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! 

Anti fashion feels

No Debutante loves anti-fashion fashion. 
It's a given. If it's a bit quirky, even a little odd, I'm in! 

Despite being a fashion blogger and fashion editor, I am always inspired by a fashion designer that does things differently. This is one of the reasons I support independent designers. 

Anti-fashion is not trend led, it has it's own style and beats to its own drum, keeping it fresh and contemporary. 

Anti-fashion does not mean you hate fashion. 

Independent designers create small fashion runs, they are non-corporate and their pieces are not mass produced. It's all about the creativity, they are free to do their thing and if people start wearing their creations, even better! It's non-conformity, it's punk! 


Today, I am looking at independent fashion designers, two of which, including Fuud London and Smock Me are new designers to feature in the No Debutante blog. 

From street wear to super-cute styling here are a few fashion designers that have caught my eye lately, with that anti-fashion, do it your way feel. 

Fuud London  - streetwear without the labels

Fuud London  

Coincidentally, the Fuud brand started in my hometown of Bristol with the Fuudhood, a detachable hood/scarf design. It was only at the end of 2018 that I rediscovered the Fuud brand, now known as Fuud London, on Instagram. 

I was taken in by the bright colors and bold prints used on these super-styled, streetwear garms including sweatshirts, hoodies and joggers. These garms have a kinda retro feel to them whilst looking super slick and let's be honest, mega comfy! Fuud London gives a fresh twist to streetwear, it's more about the design and cuts, than a logo. 

The prints are cut up into panels alongside plain fabrics and colours, I am loving the unmatched legs on the trackies. Yep, I am totally swooning over one of these streetwear co-ords! Nice one Fuud London!

Smock Me

I am a sucker for graphics and I am loving these kawaii punk style logo graphics from Smock Me. They basically had me at the logo. I am loving the quirky, hand-drawn style graphics layered over day-glo camo prints.

Smock Me create bright and bold unisex streetwear piece with graphics that remind me of skate artists like Jim Philips mixed with a kawaii style. Smock Me are an independent LA based brand and are definitely one to watch. 

Lazy Oaf

Yeah, I am obsessed, sorry not sorry! Lazy Oaf have been keeping my world weird for a fair few years now. How can I not share their latest garms? Actually, how did I miss this super-cute hearts cardigan? Yep, it's already sold out, as Lazy Oaf do small runs, making their limited edition garms internationally sought after by all the kawaii kids...and me! 

The Lazy Oaf X Esther Loves You collaboration is just the cutest! All pastel colourways and kawaii bunny prints. 

Who doesn't want the pink bunny boilersuit or the adorable lilac Bungarees?? This is why No Debutante loves Lazy Oaf. Super cuteness and those 'Lazy' slogans! 

OMG The Bungarees!!!!! 

Esther Loves You is an artist and creator of the super kitsch Esther Bunny and has collaborated with Lazy Oaf on several occasions. Lazy Oaf's style suits the Esther Loves You graphics perfectly and I want to see more, more, more! Anti-fashion is so much more fun! 

Super-cute Esther Loves You Bunny graphics for Lazy Oaf 

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! 

Pinterest obsessions - Modern Art Muses

This post was originally going to be fashion based inspired by my latest musings on pinterest but when I checked out the current pins on the No Debutante pinterest boards I realised I have been subconsciously collecting a lot of art.

I like art. I went to art college. Art was my favourite subject at school and as a kid if I wasn't outside climbing trees and riding my bike I was inside, drawing.   

I never saw myself having a career in art, to be honest, I certainly didn't see myself having a career as a fashion journalist so it's funny how things turn out! Creating garments and prints for a fashion label was as close as I got to becoming an artist. I just adored fashion and in the end that's the avenue I took. 

I am really interested in graphic design and typography, which came as a surprise to me as I hated it whilst I was at art college, I was all about the fine art then. I also love 1980's artists including Jean Michel Basquiat's graffiti'd fine art and I just adore Keith Haring's style, simple graphics, repeated patterns and bright, bold colours with a thick, dark outline.

New York Beat by Jean Michel Basquiat

I am always talking about the Italian Memphis art (also from the 1980's) on this blog and I was so excited when it became contemporary again with designers, like local Bristol designer & No Debutante fave Tezla, whose Memphis style graphics adorn her geometric jewellery pieces. 

