My Kinky Hair lookbook shoot

I recently came out of styling retirement to style a lookbook for my friend Louise's new hair extensions brand, My Kinky Hair.  It was a great sunny Sunday shoot with a lovely talented team, so I thought I'd share the results with you.

Louise wanted a fun and funky look to reflect her super-glam and sexy hair, so I went for a real London style - colourful and playful with a '90s urban twist.  Clothes wise this meant light-washed denim, tropical prints, heaps of gold jewellery, throwback footwear...and a little cameo from The Fresh Prince!

Here are some of my favourite images from the shoot (with a little explanation of my thoughts behind them) - would love to know what you all think!

Anyone who spent their youth watching MTV in the 90s will recognise this look.  High-waisted, stone-washed 'mom' jeans, crop top and Timms is classic Aaliyah/ Janet Jackson.

Top - Primark

Jeans - Topshop

Boots - Timberland

Belt - Stylist's own

I couldn't resist this Fresh Prince T-shirt when I saw it on the rack in Primark (Yes! Primark!).  In fact, I liked it so much I kept it for myself!  I liked the idea or pairing it with an over-sized chunky chain and clashing red (belt) and pink (skirt) - a colour combo/ accessory you could imagine The Fresh Prince wearing himself.

T-shirt - Primark

Necklace - Stylist's own

Belt - H&M

Skirt - H&M

When I saw this awesome black and white graffitied wall I knew I wanted to put together a graphic monochrome look to shoot against it.  I LOVE these palladium style boots, they took me right back to my childhood.

Dress - ASOS

Sunglasses - TOMS

Bangle - Primark

Floral socks - Pamela Mann

Boots - Primark

I can never resist a tropical print and love how the little gold buttons on this cute ditsy floral top give it a bit of an urban edge.  I'm a bit obsessed with round sunglasses too, and this pair were my ultimate shades of 2013 - round, bold and graphic - real attention seekers.

Sunglasses - H&M
Top - Topshop

Levi’s X Liberty: A collaboration made in festival fashion heaven

Fashion collaborations are ten a penny, but every now and there's a collaboration that stops you in your tracks (or in this case, makes you want to write a blog post) - and this one did just that to me.  I don't need to tell you that Levi's and Liberty are both clearly defined, well established heritage brands in their own right - we all know who they are and what they stand for.  So you'd think they wouldn't have to bother with exciting new projects like this, but boy am I happy they did.

Denim and floral prints go together like....er....well, they go together pretty bloody well.  There's just something incredibly pleasing about their yin-yang contrast; the coarseness of the denim against the prettiness of the flowers.  It just works.  

Whether you wear yours on their own, together, matching or clashing, floral prints and denim are both staples of the summertime festival wardrobe, and although there are loads of cheaper incarnations of this pairing on the high street, this *genius* Levi’s X Liberty collaboration looks and feels like the real deal.

There are 13 pieces in the collection, ranging from full-on floral dresses to discreetly laser-printed jeans.  It's all pretty great to be honest, but here are my top picks...

  

Stockists: Levis.com / Liberty.co.uk

Lunch at parliament...as you do!

So today I went for lunch at Parliament...as you do.  Sadly (obviously?) I wasn't there to receive any great honour; no, I was just there for a bite to eat and a good old gossip.  You see my friend Grace works there, and at some point casually mentioned that you could have guests for lunch; Emily and I have been nagging her mad to invite us down ever since.

Tourist shot!
*Note to fellow cape wearers: Carrying your bag under your cape is not fantastically flattering...as you can see.

As well as a delicious (and generously subsidised) lunch on the terrace over looking the river (enough to make me want to ditch journalism and move into politics), Grace gave us a whirlwind tour of the grounds...

Incredible stone work including some very impressive gargoyles. I do love a good gargoyle.

Westminster Hall: Built in 1027 it's the oldest part of Parliament, and the only surviving part of the original Palace of Westminster

Its awe-inspiring wooden ceiling is especially important as historians didn't previously think that carpenters were able to build self-supporting roofs until much later (13th or 14th century)

Em and I posing with some rather fantastic (in a Liberace kinda way) stone Deer. 

After Westminster Hall Grace took us through to the main building (where sadly I wasn't allowed to take pics).  We walked through St Stephen's Hall (which was home to the first Common's chamber), into the central lobby (a large hexagonal space with the House of Commons chamber to one side and House of Lords chamber to the other), and best of all into the actual House of Commons chamber itself - the highlight of the whole trip.  Being inside the chamber was insanely exciting and a little surreal.  It's much smaller than you'd think/ it looks on't telly.

