I Want You To Know | UK Fashion & Style Blog

May Instagram Overload

2012-05-30T12:04:00.000+01:00

So I guess that May 2012 will go down as the month I finally got accustomed to the ways of the iPhone (though there is still many an incomprehensible text) and got snap happy with the magic of Instagram. Now, I've got enough apps to distract a small country and I'm gladly rediscovering some of my favourite 2007 music thanks to iTunes. I wasn't sure at first if I'd take part in a regular pictorial round up, but after such a positive response to the last post, I've decided to do a post summarising all of my mobile goings on at the end of every month. There's something about a mixture of photos collaged together randomly, that displays the way I capture things and hopefully I'll keep seeing things that excite me so much that I want to photograph them. I do need to stop exclaiming 'Instagram!' at these moments though and be a little more stealth when doing so.

The Sonia Rykiel windows on Brook St - The view from my train window - Finding beauty in ripped Tube adverts in Euston Realising the weather was finally getting better - This lead to a lunchtime escape - Visiting the V&A Ballgowns exhibition

Baking fun at the QVC press day - Cath Kidston is going on tour - Prints at the Fashion & Textile Museum

Leathers at the short-lived Hermes Leather Forever exhibition - The view of Regent St from the Nelly party

Finally voting - There is Jubilee stuff everywhere! - My favourite T-Shirt at the Mercy & Wild launch, all for a good cause

I didn't know you could buy such things in Selfridges - Carnaby Street looks a little different
Shoreditch never takes itself too seriously

Watching a live recording at Abbey Road Studios - Steps in Birmingham - The Drift Bar for Bloggers Boutique

Cups in Anthropologie - Kate Spade iPhone cases

I want an Hermes bag, life savings are overrated - Notebooks in Selfridges - Liberty print Doc Martens

This top would complete my stripe collection - I need to save for some Church's brogues - Tatty Devine posie necklaces

Suspended chairs - Tropical Motel prints - Orla Kiely sample sale bags

Storage to be proud of - Obsessing over a personalised Bottega Veneta tote - I need these jeans, hurry up and reduce yourselves!

Discovering MeatMarket - Pimms o'clock is my favourite time - All you can eat Sushi in Birmingham
Gorgeous cake from the Wish Magazine launch - Burger and Lobster - Champers in the Tights Please limo
Steak and chips in The Cafe at Bluebird - Bouillabaisse - Meat Liquor burgers at the F&F press day
Finally got into Pitt Cue for ribs, third time's a charm - Colleague cupcake envy - New Rekorderlig flavours
They got my order wrong at Starbucks so I ended up with two drinks - Reliving my youth through confectionery

Double polka dots - Buying my Beyond Retro playsuit - My new name necklace has arrived

Spent my £15 Whistles Elle voucher - Wearing an Autumnal dress with clogs changes everything

Pretty in paisley - A casual outfit for the park (basically the summery version of this) - More clogs with socks

Stripe shoe alert - My favourite new ring - Organising my nail polishes with good old Ikea storage

Recently I've discovered these posts by Gala Darling and Krisatomic on how to improve iPhone photos and it's really helped me (and increased my app count). Now, I no longer feel that leaving my DSLR at home is a wasted oppurtunity and love having a visual sort of diary on my phone that people can see. I also love having a nosey at what everyone is doing and seeing the random elements that make up their lives, please say I'm not alone? You really start to pick up on all the details that make up an individual and what they find interesting. What have you been capturing this month? It feels like May has gone so quickly and contained about three different seasons, so hopefully June will be more consistent! Remember to follow me @fashionknitsta on Instagram to see all of my updates.

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Colour and Custard

2012-05-27T17:14:00.001+01:00

Hooray, Summer has finally arrived in England! I was beginning to give up and attempt to emigrate if temperatures didn't improve, but luckily I've been able to experience some sun and stay put. The tricky thing when we're treated to a few days of nice weather, is knowing what to wear. Finally my reserve stock of summer outfits can be worn but where to start? Do I wear the blue spot dress, the white flamingo print dress or the neon skirt and stripy top? What if these are the only weather-worry-free days we get this year? I don't know if I just make this seem more complicated than it really is, but I can't help getting various ideas throughout the year and hoping that one day it'll be warm enough to carry them off. Eventually I managed to decide on some suitable summer attire for a Birmingham visit to see Winnie; she's been in Hong Kong for three months and we had a lot of catching-up to do!

Playsuit - Vintage via Beyond Retro

Flatforms - River Island

Necklace - Galibardy

Ring - V&A shop (yay you can buy it online)!

Sunglasses - c/o Polaroid

I do love a good vintage floral playsuit. They bring back memories of wandering around New York all those years ago (okay, two years ago) and feeling as free as a bird. I've noticed a lot of the vintage shops are starting to stock them now and after wandering into Beyond Retro and discovering a 'secret' sale, I was determined to find the perfect short-sleeved style. Cue a lot of trying on and dismay at the torso proportions and crazy shoulder pads of certain versions until finally finding this one in navy and purple. As it didn't have a price tag, I got it for the bargain sum of £8 and didn't think I'd be able to wear it so soon when I bought it on a drizzly Friday afternoon. The flatforms are one of my first River Island purchases in a while. I don't know if it's just me, but I find flatforms tricky to walk in due to their, well, flatness and I practically had to hobble to make my train as the left foot was determined to escape. Fortunately I laced them up as tight as I possibly could and adjusted my walking style (heel-toe) so that they would stay put. Panic over. The ring I bought during my recent visit to the V&A has been a firm finger-favourite and it's great to finally be able to wear these Polaroid sunglasses that I chose back in chilly February. What a difference a few months makes!

It was great to escape London for a few hours and take a peaceful journey to another city. The Custard Factory area was as colourful as ever and I even remembered the Bead Shop sign from my first visit in 2010. In true IWYTK fashion there was also plenty of food to be had and Winnie introduced me to a great all-you-can-eat sushi place which needs to be replicated in London (please say I'm wrong and there is one) at a reasonable price. Chatting and enjoying the sun was the order of the day so I didn't do too much shopping, though I did manage to locate some Essie nail polishes and a striper nail art pen to get tackling some of the designs from the Wah Nails book.

How have you been enjoying the sun?

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Dressed for the Occasion

2012-05-23T11:30:00.001+01:00

There's nothing quite like a bit of escapism on a dreary Tuesday morning. When I first heard that Ballgowns - British Glamour since 1950 was to be the main exhibition at the V&A this year, I wasn't quite sure how I'd relate to it. I do like a good designer retrospective and had hoped that the museum would treat us to one of those this time around, but nevertheless I was still excited to be invited to the press preview last week. I must admit the fashion area of the V&A tends to be my first port of call when visiting the museum and it's long hiatus means that I've discovered a few other areas in its absence. The gallery has had a bit of a refresh and it's wonderful to finally see some new pieces to learn more about. In keeping with the Cool Britannia theme of 2012, this exhibition focuses purely on British creations from the last 60 years. Although much has changed within fashion during this period, ballgowns still continue to be relevant and reinvented with the country house occasions of yesteryear being replaced with red carpet events.

As you enter the space, you are transported into a world of sophistication with the ground floor displaying over 30 gowns from the museum's permanent collection laid out as if you've just managed to sneak into a secret dressing room. The traditional layout complements the dresses within this section, though I was partial to the open space of the mezzanine level featuring gowns from 30 more recent designers and a stunning ceiling. Finally, I was able to be within touching distance (though of course I didn't) of the McQueen dress Daphne Guinness wore at the Met Gala all those years ago and the Christopher Kane dress Shailene Woodley wore just a couple of weeks ago.

In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by the exhibition and came away with a few favourite designs. You have to really appreciate the amount of knowledge and craftsmanship that goes into making such a piece and it really does give modern designers the chance to show off their skills in a world where fast-fashion is so popular. One metallic-leather piece by Gareth Pugh was even created specifically for the exhibition and there is a lace-printed latex gown by Atsuko Kudo (you can see a hint of in the picture above), which is an interesting take on the traditional concept. I've never really thought about the evolution of ballgowns much before but it'll be intriguing to see how they adapt with changing trends and whether new events will arise.

