Hand Drawn Bones.

Spike shoulder jacket* – Oasap 
Cut out top* – Romwe 
Skeleton Shorts – Roses and Bones 
Heels – eBay

I’m really sorry that I’m about to get a bit side-tracked here, and have a slight rant, but I am pretty angry/creeped out. (This rant has taken the place of any outfit commentary today, save the last paragraph, and for that I do apologise, I’m just really annoyed aha).

So, when I went out to take these pictures today I took my tripod, as Ella and Adam were out, and set up in our usual photo-taking spot. Now, some of you may recall that some time ago I had a run in with some men from the Conservative Mens’ Club, whilst I was taking pictures. Well basically, the same happened again, but it was worse and I’m just getting pretty sick of it. You see, their ‘smoking conservatory’ (is that even a legal thing?) overlooks our flat’s car park where we take our blog pictures, and when I came outside, there was no one in it. So I set up my camera and started snapping away quite happily, until I turned to the side and saw that a large group of men were now gawping at me through the conservatory glass. I’m getting better with taking pictures around people now, and usually acknowledging them makes them go away/stop staring. Sadly, not in this case. Once they knew that I had noticed them, the men started banging on the glass, shouting, making faces at me, you know, the usual unimaginative (almost animalistic?!) creepy bullshit. One then proceeded to get his phone out and either take repeated pictures or record a video of me. This is the thing that really weirded me out, and then the fact that two more of them came outside and started taking pictures too, so I turned round and yelled ‘WHAT?!’ at them.
…not my most articulate of arguments  I must admit, but I was so shocked at how these men, who were old enough to have a daughter my age, were acting. But instead of getting any explanation or muttered apology, all the men just burst out laughing, and started taking the piss and berating me. I can’t honestly say that I would’ve expected much more from them, but…ergh. It just made me shudder.
They stayed around until I got my keys out of my bag, and then they all just went back inside. HOW PREDICTABLE. Ha.

So now what? I’m in a position where I can’t take pictures on a Sunday in the flat car park because of the mens’ club, and some old bastards that have nothing better to do than get pissed? That’s not okay- just because I’m a female and I had my legs out I was made to feel uncomfortable and actually pretty sick at myself. They were acting like I deserved these looks, the pictures, the comments, and it made me believe it too, until I got inside and calmed down a bit.
But I had no reason to feel like that towards myself? I’d done nothing wrong here- it’s a warm day (the first in a good while, might I add), so I don’t think it’s out of the question for me to be wearing shorts. That aside, I can wear whatever I please- NO MATTER WHAT I WEAR IT SHOULD NOT BE AN INVITATION FOR LEWD COMMENTS/GENERAL PERVERSE BEHAVIOUR. Sigh.

All in all,  I’m just creeped out that some sad, pervy bloke old enough to be my father has several pictures of me on his phone, and wanted to rant, ha.
Moral of the story is that I shall be finding somewhere new to take my pictures to avoid these men, but I shouldn’t be in a situation where I’m having to do that.

Have any of you guys ended up in this sort of situation? I’d love to know if you have, and how you handled it etc.!

Anyway, on a side note, these shorts and insaaaane. The skeleton pelvis is hand drawn by my amazingly talented bestie Ella, and she’s selling two pairs like this on her asos marketplace here. It’s also worth checking out her facebook page, because she can do commissions where she’ll draw whatever you want on some shorts and the like ^.^.

Hope you’re all having a great weekend and having fun in the sun (if you got some!). Love!xx
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24 Comments

  1. 14th April 2013 / 5:51 pm

    that is disgusting that happened! I would report them to someone or something, that isnt right! I hate how men treat women and how they think they are allowed to just openly stare. I hate it. Gorgeous outfit !!! Love the shorts they are awesome!

    Hayley xx
    http://www.addictionstoshopping.blogspot.com

  2. 14th April 2013 / 6:19 pm

    Holy shit, I thought these guys were your age or something (not sure why I thought that), but this is even more disturbing. These men should be mature enough to mind their own business! Maybe you can file a complaint with their 'club'? Is there a sexual haressment department?

