T-Shirt and Tails

Prada Flame Shoes

2012-01-26T20:03:00.001Z

The hottest shoes to come off the S/S 12 catwalk have to be Prada's flame shoes. While the majority of the designers have channelled the twenties at S/S 12, Miuccia Prada decided to focus on 'Donna e Motori' (women and cars). Prada took inspiration from fifties style cars including the tailfins from Cadillacs which you can see clearly on the flame shoes.

The shoes were a fun, refreshing change from everything else on the catwalk during S/S 12. You just can't help but smile at these designs! With Menkes calling the show 'one of those brilliant collections that was fresh, new, witty, clever in its mix of hard and soft - and yet another chance for the fashion world to feed off her ideas.' You can't argue with Suzy!

Louis Vuitton Invitation

2012-01-24T10:47:00.006Z

My favourite invitation from the recent Paris menswear shows has to be Louis Vuitton’s Eiffel Tower. It definitely stands out from the rest in all its origami splendor. It’s just a shame that mine seems to have been lost in the post…

Trendy Promise Rings

Creative Walls

2012-01-17T14:18:00.006Z

I recently purchased 'Creative Walls' on a whim after paging through it in a local book shop. It manages to take a subject as mundane as walls, and turn it into both an engaging and aesthetically pleasing book. 'Creative Walls' showcases the walls from homes of all shapes, sizes, ages and states of disrepair. It is brimming with character and charm throughout. The photographs also deserve a mention as they are beautiful!

I have spied at least two dozen homes in the book that I would love to move in to tomorrow. However, until this happens, I will spend the next weekend re-hanging paintings in my living room.

Friends - I'm His Girl

2012-01-14T16:58:00.005Z

I thought I'd share with you one of my favourite songs at the moment. It is currently sat on repeat as I am responding to emails. Great video too!

Theresa Himmer

2012-01-11T21:47:00.001Z

I wanted to share with you the art of Theresa Himmer. She creates these incredible street art on the side of buildings in Reykjavik, using sequins. Himmer created these striking pieces whilst living in Iceland from 2005 - 2009, and the graffiti symbolises the damage done to the environment.

The installations take place on the side of run-down building to create a strong juxtaposition between the urban areas and her environmental work. For instance the work above represents a volcano and its molten lava, and looks at how mankind is destroying the environment in its quest to find for natural resources. What do you think?

Self Service Magazine

2012-01-08T21:44:00.001Z

Here are a few highlights from one of my favourite fashion magazines: Self Service Magazine.

These photos come from the current biannual issue, and include some beautiful images. From Scott Schuman caught talking to Franca Sozzani after a catwalk show, to a fur-clad Anna Wintour being interviewed by the French TV channel Canal+.

Maddy and Monette

2012-01-04T21:56:00.002Z

Sometimes you see something and you simply can’t draw your eyes away. This was recently the case with the photography of Maja Daniels, and her project ‘Monette and Mady’.

Maja has started a long-term project which documents the lives of these identical twins. She used to see Monette and Mady together near her Parisian apartment and was fascinated by them. Years later she approached them. What makes the project so interesting is not just the aesthetics but the sociological aspect to Daniels’ work.

Monette and Mady are inseparable, and endearingly they refer to themselves as “I” instead of “we”. They spend most of their free time scouring vintage shops and markets for identical outfits and jewellery.

These photos are the first on an ongoing project so keep posted for more.

Borough Market Visit

2012-01-02T21:52:00.000Z

After an attempted visit to Maltby Street and its various food and drink outlets on Saturday morning, (thanks for the New Year’s Eve tip Time Out, but you failed to mention that it would be closed), I ended up in nearby Borough Market.

Last time I went to Borough Market was a year or so ago, and I was swallowed up by the crowds. However, Saturday couldn’t have been a better day to visit. It was New Year’s Eve, so whilst we were sampling the delicious foodie treats, the rest of London was either putting on their fake eyelashes or purchasing fireworks for the night’s festivities.

