Rokit AW11

It's September, folks. That's right - September. And we all know what that means!

It means our fleeting excuse for a summer is over, and it's now time for my personal favourite season. I love Autumn/Winter because for me it means heavy knits, luxury fabrics and I don't feel like a total idiot for wearing my thick black tights all the time.

But the good news is the cold weather doesn't mean you have to dress like a frump. The catwalks for this season have shown us that by mixing textures, bedazzling ourselves and adding chic mixed layers, you can still look every inch the lady when it's cold outside. The lovely folks over at Rokit vintage have released there lookbook for AW11, and it's ever so sexy. Here are some of my favourite looks.

Styling by Scarlet Shillingford-Blay
Photography by Cat Lane
All images courtesy of Rokit

There's also a super cute video showing behind the scenes of the shoot - see models moving around below!

You can view the full-sized video here.

To browse all of there lovely vintage goodies, head over to www.rokit.co.uk.

What snug-as-a-bug gems will you be rocking this season? I want to see!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Celebrate good times, COME ON!

Life can (and should) be full of things to celebrate. Whether it's something big, like passing an exam, or something small, like making a particularly excellent cup of tea, there's always an excuse to celebrate and have a little party - especially if it means you can win prizes!


To celebrate their "Aussie-Versary", the very generous and lovely folks over at Aussie are giving seven Swell readers the chance to win a super-cool summer party pack, as shown in the photo above. You will even be able to choose from any of the Aussie-versary Limited Edition Ranges to go in your pack - pretty cool, huh? Not only that, but the winners will also have the opportunity to take part in a challenge, with the chance of one person winning 10 tickets for them and their friends to the HUGE Aussie Summer party in October! Best competition ever? Probably!

To enter, all you have to do is tell me if you have anything to celebrate. It can be anything at all, and I do mean ANYTHING - the more creative and interesting the better. Just leave your answer in the comment box. It's that easy! The only catch is that the competition ends at midnight on Wednesday 22nd August, so you need to get your answers in quickly.

Need a little inspiration for your answer? Here's what I have to celebrate:


This is Barney, my beautiful little baby nephew. He's just over two months old, and he's insanely adorable! He's always smiling and happy, and I am so proud to be his Auntie Frankie. So I would like to celebrate that!

I can't wait to hear all about your celebrations!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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See Africa Differently

Yesterday I attended Africa Fashion Week London with a number of other bloggers as part of the See Africa Differently campaign. See Africa Differently is an initiative from Comic Relief that aims to re-educate people about Africa, and to celebrate the many positive parts of African culture that are often forgotten.

I really enjoyed the day, and it was very inspiring to see how many of the designers mixed classic elements of African fashion, such as bold prints and statement accessories, to create strong modern looks. I could easily fill this whole post with the many hundreds of pictures I took, but instead I will show you my personal favourites.




I was really taken by these pieces by luxury label Ozora. With a mix of vibrant colours and fusion of textures, their dresses have a definite high-end feel while also being highly wearable. Can't you just see Beyonce rocking that last one?






Colourful, eclectic and ultimately refreshing, Adopted Culture really packs a punch in the statement style stakes. Created by Nana Afua Antwi, who also happens to be the current Top Model of Colour UK, the collection screamed youth and fun. I am now obsessed with these traditional African Head Wraps - aren't they stunning?










Adaora's collection brought a sense of regality to the catwalk, with strong structuring and rich indulgent colours. I particularly loved the detail and luxurious feel of the full-length dress coat - very Elizabethan and elegant.

I would like to say a BIG thank you to the lovely people at 1000heads and Comic Relief for a truly inspiring and enjoyable day. If you'd like to find out more about the See Africa Differently campaign, head over to the website and get involved! They will also be announcing an exciting competition tomorrow where you can win two amazing items from the ASOS Africa range, as seen on the likes of Michelle Obama. Good luck!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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What the world needs now...

Unless you've been living in a cave with no access to news from the outside world for the last couple of days, you'll have heard about the recent tragedies that have taken place - the shootings in Norway, China's bullet train crash and, of course, Amy Winehouse.

If these last two days have taught us anything, it's just how very precious life is. Although I have been deeply saddened by all of these occurences, I've decided to take today to celebrate life and to tell the people that I love just how much I care about them. And that includes you, my dear reader.

