January 31st, 2010 at 2:21 pm
(Creative endevour, Fashion, High Street, Inspiration, designer)
Gone are the days when charity shops were musty old holes full of grandad’s moth-eaten old cardigans and chipped crockery, check out this Utopia on Camden Highstreet…
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…I had walked past it twice before realising was actually Oxfam and not a boutique!
The inspirational sunbeam behind the mouthwateringly eclectic shop is a woman named Mrs Jones (who has styled the likes of Goldfrapp, Kylie, The Scissor Sisters and *gasp* The Killers- no wonder I love it!)- armed only with shears and her creativity she manages to magically reinvent the tired and unwanted in to something truly unique.
89 Camden Highstreet will be the address that put the humble charity shop back on the map for being the most stylish, trendy and talked about shop in town…
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January 30th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
(Fashion, High Street, Inspiration)
The first time I walked through Camden Market I was immediately struck by the sheer amount of ‘alternative’ i.e 11 years out-of-date cyber-rave goth tat worn by twenty-somethings who should know better and step away from the Linkin Park CD’s. You know, the type…pleather-clad trapped in a time warp of nu-metal, lip piercings and Bolt jeans?
I must say I expected more from a trendy district of what is arguably the fashion capital of the world.
The thing is, you have to look deeper than the New Rocks and striped skinnys to the hidden gems, the diamonds in the rough…
Thea and Rokit are considered two of the best vintage stores in London- both offering high quality, seasonal finds with very reasonable price tags. Promising new designers showcase handmade pieces that will set you aside from the rest of the To-Sho and H&M clones.
Jolie Moi, Maylee and Lily J outisde on the streets are worth a look as well for the quaint, quirky and the kooky… like wooly minidresses depicting London postboxes amongst other things…
Plus it’s worth a visit just to catch a glimpse of the Camden ‘local celebrities’ i.e the fashionistas who work in local bars at night and by day serve as walking inspiration for design students everywhere.
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January 28th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
(Life, Work, hehe!)
Photo from davesworldtravel
Well hello and sorry for the lack of contact over the past few weeks but as some of you may know from previous posts; I have moved to London!
So fiancé, pughuahua and I are all moved in to the little Georgian townhouse apartment and loving all of it’s tall ceilings, white walls and carpets and quaint wooden shutters on the 10ft tall windows that overlook the très cosmo Camden Town.
Today I received my first pay check from Brown’s Hotel. I have been hostessing my tush off in to the wee hours in my chic little uniform (black jacket with satin-esque cuffs, high collar with plunging neckline and pencil skirt) – meeting and greeting the celebs, millionaires and other members of high society. Alas I must keep details confidential but maybe when I am 50 I’ll write a book featuring all the secrets and stories that bound around the tea room…
Highlights of London life so far…
♥ Being suprised by the fact that people do actually smile and talk to each other despite rumours- not so much on the Tube though…
♥ Camden Market…far surpassed my expectations. It is an Aladdin’s cave of vintage clothes, fabrics, food and artwork. There is some tat so you have to sift through the chaff to get to the good stuff- but that’s all part on the fun.
♥ Daily walks around Regent’s Park with Toby- beautiful.
♥ There is an evening class/meeting for anything and everything. I think I will be avoiding the lecture by ‘prophet’ Benjamin Creme about the emergence of ‘Maitreya’- the world teacher- head of the cult ‘Masters of Wisdom’ …OK then…
Lowlights…(besides the scary cult recruitment rallies)
♥ Missing Devon, my friends, family and little godpiglet Layla. Sniff.
♥ The Tube. Convenient for germs as well as their human hosts…a million different colds to catch every day of the week! Also the cattle market shuffle through the tunnels and the elbow barging to get in to the can of sardines every morning and evening, like clockwork. On the plus side the funny train conductor messages. IMMD
♥ You take your life into your hands on Oxford Street on a Saturday. Managed to enter about 3 shops all day due to the sheer current of the tide of crowd just whipping you either up or down the highstreet- stepping in and out of places verges on the impossible. Also, don’t get hungry or want to sit down, the queue for one of the 164 Starbucks is out of the door at all hours of the day. Weekdays=bliss.
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December 22nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
(Celebrity, Fashion, Inspiration, Life, Self-Image, designer)
photo by Namoor
“When I was asked as a child what I wanted to be, I’d say, ‘I want to be rich, I want to be famous, I want to live in the big city, I want to have a fabulous life. All I’ve done my entire life is fulfil my destiny.”
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December 20th, 2009 at 11:20 am
(The New Black)
photo from Mr X Stitch
♥ It Made My Day has had me transfixed for most of the afternoon, it is the ultimate cyber anti-depressant…
“I saw my cat watch patiently as a big beetle ate a little beetle. When it was finished, my cat ate the big beetle.”
