Yes, it’s finally hot here in London and no, I’m not stripping down for all and sundry to see. Frankly, I’d rather sweat profusely than bare the flesh. Thankfully, I have a knack for staying fairly cool and even the heavy black fringe doesn’t get all that sweaty or messed up. What I do need to alleviate in this heat though are the temperature related accessory pains. Marks on the arms from carrying chain handled bags, red patches from resting a leather bag on the bare legs, necklaces and bracelets causing unexpected rashes and just general friction from carrying or wearing ‘hasher’ materials. My skin does flare up for no particular reason and excessive amounts of calamine tend to be used in the summer. Instead, I’m into accessorising the hips with necklaces and bags leaving my hands free to flap them around, making a slight breeze waft around me. I’ve always been into wearing necklaces as belts seeing as the ones I buy are fairly long and can be looped around and tied up. Whilst I’ve not gone the lengths of forking out for designer bum bags namely because the majority of them are ridiculous, I’ve never been against the concept of them.
Small clutches/purses looped onto a belt is an easier option for me. Yes, most people don’t want to be adding extra weight around the hips but seeing as I’m technically classified as straight-up-and-down (those body categorisations are far too simplistic but i’m only using aforementioned label for the sake of ease….), I’m not too concerned about unsightly lumps gathering around that area… my arms are free to go flap-flap-flap and I can also keep the calamine usage to a minimum…
It’s like a bondage-chic fanny pack!
I wish I had your knack for staying cool! As for your necklace and bag combo, it is like the raddest fanny pack ever!
Completely unrelated bag comment…
Lush makes soap with calamine powder called Fresh Pharmacy, that works a treat on all summer heat related it ills.
By the way this blog of yours has really inspired me.
^ the above comment was NOT posted by The Clothes Horse.
Typepad is spazzing out.
hi susie, i know this has nothing to do with this post but i’m going to hong kong next week and was wondering if you could recommend me some places to visit – shops, galleries, bars/cafes, that sort of stuff. would be much appreciated
x
hello im dinamita fashion designer from colombia…i want to mail you but it does work…how can i do?
i think you’ve put a bag round your waist before (?) but it’s only just clicked when you said how it frees up your hands and keeps you cool, now I’m eyeing up all my bags!
los angeles is really hot at this time of the year as well and i love your idea of keeping your neck and arms free of extra clutter. fabulous photos!
ooh i’ve always been a big fan of this…despite what people seem to think, bumbags dont need to be made of shiny polyester!
x
http://www.flatbrokefabulous.blogspot.com
Love Wendy B’s remark! Very ingenius adaptation and so stylish too.
Love Wendy B’s remark! Very ingenius adaptation and so stylish too.
Love Wendy B’s remark! Very ingenius adaptation and so stylish too.
Love Wendy B’s remark! Very ingenius adaptation and so stylish too.
Love Wendy B’s remark! Very ingenius adaptation and so stylish too.
First:
I totally agree with keeping your arms and neck free of clutter. However, I do not see eye to eye with your choice of white and blue chain around your hip.
Second:
To totally agree with Wendy B…super ingenious of you to conjure up your own fanny pack…but, it just doesn’t do anything to finish your outfit. Or maybe its that you didn’t steam your cape and its all wrinkly…??
I LOVE your top; the pattern and color is fabulous. I also love the belt & uber cool fanny pack; you definitely pulled it off really well.
Genius idea, especially the necklace’s I’m thinking of other things I can do with mine now.
the shoes are making me drool.
A clever solution.
I always like to keep my arms free, so I opt for bags with long long straps that I can cross over my shoulder.
When I am riding my bike though, I do like to have the bag around my waist. I have one “real” bum bag, given to me as a gift, and I actually use it when I ride.
As usual, you are clever and cute, and can totally pull off a bag with chains wrapped around your hips.
What an ingenious way to stay cool! I actually would have never thought of that. Your waist bag reminds me of a fanny pack- but better.
the mirror’s back! 🙂 haha.
I’m not so much looking at your baggage hippage as your shoes- they are really quite something Susie. I would love to own a pair myself!
A mixed opinion…. but that is the price to pay for flappable arms…shoes are from Forever 21….I think they’re still online….but don’t hold me to that….
I love you hair Susie, we share the same cut and more or less the same colour, but how do you manage to make your hair look so straight in London weather conditions? Mine is always getting frizzie.
I LOVE bumbags! I think they’re the best thing ever. Ok, they’re the best waist-bound luggage ever. I have a trusty gold one that is great for coming out dancing (I hate, hate carrying anything, even over the shoulder, when dancing), and have just bought a too, too oriental one covered in cute japanese manga angels in Chinatown (and the matching rucksack. oops).
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. (William Morris) The bumbag is both!
Biba: I just have very very thick hair… I’ve never had frizzled hair…. it’s just too heavy for it to do that I think…
I’m not the biggest fan of bumbags but I like the way you’ve styled them…I wonder if they’ll be big in Melbourne this summer?