I even came home with a souvenir in the form of a rather grand bottle or House of Commons sparkling water!  Who says politics isn't glamorous?

Anyway I just thought I'd share this as it really was one of the most exciting days out I've had in ages.  And don't worry if you don't have a friend with a jazzy job, Parliament is open (well bits of it) to everyone.  You can find out more about visiting, or even do a virtual tour here.

No doubt I'll be back on the leftovers in front of my laptop at the kitchen table for lunch tomorrow...

Cath Kidston's 20th anniversary: A night of crafts and cocktails!

Quaint, comforting, homely and slightly eccentric, Cath Kidston is instantly recognisable, and one of those brands who feel like they've been around forever.  So I was more than a little surprised when I was invited to a party to celebrate their 20th birthday (only 20? Gosh that makes me feel old!).  

True to brand this wasn't just any old beers in a bar kinda shindig; instead we (myself and a gaggle of other fashiony web types) were given the chance to indulge our inner Domestic Goddesses with candle making and cake decorating (led by East London's very own Queen of Cakes Lily Vanilli)…all helped (or in my case hindered) along by some utterly delicious, dangerously potent cocktails!  

So here are some pics from the night.  Make sure you check out the animated Cath Kidston story at the bottom, it's utterly charming and uplifting, and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face!  

Nothing makes me happier than coordinating my cocktail with my outfit!

My limited edition 'Coming up Roses' mug ready to be transformed into a candle

Phoebe repping for xoJane UK!  

Carefully pouring my birthday cake scented wax (yes, it smells as good as it sounds!)

                                                                                         

Our cake decorating goodies

Lily of Lily Vanilli (yes, I was a little bit starstruck!)

My less than perfect icing rose (I blame the heat/ melting icing!)

                               

Ada with her very professional looking rose (jealous? Me? Never!)

Me looking smug...and tipsy (smipsy?) with my first cake

My quartet of cakes. Yes, I was going for 'rustic'

                                     

The #CK20 crew: Ada, Phoebe, Moi et Celeste from Exposure PR

The Cath Kidston story....

                                      

For more information on how you can get involved in Cath Kidston's 20th birthday celebrations and their limited edition 'Coming up Roses' birthday range (everything from crockery and handbags to the 'Coming up Roses' book - the inspiring story of how Cath developed her business - Sheryl Sandberg move over!) head to the Cath Kidston website....

Louise Gray for Topshop for my 30th

Anyone who knows me, or follows my xoJane ramblings, will know that I recently (at first reluctantly but then rather enthusiastically), celebrated my 30^th birthday.  It was obviously a momentous occasion, and required an equally momentous outfit.  My first thought was to wear one of the many mental vintage creations I’ve (secretly) bought over the years, yet never worn (as in all honesty there are really very few occasions in my life which call for a scene-stealing vintage ensemble).  But then, one night, when there was bugger all on’t telly, I found myself shopping the Topshop sale, and there, in all it’s glistening glory was what was to become my super-duper special 30^th birthday dress.  Nothing shouts LOOK AT ME, IT’S MY BIRTHDAY, WHERE’S MY MOFO CAKE AT? quite like a sequinned dress.  But on top of all of that this dress also screeched, I’M 30, AND WHAT? BEST BELIEVE I STILL GOT IT…because it was by Louise Gray.  Ok, Louise Gray for Topshop, but Louise Gray nonetheless, and as close to Louise Gray as I’m gonna get on my meagre freelance salary.

I’m a massive Louise Gray fan (had you noticed?).  I love her unashamed brashness, her courageous use of colour, her fearless combinations of (what should be) clashing prints, her statement accessories, and most of all, the fact her whole aesthetic is just so utterly perfectly quintessentially London.  Right now.

So, in celebration of Louise Gray (for Topshop), and my fabulous 30^th birthday dress I made a lil’ gallery of some of my fave Louise Gray looks from the past four seasons.*

* You might need to put your sunnies on.  

My new theme choooon...

Could this song BE any more awesome?  Not since Afroman has a novelty record touched me so deeply.  In general I'm hopelessly disillusioned with contemporary music (yes, I just said contemporary like I'm 800, and what?); Chris Brow, Ne-yo (urgh, even the spelling of his name is idiotic), Taylor Swift and all their cronies  just leave me cold. Not a talented toe between them.  But this - this is inspired.  Funny, observant, witty - if you can't be truly talented at least try and have a sense of humour!  So, big up my charity shop crew - keep doing your thing, hunting out the bargains, rocking your thrify looks and making the world jealous.