The market really does stock some incredible food and drink, my highlight being a beautifully fresh ginger, honey, lemon and ginseng juice.

Cotswolds Trip

2011-12-29T20:41:00.000Z

Merry Christmas everyone, and I hope that you enjoyed the festivities! I had a very relaxing Christmas at home with my family, and am packing my things ready to return to London in preparation for New Year’s Eve.

I’ve been meaning to blog about my trip to the Cotswolds earlier this month. However, what with Christmas shopping, seasonal socialising, eating leftovers, drinking mulled wine, watching period dramas, and sleeping 12 hours each night, this hasn’t quite materialised.

Earlier this month, my boyfriend and I decided to leave the city behind us and venture to the Cotswolds for a short break. We visited Stowe, Burford, the Slaughters, and Hook Norton (with a quick unfruitful detour to Bicester Village on the way home).

We had a great time touring the Hook Norton brewery, going on long country walks and drinking mulled cider beside a roaring fire. We both left thinking that we ought to do this more often; football fixtures dependent, my boyfriend clarified…

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-25T16:00:00.003Z

Happy Christmas, Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad, God Jul and Frohe Weihnachten to you all dahlings, I hope that you're having an absolutely fabulous day!

Can you tell what my highlight will be today!?

Christmas Wish List

2011-12-22T19:02:00.000Z

Without fail every year I write a detailed Christmas wish list and distribute it amongst the people in my life whose gift choices normally end up being exchanged (sorry). The list is compiled to avoid Christmas and birthday melodrama. For instance one year, when one of my brothers decided to go off the list in protest, I received a comedy coaster and fridge magnet. After that failure, he was back on the list the following year. If budgets were no object, these beauties would be on the top of my wish list: 1. Chloe Leather Peep-Toe Wedges: 2. Anton Heunis Earrings: 3. Acne Pistol Leather Ankle Boots:

Oxford Christmas Parade

2011-12-19T20:27:00.006Z

Every year Oxford hosts a Christmas evening featuring a parade, market stalls and musical performances. This year I managed to escape London for the weekend to stay with my parents, and visit the Christmas celebrations. Children from local schools made paper lanterns to parade down the street with, alongside a brass band playing Christmas carols. It really felt like the start of the Christmas season as we stood amongst the crowd with mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. After the procession we had a wander around the market stalls and then headed to J.R.R. Tolkien’s favourite meeting place, the ‘Eagle and Child’ pub, for mulled cider and warmth. I’m looking forward to next year’s celebrations already!

Chocolate Factory N16

2011-12-17T13:49:00.007Z

You will find the Chocolate Factory hidden away on a side street off the bustling Stoke Newington High Street. It is home to artists, print makers and sculptures alike, all housed in green house-esque studios. The setting is very quaint; an unexpected surprise as you come off the High Street. As we walked in we were greeted by the smell of mulled wine and the sight of people busy mulling in and out of each studio. The first studio we walked into was of Catherine Hennessy. Inside the studio was a selection of paintings and tables lined with sketchbooks, they were filled with snippets of everyday life, reading like a visual diary. Catherine had aptly described the diary as her own Twitter account. Inside the sketchbooks were paintings and sketches of daily life, from meals eaten to a morning jog, clothes bought to art trips. The sketches were beautiful, refreshing and honest. From the 2lbs gained one day to the most delicious meal eaten at home. These were the highlight of the afternoon for me and have inspired me to keep my own diary/sketchbook. (My friend Kate at the Chocolate Factory N16)

Omega Launch Party

2011-12-11T13:56:00.004Z

Thanks to Omega for a great night on Thursday! Their shop launch at Westfield Stratford was a fantastic night with a live performance from Professor Green and special guests including Benedict Cumberbatch and Jessica Ennis (above).

Gina Stewart Cox

2011-12-09T17:26:00.012Z

Wow, has it really been a week and a half since I last posted? The Christmas season is well and truly upon us, and the diary is full of Christmas parties, drinks, shopping and markets. Not that I'm complaining...

