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What I learned at fashion week…
1. I want to be 23 again. Seriously? Nah*, but perhaps instead of studying history, just to realise that I’d rather do Italian studies (because didn’t I want to do art history in the first place?), but then deciding that North and Latin American studies would be even better, I’d now be focussed and strive to become a photographer… or a journalist… or wait!, maybe a stylist… or a designer??? Okay, obviously no change here.
2. I really need to learn to pose! You’d think I should know how to do this by now, but as soon as someone aims a camera at me I get all wooden, want to hide and a stare into the lens with a terrified gleam in my eyes.
3. It’s so much fun to meet other bloggers! So many cool people… Amazing how a common activity can connect you.
4. Have to book an appointment at the hairdressers to sort out my fringe!! What’s wrong with it?!? It looks like it’s got a life of its own. Maybe I need to stop cutting it with nail scissors?
So I've made an appointment with the hairdresser, bought the most expensive anti-wrinkle cream I could afford (just loved it when - after having waited in a long queue with many other women, all grasping the new super lotion that’s supposed to match laser treatment - the shop assistant at the Clinique counter bent over to me to whisper in my ear: "You are going to love this!". I beamed back at her: 'I know I will! Hope dies last!'). Plus a few extra hours of sleep… Soon to appear: The New Me.
*Don’t worry, I’m not going into the whole age issue again. It’s so boooring.
P. S. Before I forget... This was one of the outfits I wore to fashion week. I had to 'celinify' the old leather skirt a bit.
leather skirt: diy, blouse: marc aurel, cardigan: from mum, shoes: bally, bag: diy, scarf: inherited from my grandma
They looked so great together and I couldn’t but wonder if they colour-coordinated each other before going out.
Sorry, nothing more today.
I’m totally enjoying showing you my fashion week impressions, and could happily go on like this forever, but yesterday I was asked why I'm now constantly featuring other people instead of myself. Immediately my heart expanded to a balloon, I got teary eyed and wept: 'What a lovely question! She wants to see ME'. (Thank you, Dusk!) Truth be told I’m finding the idea of putting myself on the internet still weird and can hardly believe that anyone would find that interesting (plus, I’m 43, for God’s sake, one of these days someone will poke me in the side and say: "What do you think you are doing? Leave this space to pretty, young people!"). The real reason for mainly 'modelling' myself was that I wanted to practise my photography and talk fashion, but didn’t have access to enough models (plus, I’m a shy photographer).
On the other hand I don’t really fancy being a street photographer… My vision is some kind of 'associative style inspiration' blog. Which leads me to the question: Do you have a fixed concept for your blog or do you follow your moods and whims?
Anyway, today not me again (and many of you will thank me for this, I’m sure), but, oh look, it's Leopard Brix*. Did I say there was a lot of leopard print at LFW? Believe me, there was!
*Smith Start, that is. Eternally loosing expensive-designer-clothes-defender in Gok's Fashion Fix.
One of my favourite moments was when I limped out of left Somerset House and this lovely girl asked me if I was interested in a free blister plaster. 'Could you stand in a more perfect place?' I asked her. She told me she’d been giving out free trials for a few days and interest had been really big. Somehow I’m not surprised…
Sorry, I forgot to ask her about her clothes.
craig lawrence ss 2011
left & right: craig lawrence ss 2011; middle: nsha ss 2011
masha ma ss 2011
The runways might be bursting with colours, but for structures I think white’s still best.
pictures taken at LFW, shows ss 2011 masha ma, craig lawrence & nsha showroom.
LFW finished yesterday and at the end I was a bit all over the place – so much to see, so many pictures to take, so little time… I still have heaps of photos, but I feel I can slow down a bit now*, perhaps even get a 'proper' post together, e.g. talking about a topic, maybe even a show, and not just throwing out pictures.
Just when I was ready to pack up I met Susie. She said she was ill and was looking forward to going home; but I thought she looked lovely as always.
*Since I’m not moving on to Paris and Milan; though when I was asked yesterday why I wasn’t going to Paris I felt like I was missing out on a big party. 'You’ve gotta come, you really should!', I’ll try. Next time. Promise.