Kitten heels for xoJane

Meow! How'd you like my badass new photoshop skillz?  As you can probably tell I'm rather chuffed with them!  Anyway, last week I wrote a feature for xoJane about my love of kitten heels.  In recent years I've become increasingly fed-up with the rising height of high heels (and with it my rising inability to go an entire night in a pair).  It got to the stage where I had to admit defeat and bow out gracefully, and so for the past couple of years I've been wearing lots of flats.  Sometimes you just need an extra little bit of lift and elegance though, and that my friends is where the kitten heel comes in.  Anyway, don't let me ruin the feature for you; to read my top 5 reasons for loving kitten heels and see my pick of this season's crop click through to xoJane here.

Jo Hayes Ward for Hunger TV

Jo Hayes Ward's pale citrine ring 

I've been at it again - interviewing another inspiring up-and-coming jewellery designer for Hunger TV.  I've been interested in Jo's work since I first saw it (and very briefly met her) in the Rock Vault tent at LFW a couple of seasons ago.  Her pieces are immediately striking, but in a subtle, gentle, take a closer look as opposed to an in-your-face visual assault kind of way.  Jo uses rapid prototying (a kind of 3D printing) to create her jewellery - a process I've been wanting to know more about ever since she mentioned it to me a year ago.  Above is a pic of Jo's pale citrine ring - my absolute favourite piece of hers. This picture doesn't even begin to do the ring justice, it really is the most incredibly beautiful, intriguing piece of jewellery I've ever seen.  The citrine is a pale yellow colour and has been cut so it gently domes and when you look into it you see hundreds of tiny squares.  It works in perfect harmony with the pixilated body of the ring, and the combination is utterly mesmerising.   Sadly at £3,500 it's slightly out of my price range at the moment (although if anyone happens to have a spare £3,500 lying round, please feel free to buy it for me)!  

Anyway, here's the Hunger TV interview - I hope you enjoy it, and as ever, would love to know what you think!

Jo's signature structural rings

Stacking rings (I think they make fantastic wedding bands!)

Kyle Hopkins for Hunger TV

Ring from SS13 Material Girls collection

Last week I interviewed one of my favourite young jewellery designers, Kyle Hopkins, for Hunger TV (Hunger Magazine's website).  Kyle's jewellery is really bold, exciting, and sometimes challenging (gold cast ear pendant anyone?), and is about as far away from the traditional idea of jewellery simply as adornment as you can get.  Although I'm not sure I'd personally wear some of his pieces, he's so passionate and honest and thoughtful it's impossible not to believe in his work and his creative vision, and I'm sure there are great things ahead for him.  Anyway, so here's the interview - would love to know what you think of Kyle's work, which pieces you love and why.

Finger print ring from AW12

Kyle's signature Citizen ring

Everyone needs a 1960s evening coat. Right?

Yes, I’ve been at it again, accidentally purchasing utterly impractical pieces of vintage clothing.  What can I say, I just can’t help myself. It’s an addiction…an illness…and I fear it’s terminal.  This time I found myself buying this rather fabulous 1960s pink and gold lame evening coat (I say coat, but really it’s more of a coatlet as it isn’t lined, only has ¾ length sleeves and the only fastening is a neck tie) in Portabello market.  I was only meant to be out for a stroll.  No, it’s not the most practical of pieces; however what it lacks in practicality it more than makes up for in flamboyance and style, and at £40 I just couldn’t say no.  So there                                    

The real stars of Cannes

As I sit here in my house clothes (oh the glamorous life of a freelance writer), just over the Channel the rich and famous are guzzling champagne on ostentatious yachts and generally living it up at the 65^th Cannes film festival.  Not one to be bitter, I thought I’d get in on the action by writing about the real stars of the Cannes red carpet aka. the mind-blowingly extravagant jewellery (all courtesy of long-time Cannes sponsor Chopard).  Sante!

Hairy chest heaven!

Don't ask. There have been tree surgeons outside my house since the early hours, and just when I thought my head was about to explode I ended up listening to the ever-bopable sounds of the Bee Gees (via the Grease soundtrack) and stumbled (I promise I didn't actively seek it out) across this truly awesome image of the Bee Gees in their hay (or should that be hair *snigger*) day!  From a stylists point of view this is an utterly phenomenal image.  Can you imagine styling them and thinking, I know what will sell more records, if they get their ridiculously hairy, untamed, un-toned chests out – genius.  How times have changed.  Now it’s all shiny spray-tanned waxed torsos. Shame.  Also, the chest hair is so distracting I almost didn’t notice that they were wearing matching gold satin bombers and crouch-conscious trousers. So shiny. So inappropriate. So wonderfully of it's time. What a look.  What a tuuuuuune.  Happy Tuesday!

