13 ways my childhood gave me unrealistic hair goals

If you were anything like me when I was younger, your hair is a BIG ol' deal. Like, I'm talking social life and death on the school playground here people.

And there were so many people on my TV screen, in my favourite films and in my toy box, that made me think I 100% had a handle on my hair. But now as a full-fledged adult (ish), I can whole heartedly say each and every one of them betrayed me in giving me regrettable goals and unrealistic achievements to do with my hair. HOW COULD YOU GUYS I LOOKED UP TO YOU.

1.) Snip snip!

Parent Trap made me think I could cut my own hair perfectly. Fast forward to me accepting a dare to cut off my fringe at Scouts camp and having to live with with teeny tiny hairs sprouting out for months to come. Just take your photo of Lindsey Lohan to the hairdressers instead kids.

2.)  Perfect pigtails

Because of my fave member of my fave girl group, I felt it was acceptable, neigh, my duty! To wear pigtails on top of my head, as high and swishy as possible. Even when some boys in my class said they looked like pineapples (meanies), I stuck with my guns and kept my head and pigtails high.

3.) Headband headaches

Oh Lizzie. Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie. Way before the sassy and glitzy headgear of Blair Waldorf a la Gossip Girl, there was you. And only you could get a young girl to try on headband after headband on her larger than average sized - at an awkwardly forward position may I add. And as if enabling many headband-related headaches wasn't enough...

4.) Mad, hot, mess

...you also made me think that if I crimped parts of my hair and clipped sections up randomly, that would make me really 'edgy' and feel all punk. Oh dear. Take a seat lil' Amy - we need to have a word.

5.) Badass eh?

Of course, inevitably there will be a time where crimped hair alone just won't do. And during your devoted obsession with The O.C (which let's face it, has never really ended), you laid eyes on the oh-so-cool rock chick that was Alex, and saw her purple streak and knew you just had to have it too. That is, until you rocked up into school with it and your teacher told you to get rid of it. ASAP. Thank god it was just a glue in extension eh?

6.) Summer in bloom

It wasn't just Alex though - deep down my alliance was with Summer. So much so that I once ever took a screenshot of her from an episode, and printed the picture out so I could take it to the hairdressers with me. Yep. That actually happened. So it's no surprise that once upon a time I stuck the biggest and poffiest flowers in my crisped-curled hair, just like Summer did.

7.) Double trouble

Clipping a layer of your hair underneath all the rest of it to create some sort of faux fringe was completely my jam back in the day. Happy to report that is in the past, along with these bad boys...

8.) Flutterby butterfly

Of course every little girl wants a butterfly in her hair, right? But as if one metal-winged creature clamped onto your head wasn't enough, Sabrina the Teenage Witch convinced me that in this case, it was the more the merrier. Sadly, it just means a lot of your hair being tangled.

9.) Beach babes

MK & A continued to influence my hair choices well into my teens, when while binging on So Little Time, I was frazzle my hair with a Carmen Girls Angel Curlz wand and twist said locks while drenched in sea salt spray, just so I could get similar effortless beach waves like theirs. Sadly, I did not live on a beach, and it was by no means effortless.

10.) Side to side

Ah, Lindsey Lohan. When I bought her solo album (yeah, I'm just as confused as you are) and thought that sweeping all your hair from one side, to the other to completely cover your forehead like a combover was a top idea. Young Amy, stop trying to make a fake fringe happen. It's not gonna happen. You go and get one snipped in anyway you know.

11.) Long locks

Let's not forget the animated gals of my youth too. The scouts of the Sailor Moon gang made me wish and urge my hair to grow as long as possible so I could have a pony tail that's as swish-worthy as this. Said long lengths were quite hard to achieve when you have a dad that insists of giving you a bowl cut in the bathroom every few weeks.

12.) Barbie Babe

If my dad didn't cut my hair, I'm sure I would've convinced myself that I could cut my own after asking for this Cut 'N' Style Barbie doll for a present, time and time again. If only you could actually switch your hairstyle up this often, that easily. Sigh.

13.) Disney damsels

We can't talk about 2D gals without mentioning those Disney princesses. But trying to wash my hair like Meg while stood up in the bath tub, and tying up as many Princess Jasmine-esque bubbles in my pony tail as possible just resulted in a lot of tangled locks.