♥ One of my favourite bloggers ever- San Smith is selling the most gorgeous lil ornaments on Etsy- I want a Christmas tree covered decorated with bats and cats in scarves!
♥ Walking the pughua in the snow- watching him skit around on the ice and snuffle in the snow- so cute! And no blusher can compare to the healthy glow!
♥ I am in love with Lulu Guinness’s festive red and silver lipstick sparkles. Santa baby…
♥ TWiNKiE Chan’s gingerbreadman scarf is just the best thing ever. Fact.
♥ The Telegraph’s piece on Lauren Luke, the woman on every cosmetics junkie’s Youtube favourites list, is truly inspirational. It tells of how her love of make-up started was her ammo against school bullies and has since lead to a book and several lucrative deals with cosmetics brands. A must read.
♥ With Jimmy Choo vending from H&M and now Daisy Lowe modelling for Peacocks it seems that the recession has made the high street the new couture, and I must say I am loving it! It seems that the demise of fashion snobbery is one of the few positive outcomes of the dreaded ‘crunch’ - even Katie Holmes has been spotted wearing Primark! Work it girl - apologetically!
♥ It’s Christmas in 5 days! Christmas is the new black!
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December 20th, 2009 at 8:46 am
(Gigs, Inspiration, Music, News, hehe!)
Sorry for the absence lately, I know I said I would try to keep on top of everything but I have just had so much to do and plan ready for the move to London in the New Year!
The apartment has been secured- a beautiful Georgian town house conversion in Mornington Crescent with two huge French windows opening out on to a balcony. It is located 2 minutes walk from the colourful Camden high street and 1 minute from the amazing KOKO which I will be frequenting!
It is the most beautiful old theatre that opened first time around with Charlie Chaplin on the bill! It has since been transformed in to a three-floor club, check out the pics below…
photos from KOKO Club
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December 20th, 2009 at 8:32 am
(Creative endevour, Fashion, High Street, designer)
photo from Vogue
Jimmy Choo joined the legendary names that are Matthew Williamson and Sonia Rykiel in making a contribution to the high street favourite H&M – by releasing an impressive line on November 14th.
Founder and president of Jimmy Choo, Tamara Mellon said…
“We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and to be including some great pieces for men too. Jimmy Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection – the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!”
Jimmy Choo is a legendary name up there with the shoe-making heavyweights Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik but the line not only features the staple footwear; but belts, bags and other accessories; all of which will be complemented by specially designed clothing (date of release TBC). It seems that the accessories ARE the look, rather than just completing it; as Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor of H&M explains…
“We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits,” “I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it’s our first shoe designer collection. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers.”
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November 30th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
(News, Work, hehe!)
photo from English-Restaurants
Yesterday I wrote about Browns Hotel in Mayfair and how lovely it was to spend the day there; but I have a confession to make… I wasn’t just visiting…
I had an interview…
AND I GOT THE JOB!
As of January 11th 2010 I will be the hostess of The Albemarle Restaurant!
London here I come!
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November 29th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
(Beauty, Celebrity, Fashion, News)
photo from thestyleofliving
Autentic Audrey Hepburn attire is hard to come by but several cerificated pieces including some icon items are set to be auctioned at La Galleria, Royal Opera Arcade on Pall Mall, London on December 7 and 8.
Experts expect that the thirty-odd pieces including accessories and letters to reach around £100,000- 50% of which will go to The Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund and Unicef.
The auction will also feature her unworn wedding dress- she called off the wedding to James Hanson weeks prior to the set date. Vogue reports “Hepburn asked that the dress be given away, “to the most beautiful, poor Italian girl you can find – someone who couldn’t ever afford a dress like mine” and the recipient – Amabile Altobella – wore it and kept it in her family until it was tracked down by the family of the dress’ creators, the Fontanas, in 2002.”
For those that aren’t in the position to invest in what could be considered history’s most coveted Givenchy and Valantino pieces, they can be seen on display at La Galleria on Sunday December 6 from 12 noon – 5pm.
For images of the lots, visit Vogue’s gallery.
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November 29th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
(Inspiration, Life, University)
photo from George Eastman House
I finally did it, after 4 years and almost £20k I am the beholder of the most expensive piece of paper I will ever own!
It was an amazing day, I have never felt as proud as I did walking through the cathedral with my name echoing around it’s walls.
That evening I celebrated over cocktails with Uni friends in one of my favourite old haunts- I didn’t realise quite how much I missed the city and student life and was a bit choked to know that that chapter of my life is over.
Although it was the hardest struggle I have ever had to face (so far!) and at some points I was ready to jack it in and give up it honestly was the best 4 years of my life and I will treasure the memories as much as I will treasure the certificate.
If you are considering whether to go to college/uni and are undecided I encourage anyone and everyone to do it- there is nothing else like it and you will never experience anything else like it in life. Even if you go and find it’s not for you, at least you tried. I am so glad I did.
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