Flock Boutique, Brighton

Palomita Jewellery

Palomita

Palomita

Hearts and Guns

Pick Up Sticks

Hearts and Guns

Luna Noir

Hello everyone! Last week I was invited to one of Brighton's newest boutiques, Flock. With a little set up on Sydney Street in the North Laines, Flock specialise in vintage and handmade clothing, as well as featuring some stunning jewellery designs crafted by labels Palomita and Luna Noir. 

After their launch party on the 6th of November - which I'm gutted I had to miss - Flock are already preparing for a busy Christmas period. I can't say I'm surprised, the shop is an ideal pitstop for gifts. The Jewellery in particular would make for some gorgeous stocking fillers. One of my favourite parts of Flock's itinerary had to be Palomita's Jewellery - the designs are so colourful and completely different to anything you'd see in the typical high street stores. Palomita has an Etsy - definitely have a look!

In terms of clothing and fabrics, Flock offer up a range of the best local labels. Most Brightonians will probably be aware of Hearts and Guns - their unique feminine yet edgy style is well known to Brighton's Laines. I was particularly drawn to their kimonos being sold in Flock - (readers of previous posts will know just how much I love a kimono...) - and, as with most of their designs, the patterns and details were beautifully intricate. Alongside Hearts and Guns are Pick Up Sticks and The Emperor's Old Clothes, again, both local labels - the latter being so local, in fact, that the clothes are made in the boutique's basement. Pick Up Sticks are more focused on textiles and haberdashery, but their variety of vintage fabrics made me wish I'd paid way more attention in my D.T sewing class...so if you have any knack with a needle, definitely visit their website.

Independent label The Emperor's Old Clothes really sets Flock apart from other boutiques in the Laines. They offer hand tailored clothing and accessories that are created on sight with vintage and one-off fabrics. I.e. no single piece will be the same as another. Forget about the worry of leaving the house and seeing five other people wearing exactly the same outfit as you, because Flock can make you something that is completely unique and entirely yours. Click on the link above to see examples of their designs.

If you ever have a spare 10 minutes and find yourself in Brighton's North Laines, definitely pop into Flock. Whether it's just for a quick, casual browse or some serious gift hunting, I can promise you will not leave disappointed!

Hannah xx

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23/10/2015: Red Kites & Hannah Dorman at G Live

Liam - Red Kites

Hannah Dorman

Hannah Dorman

Andy - Red Kites

Liam - Red Kites 

These are a few shots I took during Guildford's local showcase put on by G Live and Eagle3. All the acts were fantastic and it was great to see so many people in the audience. I'd like to give a special shout out to the guy with the eyepatch who was loving every second of every performance...but who also kept knocking the camera, thus making the whole taking pictures thing a little trickier. Oh well...who doesn't love a challenge.

I'm currently booking shoots in London and Brighton, so if you fancied mentioning me to friends/family/friend's families/neighbours/pets/strangers in the street...then that'd be great. 

Apologies for the shameless self promotion!

Hannah xx

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I'm not Wearing your Grandmother's Curtains

Kimono: Pull and Bear
Crop Top: Pull and Bear
Cigarette Trousers: TopShop

Hey! Haven't done one of these posts in a while - mainly because it turned out stocking up on the season's latest offerings on a weekly basis wasn't economically sustainable. Shocking. But I've done a bit of an autumn haul, which included this curtain...I mean this kimono. I'm really not used to wearing prints, but they're pretty hard to avoid right now - guess I'll just have to get used to it,

There are two key elements at play here - you can thank the 1970's revival for blurring the line between wallpaper patterns and fashion statements. But, equally, the oriental trend has covered the British high-street in intricately detailed clothing. So...this is the result; paisley print kimonos. If you like this kind of thing - and it's definitely growing on me - Pull and Bear have some really nice styles at the moment. They even have a matching skirt...but, in my mind, that's just overkill.

Personally, I think prints work best when paired with block or plain colours - one complements the other in such a way that both stand out. Covering yourself head-to-toe in paisley, a la the 1970's, is risky - and not only because the next time you visit your gran, you might blend in with the backdrop.