Was everyone clad in camel coats, olive military pants, 50s dresses? Nope! I guess the last thing you want to be seen in at fashion week is the latest trend – because in the world of future designs what's en vogue today is just so yesterday. Okay, there are a few eternal trends – black, white, leopard (yeap, leopard is SO BIG, I'll show you much more). Like this… What do you think? Perfect mix?
coat: dolce & gabbana, backpack: louis vuitton, rest: ???
I was still in waking-up mode, slurping cappuccino in the pret-a-manger at Charing Cross when S poked me in the side: 'Great look, don’t you think?' Yeap, totally loved the combination of leopard and camel* (and white socks, flat shoes, cool sunglasses and super peroxide hair). In fact, I thought all 3 looked great.
*LFW was heaving with leopard prints, but that needs an extra post.
One thing I’ve learned at London Fashion Week is how difficult I am finding it to photograph other people. I think deep down in my heart lives some kind of paparazza, a 'picture stealer'. But after watching professionals like Hanneli (yes, as many of you guessed right, it's her in picture no. 2*) or the lovely Dvora from Fashionistable in action and being inspired by the enthusiasm of the delightful D from The Nyanzi Report, Sarah from We Shop Therefore We Are**, Jen from StyleEast and Saskia from notjustmedical (Jen and Saskia are the ladies left and right in picture no. 3***; and btw, the lady in pic no. 4 is Shini from Park & Cube, but many of you knew that already) I thought: 'Come on, you can do this!' And I did. Which means I do not only have photos from people’s backs****, but this one I like a lot because the idea of using your stockings as pockets is just SO CLEVER!
*She was really sweet and actually thanked me for asking her if I could post her picture.
**Realising that I’ve met all these wonderful bloggers and have not taken pictures of all of them makes me feel really bad now, but honestly, I’m still learning to be bold with the camera. Next time!
***…and in the middle that’s Sherin from HiFashion.
***Which I‘ll proof in the next few days, when I’ve managed to catch up with some sleep.
London Fashion Week has begun today, and I’m starting to get really excited. But seeing all these stylish, wonderfully dressed people on the usual blogs in New York this week, I can't suppress a slight panicky feeling... Oh dear, what 'does one' wear?!?
Grey and sequins?
Camel? (too yesterday you say?)*
Or do I need to release my inner wonder woman and start sewing…
I also noticed that all women have perfectly waxed legs and manicured hands... Arrrghh! But it's too late now (and there is always the nails bar in Topshop HQ). Off we go!
*Okay, I do admit it; I’m trying out my new lens.
leather skirt: diy, pink silk blouse: pringle of scotland, shoes: bally, grey wool dress: malene birger, sequin leggings: vero moda, camel skirt: chanel vintage, denim dress: 2nd hand.
The lace vest was a styling challenge, but brogues are a real wearing challenge – for me, that is – because… I just don’t wear flat shoes. Maybe sometimes trainers for sporty moments or to give my feet a rest, but even my most comfortable shoes have a 2 inch heel. The simple reason being that an extra 2-3 inches push me from 167cm to around 175cm, the height I think I should rightfully be.
But flat shoes it was and I have to admit that these pink brogues from Schuh actually are not only comfortable, gee, they are pretty, too.
Oh, I nearly forgot… Le Styling… I thought the colour called for more pink-rosé, which is why I’ve combined them with some vintage Marc Aurel trousers. As a top I fancied a cropped camel suede t-shirt, but even after having searched the high street and the internet high and low I couldn’t find what I was phantasising about.* So this 2nd hand fake suede blazer needs to convey the idea.
And you can also check out what the other Take 10 girls Jen, Sarah, Shini, MJ, Sherin, Leia, Vicki, Adele and Saskia have come up with:
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*Suggestions are very much appreciated because I really fancy one.
jacket/top: 2nd hand, belt: missoni, trousers: marc aurel, vest: hanro, shoes: courtesy of schuh
Seeing the Marc Jacobs’ s/s 2011 collection was like 'Bang!' (get it? get it?!… Honestly, I ripped the ad out of the magazine and glued it bang on my fridge to better see Marc lasciviously rolling on aluminium foil and holding the perfume in front of his best bits). The fact that he’s leaving the 50s and 60s behind and jumps straight into the Studio 54 vibe, featuring flowy fabrics, strong patterns, satin and lots of colours (plus wonderful Missoni and Sonia Rykiel references) makes me love him even more.
