Bargain hunting

AUFS is growing strong! With loads of new members, this year will be better than ever. To start off, this is a blog entry by Annie Hughes. Enjoy!


Having just become a fresher at the University of Aberdeen I'm starting to realise that my love for shopping may have to be put on hold for the next couple of months. Having the likes of Topshop and River Island right outside my door is already proving difficult to resist and putting a serious dent into my freshers budget. So, I think I’m going to have a crack at the charity shops...

This fills me with dread. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE vintage clothing - a worn out denim jacket I picked up at a small charity shop back in Northumberland being my staple piece of clothing along with a gorgeous printed scarf that I got in a village yard sale for just a pound. However, even though I’ve picked up some pieces they have been few and far between - it's always other people that find great little buys, never me.
For example my friend, who seems to have a knack for picking up brilliant pieces for small prices, has picked up a vintage wool jumper with fair isle patterns across the front and a faux fur jacket which I envy every time I see her wear it (both costing a bargain 10 pounds.)

I will try harder though. Dragging myself away from the safety net that is Topshop into the unknown charity shop jungle is my first hurdle to cross. After all, Freshers week is a time to step out of the comfort zone that was High School and try new and exciting things. Whether it be talking to a complete stranger or just simply venturing into a charity shop on the hut for the perfect woolly jumper.

 

Oxfam

Barnados

Save The Children

Not one for designers labels, but..

this is a fantastic film by Massy Tadjedin! And I love the haunting music of Zola Jesus. Enjoy!

Aberdeen's First Impressions

AUFS is back! And what better way to sell our society and the whole of Aberdeen to new students than to scare them with this over exaggerated piece of writing. Realize now that nothing I say can be taken seriously, and save yourself from a lot of hassle. 

Accommodation, degree programs, societies, and sports clubs, these are a few of the various things you have to worry about when starting university. You have probably been grilled about at least one of these topics by a close relative or a teacher. The topic discussed in this article is, somewhat controversially, left out of prospectuses and open day talks, even though it grieves most students in a new city. What to wear in the important first few weeks of university is no laughing matter, since adding a fashion faux pa to the already nerve racking experience might just send a new student over the edge. To avoid such mental collapses, a short break down of activities and nights out, and their dress codes might be in order, as well as mentioning the limited shopping possibilities Aberdeen has to offer.

First impressions are key, and depending on which group you are looking to infiltrate, Freshers week is the time to do it. Whether Hollister and Jack Wills are your thing, or you would rather scavenge charity shops for those 90s threads, Aberdeen's shopping scene provides some relief. The before mentioned labels can be found amongst shops, such as AB10 that provide to students with a fuller bank account. If you are a hipster and enjoy the finer things in life, make your way to Attic and Concept for your dose of Carhartt and Diesel. Not leaving out the Ebay generation, Aberdeen's charity shops are surprisingly affordable and you are likely to find real vintage pieces. For the students not willing to dig through bargain baskets or spend a months allowance on an outfit, the ready made fashions of Topshop, H&M and New Look are there waiting for you.

Now that you've got the look, where should you go to show off your style? The beautiful and the dirty rich gather around Tiger Tiger and Coco at Babylon. Here you can meet other genetically gifted students wearing their Sunday best, and don't forget to pose for those baby pink tinted photos. The Pearl Lounge and its clientele, however, live by a philosophy of more is more, where another layer of make-up is always needed, and another round of 70p jagerbombs never hurt anyone. If you want to take your creepers for an outing, Snafu is your best bet. A club full of topknots, Vans and vintage that would make the 80s look tame. Korova is for the tattooed and tough, while Origin is for the chilled out, and if you mix all of these together, you get an average night at Exodus.

Nevertheless, before you take my word on it and stick to one club for the entire year, note that this article was very exaggerated and generalised. Experiment and party while you can first years! 

Style on Campus

Once again, I present the stylish on campus, and an honorary member from the vintage shop Closet!

Don't forget AUFS Vintage Fashion Show Thursday at Tunnels, with clothes from Haggard Case, Hear Art and Closet! 

Cate Brazendale

Cate is wearing Asos and a scarf from Attic. She prefers simple pieces and is inspired by her friends. Her style is constantly changing. She would never wear a woolly poncho!