Since I started this blog nearly three years ago , I have met so many new people and have made some great friends. Not just in the "online" sense either - I'm talking about real friends that I care deeply for, and that I am now very close to. Then Twitter came along, and it's allowed a lonely freelancer like me to converse with more wonderful people on a daily basis.

Just some of the great blogger friends I have made...I am a very lucky girl.

In short, I am extremely grateful for you, internet. And I love you. These last few days have reminded me of a quote from 'V for Vendetta'. Yes, I am a massive geek, but the sentiment is true:

I hope that whoever you are, you escape this place. I hope that the worlds turns, and that things get better. But what I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that, even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you, I love you. With all my heart, I love you.

So why not go and tell someone you love just how much you care about them right now? I promise you won't regret it.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Creating a spectacle

A little while ago, I attended the launch party for London Retro, a super-chic new glasses range inspired by the eclectic trends of the coolest parts of London.




Not only are there a wide variety of ultra-cool, flattering frames to choose from, but they're also pretty reasonable too. And because you can order them through Glasses Direct, you're sure to get a bargain as they have some great deals such as buy one get one free - what more can you ask for?!

The lovely Lizzy of Scientist Chic and Lucy of Snippets of Shiny Thoughts

The equally lovely Gabby Young

The blogger gang! From left to right: Amy of Wolf Whistle, Katie of London Plinth, Gabby and Lizzy.

The whole night was great, especially the photobooth provided by the enthuisastic gents over at The Mighty Booth, who offer a bespoke unique photobooth experience. In fact, the booth was so much fun I went in twice!



Since attending the event, I have actually ordered myself two pairs of glasses in the 'Shoreditch' frame (I fit my local stereotype, it seems!) - one regular pair, as well as a pair of prescription sunglasses. I had originally planned to write about the event sooner including photos of me in my shiny new specs, but unfortunately they haven't arrived yet. Here's a picture of the 'Shoreditch' frame solo:


What do you think? I personally love me some tortoiseshell, and I think they will look brilliant as sunglasses.

To find out more about London Retro or to browse their lovely frames, visit www.londonretro.com.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Feel closer

Since the invention of the internet, there has been a lot of stigma and skepticism surrounding the medium. How many times have you heard a friend or work colleague rant about how impersonal the internet is, how it isolates people from the real world or even real people? As a blogger, I hear it all the time. Despite the fact that I have met a large number of people from the online world in the flesh, a few of my friends still giggle that I have "internet friends".

Whether you love the internet or resent its ever-expanding presence in our lives, the simple truth remains that it's not going anywhere. And that's not a bad thing. The internet is not something to be hated or feared - it's an accessible channel that brings people together. I'm not talking about online dating sites or chat rooms (although, let's face it, they do connect people in a creepy/sexy sort of way...), but more of what a powerful communication tool it can be to keep you close to your loved ones when you can't physically be with him. I can't tell you how grateful I am for the invention of Skype, which allows me to talk to my 81-year-old Nana in Spain or see my cousins all the way over in America for free. In fact, I personally believe that thanks to the internet, we're all closer together than ever before.

NIVEA, the clever people who have been providing the world with affordable skin care for a mind-blowing 100 years, also think that the way the internet keeps people close is pretty damn cool, and have launched a new campain to celebrate this called "A Million Moments of Closeness". NIVEA are inviting you to celebrate 21st century closeness by uploading photos of you sharing a cosy moment with a friend, colleague, sibling, partner, parent or relative over at their Facebook page - www.facebook.com/niveauk. They are also holding road shows across the UK where you and a friend can jump into a photobooth and have your picture instantly uploaded. However you choose to enter, you’re in with the chance to win prizes! Every day a picture of the day will be selected by psychologist, Professor Geoff Beattie, and the winner will receive one of 100 prizes worth £100. They are also encouraging people to wade in on the technology-closeness debate, so if you have a thought or two on the subject be sure to head over to their Facebook page to speak your mind.

If you need inspiration for your submission, here are some wonderfully cheesy stock images to get you in the zone...

This is a Sponsored Post, but I do hope you like it all the same.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Rokit to a bargain

Good news, everyone! On 5th July, Rokit Vintage, one of my favourite vintage havens, is having its summer sale on their wonderful website. As the flyer says, new bargains will be added every day, so you can snap up as many truly brilliant pieces of vintage loveliness as you like!

If you can't wait until then, head over to www.rokit.co.uk to start browsing right now.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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