a t-shirt and then apply your chosen inks at the top of your design. Using a squidgee you run the ink down the screen. Repeating the process if more coverage is required. The t-shirt is then dried and then ironed to set the print and .... Viola! Your t-shirt is ready to go!  

Mr D and even little Molly had a go as well and this is what they chose to do below. Love the colours on Mr D's t-shirt and the cat design is just puurrfect for Molly :)

Design by Grant Killoran

Design by I Like Cats

I think this is a fantastic pop-up shop, which gives people a real connection to the clothes and accessories that they wear. It's great to see that there are organizations out there that are trying do something about all the wasted, empty spaces that seem to be cropping up on our high streets, and that there are people out there, like those at Make-Away, who can bring something different to our shopping experience.

Make-Away itself is an innovative,  fun and easy-on-the-pocket way to get some great looking clothes and accessories and I hope that it pops up again once it's stint on Brighton Square is done. If I were you, I'd get down there quick!

Ta ta,

AKA Hooting Miss Owl

How will you carve yours?

Hoot-hoot-hooray! Halloween is nearly upon us! It's time to get your spooky ghoulish glad rags on and get your pumpkin-carving knifes at the ready! 

I love this time of year. It starts getting cold enough to brew a pot of mulled cider and there is something quite deliciously warming about those orange and red hues every where. This years Halloween has added excitement as Molly is finally at an age where she can join in and start understanding what is happening around her. The look on her face when she saw Mr D and I come home with two big pumpkins was fantastic. I bought two, so I could do an owl design on one and the other was for Molly to decorate as she pleased. 

No one is totally sure where the tradition of carving Pumpkins actually comes from, although it's widely believed that it originates from the Gaelic festival 'Samhain' in the 19th Century. Supposedly, Faeries and Sprites would wake from a deep sleep, and carved turnips or beets were put out to ward of the mischievous creatures. The tradition traveled with Irish and British immigrants into North America where the traditional root vegetables were swapped for Pumpkins which were more widely available and easier to carve. And thus, the Jack O'Lantern as we know it was born!

This really is such a fun project to do with children because it gives them a chance to get creative and messy! I love the traditional Jack O'Lantern but there are so many amazing things you can do if you put your mind to it. To get started, simply draw your chosen design on a piece of paper and make sure it will fit easily on your pumpkin. Don't do something overly complicated and with too much detail. My tip is to keep it simple! Need some help? Find some great pumpkin carving templates on Martha Stewart's website. 

I've included a little 'how-to' on how we decorated ours below. Please remember to supervise children at all times and any knifes should be handled by a responsible adult. Enjoy and have lots of fun being creative :)

Big love,

  AKA Hooting Miss Owl

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WHAT I WORE: Underground Love

I've had my eye on some Creepers for some time. So, was delighted when Mr D bought me a pair from Office the other day. THANK YOU MR D!
They are simple, black, round toe and just have a single sole and I LOVE THEM! I have been grinning like a Cheshire Cat since and plotting what outfits I could possibly wear with the new beauties. One of the things I love about creepers is the height of the sole. Being only 5ft 2 I need all the help I can get. Plus they look great with vintage clothes :)

Teddy Boys in Creepers and suits

Creepers have been made huge lately by the likes of Rita Ora and Rihanna. This is not the first time they have been in fashion though. Creepers began after the 2nd World War when soldiers based in the deserts of north Africa wore suede boots with hard-wearing crepe soles. The soldiers returned home and many found themselves wearing the same crepe-soled shoes out and about. The 'Brothel Creeper' was born! The creepers then came back in fashion in the 1950s by Teddy Boys and then yet again in the 1970s when the Teddy Boy look had a bit of a revival.

Image from Underground's S/S 2012 look-book

Underground England are one of the few independent companies that produce genuine creepers. They've been making them since the Eighties and also brought in new designs like the Triple Sole and Wedge Creepers. You can buy cheaper copies in most High Street shops now but these versions don't quite have the weight and quality as the genuine Creeper though.

Do you like Creepers? What would you wear yours with? I teamed mine with a reworked vintage tux shirt and my sparkly leggings from American Apparel. Androgynous eat your heart out! Check out the results below!

Big love and ta ta for now :)

AKA Hooting Miss Owl