Fish, Chips, Cup o Tea, Bad Food, Worse Weather, Mary F*cking Poppins... London.

This week, had the pleasure of assiting a men's high end fashion shoot on location in London, working alongside Tanja Martin (stylist mentioned in previous post). Tanja's vision was to take a well dressed man and place him amidst the tack of typical tourist attire - a combination of noisy European school children, over eager Americans and snap happy Japanese. Where better to head for the ultimate in tourist fashion faux pas than the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, street performers and fair ground rides of South Bank, lions of Trafalgar Square and statue of Eros in Picadilly Circus. It was an exhausting but inspirational experience, and gave me an insight into the styling of luxury menswear.

(A cheeky shot I managed to take whilst on the shoot -

check out the kinky thigh high boots donned by the guard...)

Unfortunately the previous week's sunshine decided not to show up for the party, so my hasty warm weather choice of shirt dress and thin leather waterfall jacket was a big mistake. Resorted to borrowing a burgundy Lanvin cardigan from the samples, surprisingly it worked. Refusing to be caught out for the second day running, I layered up with hoodie, leather biker jacket, snakeskin leggings and a couple of vests.

Close your eyes, give me your hand

Darlin', do you feel my heart beating? Eternal Flame - Bangles no.1 classic.

Following the sad departure of my armlets (some lucky suspect in Zara swiped them from under my nose whilst I was busy sampling a sequin embellished biker jacket i'd found on SALE,) bangles are now my armour of choice. The more the merrier. It seems I can't get enough of the suckers. As my friend mentioned the other night whilst we dined in temperatures equivalent to dining al fresco in the middle of November, I looked like I had a bionc arm that could do some serious damage. Fashion with self defense benefits. Sweet.
Word of warning, not suitable for libraries, offices, quiet sections on the train or any other locations where noise is monitored. Tucking into a bag of Snack a Jacks on the train home from work one eve, I was subject to a fair few dirty looks. This was understandable considering there are approximately 20 rice cakes to a bag, so at least 40 journeys of the hand to and from bag to mouth. That's a lot of bangle jingle jangling. In the end, even I got sick of the racket, so took them off. But some grumpy so and so's are never satisfied and the dirty looks continued due to the crunching of my salt and vinegar afternoon tea. The removal of noisy bangles I can handle, but I refuse to resort to sucking rice cakes to avoid noise pollution. Needless to say, ol' misery guts was left to grin and bear the crunch.

In the buff

Everywhere you look there are articles popping up about Chanel's sell out nail hue Particuliere. A gorgeous minky taupe colour, classic and subtle and the polar opposite to the severe midnight ink and gothic rose tones that were the fashion of fingertips last winter. When looking for the perfect nude shoes or dress, I always fixate on this mushroomy colour, and Chanel have gone and thrust it into the limelight in the form of a nail laquer. As much as I loved the Jade of the SS10 Chanel catwalks, there is only so much mileage you can get out of a green nailpolish, and as serene as it is, there isn't an abundance of looks that work alongside 'mint green'. Chanel's Particuliere is one step closer to melting into any ensemble, a minky milky taupe paint, the kind of colour you'd get if you left milk and white chocolate buttons together to mingle in the sun.

But for even more wearability, tis the season to go nude. Not to be mistaken with the french manicure or a peachy tint, this colour is so inconspicuous it could almost be classed as a 'non' colour. Duo personality shade, it has the ability to be both delicately feminine whilst slightly creepy. The closer the colour to your skin tone, the better the nude hue - think those freaky mannequin hands, where fingers and nails blend into one - and you've pretty much got it.  

Finding the right shade is key. I absolutely adored the Essie nailpolish, Jazz that I spotted on my friend last week. However, when it came to trying it on, it made my hand look like it belonged in a morgue. So make sure it compliments your skin tone.

Nail laquer is fast becoming the quick fashion fix for the immediate wardrobe update, minus the guilty price tag. Whoever gets to come up with the quirky names for nailpolish must have a lot of fun - Tea with the Queen, Minky Muffs, Pillow Talk and Baby Breath are to name but a few that I have come across whilst writing this post. It must be like playing pick and mix with your favourite words. Possibly almost as fun as Ben and Jerry must have thinking up those creamed ice flavours, the ultimate in cool jobs.

Aviator jackets and the death of the cupcake

Apparently, as stated by Sunday Times Style last week, cupcakes are SO last season, and the stylish new kid on the block is the macaroon. If purchasing the below from Lola's Kitchen makes me unfashionable, then I reckon I can live with that.