Until next time,

A.x

Denim & Pink May

Oh denim. How I love you so. I'm sorry for all the hate I gave you as a teenager as I thought you only came in the form of skinny jeans. 

How wrong I was. 

Re-kindling my love of denim skirt and dungarees that I once had as a kid, they're now a true staple of my wardrobe.

And even jeans and I have kissed and made up. They're just now ripped and much less tight. 

Get me all in monochrome. Who thought there'd ever by the day eh?

While on a trip down memory lane, I picked up these platforms with me. They came into my life last Spring and I practically live in them as soon at the weather always my tootsies to be out. I call them my Spice Girl shoes - pretty apt don't cha think?

Or you can be more specific and go the whole hog.

Sporty spice anyone?

If channelling the footwear of the best girl band in the world isn't enough, then why not just wear your love on your tee.

And why just stop down there hey? ALLLL the 23-year-old adults are wearing heart-shaped sunglasses! Especially when you match it all the pink accessories you own in your tasselled pink bag. Obviously.

Pink. The perfect colour for a spot afternoon of afternoon tea. How typically, bloody British.

And the queen of all things pink?

Barbie of course. 

If Spice Girls and kitsch sunnies aren't your 90s bag, then surely Clueless is. Cher Horowitz, eat your heart out. 

I've got fluffy shoes to see from from day to night, from running for the bus to dancing on the ceiling.

Even when you do have to leave the house disguised as an adult, just throw on your brightest midi-skirt, add some stripes (oh, and don't forget your sparkly shoes and mermaid bag).

And if after all this silly-ness, you feel you need to chill things down a lil' bit, grab your camel utility jacket (that secretly makes you feel a bit like Indiana Jones/a cowboy) and slip into your tasselled suede boots.

Got all the bases covered here guys, don't you worry.

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

Week by Numbers: Flowers & fangirl-ing

Praise the lord, it's only been a flipping bank holiday! And you know what that means right? A whole extra day of weekend to fill up with fun and frolics - BLISS.

7 favourites...

1.) My best friend, sadly left where we work together to move onto bigger and better things (because she's brilliant like that), and what better send-off to have then go and have a Q&A with The Hoff himself, filled with more than enough Hoff puns - 'Cool Hoff' bottles of water anyone? But even better, when you're 2 Parks & Rec loving NUTS like us 2, and you see Jean Ralphio sat in the screening event, and you lose your minds, and you go to talk to him, and he's lovely as heck, and it takes everything in your power to not sing right in his face while he takes a photo with you...well...night made right?

2.) One of the best things about the fact that I now earn a living - apart from the fact you know, I can afford to eat and live - is that I get to treat and spoil my nephew and nieces just like did for me. It may not be Barbie houses and Nike trainers yet. But just being able to buy some stickers and send them off inside a dinosaur card, and getting sent a photo of my nephew's beaming face when he opened it, well, it just warms up my fuzzy lil' heart.

3.) I love live music, and I have no idea why I don't spend more of my time and money on it, because whenever I do, I have THE best time! Recently, I got some last-minute tickets to go see Brandon Flowers with my childhood besties. We both listened to The Killers to death when we were in high school together, and to have a couple of beers and jump around together to his amazing new stuff, AND Mr.Brightside, was amazing and oddly poetic in a way. Not only that, but Chrissy Hydne from The Pretenders made a surprise appearance and sang one of my fave songs, Don't Get Me Wrong, with Mr.Flowers, just made my absolute life.

4.) It was Bank Holiday - hurrah! Which means an extra day to catch up on sleep and chill out, and if gin just happens to be involved in the plans, then so be it...

5.) My friend Hannah and I planned a whole day out this bank holiday weekend, which kicked off with afternoon tea at Sketch. You know the day's going to be good when that's how it starts right? We've both wanted to try it out for a while, but as a pretty special place to go, it's not somewhere you go on a whim on your lunch break, y'know? So we went, sat in a haven of pink and lights (I think I was in heaven), gorged on unlimited tea, dainty sandwiches and sugary treats that made us go all in a giggly tizzy. But the unique thing? The toilets are egg pods. Yep. You heard me right. Egg-shaped pods that you pee in. Just let that sink in for a bit...

