Come home , keep me from these sleepless nights.

These top three photo's are some my brother took of me today while we were doing a little filming in my Granny's orchard. Now if you follow me on twitter you may of seen a few tweets about shooting or filming something along these lines well we've been shooting a kind of fashion/music video for my college unit at the moment, it is based on my theme for my final collection which is women's land army and the 1940s ( you may of seen a few posts based around this during Christmas). My brother is a 3rd year film and media student at edge hill, so he got a camera out and came home to film this for me.

The basic outline of the video is that even though the uniforms and what women and men now do in the army are different to the 1940s there relationships and farewells are still very similar. Thankfully I have a pretty wonderful friend who dressed up in some army gear and I must say he did look pretty dashing (to his annoyance when I said this, along with a number of other things haha). I wanted to show the contrast of a 1940s land girl and the modern day soldier, though obviously my outfit is only inspired by the land army look and is not completely perfect. The simply story we put for the video is based on a buddy holly song dearest (though my original idea came before it,this song just fitted really well) there's the soldier and the girl they take there last walk to a place they always go before he's sent to war, they say there goodbyes and he leaves, then we see how the girl helps the war effort by becoming a land girl, she gets a letter but you don't know what its about... and I' ll leave the ending a secret so you'll have to wait for my video.

Here's a quick note on what I'm wearing in these photographs, The shirt was purchased on my trip to Antwerp in November and was from the amazing 2 euro shop where I seriously need to visit again. The peg leg cord trousers are from asos curve and you've seen them a time or two on here, my cardigan is from new look inspire range about two years ago and has gone pretty baggy but is still soft and comfortable. Then my sweat guard is made from two pin brooches I bought from a vintage fayre before Christmas and I made the pearl chain between them from and old primark necklace. And finally the Chelsea boots I'm wearing I won from style369 on a twitter competition.

I'll post the video up as soon as my brothers finished editing, hopefully I'll have got my hands on the rough cut by tomorrow but I might wait and show you all the lovely finished piece instead, And on one last note I'll just state it now before you actually see the little film, and its that I definitely don't think I should become an actress. I hope you all watch my video and please tell me if I've missed anything out on the styling point of view because all the editing side is my big brother, so I can't change any of that the same.


p.s here is a awkward photograph of me and my soldier, my lovely friend finn who let me play dress up on him even walking down the street like this, bless him.

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Ruby rocks and thats a fact.

This is my first outfit post since Christmas, so I guess it's my first one of 2011! Happy new year everyone. I just want to start by apologising for the rubbish quality of my photograph's my digital camera is a lot better (even if it does make me look like a ghost) but I'm yet to acquire a tripod and the brother has gone back to uni for a week so its my web cam on a box for now.

Has anyone else been hitting the sales? But I have a little confession is that I haven't even left the house to do so, yes the online stores are you pretty well out of me. Some of the prices were really low it was impossible to resist and I did actually need some new trousers and shoes... and possibly the odd dress. This beauty being one of them I ordered this lovely ruby rocks dress off Evans in the sale for 20 pound but soon after it was reduced to 15 quid but I don;t mind because I got 25% off my order anyway. At the same time as purchasing this one I also bought a lace and jersey floral dress for a tenner which i thought was a total bargain and it looked really lovely on the site, but once I had it on it just didn't feel comfortable so off it goes and is awaiting for me to send it back. I have since ordered a really cool jumpsuit from style369 for 7 pound and a lovely pair red velvety pumps for 7 quid as well, I cannot wait for these to arrive lets hope they fit!

Now on to my outfit! As I've already said the dress is by Ruby rock's, it's original price was 40 pound which I would of never paid, even though I've been lusting over it for months before it went on sale. The fit of the dress is really lovely and the fabric is comfortable I would say this dress is true to size it fits me really well and I'm a size 20 most of the time (well I seem to be a different size depending what shop I'm in) it have a tie around the waist and the dress just flows really nicely. The pattern is so adorable it's like a really quirky ditsy print and I love it. Under neath my dress I'm just wearing some Matalan leggings for warmth more than anything, these leggings are some of the best I've had and they go up to a size 22 but I'm sure they'd fit a size or two bigger than that.