However, sometimes I wish things didnt make it 'in fashion.' 'In fashion' then leads to accessible, which results in overexposure...and then 'no longer fashionable.' With macaroons, the very nature of their exclusivity is what makes them so special. To be fair, being born in Paris, they were always going to be chic. But the fact that you have to hunt them down to purchase the beautiful little treats from Laduree and Pierre Herme gives them that je ne sais quoi edge. As soon as they are announced 'on trend and in fashion' its just a downward spiral before they lose their 'untouchable' status. (Bear with me, this post does relate to fashion eventually.) Take the cupcake. Carrie featured eating a cupcake in an episode of Sex in the City. Soon after, England cottoned on to the US cupcake craze and Hummingbird Bakery and Lola's Kitchen were born. With their rainbow piped icing sprinkled with crystilised rose petals, freeze dried strawberries and glitter, they are every girls eyegasmic food. Sure enough, everyone jumped onto the band wagon, and all of a sudden you could get cupcakes from Tesco Express. And then the magic was gone.

I have yet to fulfil my dream of visiting every Laduree tea room around the world. Ok, so far I have only crossed Paris off the list, but since visiting Paris, I have made it my silent mission to visit the Laduree tea rooms in Tokyo, Monaco, London and Switzerland. However, if macaroons become available from your Sainsburys Local, this fairytale mission will have to be aborted.

My fashion link relates to the Burberry AW10 collection. I have been a long time lover of shearling, trying to find a brown distressed leather jacket with a shearling collar trim and cuffs.They are difficult to source and unless you can find an oversized vintage men's version, they come with a hefty price tag. Acne have pretty much my ideal, but at £750 a pop, its always been a no go. Then, this season, Burberry decides to take inspiration from the two World Wars and unleash the aviator jacket. With its HUGE oversize collar and sheepskin detailing, it is 100% spot on.

However, in the back of my mind all I can think is - you b*stards - now every high street and its mother will be racing to see who can get the trend onto the shop floor the fastest. The accessory that I have lusted after for years all of a sudden becomes everyone's A/W must have, before I even had a chance to own/wear it! 

  

Walk like you mean it, strut like you don't care

Sitting in the sunshine on Carnaby Street following coffee with freelance stylist Tanja Martin who's been giving me tips and advice on how to go about getting into the styling industry. What ive learnt? That I am about to embark on the poorest and most knackering years of my life....working for free to gain respect and experience whilst spending every spare waking minute waitressing/working behind a bar to pay any necessary bills. In other words pretty much working around the clock in pursuit of the end goal. However, a good friend of mine once told me that nothing worth having ever came easily...so im not about to give up just yet. yling clearly comes with its highs and lows, and her toughest styling assignment to date? creating, a high end men's underwear shoot without making it look, how do I put this...... 'too gay' (!)

Mooched around the concessions floor in Topshop's flagship and discovered a cool brand Quontum. Specializes in extreme cutout body con, featuring a high volume injection of chiffon. As is standard with taking photos of pieces that I love in stores, I had the usual interrogation. Luckily they weren't a jobsworth, and said I didnt look like the sort who would rip off someone else's designs (whatever that looks like?!) This turned into a half hour conversation discovering that the guy's mother was the designer and owner of Quontum, and there may be potential creative oppertunities with her. The dress would look awesome with black suede platform ankle boots/pair of bondage strap sandals, bare legs and a dirty South American tan.

Had an interview with GQ Style for a possible internship whilst they create the next biannual issue. Nightmare last night trying to decide what to wear. Dressing to impress a top men's style magazine is a whole different ball park. In the end I went with a black chiffon mini dress, paired down with a dove grey boyfriend jacket, faithful leaopard print scarf which always adds punch, statement bangles and studded oversize clutch. I was asked to describe the look that I would bring to the magazine if I were to style a shoot.....something I probably should have put more thought into. Thinking on my feet I opted for 'classic with an alternative twist, distressed dapper' which he seemed to like the sound of.
Leaving Vogue House that afternoon following the interview I discovered, low and behold, smack bang next door - my good friend, Itsu :-)

Oh and im using my All Saints gift card case as my new oyser card holder. Much more understated than the yellow plastic tat National Rail offer.

oh reckless abandon, like no ones watching you

It has been an age since my last post, with easter, mothers day, cutting the umblical chord on my Maverick Publicity fashion pr role and winter turning to spring taking place. Finding time to post has been impossible. This makes me sad. Unlike being given my daily itsu frozen yoghurt on the house....Sometimes it pays to have a predictable lunchtime routine.

