Baby Blue

Outfit Details: Top, Bad Vibes via Tunnel Vision / Choker, Random Good Stuff via Tunnel Vision / Jacket, UNIF via Depop / Trousers, Missguided / Shoes, La Moda / Sunglasses, Fancy Dress Shop / Lipstick, Give Me Glow

Tunnel Vision is one of those websites that I find myself constantly scrolling through when I want to take a break and look at pretty things. They have some great vintage but also some really cute and grungy independent handmade brands. The postage from the US is pretty expensive so when they had a sale over summer I ordered a bunch of stuff that I’d been lusting after, including this gorgeous velvet top. Velvet and tassels are really all I look for in an item of clothing and I’m in love with the cut-out back. I don’t get to wear it much because it’s rarely warm enough so I made the most of the sunshine in Berlin and bust out all my skimpy clothes!

The top is by Bad Vibes, which is this handmade brand from California. I think buying second hand is the best way to enjoy fashion sustainably but buying from handmade brands is next best. Social sustainability is important and for me, one of the worst things about the mainstream fashion industry is the way that garment workers are abused and mistreated in sweatshops. Even if you haven’t heard anything bad about the way a high street manufacturer treats its employees it’s just impossible to know what really goes on, especially since companies separate themselves from factory conditions as much as possible. It’s great to know who you’re buying your clothes from and that they’re charging a fair price for their work. That’s part of the reason why I don’t mind paying more for handmade items from independent brands – it’s more expensive because you’re paying a fair, more realistic price. So yeah, buy from independent brands! Also Chloe from Of North has a totally drool worthy collection of Bad Vibes and often writes about why she love them.

I took this set of photos in Kreuzberg in Berlin and it was a bit of a strange experience. Plenty of people stopped to watch me, and this one dude randomly took off his shirt and wanted James to photograph him hugging me, which I was not into. I don’t know what it is about taking photos in a public that encourages people to invade your personal space. I don’t think I could ever take photos on the street with a tripod rather than a photographer, it’s just too scary. Hats off to bloggers who manage it!