The bag was a recent charity shop find, I always use my patent leather little structured bag, but it was starting to get damaged from when I knocked it into things, so I was in one of my usual charity shops and my mum found this cute handbag at the back of the rack for the wonderful price of 3.99 and it fits everything in much better than my other one! The boots I am wearing were a competition prize I won off the lovely plus size website style369 there still pretty new but the people who work on there blog and twitter are ever so nice. And I'm just wearing my really old red lipstick (which needs replacing) to bring a little bit of the colour from the print on my dress up to my face.

I have recently bought my first few items off asos curve and I really hope they fit because there ever so lovely! What I bought was some really awesome peg leg trouser/chino pants. They will be perfect for the few outfit posts inspired by the women of the war I have planned. Oh and p.s I'm sorry I look super moody in the top picture it was blowing a gale outside when I took these!

Has anyone else bought anything from the Ruby rocks line in the sales on either Evans or style369. Are yours as good a fit?

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Let me take you down, cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.

On this post I'm going to talk about the costumes in the television series. The land army uniforms them selves seemed to be created perfectly to fit with the original pieces from the 1940's as were the rest of the women's costumes throughout the series. During the second world war they had to make do and mend and if it wasn't amendable another use was found for it, in aid to limit waste of infinite resources. If you have read my post on The Land Girls film I feel I may repeat some pieces from that in here, considering they are both about the women's land army.

Nancy, Joyce, Bea and Annie all wear really adorable and sweet blouses under there overalls. These overalls were the statement piece of land army uniform for working out in the fields and around the farm. I feel in this they have made the land girls a little more glamorous and pristine compared to the film The Land Girls where they showed them getting really involved with the farming ethic, which included them actually looking like they'd spent a long hard day working instead of looking as clean as they started.

The patterns on the blouses are also intricate and detailed just like a number are now. One of my favourites being the pussy bow blouse worn by Joyce in the series. the green background and orange/red coloured flowers really compliment each other.

The beige coats the girls are wearing in the top image are something of a iconic item for many people wardrobes today, but during the 1940s they were more of a practical necessity than a fashion accessory, they were for warmth and to protect them from the elements. But I have to say that Bea's coat looks utterly lovely on her. Oh and finally in case any of you were wondering I do realise strawberry fields was in fact writing in the 1960s not the 1940s I just don't know any other songs involving fields.

And one last thing I'm sorry for the lack of outfit posts lately but once my package of sales goodies arrives I promise to try ands take plenty of photograph's for you!

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Land girls.

Straightforward and patriotic land girl Joyce, tries her best to serve her country and do her bit to help win the war.Her parents were killed in a German bombing raid, and her house and possessions were destroyed. In addition, she is worried about her husband John, who has been posted abroad.On the surface, Joyce is sunny and optimistic, but – like the war rhetoric she spouts – it's all a way of coping with the inner pain. She's genuinely the most caring of the girls as she knows the true meaning of loss.

Forceful, opinionated, and whiney, Nancy had to enlist when female conscription started, but she worked in a recruitment office in Cambridge which suited her as well as it could. Then, to her horror, there was a shortfall in women going to work on the land, so she was transferred to the WLA.Nancy hates it at first, but realises that she can't escape the war and will do her bit. She's not work shy, just perhaps the last to volunteer for a particular task.

Bea is a 17-year-old innocent who lies about her age to join the WLA, discovering a world of adventure as a result.Inquisitive and fun-loving, Bea is headstrong with a desire to change the world. Sometimes irritating due to her constant energy, Bea will happily launch campaigns for justice, albeit ill-considered ones.Bea fluctuates between being a child and a woman and struggles to navigate a course between the two states. Her older sister Annie has always looked after her and it's no different now they're both land girls.

Annie is the oldest in her family, and has always been the responsible one. She and her younger sister Bea are already living and working at Pasture Farm when Nancy and Joyce arrive. Annie is the peacemaker of the group, holding the girls together as they face the challenges of life in the Women's Land Army.