I wanted to share with you all two of my favourite things at the moment: my American Apparel Breton striped jumper and Gina Stewart Cox bracelets. The price per wear for each of these is looking good right now, as you can barely get me out of them.

I love the laid back ease of both the jumper and the bracelets. They can be worn with anything and everything, and at the moment they're being teamed with skinny jeans and stacked heels. Perfecto!

British Fashion Awards 2011

2011-11-30T11:49:00.004Z

This week’s British Fashion Awards celebrated women as the forefront of British design with Sarah Burton, Victoria Beckham and Stella McCartney winning the most sought-after awards.

(Sarah Burton with Designer of the Year award)

I was so pleased to see a well-deserved Sarah Burton, creative director at Alexander McQueen, named designer of the year. This award tops a fantastically successful year for Burton, who designed the most memorable dress of the decade, Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, and broke record visitor numbers for the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition in New York.

(Victoria Beckham with Designer Brand award)

Sarah Burton has shown that Britain is again leading the design field with such exciting names as Stella McCartney, Burberry, Erdem, Christopher Kane, Paul Smith, Mary Katrantzou, Victoria Beckham, Charlotte Olympia and many more. Do you need any more reasons to buy British?

(Christopher Kane and Alexa Chung with New Establishment award)

For those of you who missed the winners list, here it is:

Emerging talent award – ready to wear: Mary Katrantzou

Emerging talent award – accessories: Tabitha Simmons

Emerging talent award – menswear: Christopher Raeburn

Accessory designer: Charlotte Olympia

Menswear designer: Kim Jones

Designer brand: Victoria Beckham

Model: Stella Tennant

BFC outstanding achievement in fashion: Paul Smith

Isabella Blow award for fashion creator: Sam Gainsbury

Red carpet award: Stella McCartney

Designer of the year: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

New establishment award: Christopher Kane

British style award brought to you by Vodafone: Alexa Chung

Greenwich Letterhead Pencils

2011-11-28T14:47:00.004Z

I just LOVE these Greenwich Letterhead pencils! Their fun and catchy slogans are bound to give them cult status. You can choose between such classics as 'Why I follow Kanye on Twitter' (above), or even your favourite teenage power couples. Will you pick Dawson and Joey, or will it be Brenda and Dylan?

Snakes in Dalston

2011-11-26T14:05:00.002Z

Beware, dangerous snakes spotted in Dalston! It hasn't yet been disclosed whether it's the reptile or hipster variety...

V&A - The Power of Making

2011-11-20T18:50:00.005Z

Pencils with alphabet sculpted into nibs.

On Friday, I visited 'The Power of Making' at the V&A, which is an exhibition of 100 contemporary craft objects selected by the V&A and the Craft Council. The exhibition had such varied objects as the vertiginous Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes to an 8ft gorilla made entirely from coat hangers.

Gorilla made from coat hangers.

The exhibition has had criticism that the objects selected are simply too random, however in my opinion, this is the beauty of 'The Power of Making'. The objects all have the 'Wow Factor' and are each discussion points in their own right, from the giant blanket, knitted from the wool of 18 sheep, to a lace thong that was handmade from the Polish lace-makers who served Pope John Paul II.

Pearly Queen Blazer, using buttons.

I would highly recommend visiting this exhibition (which is free!); it is effectively a cabinet of curiosities which can keep you amazed, entertained and enthralled for an afternoon.

Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes.

Cos Colour Block Clutch

2011-11-19T11:57:00.004Z

I've spent many a shopping trip eyeing up these colour block clutches from Cos. To all my friends and family, you can take that as a big hint! It works perfectly as an oversized purse or, as I would prefer to use it, a small clutch. In true Cos style, it is minimal and modern in design and fills a Céline-shaped gap perfectly.