One think I love about going to exhibitions is having a mooch around the shop afterwards and buying some affordable memorabilia. The Fashion gallery now has it's own dedicated shop, which isn't as vast or chaotic as the main one next door, but still worth a look. I'd pretty much given up trying to get one of these bow rings after hearing that the Whistles version sold out way before Christmas, but lo and behold they were in the V&A shop in silver and gold for a mere 8 quid! It was the ideal memento of the morning and really made my day. Expect to see it featured here on a regular basis...

Ballgowns: British Glamour since 1950 takes place in the fashion gallery until the 6th of January 2013, giving you plenty of time to catch it before it goes. I think it's worth a look due to the pure fantasy element and hopefully one day I'll have an occasion where I can wear such a dress and am forced to be a bit graceful!

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Legs and Lobster

2012-05-20T19:29:00.000+01:00

It's always tricky trying to work out when to go bare-legged in this country. My threshold is usually 23 degrees but this year I'm willing to make an exception as you never know what's around the corner. In this country's case, it's probably Autumn. It's become quite tricky to pair the right tights with my outfits and as Carrie and Lucy have proved in the past, some things just look better with bare legs. This was my outfit for a sunny Saturday afternoon, in no way was it comparable to the heatwaves that are a rarity in this country, but I felt particularly brave on this occasion. Have you been getting your legs out recently?

T-shirt - House of Holland

Skirt - Monki

Shoes - Swedish Hasbeens c/o Spartoo

Jewellery - Forever 21, Marc by Marc Jacobs

Socks - Tabio

This House of Holland tee is another one of those AW11 sale finds that I never got around to blogging about, but I'm finding it quite suitable for SS12. Somehow this granny square adorned tee seemed more appealing at half price as in the past I've tried and failed to crochet a few myself. I couldn't resist picking up this skirt in Monki as I've been searching for a replacement for this too-short American Apparel number I sold recently. Am I getting a bit sensible with my skirt lengths these days? I think my days of awkwardly tugging my hems are over. I've been wearing my new clogs with tights for the past few weeks, so it was finally nice to ditch them and pair them with some cute ankle socks. My Mum despaired at another pair of Hasbeens as they're not particularly alluring and might seem reminiscent of the clogs I had when I was younger, but I love them anyway. They're extremely comfortable (don't be fooled by the wobbles) and I'd take these over your typical stilettos any day.

After visiting the Dover Street Market sample sale, I finally managed to get to Burger and Lobster with Stella (see her review here) and am counting the days until my next visit. It's not very often that I can afford to eat in Mayfair, but at £20 for a whole lobster (aka the gift that keeps on giving) and unlimited chips and salad, you definitely get a lot for your money. I'm attempting to become a bit more of a foodie these days (methinks it's a result of all the tantalising Instagram photos floating about on a daily basis) and trying to discover new places to eat in London instead of relying on old favourites. In typical 2012 fashion, I've made a Google Map to keep me on track when deciding on places to eat when on the move and I'm hoping to cover most of the list this Summer. I hope it helps any of you that are around the capital and I'm open to any more recommendations.

The winner of the Wah Nails book giveaway is Azra, congrats!

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A Wish Party

2012-05-18T17:00:00.000+01:00

Have you ever wondered how your blog might look if it were a party? I'm sure mine would be suitably chaotic, with plenty of things going on (nail art, photobooths, exhibitions) and about several different cuisines to choose from. Last Sunday, when the whether was particularly sunny, I went to a party that combined the aesthetics of Carrie and Lucy's blogs to celebrate Wish Magazine. The content and layout represents the things they love and is the perfect antithesis to all of the airbrushing and diet obsessions of modern magazines. As you can imagine, there were photo opportunities around every corner and it took a good while to whittle down the amount of photos to give you a sense of the afternoon. Described as a 'children's book for adults' the issue allows for dreaming and boasts plenty of inspiring interviews, illustrations and lifestyle features and even some gold stars for a bit of interactivity. Although I seem to inhabit the online world more than the average person, I'm definitely welcoming buying more special magazines that perhaps come out twice a year and offer something more worthwhile than your typical gossipy title. I can't wait to get my hands on the first issue and I hope there will be many more as it seems there's an important message to be spread.

Everyone dressed suitably for the occasion and it was the ideal time to bring out any sundresses that had been languishing in the depths of the wardrobe due to miserable weather. I wonder if turning the things you blog about into some kind of offline brand is the future of blogging. I can't help thinking that in ten years time, some of the blogger friends I've made might be the editors, journalists, stylists, designers and creatives shaping popular culture.

I decided to bake some Red Velvet cupcakes as my contribution to the party. I tried to make them look as professional as possible but luckily they tasted better than they looked and disappeared throughout the course of the afternoon. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to start making them four hours before the party started and I did end up being slightly late, but it was definitely worth it (although my Mum wasn't too happy I turned the kitchen red)...

Wish magazine is available here from Monday 21st of May. Will you be buying a copy?

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Night at the Museum

2012-05-16T12:24:00.000+01:00

I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to visit an art gallery after hours and take all the pictures I want and luckily I was able to have the Fashion & Textile Museum (practically) to myself before an exciting talk. I'm at a loss as to why I haven't visited the museum in a while, it obviously isn't because of transport issues as I'm at London Bridge more often than I'd like to be plus it's one of the few places solely dedicated to fashion exhibitions. With a bright orange exterior it's hard to miss and it's not too far from the Design Museum and one of my favourite areas, plus it has a SE1 postcode proving that South London has some great attractions. Like most creative places in London, it brings back fond memories of afternoons spent researching and broadening my knowledge (and even a random visit to Zandra Rhodes' apartment upstairs as I knew a friend staying there). Currently there's an exhibition entitled 'Designing Women: Post War British Textiles' and wish I'd taken a few more notes instead of just photographing everything I was drawn to. It was great to appreciate some prints with simpler graphic components that were progressive at the time and I recommend a visit if you're in the area and similarly textile-obsessed.

After a quick look around, we were treated to an exciting talk led by Melanie Rickey, Clive Reeve (Design Director of Oasis) and Nicky Albrechtsen, a vintage clothing collector and curator of The Printed Square. She owns an immense archive of carefully sourced clothing in East London, which is constantly visited by designers and High-Street design teams for inspiration (she even supplied a garment which kick-started Chanel's ice themed SS12 collection). The reason for the evening was to understand the reasons behind the collaboration with Oasis to produce a scarf print collection, which features more understated hues and gentler motifs in comparison to other versions out there. All of the prints have been developed from Nicky's collection of vintage scarves and reworked to complement modern shapes and to add something new to the fashion landscape, by using something older and created in a far less technological age. The evening constantly reiterated how designers are referencing the past and making it right for today, whether it's by using a minute stitching detail seen on a garment or copying something in it's entirety with updated styling. Being the geek I am, I managed to note down as much of their insight as possible and can only hope to catch a glimpse of Nicky's collection of vintage clothing one day. I've pretty much accepted that I'm an avid hoarder and am taking her advice to 'find something you love and collect them' very literally! I might have to start looking out for printed silk scarves after hearing about her passion for them and how she frames some of her favourites. Are there any items of clothing you love to collect?

Have you visited the Fashion and Textile Museum before? The current exhibition is on until the 19th of June and will be replaced by POP! Design. Culture. Fashion on the 6th of July.

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Up the Kings Road

2012-05-13T18:30:00.000+01:00

I think it's time to explore another corner of London. The miserable weather had put me off making the most of the city for a few weeks but luckily I dragged myself out of bed on an overcast Saturday to spend a few dedicated hours on the Kings Road. I've had a few brief visits in the past but wanted to make a proper day of it, see what all the fuss about Chelsea was (I've started watching the namesake programme purely to figure out who everyone's been discussing) and pretend that I'm a moneyed local. Previously I've mentioned that where I live (South-East) isn't really on the fashion radar and I've half-heartedly adopted East-London as my style of choice but I wanted to see the styles and brands available in a rather different part of London. There are none of the outlandish and overly experimental looks around here but instead immaculately presented shops and plenty of designer handbags on show.