    The shorts are amazing!

  3. 14th April 2013 / 6:27 pm

    Completely agree with you about those creepy people! And its always old pervy men old enough to be your dad which makes it worse! It always seems to happen to me and my friends out in clubs and stuff, its quite scary really :/ Love your outfit though! xx

  4. 14th April 2013 / 6:52 pm

    I'm so glad that you brought this to your readers' attention. This kind of behaviour from men is sickening and 100% UNacceptable – I wish there was a way us women could give them a taste of their own medicine. I've been leered/gestured at, endured verbal abuse many a time, followed in the street by these types of men and some have even become angry/violent after a knockback – the whole experience gets me so worked up inside so I know exactly how you feel. I wonder how they'd react if they saw someone act that way with their wife or daughter/grandaughter?

    I completely agree with you also – women should be allowed to dress as they please without having to feel intimidated by filthy old perves who clearly don't have a single brain cell between them. Their vile behaviour should have legal consequences!

    Keep doing your thing as you do it so well love! 🙂

    Amy xxx

    http://www.lipstickblack.blogspot.com

  5. 14th April 2013 / 6:56 pm

    Ugh, it's horrible how disgustingly immature 'grown' men can be. You should definitely complain to the club about it because they should not be getting away scot free from that!

    On a second note though, your shorts are awesome!

  6. 14th April 2013 / 7:20 pm

    God dammit, I hate when stuff like this happen, it really pisses me off. And somehow it's always our fault for wearing something short or tight. If those men had even a bit of manners, they wouldn't act like such morons! And it's even worse when other women say it's to be expected based on your clothes. Well, it's NOT and it shouldn't be!! It's beyond sad that in 21st century we can't feel safe. I mean, if you were a guy, no one would give a fuck about your shorts or anything and no one would act this way. That's just not fair.

    I had one very disturbing experience while I was walking home at 4 a.m. when some drunk man approached me and asked me if I mind he jerks off next to me. I was so shocked I didn't say anything and I just started running, it was awful.

    I just wonder how they'd feel if they saw someone acting this way to their own daughters and would it even make them thing about what they're doing.

    • 15th April 2013 / 12:04 am

      Bloody hell love, that sounds so so awful, I can't even imagine! 🙁 I can't believe he thought that was just something that he could do?! That's so sickening.

      But yes you're so right, and that's exactly how I felt today- and in cases of younger men that act like this (god knows I've come across a few), surely they wouldn't feel that it would be okay for someone to act like that towards their sister?!

  7. 14th April 2013 / 9:22 pm

    That is such a horrible experience for you, how awful :/ maybe you can report the behaviour to the club or something? You summed it up well enough with this statement: 'NO MATTER WHAT I WEAR IT SHOULD NOT BE AN INVITATION FOR LEWD COMMENTS/GENERAL PERVERSE BEHAVIOUR.'

    It's really horrible too, reading all the comments of people relating to this and sharing their own bad experiences. It's really not okay and what you choose to wear should have nothing to do with anyone apart from yourself. At the end of the day, you're a gorgeous lady and it's one thing to be admired – it's to be expected to some extent even if you don't welcome it – but being harassed is just unacceptable, particularly by men old enough to know better. It's really disgusting. I hope your situation works out soon, it sucks that you have to move location and you really shouldn't have to but it's probably easier than trying to enlighten these animals that are probably too old to learn better behaviour :/ xxx

    • 14th April 2013 / 9:23 pm

      Er, on a lighter note though, great outfit… Ella is super talented! xxx

  8. 14th April 2013 / 9:53 pm

    Oh gosh, that must have been terrible. You NEVER should feel like you deserve it. You should be able to be naked there and not be bothered by those guys. Showing skin is not an invitation for men to act like animals and behave inappropriate. Geez, everyone has a body, why would showing some of it be treated badly.
    Okay well, enough about that. Stuff like that makes me very angry haha. Lovely outfit as always and maybe you can inform some kind of security about those terrible guys…

