Deconstruct

August, a ridiculous time of year for torrential rain, considering it is supposed to be the height of summer. Eventually it cleared, leaving the sky looking like it was on fire.

By night fall, ventured to Hoxton for a friend's birhday. With all of it's artisic injections into every aspect of decor, this one offered graffitied cubicles which would make for awesome back drops to photos. Taking a second to recover from a dance induced stitch, I managed to take a couple of shots whilst powdering my nose in the little girl's room.

Some kind of unknowing fool

Following on from feather talk, pictured is one of the dream catchers from Barcelona. I miss Barcelona, the beach, the culture, the laid back attitude and the beautiful sunkissed people. I spent a lot of time there a couple of years ago and it has been a while since I returned. Even if it's just for a few days to rekindle my romance with the city. My friend recently bought another bar to add to his collection out there so hopefully I can make it out before summer is up.

 Clutching the latest issue of Vogue, Kate Moss makes her 30th appearance on the front cover. And boy has she still got it.

Your visits are getting shorter

Not one of my favourite outfits, but for something to throw on when the weather forecast says 100% chance of rain, my granny cardi is still one of my favourite reach fors. First time ive worn leather look leggings in about two months. Had got accustomed to wearing bare legs this summer, which is unusual considering how erratic london's summer's usually are. I also realised I have barely worn any of my summer floral dresses like usual, all are still held hostage in the garage at my parents' house. I need to make time to actually dig them out, otherwise i'll be back in opaques before I know it. I love the liberating feeling of wearing bare legs in the summer, so best to make the most of it whilst we can.

Catching dreams

Went to a beautiful bar where the walls were covered in huge vintage mirrors and the lights hanging from ceiling were adorned with feathers. Theres something about feathrs that add a dreamlike element to anything and everything. Headdresses, jewellery, clothing, accessories. I always think feathers evoke feelings of freedom, perhaps its the link to birds in flight and the sky. I dont know. Possibly one of the best souvenirs I ever bought were the dream catchers I bought from a market stall in Barcelona 4 or 5 years ago. Rather than hanging them above my bed, I pin them to clothing to add that native americana influence I so often speak of. They're also a good talking point. A Boots pharmasist once asked if I was from The Never Ending Story (?!) The only problem is trying to keep feathers pristine. Im going to have to invest in some more as the ones I curently have seem to be falling apart. I still have yet to wear a feathered headdress a la Erin Wasson, but the summer is far from over, there are plenty more dressing up oppertunities.

One of you has to fall

Stig (of the dump), street urchin, gypsy child, and Medusa. All nicknames I've adopted over the years borne out of bed hair, frayed hemlines, grubby make up hands and tendancy to wear bare feet outside. I would love to have inherited Medusa for my ability to turn men to stone, but alas it originated in the playground, when my 8yo frizzy hair had yet to discover GHDs and greek mythology was clearly current curriculum material. Snakes/frizzy hair....

Obviously there is a time and place to be the polar opposite to the glossy Gossip Girl type. I used to temp in the city, and being a newbie to the office environment, went to my recruitment agency interview wearing my idea of city attire..Although my cv was up to scratch, the agency from then on would always warn me prior to any office work they secured, 'please dress boring, and big hair is not allowed emma.' Four years after no contact I called up for some last minute work and to see if they remembered me. 'Oh yes, the trendy (bless that word) dancer who hated wearing a suit.' Thank god I didnt end up in banking where my parents wanted me to be.

Might be holding your hand, but im holding it loose

Im sure there is such a thing as too much fringing and tassles, and Im not sure if wearing both fringed shoes and bag crosses that line, or lies just within the border of overkill, but I did it anyway. They definitely add texrture to a look, taking it from ordinary to unusual. These Zara shoes - as with many pieces I own, are an acquired taste. True, they can look like Im wearing a little pair of hooved animals, but they are the most comfortable 5 inch heels I own, with a generous platform sole that enables you to run up escalators without feeling a thing.

Can't you see the grass is greener where it rains

Take one size 18 cardigan bought for its sequin embellishment, one faded cropped denim jacket, bought three years ago and never worn. Team with a top made for bedtime and standard body con skirt and youve got the above. Without the scarf, the faded effect of all the colours would have made this a complete wash out. Somehow the scarf's tans and turquoise bring everything together.

Ever since I was a little girl my dad would insist on turning up the collar of any jacket I wore so I looked like Kinicki from Grease. Some things stay with you and to this day I cant wear a collared jacket/shirt with the collar down.

The only thing we share is the same sky

Words can't describe how perfect everything about this is. Sea monster to perfection. Everything is a contradiction. Wearing a jackt in the sun with deepest tan known to man and nothing but the tiniest pair of shorts would only ever be applicable, on a shoot on a desert island. Which is what makes it so achingly perfect. Also ticks all the boxes of oversize teamed with tiny, and a ridiculous amount of accessories as though you stepped out of a pirates treasure chest..  