Made In Britain: The Mission

If you’d have said to your grandparents (or even your parents) that Made in Britain would one day be a niche selling point, they would have thought you were crazy.  My dad has been in the clothes/ retail business his whole working life (and was taught the trade by his dad), and was manufacturing his own small yet affordable line of clothes in the UK as recently as the early 1980’s –  something that wouldn’t be viable today, just 30 years later.  Then came the Primark years, and although many of us felt twinges of guilt at the facts behind the Made in China labels, we were all too easily seduced by the trend-conscious designs at cheaper-than-charity-shop prices.  Now though we’re in recession and all that cheap and cheerful schmutter hanging in our wardrobes doesn’t seem so cheerful anymore now the elastic is starting to droop and the trends they nodded to have long-since passed.  The Made anywhere-but-Britain labels are wearing a bit thin too, and more and more of us find ourselves longing to see Made in Britain sewn into the inside of our clothes…and thankfully we are.  Maybe it’s the 'Mary Portas effect', but over the last few months I’ve become increasingly aware of fashion brands bragging about their Made in Britain credentials, and good for them.  These brands are single-handedly and selflessly, with no support from Government, keeping our once brilliant and world-leading manufacturing industry alive, and I think the least we can do is support them.  So, with that in mind, this is my long-winded and slightly ranty introduction to a new series of blog posts on some of the wonderful brands who continue to manufacture in the UK, and deserve our support and respect.  I really hope you enjoy them, and are able to support these brands in your own way too.

United Colors of Mmmm...

When I hear the name Benetton the first things that pop into my mind are spotty French exchange students and the UN…neither of which particularly makes me want to buy their clothes, and I feel I’m not alone.  UCB don’t have a great profile here in the UK; when it comes to comfy basics most of us head straight to GAP or Uniqlo, and we have the likes of Topshop and Zara for our affordable on-trend pieces, so it’s hard to see where Benetton with their goodwill-to-all-men-cotton-crew-necks fit in.  Get ready to eat your colour-pop berets though, because UCB are under the new Creative Directorship of ex-Levi’s man You Nguyen, and their AW12 collection is about to challenge all your preconceptions.

Just take these rainbow sandals for instance; tonal colour-blocked, chunky heeled sandals, with a slight platform and a midi-heel – bright and fun, they’re true to the Benetton brand whilst also being utterly delicious and bang on-trend.  They’d look absolutely brilliant with a chino or pajama pant, and super-cute with a pair of socks.

Now, we all know times are tough, and with no sign of summer on the horizon it doesn’t exactly feel like the perfect time to treat yourself to a new pair of summer sandals (especially not ones involving suede), but here’s the thing: At £79.90 these babies are an absolute steal, and what’s more Benetton have a special promotion (called ‘use your head’) on from the 11^th – 20^th May, where they’re giving away a free pair of headphones (see below) with every UCB Adult purchase over £60.  So basically the hard decision is not whether or not to buy them, but which colour to choose….

Life lessons: How to hand-wash cashmere

In preparation for LFW (which kicks off on Friday) as well trying to sleep as much as possible (will never understand why sleep can't be collected and stored till you need it like Nectar points), and eating as much as I can in some sort of self-destructive anti-fashion rebellion, I thought I might wash all my cashmere, you know, just in case I decide to do the whole low-key I'm-not-really-here outfit thing (which is looking like a distinct possibility). Anyway, as someone who avoids hand-washing at all costs, yet can't afford dry-cleaning, and is still traumatised from past cashmere shrinking episodes, I decided the best thing to do was to google 'how to wash cashmere'. After sceptically scouring the links I clicked on this one on a website called Real Simple (because that's what I look for in household chores/ lessons/ everyday life), and it was so good I thought I'd share it with you guys! Isn't Sam Saboura (style expert) just adorable/ how much do you want one of those snazzy mesh drying racks/ how much can I still not be arsed to hand-wash my cashmere...humph.

It's CHRIIIIIIISTMAS!

Ok it's not, it's actually 10th Feb, but there's snow on the ground and I've just scored a hat-trick of the most fan-tacky-tastic Christmas jumpers imaginable, so you can understand my confusion!

