laura bailey blue

Next up in the Contagious Smile series: Laura Bailey, in blue herringbone, at the Topshop Unique show at Waterloo (I swear to you, Kittens, this is not the only show I shot at: I am just overwhelmed with indecision about what to post next - and I keep finding more shots from that day). In fact, this wasn't even what I meant to post today: I woke up wanting to post about polka dots, but when I went to look for what I was picturing in my head, these shots simply jumped out at me.

Does ANYONE out there know who the woman in the jeans is? I met her, another day at another show. Actually, I thought I'd also spoke to her in the ladies' loo: someone was wearing a really fabulous Fifties look. 'Can you describe it?' she asked, as we chatted before a show started. 'Kind of wide skirt, fell just below the knee..' Definitely not me, she smiled.



I love people who know their own style (note, btw: she might be wearing old blue jeans, but those boots.. hot damn. They're kind of Chelsea Boots in detail, but with little kitten heels!). Wide Fifties New Look silhouette, definitely not me, either. What Laura Bailey is wearing is so me - I love bare legs with blue dresses and black boots, as also worn so well by the woman next to her in polka dots, oblivious, texting or tweeting. (I love how before shows, there's that waiting-in-airport-lounge feel: it does so feel like a flight is about to take off).

Notice how the blue of Laura's dress has changed from shot to shot: I don't know why, and I haven't messed about with the balance. The simplicity of this look - blue with black and bare legs - it's so in keeping with my Virgo style, that I had to look up Laura Bailey's birthday. She's a Leo (6th August), and I can't believe she's nearly 40! But she's so much more than just a model: she contributes to British Vogue, and is a Cultural Ambassador to the BFC. And, I guess, no relation to the photographer David Bailey.



But I'm much more curious about her friend: I can't help but wonder what they're laughing about here. Does anyone know who she is? She told me her name, and all I got was maybe Jo something. She was delightful to me, and the day we were chatting, as the show was about to start, I rose to leave where I was seating, in the row in front of her: the front row. No, stay, she said: Someone's got to sit here. It wasn't til after the show that I realised I was sitting on a paper that said 'reserved for Anna Della Russo.'

And I just realised, polka dots did feature in this post, after all. Even if in a minor, supporting role.

brevity: the stripes of wit

Trying to take a leaf from Kate Lanphear's book - and The Foolish Aesthete's husband ('just because') and trying a bit of brevity, the soul of wit.

How am I doing so far?

Shot a the Topshop Unique show, as before. 18 September, 2011, Waterloo Station, Old Eurostar whatever it's called. That's it, I'm done.

Except just one thing: Is that just me, or are those shoes one size too small for that model's feet?

editor's choice

Kate Lanphear, in my humble opinion, is one of the most talented style icons alive. She is also the style director of Elle USA. She seems, in style, in nature, the antithesis of one of my other favourite style editor/icons, Anna Della Russo. Anna Della Rosso, for example, has a blog. A great blog. Kate Lanphear, on the other hand, does not have her own blog. The thought is laughable. She just has a ton of Kate Lanphear tribute blogs. If Kate Lanphear had her own blog, I bet it would be totally white.

Kate is unique. I have the utmost respect for someone who never, ever, wears colour. Who has the balls to cut her hair short, and keep it short: it is the most iconic haircut, short of Anna Wintour's, another of my favourite editors. It takes confidence - and beauty - to be able to keep a cut that short.

And her style. So simple. A similar white jacket to the one Anna Della Russo wore ('Anna Della Russomania'), but look at the lace texture. And while with ADR it was all about the fedora, the hair, Kate's accessories are her iconic white hair, like Andy Warhol or Edie Sedgwick, and her trademark silver jewelry.

And I've just realised who she reminds me of: my beautiful friend Stephanie, of Style Odyssey. She is warm and talented and chatty in real life, as I'm sure Kate is. But in her wonderful self style posts, she's doing the same minimal, slightly androgynous thing in neutral tones. And when she's just being herself, like in this post: that's channeling Kate.