The place we ran from

With the onset of rain this week and not wanting to shrink any of my pumps (which often happens when I get caught off guard in the rain) these distressed cowboy boots seemed more of a sensible (yes I went for sensible) option. They also act as an optimal contrast to the impractically feminine tutu skirt I decided to don. It's not one of my favourite looks, but one that was clearly constructed whilst half asleep before leaving at a stupid hour in the morning to sleep walk to the gym. Bumped into an old friend in the afternoon who I hadnt seen in ages. Was told they knew it was me from across the street, as only I wear my hair that big and 'cough' that short. Good to hear you leave a lasting impression on some...

This aint a love song, this is goodbye

Being bitter that I had to put on a pair of tights having spent the last few weeks in bare legs I chose to wear a pair of Henry Holland suspender print tights that I bought ages ago. Cheeky doesnt even cover it and it takes a thick skin to wear these during the day. They make a nice change from standard opaques though, and if you can ignore the banter from strange italian/arabic/lebanese/polish men then I'd definitely recommend them for the hoisery drawer.
And what could be an inconspicuous way to dress down a pair of suspender tights? Layering up of animal print shades of course.

Dustland fairytale beginning

There's something very fairytale-esque about having all that material of a maxi dress swishing about your ankles. A combination of the tribal print and the chiffon wafts of material, felt like a cross between aztec princess and gypsy queen. And where else would a goddess dine for a midnight snack? The Wolesley of course, next door to the Ritz, where they still serve afternoon tea at quarter to midnight. They drew the line at serving a cream tea though. Scones and clotted cream at midnight, obviously that would just be absurd. Macaroons are fine though ;-)

And im a little bit lost without you

Lumberjack shirt by Marc O'Polo. Denim cut offs and crimson lips. Oversized men's shirts are perfect lazy sunday best for some much needed R and R and sleeping in the sun. Obviously the lipstick is just an unnecessary addition, but where would be the fun in only ever doing the necessary.

Sin City

Sin City wasn't a film I paricularly enjoyed, however it did leave an impression on me based on a) it stars Jessica Alba and Devon Aoki b) took monochrome to the next level with accents of blood red. I'm currently having a love affair with black and white. I know I always say that, but right now in particular. Maybe its because everyone looks like theyve jumped into a packet of Skittles with the arrival of the heatwave, so theres less black and white around. Its just so much more striking. It's what the models wear when they're off duty (Japanese magazine Glitter had a double spread on models when they're not being...models). It's the colour of no nonsense. I've spent the last two days desaturated, lifting the look with accents of gun metal - bangles, necklaces and peep toe pumps. 

Im up in the woods, im down on my mind

I always wanted a khaki parker, but could never find one for which the drop waist didnt fall somewhere around my knees (the trials and tribulations of having a shorter than average body.) This khaki shirt however serves a similar purpose. Somehow khaki brings out the best in floral, I suppose at the end of the day, moss and flowers all stem from the same forest family. As for the leopard print pumps, dont ask me why, but when faced with lots of different prints and colours, my gut instinct is to throw more prints and colours into the mix, maybe it's the skitzophrenic in me. With so many colours and prints, subconsciously I believe they will inevitably cancel each other out, blurring into one. As long as the undertones stem from similar hues, in this case greens and browns with accents of colour, you should be fine. It does not work if you throw on every colour under the sun and hope for the best.

Must be your skin im sinking in

Ive spent the entire weekend nursing a drastically swollen face, following a horrific tooth ache saga which I will not go into. In between romantic films (Before Sunrise and Before Sunset set in Vienna and Paris respectively, desperately hopeful and beautifully captivating) and cocooning, I looked back at previous magazine tears which ive kept over the years for inspiration. I still love every tear. I throw away anything that I no longer like, I only keep the ones I really love. Also found my first blog post, which I drafted on the back of a kid's menu from Shoreditch House. I remember asking for the kid's menu/entertainment pack (as I didnt have a notebook) and the waitress asking if I wanted the crayons too...

Bed head

Big hair adds drama. 'Messy' big hair however is more of an acquired taste. Messy hair, people either love or hate it. I've had passers by in the street 'tut' and insist I invest in a brush, whilst at the other end of the scale i've had complete strangers gush that my hair is 'fabulous daaaahling' and how do I manage to make it so...big. The idea of neat and tidy hair sends shivers down my spine, yes, it is far more classic and elegant, but those are two adjectives I will never be.

Recipe for big hair:
Dry shampoo - for dark hair Bumble and Bumble hair powder in brown adds a really rich but matte textured darkness. For lighter hair (et moi aussi because im addicted to the glamour of the disco) the new Batiste gold shine has the tiniest flakes of gold in the spray, destined to catch the sunlight. Rubbed vigorously into the roots adds instant volume
Fine tooth comb/real hair bristle brush for sky high backcombing potential
Hairspray (no preference, they all seem to do the same thing to me - 'Big Sexy Hair' if you have a weakness for packaging) Essential if you want your birds nest to stay put
Bumble and Bumble surf spray for an extra matte finish
Clip in hair extensions for maximum bouffant
At least one day old washed hair (trying to create huge hair with a squeeky clean barnet is like trying to win a losing battle, you can backcomb to Mount Everest heights, but but if your hair is shiny and clean, your mountain will inevitably fall)

If on the other hand you would rather do it the way mother nature intended, scrap the above and opt for 'actual' bed hair. You know what I mean. It results in a slightly more haphazard effect, but much more fun ;-)