6.) After our afternoon tea, we had a little mooch around Kensington before finally getting round to seeing the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition at The V&A. Even if you're not a follower of fashion, or could care less about it, you need to go. So often, I feel that he's remembered as a brand that's known for shock value, when he was actually a beautiful, intelligent, creative and emotional human being, who pushed the boundaries of what is considered as beauty. It was genuinely one of the best curated exhibitions I've ever been to - it touched all the senses, the settings were out of this world, and it was surprisingly touching. Go. NOW.

7.) Flat hunting is stressful and time-consuming enough at the best of times, but when you're in London. Oh lordy, is it 10x worse with added heart-breaking exspenses. Here's how things usually happen: 'OMG. I've found the flat of my dreams! Oh it's out of my price range. And is a 45283490 minute commute to work. And it's not gone...'Wish me luck guys.

3 thoughts...

"Cancelling. AGAIN?! C'mon dude - this is getting old now."

"Why do adults not have half term?"

"Oh hi Wes Anderson-eque bumbling dude on the tube. Want to run off into a sunset together?"

1 outfit...

top:Primark, skirt:ASOS, sunglasses:Vintage, floral tattoo:Pepper Ink

Being off for an extra day for a 4-day bank holiday weekend, made me feel like I was on half term, and apparently forget how to dress like an adult as I roll up into work with a Barbie crop top on. Well done 23-year-old Amy.

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

Life in plastic, It's fantastic!

Barbie's looking pretty hot for a 55-year-old.

Images: Mattel, Elle UK, Wildfox, Instagram

And she's taking the fashion world be storm recently.

She's been around since 1959, and has been a glamorous gal ever since, whether that's in a LBD or a shiny leotard to work out in.

She's got so many style credentials, that there's a whole display dedicated to her and her many different looks at the infamous New York toy store, FAO Shwarz.

From a pretty ballerina to a sassy Vegas girl, Barbie's changed a lot of looks throughout the years that we could only ever dream of, and even has her own miniature versions of Louboutins! (seriously though, can we wear that Tiffany blue ball-gown to work..please?)

And it's not just her looks, but her influence in popular culture that has evolved too. From being accused of creating unrealistic views of the female body that will influence young girls, and accused of objectifying, she's released a campaign this year encouraging girls to be whoever they want to be. Not to get too deep, but surely, with all the endless careers that Barbie's had over the years (how did she manage to get so many qualifications under her pretty, pink belt?) surely, that makes her more of a feminist than anyone thought she could be? 

But back in fashion-land, back in the summer of 2010, Wildfox gave their own spin on all of the many personas of our favourite blonde beauty. Less elegant Swan Lake, more tumbling over while tipsy - much more funny (and realistic) if you ask me!

But this summer, the comfy brand made of Califronian dreams, was back, but this time, Barbie had grown up. With dreamy pastel shades and their infamous slogan sweatshirts, this is a Barbie collection I can get on board with - shotgun on the 'I Love Ken' top!

And it's not just Wildfox that's noticed this lil Miss.Miniature, but she also now has her own Instagram account dedicated just to her style, and it's pretty damn fabulous. 

Filled to the brim with outfit posts and fashion designers and icons aplenty - if you want to have a daily dose of cute and chic, then Barbie's your gal! But Jeremy Scott has even styled her in her own mini Moschino t-shirt, and now Milan Fashion Week has happened, it's become more clear as to why....

Jeremy Scott's collection fro Moschino was basically an Ode to Barbie!

Now I know that this isn't going to be everyone bag, and I'm not suggesting that you go out dressed in a pink 2-piece, roller-skating down the street (although, I do own a pair of roller-skates myself...that light up...)

But that's what great about the world of fashion: there's something from everyone. There's gonna be someone out there who's dying at the sight of this collection, and there's someone out there who just want to take away that 80's-inspired dress from it, which is more wearable, and then there's going to be those who hate it and think it's ghastly. But the thing is, it's just a bucket load of fun! And whatever's wrong with that?! In a world of adult decisions (bills, yawn) and depressing news, surely we can all indulge in some flirty fun - it is fashion after all, not a PhD in Quantum Physics!

What do you think of all this pink power that Barbie has brought into our lives? Do you love her, or hate her?

Stay sassy & happy!

A.x