Lunchtime trips to the charity shop are the best, today I bought my first ever playsuit, amaze! I also bought some Carol Christian Poell trousers in a winning shade of khaki, pics when I’ve adjusted the fit.
I have never found a playsuit or jumpsuit to suit my oddly shaped body, I don’t know if my body is long, or my hips are long or my legs are long or it’s all too long but playsuits are never a good look for me. This one however is a production sample and it had a note attached saying ‘3rd fit sample’ so I’m guessing they had to play around with this one and maybe they even gave up. Which is why it fits me! Anyway, it’s exciting to join the playsuit gang, and I might even wear it before the sun comes out with tights and a cardie like this. Excuse the murderous glint btw, I was high on hot and sour soup.
It looks like it’s going to a cosy AW next season, Margaret Howell continued the outdoorsy themes seen at other shows inc Unique, filtered through the Howell lens. Trenchcoats, cuffed cords and belted sweaters totally appeal to my not-so-secret French preppy side and I loo-oove MG anyways.This catwalk show has pretty much just triggered a long list of wants, like when I would mark the pages of the Argos catalogue for all the toys I wanted.
While it’s all for the latter part of this year, the colours, deep blue greys, dirty lemon and khaki neutrals are perfect for a hesitant spring, fresh without going for the sherbety full-on jolt of colour I’m definitely going to rock come summer. The marl jumper with a warm tan belt is such a good mix of colours and I’m hankering even more for the perfect pair of toff cords. I’ve just finally had my Burberry trench dry-cleaned and I’m looking forward to teaming it with skirts, lace-ups, bare legs and srcunched socks when spring starts to make an appearance, and a check scarf would. Despite my already bulging wardrobe of coats, I now also want to add a duffel coat and a sheepskin jacket to the multiplying horde.
This is a bit of an LFW-lite blog at the moment, one of the reasons is that I’ve got my monthly bout of flu/cold/whatever AGAIN. So boring! The more exciting reason is that me and my flatmates put on a tea party through Contact the Elderly. If you live in London you might have seen the posters, where you can host a tea party for elderly people in your home, or if you can drive, take them from their home to a tea party. Between the three flatmates we’ve got enough tea sets to run a cafe and a hostess gene that runs deep so I was really excited to put this on.
It was a great afternoon, and the three ladies, Marjorie, Ann and Josie were full of great stories and laughs. If you have the chance then I’d say give it a go and host a tea party yourself, visit Contact the Elderly for more info.
What do you get if you mix utility clothing, Horse & Hound magazine and add a generous splash of Where The Wild Things are?
Topshop’s latest Unique collection puts me in the mood for autumn before the show had even begun, with it’s leaf-strewn catwalk. As the models came out it was more autunmy goodness with equestrian-inspired tailoring and accessories. Enormous antler headdresses adorned some of the models heads, with faux teddy heads and Maison Michel/LV-inspired bunny ears on the rest. Caveman brows are a trend that probably wont make it to the high street but looked surprisingly good with the clothes.
Getting back to the clothes, there were a lot of military fabrics, stiff tweeds and deliciously nubbly arran sweaters. Trench-style coats with sheepskin panels were a pleasing take on CDG’s blanket coats, and will make a welcome addition to winter outerwear wardrobe. I also liked the pretty print hotpants and bra tops, chilly for winter but the bra would work well over a fine jumper.
Even though I’m a bit of a closet ’90s fan myself, I’m glad Topshop decided to ditch the ’90s reminiscing for their latest collection. It’s great to see them (and also by and large the rest of the fashion world) move in a different direction.
I am now a year older, hooray! While the rest of you were getting flowers or sleeping through a gin induced coma I started my day propped up in bed having a gossip in bed with flatmates over a tasty Jing Earl Grey. Full present update will follow, but I did get a handmade Frank Sidebottom pillow, which is right up my street.
Oysters and champagne in Selfridges followed, with a walk down towards Soho on what must have been one of the first sunny days of the year, a bag of chestnuts soaking up the booze. Pure bliss. It ended less stylishly with some awesome UK garage karaoke, interspersed with bits of Lady Gaga and an eye-watering song called Birthday Sex. Anyway, it’s a bit late but hope you had some loved up times, and this takes us neatly into a bromantic display of homoerotic horseplay, a mash-up of Lady Gaga with Star Trek. Some of my favourite things. Courtesy of Arabelle.
THIS JUST IN! Mike & Jen otherwise known as Duotard the amazing team who put on fun-packed nights at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, have just announced they are going to appear in the window of Colette. Todd, photographer and creator of The Selby is living in the Colette windows for the duration of Paris Fashion Week, and will be inviting guests, Duotard included who will be showcasing their Hot Breath Karaoke act. Can’t wait to hear who the other guest appearances will be, perhaps Julia Restoin-Roitfeld will pop by?
The Paris store sold a few of Duotard’s t-shirts when The Selby auctioned off possessions from a variety of the homes featured on the site. If you missed it first time round check out the photos of their amazing house, tea bag lampshade anyone? It’s like all your charity shop dreams rolled into one, but beware… Major jealousy is unavoidable!
Ahead of LFW, I thought I would dig out an interview I did with Ann Sofie Back a few years ago. I’m looking forward to her fashion week show, it’s good to see she’s returning to catwalk shows after an absence, I’ve missed her accessible, witty style.
You definitely have a light-hearted approach to fashion, how much is fun and humour part of your inspiration?
Growing up in 70s Stockholm when fashion was thought to be frivolous and superficial I myself have problems taking it fully seriously, I wish I could though! I have to include humour in my designs, these days I try to make it humorous AND attractive.
