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)

London, I love you...

...and you ain't never bringing me down.

Back living in my favourite city in the world. I'm guessing it's time to up the ante on this little blog of mine.

OOTD

(Shirt - BDG, Sweater - Sparkle and Fade, both Urban Outfitters. Leather look leggings - River Island. Leopard print trainers - Vans. Coat - vintage.)

Holographic Vibes

(Marc by Marc Jacobs Techno iridescent wallet)

(Chanel Holographic nail polish)

Still obsessing over anything and everything holographic including these beauties above. So, Santa, if you're listening.....

B E R L I N

(An excellent AND super cheap record store, 5 euros for a Fleetwood Mac record, yes please - Cemetery - A few faces of those who lost their lives at the Berlin Wall - Artwork in the courtyard of our hotel - Quite literally the BEST Sex on the Beach cocktail I've ever had - A bar incredibly reminiscent of a David Lynch film - Vegan chocolate cake from Berlin's top vegan restaurant Kopps - Street art)  

Last weekend, the boy and I were very fortunate to spend it in Berlin with some of my very favourites. We had the most amazing time and it's safe to say that after seeing Gaseffelstein at Gretchen, all future nights out in England have been ruined. Above are just a few snaps I took while there. I would have like to have taken more but was far too busy drinking all the prosecco in Berlin. However, with 2 friends who have recently moved there, we're already planning our next trip.

To Shop...

Working in retail for 10 years has shown me that fashion is my absolute life and the thing I am most passionate about. However, spending so much time in one store means you can sometimes forget that there are other places to shop and more clothes to see.

I had an hour to kill a couple of weekends ago between doing some work for the other half and meeting a friend for coffee. I used to the time to have a quick wonder around the Trinity centre in Leeds and to do some spending.

Polka dot shirt - H&M

Faux leather skirt - H&M

H&M is a shop I rarely go into as it's always so busy and usually quite messy. Being a VM, I find it difficult to not start tidying stores that I don't work in which doesn't always go down that well! For this reason, I tend to shop in stores that I know have a good and coherent lay out with stock that is easy to go through. However, as I walked through Trinity, I saw this shirt and skirt merched together in the window so ran in for a quick purchase! The 2 came to under £30! Love me a bargin!

Boots - Topshop

I saw these boots in Topshop a while ago in a black canvas and thought they were great. Then my sensible side kicked in and canvas boots + Leeds rainy winter, a good combination does not make. Then when working in the Manchester UO, I saw a girl wearing these ones and made it my mission to investigate. A lot more hard-wearing than canvas, I thought they were going to be a lot more expensive. For an extra £4 I couldn't hand over my card quick enough! I love the burgundy colour and the platform means they are super comfortable so I can wear them for work meaning they pretty much haven't been off my feet since I got them!

 Dress - Urban Outfitters

However, one of the benefits from working in a store is the constant access to new clothes always coming in. I saw this dress in the Leeds UO and fell in love with it! It was a line that we didn't get in to the York store but as luck would have it, a couple got returned to us in my size so I snapped one up. It definitely makes me look like a nanna but styled with my new boots and beat up leather biker jacket it looks great. And the paisley print is just beautiful. The print is also on a skirt and oversized button up shirt. Maybe next pay day....

So those are my new buys. What have you been treating yourself to?

T H E S U N S H I N E C O A S T

When I was 19, I left sleepy Eastbourne to live in exciting Leeds to become an art student. I think it's fair to say that I couldn't wait to leave. I hated the place. Despite being so close to London and Brighton, it was nothing like them. I did everything I could to visit both places whenever possible, for gigs, shopping, galleries, anything!
I went back a couple of weekends ago and realised how bittersweet it's now become. I love going home to visit my friends and family and I'm now really sad to leave whenever I have to head back t'up north. Leeds is not Eastbourne beach.

So while home, I visited friends, hung out with my family and spent a day in Brighton where I could (want) definitely move to.

I also managed to fit in some (a lot) of shopping.

Denim smock dress - Topshop

(Apologises for the creases. I didn't have time to iron it BUT I did get mu SLR out to photograph it which means no more iPhone photographs on here!)

Shoes - Topshop

(Fell in love with these instantly. Slightly dirty as I wore them to a wedding this weekend, got drunk and definitely fell over. In front on everyone. At least I did it in good shoes.)

Ring and bracelet - Brighton Lanes

Holographic platform trainers - Schuh

(Like a lot of people into fashion, I've been obsessing over anything holographic since I saw THAT Proenza Schouler bag).

So a brilliant time had by all. I love you South Coast.

C F W

I was incredibly lucky to have been flown to Copenhagen last week with work. Our Copenhagen store was getting a brand new refit and I was called in to work with the company stylist. Not only did I learn loads but yet again, it was something that confirmed I'm definitely in the right industry. Also, it gave me the biggest confidence boost to be asked to style the mannequins ready for Copenhagen fashion week!

Above are a few snaps of store window and entrance cluster styling. My apologises for the bad quality images. Hand luggage only meant I only had my iPhone to hand.

A mixture of designer, renewal and current brands and trends. If you would like to know any item specifics, drop me a message!