wedding party

Yesterday after yoga, I was bolting up thru Kensington, rounding the corner at Launceston Place (where I always like checking out the menu: it's changed hands over the years, we had loved it, then not so much, now it's been revamped, and recently, a chef there - not even the head chef! - Steve Groves - won my favourite cooking contest, Professional Master Chef. He was so nice - they all were. Altho I was rather sad that Marianne didn't win, as my friend Georgie has been taking a cooking course with her and said she's really, really nice.

If anyone recognises this happy bride, please let me know as I'd love to send them the shot.

Here's to living happily ever after.

emma (the eyes have it)

Today was a gloriously spring like day here in London, and the minute I walked out the door, I passed Emma. I really really hope she didn't lose my card: Emma if you're reading this please get in touch! - because I didn't source anything, ask where she's from, what she does... nothing.



I noticed her eyes first thing. She said she always does them like this. It's a stunning effect and I swear to you, I haven't retouched a thing: this is her gorgeous gorgeous skin, eyes.. just amazing. I took a few quick shots - click, click, click - and now Mr. Dot is clamouring for his supper (grilled sardines with garlic, olive oil & bread crumbs, if you're curious, with a green salad and baguette) but he's threatening to 'fill up on chocolate covered Hob Nobs' - something he knows makes me crazy - in fact he's eating them as we speak. All because I can't decide which shots to use! I can't narrow them down! So I'm just posting the whole lot.



Just as I was doing her full figure shot, a man walked by with a dog. I'm not sure if he spoke English, I just gestured: let the dog stay in the shot! So he did.



Emma's outfit is clearly the uniform of the week. I can't tell you how many women I've seen on the streets in black leather biker jacket, black tights or leggings & skirt, black boots, and leopard print scarf. But hands down, her look is my favourite.



Speaking of Emma: the BBC has just finished a great four-parter, starring Romola Garai. I can't remember which blog-friend recently said she wished they'd turn it into a period soap, like Eastenders, but I agree. I only caught it from the third episode, and can't wait for the re-runs. I'm sure it will start running world wide, so keep your eyes peeled.

a room with a view

I love when I open my inbox and there's an email from a friend, any friend, with GOOD NEWS in the subject. But I was especially happy to read that my sweet Parisian friend Estelle is able to move back to our part of town, South Kensington, from Camden! It's only a studio, but it will be her own. I'm looking forward to more coffee & cake & chats at Paul, like where we shot this with her friend Lydia, also from Paris. It's odd to think that I met Estelle only last July, when we were driving by and I saw her on the street and asked Mr. Dot to stop the car so I could shoot her. She is such a nice girl, and I'm pleased as punch we're going to be neighbours again.

Above, from the photo shoot we did in Regent's Park last month. Black dress with Ombre Scarf detail: Forever 21. Vintage mink jacket, Alexandros. Favourite red booties, model's own.

that warm fuzzy feeling

My sister gave me a jacket recently, in this bold fuzzy plaid boucle type material, saying 'since you complimented me in it, I thought you should have it.' It's not her, apparently, and it's not me, really, either, but there's something about that Chanel inspired feel... mine is a jacket, more like the Chanel suits (and, even with a recent revival, is still several seasons old), and granted, this one is a coat, but it got me thinking... it's a nice change from black leather or fur (faux, or no), right? Especially if worn as this girl has: simple, simple, simple, with all black, esp. riding boots.

What do you think? Do you have some item of clothing that you can't quite bring yourself to wear, but can't part with it, either?

Speaking of which, I was thinking last night, if I had to pack one small overnight bag with all the clothes I could wear for the next year, what items would I pack? If weather were not a factor (obviously, right now, I'd be stuffing a trench in). Or more precisely: if I had to live in one outfit, if my life absolutely depended on it, what would it be?

I'd definitely have to buy a new pair of shoes first, of course. And I'd stuff a few swimsuits & a pair of goggles in, in the hope that whatever my destination was, it included someplace with warm, turquoise waters..




