Lou Lou's Vintage Fair - Leicester

Today my mum and I headed over to Leicester cathedral for Lou Lou's Vintage Fair. Firstly I hadn't realised quite how pretty that part of Leicester is; the cathedral fence was lined with purple blooms, the street is wide and traffic-free and the Guildhall is simply lovely. We arrived early which was a good job as a queue of well quaffed, red lipped creatures began to form outside the door.

Inside the Cathedral there were about ten different vintage stalls with a great selection of men's and women's clothing, jewellery and accessories, 50s rock n' roll was playing and there was an exciting atmosphere in the beautiful setting. I did very well with my shopping, grabbing some early bargains. I got some classic levi cut-offs, two checked shirts, some lovely brogue boots, a chunky knit and a little dress. In general it was good value and it was a really great event!

Picture from Lou Lou's Facebook Page.

My Decorating Tips for a University Bedroom

As I'm moving into my university flat on Saturday I decided it's probably about time I uploaded my tips for decorating a university bedroom. I've always thought it's very important to have your own personal space, particularly when living far away from home and so believe that making your room your own is essential. So here it is..

Bedding

Make sure you have your own bedding, that'll make you feel cosy and safe. I have the classic ikea rose, but just pick what makes you happy. Obviously I also have my patchwork quilt, which I toiled over for weeks and weeks, and I love! If you want to take it even further you can bring or buy a matress topper. One of my friends has a mattress topper, and a massive fluffy duvet and pillow, we call it cloud bed and it's the envy of everyone who's ever sat on it. I would also recommend bringing lots of cushions, they personalise your room and are ideal for making everyone comfy if you all settle down to watch a movie in one room.

Posters

Use any posters that you love as well as maps and photo posters, which can be made quite cheaply on any photo printing website. I have a couple of movie posters, maps, piste maps, my own drawings as well as a calendar which helps me to keep my life organised.

Pin Boards

Most likely, if you're in halls you will be provided with at least one pinboard, so go wild and fill it with whatever makes you happy, old memories, new friends etc. Pinboards are also quick and easy to make using fabric, ribbon and pins, you can find excellent directions here. You could also apply this same technique to your ready made pin board in halls.

Make a washing line

If you're not allowed to use blue tac or Sellotape on your walls, and aren't rebellious enough to disobey this order, a great way to display your posters, photos and anything else you may want is on a washing line. I like the idea of using regular string and plain wooden pegs, this may also work out to be the cheapest, but you can get creative, introducing ribbons, pins, broaches - anything you fancy that will make you feel happy and comfortable in your new room. Bring photos from home of friends and family and add to your line as you gain more special photos, postcards and fliers.

Rugs

More often than not the flooring in a university bedroom will be less than desirable, particularly if you're in halls. A quick, easy solution to this problem is sticking a rug down, even if it doesn't cover the whole floor it will draw attention away from whatever nasty carpet has been previous bestowed upon you. Urban Outfitters do some pretty cheap little ones starting from £12, but if you have a bigger budget they have a full range, many of which are really lovely.

Pot plants

If I could I would have full trees growing in my bedroom, or a wall like this which is in the Anthropologie shop on Regents St. London. However I don't quite have the means, so I'll settle for pot plants. In general they aren't very hard to look after, just give them a water now and again. I have a little Jade Plant which is growing fast. If you're even more green fingered you could even gave a go with a bonsai. We're even thinking that we might give herb growing a go this year.

Lights

Of course everyone seems to be obsessed by fairy lights, and why not they are lovely, so go for it. I would also say that it is very important to have a bright desk light, it makes work so much easier and you're more likely to stay awake!

Wall Hangings

I have lots of wall hangings that my grandparents brought back from India, from the time they lived there. These are a fantastic way to cover up boring walls. My brother used these and saris bought cheaply off Ebay to drape from his ceiling and down his walls to give an oriental feel.

Linen basket

Make sure you have some kind of linen basket or bag so that you don't leave your dirty washing on the floor all the time. I use my old gym bag from primary school, I can hang it up and fit lots in it and it looks really pretty which is a bonus.

