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"In order to be irreplaceaple one must always be different."



Coco Chanel




Tuesday 23 November 2010

London Fields in the Fall

This beautiful model may need no introductions for many of you... and for the rest of you she will remain anonymously mysterious.

London in Autumn is beautiful and the falling leaves in London Fields provided the perfect back-drop for this a/w 2010 photo shoot. 



Wearing a winter coat from Top Shop, cute dress with a drop waist from Monki (Swedish label) and Boh Runga's infamous range of native kiwi bird necklaces.

Ankle boots and a tan leather satchel (possibly maybe a faux Mulberry hand bag... it's so hard to tell these days)


Friday 12 November 2010

Oversized Anoraks and Big Thick Scarves

Winter has truly hit us in full force and it's time to pull out the winter woollens. Don't be modest in the size of your scarves this winter because bigger really is better on so many levels - not only is it practical and super cosy but it's also a great look to run with. I love big chunky knits like this one... get yourself some big fat knitting needles and try knitting one yourself - stitch it together at the ends and you've got yourself one this season's fads - the 'snood' (apparently a cross between a scarf and a hood).

Who can resist yummy colours like caramel, toffee, burnt orange and tan. Is it just me or do these colours get heralded as making a 'big come back' every autumn when really they come back in as surely as summer turns to fall? Even though it's nothing new I seem to get caught by surprise every autumn. This oversized hooded anorak is fabulous and made me fall in love with the rich autumn colours all over again.  

For better or for worse, 90's fashion is having a big influence on today's street fashion. Dr Martin's epitomised shoe street fashion in the 90's. In fact you really only needed to own one pair of shoes because Docs were fit for any occasion and worn with everything and anything - you could dress em up with floral dresses or rock em with jeans. Here Lisa is wearing look alike Dr Martin's to bring the best of the 90's and mix it with the best of now. Please leave the rest of the 90's where it belongs!  

Sunday 7 November 2010

London's Liberty

Window shopping could be a full-time hobby in London. The calibre is such that window displays provide endless amounts of inspiration and entertainment. Not to mention the Christmas displays that we're going to start seeing everywhere (yes - early November and the decorations are on there way up!)
Liberty's Department Store always has stunning window displays and the beautiful tudor building provides a stellar frame for each master piece of art. I love this window display where English floral country cottage meets a cycling skeleton:




































I caught one of Liberty's Sales Consultants, Stefan, during his smoko... very slick outfit. Mustard chino's and a navy blazer are tied together with camel coloured buttons and beautiful brogues to create a sharp looking outfit.

Get a completely fresh look just by doing the top button up on your shirt. Good-bye man cleavage... it's all about shirts done up all the way to the top this season. Same goes for ladies actually.



Thursday 4 November 2010

I heart Dolly Dare

On the outskirts of Carnaby lies a gorgeous boutique store that specialises in 1950's, 1960's and 1970's retro dresses. Now, this store is what I imagine was at the heart of Carnaby when Carnaby Street was in its prime - full of independent designer boutiques that stocked one of a kind garments. Sadly it seems to have sold out to (or more aptly been bought out by) boring chain stores. But if you depart from the beaten track you will be pleasantly surprised with what you find...

If you're looking for a fun shopping experience and a pretty dress that won't be seen on a trillion other girls, make your way to Dolly Dare.  


Oh and you even get great customer service in Dolly Dare - a rare treat in a metropolis like London. Isn't Ellie cute? With her short dark crop and cute grin she's the English incarnation of the beautiful Audrey Tautou (the endearing French actress from Jean-Pierre Jeunet's fabulous film, Amelie).



Thursday 28 October 2010

Stockholm Finale

Am I really ready to let go of Stockholm? I want to drag this series out... because such is my attachment to Stockholm that I don't want this love affair to end. To sum it up - Stockholm with her omnipresent sea-side, sophisticated fashion, creative design and warm ambiance makes up for the chill in the air. It's a perfect destination for a weekend city break. If I haven't convinced you yet...

Here's one for the ladies:



















No seriously, he really does have great style and thus deserves coverage based on his outfit alone. 






The fisherman's style beanie is the only way to wear a beanie this season if you're a bloke. Think Life Acquatic styles. Long gone are the floppy beanie's... it's all about slim-line and rolled at the brim. The legendary nautical king Jacques Yves Cousteau made the rolled up beanie tough - stick that in your pipe and...








Source: http://theimpossiblecool.tumblr.com/ 

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Seventies influence in fashion

A clever combination of vintage fabrics; a floral paisley and a winter tartan that I never would have thought to put together. This outfit would definitely be a faux pas in my Nana's books but I really like it! Definitely a strong seventies theme (fortunately not to an Abba-esque extreme though!) is coming across.

All in all an elegant outfit with the hat giving it an air of sophistication and a nice leather shoulder bag.



Flared trousers top off the look.... are we ready to kiss our skinny leg jeans good-bye in favour of the flares? Definitely more flattering on the thighs!

Sunday 24 October 2010

Boots and Brogues

Beautiful slim-line lace up boots and brogues at Smiley Vintage in Stockholm... 


Winter doesn't seem so bad when you've got the right accessories. A vintage crocheted hat perfected with a bow will help you embrace winter this season!



