the politics of style

Last Thursday I was dashing thru Covent Garden when I saw a cute scruffy guy out of the corner of my eye. I almost approached him to ask to shoot him, but thought, nah, no time, cute guys are like buses, there will be another one coming along soon anyway.

It's a good thing I didn't, or I'd have missed this girl. Our conversation went along the lines of 'You've got great style, can I shoot you?' 'Thank you, that's funny, people are always asking to shoot me.' In the quick seconds I took these two shots, a big guy who couldn't have been more opposite to Eliza Doolittle, came up to us with a big but rather sad bouquet of daffodils which he was offering to sell us (in Covent Garden! How My Fair Lady!) and we politely declined. I really wanted to stay in touch with her again but couldn't find my pen - and didn't want to be late - so I gave her my card. I think her name was Dana.

Never heard from her again. No idea what she was wearing, apart from, according to my calculations, a polka dot dress of some description.



Yesterday was an amazing time @ Sketchbook and I can't wait to upload & post about it. Thank you all who showed up. As Jen said: (and I paraphrase) it's all about showing up.

I'm really tired - was up all night watching the elections. Even tho I can't vote here, I'm fascinated by how different it is to American voting. I was thinking last night 'do I post about my feelings about politics? Is that allowed on a fashion blog?' but I've discovered other people are, so I guess it is.

My feelings: I'm glad Cameron seems to have won. Call me superficial, but I'd like to see Sam Cam as first lady: she was rocking the maternity look the other day, in really high heels. I feel leaders SHOULD be charming, charismatic, and stylish. It goes back to caveman days: we want out leaders clever enough, and agile enough, to kill the lions and bring home the bacon. We want to look up to leaders, that's why we call them leaders.

I don't care what people say, or however many followers I lose: I love Obama, and campaigned for him, but I respect people's right to feel differently. I love the fact that we live in a free world, where every vote counts (and how weird - and embarrassing - that there were people who couldn't vote. Disaster). I feel the countries that ARE free have a responsibility to help protect citizens of nations who aren't. According to the talented photographer and blogger, Vanessa of the monday issue, in Australia it's mandatory to vote. I find that fascinating, in a weird way.

I feel it's all about choice, and change. Can't wrap my head around this 'hung Parliament' thing and that's probably not good, but at least, we've got a breath of fresh air. And Sam does make some lovely bags! I loved the part where an MP named Khan won and people chanted 'Yes we Khan'. I thought they were saying Yes We Can with a British accent.

Bit chatty this morning but there you go. And there I go. How are YOU feeling this morning?

. . .

p.s. Thank you to Clare (the Eff Memoirs) and Olivia Isabella (unionolivia) for identifying her dress as Topshop. I'm amazed, frankly, as somehow her look came across to me in that quick instant as 'vintage'.

And while we're at it: thank you all for being Frank! ; )

stars and stripes

Emily, being such a star, in another look from our American Apparel shoot last week in Carnaby Street ('together we have a voice').

Together, we do. And we can now use this voice for.. oh, endless possibilities. Thank every single one of you who posted, tweeted, commented, spread the word.. if I haven't personally commented on your blogs on the post you did, apologies: I will. Or please comment again and let me know.

To think: this wasn't even for any particular 'reason' or benefit to you, yet you all got it about our collective voice, and the potential in that. That kind of support.. I'm like an elephant, frankly. I never forget.

Emily is wearing red and black dress by American Apparel, striped leggings, too, and the cardigan and shoes, model's own.

oasis of vague

Last Saturday, Kaz of style my wardrobe was in the area while we were with our friend Angus in the park, so I said, come on over. What did we ever do before cell phones? It was a hilarious series of calls and texts with things like 'which tree' and 'I see water but I don't see you' but she did eventually find me: just in time for us all to have to go.

Just as we left, I saw this pretty, and very very nice girl, walking home from work at Oasis (hence, being dressed this way: everything is from them, obviously). She sounded like she might be originally from somewhere else: Russia, perhaps? Or Poland? She was just so so sweet. She has a bit of a young Cameron Diaz thing going, don't you think?



This is why I need the facebook club (you've been dotted): I gave her my card, but I didn't jot down her name, and now I can't recall it at all, and now how will she know she's been dotted?! If she knew about the facebook thing, I could post it and someone could tag her.. I'm going to post this on it anyway. You never know. Once, I couldn't find someone and her MOM contacted me! Actually, twice. Once was a really cute policeman, CJ, in Southampton (NY, that is, not UK): 'just the facts, ma'am'.

I chose this shot, incidentally, because I love the way the Serpentine Cafe in the background looks like fabulous giant earrings (or, they do to me). That cafe is amazing, by the way: it's new caterers, an Italian company who also do the V&A cafe. Amazing food & excellent coffee. Of course: they're Italian!



