Nicole Farhi AW11 press day

My first stop on the Press day circuit was the fashion institution that is Nicole Farhi. As ever her collection's were effortlessly smart and sleek. Here are my stand-out pieces.

WOMEN'S

The breathtakingly light and airy Nicole Farhi studio. The glass roof made it feel like you were in one of the atriums at Kew. The team made great use of the space, and I thought the central display was wonderfully striking.

I really loved the use of texture in Nicole Farhi's mainline collection, and thought this twist on a classic black jacket was great.

The colour palette was 99% monochrome, so I was really drawn to this deep purple dress, and again love the play on textures. If only I were 6inches or so taller....

Gorgeous classic camel coat perfection...

Slight obsession with this reversible coat. Yes you heard me right - a Nicole Farhi reversible coat...yeah....want...no seriously - it's too fabulous - I mean how best of the '80's flashback is that!

Black and gold cuff. Can't go wrong. Absolute classic wardrobe staple.

Super-snug fur-lined booties. The soft grey suede is particularly yummy, although obvs the black leather would be far more practical. Boo.

MEN'S
I've recently decided to try and pay more attention to boys fashion, so also had a look round the men's collection, and slightly feel in love with 'The Nicole Farhi Man'. If anyone knows one, please send him my way. Ta.

Admittedly not for every man, but thought this leather braided cardigan was rather ingenious.

This embossed cable knit jumper is officially my favourite men's jumper of all time ever. It's clever and simple and smart and casual all at once, and is exactly what mens fashion should be. LOVE.

Clever, practical AND stylish multi-layered detachable-hooded many-pocketed coat. See men, practical and stylish can exist together!

My ultimate Channukah wish list…

What with the mars bar fiasco last night, I thought it was time to do something I never usually do, and make a Channukah list. Usually I shy away from lists – to-do lists, wedding lists, and especially Channukah/Christmas/ Birthday lists. I love a good surprise present, and hate the idea of being one of those people who is so self-absorbed and controlling that they feel the need to dictate to people what they can buy them. Having said that, my waistline is not going to appreciate another 7 Mars bars, so for my tummies sake I’m stepping in!

So, in no particular order, here are my top 7 dream presents for the rest of Channukah 2010:

Number 7: No – it’s really not just a t-shirt! This is sexy lingerie masquerading as a t-shirt D&G stylee, and I really would wear it ALL THE TIME! I’ve wanted this for months and moths now, and have been very very restrained in not buying it. Therefore I feel I now deserve it and will be most upset if I don’t own it by the end of the week. FACT.

Number 6: As predicted this summer, now I'm a freelancer I'm spending a truly obscene amount of time in my pj’s. I first saw these at the Selfridges Christmas press day in July, and hardly a day has gone by where I haven't wished they were mine. So despite their price tag (somewhere round the er £800 mark), these Ashish pyjamas are really a necessity, not a luxury. In fact, I even reckon I’d be able to claim the tax back on them!

Number 5: Yes, I may already own a pair of Duo boots, but I desperately need another pair. You see I love my Duo boots more than I knew I could love any boots ever. Not only are they beautifully made and fit like a glove (or like a boot should!), but every time I wear them I get gazillions of compliments, and no matter what I wear with them I always look super-chic, smart and generally glorious! So, yes I may already own this pair, but I need the ones above too, so there!

Number 4: I’m having a bit of a statement tights moment right now, and although I have more than a couple of pairs I’m clumsy and ladder them all within days. Bebaroque really take the whole statement tight thing to a whole different level though, and these Carla ones are my absolute faves. So I’d really love to add to my little collection!

Number 3: Ok, so I know this might sound weird, but for the past couple of years I’ve become slightly obsessed with trying to find the perfect Christmas jumper. Ideally I was hoping for something second hand and hand knitted by someone's Granny, but after months of trawling charity shops with no luck, I’ve found this brand spanking shiny new number by Louche - a snip at £42, which would do me just fine for now!

