Taking on Labour Behind the Labels - Six Items Challenge

Seriously?? How long can this fashionista cope with only six items of clothing for six weeks?

Well, it turns out nearly three weeks and counting...I know, I'm as shocked as you are!




What is The Six Items Challenge? 

For those of you who haven't been following my story on Instagram and Facebook, here's the lowdown...

The Six Items Challenge was started by Labour Behind the Label a campaign organisation working to improve working conditions for garment workers around the globe.

The six items challenge asks you to pledge to wear just six items of clothing for six weeks. 

The six items includes tops, jumpers, dresses, skirts, trousers, jumpsuits - basically any item that constructs your main outfit. 

There is however, a little piece of happiness included in the challenge that makes it a bit more bearable for any fashion lover to achieve....the challenge doesn't include underwear (the most frequently asked question and rightly so) sleepwear, gym clothes, uniforms, coats, shoes or accessories - and lucky for me, I love accessories, so that's a plus point! 

Why take part in the Six Items Challenge? 

Apart from helping to raise awareness and money for garment workers, the challenge makes you stop and look at your own wardrobe and your consuming habits. 

It limits the amount of clothing you can wear down to a small capsule wardrobe to hopefully help you see that you don't need to buy new clothes all the time, and that you can create lots of new and fresh looks using items already in your wardrobe. It could save you some money too! 

This challenge is aimed at fast fashion consumers and fashion lovers, if you already have a basic capsule wardrobe, good for you, please try and encourage others to get involved in the challenge! 

How did I get involved? 

I have been promoting sustainable fashion for a few years and in the past year I have slowed right down with my own shopping habits and tried to live more sustainably. 

However, I have so many clothes to choose from (I am also a hoarder) that this really is a big challenge for me personally, to limit my wardrobe down to just six items for six whole weeks seems completely impossible!!

Labour Behind the Label's director of fundraising Caroline Lewis suggested I give the challenge a go....

I pondered over it for a couple of weeks and came to the decision that I could, at least, try. 

What did I have to lose?  At the very least I could raise awareness for Labour Behind the Label and the work that they do and challenge myself to see how long I could last. I'll be honest, my hopes weren't high....

On the positive side, I am hoping to share styling tips, problems that I have overcome and info on how to cope with a capsule wardrobe for six weeks; to encourage others to slow down on their mass consuming and look at their existing wardrobe in a new way.

All photos are little snippets of the six items challenge garms & outfits I have worn. Find out more in the next blog post!  

The Challenge...

On the eve of the challenge, which started on Wednesday, February 26, I still had no idea what my six items would be (this isn't going too well so far, is it?) but last minute, I had the brainwave to look at my Instagram photo wall for inspirational purposes and see which items I wore the most....

I had also been given a few of pieces of advice from others who had tried (and some failed - which filled me with terror) to take part in the challenge....

Tip 1 - It's still the winter, you need warm clothes - check!
Tip 2 - Do not choose just separates (tops and bottoms) you will get bored very quickly - check!
Tip 3 - Choose items you can layer up in different combos - check!
Tip 4 - Dresses and jumpsuits are a single outfit in one - check!

Taking all this into consideration, and the fact that I was desperately running out of time, I choose my six items...all smothered in prints and fun colours, of course! 

My Six Items 

1. Bomber jacket 
2. Long sleeve t-shirt
3. Jumpsuit 
4. Dungarees
5. Oversized hoodie
6. Trousers 

Take a good look at these clothes...you're going to be seeing a lot of them....

And...I'm locked in to the challenge.....

Follow my daily updates on how to style up your six items with tips and problems I come across on Instagram, Facebook and here on the blog. 

Oh, one more thing....

Donate

It's not just a challenge for me, you can help too!

When I started the challenge I donated some money to the Labour Behind the Label Trust to help garment workers and have been asking others to donate too.

Here's that link again in case you missed it Donate to Labour Behind the Labour Trust

You can donate as little as a £1 or whatever you can afford, a one off payment! There's no sign up, you just pay and go! Instead of buying that new top why not donate? 

Just bought something new? If you donate some money to Labour Behind the Label too perhaps that money will go to help the right people that made the item in the first place rather than the fashion corporate's pockets.....It's something to think about.....


#sixitemschallenge 

Independent women in fashion

Hey fashionistas! It's been a month (or so) of repping independent designers, and mostly Bristol ones too! From upcycled vintage fabrics from Balulu and Duvet Days to having a bash at a zip front fleece for my own slow fashion brand Fruit Salad, it's all about the independents, and independent women at that! 

The amazing Mickey Mouse co-ord by Bristol brand Balulu

Print clashing it up in Duvet Days stripe trousers and matching reversible crop top paired with a Lazy Oaf  oversized shirt. 

More Lazy Oaf and Duvet Days Mash up!

Time for me to pair my own creations with Duvet Days stripe trousers - Pastel fleece by Fruit Salad

Streetwear styling with a That Thing beanie and joggers 

Close up of Fruit Salad zip front pastel fleece

These Duvet Days trousers just go with everything! 