Anyway, I'm trying really hard to welcome the paisley into my wardrobe and, eventually, my heart...but it might be a difficult journey...*wipes tears of struggle away from face*

Don't worry. I'll pull through.

Hannah xx

P.s Thanks to Katie for the photos!

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An Ode to Brighton's Caffeine Obsession

A lot of people rave about Brighton. Why wouldn't they? It's a great place to live. It's got sea, occasional sunshine and it's the only place I know where the classic 90's sports of hula hooping and rollerskating are still very much alive. Oh, and you can't go 100 yards without passing somewhere that sells (usually great) coffee. Some might say this is a little excessive, but those people are obviously wrong.

Apparently, your average Brightonian will spend £177 per year on coffee...and I definitely didn't help the numbers by moving here. Even after 3 years, I am yet to make my way round every coffee shop in the town - but trust me, I'm trying. My personal fave at the moment is Pelicano. It's not too pricey, it's a lovely place to spend an hour or so and the coffee tastes great thanks to their Smokey Bird house blend. Even with soya milk - yep, I took the plunge and am now dairy free - it still tastes like normal coffee. Also, their cakes and treats always look incredible; my pal Cosmo said the brownies were the best in Brighton and he'd never lie about matters of such vital importance.

My personal caffeine obsession has increased tenfold since moving here, which is bad news for my health, bank account and Instagram followers - apologies guys. But if you're going to be a coffee fiend anywhere, Brighton's a pretty good place to start.

N.B other forms of hot beverage are available in the city. Caffeinated or otherwise.

Hannah xx

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The Time Little Grim got Caught Trespassing in a Car Park

Jeremy - Joe - Roger - Chris  

You know those days where you follow four guys around with a camera, shouting 'LOOK NATURAL' at the top of your voice? Yeah? Pretty sure we've all been there. Meet Little Grim, a London-based alt-rock quartet, who recently played a packed out show at Guildford's Boileroom supporting Little Comets. Sounds like things are definitely on the up.

After the release of 'Vice' in February - great track, go listen here - the boys have been non-stop gigging and taking time to write new material. I've been lucky enough to preview their upcoming single 'Sparks' (release date T.B.C) and it's sounding bloody great, so keep the necessary senses peeled for that one. Both Vice and Sparks have an element of vintage rock to them, and, coincidentally, 1970s fashion is making a comeback for the autumn/winter season. So that all worked out pretty well, really. That said, the 1970s is tricky to get right, and one bold coloured novelty piece too many can take an outfit from fashionably retro to ABBA tribute act in a matter of seconds. (The world just isn't quite ready for your yellow corduroy shirt, Jeremy.)

With that in mind, I was keen to keep the 70s theme relatively subtle - staying away from the flares and opting instead for a pattern shirt (Joe) and maroon chelsea boots (Jeremy). Actually, I'm particularly happy with the footwear finds - the chelsea boots were only £29.99 from H&M, whilst the boots being so excellently modelled by Chris and Roger were both an absolute steal from Primark. Also, these looks mark a definite moment - they're not all in black. We're not exactly talking statement colours, but still, I feel like I've grown.

Anyway, had a great day hanging out with the Little Grim guys. They bought me coffee and Wagamamas which, in my mind, are the only ways to be genuinely happy. And I think we all learnt a valuable life lesson - if you're walking through a car park and don't own one of the parked cars, you're technically trespassing. Who knew?

Catch Little Grim on October 15th at the Black Heart in Camden!

Hannah xx

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Only Went and Graduated Didn't I

Crop Top: Topshop
Culottes: Topshop
Shoes: ASOS

Hat & Gown: Probably not available at most high street stores...

So, last Tuesday I graduated. For the the past three years, I've been able to use the classic "but I'm a student" excuse for basically everything - having no money, watching Netflix until the early hours and living off toast...what a life. For the past seven days, I've been on an adulthood adrenaline rush. I joined a gym, force-fed myself fennel and started my first full time job at Thank Social; probably won't commit to the fennel, but the job seems to be a keeper. 