Kate is an enigma. I have no stories about Kate Lanphear because, while I've met and shot her a few times, we have never had a conversation. I can see her talk and laugh to her friends and colleagues, but when I see her, she is as silent and still as an alpine lake. It's always the same thing: I smile and say hi and quickly - camera ready - ask to take her photo. She always says yes. Or, I think she says yes. She doesn't say no, and she doesn't run off, but I don't know if she actually uses the word, yes. She simply chooses her pose - it's always different - and holds it very still. In this case - also at the Topshop Unique show, which is an ongoing series (and I have so many other shows to get to!), I took the shot, and then, because it's silly to just take one shot with digital cameras, I shot again. She held the pose, like a statue. And held it. We did this four times, and as you can see by the last shot, below, apart from changes in the background, there is no visible change in her pose. Just her eyes, which are getting slightly more annoyed. Her eyes are saying: Jill. Enough. EDIT. Please, go away now.



I have always admired the women who are beautiful, and do not speak. And when they do, they choose their words well. The Greta Garbo thing. There is no greater mystery than to be beautiful, and silent. There is huge power in having the confidence to just shut the f**k up. In my next life, I want to be like that. But it's too late for me in this one. That ship, alas, has sailed.

shiny happy people holding hands

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The Topshop Unique catwalk show on Sunday, 19 September, was.. what can I say. Unique. Celebrities, normal people who looked like celebrities, models with gilded hair, and the clothes. Did I mention the clothes? Tribal influence, my favourite colours like aqua with shiny gold.. like they were painted by Keith Haring, but he's not in this world any more. But on Sunday, it felt like he could have been. I might have even seen Michael Jackson, in the front row. It's possible. Anna Wintour was definitely there, and Kate Lamphear, and I can't even fit all my photos of them into this one post, so for now, you're just going to have to settle for my old friend Olivia, for now. And Keli. Two of the many shiny, happy people.



Thank you to Liz S, as always, for inviting me, and to Susie Q: hope you're feeling better.

And R.I.P., R.E.M. I once saw Michael Stipe in a small really cool clothing shop in Soho, NY, back when the area was like Spitalfields is now. He was with Patti Smith. I was the only other person there, and was mesmerised. I can't embed the actual video but click here, it's lovely.

unique: i'm not talking

Because I'm too busy laughing my head off. If you have a minute, click here on this vice.com post ('london fashion week.. on acid!') then come back to me, please, and tell me what you think. Am I crazy? Or is that like the most hilarious post you've ever seen?

Unless it's true.. and that would be sad. : (

Photos by me, of Naomi Campbell with Sir Philip Green and what I'm assuming is his daughter, Chloe. Altho you know what they say if one ASSUMES: one makes an ASS of U and ME. Shot at the Topshop Unique show, 18 September 2012.

101 dalmations

Besides Brix and Bip, how many other celebs can you spot in my FROW shot at the Topshop Unique show on Sunday?

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I love when people pay homage to a designer or brand, by appearing in the previous seasons' looks, as Bip Ling and a friend did with the 101 Dalmations theme from last February's show ('http://streetstylelondon.blogspot.com/2011/03/you-aint-never-caught-rabbit.html').



Here's one of my shots from last season, but I can't wait to show you shots from this season's show. They're so good, I don't know where to start. I'm overwhelmed with choice.

So here I am in bed on this gorgeous sunny day, with a mild case of Somersetitis, as Sabine called it: sore throat, the start of a cold.. must be a bit feverish, too, because I'm becoming obsessed with finding the version of Hound Dog that they played at the Topshop Unique show last February fashion week. Does anyone know? My friend Emma Harwood, a wonderful singer, told me that originally it was sung by a woman, Big Mama Thornton, and that's much darker and kind of, you know, man eatin'. Macy Gray did a great version, too. But I still like the original recording version, by Elvis. I was singing it for weeks after that show, and now, having exhausted all these variations, I'll be singing it for the rest of the day.