Number 2: I love jewellery – it’s my ‘thing’, but since going freelance I’ve been really good and not really brought any. I’ve been thinking about it long and hard, and what I’d really like the most is an armour ring. I know there are lots and lots of amazing young jewellery designers out there creating incredibly beautiful things, but in this case this Topshop version is just what I’m after.

Number 1: Why is it that no matter how many bags you have you could always do with just one more. Right now what I’m really needing (yes needing), a brilliant black every date tote. After much consideration I have decided that Angel Jackson's black Lakota tote is 110% what I'm after. Please Santa (aka. Friends and family) please!!

Never again will I do appointments in heels!!!

You're just in luck. My dinner date (sadly female and platonic) is running late, so I have just enough time to tell you about my day!

Tamara and I are in the middle of prepping for another big Charlotte shoot (this time editorial shots). It's much better than the last one - we're calling in lots of big names (Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Westwood - yum yum yum) - and I've just seen the call sheet and apparently we should be done by 2pm - amazing!!!

This afternoon we did some appointments - Blow pr, Starworks (via a mooch around Selfridges) and Browns. I made the mistake of wearing heels. Not big heels, but heels enough. Never again. Tamara was wearing her gorgeous Prada degrade heels (which make me want to weep with envy whenever I see them) and flew up and down Oxford street like she was barefoot. Argh!


First stop was Blow pr. I LOVE their offices SOOOO much. Their office is like my dream house. Big open plan warehouse space scattered with A-MA-ZING weird wonderful creations from all their uber-cool cutting edge designers. I took a million pics there - will do a separate post about them later!




With time to kill Tamara and I went for a browse in Selfridges. We were just gossiping in the food court when Tamara's jaw dropped and her eyes became the size of saucers. Slowly I turned around to see Layla. Obviously I had to get a pic of a girl brave enough to go to Selfridges in knickers....laddered Henry Holland tights, a cartoon top, 2 Blue Peter badges, a massive diamond encrusted gun necklace and some serious face jewellery!! Despite the get-up (god I'm sounding old!) Layla was actually a bit of a shy flower. I did manage to conduct the following brief interview though...
Me: OMG, can I please get a picture of you for my blog?
Layla: Ummmm....yes....
Me: What's your name?
Layla: Layla
Me: Where are you from?
Layla: Kent, but originally Cyprus
Me: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Layla: Music, tv, art....


Spurred on by our Layla encounter Tamara and I headed over to Browns Focus. Argh, it's just heaven. I love Browns world, you forget you're in the centre of London madness surrounded by French exchange students and angry bus drivers! I went a bit mental and kept picking strange Layla-worthy cutlery jewellery, and Tamara had to remind me who we were styling and what for! Typical me!


Me post-appointments looking as tired as I feel!! Because I've either been sitting on a sofa writing, or running round styling I've fallen into the dreaded leggings-black-hole of doom in the last few weeks. Today I was feeling a little slutty though, so opted for this teensy H&M zip skirt, and big Miss Selfridge demin shirt to hide my haven'tbeentothegyminanage-tummy and ridiculously for the first time in ages a bit of a heel. Lesson learnt - next time I decide to make an effort I'll do it on a sofa day!

Sunshine on a rainy day

Day 5 of freelancing, and it hasn’t been all lie-ins, daytime tv and partying….well actually it kinda has, and to be honest it was kind of getting me down. As much as I hate to admit it I’m a creature of habit, and love a bit of routine. Also, having just moved house (I’ve decided that sounds better than ‘back home’) my whole life’s scattered round the house in various bags and boxes (which I’m yet to get my head around unpacking), and I’m also working towards the deadline of my first freelance commission (exciting/ terrifying in equal measures right now), so I decided what I needed was a quiet, sober, early night in. So, obviously what I did was jump in the shower, throw on a dress and head into town!

1st stop: Yellowdoor winter preview

Boots

Clarks! Can you believe it. I love these though - the next step on from the biker and the army boot. Ankle, sheepskin lined - what's not to love?


