Black Patterned Kimono/ The Pier, Brighton

It's funny how you can fall in love with a city so quickly; A few weeks ago I found myself head over heels with Brighton, spending an almost strangely perfect few days wandering around The Lanes, stopping for some of the best veggie food I have ever had and attempting not to spend all of my money in Beyond Retro (although I do regret not buying the corseted black midi dress that I tried on).  The three days I spent there seemed to fall just right for me and also put quite a few things into perspective- I may or may not have left with a few new ideas of my future living/studying arrangements! Brighton is so full of creative and interesting people and also, quite importantly in my book, has some of the best shops I have ever set foot in. Ever. 

The trend of nightwear-as-outerwear (for want of a better way to describe it) has been on my radar for quite some time now- I seem to keep seeing 'It Girls' walking around in silky slip dresses and satin camis with leather jackets thrown nonchalantly over the top, and also have the image of THAT adidas zip up/slip dress/shaggy coat combo of Kim Kardashian's  in my head near constantly, purely because it confuses me so much and, 4 months later, I'm still trying to figure out if it's my favourite thing in the world or completely awful. Anyway, I bought this Kimono thinking it was just that; A kimono (and an absolute bargain one at that, thanks to the River Island sale). Apparently I was wrong because, upon checking my receipt, it seems that this isn't a kimono, but is a silky, lacy little dressing gown, meaning that without realising I have been well and truly in on nightwear-as-outerwear. Despite feeling a bit daft about wearing glorified pyjamas while I sat with my sweet potato fries at Gourmet Burger Kitchen, I have decided to ignore the dressing gown label entirely and, in the spirit of Kim K and the 'It Girls', wear it to stroll around town in. If it's good enough for them it's definitely good enough for me! I'm enjoying pairing it with this backless, ribbed, Urban Outfitters bodysuit (another Brighton bargain) at the moment to give it a more casual look, but I'm looking forward to colder seasons when I can bring in some black velvet and maybe some mesh or lace to play off the textures and pattern. 

Kimono/dressing gown/jacket/whatever you want to refer to it as- River Island. 

Bodysuit- Urban Outfitters 

Skirt- Boohoo

Boots- Topshop (Similar /Similar /Similar)

Bag- Vivienne Westwood (Similar /Similar  /Similar)

Photographs by Ellie Officer

 Bethany x

PS...

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