street stalking: mad for plaid

Picadilly, Soho.

Saw this girl with her friends, but was meeting a friend for lunch and didn't have time to stop her and do the whole polkadot dance, so just stalked her instead. It wasn't an outfit I'd particularly love in any way - that plaid patchwork pattern, and the shape of the skirt, and the old sneakers, but somehow, she seemed to glow on a dark day, a calm style icon in a storm.



Been musing on the subject of style, and style icons, and why I focus my lens on one person over another. I don't know this girl, whether she lives in London or is a tourist, but I'd bet my bottom dollar (or pound) that this girl got up that morning and pulled this dress on, realised she might be chilly and chose that jumper in a second, grabbed her bag and stepped into her sneakers and walked out the door. I'm sure she didn't agonise in the mirror whether her bum looked big, or if she was matching, or even if it was this season or not.

And that's the difference.

Or as Gore Vidal so famously put it: style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.

(I actually saw a vile woman on tv last night, being quoted at a Hampton party, saying that if she sees a woman in last season's outfit she just nods and moves on. Come on! Life's way too short!)

It's a gorgeous day here on the Fork, the birds are singing, my brother and his daughter, my 7 year old niece and BFF, Scarlett, are arriving any minute. We're gonna swim like mermaids and paint grandma's toenails in rainbow colours. Throw on any old thing, boys & girls, and go out and play!

a whiter shade of pale

It's such a dark gloomy day here, and before I get dressed and run out, I had to post something.. inspirational. For your viewing pleasure, open another window, click here, and turn up the volume.

Last Thursday I was having a coffee & chat with my friend Stella, a writer, at Cafe Brindisa on Berwick Street, when I saw Lucy across the street. I had to shoot her. She was so sweet, we did a few quick shots (all great) & I ran back to Stella, who was cool about it because her boyfriend is a photographer and he does this to her all the time.



This look, to me, is working on so many levels. I didn't even ask where she got that great necklace! (There's also all kinds of little silvery bits of jewelry, she just sparkles, in her eyes, her smile...) Lucy got the dress somewhere on the King's Road - vintage - and I love the way she's wearing it with scruffy white plimsoles (classic Ked sneakers) and beige socks.. she's probably got great heels tucked away in a bag for later, but this way she was able to move quickly on the street, rather than tottering around like a cripple, as some of the other girls were that day. (Note to shoe designers: stiletto heels & cobblestones, not a great mix). And that coat.. I didn't even ask her about the coat! It just happens to curl up in the same way as the dress. I am so so into pale nude/pink/soft white, bit of grey, light blue.. always have been, but this year especially.

Is it just me? What do you think?

pink bubble fun

Berwick Street, Soho. Was having lunch with a friend @ Brindisi. Saw a flash of coral pink go by - yes, girls, it's a bubble skirt! and, for once, it works! - a rare bird, indeed, as most women on the street that day were in grey, black, neutral. Ran after her, got this shot but didn't catch her in time to ask questions. Like where she got those boots! Do you see the heel? They're fab. Anyone know who made them? I love love love hot pink or coral with brown suede and dark skin, or a good tan.



Another example: similar palette, different proportions, totally, totally different look.