Tuesday 15 December 2009

Holiday time

Sorry about the lack of posting friends but I've taken myself away from the hustle and bustle of London for a little R&R and festive celebrations with my family in Argentina who I haven't seen in nearly 2years. The trip was a long one, totalling 30hours, but in my eyes that is no excuse to let the style slip. So Front Row Dry Shampoo in hand I sprayed and shook my locks ready to begin my little Argentine adventure. Not only is it a chance to catch up with old friends and family it is also a chance to test out those looks earmarked from ready to wear S/S 10. One of my favourite looks that emerged last September was the pastel shades from Christopher Kane. Honestly at first I didn't think the show was all that daring but the more I look the more beautiful and detailed I find it. For me it is a look made from within a candy shop with shades varying from Parma Violets and Strawberry's and Cream to Humbugs; all wrapped up in checks, floral embroidery and jersey. Delicious. It is also not just the usual girlishness which never sits quite right with me personally; he gave these sweeties some bite with sharp tailoring, the use of bra structuring and high slits up to the top of the thigh. And finally the best bits of all are the shoes. There are liquorice laces that wind round the foot and black twisters posing as heels. If Topshop do an homage to these I think I may cry with joy. Am planning on raiding my mum/grandma/aunts collective closets for pieces and my take on the look will follow bon amies.


Sunday 6 December 2009

Trust my luck


(image gracefully stolen from style.com)

Ok so in my year in China nothing remotely exciting in terms of fashion ever happened except meeting for a trend forecaster who offered no help or contacts whatsoever...which in all fairness was pretty awesome but nothing on the level of the catwalk show along the Shanghai sea front last week. It was also a Chanel show which hurts twice as much. Putting bitterness aside it seemed to be a beautiful show demonstrating Coco's love for the chinoise fabric and traditional styles set against the incredible sky line of Shanghai. Wish I could have been there, but maybe Karl's life inspiration comes from North London or more specifically Hackney....you never know.

Wednesday 2 December 2009

Oxfam Extravaganza








Last Saturday myself and a lovely group of gal pals hit the "Make Do and Mend - Oxfam Chelsea Show" and let me tell you it was magnificent. Luckily we arrived nice and early so we got all the best picks. Their was jewellery, wedding dresses, hats, bags, slips; the whole kit and kabuddle. We rummaged till our little hearts couldn't rummage any more and guilt free too as it was all for charity. Guilt free shopping is my favourite kind! Much of the stuff was customised or made from reclaimed fabrics. I got chatting to the lovely ladies on the jewellery stand and they informed me that nearly every bit of a broken/ damaged piece of jewellery can be reused, for example if the chain brakes the charms, beads or clasps can be reused, brilliant huh?! They get given boxes from certain retailers of their damaged merchandise and these creative ladies turn them into wonderful pieces.



Speaking of wonderful pieces I bought some crackers!










Printed silk pussy-bow blouse, £8
Green jumper with Moor Hen image £1
Matching green vest with Moor Hen £1 (definitely not to be worn together unless impersonating a Moor Hen)
Lime patterned full swing skirt £8
- So with the ticket price included I spent £23...a very good days shopping in my eyes.

Friday 27 November 2009

Winter Warmers





Vintage red cardi coat
American Apparel black skirt
Boyfriend's red striped top
Vintage fur hat
American Apparel white tights
Vintage patterned scarf


Today was very cold so I have returned to my favourite winter staples; my bright bright red cardi/coat and my lovely furry winter hat. Mmmm...toasty.

Thursday 26 November 2009

Hair dreams

Had my hair trimmed today; I was a hair model so it was very cheap but very plain and with no input from me. I have to go back on Monday for her to be tested on her cutting and blow-drying skills, but then...well then I have free reign to dictate as I please, so new hair here we come! I got a fringe cut in last year when I had my hair chemically straightened but now I am desperately growing it out as the wave/curl has come back. So the search for a good interim style for the growing out of the fringe has lead me to these 4 beauties...when I find that perfect mix on Monday, which I will, I'll report back. Wish me Luck.

