do they know they're having the same dream

Drifting through Bond Street last Thursday night, with Sabine, surreal and serene, less like taking photos and more like snapping moments of dreams. Speaking of dreams: the comments on my post, 'in memory', are getting pretty amazing.

And just as I typed that, in the background with the sound so low, Michael Clayton is on the television. 'Do they know?', the Tom Wilkinson character, Arthur Edens, asks Michael Clayton's son. 'Do they know they're having the same dream?'

So Vogue. Fashion's Night Out, 8 September, 2011.

at the foot of the Academy

Last week, was with Mr. Dot in sudden sweltering heat, heading to a meeting, and just as we turned off Bond Street I saw Emma, relaxing with a book. She just looked so cool and calm. Her sandals are by 'something Italian', I think she said, from Harvey Nichols a few years back.



Emma is lovely, just really easy and warm. She works as an Actors Agent on Dover Street and often spends her lunch hour 'at the foot of the Academy', which is where I found her. What a fascinating job that must be. I noticed that day - in that heat - a lot of black, surprisingly. All black, or white. All this fuss about nudes, you'd think in the heat everyone would be wearing all that seashell pink and shades of grey and beige, but that day, it was mostly stark black, bit of pattern, or white with shades of nudes. The difference this season is those wonderful unexpected pops of bright colour: nails, definitely. But also accessories.



Left, Prada's window on Bond Street, and a girl nearby in off white. Practically white. Pale nude. Whatever.

The rain is softly coming down, and Mr. Dot is at some 'guy's' film. The plan was I'd go see SATC2 then meet up for Bad Lieutenant (it's a double feature kinda day), but with laundry, and the cat, and catching up on stuff.. I missed it last night: an accident at Hyde Park Corner, the bus re-routed thru Knightsbridge, my friend texting they were sold out at Fulham Road and heading to the King's Road..

Didn't love SATC1, frankly. I preferred the tv series (btw: REALLY loved your comments: something that Leslie in Adams Morgan said reminded me: I totally identified with the relationships and realised it's only now, when I'm NOT single, that I'm focusing on the friendship aspect'). Anyway, figured I'd hand my seat over to a more worthy girl. Instead rented some of the earlier shows, which I love - kind of be there in spirit - and hung out with the cat, while Mr. Dot drove back from fishing.

I always feel so much nicer about him when he's not here. We were joking around that I really should kill him and have him stuffed, this way I can do all my birdy birdy tweet tweet stuff.. talk about my feelings.. we figured if we de-boned him and replaced it with wires, I could arrange his arms so he's all huggy and cuddly. And he'd never tickle me, or get all pranky.



Well, enough chit chat. Time to move the cat off my feet, don my new Topshop Lady Gaga inspired 'clear PU trenchcoat' and head out into it. Here's a shot from that breakfast, I really must do a proper shot in it.

How is your weekend shaping up so far?

luxury goods: on griege, and grief

The Wise & Fashionable Pearl and I were talking about the elusive 'griege' colour (which I seem to remember reading about in a bio of Jackie Kennedy: she was trying to describe to someone what she wanted, a cross between grey & beige - or maybe I dreamt it). There seems to be a new interest in the colour ever since Chanel launched a limited edition nail varnish. It's all a bit silly, a bit Emperor's New Clothes, but colour is a very powerful and emotional substance.

Well, Pearl, this bag in the window at Asprey, on New Bond Street, feels about the colour I had in mind.



I shot these last week, and ironically, returned to the same spot just days later to shoot the Alexander McQueen shop. I had the strangest feeling when I took this photo: it was such a melancholy day, and I didn't know why I felt that way. Sometimes it's deja vu, sometimes it's just this strange.. what's the opposite of deja vu? Preja vu? Whatever it is, I get it, sometimes. And I"m trying not to keep posting about McQueen, (I just read a comment on another blog saying she's glad she's not the only one who can't stop posting about him) but I still finding myself reading more & more, and I still have images I want to show you..

btw: in this post, Pearl is talking about what is to become of the McQueen brand, and links to other interesting posts on the subject. I don't know how I feel, but I can't think of anyone who could fill his shoes. What are your thoughts on the subject?

not desperate, nor housewives

Spotted Tom and Lynnette on Bond Street and absolutely HAD to dot them. It wasn't til much later - even after watching an episode of Desperate Housewives - that I realised: Tom and Lynnette! And these two fashion students are so absolutely NOT desperate. In fact when I was telling them how I was on this quota for a deadline for a company in LA to shoot a trend for May to go to Conde Nast in Beijing and Moscow on London streetstyle (it's a funny world, what can I say) but I couldn't find any bright wild prints because everyone's wearing black, Lynnette just smiled that fabulous smile and said 'Black is back!' (As to what she's wearing, she looked around her own outfit, touching the shaggy jacket, and replied 'Nothing special.') I'd love to see what she comes up with when she makes an effort!



Black is absolutely back, baby. In fact, even at the Hay Festival, in Wales, in hot summer heat, where you'd usually find a lot of floaty hippie flowery prints.. they were still there of course, but so were a lot of very sleek, minimal, black chic frocks (including yours truly, in my new hot pink plastic celebrity sandals, and a black racerback ribbed cotton number from American Apparel).


Black isn't backing down any time soon. London hasn't seen anything like it since poor old Prince Albert left this mortal coil. In fact one could say black is.. well, the new black.

window shopping: channelling chanel once again

In keeping with my current black and white, homage to Chanel theme: a little window shopping on Bond Street.

Couldn't resist: polka dot sighting at Michael Kors.

I can't remember this lovely girl's name so if you see this, whoever and wherever you are in the world, thank you.

Speaking of it not being over: Imogen is still cramming for exams, so if you have a moment please leave comments wishing her good luck! Really grateful to everyone who posted. And good luck to Erin, if you're reading this back home in Singapore.

bright bond girl

Here is a good example of throwing brights together with neutrals - in this case, the sudden shock of a blue we haven't seen for years, as tights, against charcoal shorts, and a big red leather bag. Expect to see more of these unlikely colour pairings come spring.