Clearly, I am reminded by my youth with all of these artists and the beginnings of graffiti and street art being fresh in my mind. I like bright colours and patterns which always seem to have a fun childlike edge to them. Contemporary artists I like seem to be influenced from this era too.

I am also rather partial to Matisse's cut and paste abstract graphic style which in turn must have influenced Keith Haring in a way. 

Not forgetting a slice of Pop Art and a bit of psychedelia, the Yellow Submarine used to be a favourite film and I just loved the bizarre, abstract artwork by artists including Heinz Edelmann, who was also inspired by Art Deco and Surrealism but his interpretation included the bright colours and patterns that I crave!  





Memphis style artwork

The artwork on show today is only what has appeared in my most recent pinterest hoarding and perhaps this will become a new feature for the blog.It's safe to say that these posts will always be filled with bright colours, fun illustrations and repeating patterns and Modern Art is definitely my thing! 

Alexander Medel Calderon for Lazy Oaf

Keith Haring

Keith Haring does Henri Matisse

Jean Michel Basquiat and his art

PLAY MORE DANCE MORE by Camille Walala

Keith Haring invitation

Alexander Medel Calderon

Jordy van den Nieuwendijk

WASTED by Marco Oggian

If you are having a fashion event or a have a new collection you would like No Debutante to promote please get in touch!

Check out my work with Bristol 24/7 magazine under my name 
Emma Gorton-Ellicott

If you are interested in collaborating with No Debutante or getting featured on the No Debutante blog please contact me nodebutanteblog@gmail.com

Keep up with No Debutantes OOTD posts, collabs and current fashion obsessions posted daily on all of the following. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr,  Pinterest all under the #nodebutante name.

Thanks for checking in Fashionistas.   
ND xx

I'm all about the prints

This past week has been filled with prints from leopard print, 90s style aztecs, memphis squiggles and my new favourite polka-dots. Here's how No Debutante wears 'em.

Spots and stripes with vintage Adidas

Leopard print with silver Reeboks

Print clashing with 90s Aztec Kuccia bomber, Polka-dot shorts from Monki and Memphis vibes in Tezla Designs earrings

Sharp monochrome geometrics from Lazy Oaf paired with Dr Martens and cute cherry print socks by Meadham Kirchhoff X Topshop

All photography by No Debutante

If you are having a fashion event, a new collection or fun event you would like No Debutante to promote please get in touch!

No Debutante promotes fashion independents, new designers & sustainable fashion. 

Check out my work with Bristol 24/7 magazine under my name 

Emma Gorton-Ellicott

If you are interested in collaborating with No Debutante or getting featured on the No Debutante blog please contact me nodebutanteblog@gmail.com

Keep up with No Debutantes OOTD posts, collabs and current fashion obsessions posted daily on all of the following. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest all under the #nodebutante name. 

Thanks for checking in Fashionistas

ND xx

Spring Pastels

No Debutante adores pastels!

Although it's pastel time all year round for me, these super sweet shades are really big this summer. The sunshine has finally arrived and those pastels are putting a spring in our step, from clothing to accessories and rumour has it lilac is the big hair colour for 2018; a pastel colour palette works as a unisex colourway that everyone can wear. 
Whether its soft lilacs, baby pinks, powdered blues, soft mints or marshmallow yellows; pastels are your friends this summer. Get cute! 

No Debutante wearing supercute lilac That Thing beanie, mint Fila X Mickey Mouse t-shirt and lilac Waste Of Time cardigan by Lazy Oaf.

Lazy Oaf always do pastels so well! Pastel pink short dungarees from one of their latest drops

Nineties stylin' Men's colour panel hoodie from Lazy Oaf

PVC Pastel Pinks by Nico Panda SS 2018

Pastel Pink 'Off The Wall' hoodie from the Vans X Lazy Oaf collaboration. WANT!

If you are having a fashion event, a new collection or fun event you would like No Debutante to promote please get in touch!

No Debutante promotes fashion independents, new designers & sustainable fashion. 

Check out my work with Bristol 24/7 magazine here under my name 

Emma Gorton-Ellicott

If you are interested in collaborating with No Debutante or getting featured on the No Debutante blog please contact me nodebutanteblog@gmail.com

Keep up with No Debutantes OOTD posts, collabs and current fashion obsessions posted daily on all of the following. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest all under the #nodebutante name. 

Thanks for checking in Fashionistas

ND xx