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Poping up in Brick Lane Soon



COLETTE, the chicest shop in gay Paris is heading across the channel for one month only - well the 26th November to the 3rd January to be precise. Its going to be a shop and exhibition space all rolled into one, focusing on cutting edge Japanese style. I visited Colette when I went to Paris two years ago and fell in love with it; it even taught my very frugal fella to appreciate the fine art of a Marc Jacobs suit. I really do hope Colette's epic window displays transverse the channel too, they really are a sight to behold and it would be very selfish of the Parisian to keep them to themselves.

This is just one of the many things this festive season that are going on around Brick Lane in the and more specifically the Old Truman Brewery. There will also be a Vintage pop-up market which I will be rummaging through with abandon this weekend, channeling the 40's glamour in my latest read The Girls of Slender Means.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Saturday House-warming

My pals had a very good house warming on Saturday night, even though my phone screen got completely broken, my new top had red wine spilt all over it and I fell flat on my back right in front of everyone. Thought I'd give you a sneak peek into the evenings wears. I bought the white white top in an Oxfam shop for £3.99, bargain! Wore it over a black American Apparel dress, with my cutey patuty white shoes, vintage gold and silver plaited belt and my gold chain collection, small now but it will grow! My flatmate wore a wicked jumpsuit and gauze bow combo, stellar. The final lovely lass had the most envied piece of the whole evening. Her vintage skirt was so coveted that one lovely lady said she would go the shop everyday till she could find its twin!



Thursday 19 November 2009

A New Medium



I don't consider myself an expert on art or fashion or photographers or anything else for that matter. But I do consider myself intelligent and ready to learn more. This is the reason I love ilovefake Magazine. Its an intelligent and beautiful, interesting and thoughtful. It doesn't try and regurgitate fashion information that we already know, like floral for Spring and the trends that have been flying around the shops for 3months prior to hitting Look Magazine. They are also aiming to look beyond the conventional forms of publication and so it is published on-line, making it accessible. I still love the feel of magazines and their weight and I've always been a CD over MP3 kinda girl. But for this magazine I think I could make a change. It is unique and it has goals; "Our goal is to be an inspiration guide worldwide in the fashion and culture industry".

Well it has certainly inspired me.

Monday 16 November 2009

My New Girl Crush...








Charlotte Kemp Muhl is John Lennon's GF, model, singer and my new love. She has been modelling since she was just 13, starring in campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger, D&G and also the current Zadig & Voltaire's autumn/winter 09 campaign with her lovely beau. Just look at her ain't she dreamy...

images from elle uk, handbag.com, zimbo.com and tumblr.com many thanks for the usage.

Sunday 15 November 2009

Grungy

Went shoe shopping with a pal on Thursday for winter boots, she wanted flat pixie boots and I wanted the patent black heeled Dr Martens Darcie boots. No negotiation. On first impressions they are possibly one of the ugliest shoes around( as my pal was quick to point out) but on the feet they look heavenly. They also have a springy sole making them extremely comfortable, which in my new aim to wear my lovely heels more will come in handy. Sadly I couldn't find them in my size but the search will go on.



These grungy Courtney Love-esq boots would sit very comfortably with the Henry Holland for Pretty Polly tights I bought the following day. I deliberated for a long in front of the tight stand on which ones to buy and finally I opted for the house tights in black and the suspender tights in blue. And as I expected they have become my firm favourites already; even my boyfriends Dad commented on their brilliance. I'm generally a bit sceptical of designer high-street collaborations (especially if they involve H&M) but this one was very successful. Bravo Mr Holland.




images from drmartens.com and refinery29.com

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Bit 'O' Street Style.



This lovely H&M staffer really looks the bees-knees, the cats meow or however you want to put it. I snapped this a while ago when we were still clinging onto the last bits of our Indian Summer, so her beautifully layered look works perfectly. The beige and black are bold but not gloomy; the lack of a popping colour takes nothing away from this look. The long-line jersey blazer here is such a staple, its both effortless and practical. All the layers are almost the same length but stop just short, enough to make a smooth tiered set of layers. Mucho appreciation.




