What I wear varies from day-to-day, but I have three enduring inspirations:
- Asian fashion
- Hippy Style, a la Kate Winslet in Hideous Kinky
- My mum
Things I love about Asian fashion:
- It's always so bright and happy- looking through Caldmore in Walsall or the Alum Rock Road in Walsall I'm confronted with more colours on a single piece than in most Western clothes stores
- It's comfortable- my kameez has plenty of scope for moving my arms around, AND covers the salwar's handy elastic waist.
- It's cool- or warm- depending what you need.
- It just looks so glamorous- for well inside £30 I can buy an outfit I'd be happy to wear anywear. Comfortable enough to go shopping or work, and sharp enough to wear in a meeting, or, if chosen carefully, to a wedding.
Things I love about hippyishness:
- Practically everything can have a spin put on it
- Nobody cares if you haven't blow-dried your hair to within an inch of its life, and there's no need for lots of makeup (in fact, you're an infidel if anything but kohl goes anywhere near your face!)
- Bright and happy again- can you tell, my mood depends on what I wear?
Things I love about my mum's style:
- It's totally unique, but she always seems to have her finger on the pulse.
- She can do classics really well
- She carries off short curly/wavy hair in the style of Anna Chancellor in Crush
, which is something I'd always admired but never got up the courage for
- She managed to get complimented on how she looked at the school gate, having made the morning run still in her pyjama top.
- Her jewellery collection is just that: a collection. She's got more jewellery than my whole office/workshop! And it ranges from casual beady stuff to some really beautiful classy pieces.
Anyway, check out the chunky copper necklace I made earlier. Not sure which of those three inspired it.
All the best
ERJ