Oh and while I'm at it, embracing the things I had doubts about: two window shots on Sloane Avenue, embracing the colour purple (top from Dior, the other.. I forget!). I promise to get someone to shoot me soon, in my old purple Claude Montana jacket, which I'm sporting a lot around town these days.

emma jane & co. (an honest appeal)

Further to my post the other day ('your eyes lie'), Jordan and Emma-Jane (shown here, 2nd from the right, with her boyfriend & friends) are not giving up on their quest to make a fabulous little documentary for their school project on the subject of British fashion. They are especially appealing to any fashion bloggers in the London, or greater UK, area.

You can save a few students' souls and contact her by clicking here. Or you can turn the page. It's up to you.

reading the classics

Charlie and his friend Florence, came down from Cambridge when I shot them at fashion week. (He's the fashion editor for the Varsity, the 'Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947'. It doesn't get more classic than that.)

I'm posting this today because I'm very much in the mood for Charles' (& Florence's, for that matter) crisp, masculine, classic look: for me. I wonder how long this trend of women wearing men's clothing will continue. The secret to make the transition to night dressing is simply to sex it up with something: a flirty little skirt, perhaps, or a lace bra under a tailored jacket (basically, lose the shirt), but the obvious transition is change your oxford lace-ups (or, brogues, as they call them here: bit like the French calling pomme frites French fries) for some unbelievably killer heels.

window shopping: crown jewels

I'm sure I'm not alone in this feeling - in fact, I know I'm not, as everyone I know, apart from my husband, Mr. Dot, has had either 'the' flu or 'a' bug or simply a cold & fever recently. It doesn't have to mean we're home all that long - a week, maybe, tops - but when we do emerge from our cave, AND the sun comes out... it's just absolutely glorious, you know?



I keep hearing that song playing in my head, I don't know who sang it, from the 80s or so, that line about 'welcome to the human race'.. anyway, I found myself with a few minutes to spare yesterday, on Sloane Street in Knightsbridge, and suddenly, the sun came out, everything looked new, crisp and clean and sparkly, and I met Samantha.



She hesitated about me shooting her: she was a bit shy and felt she didn't photograph well (it's always the ones who think they don't, who do). So I didn't bother her with any questions about where she got anything, or even, where she's from (she had a lovely lilting voice: not pure English, something... European, that I couldn't place).



It was a very quick shoot, click, click, click, but I didn't get one bad shot. And I'll let you clever fashionistas source for me. I noticed she had two leopard prints (scarf, belt), there is quite a bit of jewel/crystal going on, ANd the crown motif (as per previous post) is repeated twice: belt buckle, and on her jeans, which I assume are Rock & Republic (I've read Victoria Beckham is in some kind of litigation with them, by the way).

I'm not usually one for all that matchy-matchy stuff, but I feel it works on Samantha because she's so pretty, so well groomed & put together, but, the most important accessories of all: she smiles not just with her mouth, but with her eyes.





Throwing a whole bunch of window shopping shots at you: all shot within a few yard radius, and within ten minutes. Thank you all again for your lovely, lovely comments & get well thoughts: it worked! Hope you're all feeling fabulous today. xox

your eyes lie

Chris Evans - I mean, Jordan - is, like Lily the other day, a school friend of a lovely girl named Emma-Jane. They all came down from university last week to make a little documentary in London on fashion, which is how I met them (Emma had contacted me to see if I'd do an interview for it: she had been planning it way in advance). But I got sick, and kept hoping I'd be well enough, and it was down to the last possible hour before they had to go back to school, and I went out to meet them, and the camera broke.



So while they were trying everything to get it fixed, we came in out of the rain to the Bailey's hotel, to warm by the fire, and I simply had to take a few snaps of Jordan in his fabulous tee by Your Eyes Lie. You've got to love their motto: 'bad taste is better than no taste'. So true.

Jordan, aka 'Chris Evans' has a fab blog of his own, simply click here.