I want..... Danielle Scutt at Asos

Today we are going to have a break from Me and what I have been wearing and instead have a look at another designer collection from Asos that I have been lusting over (and hoarding images of on my Pinterest fashion boards) for the past few months. Again, like the House of Holland post, these items are available now on Asos and are from London based designer Danielle Scutt's exciting debut collection for Asos for Spring Summer 2012.

The collection instantly caught my eye with it's interesting cuts, early 1980s influenced styling and fantastic bright, bold prints. The styling is definitely my style with it's pinafore / dungaree style straps, bleached prints, low cut front maxi dresses worn over slouchy tees and a great mix of jerseys and denim. This turned out to be pretty much bang on with the look Danielle Scutt was going for, if the Asos summary below is anything to go by. I always love a bit of androgyny too, of course!

'Looking to references that inspired her during her youth, Scutt channels an androgynous silhouette with low-slung, bleached out denim jeans, masculine shirting references and tough slogan print t-shirts. A combination of polka dots, glittering metallics and tartan, embellish the collection with a modern edge.'

I thought I'd better add that I am guessing that Scutt's childhood was in the 1980s, it's probably in the 1990s, I forget how old I am. It's like my Mum asking me if I remember when you could get your weeks shopping for ten and six (NB. this only works in the UK) I have no idea what my mother was talking about....ten and six what?

I am loving that maxi dress, it's a perfect 1980s replica, I can see girls wearing it in my childhood memories of the 1980s,(or perhaps Grunge girls wearing a version of it, in the 1990s...ahem) it's just perfect! It looks great layered up with the basic slash neck tee and I love the racer back. The bleached style print is Scutt's own exclusive creation known as Cloud Wash.

The Denim overalls in the Cloud Wash denim features more of my favourite, low cut front details and a tapered leg. Next to these are the Bandana print silk hareem style trousers - very S/S 2012 and the most easiest look for you to covet this season. Styling wise, I always like to see printed socks with wedge sandals, it's a great, individual look. If only I had the opportunity to wear wedge sandals more often!!

I'm loving the cute little denim playsuit with it's low cut front and cross over back straps, the cross over waist detail was inspired by corsetry and would be very flattering to wear.

Mrs Mia Wallace's (she does look like her, doesn't she??) t-shirt has a collage of photo imagery, polka-dots and song lyrics, which will always catch my eye and the black on yellow is a bit punk. The skirt above is an interesting one, it has side drapes that, on first inspection, make you think the skirt is undone, which is a nice detail and again a little bit punk.

The Danielle Scutt Collection is currently available at Asos and prices for the above items range from £180 - £590 and is a little out of my current price range! I will continue to be inspired by the collection by wearing low cut tops, dresses and overalls layered over tops and vests, pairing wedges with printed socks (or sandals / flats for non wedges days!), jersey maxi dresses, midi skirts in black or denim, bleach prints and punk tees! I hope you do the same. ND xx

It's too early for that dress....Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas Part 8

Prints in May

It's time for the next instalment of my catch-up Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas. It's mid-June now and the sun is shining today which I am very grateful for, it has been so depressing here in the UK with all this Summer rain!!!

The next series of post pregnancy outfits are all print inspired, there isn't too much, if any at all, of my usual print clash shenanigans but each outfit has to be comfortable as I am a mother of three children who have me running about like a mad woman...oh...right...like an exhausted Mum with three children would, I s'pose. I always attempt to look like I have made an effort and try not to give in to wearing jeans every day to make life easier...I do love a challenge or to make life more difficult, some might say....I will not give in!!

Ohhh! A little bit of tiger print body-con, on the school run?? Oh yes! Am I holding my stomach in and creating a flattering waist shape with my hands in the top image?? Oh yes! Fashion tricks....Tyra Banks would be so proud of me!

Tiger print body-con dress from Topshop, Leopard print cardigan (always mix your animal prints) from Primark, Cats eye sunglasses from Asos and the good ol' red Converse low tops.

I wouldn't call this clashing as somehow I have managed to co-ordinate the whole outfit, which is very unlike me. It is very bright however, which IS very me and it's mega comfy and a little bit punk.