2019 - You got this!

Hello fashionistas! 

I thought I'd start this years blogging off with a  lil' No Debutante fashion catch up post. 

I had a year of slow fashion in 2018 where I tried, real hard, to buy less and more wisely, I feel much happier that I have stopped my fast fashion fads and that I don't really follow trends the way I (obsessively) used to, but honestly, it's hard to promote independent designers without wanting to wear all of their clothes! 

The amazing Lucy and Yak 'Frankie' boilersuit £65 and worth every penny! 

I managed to justify my fashion obsessions and yearnings for more clothes by trying to wait until Christmas, where I gently popped a few independent designers names onto my Christmas list to Santa, who kindly bought me a much wanted Lucy and Yak boilersuit in turquoise blue! I have the longest upper body and was very scared it wouldn't fit me but it does.....just! I am already eyeing up the pink boilersuit! Stay focused No Debutante! 

Going wild in faux furs and animal prints
A fun contrast against all the pastels and bright colours!

I also got some much needed new trainers, after I realised I haven't bought any new trainers for a couple of years! My shoe of choice is the Nike Air Force 1 Jester XX, which I literally haven't stopped wearing since I got them! I love them! 

I did crack in my slow fashion buying just before Christmas, when I met the lovely Lulu Harrison, designer at the supercute fashion brand Balulu, for a Bristol 24/7 article and left with a Balulu Mickey jacket and dungaree co-ord. Everyone loves that co-ord! It was the right decision.....

Read My Lips -  One of the supercute Lazy Oaf jumper dresses

The second slow fashion slip up was the Lazy Oaf sale! I just had a little peek over the holidays and couldn't resist two (aargh!) oversized jumper dresses, both are pink and super cute. I know I will wear them for years, like all my other Lazy Oaf buys, so it's completely justified! 

From independent designers to new trainers and spray dyed galaxy pastel hair, it's all been happening in No Debutante's world! Mostly in pastels! 

Pastel obsessions

Lazy Oaf dress and earrings by local Bristol designer Sophie Filomena

The other pink Lazy Oaf dress. Super cuddly and warm with a hood, bell sleeves and a burger print. 

My pastel galaxy hair by Girl On Curl a fun experiment that actually worked!
Inspired by hairstylist and artist Janine Ker  

Kawaii feels - Lazy Oaf cardigan, polka dot Monki trousers and retro kawaii tee from Tokyo. 

Those Nike Air Force 1 Jesters haven't been off my feet! 

My guilty pleasure and Christmas day outfit! The Balulu Mickey Mouse co-ord! 

The No Debutante Top 10 most read posts of 2018

We have reached the end of 2018 fashionistas! It's been a crazy mad year and it's time to show you the Top 10 and most read No Debutante blog posts of the year!

In previous years, I have shared my 'what I wore' outfits of the year and, although I do still share my colourful (and independent designer reppin') outfits with you all, the No Debutante fashion blog is now more about sharing the love than what's new in my wardrobe and I think these 'most read' posts reflect that.

I have also noticed that I am pretty consistent with the amount of blog posts I can physically create each year with 50 posts being the average, I managed a firm 47 posts (including this one) in 2018. Not bad for a person with 3 kids, two jobs, a band and a club night! 

From Instagram fashion crushes to body positivity to Bristol fashionistas to women in music, the No Debutante blog has covered many subjects and fashion related news over the past year. 

Here they are then, your Top 10 most read posts of 2018....drumroll please....

The most read post of 2018 is  Bristol's finest Insta fashionistas 

No Debutante shares her Top 5 Instagram faves which included Laa Woof, Duvet Days, Tezla Designs, She Shirts and That Thing! All amazing and inspiring local, independent fashion brands and designers. Yeeeessssss! 

Photography by Viktoria Kuti

Coming up closely in second place, is no surprise as this campaign was welcomed with open arms by everyone that came across it the Magnificent Mermaids post featured the female empowering swimwear brand Mermaid in England who use real models of every shape and size in their body positive photo shoots. No Debutante got involved too and met some awesome, brave and inspiring women along the way.

Rhubarb Jumble and That Thing in Bristol 

The Double whammy fashion extravaganza comes in third and shares the night No Debutante manahed to attend two brilliant Bristol based fashion events in one night, featuring vintage fashionistas Rhubarb Jumble and street wear queens That Thing.

In My Naked Journey No Debutante promotes body positivity and self love alongside Mermaid in England. Sharing my reasons on why I was signing up for the Mermaid in England photo shoot, my body issues whilst actually posing in a bikini for the first time in my blog.

NME Award female nominees 2018

2018 saw a change in the way the industry recognised women in music with the Female empowerment at nme awards blog post. Woman are still not where we should be in the industry but this is a positive start and an honest review. Let's see how this changes in 2019! This post made it inti the Top 5 and rightly so! 

An honour to have made it into the Top 10 blog posts of the year You go girl was actually my first post of 2018 and see's me sharing all the things I've been involved with from writing to DJing to being a Mum. Thank you to every one who took the time to read this post! 