As regular readers will know I've been on the hunt for the perfect vintage Christmas jumper for a couple of years now - see. I've been looking for so long, that if I'm honest I was beginning to give up hope, and I certainly never thought I'd find them in a Jewish charity shop in February! I'd always imagined that my perfect Christmas jumper would be a traditional red and white Scandinavian affair, but then I imagined that anything as spectacular as jumper 1 and cardigan 2 existed! Jumper 3 is just in case I'm having an uncharacteristically low-key day. Let's be honest, it's unlikely, but miracles do happen!

It's a LONDON ting

Yes, as far as I'm concerned it is ALL ABOUT this hat right now. Anyone who knows me personally can testify that I've been inseparable from it since I brought it (on the spur of the moment out of freezing desperation on a particularly cold day) in November. It was truly love at first sight, and instantly became my absolute favourite item in my wardrobe....like EVER! Not only is it fantastically warm, but as Londoner I'm really loving the opportunity to publicly declare my love for this fair/ gritty metropolis. Also it's pink. Splendidly sickly sweet pink. And when I wear it I feel epic. So there. Pow.

Not just another leather biker jacket

Today I’m a very happy bunny, as I’ve just got a new Muubaa leather jacket, which I hope you all love as much as I do (as always would love your feedback)! I’ve only recently discovered London–based leather brand Muubaa, and instantly fell in love with the Rick Owens-esque understated luxury of their designs. Their prices aren’t cheap (my jacket is £329), but their innovative designs and experimental techniques make for some fantastic stand-out pieces, and as a frequent leather sniffer (honestly, I can hardly walk past a leather jacket without giving it the sniff test – it’s practically an illness) I can confirm that this is the real deal. Besides the jackets (I also have my eye on this belted funnel neck waterfall jacket - maje), Muubaa also design some great clothing; just take a quick peek at this rather naughty Madam Whiplash stylee pencil skirt, and this perforated suede cami is just delicious!

I’ve been casually in the market for a new leather biker jacket for a while now, and have nearly brought a more typically fierce number on more than one occasion. Something was always holding me back though, and now I’ve realised that I was actually craving something completely different all along. In contrast to the usual harshness, this biker has a gentle fluidity which really differentiates it from the pack. I just love the fact it’s distressed grey instead of the typical jet-black, and the way it hangs more like soft denim or even linen, instead of being all stiff and rigid. Best of all you just know it’s going to get better the more I wear it – win!

A lesson in cynicism/ a lucky day

So, my infamous hard-earned finely-chiselled cynicism took a bit of a knock today. After last night's post where I declared, and I quote, 'there's about as much chance of me getting my grubby mitts on any of the [Versace H&M] collection as there is me marrying in to the Royal family', I only bloody managed to score not one, but two pieces! Well, you know what that means....move over Chelsy, Harry's MINE!

After hours of hitting refresh, I eventually made it through to the check-out without the site crashing (albeit 4/5 items in my basket had sold out by then) - I honestly couldn't believe my luck. Then, after work, I decided to take a walk on the wild side, and pop into a couple of H&M stores on the off chance that it hadn't all sold out, and in the second store managed to find my second piece. Score!

Obviously I'm desperado to tell you what I've got, but as I have to wait for one of my pieces to be delivered, you're going to have to wait to too!

I hope you were all as lucky as I was. If you were I'd love to hear/ see what you brought.

I'm off now to totally re-evaluate my entire outlook on life now...syke! Being cynical is the only thing that keeps me sane!

Kisses xxx

Versace/ H&M: Be still my beating heart

Sadly I couldn't attend the show/ launch party...predominantly because I wasn't invited, but you know I'm veeeerrrry conscious of my carbon foot print now days, so probably would have refused the invitation to fly to NY just for one night anyway. Yer right! Anyway, I'm not one to hold a grudge, and as a MAHOOOSIVE Versace fan - spesh the retro '90s flash-trash prints - I'm beyond crushing over their collection for H&M.

As (bad) luck would have it I'm office-based tomorrow, so won't be able to get to a H&M till lunch time (if I'm lucky), so as there's about as much chance of me getting my grubby mitts on any of the collection as there is me marrying in to the Royal family, I've decided to wallow in voyeuristic lusting of what could be if only I were willing to pull a sickie and wake at the crack of dawn to join a queue in the cold and get first dibs...

Snaps to the H&M team for producing yet another blinder of a designer collaboration....and I really truly didn't think it could get any better than last years collabo with Lanvin. I daren't let myself think about what they could have in store next...

The insanely brilliant advert. If only all ads were this creative, clever and well-conceived.