Comptoir des cotonniers. Absolutely love these too. Obviously skeepskin's going to be massive this winter (remember Burberry's awesome flying jackets?). These really remind me of the GAP boots everyone went mad over last winter. I'm not usually one for a wedge, but I really like it here...may have to treat myself!


Acne
100% undisputed label of the moment...

Acne have totally managed to tap into the zeitgeist, and are making the clothes all the cool kids want. I'm predicting this is going to be their next hero dress following on from their iconic (and yes, I really mean that) extreme stripe maxi (which even Primark have now copied, boo hoo). Strapless, draped, with deep pockets, I'm expecting to see this dress (and it's many imitations) everywhere very soon!


Leather sleeved top. Good for looking super-hot-badass-chick....bad for perspiration I'd imagine...


Acne mens
for boys who just wanna have fu-un...

Flipping everything on it's head Acne have taken women's wear as their inspiration. See - frilly vest...


and women's cut blazer.


Forget the Hawaiian shirt, the way to my heart right now is totally a man in a tropical jean, mmmm!


Not so sure about these though....bit too Village people for my liking!


And...

No no no no no! All I'm saying! We are not amphibians. Socks should not be worn with flip flops, ever. No!


These however are a joy and a delight. Also, interesting back story as they're by the London based design studio Paternity (who's work, as you may have guessed is all based around patterns). These tights are limited edition, screen printed, and a total bargain at only £30 each!




Really strong pieces from Carianne Moore's new Futuristic Tribalism collection. V S&M I thought, and strangely, particularly liked the headbands!


2nd stop: Ronnie Scotts for Ruby Sings

This is my beautiful friend Ada, who by day is a scary lawyer, and by night is the enigmatic host of Ruby sings at Ronnie Scotts. The night is on the last Tuesday of the month and showcases new and unsigned acts in the lush surroundings of Ronnie's upstairs bar (who by the by do some of the best/ strongest cocktails in London). Basically it's a brrrrriliant night out, and if you live in London you should 100% definitely go down and check it out...that's an order!


3rd stop: Dinner with Sunshine and random Charlotte street Blues action!

The one and only Sunshine. Sunshine by name, Sunshine by nature, as she really does manage to brighten my day whenever I see her! We met for a bite to eat, catch up, gossip etc etc, and randomly ended up....


at Charlotte St Blues (because I needed a wee!) - in the middle of this amazing show! It's now my new favourite venue in London. As well as this amazing band (no idea who they were), there was this crazy dancing girl who just got up and started dancing like she was in Flashdance - amazing!

These boots were made for walking....just not on my feet

I don’t know what’s with me at the moment, but I only have eyes for boots right now, and though I do love my new Aldo’s I just can’t stop yearning for more; flat, platform, open toe, mesh – every I turn there are more boots begging me to buy them! Top of my lust-o-meter (my list of things which I love, but can’t afford or wear), scoring a stonking 9.5 are these beauties by Christopher Kane for Versus – aka. The boots which won’t love me back. Not only are they totally out of my price range at £900 (ouch!), but there’s also a waiting list (not that this really matters to me because of my first point, but thought it was worth mentioning)! The problem is I can’t move past them, and every time I go out to look for something to see me through the winter (and replace my rather battered and smelly Gap biker boots from last year which are currently soldiering on with the help of some Odour-Eaters – tres chic!), all I can think about is the perfect biker/ Chelsea combo, the soft soft shiny leather, and obviously that big old glistening rock! Nothing else even comes close. It’s like when you first fall in love all and can’t imagine ever feeling that way about anyone else again, ever. Sadly though my love costs a month and a half’s rent – rent which I can only just afford as it is. I’ve even tried justifying it at cost per wear. At £900, if I wear them every day from today all the way through to April (which let’s be honest is beyond unlikely), then they’ll still cost me £6 per wear, which isn’t really a bargain now is it?! So, it is with deep regret that I admit that this love is to remain unrequited. All I can hope now is that Toppers or ASOS feel the same as I do and create a boot ‘inspired’ by them in the next couple of weeks….I live in hope.