The Graduation day itself was a combination of stressful faffing and holding back tears. Nobody knew what to wear - not that it mattered since, for the most part, any outfit would be enveloped by a huge black cloak. The guidelines suggested something dark and plain, which most people dutifully ignored. Me included, opting for these Topshop culottes, which are so versatile - they work for everyday wear and, apparently, can be made into a formal outfit as well. And they're not black! Well done me.

The Hogwarts-esque ensemble isn't exactly something I'll be desperate to wear again - not that I'll have that chance now - *cry*. But it was quite fun walking around pretending to be all fancy and intelligent. Although any overly-enthusiastic head movements did mean that the hat would instantly end up on the floor...which was tricky. 

It feels very odd to no longer be in formal education. But I'm hoping that working full time in social media will push me into blogging more regularly...like I keep saying I will...apologies.

Hannah xx

(N.B. There is no way to make a mortarboard hat look even remotely normal. I genuinely think that whoever designed them was having a bit of a joke, and then accidentally created a formal tradition spanning hundreds of years.) 

(N.B 2.0. Yes, that's my mum. Yes, she is great.)

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Back...(in Black)

Shirt: Urban Outfitters
Crop top: Missguided
Necklace: Topshop

Jacket: New Look
Trousers: ASOS
Trainers: Nike.com (Kids section, Boys 8 -15...yep, seriously)

Jacket: Pull and Bear

Aight*. So its been about half a year since I last posted. Twenty-fifteen has been a bloody busy year - finishing my degree and beginning to work as a blogger for Brighton Fashion Week; the latter certainly being a lot more fun than the former...

As you can see, not a lot's changed. I'm still all about that all black errythang - with the exception of my favourite pink check shirt, which comes into its own during summer. Aside from that, I'm welcoming the (sporadically) warm weather with these cropped trousers from ASOS. I won't lie, what I really wanted was a pair of culottes, which are perfect for summer because they're light and always look effortlessly stylish on anyone I see donning the trend. However, me being the diminutive person that I am, that effortlessness quickly became an ordeal of buying, tailoring and eventually returning. But I won't give up. Because short people absolutely can wear culottes - have a read of this.

Anyway, I found the cropped trousers. I've basically lived in them for the past 3 weeks; they're really flattering and can be dressed up or down. For me, it's the heavy-soled Nikes and long-line duster jacket/oversized shirt that works for a more casual look - I do love a bit of layering. But combine them with a pair of chunky heels and fancy crop top, if you want something a little more dressy.

Hopefully I'm going to be able to post more regularly from now on, especially seeing as I'm officially not a student anymore...excuse me while I have a minor panic attack...
So yeah, in the words of various film characters - "I'm Back"

See you soon!
Hannah xx

*Northern for Hello

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All that Glitters

Jumper: Mink Pink for Urban Outfitters
Necklace: TopShop
Jeans: TopShop

Top: TopShop
Shoes: Vagabond for Urban Outfitters
Hat: Urban Outfitters

Massive thanks to Kimberley Edwards for helping me with these pictures. It's so nice to not be relying on self timer in my back garden, feeling the judgemental gaze of my neighbours as they wonder what on earth I'm actually doing.

Anyway, this post is focusing on clothes that sparkle. We're starting to enter into the party season, so, naturally, sequins, glitter, silver, gold etc etc are making a firm annual comeback. However, it seems that this year, even casual wear has become subject to the party vibe. There is glitter everywhere.

I have to say, I love it. I think it makes what otherwise could've been a relatively simple outfit that extra bit vibrant, but doesn't take away from a casual look. The tops in the pictures above are two of my favourite buys this year, particularly the Mink Pink cropped jumper. It's so fluffy and cosy! It's also in the Urban Outfitters sale...in case you needed an extra incentive

I've never been into excessive glitter, even for evening wear and nights out...but recently I have definitely started warming to the style. I think when paired with something basic, like jeans or some plain leggings, it looks lush, but maybe I'm not being adventurous enough. I love this dress from Motel Rocks, but I just don't know if I'd ever have the guts to wear it!

But all the sequins are a definite signifier that the Christmas season is soon to arrive...(it's definitely still too early) so maybe it is time to embrace the glitter. I reckon I should revive this little number, I haven't exactly grown much...

Fabulous.

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