So why black and white and structural photos from a building site*, you may wonder. Because a) if you take out the colours of MJ’s designs you are left with some pretty striking swirls & patterns, which b) gave me the opportunity to show you my old 70s Rodier Paris sweater, and c) I wasn’t at his show but stumbled through nearly finished houses instead.
70s and 90s, definitely my favourite fashion eras… What’s yours?
*My friends are building the most breathtaking, beautiful, modern, environmentally friendly, amazing, too-good-for-words house, which makes me wonder why I still don’t even own a hut very excited about taking and showing you pictures of the final result.
sweater: rodier paris, trousers: next, shoes: costume national
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes! It means A LOT (and I MEAN it! I do check my emails at night, you know...). The weekend consisted of eating well, drinking better, sleeping cosy, getting wonderful presents (an 18-250mm lens – a beast! - J says he doesn’t want to be my lens exchange/holding slave anymore). Now, feeling pampered (if slightly blurred), it’s back to reality and getting into gear for fashion weeks – mentally at least, since neither Vivienne Westwood nor Julian McDonald remembered to invite me to their shows. Shame!
Just when Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar & Co. introduced us to next season’s looks (camel, more camel, oh look, even more camel, high-waisted, tapered trousers, full-length skirts, early 60s look… I tell you, if I hear Mad Men one more time as a fashion reference I'll have a crying fit) and before we even started shopping for our winter outfits our eyes are drawn to summer… It's exciting and I wonder... Are you going to the shows or will you mainly be an online watcher like me?
All pictures taken in The Plough, Kingham, Oxfordshire. (Okay, I admit I did turn my head to see if Alex James was sitting at the bar, but I guess he leaves his favourite pub to the non-professionals at the weekend.)
It’s my birthday today…
& I had written a whole long text about the question of aging and how to stay cool like Karl Lagerfeld (whose birthday it is today, too. Happy Birthday, Karl!), and then I thought: Bah, it all doesn’t matter (is this an attitude that comes with old age?). So all I’ll say is: Long live the leopard bikini!
Will spoil myself rotten today! What, I have to work? Tonight then…
Love & Kisses
I feel bad about not going to London Fashion Night Out today, but I’ve been out the last few evenings, don’t really want to spend any money, and - let's face it - plainly too lazy… Oooooh, how will I ever become a proper fashion blogger with an attitude like this?!? And I know, as soon as I read all your posts about how much fun FNO was I’ll have a huge fit of remorse – Oh well. Instead I’m back in Italy…
If you ever plan to visit the biggest Italian antique market don’t be fooled by the official date of 'first weekend in the month'! We arrived the first Saturday of August, full of anticipation to feast our eyes and wallets on beautiful things (it’s where I got one of my favourite silk blouses from, and K needed to organise extra transport for her purchases last year) – just to learn that the market is on the Saturday before the first Sunday of the month. Didn't really matter, though, Arezzo is a wonderful town without market, too – and no market means far fewer tourists.
I really wonder what 'Chi Tocca Muore' means.
All photos taken in Arezzo, Italy
High-waisted is wonderful. It makes legs look longer and hugs the female body in all the right areas. It looks elegant and always pulled together… BUT sometimes I have to revert to my low-cuts, for the one simple reason: I need some breathing space. (I didn’t spend all these years on yoga just to return to an anxious upper thorax breathing, thank you very much.)
See the black sweater? Buying it in an Oxfam shop came with the most wonderful conversation… 'Cool' I think, 'a nice cropped angora sweater for £2. I’ll have it, please.' I meander to the cash which is covered by a friendly, elderly gentleman "Oh, nice find," he says "What is it?". "Isn’t it lovely? It’s angora wool which is made from rabbit hair – so soft!" I enthuse. Blank look from him: "I see, but WHAT IS IT?" – "Oh… It’s a SWEATER." ('Duh!' No, I didn’t say 'duh', he was really nice, in his 70s and obviously new in his job) (I might have looked 'duh' though.)
But what about you? Have you thrown out all the old hipsters to become a pure high-waisted girl this winter?
trousers: next, vest: from Italian supermarket, sweater: 2nd hand, bag: 2nd hand, sequin trousers worn as scarf: vero moda, shoes: bally