First up was brunch at The Cafe at Bluebird, part of a larger concept space boasting an eclectic shop with numerous designer brands to covet, swish restaurant and delicatessen. Further down the road are many of your typical High-Street shops, but what really stood out to me was the Anthropologie store. Each store is truly individual and I hadn't prepared myself for such a large space adorned in their signature style, with every nook and cranny filled with items I would love in my dream home. The atmosphere was far more relaxed than their Regent Street store and I think they need to open a hotel so I can finally live in the environment they've created! These polka dot jeans are on my sale wishlist, so hopefully they come down to a less scary price and I can afford something other than a mug!

Leather jacket, skirt - Topshop

Shirt, shoes - Asos

Tights - c/o Hose

Necklace - Galibardy

Ring - Monki

I am gradually letting more and more conversational prints take over my wardrobe and had this elephant print shirt in my basket until a discount code appeared. How fickle I am! When the lovely Rebecca at Hose contacted me about styling up a pair of her hand-printed tights, I obviously couldn't refuse. I am a major tights addict and love this take on the typical seam-detail, which is replaced with a quirky bird design. Do you ever get the feeling when you leave the house in a new pair of shoes and realised you should have sent them back? I think I'm more in love with the idea of these shoes rather than the comfort factor, as I'm obsessed with all of the girly, heeled shoes around at the moment Hopefully by defiantly wearing them, the leather will stretch and they'll be fine by the time Summer hits properly.

Is there any part of London you're not too familiar with? I must admit it was tough going back to my South London reality instead of one of the multi-coloured houses on one of the side streets. I'll definitely be going back for some more pretending when the nice weather appears (fingers crossed).

Remember my giveaway ends tonight!

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Style and Then Some

2012-05-09T12:57:00.000+01:00

Forget all of those 'Celebrity Get The Look' features, what I'd quite to do is raid some of the wardrobes of the most popular street style subjects. I've been building up quite a collection of my favourite looks and have noticed a few familiar faces popping up time and time again, whose style I adore. Each of them works in a particularly creative area of fashion and they seem to create their own trends by wearing whatever they feel comfortable in and looking effortlessly dressed. Unlike bloggers, you only really get a glimpse into their wardrobes during the major fashion weeks and otherwise have to make do with an extended gap after a mass influx of pictures in February and September. I can't wait until there's some new imagery to feast my eyes on but until then, here's a few of my favourite looks from my favourite three.

Images: W Mag, Opening Ceremony Blog x2,Vanessa Jackman, Stockholm Street Style

I think being the buyer for Opening Ceremony has the be one of the best jobs there is and I can definitely see how Kate Foley's personal style aids her in finding the best designers for the brand. Socks with sandals and plenty of white dresses make up her signature look and add just the right amount of twisted prettiness that attracts my eye. I can't wait to see what influence her style has on the stock in the London store opening this summer and I'm counting down the days until it's warm enough to wear socks with sandals again!

Images: Hanneli, Citizen Couture, All The Pretty Birds, Topshop, Fashionologie

Julia Sarr-Jamois makes me exude jealously due to her numerous styling achievements at the tender age of 23 and obviously covetable wardrobe. Always open to experimentation, I'm impressed with how she embraces prints, colour and texture and stands out with her amazing head of hair. I've ordered a similar neon lace skirt to the one above and might just have to cheekily copy the styling!

Images: Wayne Tippets, Lee Oliveira, Altamira NYC, Lee Oliveira, Stylesight

There's far too many pouts for my liking in your average street style blog and I love how Elisa Nalin manages to smile and exude happiness in each photo she poses for. The bright colour combinations she usually wears must help somewhat and I love how she can expertly put unexpected hues together. I think that seeing her outfits over and over is one of the reasons my colour confidence is growing; life really is too short to blend in.

Have you noticed any street style stars popping up again and again? There are only a few celebrities whose style I pay attention to (the obvious Alexa Chung springs to mind) and I almost prefer seeing the style of the random fashion week attendees working as stylists, buyers and writers. I haven't managed to spot any of these inspiring ladies in real life as yet but hopefully my time will come soon enough.

If you're jealous of their outfits then just wait until you see their living spaces. Elisa and Kate both have homes that reflect their eclectic styles and I hope that one day I will have the same!

P.S Title nicked from this blog.

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Sundance

2012-05-06T18:00:00.000+01:00

Another outfit post, another weather grumble. After the brief sunny spell a month ago, I could quite easily regress back into my full Autumn wardrobe and I'm forcing myself to embrace all of the Summery shades. I'm secretly hoping that this in turn will 'Make Spring Happen' (as opposed to fetch) and that I can lose the tights for good soon enough.

Jumper - COS

Skirt - Topshop

Tights - Tabio

Necklace - c/o Tatty Devine

Ring - Galibardy

Creepers - c/o Spartoo

I've become a major jumper fan in the past six months or so and it's now become a bit of an addiction to keep finding styles that suit me, yet also have a unique quality or design element. They've been essential for the tricky weather conditions of late and I'll be sad to put this one away when it eventually gets warmer as the colour lends itself so well to Summer. The polka dot nails went a bit wrong but if anyone asks, they're my personal homage to Yayoi Kusama. I'm running a Wah nails book giveaway and although there isn't a tutorial inside, I'm sure it's only a matter of time until we see some extremely dotty nail art on their website.

This photo is by Claire Pepper, the awesome photographer who made me look decent despite a long day at work!

Cardigan - Topshop

T-shirt - A.P.C

Trousers - H&M

Shoes - Clarks c/o Spartoo

I've been trying to embrace trousers more and went for a bit of a head-to-toe colour explosion instead of blending in with the rain. It's weird to think how my style has changed in the past year (I feel a post coming on) as the idea of printed trousers would have sent me hiding in the nearest All Saints store if you'd suggested them to me previously. I guess the trouble with having such a recognisable item is that I see someone in the same print on a daily basis and even in the same office. Usually I try to be as individual as possible, which is probably a result of having the name I do and conveniently forgetting that other Kristabels exist. I've accepted that I am part of something bigger, an H&M floral printed trousers sort of society and I try to give a knowing look to anyone I see wearing them. Great minds think alike!

T-shirt - COS

Cardigan - 3.1 Phillip Lim

Shorts - c/o Boutique by Jaeger

Brogues - Office

Necklace, tights - Topshop

No your eyes are not deceiving you, yes there is a Phillip Lim item somewhere in my midst. A chance tweet by My Wardrobe announcing further reductions on their sale led me to this canny purchase back in February. At the time, I'd been searching for a bog-standard grey cardigan but luckily ended up with something far more exciting, which boasts an unusual layered sleeve effect and double-breasted opening. I'm definitely trying to buy more quality items as I approach my (shudder) mid-twenties and I think it's worth budgeting for final clearance sales on sites like these, as you never know what you might end up with (plus the packaging is almost as exciting as what's inside)! Have you ever managed to find a designer bargain? I'm planning to stop by the Dover Street Market sample sale next weekend (it was one of my resolutions so it's absolutely paramount that I attend), so expect to see me crawling under rails hunting for anything Comme des Garcons if you're about!

Enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend if you're UK based; as if we've got the heating on!

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A Nailtastic Competition!

2012-05-02T12:30:00.000+01:00

It's time for another competition! I've been collecting various bits and bobs ever since the last random giveaway, but it's only recently that I've managed to find the last part of the puzzle to make the prize extra special. You might already know that I'm a massive fan of nail art and even though my talons might appear plain due to lack of organisation, they're really longing to be adorned in a variety of ways. It's really interesting to see how nail art has hit the mainstream after observing it on blogs for a while (I believe I first tried it out for myself here) and I love explaining to non-blog readers how it all works to their amazement. Yes I really did it myself! Despite everyone now knowing our secrets, one of the benefits of Wah world domination is that all the tools you need are readily available on the High Street and the founder Sharmadean Reid has created a handy book full of some of the salon's most well known designs. My copy only arrived the other day and even though I've had a quick glance, it seems like a cross between one of my playful childhood annuals (with stickers and space to draw out your own designs) and a bit of a personal scrapbook. Although you might be able to work out some of the designs from the various Tumblrs out there, nothing beats a book and I'm excited to offer one to give away!

