Hama Girl

You may know that I am a fan of the Japanese fashion sub-culture known as Mori Girl.  Mori girls like to dress as if they live in the forest, with loose fitting, flowing clothes made from natural materials.  There is a fantastic description on this blog if you would like to know more. 
Whilst browsing some Mori girl websites I came across another Japanese fashion sub-culture similar to Mori called Hama Girls, this blog says that:

"Hama girls are the sisters of mori girls who live by the sea:

• layers of clothing that is tattered by the wind
• colours of the sea, blues, greys, whites, sea foam and deep green
• tousled and sun bleached hair
• long walks on the beach, watching the sun rise and sunset, collecting the treasures of the sea
• adornments that are made of found objects, smooth driftwood, sea glass, shells and feathers
• the ocean is freedom

You will find the hama girl wandering the beach, feeling the sand between her toes, the waves against her legs, the wind in her hair, tasting the salt in the air, her heart filled with yearning as the sails of the ship disappear beyond the horizon."

 I love this!  I don't live by the sea, but I would love to, and if I did I can just see myself fulfilling this description. 

Here are some lovely photos all from the above blog that epitomise the Hama Girl style:

 

 

 

I am pretty sure I will be doing more blog posts about Hama Girls in the future, I can just see some coastal themed Etsy treasuries and some Polyvore collages in the making.  Stay tuned.

What to do when you feel like you don't belong?

Today I received a text message on my phone saying I could get 20% discount on my purchases from New Look if I gave them a particular code at the checkout.  So I took myself and my bubba off into town, him in his pushchair and headed to New Look to see if I could scout out a few bargains. I haven't actually shopped in New Look for probably a few years, but didn't think I was so past it that it wasn't a shop for me.  Top Shop maybe, but not New Look.  How wrong was I?  Not only was it patently clear that the staff rarely came across a shopper with a baby in tow (lots of faffing in the changing rooms), but the clothes were most certainly targeted at a younger age group that my own!  Seriously, unless you enjoy wearing leggings and a denim jacket with the sleeves cut off, there was nothing in that shop for you.

I meandered around town for about half an hour after this and left feeling a strong sense that I didn't belong.  Talking on the phone to my sister later I said that it wasn't that I felt too old but just that I wasn't part of that world any more.  I had very little desire to buy anything, in fact the only thing I saw that I was even remotely interested in buying I decided I could make myself.

Is it just me or do you sometimes feel like you aren't part of this world?
Sometimes I think I just want to pack it all in, sell the house and buy a shack or mobile home or something with a little bit of land, grow my own veg, have a goat and not worry about the rest of the world, just my own little patch with my husband and baby where I don't have to constantly compare my body to those of the over stuffed teenagers tat are forced in front of out faces every time we open a magazine or see a billboard, where I don't have to think about the latest trends in fashion, or the newest age defying face cream.

Do you ever feel like you want to reject the modern day world?  How do you satisfy this longing when you really can't escape the life you have to live?

Spring time Mori Girl

It's early spring, and sometimes there is still a chill in the air in the morning, by the afternoon the sun is warming your back so the Mori girl needs an outfit that is versatile and practical as well as stylish. The combination of a tapered leg trouser with and vintage boot is an effective pairing, style with chunky socks to create a unique look.  Team neutral tones with olive green as a token nod to the season.

Spring time Mori Girl by serendipitychild featuring a lace hat

Isabel Marant belted jacket
$730 - lagarconne.com

Hope slouch pants
$189 - lagarconne.com

ZOHARA opaque hosiery
€19 - pret-a-beaute.com

AllSaints summer shoes
$295 - allsaints.com

Alexander McQueen disc jewelry
£125 - net-a-porter.com

Yellow gold jewelry
£9 - fashionunion.com

Janavi cashmere shawl
£550 - brownsfashion.com

Oasis lace hat
$27 - oasis-stores.com

H M braided belt
£3.99 - hm.com

Bohemia

Found this delightful shop yesterday called Bohemia.  Most things are out of my price range, but there are some really lovely designs, lots of mori style too, take a look:

Love love love!

Autumn Outfit

Went shopping with mum yesterday as she came over for the day and saw some lovely outfits in M and S.  All out of my price range of course but I liked the casual, almost hippyish style, they had a sort of vintage washed out look which I liked.  I put this outfit together which reminded me of one of the outfits on a mannequin in M and S.  My thirft plan it to try to buy similar items from charity shops and see if I can put something together for a fraction of the price.

Autumn Outfit by serendipitychild featuring short heels

Vince smock top
$220 - net-a-porter.com

Leather waistcoat
£180 - flannelsfashion.com

Abercrombie Fitch embroidered skirt
$68 - abercrombie.com

HYD stockings hosiery
€15 - pret-a-beaute.com

Belstaff short heels
$735 - net-a-porter.com

Ralph Lauren Collection flap handbag
$595 - net-a-porter.com

Chunky jewelry
£15 - julesb.co.uk

HTC floral belt
$135 - barneys.com

Lawn and Voile

Had a lovely busy weekend, saw a band in London on Friday night, then had a nice day with hubby's mum and dad in Dorking, followed by a party of one of hubby's friend's where I chatted to lots of delightful people and met the author of this fab craft blog. 

Whist in Dorking I came across a gorgeous Mori-esque clothes boutique called Lawn and Voile, I loved many of the clothes and loved the styling of the shop even more.  It was very rustic looking with lots of weathered wood and metal, it reminded me of standing in a beautiful abandoned house or garden shed, all pale and distressed with a delightful vintage vibe.  I could have spent much longer in the shop just drifting about but it would probably had looked a bit strange because I had no intention of buying anything due to the fact that I have no money!  Anyway I thought you might like to have a look at some of their gorgeous, relaxed outfits and styling:

Loving the rusty beadstead

Loving the white distressed wood teamed with duck egg blue.

Loving the shawl and lose trousers.

Loving crisp white linen teamed with navy.

Loving enamelled bowls and jugs

Loving lose belts, mirrors and bare feet.

Have a good week everyone!

Day 2 - 30-day Mori Girl Challenge

10 things you love in Mori

1. Flat shoes, I really can't stand wearing heels for any length of time,

2. Lose clothes, so much more comfortable that having a cinched in waist all the time.

3. Being in the forest, I love being with nature, the smells, sights and sounds, so peaceful and relaxing,

4. Bike rides, Mori girls love bicycles and there is nothing better than a breezy bike ride on a sunny afternoon,

5. Looking at Mori girl websites and drooling over the clothes, accessories and interior design, plus beautiful photographs of forests,

6. Reading, currently reading "Hattie Big Sky", I am on my summer holidays now, so laid in bed till half past 10 reading this morning,

7. Hand made and customised clothing, I love making my clothes unique with bits of lace, buttons, net and ribbons,

8. Day dreaming, literally sitting and staring off into space for a few moments, savouring the moment and resting and relaxing in it,

9. Flowers and floral prints, on clothes, stationary, interior textiles, you name it, if it's got little flower prints on it then I love it, also loving fresh flowers,

10. Wearing clothes that are cool on a hot summers day, and lovely knitted layers in the winter.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor in the Sunday Times

Not only is Sophie Ellis Bextor a fabulously talented singer/songwriter, beauty and fashion icon but the Times on Sunday last week also revealed that she has an utterly drools-worthy house! Oh yes, this house is everything I adore, filled with a mixture of mid-century modern and antique furniture and kitsch ornaments.  I am not going to lie to you, I didn't read the words, but the pictures were beautiful:

I have a bit of a girly crush now I have to admit.