I seem to spend an ashamedly large portion of my free time in Cos at the moment. It helps that I work opposite a large branch, although my bank balance doesn't thank me in quite the same way. The A/W collection is truly the best I've seen at the store in years, which is particularly pleasing after a disappointing S/S 11 season. I could quite literally buy the vast majority of the store!

Danish Knitwear

2011-11-15T16:30:00.003Z

KAFFESLABBERAS // MADS AND ERNA (SUBTITLED) from Kaffeslabberas on Vimeo.

Danish knitwear is big news at the moment, from the Faroese jumper made famous from 'The Killing' to Malene Birger's minimalist designs. However, the knitwear making the biggest waves in the world of fashion at the moment comes from a local Kaffeslabberas (the equivalent of a knitting group) made up by ten elderly women.

These women are creating some of the most popular items in Copenhagen, for a wide range of designers, after their talents were spotted at a local Christmas fayre by a designer working for Vibskov. They now produce items for several Danish designers, including Vibskov. This is such a fantastic way of making good use of key craftsmanship and expertise within fashion, and to support local talent.

The latest Kaffeslabberas project is a book, featured in the video above, of knitwear patterns commissioned by Danish designers. The video is very endearing and well worth a view!

Versace for H&M

2011-11-09T20:02:00.005Z

Last night Versace held a catwalk show for the launch of its collection at H&M.

As you can see from the photos, Donatella Versace has designed a collection that is quintessential of the Versace brand. From silk miniskirts to garish florals in flamboyant colours.

Perhaps I will be hung by my Wolford tights when I say that I really expected more from the collection. H&M guest collections are always held in high esteem (bar Madonna's travesty), and I don't think that this has lived up to expectation.

In my opinion the collection is far too cheap looking, especially the fringe dresses and sequin pieces. It provides the kind of clothes that just simply don't translate to the high street. I think that Donatella has fundamentally forgotten that designing for a high-end catwalk show and the high street are two very different concepts.

Grayson Perry Exhibition

2011-11-07T19:02:00.001Z

On Sunday, I visited Grayson Perry's, 'The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsmen' installation at the British Museum. The former winner of the Turner prize, curated an installation highlighting beautiful artefacts from the British Museum, made by unknown craftsmen and women over time, from across the globe.

Perry explores a number of themes from pilgrimages to shamanism, motorbikes to holy relics, and intersperses them with his own creations included his infamous ceramics covered in popular culture slogans.

As you reach the top of the stairs of the British Museum, you are greeted with a flamboyant motorbike, covered in hearts, frills and flowers in pastel shades. This is the eccentrically designed bike that Grayson Perry drove to Chelmsford's twinned town of Backnang, Germany. Needless to say, it must have caused quite a stir en route.

However, the highlight of the show was Alan Measles, who played a starring role. Alan Measles is Grayson Perry's teddy bear who features heavily in his work, and was named after his childhood best friend, at a time when he was suffering from measles. In this exhibition, we see Alan Measles depicted as a God, aside a motorbike (above), and you can even find him on Twitter.

It was a fantastically varied and interesting exhibition, and one which I would highly recommend.

Dazed & Confused, Björk Cover

2011-11-05T15:00:00.007Z

To celebrate Dazed & Confused's 20th anniversary, I have dedicated today's post to my favourite Dazed cover from the past 20 years.

The cover in question features Björk stood in the palm of a man's hand, looking like an inhabitant from Nineveh. True to form Björk looks incredible in a myriad of colour, textures and proportions. In my opinion, she is the perfect advocate for the magazine, completely original, a creative trend-setter, and constantly evolving. Here's the another 20 years!

Monsoon Dress

2011-11-02T22:06:00.002Z

This Jenny Spot Dress from Monsoon caught my eye in The Guardian a couple of days ago. It would be perfect for a spring/summer wedding, of which I have several next year; and if I buy it now hopefully there won't be a 'she's wearing my dress' moment. A red dress with polka dots shouldn't necessarily work but it does perfectly. I think this is helped by the beautiful pussy bow detail, demure calf-length and chiffon material.