Goodies to Win: WAH Nails Book of Nail Art (I did feel slightly weird ordering two of the same books but it's all for a good cause), Milly Charm Necklace, Boux Avenue Rose Petal Lip Balm, Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights, Andrea Fullerton French Manicure Nail polish, Urban Decay Glitter Eyeliner in Air Guitar, Poetic Trend bracelet

Them's the rules:
Leave a comment on this post telling me the nail art design you'd ideally like to master (maybe it's time to embrace scarf prints). Make sure I have a way of being able to contact you as my psychic powers are starting to fail me...

This competition is global, so feel free to enter if you'd need to take a flight to visit a Wah Nails salon.
Follow my blog on either GFC, Facebook or Bloglovin to keep the ramblings a coming.

The competition ends on Sunday 13th May and the winner will be picked using good old randomness.

Good luck!

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Not another Instagram post...

2012-04-29T18:57:00.000+01:00

'Oh dear' you might cry, 'Kristabel's joined the iPhone herd and saddled us with another one of those Instagram posts'. A true blogosphere meme if there ever was one, which I'm finally getting a chance to partake in. I'm never a person with the most up-to-date phone; I got my first brick when everyone was onto their customisable Nokia 5110s (gotta love the noughties), then got my Nokia 3310 when most were onto their first cameraphones. Gradually, I was starting to get those same feelings of 15-year-old envy with my previous Blackberry model and winced every time I saw another one of those sepia tinted photos pop up in my twitterfeed. I've been using Apple laptops for quite a few years now, but the mobile version had so far eluded me, due to inconvenient contracts and a previous lack of funds. A few weeks ago I finally took the plunge and decided to abandon my ageing phone for a brand new 4s, complete with numerous apps and time-wasting abilities (hello Draw Something). Now I see how easy it is to be addicted to being constantly contactable and having the world at your fingertips easily. Who's with me?

I was sent this handy feathers case from Iconemesis to ease my initiation into customisable phone attire. I know that back in the day those Nokia phones had this feature and I often used to jazz mine up with the odd glittery nail polish, but there's something distinctly slick about today's versions. The amount of choice out there is overwhelming and I'm sure I'll grow into changing my cases as often as my underwear one day (this one is next on the list), but until then I'm happy with the calming feather design. Luckily I haven't had to deal with my battery running out in an awkward situations yet but I know it's inevitable with the amount of blog-reading that I like to do on various modes of public transport. This portable charger that was sent by Mobile Fun is a godsend and will be useful for combating the utter moment of confusion when your phone suddenly switches off when it was all going so swimmingly.

Exploring Shoreditch on a Saturday - A quick snap of blossom before my commute - Quirky wrapping paper at Joy -

A typewriter at Lucy and Carrie's house - Gem and I in Company magazine -

Interiors at the Urban Outfitters press day - Treats in jars - A surprise Glossybox

These Jana Reinhardt necklaces reminded me of the twitter icon - Beaded collar spotted at Darling -

Thought about making jelly sandals happen- Also considered a hipflask -

Was gutted to have to send my tiny Me and Zena ring back - Gorgeous undies seen at the Boux Avenue Westfield opening - More wooden sandal love, this time the culprit being Medwinds - Things to make your home pretty

Starting the day with smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels - Yummy Victoria sponges amongst other things -

The perfect smoothie - I know that photos of coffee are ubiquitous on these things but I couldn't resist -

Paella was the perfect unexpected dinner - Pancakes, ham and scrambled eggs at The Breakfast Club -

Cheese-fest at Vapiano - Chocolate for Sunday dinner (I jest)

Wearing inappropriate shoes for puddles - A crazy few hours shopping after work and almost having a COS breakdown - New nail art - Finally bought this Asos elephant-print shirt, I blame 25% off - All dolled up complete with collar -

Wearing the same floral trousers and denim combo as Amy - I can't believe I'm dressing for Autumn weather in April - Drenched satchel, I hate this weather!

I am loving the ability to capture random day-to-day elements in my life, that previously weren't documented due to leaving my DSLR at home or getting annoyed with the Blackberry quality. Now I can see my life through various retro filters and my photos taken on the move have their own designated space and can be treasured rather than forgotten. Expect a lot of food, sneaky shop pictures and flowers if my current form is anything to go by. There are a couple of clichés that I'm probably going to be guilty of, which this twitter account sums up perfectly (the Pinterest version is a good read too). We might all be scratching our heads in ten years time as to why taking random filtered photos was so popular (or even sooner depending on what Facebook does), but I'm happy capturing nonetheless. If you're able to, follow me @fashionknitsta to see what I'm up to and let me know if you're similarly addicted or of any other apps that I need in my life.

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A Darling Discovery

2012-04-25T11:49:00.000+01:00

When it comes to getting dressed, I have two sides to my personality. The first side of me likes to embrace my femininity with a nipped in waist, wooden soled shoe and polka dot pattern somewhere in the mix. My second side longs for the effortless style of certain Scandinavian bloggers and intriguing construction and detailing found in labels such as Acne, COS and Weekday. The result is a bit of a fight between the two sides, polka dot tights with an asymmetric dress because I refuse simply to stick to one look and love to experiment (I hope I never grow out of it despite seeing articles that state this is necessary). I guess that when it comes to style, I like to have my cake and eat it so when I recently went to the Darling showroom to take a look at some of their collections I took the chance to live out my theory. It's always nice when a brand makes their collection come to life with strong visuals and relevant edible props (I couldn't stop eating), so instead of being stuck in the rain I decided to indulge the sweeter side of my personality.

As a result of the near-perfect setting, I ended up taking so many photos of the evening and popped as many as I could here so that you could get a sense of it all. The Darling headquarters also serves as a design studio and must provide the perfect inspiration what with all the various bits and bobs that adorned the room. Even though I'm used to seeing collections far in advance now, it was nice to have a reminder of Summer and admire some of the pastel dresses with a contrast lace overlay as well as thinking ahead for how I might want to transition into Autumn. There are plenty of catwalk references to the more Gothic and heritage inspired collections at a typical High Street price point (the brand can be found downstairs in Topshop Oxford Circus, plus at Asos and like-minded independent boutiques) and plenty of variety whether you're into collars, quirky prints or a bit of tweed. I'm not sure if I would style the dresses in a completely ladylike manner as a nod to my other side (hello Dr Martens) but I'm excited for the potential.

What do you think of Darling; does the brand fit in with any of your multiple fashion personalities? I think I'd like to model my bedroom on their studio, complete with the endless supply of cakes!

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Escaping the Rain

2012-04-22T18:08:00.000+01:00

Whoever came up with the phrase 'April showers' is probably cackling with glee right now; Spring in England has definitely taken a turn for the worse. It's rained pretty much all week with a few deceptive hours of sunshine sandwiched in between, making getting dressed strictly a transitional affair. I'm determined not to wear my Winter coat until at least November and am trying to add a sunshine flair to my outfits despite what the weatherman says. I've got plenty of summery outfits planned, which I'm just itching to sport once I get the metaphorical go-ahead but until then, it looks like I'll be covered up for a little while longer.

Parka - c/o Urban Outfitters

Breton top - Saint James

Skirt - Vintage

Mint tights - Topshop

Shoes - Betty London

Ring - Galibardy

Necklace - c/o Tatty Devine

I've wanted a proper Saint James Breton top for a good few years and finally managed to pick one up from the authentic sailing setting of Arthur Beale on Shaftesbury Avenue. I know that every High Street store has their take on the ubiquitous striped tee (I may or may not have some of them already) but for once I wanted the real deal with the tricky boat neckline. They only have this colourway in stock but I think it's the cheapest place you'll find a Saint James top in London (unless you're particularly lucky in charity shops). Lucy managed to take these pictures of me after an event this week; it's so hard getting pictures in the morning especially with the downpours and my general lack of organisation but I definitely want to try and capture more day-to-day outfits that are put together in a bit of a rush.