I'm sure you've seen me wear this before but it is a great alternative to jeans.

Blue knit from Topshop, customised with rips by me, Digital floral trousers, green vest and socks also Topshop. Red Converse.

I was in an experimenting mood on this day, inspired by 1980s maxi dresses mixed with 90s grunge layering. I'm still not sure on this look but I like that it's something different from me. I am still battling with the Post Pregnancy belly, I'm not sure I still had a belly at this point after having my boys, I guess I hadn't had three kids then either and I'm quite sure I didn't eat half as much cake!!

Sonic Youth tee from Urban Outfitters, Madonna jersey maxi dress from Topshop and Leopard print Converse low tops.

I fit into my playsuit!! I love my playsuit and, stupidly, it was one of the first things I tried on after I had Sylvie (look at the little cute baby in the picture, I love her so much!!) and the disappointment and realisation of my new size kicked in!! Many months later I tried the playsuit on and it fits just fine. It, of course, now clings a bit to my little pot belly that doesn't want to leave me, just yet, but it's not too bad and my husband says he doesn't even notice that. As most women I know, I have taken that the wrong way, Phil must be either 'just saying that to make me feel better' or he is trying to tell me I have 'always had this pot belly!!' He will never win either way. Thanks for your attempt at making me feel better Phil!!

The conclusion today seems to be that I am obviously obsessed with my Converse flat tops, they are my thing, my wardrobe staple (well, let's not forget blue eye shadow), It was nice to see the appearance of a tailored item (the playsuit) after all that lycra/ jersey too and I would like to stand up for jeans, I do love jeans, I have many pairs but I always try to wear them as part of an outfit, not as those things I just throw on with anything, where's the fun in that??

Love your jeans!!! ND xx

It's too early for that dress....Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas Part 7

I'm sorry it has been a while since my last post but I have been very busy having a Birthday, attending my club night Bang and having a family camping holiday in the Great British wind and rain. Although it is now June (a very cold and wet June might I add) I now have a backlog of my style photos going back into May. The weather has been pretty much dictating what I can wear and during May we were lucky enough to get a couple of weeks of sweltering hot sun and, loving summer clothes, I certainly took advantage of that summer weather!

I am going to run through a few looks that seem to be trending with me at the moment, I have named the first look that I am going to show you today, this short and unfussy title....ahem... 'The 1950s dragged through the 1980s in stripes and denims'.

1950s versus the oversized grandad cardigan. You always need a cover up in the UK, just in case!

These are my new favourite 1950s cut jeans from Vivien of Holloway, I was a little terrified of them when they arrived but they are mega comfy and they help me move further away from those skinny jeans that I have been wearing....forever!! Oversized Cardigan from Primark and my good ol' Breton tee from H&M.

 Bright light bright light!! I didn't set this soft focus purposely but hey I am getting older, I need all the help I can get to achieve this pin-up look!

More over exposure, it was hot and bright, but not that bright. Let's check out the look here....a bit of double denim, eh?? I hate the sound of it but I am working it here I reckon and is that a crop top??The only way for me to get away with wearing a crop top ever again is to wear one with high waisters. I love these tapered jeans that I picked up in Japan on my honeymoon nearly three years ago!!?? Time has gone so quickly. I guess I did have a baby and that, it makes sense... the denim shirt is from Topshop a fair few years ago and the striped crop top was picked up in the New Look sale for my holiday last year.

Enjoying the sun whilst it lasted!! Please come back summer!

Accessories throughout were my swallow necklace from Accessorise, Cats eye sunglasses from Asos and my red Converse low tops. My school run staple!!

The next post shall be the next instalment of my Post Pregnancy fashion moments in May and will feature a lot of prints, I do love prints!! Phil (my husband) said I couldn't really call this post my Post Pregnancy post anymore as I had lost the baby weight, but I haven't, I'm still a stone heavier than I was before pregnancy and they say you do not truly lose all the baby weight until 9 months after the baby is born, as it takes 9 months to get so fat in the first place!! I'm not sure I believe in that sort of nonsense though to be honest but I will only continue with this post up to 9 months maximum just so I can have some closure, whether I have actually achieved my old weight or not, I'm not dieting, I am just relying on the school run and plan old luck!....ND xx

Whole Lotta Sylvie - Part 4 Retro Baby

My lovely Sylvie Belle is about to turn 6 months old! I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone...