Lauren Mackay

Lauren stresses that clothes should be comfortable and usually wears skinny jeans and a baggy top. She rarely buys new clothes, but when she does she shops vintage at Closet, where she also works. She would never wear a football strip!

Shelly Lockhart

Shelly would describe her style as Kate Middletonish, with a hint of glamour. She loves Zara and Topshop, and watching Made in Chelsea. Shelly would never wear Timberland or Ugg boots.  

Deividas Kvedaras

It's Deividas' 21^st birthday so he dressed in a blazer. He prefers to dress smart most days and he is proud of his beard.  

Crazy about Haggard Case!

Calling all vintage lovers in Aberdeen! If you want to find a place with more hipsters than granite, this is the event for you. We're talking about the Haggard Case vintage pop-up shop, which appears every first Wednesday of the month in The Atheneum from 8pm till whenever the last Agyness Deyn can stand. What endangers every shoppers' standing however, are the infamous, cheap Mojitos, an irresistible purchase in itself. With the mixture of cocktails and quirky clothing, the atmosphere in this event is always at an all time high. From Levis shorts to sequin jackets, even your plain Jane would go weak at the knees.

This magnificent event was created by an Aberdeen University student Cameron Attfield. With university work and an actual job, how did he manage to create a business on the side? Well, he was bored. During the summer of 2011, Cameron started working on an idea to start an online vintage shop that would host Avon-like parties, where friends could come and buy the cream of the crop items of clothing that were hand-picked by Cameron himself. This idea leapt up, and grew arms and legs until in September of 2011, The Atheneum gave him a venue to host his party. Armed with a “Haggard Case” full of vintage clothing in the one hand and his guts in the other, the night was a success to say the least, and that propelled him to continue on into 2012.

Personally, we think his idea is ingenuous, as he has no competition in Aberdeen, with one vintage shop that sells both men's and women's clothing. Therefore he brings a fresh vibe to the Aberdeen fashion scene. Since the start of the year Edinburgh has also fallen under Haggard Case's spell, and St. Andrews is next in line. And if this isn't enough to get your style vibes pumping, this year Haggard Case is venturing into jewellery and accessories. So if going full out in a Vintage dress isn't your style why not attempt a broach, or a ring? Personally, we know we will be decked in the stuff as we just cant get enough. Cameron Attfield, we salute you!

Haggard Case's spring and summer stock, along with a new range of vintage boutique items will be on show at the Fashion Society's Fashion Show on the 17th of May. What better way to get inspired than to see the clothes on the catwalk!  

Photos Haggard Case and Heta Mattila

Style on Campus

This weeks style picks on campus:

Kate Appleby

Inspired by films Changeling and Chicago, and the flattering a-line silhouette. Loves Marilyn Monroe's ultimate glamour. 

Alina Dugnia

Dresses fancy in an out of place way, and shops at ASOS, River Island and Next.

Beccy Endersby

Mixes feminine styles with tougher elements, such as Dr. Martens. Inspired by Alexa Chung.

Hayley Anderson

Inspired by her beloved flatmate Emmi and dreams of being the lead singer of a band. Describes her style as a woodland creature in vintage attire. 

Candy floss and mint

It's spring, even though mother nature does not seem to agree, and pastel colours are dominating the high street. While everyone else is embracing the long awaited return of colours, I try not to suffer from a migraine attack every time I walk into a clothes shop. I guess I'm just not made for summer. Eventually I found a way to brighten up my gloomy wardrobe, and decided to dye my hair. The pastel colours I refuse to wear on my clothes, I wear on my head, whether it is candy floss, lavender or baby blue. This hair revolution started last year with the dip dye trend that provoked opinions of all sorts, some thought it was original and unique, others found it messy and odd. While still trending the dip dye look, it's now popular to dye your whole head, be it with a single shade or the whole rainbow. Resurfacing from the 90s, pastel hair isn't a new phenomena. Celebrities, beyond Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, as well as real-life girls are spotted with this trend, instantly unleashing the sunshine. And why only let girls have all the fun, a baby pink or blue will not make a man any less manly.

To ease yourself into the world of pastel hair, start out with a candy floss or lavender toner that lasts a couple of weeks, and then decide whether to commit or not. Unfortunately, for dark tresses bleach is a must before any light colour will stick. For the fearless, try a turquoise or blue dye, or mix a few together. Instant new summery look guaranteed! I'm considering mint next.

Photos via Tumblr and Fashion Grunge blog