Jumper - Topshop

Cheap Monday Denim Dress - c/o Love Clothing

Necklace - Galibardy

Boots - Vagabond

This outfit probably wasn't the most flattering to photograph and most of the discarded hands-in-pockets photos made me look like a sort of weird compound shape. It's not even as if I had a remote to hide! I decided to branch out from my typical girly dress shape when I chose this denim number from Love Clothing and I'm still on the fence as to whether it suits me in its un-layered form. Shirt-dresses are pretty much avoided by me at all costs, but I've admired their chic ease from afar and hope that it will rub off on me when I manage to brave it with bare legs and a belt. The balloon dog necklace is still a firm favourite in my jewellery collection and is a great conversation starter. I'm starting to notice that there's a clear style of jewellery I like to wear, thoughtful but not too fussy with the right amount of quirkiness. Would you be interested in a post about my jewellery collection? I still haven't found the perfect storage method so would be grateful for any suggestions as my current holder keeps toppling over!

Leather jacket - Topshop

Top - A.P.C

Skirt - Battersea Boot Fair (actually American Apparel)!

Polka dot tights - M&S

Dr Martens - c/o Spartoo

Necklace - Joy
Ring - Monki

So I finally made it to Joy this week for an 18 and East party that they were throwing and hoped to try on some of the items featured in my wishlist. I guess the danger of these online moodboards is that items don't quite translate into real life and I ended up deviating from my original plan, buying a flamingo-covered dress and this pineapple necklace. It's always the way, isn't it? I wore this outfit expecting it to rain and fearing the worst for my new hair-do, but luckily the heavens didn't open too much. I'm wearing my skirt that I bought from Battersea Boot Fair, which is actually American Apparel with a £41.50 saving! I love it when things like that happen. The pastel blue colour is really what sold it to me and although it's a squeeze, I can't wait to team it with something equally as sugary sweet.

How have you been surviving the rainy weather?

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Perfect Spring Updates

2012-04-15T20:38:00.001+01:00

Surprise surprise, I want to go shopping again. I blame the influx of magazines in my life (including the revamped Company Magazine in which my face appears on page 88) and general blog reading. Truthfully speaking, my wardrobe already has a lot going on already but I just feel that I need a few more pieces to act as the glue that holds everything together. I'm trying to be sensible and choose the items that represent what this summer is about but also have the potential to be worn for longer.

Urban Outfitters paisley dress c/o Idealo

I was contacted recently by Idealo about taking part in a Spring dress challenge and jumped at the chance to receive this Urban Outfitters dress that I'd had my eye on. Paisley had never seemed to appeal to me until the powers of fashion got to work, making the prints at Stella McCartney and J.W Anderson seem extremely desirable. I've worn this dress several times since the arrival date roughly a month ago in typical transitional fashion with tights and boots, but I'm longing to wear it with bare legs and cute sandals as it was most likely intended. Of course I've been too disorganised to get photographic evidence of me wearing it but rest assured it's one of my new favourite dresses and gives me a break from the polka dots!

Louche Jacquard sundress, Topshop crochet jumper, Zara mint trousers, Galibardy ring, Topshop Pyjama style shirt, Louche denim dress, Massimo Dutti jumper, Louche floral skirt, River Island flatforms

So as a result of my usual web surfing this week, I've come to the above shopping conclusions; I definitely want a few more pretty dresses in my life. I seem to have found a few from some American websites, which I'm tempted by despite the hefty customs charge potential and dodgy exchange rates. I've popped all of my faves from the British High Street into the mood-board that I can realistically afford; I've rediscovered Joy and found some lovely dresses and skirts that are just sitting in my basket, waiting for me to crack. Topshop has once again got me hook line and sinker with an illuminous green jumper to help me channel some of the street-style images I've been pinning and a non-scary pyjama style shirt that has unfortunately sold out (please come back). The Galibardy tape measure ring is a no-brainer due to the fashion connotations, the Massimo Dutti jumper is made from yarns that get my seal of approval and the River Island flatforms look comfy enough to get me out of my black shoe rut. Which pieces are you looking to update your wardrobe with this April? Hopefully the fact that I've done a bit of prior research will work in my favour and I won't end up with something completely random that doesn't fit my criteria of being versatile.

Changing the subject slightly, I'm also now on Instagram which is a whole different kettle of fish to what I'm used to! I hope to have a proper introduction post when I've actually used it out and about some more, so follow me @fashionknitsta in the meantime to see what I'm up to. I seem to have followed quite a few people who are at Coachella and it's made me extremely jealous, does anyone fancy a blogger trip there next year?

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A Day in the Life

2012-04-11T11:30:00.000+01:00

Do some of these pictures look slightly familiar? A little while ago I made a long-awaited trip back to Battersea Boot Fair, which holds a special place in my heart due to the fact that it inspired my graduate collection. Even though my journey there took longer than usual (never take a bus anywhere in South London), I still managed to pick up three skirts for the bargain price for £6 within 15 minutes of looking around. I never know what to expect when I turn up and luckily I'm rarely disappointed. Do you have much luck at car boot sales? It's my favourite purely because it starts at midday and only really starts to get busy after 1pm, which is perfect for my lazy Sunday routine!

Afterwards, I couldn't resist hijacking Jazmine's room and taking a few photos in the picture-perfect setting she's created. I don't want to spoil things and hopefully she'll do a bedroom post soon, as the décor suits her personality well with it's variously arranged knick-knacks and vintage furniture. I do love a good nosey at other peoples living spaces and it was great to see all of her Vogue magazines and thoughtfully curated wardrobe. I hope that I can be as organised one day!

Dress - Motel

Tights - Topshop

Bag - c/o Jane Shilton

Clarks smart shoes - c/o Spartoo

Ring - Astrid & Miyu

Necklace - Me & Zena

I've had this dress for ages now and thought it was about time that it got another outing. Although I'm often drawn to a striped dress, they can often be far from flattering if the waist isn't in the right place and I love the gentle fit and flare shape of this style. My mint tights were the ideal update and my new Clarks shoes kept everything Spring-like on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I've loved the cut-work detail ever since I saw the adverts which feature them (Harriet owns them too) and I'm sure that I'll be wearing them loads this summer, if not purely to incite better weather. Now when it comes to bags, I tend to veer towards a more classic style and I jumped at the chance to receive a lovely new bag from Jane Shilton to add to my collection. It bears similar hallmarks to some of the vintage styles I have, with plenty of handy compartments for all my junk. Hopefully I will now be able to find everything easily instead of my typical 'Where's me keys..where's me phone?' routine!

I must say that I was very impressed with how the photos turned out by Jazmine's trademark brick wall and I'm hoping to make a return visit soon!

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Best of the Accessories

2012-04-08T22:12:00.002+01:00

It seems that I've been a little greedy with my press day visits this season and now have the tricky task of whittling down thousands of photos so that this blog doesn't need endless scrolling. Recently I've been questioning the idea of these sorts of 'press day posts' and whether it's more worthwhile waiting until all of the items I feature are actually in store. These days I'm always thinking so far ahead and when I see something I like, I prefer to share it pretty soon after regardless of whether it'll be hitting the shops in a few more months. I'm pretty sure that by the time all of the Autumn stuff is in store, my mind and camera will have moved onto the next thing with only my attire staying in the correct season. In my attempt to break things down, I've decided to focus on some of the accessories that have caught my eye, which all retain some sort of British twist.

It was a welcome change spending part of the morning swooning over some of Lulu Guinness' latest creations before rushing back to work and normality. Each season the theme is watertight and for AW12 the bookworm is in style, with the eclectic bookshops of Audrey Hepburn's Funny Face providing the inspiration. Titles have been swapped for some of Lulu's favourite sayings and the interior boasts the same functionality present in previous designs, albeit with a literary twist. I'm even more convinced that I want to add one of her slouchy nappa tote bags to counteract some of my structured satchels and at least seeing the collection so far in advance means that I have enough time to save accordingly.