Sylvie is still a little one for her age and has just crept up to 15lbs now that she is being weaned. I am quite surprised at the amount of food she eats compared to her (rather greedy, it would seem) brothers. Sylvie eats like a bird and takes a long time to do this, the boys would polish off a pot of carrot puree in seconds demanding pudding after that, Sylvie is much more ladylike and takes her time, she then ruins this ladylike behaviour by refusing (just like her brothers) to be cleaned up afterwards.

 'Don't come near me with that wet kitchen roll Woman!!'

Progress-wise Sylvie is rolling over a treat and attempts to sit up from the laying on her back position, she seems confident that this might actually work. Despite the constant rolling she has no interest in actually sitting up alone and if at all possible would like to be carried around 24 hours a day. I have had to re-learn how to do many things one handed.

This Whole Lotta Sylvie post is a Retro special as it features photos of Sylvie wearing some of my own baby dresses from way back in the 1970s. I love the way the dresses are cut into short smock lengths, giving me a perfect chance to team these vintage dresses with Sylvie's bloomers and tights. Love it! Check out the pastel sweet colours too, Sylvie's totally on-trend coveting Meadham Kirchhoff's SS2012 collection, without the big hair and platforms of course...

All images taken by No Debutante.

Little Sylvie doll wearing pink vintage 1970s baby dress (check out the smocking detail!!!) worn with bloomers and spotty tights.

Lemon yellow vintage 1970s dress with lace details.

Sylvie insisted I put a hair clip in her hair.

This has nothing to do with vintage baby clothes, it's just a really sweet picture of Sylvie and her brother Mika playing together one morning.

Despite the tiredness, Life is sweet....

ND xx

Little Rockers - Termites music video for Dumb Rock

I recently put this music video up on my Facebook page and knew I had to share it on my blog. It was made by my good friend and occassional Bang (my club night) roadie Steve who is also in the band The Relay Rips with my husband Phil. Steve is in another Bristol band (busy man) called The Termites and the music video is to promote their new record Dumb Rock, which is from their latest album that was released on Sink and Stove records 14th May 2012.

The reason I am very excited about the music video is not only because The Termites are great and the record Dumb Rock, well, rocks, there are two little rockers who appear in the video whom I am very proud of. My sons Lucian and Mika were lucky enough to be asked to dance and generally go mad to 'Dumb Rock' wearing a costume of their choice - they chose mixed-up superhero costumes, of course. I can't think of a better way to spend a few hours on a Bank Holiday weekend. I hope you enjoy it like the boys did, they certainly didn't hold back and they are very excited to be in a music video on Youtube, they now think they are famous!

Aye Aye Sailor

I want a tattoo. When I was younger, I can honestly say that I never had the urge to get inked up, I had a few piercings but, I guess, I was probably scared of the pain ( I have a shockingly low pain threshold - god knows how I managed to give birth to 3 kids!) I wisely realised that due to my fickle tastes in...everything....I knew I would soon regret my teenage tattoo when I was still a teenager, let alone when I was older!

I have finally come to a decision that I could, maybe, handle the pain of a small tattoo and have been pondering it over for so long that I am now confident on the style of tattoos that I like, they are retro but classic and mainly inspired by the Godfather of the tattooists himself, Sailor Jerry.

I have been collecting a few images on Pinterest (never lets me down) over the past few months and I would like to share my favourites with you. All tattoo images and more can be viewed on my Tattoo Board on Pinterest here http://pinterest.com/nodebutante/tattoo/ 

I love the vintage style tattoos of roses and hearts and this simple line drawing tattoo of two roses is fantastic. It's pretty basic but I think it gives the rose tattoo a more modern look whilst remaining true to the original, authentic tattoo style. The image was originally pinned by the girl in the photograph and it is her first tattoo, there is a sweet story behind this tattoo, there are two roses for both her parents who recently passed away and the text is in her mothers handwriting, it's pulling on my heart strings and it sure is a great tattoo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/savannahh/5938034277/

These swallow tattoos are amazing! I love the design and the colours are great. I'm also loving the dress, but it's not about that today! I think the problem here would be getting the symmetry right or it could all go very wrong! I'm also thinking pain-wise these tattoos would not be the best for me just yet, not with all the colouring in. Do they call it colouring in? Ha! I'm sure they don't...As I said, I am a tattoo novice!