I have always been slightly obsessed with the Dutch top model Iekeliene Stange, so to see her in real life was like a dream come true, how could I not stop and pap her?! Her face is to die for and her wardrobe to kill for. She has such a quirky and eclectic sense of style, filled with vintage pieces that hang beautifully from her slight frame. Iekeliene's blazer is the direct opposite of the other lovely ladies. It is punchy and bright, made unique with all the badges piled on the lapel. The clumpy shoes juxtaposed to the floaty dress work wonderfully; it satisfies both the girly girl and tomboy that lurks within us all. Another home run Miss Stange, BRAVO!

CALLING ALL YOUNG DESIGNERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS

This is an incredible opportunity for British young designers, photographers, artists and graphic artists, who have something to say and something to sell, to show their wears for FREE in a 1930s arcade in Brixton for 3 months. This is a chance of a life time, but time is of the essence. So if you are interested contact me via my email, blogger or call the number on the leaflet.

Please get in touch!!!


Tuesday 10 November 2009

Mourning

Luella Bartley announced today that the Luella fashion label has ceased trading after Club 21 their financial backers pulled out. First Christian Lacroix declared insolvency in May and now my beloved Luella, but this is the saddest casualty of all those who have fallen foul of this horrible financial climate. The story just gets sadder as their SS09/10 ready-to-wear collection is also unable to meet production demand due to the Italian manufacturers closing down last month.

Fingers will be securely crossed that they get financing from another group, otherwise a great Luella shaped hole will be missing from the fashion world but never from my heart.

Monday 9 November 2009

New Favourites

I've found a store that my makes my little heart flutter. Anthropolgie is the sister store of Urban Outfitters, the big grown up sister. To be honest the majority of the regular clothes are sort of dowdy but the party dresses are really quaint, simple and classic. They have a brilliant variety of shoes and purses, and even clogs!!!





The only downside is that it is mega expensive, for a perfect party dress then it is worth it. But as I keep stating, my purse is padded out with receipts rather than notes, so its just day dreaming at the moment. Or living vicariously through my friend jade who is searching for a 21st dress.

There home ware section is possibly where they come into their own. Its everything I need to full fill my dreams of becoming a domestic goddess. From candelabras and aprons to recipe books and knitted wall clocks. I'm going to start saving my pennies now...




www.anthropologie.com

Sunday 8 November 2009

A Less Successful Sunday

Today wasn't quite as successful as yesterday but I was more than satisfied with lounging in my harem pants watching Funny Face. Audrey Hepburn looked effortlessly stylish the whole way through, and even with all the couture floating around I loved her Parisian chic black cigarette pants and black roll neck. That is style. And if I had a face that "funny" I'd be happy.

Autumnal Saturdays

I decided that I would have a productive Saturday this week and not my usual lounging around dissecting the night before whilst nursing my head and making excuses not to leave the house. So wrapped up in our warmest finery - I chose a chunky cream scary, bright red cardi-coat, cream thigh-high socks and layered gold jumper over a Lycra green dress - me and a couple pals decided that Broadway Market was how we want to spend the lovely sunny Saturday that was bestowed upon us. We sampled the biggest variety of sauces, pestos, olives and cakes that could have been on offer and the bite size pieces made any calorie significance insignificant. The Vintage selection was brilliant and pretty reasonably priced too. however, the men's vintage was really impressive, there were plaid shirts and tweed jackets as far as the eye could see.

The food was not quite so reasonably priced, but the quality more than made up for it. However my poor little purse was too barren to afford food so I bought some beautiful burnt orange germinis to brighten up my new home. Emma and I strolled home along the canal, soaking up the last of the autumn sunshine, discussing how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful city, and what the 14yr old versions of us would think of who we are and the life we lead. We decided they would be happy enough; its not perfect but its a pretty charmed life.