  9. 14th April 2013 / 11:01 pm

    Fashion blogger woes 🙁 you've got the right to wear whatever you like without having to worry about mens draws dropping to the floor while their arms flail around uncontrollably ugh they make me sick. Someone got ahold of my phone number and phoned me earlier saying 'I've seen your blog' and then told me all of the sexual things he wants to do to me like ugh and it made me think well maybe i should stop wearing some of the stuff i wear but then i read this and i was like OLIVIA IS RIGHT I CAN WEAR WHATEVER I LIKE! You look fabulous anyway so who cares they probably don't even know what topshop is :/

    • 16th April 2013 / 4:18 pm

      Jeeez, that's so creepy! Poor you lovely 🙁 but it's not fair for you to have to change how you want to dress to avoid being harassed, bloody hell 🙁 but you look amazing always so… ^.^ xxx

  10. 14th April 2013 / 11:09 pm

    what twats! dirty perves, eugh!!
    you look fab in those shorts, ingnore those animals

  11. 15th April 2013 / 2:50 am

    Awwww those men are a shame!! Don't mind them and keep doing what you love doing! I love you and your style, Olivia. 🙂

    Gem
    gemnikkaonthego.blogspot.com

  12. 15th April 2013 / 3:19 am

    That's awful. It's horrible that people are still being treated in that way. That would seriously creep me out and probably keep me from dressing up for a long time. Bless you for reacting as you did.

    This outfit is wonderful. I love the shorts! And your hair looks especially gorgeous.

  13. 15th April 2013 / 7:31 am

    That is just sad. I'm sorry you had to go through that again.
    Sometimes when we wear certain clothes, people assume that they are allowed to make lewd gestures or comments.. you know, like the whole, "You're just asking to be raped with those clothes!" mentality. Unfortunately, they were probably brought up that way and it's hard to change people's mentality so I agree that you should find somewhere else to take pictures from now on. Keep doing what you love ♡

  14. 15th April 2013 / 9:47 am

    I suppose they were just having a laugh at the fact that you were taking pictures of yourself and winding you up by them then taking pictures of you. It's still not acceptable though. It's against the law to have people take photos of you without your consent and an invasion of privacy. I'd definitely try to take it up with someone as it isn't fair that they were able to harass you in such a way! They need to grow up.

    Just don't let it disconcert you. You're way better than they could ever hope to be 🙂 xx

  15. 15th April 2013 / 1:48 pm

    That sounds horrible!! I'm sorry that happened to you!! I've only really experienced that kind of attitude at events I used to photograph at my uni, where all the super hip alternative kids would make snide comments to my face because I'm a blogger (because to them fashion blogging is consumerist and vain or some bullshit) But nothing as confronting as what happened to you!!

    Love your blog by the way! There aren't enough red headed bloggers like us out there!!

    http://darlingwearetheyoungones.blogspot.com.au/

  16. 15th April 2013 / 3:50 pm

    Eugh, what bastards. I hate the way blokes act sometimes, especially if they're in groups or drinking, it can get really scary and threatening, but they think its some big joke! Everyove should be able to wear what they want, where they want without harassment.

    Awesome outfit, those shorts are amazing.

  17. 15th April 2013 / 6:01 pm

    I love the outfit! AMAZING SHORTS!

    And that's seriously disgusting, I hate this attitude that some people have that if you dress in a certain way your asking for people to perv over you or whatever. Wearing short shorts or tight dresses or whatever really is not an invitation for anyone to treat someone like that. I had this sort of stuff since I was about 12 and I know it makes you feel like crap 🙁

    Tyra xxx
    tyradressedinblack.blogspot.co.uk

    Tyra xxx
    tyradressedinblack.blogspot.co.uk