I do like the idea of having an anchor on my foot, this one looks pretty cool (although I am not loving the girl tattoo on the other foot, it's gone a bit wrong)....I also think a foot tattoo would be painful, wouldn't it? Tattoo from  staygold-dieyoung.tumblr.com

Look at this lovely rockabilly ladys leopard print tattoo, a tattoo sleeve, if you will. I have also been considering a leopard print tattoo since I dressed up as a leopard (as you do) for one of the Hoochie Coochie Kabaret shows that I DJ at. I had used face paint to draw leopard prints sporadically on my face, arms, back and shoulders and I had so may compliments and people saying I should get them done as tattoos, that I am now considering it.  I was quite surprised by the tattooed up bloke who enthusiastically suggested that I get the face leopard prints done....He said I could definitely work it, which he saw as a compliment, I'm not sure my kids would see it that way on the school run!

Here are a few of the original Sailor Jerry tattoos that I love! Swallows and hearts!!!  I could have all of these pretty small somewhere on my body, couldn't I?  I guess I'm thinking on my shoulders or back. I'd love to have one on my wrist but I don't think I'm ready for this quite yet! A friend of mine has a swallow tattoo on her wrist and I think it looks beautiful!

This is my favourite of them all.  Despite their size these swallow tattoos look really delicate and pretty. The image originally came from here http://www.stylecollective.com.au/articles/bridal/tattoo/index.html the site has an article on tattooed brides which is quite interesting. This bride has the best tattoo by a mile!


So, am I going to get a tattoo? I think....I...am! Yey! Now to find out where to get it done locally. Luckily I know an editor of a tattoo magazine so I shall get his advice first! I have added an image below of the leopard print body paint I was talking about earlier, I shall NOT be getting a tattoo anywhere near my face, that is for sure!

Hello children.......I've come to pick you up from school......ND xx

I want..... House of Holland at Asos

Before I even start on all the Autumn Winter 2012 shows that I have been hoarding images for over the past few months, I thought I would continue with more of the Spring Summer 2012 looks that I still haven't given a mention. The next on my list is the House of Holland Spring Summer range that is currently available at Asos. Although I will only be able to afford the tights and socks from the range, I still like to dream and swoon over some of the items! These images have all come from my Pinterest Fashion board via Asos.com.

I love this Tribal style oversized jumpsuit with it's extreme hareem pant cut. It looks so comfortable, I only wish I could afford it, it's currently available in the Asos sale at £300, it was £600! I guess I should stop wishing that all designer stuff at Asos is gonna be loads cheaper than the original designer label price. I have been spoilt by my £25 Versace leggings from H&M, haven't I?

I love this super sized leopard print over water colour greens and purples. It almost looks like a cow hide print on the jumpsuit, it's £550 ( maybe not for me then!) The drop waist maxi dresss is updated for this summer, it's out of stock and was £440 (get over it Emma, it's Henry Holland!) and I do love an oversized T-shirt style dress! £75 and currently out of stock too. (I'm not surprised, I'd love to be wearing it this summer).

I'm not sure the models are is the right choice for these garments, but I guess Asos need to have more commercial models who appeal to a mass market. I'd like to see ID style models wearing these outfits, oh, and me, of course, on the school run!

Now for something I can afford! Check out these lovely hosiery pieces, House of Holland stripey long socks in blue, they are also available in orange, green and pale pink. I love socks and tights, I do like to buy and hoard and sometimes wear them! They're now only £3.50 in the sale. I'm getting them, of course. These Union Jack (flag) tights are cool, worn here with a bit of double denim, they are a bit patriotic though........I'll be more punk inspired when I wear them....I think I could stretch to paying £15 for these beauties!

Hopefully you will see some blog pics of me over the next month with my latest Henry Holland items! ND xx