Emotional Waterfall Art

Following the success of what turned out to be the most read No Debutante blog post of the year comes Bristol's finest insta fashionistas July 2018 post, that saw local fashionistas that I was crushing on insta in the summer of 2018, the list includes Zedhead Headwear, Emotional Waterfall Art, Dulcie's Feathers, Kokomo and Kuccia.

My fave Bristol festival had to get into this top ten list Love saves the day again features LSTD 2018 from No Debutante's eyes, expect amazing festival fashion, female djs, fun and an unexpected meeting with Loyle Carner! Roll on 2019! 

Back in March I fell in love with a kidswear photoshoot in Hooligan's Magazine and had to share it. It was loved enough by you fashionistas to make it into the Top 10! Little fashionistas at Hooligans magazine 

Manners London catsuits

I discovered many new independent fashion brands in 2018 and one of them is the London based bodycon brand Mind Your Manners introduced to me by a big Bristolian supporter of independent creatives - Joh Rindom from That Thing. I own a Manners London catsuit and I love it, everyone loves it! I'm so glad this post has made it to the No Debutante Top 10 most read blog posts of 2018! 


It''s been a fantastic year on the No Debutante blog and I'd like to add a few more of the most recent blog posts to this list as maybe they haven't been read quite as much as the Top 10 posts yet but have still managed to get your attention!

In Confessions of a big holiday packer  I mostly share my opinions on holiday packing and how I refuse to pack light. The Sonic Youth post features some photographs I took for my son Lucian's Instagram account that turned into a full on photoshoot that I really love. 

That Thing AW 18 collection

Another very popular recent post was the That Thing AW18 launch party from November 2018 and Super Stylin' took me back to my blogging roots and featured a few of my recent outfits in the Autumn of 2018. 

The Island Pop up Christmas shop Bristol, 2018

Lastly the most recent post that is still getting daily reads is the Have yourself a very local Christmas post featuring The Island pop up Christmas shop here in Bristol, which hopefully encouraged you all to support local and independent creatives this year when buying gifts!  

Thank you for all your support, love and for reading the No Debutante blog. Watch this space for more fabulous fashion moments and more in 2019 and get in touch if you want to be featured! Have a goodun' xxxxx

Super Stylin'

I was inspired to start the No Debutante blog after receiving a lot of lovely compliments about my style. Blogging had been mentioned on several occasions encouraging me to document my style, this was way before instagram kicked off properly, so sharing your style was still relatively new to most people. 

My husband Phil had tried to get me to start a blog a fair few years earlier than I actually did (I finally started the No Debutante blog in 2011) but, I have to admit, I was a bit of a technophobe and didn't really understand what blogging was! I certainly did not see myself as a writer.

Roll on a few years and I have been blogging for over 7 years and through the blogging I have managed to bag myself the title of fashion editor at Bristol 24/7 magazine, which is pretty good going for a technophobe with no confidence in writing.

One thing I have to encourage is to keep at it. I stuck at writing a blog after many bloggers gave in, I kept at it because I loved doing it. The dream of having thousands of followers and making a tonne of money as an influencer went out the window, I just liked writing and sharing amazing things in fashion and if people were reading about it that was great too! 

One thing that got me more attention as a blogger was writing about other people in fashion, especially unique and independent fashion designers.  It's all well and good sharing photos of your latest outfit and where you can buy it but creating content that makes people listen and think about stuff, makes for a more varied and interesting blog.

The No Debutante blog started as a pregnancy fashion diary, I struggled with pregnancy styling, I didn't embrace my amazing growing body, as it brought a life into the world, I lost my identity and it sucked! That was my niche back in 2011 with a few posts on designers and high street fashion here and there.

Now, the No Debutante blog represents, supports and promotes independent designers and creatives with a few anti-fashion brands like Typical Freaks chucked in just because I love them! I also promote sustainable and slow fashion which to me is no longer an inspiring way forward in fashion, it is the only way forward.

To be clear, I still buy from the high street, I am no fashion angel, bringing awareness, for me, is a start and giving people ideas on how they can introduce slow fashion into their lives is very important to making a change. People laughed at the idea of recycling rubbish, now look at us!

Looking forward, I'm not sure how much longer the blogging world is going to continue, things will become more video based with IGTV, Snapchat and YouTube leading the way and podcasts are a big thing now too. 

One thing I am sure about is that things always change and change is good. The No Debutante blog will continue in one guise or another. I don't think I could ever stop sharing fabulous fashion stories, there is always something new happening in fashion; my style and inspirations are forever changing and developing and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next! 

Today's photographs take me back to my blogging roots with a few shots of me wearing my fave outfits from the autumn months, which mostly consists of independent fashion items, high street buys and slow fashion pieces, all in big bright, bold and colourful clashes of fun and fashion.

The independent fashion designers featured include Manners London Mango Tango Jewellery Kuccia Fruit Salad Duvet Days  Tail End That Thing  

Thank you for supporting and reading my blog and for all those good vibes you fabulous fashionistas! You are AMAZE!