I was absolutely gutted that I simply ran out of time to write for the 2nd year anniversaty issue of Fashion 156. Guy Hipwell the editor, was the first to spot the blog very early on a few months after the blog started and I've written in every issue since...except the current one!  Gutted actually doesn't quite describe the feeling.....

One of the most striking Observer Woman (my friend Adjust the Sails would have a field day with the wrongness of that particular title...) covers to come of late came in the form of Penelope Tree's fringe and unforgettable eyes staring back at me.    I'd recommend people to go out and buy the Observer today or if that's not possible,

Ah...the wonders of visual merchandising aka shop display... whoever had the wonderful idea of customising the tights on the shop dummies in the womenswear department of Selfridges in Manchester is a clever one seeing as I was transfixed by the mannequin and spent a good five minutes studying it intently, during which I might have also picked up what the mannequin was also wearing and promptly went to seek it out. 

More DIY ideas a-flowing.  How did I manage to miss the DIY shenanigans of Finnish blogger Outi Pyy on her blog Outsapop?  Look on the right and see all her DIY credentials; work on Flickr, contributions to various crafty sites and tutorials on how to create what she calls 'Trashion'.  By mixing trash and fashion, she means she's using unwanted goods to make something good... really good...

*Cue biggest evil laugh ever* Wuhahahahaha!  Angie Montreal is collaborating with me to co-ordinate the mass world domination of the cage skirt.  Behold, as she offers the cage skirt on her Etsy in black, heather grey, brown, floral and possibly more.  It can be any length you want.  You can have studs, pearls or nothing at all.  The zippers can be metal or plastic.  Oh and there are buttons galore as she has many many options.  Have a wee Etsy convo with her and groovy magic could happen.  In the meantime, I'm going to get up to some renegade tricks and start hanging up some cage skirts sneakily in Topshop Oxford Circus Cheap Date style...

Get caged, people, get caged...