Feather & Black Make-Over Challenge!

The Feather & Black challenge couldn't have come at a better time for me, we'd just manged to get rid of an old desk that was taking up valueable space in our bedroom... which just so happens to be the PERFECT space for a lovely blanket box from Feather & Black. I have long admired their gorgeous bedroom furniture. My fairytale, dream house would have a Feather & Blacks bedroom - in (my favourite) the Sienna range.

While we have not long moved into the house, we are still working on making the space our own and adding our own finishing touches to it. We are also still in the process of building up our collection of furniture (coming from rented and furnished accomodation whilst we were students). What it really needs is a bit more character. I love the windows in our bedroom, they let in lots of light and they have huge window sills. But at the moment our bedroom is still very bland and it's lacking something... Here is the bedroom "before" the Feather & Black make-over...

Keep your eyes peeled for my next two posts... revealing the makeover as it progresses! In the meantime have a look and see which range is your favourite on their website. Good luck to the other bloggers taking part in the challenge, I can't wait to see what you do with your rooms! Check out their Feather & Black make-overs - at That's Yummy Mummy, Mummy in Manolos, Mother's Always Right, and Emma and Three. My challenge will be featuring on The Style PA's blog too so be sure to pay her a visit. Below is the beautiful blanket box that I will be adding to our room in a bid to give it the Feather & Black make-over challenge!



Also, on another note, at some point in the last couple of posts I hit the big 300! Happy 300th blog post to me, hurrah! Thank you to anyone who has had a little look at my blog over the past three years...

Mad Men - I'm Mad About Their Style!

I know I am completely behind the times, but I've just caught up with the amazing series, Mad Men. I recently bought the series 1-4 boxset and have proceded to devour every episode. I love the style of the programme - but I particularly love the three main female character's outfits... oh and the womanising escapades of the handsome Donald Draper of course!

I love how completely different, Betty, Peggy and Joan's styles are... and if I were to say which style I was closest to, it'd have to be a mixture of Betty and Peggy. I'd love to be able to wear some of the gorgeous dresses that Joan wears but alas, I certainly haven't got the amazing figure to pull it off!

I love lots of the 50's dresses Betty wears, particularly in the first couple of series!

Joan's look favours figure-hugging dresses... I love the blue one above!

Which Man Men character sums up your vintage style best?

Coca Cola Ads From The 50's and 60's

I've been watching a lot of Mad Men... can you tell!? I have been kicking myself for not watching the series when it was on TV, so I bought the boxset series 1-4 and have spent the past few weeks catching up! It has made me appreciate the old ads from the 50's and 60's so much more. I love these old and retro-styled Coca Cola ads...

Blogs I Love - The Style PA

I've been meaning to start this blog feature for a while. I love blogging, and I thought I'd start a feature to celebrate the blogs and bloggers that inspire me, provide me with a myriad of lovely things to look at and a window into their world... First up.......... The Style Pa

For those of you that don't know, The Style PA aka Jenny, is my older sister. Here we are together in Camden Horse Market. She has been blogging for many years now and it was her blogging antics that inspired me to start writing my own blog. She helped me set up All About Abbie as a little creative outlet and a way of sharing my baking, things I love and places I go. After over two years of blogging, she still helps me out by sending lovely blog ideas my way and every now and again I accompany her on bloggers events. Although my style is very different to my sister's, I love reading her blog and finding out what she's been up to, for the latest fashion trends and product reviews. Also, we currently live 200 miles away, me in Leeds, her in London, so it's another way of keeping in contact.

She is always here there and everywhere and sharing her fashionista escapades on her blog.

She loves shoes and owns a wardrobe-full of them (she even owns some formidable heels that are completely unwearable, but totally gorgeous, therefore, worth owning!)

She's got style!

She's the perfect shopping companion! She encouraged me to wear dresses when I thought they wouldn't suit me or flatter my shape... and now I own hundreds (near enough!)

She shares my love of frozen yoghurt aka "fro yo"

She's an Aussie gal! She got me into Aussie's fabulous hair products after I spent two weeks with her for my alternative placement at London aquarium... I borrowed some of her shampoo and I was hooked!

