whatkarenfound

Whatkarenfound is a documentary blog for one year only of my fashion and lifestyle items I find and buy. I am not a conventional shopper. I find high street and shopping centers/ complexes uninspiring and patronizing! I shop alternatively, Charity Shops, Boot Sales, Markets, Auctions, Antique Centre's, Retro Shops and the good old Jumble sales. This is an experiment to see if what I find inspires my work as a designer and stylist. All content on this blog is created by Karen Savage. Enjoy !

About Me

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London, United Kingdom
Karen Savage is a Feminist in the Fashion Industry. A thinker with a heart, who would like to share her Savage world. For over two decades, Karen Savage’s keen sense of ‘now’ and exuberant sense of humour have lead her on a gloriously winding path, questioning everything ‘fashion’ has to offer. From Designer to Stylist, Trend Forecaster to Creative Director, Blogger and Artist - Karen Savage has been there, done that and turned ‘fashion’ on its head and into something new. Karen is outspoken and charming, a self-proclaimed ‘Council Estate Princess’ via Birkenhead. The Independent crowned her the ‘Queen of Tongue n Chic’. Karen first sprung to public consciousness in the early 90s with her own critically-acclaimed fashion label SAVAGE and her controversial slogan-tees. She explores themes of feminism and sustainability in her work. The UK press just couldn't get enough of this ironic designer and everyone from Just 17, The Times to Radio 4s Women’s Hour has interviewed Karen Savage. Karen Savage is a Senior Lecturer at The London College of Fashion, St. Martin's College of Art and The Hong Kong Design Institute. She also freelances as a Creative Director in Print and Licensing.

Blog Archive

Thursday 13 January 2011

There is a little horse in the garden



Here’s another one of my ceramic fancies, I so love these little bits of nothing. A friend once told me he had an aunt who had “shelves full of nothing “meaning all these kitsch sentimental orniments. Another one for the collection for the real fairytale. Found and bought this little one from a charity shop in Shepperton for £1.50 and it’s a gift aid, get me.

Style Diaries: World Fashion from Berlin to Tokyo



A book about bloggers and their style, picture heavy, could have had a bit more context and words in it. It’s an international whirlwind of a tour of style bloggers, recommend. The other interesting thing about this book is the copyright issue as only a handful of pages are not the copyright of the bloggers. The rest of the copyright belongs to the blogger and they are in most of the photos and the angles don’t look like DIY shots. Begs the question, who dose the image belong to? I found and bought the book at the V&A shop for £19.99 after a meeting about teaching a 1 day digital t-shirt design course in March 2011. Took the book into a workshop with my styling students at LCf and they enjoyed flicking through the style candy.

More Morris



My hero, great man, great patterns bought this catalogue off eBay £15, another one for the Mozzer bookshelf.

Garnet Girl



Oh you’re a Garnet girl a vintage jewellery seller once said to me. I found and bought this Silver Garnet ring at an auction in Berkshire for £19. Caused a bit of a storm buying this as the dealers get very territorial about anyone else bidding, hello it’s an auction. I think its Victorian as it looks very similar to another ring I bought from a trusted dealer the year before. Photo not that great showing the detail, trust me it’s a stunner.

More royal mugs and prince and princesses



My fancy, collecting royal mugs to use as everyday use seems even more appropriate with the announcement of Kate and Wills wedding this year. For now here are some of the others who decided to either tie the knot or be king or queen. I am fascinated with the kitsch royal ceramics and have branched out into prince and princess orniments. Fear not there is a reason for this I have been collecting for a while now to use a characters for a real fairytale book, shameless TV programme style, when I get round to it. Found these royal mugs in an Berkshire antique shop in the £1 box and orniments 50p each in the 50p box, love a rummage through a get rid box.

Baby you can drive my car



I wish, I have been learning to drive forever and the closest I have got to own a car is this 1930s vintage pink glass ash tray. Oh well 3rd test lucky, try to pass this year and you never know the vintage ash tray could be a real car. Found this for £1 in a charity shop in surrey. Tip, vintage ash trays look great with a tea candle light in, a touch of the cosy needed right now to chase those January blues away.

Club Tropicana – Jump Around ?



Jumps suits, all in ones there not right and I don’t know why I do it to myself. It’s as if each time I buy one I believe this is the one that will perform jump suit magic on me. Boyfriends never like or understand them and I stubbornly won’t listen even if he might be right on this one. I bought this for the bright jade green colour and crazy appliqué pattern and it reminded me of what a lively older lady would wear if she retired to the sun. This piece for me is so Florida mixed with 80s Wham Club Tropicana, where I am sure by the time I retire the drinks won’t be free!



Found and bought in a charity shop in Weighbridge Surrey, very posh round there they know how to charge £8. Listen to me I have been living in planet boot sale for too long. Well I only hope I jump around in this jump suit in spring, if not its going back to the chazzer, not sure about this fuy: (

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