I got the chance to watch this one off series when it was on the BBC for a week long special event. The show is set against the backdrop of war-weary Forties Britain. Land Girls is set in the Hoxley Estate, as the girls balance their working lives at the run-down Pasture Farm, and the opulent Hoxley Manor. Nancy, Joyce, Bea and Annie have all joined the Women’s Land Army for very different reasons, but they all have one outright goal which is to serve their country and help win the war. The drama follows the women as they try to live out their lives in very challenging circumstances, with lots of laughter and tears along the way.

I just wanted to borrow the little introductions for each of the women from my original source (this being the ever so lovely BBC) because I do feel that through out the episodes you really get to know these women as if you lived with them, and I wanted you to know them while reading this. When I originally watched this special series, it was because my grandmother wanted to really, But I think I got more involved with the characters and plot lines than she did! If you have read the small paragraph's on each women you can see that they all come from different walks of life. Annie is the over protective sister of Bea and always looked after her until Bea lied about her age to join the land army, so now her and Annie are equal.

Many things happen to Nancy, Joyce, Bea and Annie during there time together working on the land. They loose people close to them as well as gaining a few (at times unwelcome) guests. Over all I think land girls drama does truthfully portray how life was for the women during the second world war. Though obviously for television time purposes some aspects of the women in the land army's day to day tasks were not included in part. I also feel that the actresses brought the characters to life extremely well.

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It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go.

Military uniforms comprises standardised clothing worn by members of the armed forces of a number of nations. Military dress and military styles have gone through a lot of changes over the centuries from colourful and elaborate to extremely mundane. Military uniforms in the form of basic and distinctive dress are intended for identification and display. They are typically a sign of organised military forces equipped by a central authority.


Right I just wanted to show how the Military uniforms in general have changed now since the 1940's. And yes that is a picture of prince harry it's only up because of the uniform he's wearing (and because hes possible rather beautiful). I think that during the 1940's the soldiers really only had one uniform and possibly a change of socks if they were lucky. And thankfully today I'd like to think and hope that our soldiers are treated with a little more comfort.


You can see a contrast between the uniforms I would say that from what you can see if the "formal" uniform of today's army is tailored and smart. It is also in royal colours with the navy, blue's and red's. They also have a vast amount of detail within its pieces unlike that of the 1940's wartime and this uniform was very basic and the reason for this was that it was going to get dirty and that it had to be cool during the hot days then it also served the purpose of trying to trap in warmth which is the reason behind the choice of almost potato sacking fabric.


For my designs I am concentrating on the women of the war and how they brought fashion to the rations. But we can't have the blokes being left out can we? While were on the little subject of boys I was just wondering if anyone would like to see me doing any guys styles. Not on me obviously but I am not too bad at stylist guys outfit's for certain themes. So just let me know by dropping a comment or something if you fancy seeing that.

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There'll be bluebirds over, the white cliffs of Dover.

These photographs were taken in the "women at war" section in the Imperial war museum in Manchester. I have to say a big thank you to the old fella who works there; he saw me drawing the uniforms and tapped me on the shoulder to tell me I could take pictures in the section. He then came back when I’d finished to ask me what I was doing it for and when I said fashion he seemed surprised then told me to go downstairs and tell one of the learning staff there what I was doing and that they would give me some of pieces on the women at war, unfortunately I couldn’t find these people so my dad’s offered to take me again, so anyway thank you sir!

The reason I ventured out to the museum is because I have chosen the women’s land army as my theme for my final major project. I am concentrating on the women of the war and especially the Land Army of the Second World War because my granddad was in the army at this time my late grandma was a nurse during this time (how she met my granddad, he was sent to her hospital after being poisoned by water) and maybe the most important for my collection my granny who was in the women’s land army and this is where my inspiration came from.

But unfortunately the imperial war museum does not have a large amount on display about the land army but it has a collection of uniforms lining the side of the wall as you can see in my pictures. I have a number of other images from my trip to the museum which I will use in another post where I shall try and talk more in depth about what I would like to take from each uniform such as the structure or form of the pieces. I found a large amount of information at the museum which was really interesting and I am planning another visit so I can really take it all in. In the next few weeks i will be posting about the land army and the film I watched (which I loved!) and the television series I’m also re-watching parts of to refresh my memory.

Have any of you been on your trips this Christmas?

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