I had no idea there were so many cherry blossom trees near my parents' home. With the arrival of spring a) I can now legitimately wear peep toe boots without being interrogated by strangers if my toes are numb, b) notice cherry blossom trees seem to have popped up everywhere bringing the beauty of japanese spring time to the suburbs of the outskirts of London. I am totally envious of my friend who has just jetted off for a fortnight in Tokyo. We were discussing the delights of Japanese cuisine....oddly enough sushi didnt get a look in, instead, how you can get sweet potato in every shape and form, ranging from cakes and crisps, to flavoured kitkats and freshly baked as a snack from the 99 yen store. My adoration for sweet potato is part of the reason why I believe Japan is where I belong ;)

Cherry blossoms

As a leaving present from my fashion pr job, I was given an All Saints gift card - my love for the brand is clearly no secret. The present was just a prime example of how attention to detail can transform something from ordinary to extraordinary. The gift card came in a material covered hard back holder with the All Saints logo and personal message inside, so I can now use it to carry around my oyster card. It's almost a present in itself! Saying goodbye to the office where I have worked for the last three and a half years, was slightly daunting, but sometimes you have to put yourself out there to get anywhere. Here's hoping.

My biggest worry is finding a new frozen yoghurt supplier. I wish there was an Itsu on every street corner!

you're the honey and the moon

Have been listening to this song on repeat. The last couple of weeks have been a blur spent frantically trying to get my life back together and reign in the chaos. Searching for a house, a new job, work experience, blog and website. Deciding whether to hit the bottle (bleach not alcohol! black is too harsh for the coming summer months.) Another birthday, this time my best friend from university. I've known him ever since our first term. He's one of those people who makes you laugh till it hurts. I mean really hurts, when your cheekbones are in pain and you can barely breath. Apart from the year he went to teach English in Japan, we've lived and breathed each other for the last 7. We graduated, lived and now in London, worked together. But as with most good things, the daily interaction must come to an end, and as of next month we'll finally go our separate ways. Its the end of an era. Im hoping we'll still meet up for a coffee and choreographing of the odd dance or two, a pass time that has ceased to exist since leaving our Exeter roots.

Every year I provide a hand made greeting card, so the afternoon was spent creating my 7th to add to his collection. For the only boy to share my love for dirty bass lines, Haribo so sour itll give you jaw lock, Vogue main fashion and not too afraid to tell me that I hit my peak Halloween 2005. Charming child ;) Happy Birthday David.

My peak. Apparently.

if I had you here, i'd clip your wings

Saturday, focussed on my new fashion editorial post for Drivelikeawoman.com - a New York based website that has decided to branch out and expand its fashion following. After heading to China Town for gossip and dimsum - I did some vital research into motocross pants. After researching though, I'm wondering why I dont have a pair yet.

Oh to own a pair of Balmain....

Sunday, being the undeniable queen of big hair, I took my backcombing and styling skills to a friend's shoot for music publicity shots. We shot in a converted turkish baths which is now the aptly named club/restaurant The Bath House, East London. An underground treasure filled with giant bird cages, Jesus figurines and moody atmospheric lighting. After giving Sophie the perfect 'bed hair', Alexander Wang style bra and body con skirt, we met with the French photographer Michel. He was keen to hear my input, but apparently most of my ideas were too editorial for what he was after :( I took that as a compliment.

The little girls room was the venue's hidden gem - ceiling to floor completely covered in black and white photos - Im kicking myself for not getting a cheeky shot in there...next time :)

truffle catwalk show

Hectic non stop week. Thursday eve was spent rushing across London from my fashion PR job to the Hay Hill Gallery in Mayfair, assisting backstage at the Truffle catwalk show. The up and coming designer, Sofia Strazzanti, specialises in Saville Row bespoke womenswear. The name comes from the marrying of Sofia's 2 loves, food and fashion, and what more luxurious food is there other than the truffle - both the chocolate and the shroom! Being the assigned dresser for the model who failed to show up, I had to forefit my role backstage for the priviledge of sitting pole position at the head of the runway. You could see how Sofia takes inspiration from raw materials such as earth and precious stones, echoing the textures and colours throughout her pieces, it was a truly stunning show.

At the end of the night we all mucked in to break down the event. It was a huge success but with everyone more keen to crawl into their pyjamas than get their dancing shoes on, pre-conceptions of after partying were scuppered. Note to self - sky scraper wedges might be comfortable and stop your 5ft frame from disappearing backstage amongst 6ft models, but at the end of a 15 hour day - your feet will not be your friends.

Unfortunately due to copyright reasons I'm not able to post any photos from the show, but click on the link below to view the stunning collection.

http://www.truffledesign.com/latest-news/

If you weren't real, I would make you up

Anja Rubik, Lily Donaldson and Kate Moss.

Personifications of how to emulate elegance whilst maintaining their untouchable aura of attitude.

I could google these ethereal creatures for hours. My best friend and I used to lie on the living room floor of our Hammersmith flat, going through mugs of hot chocolate, raspberries and rice cakes, studying tear sheets we'd collected for the week. Sometimes we are so on the same wavelength we would end up with the same pages. We'd lust after Anja's lithe limbs, the cheekbones of Moss and respect Lily's ability to wear a microscopic mini and carry it off without looking like a tart! I miss living with my best friend Cherry. She has impeccible style, like noone else I have ever met. Being 5ft 4" with a tiny frame, she's like a miniature model (she'll kill me for saying that.) I have been meaning to do a shoot with her for a while now. Coming soon.