Natalie the lovely shop assistant really made Smiley Vintage for me... she helped me re-print my boarding passes (that I had lost in a shopping frenzy) so that I could get back to London (without being fined a nasty fee by Ryan Air). Thanks Smiley Vintage for your generosity x

Saturday 23 October 2010

A Vintage Market in Stockholm

Ok, so we found this underground vintage market in Stockholm - thanks to Anna (the cute girl from the Old Town) for giving us directions. Definitely small in comparison to a typical London market but what it lacked in size it made up for in quality.


Edwin is the epitome of a scandinavian man - bright blue eyes, hair so blonde he's bordering on albino and very well attired. Great outfit; his crushed velvet scarf comes from Sicily and his coat comes from Minimarket. Totally check out their website it's another scandinavian gem of inspirational design. If you fall in love... as you very well may... you'll be relieved to know that Minimarket can be found at Urban Outfitters or even purchased online at www.asos.co.uk.


Random fact about Minimarket (which makes me love them even more) is that the store's name came about when the owner and her friend were joking about starting a work place only for short people... at 159cm maybe I could get a job there (if I fail to cast for the Hobbit that is)?

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Anna in the Old Town of Stockholm

I absolutely love this Svenskt Tenn hand bag - it goes so well with the autumnal colours of Anna's outfit and the gorgeous Old Town buildings in the background. This photo encapsulates the camel, burnt orange and rust colours that are pervading all the shop windows right now.



Svenskt Tenn is an interior design shop that also designs hand bags, in a beautiful array of fabrics and diverse patterns. Check out their website for all things magical... you can even shop online if you fall in love.

Tuesday 19 October 2010

Stockholm Special

This week coming will be a week dedicated to Stockholm street fashion.

Stockholm is now up there on my list of most inspiring street fashion capitals of the world, along with London, Tokyo and Barcelona. I discovered that there was a lot more to Sweden than long legs, blonde hair and blue eyes - they also seem to come pre-installed with an inbuilt style barometer. So yes, annoyingly enough not only are they extremely good looking but they know how to capitalise on their good looks in an indie cool kind of way.

Like a good slow releasing carb, I'll post a Stockholm picture each day this week...


First up is Gabriella. Gabriella, is one part Argentinian, one part Swedish and currently studying in Stockholm. Her vintage scarf really caught my eye...





Friday 15 October 2010

Carnaby Street

Abigail rocks Top Shop and H&M and really makes it her own. I never would've thought of putting feathers and leopard print in the same outfit, but she really pulls it off. Before you rush out the door to try and buy the high waist leopard print trousers from H&M, I'll let you in on a lil secret, it's actually a one piece playsuit tucked in to work with the feather cape.


Oooooh I just love this feather cape. Feathers are making a huge comeback this season and reclaiming some of their former art deco glory...



Monday 11 October 2010

Style spotting at Spitalfield Markets

All in the space of 20 minutes at Spitalfields, I had spotted more hot outfits than one photographer could capture.

This short, dark and angular bob is what Sassoon was renowned for in the 1960's and is definitely making a come back. Otherwise known as the 'mop top' this blunt bob was made iconic by the Beatles, Mary Quant and other Mods. I wasn't so surprised when Michael confirmed he's a Sassoon stylist in the training.


If clothes maketh a man, then Mulberry maketh the English gentleman. I have to admit, while not an advocate of designer wear, that this luxurious oversized leather hand bag by Mulberry really caught my eye. Paired with chinos and a summer '10 H&M tee this outfit is far from snob.


I love this 1980's style turquoise leather jacket mixed with the bowler hat and leopard print scarf. It reminds me of Blondie, where rap and reggae meet 80's synthesiser cool. Topped off with a pair of clogs this outfit is eclectic yet very now.

A fellow fashion blogger, this Italian gent is due to start a fashion internship in London. Definitely loads of attitude and completely daring... leather jacket, over-sized tee and accessorised with a whistle necklace. Is the whistle necklace the latest accessory? Everyone from All Saints to Juicy Couture and Missoni seem to have a whistle necklace in their range.

Another Italian inspiring passerby's on the streets of London with his outrageous outfit. Love the suspender effect he's achieved with a duffel bag. An embroidered shirt, cropped Austrian hiker style shorts and jelly shoes really create an effective combo.


Monday 4 October 2010

Brick Lane


The American Apparel style bow tie compliments the vintage shirt and stone wash cut-off denim shorts. Androgynous East London blended with 2010's female dandy fashion, drawing on the femme tuxedo, done so well by the daring Marlene Dietrich.





Sunday 19 September 2010

Portobello Markets

Portobello beckons with her diverse selection of food, good strong brews of coffee (as strong as they come in the UK; Coffee Plant comes highly recommended with its double shot flat white) and a delightful array of antique goods waiting to be snapped up by the savvy, trained shopper.



Even without money, one could satisfy even the most ravenous of appetites with the gourmet collection of street fashion that Portobello attracts. And that's exactly what I did...


White socks and brogues is all over the cat walk, everywhere in Shoreditch (needless to say) and a quick and easy way to update your look this season. French bourgeois boys have been doing this for years, never caring that it was out of vogue, only the English could take it and make it rock n roll.



Cute like a cupcake; you want to wrap her up in a dainty box like you would a Hummingbird red velvet cupcake!




So daring, so bold, yet so relaxed in love.



My other half loved this look, I have to admit, he's right. The shoes...hot, the hair...hot, the legs...



...and hair so devine it deserves a close-up. A look that requires dedication but is worth every effort.