Faded Spring

    The Commercialization Of Valentines Day

    ' Will you be my valentine, our entwined hearts beating in harmony, Will you pick me up when I fall and kiss all those demons away, Will you be faithful and promise to not love another woman when i'm gone, Because I am your valentine and you are mine, soft spoken words like a whisper of a feather, Will you be my valentine, holding me until the day I die, Will you think of me above all others, Will you think that I am the most beautiful woman in the world, Will you think that there is noone else but me, Will you be my valentine' There is no doubt that Valentines day- whose roots is in 3rd century Europe- has been commercialized to boost the economy. From cards to dinners out Valentines ... read more

    Who Am I?

    'Who am I? Am I the girl caught in between realities playing at being myself? Am I the girl who wades in vunerability, peeling back the layers of the real me? Or am I nothing but a dream trapped in a living hell? I am the girl who defied expectations to get where I am now, I am the woman who carries a mask because she is too scared of letting people in, I am the girl who is vunerable yet tough, a paradox of emotions, I am the girl laying awake at night, The salted tears of a young lost girl trickle like a waterfall, red wounded eyes like a mask of pain, Shuddering shoulders convulsing in agony, gaunt hollow cheeks a testament to her suffering, She is shapeless, she is ... read more

    January Recap

    As we enter the sphere of love and leave January behind it is time to reminise, rejoce and celebrate the achievements that the gifts of January gave us. Welcoming in the new year I was so thankful for all the love and support I had been given during my time as a blogger and was looking forward to seeing what 2016 would bring me and boy was I surprised. January was an excellent month for blogger achievements including an increase in traffic and followers across all social platforms and my very first sponsored post which was on 'How To Find A Photographer' and you can read more about that below. But my personal life was in tatters and my health on the decline. For those of you who do not ... read more

    KaytieWu: A Review

    Combining the subtle minimalism of 90's culture with the geometric narrative of Japanese artitecture Kaytie Wu's eyponmous collection is inspired by her love of travelling through cultures. In the Western world there is a poor representation of multiculturalism and Katie hopes to remedy the eurocentric ethos through Oriental jewellery. With hexagonanal gold earrings, delicate rose gold distortion of shape and a refreshing sense of clarity running throughout Kaytiewu's jewellery line it is little wonder that critics have lapped up its directional offerings. Directional ethos aside Kaytiewu seeks to think outside the box and whether it is through subversion of shape or mixed metals one can ... read more

    Time Travel: Reliving The 70’s

    Retaining the free spirited liberal aesthetic of the 60's fused with androgynous rock glamour the 70s remains the most iconic fashion era to date spawning mainstream trends as boho-chic vibes, folk, gypsy, hippie, ethnic, retro, classic, disco, safari, military, sporty chic and unisex fashion. From jumpsuits to bohemian maxi skirts the 70's created and made popular trend after trend and it was reflective of its peace loving approach to curating fashion. The eclectic mix of trends borrowed from the late 60's and pre-emptied the beginning of 80's disco culture with its flared wide cut trousers and gradual inclusion of sequin brights. For the most part the 70's was a powerful period of ... read more

    Friday Lookbook: The Pastel Edit

    Welcome to week 4 of Faded Springs popular series 'Friday Lookbook'. Last week we explored how primary colours can inject fun into your outfit even in winter and how colourblocking primary colours can instantly lift your mood. Colourblocking primary colours was a new concept to me as my colourblocking knowledge was delegated specifically to 70's hues like khaki & burgundy making last weeks challenge a real test of my ability to step out of my comfort zone. It felt suprisingly liberating to step out of my comfort zone but this week I am back on safer ground with 'The Pastel Edit'. Inspired by the soothing tranquility of nature each look is steeped in new age romanticism. Floaty tulle ... read more

    365 Blog Post Ideas For Fashion Bloggers: Part 2

    Welcome to part II of the 365 blog post ideas for fashion bloggers where I take you from April to September with a variety of fashion posts centered around digital media, personal style and social issues in the fashion industry. Last weeks installment covered January to March and this week we look at April to mid-August to discover what concepts and ideas you could cover centered around the genre of fashion. An eclectic mix of the serious 'Should Fashion Bloggers Be More Real' to Digital Media 'How To Monetize Your Twitter Account' right through to Networking ' How To Blag Your Way Into LFW' there is guaranteed to be a post idea for all fashion bloggers. April  1st 'March ... read more

    Dreaming Of Another Tomorrow

    Another Tomorrow  'Dreaming of another tomorrow I stumble into a new world where hope exists, No more children caught in the trap of injustice, no more bereft adults with empty stomachs, I sit and ponder at the lake of social change where fish metamorphose into greedy politicians, They sit with their hands rubbing in glee, pulling puppets left right and centre and bending them to their will, Is there freedom? No they cry? Social absolution? Definitely not? Equality between men and women? Hell no.  But the winds are changing and their plots are discovered, the people revolt-freedom for all they chant with their heads held high- against the greedy fish-men, Plucked and ... read more

    Should We Boycott Primark?

    Primark, a haven of mass-produced 'fast fashion' at rock bottom prices is no stranger to scandal. In 2013 it was revealed that it had been involved in slave labour and the exploitation of LEDC's in order to keep their prices low. Known as the Rana Plaza tragedy, millions of men, women and even children had been found under rubble and dust, locked in an eternal embrace as their last living moments were spent working tirelessly for budget fashion brands to maintain a living wage. The response was predictable with consumers boycotting Primark because of its overt exploitation of ethnic minorities who were relying on the brand to survive. But it is not just Primark who still uses slave labour to ... read more

    The Influence Of Fashion Bloggers On Consumers

    In an age defined by technology the power of fashion bloggers in the millennial era has had a lasting influence on consumers, facilitated by the rapid growth of social media and new technologies. In 2015 alone it is reported that 41 % of consumer trends were influenced by their favourite fashion bloggers while a further 23 % of consumers declared that they made direct purchases through their 'shoppable' feed rather than go to the site to buy. Creating an inter-relationship between 'trend setting' and directly 'persuading' consumers to buy their clothes the influence of fashion bloggers on consumers is increasingly prevalent in modern culture. Self-described as the new 'opium of the masses' ... read more