Just when you thought that all of the satchel possibilities had been exhausted, Zatchels manage to come up trumps and create a way for such a classic design to be updated with a modern twist. Although I chose a classic red style back in February, the pastel shades were definitely a second choice and I'm almost regretting my decision after seeing them in person. Although there are a few companies specialising in the humble satchel these days, Zatchels have really pushed the range of colours, prints and styles and have become so successful in just a year and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

I loved Fiona's necklace that she wore to the Aussie event, methinks I might need to borrow it soon...

I've only recently become a Tatty Devine convert, after admiring their designs every season at London Fashion Week but never quite knowing which piece to buy first. I get overwhelmed very easily. You can't go wrong with something personalised, and it was pretty cool to see one of the girls in action at the MLPR press day and to have a charm necklace created for me on the spot. It was all in aid of The Tatty Devine Charm Club, which is to be launched in July and allows you to be sent a new cute charm every month to adorn a hand-made bracelet or necklace and keep your jewellery fresh and exciting. Expect to see my necklace in an outfit post very soon and hopefully a new name necklace once the new Selfridges store opens.

H&H nails

I hope that everyone's having a lovely Easter weekend!

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The Truth about Designer Collaborations

2012-04-04T11:30:00.000+01:00

It seems that not a month goes by where there isn't some sort of partnership announced between an accessible brand and one that's out of reach for most. This year alone we've had Orla Kiely for Uniqlo, DVF for Gap and the most recent splurge for myself, Marni for H&M. It's quite a fun game to try and think of the most ludicrous pairings (say Kanye West for Matalan) and see if any of them actually come to fruition. Surely anything is possible? Designer collaborations are a great way to buy into a brand and plant that important seed into those who were previously unaware. We might not be able to afford their mainline pieces at the moment, but hopefully in years to come when that dream salary has been reached, the fond memories created by that H&M skirt end up developing into a considered mainline purchase. I seem to have bought into a few of the collections myself even without going as far as queuing at silly o'clock (though my devoted Mum did once for me) or paying extortionate prices on eBay. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.

Leather Jacket, denim shirt - Topshop

Skirt - Marni for H&M

Sandals - Swedish Hasbeens c/o Zalando

Tights - Calzedonia

Necklace, ring - Galibardy
Thanks to Lucy for the photos and direction, look I'm pretending to walk!

What really comes down to it is whether I actually like the garments in the collection. Once I'd seen the Marni for H&M previews, I had my eye on a few pieces but in the end most of my order went back and I decided to keep the original skirt that I'd wanted in the first place. I think that I'd got caught up in the excitement of actually being able to access the website when I ordered the pyjama shorts and in reality I realised that the just-got-out-of-bed-look wasn't for me. It can be argued that such collaborations are a diluted version of what the brand really creates and I'm sure that somewhere along the line, marketing has affected me in some way whether it's via blogs or Twitter excitement. I tend to overthink things and can see through the tricks, but still couldn't help making a purchase. The name doesn't necessarily convince me to buy it, but it certainly provides a tipping point in combination with some of the brand associations, design and fit of the garment. It could be described as being in garment limbo, not well-made or special enough to justify a designer price tag nor bearing the hallmarks of a typical £40 skirt. I'd be intrigued to know whether you bought anything from the collection and your reasons for doing so. I can't yet see an end in sight for such brand partnerships as they can be beneficial for both parties in helping smaller designers fund collections and getting different sorts of customers into their stores. If this is the way to add some variety to my wardrobe inspired by my favourite brands, then so be it.

Assorted collaboration pieces, Louise Goldin for Topshop leggings, Versace for H&M t-shirt and skirt, Comme des Carcons for H&M jumper, Mary Katrantzou for Newgen t-shirt

I've managed to find a few of my favourite pieces that fit the criteria and noticed that I've become slightly wiser recently with such purchases. I'm not sure if the Kate Moss collection really counts (celebrity collaborations are a whole different ball game) but I did buy three of the pieces all those years ago mainly due to the hype (and a helpful staff discount at the time) and have still hung onto them, despite not wearing them in a while. Now I tend not to go overboard, indulging in only a couple of cheaper items in a range and sticking to safer shapes in an interesting fabric or print. I'm not too bothered about it being instantly recognisable and sometimes it's nice to see a clear inspiration that has been helpfully provided by the designer. I just wish that there wasn't so much hype and that items could be bought easily in a normal manner (instead of having ten minutes to shop in a confined area at a specific time). It remains to be seen whether these early collaboration purchases will inspire something a little more substantial in the future from these brands, but I'm dreading those bank statements already, especially if polka dots are involved.

What are your thoughts on when designers unite with High-Street brands? There are so many alliances announced these days and I do let the majority pass me by, do you ever manage to get sucked in?

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This is Not a Test

2012-04-01T18:32:00.000+01:00

It seems we spend so many months preparing for Spring and getting excited by all of those initial editorials, that when it finally appears you have to start putting all plans into action pretty quickly. As soon as the sun appeared roughly over a week ago, I started to panic slightly but realised that the best thing to do is just to throw caution to the wind and try new things out. I must admit that I'm partial to the colder months, purely because if I'm wearing something I'm unsure about, my coat can disguise it somewhat and make everything alright. Summer is typically about showing off a little more and this year I'm attempting to embrace it and not shy away from what I wear.

Jumper, Owl Ring - Urban Outfitters

Trousers - H&M

Flatforms - Vagabond

Nails - Nail Rock Nail wraps from the Motel party

As much as staple items are the foundation of a wardrobe, I do love to try a trend. It's the fashion equivalent of having a massive slice of chocolate cake after a sensible meal, a guilty pleasure as it were. I know that these printed trousers are going to be everywhere (I first saw them here) since they cost less than a phone bill, but I don't care. I thought that I would be the last person to try any kind of printed trouser when they appeared on my radar during the 2012 resort collections, but lo and behold my mind has been infiltrated and I'm wearing a similar version almost a year later. The contrast with my jumper of the moment reminds me of this image from the Maje lookbook, and although I love a bit of clashing, I never thought I'd take it in this sort of direction. I'm wearing pink for goodness sake! Is it funny how your mind can change after a certain period of time? As much as it makes me freak out slightly that Google Images yields multiple photos of me gurning, It's so useful having a blog and realising the point when your style starts to evolve. The flatforms were finally bought after they went down to half price, but swiftly ditched after the photos for something a bit more comfortable. As much as I love the idea of them, my feet are used to shoes with straps, so walking in them will take a little bit more practice but I'm determined to make them work.

Images via Stockholm Street Style, Street Style Aesthetic, Stylesight, Man Repeller, Stylesight

I owe many things to the Internet (mainly wasting time) but the one thing it does is help to manage some of the fashion-related thoughts in my head and make it clearer to see themes. Recently I've noticed that most of the images I've pinned recently seem to feature denim blue and yellow in some way (and to a lesser extent green), so I can clearly see the direction I want my wardrobe to take this season. I just love the difference a pop of yellow can make in an outfit and I want to continue to be bolder with my colour combinations, rather than just playing it safe. I'd be interested to know your thoughts on Summer dressing and the possible anxiety it brings wearing something that really makes you stand out in a sea of black suits. I know I tend to constantly write about what I want to do, but now is the time to put it all into practice!

Remember to enter my Boux Avenue competition here!

