Tattoos and Rude Boys

Awful weather meant a Sunday of  indoor based activities. First on the list, brunch at Jackson and Rye. Very nearly didn't make it thanks to the bus making me get off in Lambeth North with the bus driver telling me 'London is closed.' Ah right, thanks for that.

Amazing food (scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, toast and southern fried potatoes) and great coffee with a cheeky peach bellini thrown in for good measure. It's not often I eat before lunchtime so when I do I like to make sure I'm doing it right. Great service and reasonable prices means I'll definitely be back to work my way through the menu. A gentleman at the next table had pancakes which looked delicious.

Luckily, the rain had stopped so a wonder to Somerset House ensued. One of my favourite things about walking around London is when you find a place you've never been to before. Walking along the river, we found this little park full of amazing flowers and very friendly drunk men. Took a quick opportunity to get an outfit snap which was a little harder than I thought it would be due to the strong winds and nearly loosing my hat on more than one occasion!

(Hat - Urban Outfitters, Jumper - Cos, Skirt - American Apparel, Boots - Topshop, Bag - Mulberry)

 I'd been wanting to go to Somerset House for a while as I've yet to see a bad exhibition there but was highly recommended Time: Tattoo Art Today. While there, we heard a few grumbles as I think some people were slightly disappointed there wasn't more flash. I think the moment people hear of something by tattooists, flash is the automatic thing that comes to mind. I really loved the diversity in the work that was on display and it's always nice to see tattooists I love (Hooper, Koeplinger, Binnie, Garver etc) doing something a little different and to see them for the artists they are.

Another exhibition that was also on was Return of The Rudeboy. The exhibition took up a few rooms with a slightly different theme in each one. The photography was great but I was really impressed with the way the work was displayed and other elements of Rudeboy culture, such as music and fashion, that were featured in each room. It wasn't the biggest exhibition but I felt everything was incredibly relevant and as someone who didn't really know anything about the history of Rudeboys, I felt that I learnt quite a lot about a really interesting subculture. All in all, a wonderful day.

Time: Tattoo Art Today is on until 5th October 2014

Return of The Rudeboy is on until 25th August 2014

Both exhibitions at Somerset House are free of charge.

  

Wasting time.

Spent an absolutely perfect Saturday with the gorgeous Rachel doing pretty much nothing. During the epic summer of 2010, Rachel and I would spend days on end having the best time but, in essence, doing sweet FA. Just wasting away days filling them with chit-chat, drinks and food and walking to nowhere in particular. This Saturday was one of those days.

(Salted caramel cake and Oreo cupcakes - Street art in East London - Hand painted bottles - Lobster Mac'n'Cheese and Tequila Colada frozen cocktails - Street Feast Hackney)

A day spent walking, eating and drinking. A lot of drinking. We ended at Street Feast where Rach confided that she'd been 3 weeks in a row. I thought it couldn't possibly be that good. Could it? It could. I'm sure I'll be back a few more times before it disappears as the weather starts to turn.

And us being us, outfit photographs were a must.

(Kimono - Native Rose, Cross back top - Urban Outfitters, Jeans - Topshop, Shoes - Urban Outfitters, Bag - Vintage)

I've been obsessing over this kimono for a while now. I think it's the traditional sleeves which a lot of kimonos don't seem to have these days. We didn't get Native Rose into my store for Spring/Summer so it was a bit out of sight, out of mind. This one got appeared and I couldn't resist. We have the whole Autumn/Winter range in store now. Featuring a floor length black kimono with traditional sleeves. I have a feeling it will be mine very soon.

Secret Cinema presents....Back To The Future

Sometimes, living in London can get slightly overwhelming. I mean, there's so much to do. All the time. So many options, every day of the week. But every now and then, something happens that everyone wants to get in on. My first experience of this was Secret Cinema presents Back To The Future.

After trying to get tickets for a couple of days, I succeeded and waited with baited breath as the emails came through to advise me on what to wear, who my character was, where I needed to get to and so on. I knew someone going to the opening night and couldn't wait to hear all about it, debating on how much I wanted to know. I saw her and she told me......it was cancelled. Along with the next night, and the next, and the next and the next. This meant the unofficial opening night was the night I had tickets for. I was just hoping it wasn't going to go down the same route as it's predecessors.

I wasn't disappointed. I got dolled up in the requested 50's attire with my cousin and we made our way to Hackney Wick where we were told the site was a short walk away near the Olympic Village.

(Hair scarf - Tie Rack, Glasses - Gok Wan, Polo Shirt - Fred Perry, Skirt - Vintage find in Oslo, Bag - Vivienne Westwood, Shoes - Vivienne Westwood)

I knew we were on to something special the moment we entered the barn and could pet the farm animals. A short walk led us to Hill Valley, complete with houses, cars, barbershops, diners, a fairground, the school, the clock-tower, dive bars, vintage shops and more. We were given around 3 hours to explore which is the perfect amount of time to really get involved with everything. In fact, the set was so good, we almost forgot we were there to watch a film. Although, that might have been helped by the bourbon cocktails, gin sweets and 3 bottles of wine consumed.

The stand out part for me though, hands down, was the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. To walk in to a 50's American prom was just fantastically surreal.

So, after a few teething problems, and the worry it might not happen at all, I can safely say that Secret Cinema presents Back To The Future was one of the best things I've ever been to. If there's any way you can get your hands on a ticket, do it. You won't be disappointed. Secret Cinema, well done, you surpassed yourselves. Bring on the next one!

(Due to there being a ban on phones and cameras, which was excellent, the above images are taken from The Guardian)