At the Coggles press day I discovered the brand has a two year old archive of on-the-street portraits taken by Nick Scaife. These images are very much about the person as much as their clothes, and Coggles has gone on to develop this idea by making short films about a few of its favourite subjects. Photography-wise though, one of the things I love about Coggles’ images is their exacting composition. The person is positioned dead centre of the frame which means when you see the images in multiple (as they were shown at the press day) there’s a nice, easy on the eye uniformity…

This brings me to a new street style blog that I discovered on WGSN’s Tumblr. Sam Ashley of The Skartorialist also uses the centrally-positioned composition to frame the skateboarders he spots while out and about. This precise approach means the focus is on the person, yet it also makes it easier to pick out the details of what their wearing. I love noticing the odd lengths of the socks in the first picture and the varying shades of green in the third…

[Images:
Coggles.com
Skartorialist.blogspot.co.uk]

Here’s a reminder of Louise Gray’s SS12 catwalk collection…

[Images: Insideout.Topshop.com]

[Image: Beautyblitz.com]

The H&M AW12 menswear pictures are in and there’s an overriding trend leaping out already. Can you see what it is yet? Frankly I’m crazy about this Thom Browne too-short trouser look and it’s one I’ve been sporting for a while. Although until now it’s been worn in a mostly casual, preppie-fied way, I also really like this more formal expression with the knife-sharp crease, coordinating separates, socks and polished lace-ups.

I’ve been wearing my Club Monaco slim black 7/8th with charcoal socks and Church’s Oxfords or brogues for a few months and more recently I’m liking Joseph’s tomato cigarette trousers with cream Falke socks and tan Church’s plus a man’s navy Prada crew neck. Very, very simple apart from the pop of red. I’m not banking on the men’s H&Ms fitting me to be honest as trouser length is a tricky issue at the best of times, never mind when you’re playing with proportions. But as a look it’s one I want to explore further and I really hope womenswear designers take it on. I’ve already seen some metallic and jacquard versions from the women’s AW12 collections and I’m investigating Joseph’s cobalt blue Queen trousers for summer too. More men’s H&M too-short pants after the jump…

[Image credit: Kacper Kasprzyk for H&M/Hennes & Mauritz]

Hello boys! It’s your turn to get zhuzhed up in Britain’s finest fashion offerings as Bicester Village’s British Designers Collective pop-up gets a menswear focus. Boasting rails laden with London Fashion Week’s favourite names, from the energy of James Long and Lou Dalton to the classicism of Richard James and Margaret Howell, some of us got a first look last week. Nicely sated following Bistrotheque’s champagne picnic on the train from London, we rampaged through the store rifled through the rails, admiring the choice on offer – my favourites included BStore’s irrisistible print shirts and Dalton’s cheeky shorts. The British Designers Collective is in its third year but this is the first time is has had a menswear focus. A joint project with the British Fashion Council, this year also sees the first dedicated men’s London Fashion Week (from 15th-17th June), meaning it’s all about the boys…

THE POSH PICNIC

THE VERY SIMON G, DISNEYROLLERGIRL, MICHAEL DUCK

GRENSON SHOE HEAVEN

LOVE A BIT OF B STORE PRINT SHIRTING

AND THIS JAUNTY YMC PRINT

SUNSPEL

MAARTEN VAN DER HORST REPRESENTIN

LOU DALTON AND OLIVER SPENCER

SPOTTY SHIRTS FROM EMMETT AND RICHARD JAMES

AND I FINALLY MET THE FABULOUS PRINCESS JULIA!

The British Designers Collective for men is at Bicester Village until 27th June and will be updated regularly with new stock.

Genesis lives in a family house in Acton and her room is tiny and tidy with an en suite bathroom and a skylight bathing her room in lovely natural light. Our initial idea was to style the model in a mix of their own clothes and things I had brought but in the end, the things I had brought worked better. I put Genesis in bStore’s AW12 fringed silk shirt and sporty suede navy top plus a pair of amazing Liberty-print skorts. But I wanted her to wear something of her own too so we stacked together two of her favourite rings.