Aside from your professional life as a designer how does fashion fit into your daily life?
I am the worst consumer there is, I never buy anything new, I wear my own designs and mix with 2nd hand. I have consciously started designing for myself which I didn’t do before. I think the most successful womenswear designers seem to do so I thought it was worth a try. I also wear the “research” for the season ahead.
Without a history of haute couture or catwalk fashion in Sweden do you feel freer as a designer because you don’t have the burden of history on your shoulders?
I think you are absolutely right! This is strangely something I haven’t thought about before but I think that makes total sense, I really am lacking in respect.
Sweden, until very recently was a very democratic and un-heirarchical society, where fashion didn’t play such an important role. Were you into fashion at a young age?
I had to care about fashion from an early age because of my parents total lack of interest, I had to start checking my dad’s clothes in the morning by the age of 7 so I wouldn’t have to be ashamed of him. So for me, shame and fashion are intertwined in a strange way. By the time I was 14-15 I worked every weekend in a hotdog stand to shop for Gaultier clothes in the one shop in Stockholm carrying his designs. I was a punk by the age of 11 but soon realised that subcultures are as restrictive as “normal” society and I soon gave it up and have always had a problem with the herd mentality of belonging to any “groups”. I really enjoy it when people look at me and can’t work out what to think or how to approach me, I like to confuse them and myself I think.
One of the designers who you seem most similar to is Martin Margiela do you agree and what do you think of his work?
Yes and no, he is probably the only designer I keep on liking. I think I am more light-hearted and less intellectual than him. I’m probably completely wrong but I see him as very serious…
It’s my birthday today, so I’ve decided to only do blog posts from bed, drinking Jing Earl Grey and scoffing sea salted caramel chocolates. Mmhmm! As you may know I’m a seasoned charity shopper, but I picked this skirt on one of my many lunchtime trips to Bang Bang. It’s from Daks and the quality is unbelievable. The florals are pretty and watercolour-y and I can’t wait to wear it in summer with bare legs and my pale suede lace ups. Something I noticed when I put the skirt on is four little suede patches sewn onto the waistband. I’ve deduced that they’re to stop the skirt twisting round when you wear it, attention to detail on a level like that is just mind blowing and kind of makes me want to cry! I’m always amazed when I come across things like this, and it reminds me that I have clothes-making skills I should be using. Also, for the sewing geeks, the hemming on the skirt is AMAZING, near invisible.
Fashion and food aren’t the friendliest of bedfellows. I always used to ditch the 2p sized canapes at London Fashion Week for a trip to the Oriental Canteen on Exhibition Rd. Thankfully there are a few people who feel the same way, I thought I’d spread the love by talking about my favourite fashion bloggers who also love their grub. Liberty London Girl is always good for a bit of food porn and some great off the cuff veggie recipes, and I love Doyle’s Kitchen, Steve Doyle of Buckstyle organises dinner parties and documents the results. Want to try his feijoada recipe! Laura is a friend, and her blog Feast on Scraps is great, if like me you’re into simple achievable food. Oh and of course Luxirare, who applies the same high end aesthetic to her culinary treats.
I’ve been cooking since I was 12, which is 15 years now! I started off with potato waffles in the toaster, moved on to pasta and sauce got into healthfood and have been making it up as I go along ever since. I tend to use a lot of herbs and spices and love things like pulses and brown rice.
Today I made the perfect chicken sandwich for breakfast, and I thought I’d share it with you. I heartily recommend a griddle, if you have a griddle meat, halloumi and vegetables like courgettes and aubergines will taste a million times better. I oiled my breast first so it would stick, and then chucked it in. When you’re frying like this don’t move or turn the meat, let it brown. I used mache leaves, which my grandparents bring over from France in a suitcase when they visit, because it’s my favourite and the leaves are so tender and melting. More Frenchness, Benedicta is the best everyday mayonnaise I have ever tried and Maille dijon is classic mustard. Along with oil and white wine vinegar it’s the basics for a proper French vinaigrette. Cooking the breast until it was still a tiny bit squishy and letting it sit on the warm griddle will ensure perfect cooking, practice makes perfect and soon you’ll know by instinct when it’s done. I used a whole grain pitta, but polish rye bread would also be delicious. The plate is wood’s ware, in soft yellow Jasmine, I saw this crockery featured in Fantastic Man and that’s when I knew I would be a subscriber forever more… Back to the sandwich, put it all together and chomp!
Are there any other fashionable foodies out there? Let me know!
Hand on heart I promise than when I rave about La Cage Aux Folles, or tweet about Songkick (it’s going to change my life) or post another damn New Look thing on my blog I’m only doing it for the love. (I really love la Cage Aux Folles). I spotted these shoes on a trend scout downstairs and when she said they were from New Look at the new Oxford St store I pretty much ran in to get them at 5.30.
Big deal, crepe-soled heels, they’re so BOT I know pretty much everyone has got them. But these are really comfy and only £40, and they’re kind of the shoe I’ve been searching for all winter, despite trying similar styles. I’m confused, I seem to be getting the hang of high street shopping. I’m going to go the the charity shops at the weekend, to test my chazza mojo, maybe I can double fist shopping skills. More on this when I have finally bought myself a laptop. So let’s end this post in style with a little Cage Aux Folles song sung by Perry Como:
The shoes are online now, here is the link: shooes
Ahead of LFW, I thought I would dig out an interview I did with Ann Sofie Back a few years ago. I’m looking forward to her fashion week show, it’s good to see she’s returning to catwalk shows after an absence, I’ve missed her accessible, witty style.
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