Finally... 5 Facts that you might not know about The Style Pa

1. She styled an outfit for Britains Next Top Model Live

2. She also blogs for Yell.com for interior design

3. Her first job from uni was for a magazine company, which included titles such as: Knitting magazine, Dolls house magazine and woodworking plans and projects

4. She was named number 34 in the top 50 fashion insiders on Twitter and eatured in the April 2010 blogger issue of Company magazine for my role as Debenhams blog editor

5. She had an altercation with Whigfield on Twitter after she revealed her real age to her followers (she wasn't impressed, she's over 40 by the way!)

Easy Virtue - Film and Style

Having a week off completely to myself has been absolutely lovely after spending a totally tiring 7 weeks on my final teaching placement since Christmas. I've relished the free time by pretty much vegetating for a whole week. However, I'm beginning to feel like I'm in need of something to do again, so I'm looking forward to going back to uni on Monday. There is only so long I can enjoy having absolutely nothing to do before I start to go a bit stir crazy! But for the meantime I'm still enjoying the last few days of freedom by finally getting around to watching some of the DVDs I got for Christmas and watching a lot of films...

One of the films I recieved for Christmas was Easy Virtue. I went to see this film at the cinema when it came out. I didn't really know very much about it at the time but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love everything about this film, it has style, a bit of silliness and humour, an interesting soundtrack, oh and of course, a bit of Colin Firth too!

The film started life as a Noel Coward play in the 20's. The film has brought the drawing-room melodrama up to date but keeping true to the original play and style. The film, set in the 20's, has a faux-twenties soundtrack with songs like "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going" and "sex bomb" re-hashed in a twenties jazz style. The whole film is a lot of fun and is rather humorous.

But most of all I love the clothing and style. Jessica Biel's character is a feisty and glamourous American racing driver and she looks stunning throughout the film wether she is wearing trousers and fur jackets or beautiful dresses. I highly recommend this film for any fans of the bygone era of the 20's and 30's and for anyone who likes a light-hearted British comedy - oh and if you like Colin Firth then no doubt you'll enjoy it too!

Kristen Scott Thomas is one of my favourite British actresses. She is always brilliant in whatever she is in and she excells herself in this style of film. She was also fantastic in Nowhere Boy, Gosford Park and Keeping Mum.

Make Me A Dress - Beautiful Handmade Dresses by Alexandra King

I just LOVE the beautiful dresses designed and handmade by the wonderfully talented Alexandra King. They feature some of my favourite things, polka dots, buttons and bows! The styles are vintage inspired and simply gorgeous! She sells her lovely dresses in her Etsy shop so visit it immediately to get your hands on one of her many dresses. Also follow her blog for more of her creations and inspirations!

Love this collar!

Pretty!

Pretty Polka Dot Dresses at Eva Franco

I absolutely adore this lovely white polka dot dress by Eva Franco. There are quite a few beautiful polka dot dresses on Eva Franco's website, and the photos of the dresses are equally as beautiful! While the dresses for sale aren't cheap, they are stunning! If I was considerably richer and considerably smaller in size I would definitely add a few of Eva Francos gorgeous designs to my wardrobe. But alas... I am neither! So, instead I shall have to be content with blogging about and gazing upon these gorgeous dresses from afar!

Style Icon - Katy Perry

I have always like Katy Perry's sense of style, she is adventurous and quirky and is no stranger to wearing outfits that most gals wouldn't dream of donning... but that's what makes me love her. She isn't afraid to wear something a little bit different, and it almost always pays off making Katy look fab. I remember seeing Katy over a year ago play in Brighton with my younger sister and being blown away - by her numerous outfits during the gig and how her hair remained absolutely perfect despite lots of dancing on stage. Here are some of my favourite dresses that Katy has been spotted in... anyone who can wear a full blown carousel dress and get away with it (just about!) deserves praise in my books!

80's Puffball Floral Dress from PoshGirlVintage

Gorgeous Floral Dress

Casino Card Playing Dress

Katy's Cherry Dress for the Teen Choice Awards

Katy Perry Cherry Chapstick

Cherry Outfit

Carousel Dress

Roses Dress