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East vs West

2012-03-30T12:30:00.000+01:00

One of the perks of being a 'blogger' apart from the obvious community aspect and fact that I can waffle on about trivial items such as nail polish and the perfect shade of yellow, is some of the amazing events I get to attend and the unique insight it offers me. I must admit that I do the majority of my shopping online (most things I'm after are pinned here) and love to mull things over for a couple of days before I purchase. However, there's nothing that can replace the physical feeling of seeing something you love hanging on a rail, trying it on and if it fits nicely, handing over your cold hard cash (or battered debit/credit card in my case) before skipping out of the shop with a lovely bag. With the Westfield shopping centres in London being so new and connected with all things digital, they've created a series of 'Future Fashion' events that run until the 9th of April, fusing all of the online curation aspects we love (such as creating polyvore style mood boards) in 'real life.' I was invited on Monday evening to try out some of the technology and listen to a presentation about East vs West London style by Grazia's fashion editor Melanie Rickey.

I've never really attributed my style to an area of London (I think the South-East gets overlooked in this case booooo), but I guess I can relate to certain relaxed elements of style seen in East London. Melanie Rickey gave us an exclusive look at the presentation she puts together once all the fashion weeks are done and dusted plus some of her thoughts on how the style differs at opposite ends of the capital. She mentioned that fashion designers tend to be based in East London, whereas fashion business and brands tend to hail from the West which could be responsible for the slightly slicker feel that can be seen at all the various Head Offices. Meadham Kirchhoff are seen as a brand that represents East London fusing traditional couture techniques with eccentric styling (remember my post from SS12 here) and presenting their extreme version of femininity, in contrast to Louis Vuitton's slightly softer and polished West London offering. Of course it's easy to generalise the two areas and the Internet does create a blur between city cultures allowing us to pick and choose the elements we love wherever we live. Have you noticed a difference in style depending on which area you're in? It definitely is an exciting time for fashion in the capital and there is a definite move towards a more individual output, focusing on creating a longer lasting style rather than flash in the pan trends.

Note my expression of extreme concentration. You might have guessed this was not my photo either.

Of course I had to have a go at creating a moodboard on one of the 103" LCD screens, which you can see on the Westfield Facebook page here (click on the bloggers tab). Even though I'm a Photoshop devotee, it took a bit of time for me to get to grips with the touch-screen technology (hence the bizarre placement of images) but I feel that it reflects some of the things I want to wear this Summer *cough polka dots cough*. Are you planning to try out some of the technology? The event is on in Westfield London until Sunday and lands in Westfield Stratford from Wednesday 4th April until Monday 9th. I'm sure the areas will be busy but let me know if you manage to catch any of the action!

Remember to enter my giveaway here!

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Win £50 to spend at Boux Avenue!

2012-03-28T11:30:00.000+01:00

The sun is shining, the winter clothes have been banished and the layers are starting to get thinner. Although I'm typically an Autumn/Winter girl, I'm determined to be a lot braver this summer and not freak out too much about showing off the bod, what with all the cut-outs and crop tops that are on trend. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's thinking about making what lies beneath a little more interesting and handily Boux Avenue have sent me a £50 giftcard to give away to a lucky reader. There's a great selection of vintage-inspired lingerie on the site, as well as some cute printed swimwear (I'm partial to this set myself) and good old pjs for real-life pyjama dressing.

The rules:
Leave a comment on this post telling me the SS12 trend you are braving this season and a method of contact.
Follow my blog on either GFC, Facebook or Bloglovin to keep the ramblings a coming.
You must be a U.K resident (apologies to all my international readers but rest assured I will be sorting a giveaway for everyone as soon as I can).
The competition ends on Friday 6th April (a.k.a Good Friday) and the winner will be announced shortly afterwards (or when I've devoured a few Easter Eggs).

Good luck!

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A Series of Recent Events

2012-03-25T17:57:00.000+01:00

Hello again! This post is slightly later than expected (the post schedule that exists in my head has only recently been transferred to paper, look at me getting all organised), but hopefully normal service can resume this week and the blog 'engineering works' will be over for a while. The press days are starting up again in London and I've been aiming to get to grips with a few more brands this season and generally make you want to buy even more in the months ahead. There are so many international brands, which are now setting up shop in the UK taking us one step further to a truly global shopping experience. No longer will we have to resort to desperate measures to obtain the brands we love, risking customs fees and general disappointment in the process.

The Covent Garden branch of Laduree would have to be the ideal location for a press day, since I'd been meaning to visit for a while but never managed to get around to it. Luckily Melvita read my mind and provided the perfect mix of macaroons, rose petals and some of the nicest smells known to man. The French brand boasts a great range of products for the summer season and the fact that they're organic is a bonus if you're that way inclined. This quick visit has definitely made me determined to splash out on a meal at Laduree one day, overlooking the Covent Garden piazza and all of the street performers. Here's hoping the weather will cooperate and this week's balmy temperatures will continue throughout the Summer.

Varg is a company after my own heart, boasting many of the Scandinavian brands I love and a few more that I'm starting to obsess over. I already knew that I'd love much of the Swedish Hasbeens collection and it's great to see that they're producing their lovely sandals and clogs all year around, as well as some directional loafer-wedge creations for later this year in rich, autumnal shades. Spotting some red clutch bags emblazoned with the logo also filled me with excitement for seasons to come. In other news, I spent a while admiring this knitted dress from Dagmar, which mixed gritty hardware with arty stitch combinations to illustrate the original inspiration of ground-breaking Swedish women. I'm really excited by the lookbook images (see the rest of the catwalk collection here) and hope to be able to save up for something from the range one day. Are you a fan of Swedish brands as much as me? I'm tempted to learn the language so I can understand some of the blogs I read and Elin Kling's magazine!

This wasn't really an event per se, but the arrival of the Comme des Garcons 2 perfume that I happened to win on Mat's blog was an exciting one. I am not usually the lucky type when it comes to competitions (though I'm hoping this will change when I start playing the Euromillions) so this was a welcome addition to my scent collection, population 2. I always forget to put perfume on, so I'm hoping that leaving the quirky bottle out will remind me on a daily basis to 'spritz the pits' and not just smell of soap and water. Have you spotted anything you like in this post? There will definitely be more to come as I have to make like a superhero and trek to multiple press days in rush hour this week, so wish me luck!

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Denim & Dim Sum

2012-03-18T19:24:00.001Z

Another attempt to recreate the amazingness that is one of Winnie's food posts. She's definitely had a hand in getting me obsessed with all things dim sum related and I couldn't wait to pay another visit to Jade Garden to sample even more dishes and prove that I had perfect ordering skills. As human dustbins go, I pretty much eat anything in sight and have no qualms about most textures of food, making me the ideal person to try out new cuisines with. I hope any food bloggers reading this take the hint! The area of choice for this outing was Covent Garden, somewhere I'm always passing through but never have the time to properly visit. I spent a few hours there with Abi last weekend, admiring some items in the shops and resisting the urge to buy this green jumper.

Denim Shirt, ring - Monki

Skirt - Vintage

Tights - Topshop

Sandals - SixtySeven c/o Brandosa

Skull necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Bag - c/o Zatchels

The most annoying thing about the Spring/Summer season, is the confusion the weather brings. It rarely seems to reach the unquestionable New York highs, which made getting dressed easier. Here I question every decision, such as whether to wear tights or not (the answer is always yes until at least May) or if I will I look ridiculous wearing sunglasses when it isn't fashion week. I was almost tempted to wear my new shoes from Brandosa with bare legs on such a sunny day, but I chickened out at the last minute and resorted to my plum 120 deniers. The sandals are the perfect schoolgirl style, which I'm drawn to at the moment mainly for the twee factor and the fact that they're not black. I had resisted the allure of another blocked denim shirt for a while, but lo and behold, this style from Monki managed to convince me. It's the perfect slim fit style and is ripe for potential 'double denim' combinations that B*Witched never quite managed to master. I have rightly banned myself from any future denim shirt/jacket purchases, no matter how tempted I am because quite frankly, my wardrobe situation is getting ridiculous! I'm definitely going to try and donate some things that I haven't worn for a while and try and lay off the fast fashion for a bit.

I've been seeing these eggs everywhere in London and it took me a few days to work out what was going on, but it seems that there's a city-wide egg-hunt going on. I wish I'd made a bit more effort in trying to find them instead of stumbling upon them by accident as it seems there's some great designs from several of my favourite artists in the mix. Have you come across any yet? Random activities like this need to happen in London more often and I hope to get my little sister involved in finding some!