If we ever meet again

Ever since my first year at university when a close friend gave me the nickname Pocahontas ive had an obsession with red indians - feathers, dream catchers, tassles etc, hence the holding photo for my blog. On looking for all my red indian pieces I found my favourite perfumes by Narcisco Rodriguez. Its funny how a smell or fragrance can bring back a hundred memories in a second.

Lit some candles, burnt some incense and streamed for updates on the AW10 NY and London fashion shows so far. Favourite shows to be posted shortly.

Talking of red indians and happy memories, this photo was taken a year or two ago, when I admit that I reached for the bleach and was a strawberry blonde. Ive been toying with the idea of going back to lighter roots with summer on the way, but wondering if some things are best left in the past? As of yet im not convinced blonde is the way forward, but knowing how quickly I get bored of the same look, a revamp is surely on the horizon. Ill keep you posted..

Artificial Intelligence

Had a creative outburst and remembered how much I used to love making all my birthday cards. With all my materials currently held hostage in storage, I hunted down some hand made fine gauaze, glitter, skeleton leaves, and refreshed my memory on the Japanese art of folding paper. Just as the flowers have become the signature feature in my hair, origami birds used to be a signature feature on the cards I made.

The afternoon saw an old favourite tartan oversize blanket scarf and hooded jersey pea coat that makes me look like little navy riding hood keep me warm. Went searching for a birthday present in Spitalfields and came across the most beautiful flower stall, adorned with aged antique pink and vintage ivory roses, it looked like a scene misplaced from a fairytale.

In between frozen yoghurts and discovering I was a day late for the antique market I had wanted to visit to find some vintage chopsticks (turns out they are harder to find than you think) I picked up a pair of intelligent glasses. I know I am a few seasons late in jumping on this bandwagon, but to be honest, I hate wearing anything in the height of its popularity. I prefer to wear something either before it has become main stream, or much later on when the hype has died down. That way you run a lesser risk of bumping into someone wearing the same thing as you! Anyway, back to the glasses , its funny how fashion has the inexplicable knack to reinvent. How an industry could take an item once the source of playground ridicule and turn it into a must have accessory (albeit a couple of seasons ago) worn by men and women alike never ceases to astonish me. Bring on the four eyed boffin.

Got your lipstick mark, still on my coffee cup

Saturday afternoons are perfect for catching up on 'me' time, wandering aimlessly, sipping Starbucks with stupid names - (personal favourite "grande coffee frapuccino light with sugar free hazlenut syrup double blended) writing love letters/thank you letters, flicking through the latest edition of Harper's/Vogue, messing around with the settings on my camera and catching the sky in the lens as it changes from daylight to twilight at frightening speed.

Even though now 26, my English grandmother still sends me money for Christmas and birthdays, so I opted to thank her the old fashioned way and send a hand written letter, sealed with a kiss. Old school.

All that glitters

Three of my favourite clutch bags, all for their own little reasons.

The vintage diamante clutch has immense sentimental value. My mother gave it to me on my 25th birthday whilst in Japan packing up my grandfather's house following his passing away. It was a very sad time and not the reason we had hoped to return to Japan after ten years. Whilst packing everything away we found the bag (untouched, still with the original tissue paper inside) that my grandparents had bought for her when she had been about my age - authentic vintage at its stunning best. But with so much sentimental value I am terrified of losing it, so it doesnt get a chance to make many guest appearances.

A 'favourite of mine but probably shouldn't be because it's not mine' is the oversized jewelled clutch. I bought it as a Christmas present for my sister a few years ago and then adopted it as my own. The leather is butter soft, but has had so many outings its managed to collect some unfortunate coffee, wine and biro stains - such is the price you pay for being a favourite (that you're not too scared to use!)

Its Complicated...

Oversized cropped tops teamed with skin tight bottoms or body con skirts give the perfect balance to a voluminous vs streamlined silhouette. Also in keeping with my love for anything monochrome at the moment, I adore graphic text such as this top - 'its complicated' (which is pretty apt right now.)

I cant wait for summer to return, cropped tops worn how they used to be in the 90s - Miami style - with little shorts, bare legs, ballet pumps, aviators and hopefully a sun kissed sliver of toned tummy... this winter seems to be lasting forever. Roll on sunshine. Contemplating booking a holiday, I desperately need to get away and my best friend has just emailed a few ideas. I can almost feel the suns rays on my skin. At least the nights have stopped getting dark at 4pm. Played with my reflection and the street lamps to create ghost like pictures before caking my eyes in make up and heading out into the frosty night. Crop tops with tights, a fur coat and mittens just doesnt seem right, but for now it will have to do.