In London, Genesis doesn’t have a huge amount of possessions; when you travel a lot, you tend to pack light. She keeps up with friends on Facebook so is welded to her laptop. Does it get lonely zipping across continents every few weeks? “Noooo, I just make new friends. I’m very happy!” This girl has the most infectious upbeat energy. She even loves learning English and is charmed by the London froideur. “I like London, it’s relaxed and easy and the people are nice. My agency are great, actually they’re crazy!”

We tried a couple of shots in the garden where Leutton Postle‘s primary-coloured pom pom top seemed the natural choice against the greenery, along with jeans by Citizens of Humanity, Pollini‘s wonderful chunky shoes and a friendship bracelet from Lucy Folk. I also used Lucy Folk’s necklaces in the other shots, I love the pinks and greens together…

I mustn’t forget to thank Michelle Dacillo whose light touch created this natural, luminescent make-up for Genesis. The products she used are below:

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in shade 17
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal* on the eyelids and as a highlighter (I think I need to buy some of this)
Lancome Hyponose mascara in Black
Mac Mixing Medium in Shine as a lip balm
Stila Convertible Colour in Poppy on the cheeks
The Body Shop clear brow gel

*Hmmph, this shade seems to be out of stock everywhere

New Chanel nail and lip colours. The glittery Lèvres Scintillantes in Calyspo (the coral-ly one)  looks a bit scary in the tube if you’re not one for sparkly particles but actually they’re superfine so are more like tiny light reflectors than actual glitter. I love it.


PS, contrary to reports, those Chanel double-C tattoos won’t be available to buy, I checked with the PR at breakfast last week…

Further to my grumbles about depressingly flaky cuticles a few weeks ago, I’ve been on a hardcore handcare regime. Thanks to a flurry of Twitter recommendations, I bought The Body Shop Almond Nail and Cuticle Oil pen (which is now down to £5.25) and OPI Avoplex Exfoliating Cuticle Treatment, plus a PR sent me the classic Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream which I haven’t used for yonks. I have been using Eight Hour Cream on the backs of my hand every morning, followed by the very light and non-greasy OPI cuticle treatment on my cuticles. A couple of times a day I also use the Body Shop brush pen on my cuticles which seems to be less oily and more effective than the cuticle oils I’ve used in the past. The pen format is also more portable than the glass bottle that a lot of other oils come in. Gotta say, this combination of products is working a treat.

Another recommendation for The Body Shop goes to its new Beautifying Oil, a dry oil for body, face and hair. I love dry body oils, they’re just quicker and nicer to use than body creams (although I’ll never tire of The Body Shop body butter). I was sent the Morninga variety to try which is a bit overpowering for me but it comes in ten other fragrances (I’ll probably buy coconut or mango next time). At £9 for 100ml (but currently selling for £6.45), a little goes a long way so I’d say this is pretty good value.

Finally, the beauty world is all in a tizzy at the prospect of Aerin Lauder’s own-name lifestyle brand. The line launches in August, with Aerin Essentials, a range of everyday hero beauty products. Harrods will have the UK exclusive, with 20 other UK stores to follow, including Selfridges and John Lewis. For a sneak peek, keep an eye on Aerin’s Tumblr and Twitter. (And if you want to feel sick with envy, have a look at her Aspen bolthole…)

If you’re at a loose end this weekend (or any time between now and 27th May), get yourself down to 6 Burlington Gardens for the delight that is Hermes’ free Leather Forever exhibition. Created to give the public a closer look at the artisanal craft behind the luxury bags and leathergoods and to ‘show the depth and breadth of the brand’, it’s an hour of unadulterated sensory heaven. From the leathers and skins in the Library Of Skins room (which you can touch and definitely smell), to the artisans at work who will talk you through their techniques and processes, Leather Forever is a rare opportunity to see luxury in the making. There are plenty of interactive elements too, and humorous touches like the information cards that are stored in orange holders to look like Kelly bags.

Of course, with its rich history and heritage (who knew the first London boutique was in nearby Jermyn Street fifty years ago – hence the exhibition’s location?), there are some incredible exhibits including the leather wheelbarrow commissioned by the Duke of Windsor for Wallis Simpson and a winged saddle created for a Japanese band. If you’re interested in design, craft and history or simply have a love for those delicious handbags that come in orange boxes then this is a can’t-miss experience.

Leather Forever, 6 Burlington Gardens, W1 until 27th May. Open 10am-6pm daily (10pm on Fridays). Admission free.