Scour the Charity shops for finds

You can find all kinds of things in charity shops, they're cheap, eco friendly and the money goes to a good cause. I recommend buying crockery, knives and forks, little pots and trinkets to store jewellery and even blankets and cushions. It's all about luck which is what makes charity shopping all the more exciting. If you're a fresher it's good to have more than one set of cutlery and crockery, because making and sharing food is one of the easiest ways of making friends. One of my friends literally brought about 18 mugs to uni together with a mug stand, which has stood her in pretty good stead.

Furniture

If you're in halls don't be afraid to move your furniture around (the bits that aren't fixed anyway), a lot of my friends did this and managed to give themselves a lot more play area. Also, in my halls, everybody took the wheels off the bottom of their bed. If you're not in halls but don't like your furniture head out to the junk and charity shops to see something you might need for your room - a bigger desk for example. Don't be put off my colour either, repainting furniture gives it a whole new lease of life.

Bunting

If you're keen on sewing you'll know that bunting is really easy to rustle up; simply cut out your triangles with pinking shears and the sew them onto a ribbon and, like the washing line, this avoids sticking things to the walls as it can be pinned or tied. Last year, one of my friends bought a strike long enough to go round her room four times, allover the cupboards and along each shelf. It was great.

Music

Try and bring some speakers, they make listening to music and watching movies so much better. I have my record player too which is always a talking point. Also don't forget your instruments, everyone loves to jam around a guitar no matter how bad you are.

Pets

Obviously I would take my fish Bruce if I could, but I worry that he wouldn't survive the journey and that there would be no one to care for him during the holidays. You have to check with your landlords, or just break the rules, but I've heard plans for tortoises (yes please!) and kittens. Last year I know a group that managed to keep a pet hamster for months by moving it around according to the cleaning days, he was called Hammy!

If you have any more ideas please let me know. I'll upload some photos when I'm all moved in and unpacked. And freshers.. don't worry you're going to be fine. Great, in fact.

Brick Lane

I've been going to Brick Lane in the East-end of London for about five years now, both with my friends and with my family. Then, I was a self conscious fourteen year old listening to emerging 'nu-folk' music and making some rather dodgy outfit choices, though I still stand by some of them, and Brick Lane was one of the most exciting places on the planet. Now I have friends who live near-by, frequenting its boutique cafes, celebrity spotting and making regular purchases from its plethora of vintage shops. While I could say that this has made the magic wear off for me slightly, it really hasn't. Brick Lane still remains one of my favourite places in London. The market is on a Sunday and so this is the most vibrant, if tourist-y, and exciting day to go.

As far as shopping goes I would recommend getting there early, not early early as the stall holders won't be about of bed, but I try to get to the pop-up vintage market under the Sunday-Up market (they're right down Brick Lane - you can't miss it), by about ten o'clock. This means you can choose from some of the best items and you can see them properly as you don't have to elbow your way through hundreds of dawdlers. I really recommend this market, I always find a bargain here. Today I bought a larger denim jacket, a floral sleeveless shirt, and a thick checked shirt. The other place I always seem to find success is Beyond Retro, the successful international chain, which can be found just off Brick Lane on Cheshire Street. From here I bought two funky shirts, one white lace shirt and a pair of stripy shorts. This shop is awesome.

My advice would be steer clear of Rokit and Blitz. Although Blitz is wonderfully laid out and a huge store, in general both are very over priced, that is of course unless you find that must have item that you've always wanted then who's stopping you splash out?

It's lovely to have a wander around and visit as many shops as possible, as well as making the most out of the markets, many of which are artists selling their unique creations. Despite an overcast sky and spitting rain there is always a great atmosphere on a Sunday, the vibrant street art, buskers and local characters means the street buzzes with life.

At the Sunday Up market and in the Truman Brewery you can get food from every conceivable country you can name from around the world, think of a country and you're sure to be able to find its national delicacy somewhere between the bustle of hipsters and tourists. On top of the variety, more often than not, the food is great. Today I had oriental chicken dumplings and noodles, like the ones that come as a starter in Wagamamas, but even bigger, yum!

Here is my haul for the day. I did really well, as it usually takes something big for me to part with my cash. I'm pretty pleased, and had a great day, so thanks to my parents.