china doll

Back when I was noticing a mini-sub trend, i.e., wearing school jackets with cool insignias in unusual ways, I posted my friend Shauna wearing it in a rather predictable way ('detail oriented') and Sophie La-La-La X, of beautiful rampage, thought "it would look really nice with a graphic tee and some ripped up faded shorts!" (which I agree).



Well, Karen, who I spotted in London's Chinatown in Leicester Square, dropped the shorts altogether and just opted for a great Katherine Hamnett-esque tee and tights. I didn't ask where she's from - she seemed to be out with a boyfriend and another couple, and sounded American - and I was on my way to dinner with my other great friend Liz, to a fabulous place called Feng Shui, and we were all pretty quick, so I didn't source anything. But I love this look, and they were a nice group for a quick fun Chinatown shoot.

(Jimena, by the way, had suggested that jacket would look good with a 'cute dress', & I like what Phillipa did, see 'all a blazer').

all a blazer

The most unexpected summer trend has popped up, and it doesn't mean buying a new jumpsuit or pair of 'nappy pants': just pull out your old school blazer (or if you must shop, buy a gorgeous new insignia one) and pair it with a gorgeous floaty dress, as Phillipa, right, has done at the Phillips to Pury party, with her friend Kendra, left. More on this look later, going dog walking with my friend Bronwyn - I've missed her dog Jackson since she's been back so she's letting me play sticks with him in Hyde Park.
For another interesting spin on this look, pair the masculinity of the blazer with the sexy femininity of lace undergarments (see Portrait of an Artist as Young Woman, 29 June).

portrait of an artist as young woman

Met Sophie, an artist, in the Tate Britain.

I'm so sorry it's blurry - Sophie was keeping very very still, bless her cotton socks (and I think they are cotton), because it was very dark and I shoot in film.. anyway, just as I got a few shots in, a very matronly guard called out 'NO PHOTOS IN THE MUSEUM'. I could hardly explain I wasn't exactly shooting their art..

anyway, I love the whole underwear as outerwear trend, and I wish you could see how fabulous this looked, she had a kind of lacey white bustier open under her school uniform jacket. Brilliant! (I've just seen that again - a school jacket over a very ethereal dress - at the Phillips show this weekend, hope those shots come out!). And Karla's wearing a bustier over a shirt. So now I'm out the door in a hot pink boat neck tee over a slip. Will see if I can get a friend to shoot me.

My man, Mr. Dot, outside the museum.