A bug's life

Insects - they're creepy, crawly, and not everyone's favourite cup of bush tucker tea. They are however, essential to life on earth - as the plight of the bee has brought to mainstream attention over recent years - and it seems that the little critters have captured the attention of the fashion world this season.

Among the ubiquitous bird prints and Stella McCartney-inspired fruity fashions, plagues of insects are taking over the high street. Bees, butterflies and beetles have landed on accessories and summer staples, while grasshoppers and dragonflies have invaded soft furnishing departments, appearing on cushions and ceramics.

Like all creatures great and small, there's much beauty to be found in our fluttering and scuttling friends, although I feel that artist Jessica Harrison may have taken it a little far with with her fly lashes - that's right - fly leg eyelashes...delish.

Here are some of my favourite bug out pieces:

Left to right - butterfly top - Topshop, £45, butterfly playsuit - French Connection, £62, bug top - Dorothy Perkins, £26

Clockwise from top right - bug brooch - ASOS, £30, bee makeup bag - Ollie & Nic, £15, bug ring (part of a pair) - ASOS, £35, bee necklace - River Island, £4.99

Butterfly shirt dress - John Lewis, £185, bug embroidered tunic - ASOS, £22

See some more expensive bug fashions on Elle.com.

Brighton Retro Fair finds

The Brighton Retro Fair at City College on Saturday was full of glorious homeware goodies. I've recently given up drinking (booze that is - other liquids are allowed), a decision which has seen me drink more tea and eat more cake - that 'treat' craving has to be fulfilled somehow and the new Soreen banana bread is a winner.

So, I now have added incentive to buy all those pretty cake plates I see knocking about in charity shops, vintage boutiques, car boot sales and fairs. The latest addition to the collection is this very delicate forest and deer set by Alfred Meakin (£8) - so cute.


I also picked up this rather ugly - in that 1960s/70s way that I like - coffee and cake plate/tray from the £1 box outside Martlets on North Road.


And this wind-up alarm clock was also just £1 from the Retro Fair, although the tick tock is so loud I'm not sure the husband will allow me to keep it...

Marina boot sale win

My first time at the Marina car boot sale yielded this amazing paisley print travel bag - £10, haggled down from £20 - and this original 1950s coffee table - £15 down from £20. Win and win.


I can't believe I haven't been to this sale before. It's more of a second-hand or vintage fair than a 'crap-I'm-clearing-out' affair, and I could have bought so much more if I had the space. Maybe it's time to move to a bigger place...

Chichester vintage

Chichester - lovely stuff. Beautiful old high-street buildings - the Cathedral isn't bad either - lush green parks where cricket matches offer an air of the fictional Midsomer (of the Murders fame) and home to the Pallant House Gallery, currently playing host to an exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Festival of Britain and the works of celebrity Mid-Century designer couple Robin and Lucienne Day.

Being home to the Goodwood Revival and last year's Vintage at Goodwood festival, the city is also no stranger to vintage vultures, and has much to offer those on the hunt for original bargains.


South Street, the road that leads from the train station into the town centre, is lined with charity shops, serving both national and local causes. There are many affluent chaps and chapesses in Chichester, which makes for some top quality pre-loved gear. Boden, Monsoon and Jigsaw are among the brands commonplace in the city's charity shops, and vintage dresses, crockery and jewellery are also plentiful. Thank you old ladies of Chichester.

However, many of the city's best charity shop vintage offerings have no doubt been snapped up by the buyers of One Legged Jockey, a vibrant vintage boutique One Legged Jockey on Crane Street - another charity shop hot spot.


Selling everything from cowboy boots and jeans, through original mini and maxi dresses to picnic hampers and tableware, the shop is jam-packed with pieces of interest. Prices are reasonable, although obviously not charity shop or car boot cheap.

Another of Chichester's must-visit shops for vintage-lovers is Number Forty Three on North Street. As well as original Mid-Century furniture and homewares, the shop also offers up-cycled interior pieces and unique gifts and accessories.


In short, Chichester makes the perfect day trip destination for those with an eye for the old.