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Past & Present

2012-03-16T18:30:00.000Z

It may seem like exhibition central on here at the moment (I've been to three in about as many weeks, go me), but some things are just too exciting to keep to yourself. Earlier this week I was invited to the opening of the Universal Greek Fashion Designers exhibit at the Hellenic Centre. They've combined past and present, featuring contemporary greats such as Mary Katrantzou, Sophia Kokosalaki and Marios Schwab with six greats who have helped to revolutionise fashion design in Greece. It's rather easy to forget past collections when we're always focused on what's coming next and I definitely welcomed revisiting the lampshade skirt from Katrantzou's SS11 collection and realising just how far her aesthetic has moved on in little over a year. Ever the dutiful daughter, I brought my Mum along, who'd conveniently stolen my Newgen t-shirt to wear (the evidence is here).

This exhibition is free and is only on until March 22nd, so make sure you visit if you're in the area to admire some of these creations up close. The centre is a short walk from Selfridges, so don't blame me for any inspired purchases!

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Saturday Southbank

2012-03-14T11:39:00.000Z

It's fun to be a tourist in your own city sometimes. We spend so much time rushing from place to place that there's never really a chance to take in our surroundings. I guess that these sort of exploration posts I like to do really started when I lived in New York for six months back in 2010 and I really made the effort to discover something new every weekend. Since I've graduated, I've been trying to replicate this idea in between all of the errand running and social-media checking and it's also allowed me to revisit places from my past that I'm now able to see the brilliance of with fresh and slightly more grown-up eyes. I don't think I've visited the Tate Modern for several years and after spending a few hours there last Saturday, I'm slightly confused as to why. The V&A had tended to be my museum of choice due to the obvious fashion connection, but there's definitely a lot of worthwhile inspiration to be found slightly further along the river. Even though I've lost my student status, I still want to keep the creative juices flowing and reverting to my 15-year-old, GCSE Art obsessed self with her quick sketches and postcard hoarding.

Although photography wasn't allowed, luckily the guards were pretty lenient in the mirrored room at the end of the exhibition and I could go back to my sneaky photography roots!

The best thing about seeing exhibitions long before the end date, is the less than frantic atmosphere. Sure, the gallery was still busy as I'm sure that most have the numerous articles about the Yayoi Kusama show all over the place, but luckily the crowds didn't stress me out, commuter style. I can't believe that I'd previously been unaware of her work until seeing something on a blog a little while ago, but at least the magic of the internet prevailed and I was able to learn a little bit more about the Japanese artist's life and inspiration. As you all know that all things dotted and abstract are right up my street and I loved the repetitive element present in most of her works, making the ordinary seem abstract when reflected en masse. It's somewhat fascinating to follow artists who put so much of themselves into their work and leave no stone unturned and towards the end you can become a part of the work yourself with the various installations. I would definitely make sure you catch this if you're in the area before the beginning of June and I'm intrigued to see if any designers pick up on the nature of her patterns for their SS13 collections.

Blazer - Whistles

Sweatshirt - A.P.C

Skirt - Vintage

Ankle Boots - Vagabond c/o Spartoo shoes

Necklace - Little Nell

How nice has the weather been in London recently?! I'm so used to winter-ising most of my outfits with the hidden thermals/thick tights combination and it seems strange that Spring has come around so quickly after making the personal resolution to embrace it more. Looks like it might soon be time to try out the printed trouser trend. Until then, I'm trying to get more wear out of my Whistles blazer, which gives most outfits a collegiate flair plus my wedge ankle boots, which were comfortable for the majority of my wandering. The necklace was a recent find from Little Nell jewellery and the purchase of the A.P.C top a few months ago made me twinsies with Daniela. Before my little cultural trip with my friend Claire, we grabbed a quick bite to eat in nearby foodie Borough market, which boasted crowds that make me extremely scared for the Olympics! Undeterred, I ventured into the throng and found a tasty pork sarnie to eat.

How have you been spending the recent Spring weekends? It was nice to revisit a few areas that I hadn't seen in a while and I certainly won't be leaving it as long before my next visit to the Tate Modern. I swear that I'm not being paid by Boris Johnson, but it's a really great time to be around the capital at the moment and there's always something going on in the various museums and shopping areas. It seems I'm filled with similar feelings that I had after each successful weekend I spent in New York, when things really started to click.

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Polka Dot Days

2012-03-11T20:45:00.000Z

I'm Kristabel and I'm addicted to polka dots. It seems that I have failed in my quest to diversify my print collection and to buy less of my preferred print. I blame Monki and Topshop partly for this as it seems that they are still everywhere on the High Street, in new shapes and colour combinations previously unseen in my wardrobe. Methinks that the Yayoi Kusama exhibition (more on that later) will certainly help in keeping dots as a print force to be reckoned with and have just accepted that I will always keep buying into its various guises. In the past week I've noticed a certain theme in what I've been wearing, with most outfits including either floral patterns or polka dots with a new twist. I guess this post is a roundabout way of showing you some of the new bits and bobs I've been buying for Spring as well a few events I've been to recently.

Mary Katrantzou Topshop Newgen T-shirt

Belt - Charity shop

Skirt - Monki

Boots - Vagabond

It took a lot of willpower not to buy this skirt from Monki. It kept taunting me in the Selfridges concession, looking so simple to wear and the perfect length but I kept telling myself that I did not need another polyester pleated skirt. Eventually I caved after a quick wander into the new Carnaby Street store and realised that I could get a lot of wear out of it, either teamed with a clashing t-shirt or baggy jumper. I don't really have a one in one out policy in my wardrobe as of yet but I feel that I could perhaps part with some of my lesser worn skirts as a compromise. The Mary Katrantzou tee arrived after fashion week and it was love at first sight, boasting a similar print to her SS12 collection but for the minute price of £30. I've hidden most of the ombre effect with the skirt but the length lends itself well to eventual print clashing with floral trousers (if I'm brave enough) or just brightening up a pair of jeans.

Dress - Topshop

Belt - Charity shop

Tights - Wolford

Shoes - Nine West Vintage America

Ring - Monki

Necklace - Tatty Devine

For the Company Blog Awards it was back to the tried and tested lace dress formula, but this time in a bold yellow colour. I had originally wanted the dress in the light grey when I first saw it online, but since only this colour was reduced, I decided to be a bit braver with my choice. I think Amy was impressed, as I'm usually always in black whenever she sees me! No matter what your opinions on blog awards are, they're a great excuse for a social event and interacting with online buddies in real life. You can see a few pictures of the evening here and the eventual winners; instead of drowning our sorrows a few of us embarked on a spontaneous visit to The Diner to stock up on cheeseburgers and fries!

Leather jacket, dress - Topshop

Belt - Vintage

Tights - M&S

Boots - Vagabond c/o Zalando

Necklace - Me & Zena

You might have already guessed this from the outset, but I am immensely happy that Monki has finally opened a standalone store in the UK and on Thursday I was invited to their launch party. The store was packed with some of the trendiest people London has to offer, amazing clothes and some of the cutest finger food which was perfect antidote after a long day at work. I tried to channel the quirks of the brand with a head-to-toe polka dotted look and fully got into the spirit of the party by donning some gold star eyelashes by Shimmer Twins. I've read a few posts about Monki parties that they've held all over Europe and this occasion didn't disappoint, with an amazing playlist featuring the likes of Destiny's Child (none of that newfangled stuff) and a set from the Swedish duo Icona Pop I'd previously been unaware of. This sense of fun and sharing stories of the lives of creatives from all over the world has been carried through to their newest magazine issue, which is free to pick up in store.

A few snaps of the new Monki store, plus the best dance buddy ever Jen and Daniela and I in a lovely photo taken by Abi

Are you planning to pay a visit to the Monki store in Carnaby street? I can tell already that its addition to the area will seriously harm my bank balance as I spy something I want every time I visit. I wonder how long it will be until something polka-dotted works its way into my wardrobe again...

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