Leigh Loves: Wild Belle

Sitting at the top of my summer playlist are this Chicago-based sibling duo, Wild Belle, who first captured my attention in this interview on Topshop's blog. This reggae, jazz & soul influenced double act is made up of the ever enchanting Natalie and Elliot Bergman who both look like they've just swooned their way out of the seventies. Their debut album, Isles, is capable of making you want to jump on a plane to a sunny destination, grab a cocktail and dance long into the evening on a white sand beach (then again that doesn't take much persuasion anyway!). In fact, the Bergmans have declared that the naming of their album, Isles, is due to every track resembling it's own island. It's rare I love an album and each track equally from start to finish, but Isles is most definitely one of those rarities. Although they're not listed on the line-up, I'm praying on a late announcement for a performance at Glastonbury.

Also, I think it goes without saying that Natalie Bergman has become my ultimate style icon. Her wardrobe is a 70's dream with an array of oversized floppy hats, bell bottom trousers and printed blouses. Brother, Elliot, is just as stylish and effortlessly pulls off daring clashing ethnic prints unlike any other man. I've attached the slightly controversial video of opening track, 'Keep You', which was directed by Melina Matsoukas who was also the creative genius behind the likes of Beyonce's 'Why Don't You Love Me?' and Rihanna's 'We Found Love'. Let me know what you think.

I hope you can be a little patient with me...

I have to apologise for my recent inactivity and neglect of this blog for it was not something I had intended. I've came across several recent hurdles in life that have prevented me from posting regularly, so I'm hoping you can all bear with me until I get my life back on the right pathway again. I have however decided to share with you some of the more positive moments in the past few weeks that I have enjoyed including lazy days in the park, catching up with old friends over coffee, experimenting with inks & joining my housemate for fancy evenings with wine by the harbour. I'm the first person to regularly grunt and complain about my current location of Southampton as I miss my London dearly, however it's easy to forget just how splendid and beautiful this south coast city can be when the sun comes out to play. The one aspect Southampton holds above London is the fact it is on the coast, which means I can take a little trip down to the water whenever I please. There is something about cities with a waterfront that I cannot help but love.

This little rut I have managed to dig myself may have just came at the right time as I've wanted to refresh this little blog for a while. Although Fox & Feather is primarily a fashion blog I feel it has became overrun with outfit and style posts. Despite being a self-confessed shopping addict and having eyes bigger than my wardrobe, I still have a heap of other passions and past times that I would love to share on this blog. In the past I've been limited in sharing my love for literature, art, photography, film & music on this blog. However, I'm aiming to expand my content across this blog to cover everything that feeds my creative hunger. The past few weeks during my haze I've also developed a new addiction, which is working out at the gym. I was always the first person to scoff at gym bunnies as I couldn't think of anything less enjoyable, but now I'm finding myself there at least 5 days a week doing up to 2 hour sessions. I am the world's biggest hypocrite, I know. Not only is it the best form of stress relief I've ever encountered, but I'm also starting to feel so much better in myself. I'm starting to feel it taking effect on my physical fitness and my body, which is something I've always been uncomfortable with. So, I'm even contemplating dabbling in fitness posts now and again and if I have enough confidence tracking my progress on "Mission: Miley Cyrus' body".

I hope you can spare a little patience and join me on this journey of re-inventing Fox & Feather. I find it important for my blog to retain a personality, rather than falling into the ideal standards that seem to be set for fashion blogging nowadays. I believe by opening up the content beyond personal styling could prove rather refreshing. So, welcome to Fox & Feather, 'the little bit of everything blog'. I sure hope you can stick around!

I'm a scumbag, I'm a weirdo baby

Kimono: Minkpink at Urban Outfitters Sale , £30 // Sunglasses*: Ray Ban Wayfarers // Crop Top: Charity Shop, £1.50 // Shorts: Vintage via Camden Stables Market // Wedge Trainers: Topshop Sale, £25
Last Tuesday I hopped on a train to meet Robyn from The Robyn Diaries to see Peace at the Wedgewood Rooms in Southsea. As the weather was absolutely divine we decided to have a few cheeky bevvies on the beach beforehand. It was my first visit to Southsea and I was actually pleasantly surprised by how lovely the seafront was! Unfortunately as you can see from these outfit shots, my skin doesn't bode too well in the sun so I ended up with lobster red thighs which even a week later are still going strong!

I absolutely love this tie-dye crop with with plastic sea shell detail, which I bought many years ago for a mere £1.50 in a charity shop back in Essex. It's also pretty much a staple for my festival outfits year after year! It'll definitely be making a return to Glastonbury this year too. Initially I was dubious about wedge trainers as they always seemed a little tacky and I have never personally been a "trainer person". It was this pair that I picked up in Topshop that changed my mind though. I think the fabric and aztec pattern choice on them helps not make them as tacky as some I had seen previously in Primark. Also, a lot of people seem to be deceived that they actually have concealed wedges and just assume they're normal hi-tops! Despite the wedge I would say they're one of my most comfortable pairs of shoes, as they're so cushioned inside!

Peace were absolutely fantastic live, but unfortunately the crowd at Wedgewood Rooms wasn't so great as it seemed 80% of the crowd was aged 16 and under. I'm looking forward to seeing them with a different crowd and hopefully it'll be a much better atmosphere.

A Holiday Wardrobe Wishlist

Although I haven't 100% booked my summer holiday just yet, a week long trip to Portugal with my housemates is definitely on the cards. It's been years since I've been on a beach holiday, so I've been getting overly excited about my holiday wardrobe. Of course, there's also been the panic of acquiring a beach body, hence my recent dedication to the gym. We're not actually planning to fly out until mid September but I've been eying up a few pieces at work that I'll most definitely want in my suitcase. I've become a bit of an Urban Outfitters snob in some aspects, but it's become that only place I shop now other than charity shops.

001. This patterned Minkpink "Maya" smock dress is identical in shape to my beloved Scorpio Rising dress I bought last summer. The Scorpio Rising dress is actually one of my most worn dresses in my wardrobe, so it would make sense to own another one with a slightly different pattern. It would be perfect on holiday to simply throw over a bikini before hitting the beach.

002. Just how incredible and 50's glam are these cat eye sunnies?! They would be perfect paired with the high-waisted bikini I've also picked out in the following image.

003. In all honesty the thought of a bikini terrifies me more than anything. Even more than my irrational fear of stickers. On holidays in the past I've always worn shorts over my bikini bottoms because I'm horribly self conscious of my bottom half. However, hopefully this year I will conquer that ultimate fear with the help of this retro-inspired, halterneck bikini. I'm hoping the higher waistband will help me feel a little more comfortable as I take the plunge into bikini territory. Ideally, I would also love to have all year round perfect pins without the worry of slipping into a bikini, and I have found somewhere that offers laser hair removal treatment in Southampton, which would mean not worrying about pre-holiday leg waxing ever again!

004. As soon as I spotted this bag come into store, I decided I must own it. It's a little pricey at £65 but the detail is so intricate and beautiful, so it is worth the money. It's also an ideal size for a little trip to the beach, plus it seems to go perfectly with everything else I've picked in this wishlist!

005. I know I shouldn't even be contemplating a £110 pair of shorts, but oh my god these are my idea of the perfect pair of shorts! I only wish they were a little more high-waisted, because higher waistbands are always so much more flattering on the figure. Someone be a darling and treat me?

006. Finally, this patchwork blazer is ideal to throw over an outfit in the slightly chillier evenings to grab some dinner. It's also suited to the red theme I seem to have unintentionally conjured up in this wishlist. Maybe red will be my colour this season?






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