Last but not least: Kaz's nails. She wouldn't let me shoot her, altho I loved what she was wearing. She'd had her nails done at the Chanel press event, in Vague, of course, darling. I have a post stored up in my head about what Hedvig, who had them done with her, calls the Chanel effect.

But this is enough chit chat for one post: I'm off to watch the last few minutes of Antiques Roadshow with Mr. Dot, and paint my nails two different colours: one, my special blend steel blue grey, the other, a limited edition two year old turquoise quite similar to Vague, by Essie. It's ridiculous. When will I ever grow up already.

snippets of shiny thoughts

Oh Friday, you ARE perfection.

I will be late for a string of plans today - it's GORGEOUS out - and I am so energized by yesterday's lunch with the 'girls.' The group of girls and women of all ages - as diverse as we are - is just, frankly, amazing. I couldn't stop thinking about it last night: it's what makes series like Friends or Sex & the City so popular: that fantasy, not about the perfect relationship, but about friendship with women without competition, agenda, or jealousy.. I mean, most, if not all, of us yesterday have great husbands or boyfriends, and yet what seems to bind us - besides our love of fashion, or being bloggers (or models) or, as we discovered, love of cooking and beautiful, good food - or we like the same tv shows - is this.. for lack of a better word: this generous spirit. Just a contagious joy to be alive, and excitement about the world. I get so energized from these amazing women.



Anyway, I'm typing this fast as I run out the door. Jen the Style Crusader has already done a wonderful post on the day - she's no slacker, she's uploaded her shots! - and I'm posting two she sent of me at the V&A (fair dues, I shot the ones of her & Hedvig, so it's like virtual posting: or, posting once removed).

Everything is borrowed today: I stole this title from the delightful Lucy's blog of the same name, borrowed the photos by Jen, dress from American Apparel.. and the thoughts, from everyone else. Well as the buddhists say (I"m paraphrasing) nothing is our own, nothing is permanent, let's just go out in the sunshine and have a party.

bluebird

While on my way home from the most magic lunch that lasted til 5, Mr. Dot texted me that I had my 1000th follower! Maike. I tried clicking on her profile to write to her - maybe give her a little thank you gift - but my system crashed. Which is fitting, as I am, too.

Have you ever been so tired you can barely speak? That it almost hurts? Mr. Dot and I were just chilling out tonight. But then, I remembered.. I didn't post today! So this is Holly, who we met when we were having a coffee last weekend with a friend.



She was with her boyfriend. Something like Kyle.. nope. Not Kyle. Drawing a blank. I didn't write down his name, I didn't ask her where she got that simple but beautifully designed dress, or who made those cool boots, or whether she added the black leotard or if it's part of the dress (or even, if it's vintage Luella, which I suspect) and I didn't ask to see her tattoos, didn't photograph them up close, or even ask if the one on her right arm is of a bluebird, which is the cafe where we met her (Bluebird, that is: on the King's Road). All I know is she's originally from Virginia. I gave her my card so perhaps I'll hear from her. Or perhaps not.

Such a wonderful day! I wish I could tell you about it. But I simply can't. All I can say is: people are just constantly amazing me with their wonderfulness. And it only gets better.

What fabulous plans have you got up your sleeves for the weekend? Or are you looking forward to doing absolutely nothing at all?

happy earthday

Blown away by the response to yesterday's post. People never cease to amaze me: there didn't seem to be anything in it for you, and yet you did it because I asked. I'm so moved. We can all benefit if this works, you'll see. This is something that kind of came to me, and - for me, too - more will be revealed in time.



Meanwhile, in honour of Earth Day, I chose Andrea's shots to post, because she's so naturally beautiful (I love her skin, eyes, hair, smile, everything about this look) and because her boots are from the Natural Shoe Store. (Her sweet earth child dress is Kate Moss for Topshop, btw).



We met her and her boyfriend, Joel, in the park near the Serpentine, and because the light was being funny, I made her pose over and over and over. She just stood there dutifully yet cheerfully, under a tree. It was hard to choose because I liked so many, but I chose this one because it's got a rainbow! See?




Besides being Earth Day, it's Jennifer, the Style Crusader's, birthday! This is her getting a free hug. Why don't you go pay her a little blog visit, and give her your own, virtual hug. And have a delightful Earth Day, and many more Healthy Earth Days, to come.

together we have a voice

Can you keep a secret? God knows, I can't. And I've been keeping this since.. sometime in January.

After American Apparel asked me if I wanted to run their ad, I ran this idea by them, and they got it: take a girl off the street (in this case, Emily, who I spotted and dotted outside Topshop last November: 'emily's style'). I asked her to meet me at American Apparel's Carnaby Street shop yesterday, wearing whatever she wanted. I didn't want to know. She knew that we were doing this for free, but did it anyway. She's starting to do catwalk modeling, so I caught her just in time. I am so lucky, and so grateful!



This is how she looked when we met (not bad, obviously: this is not a make-over! I chose her because I feel she's a natural style icon: a DOt icon, if you will ; ) We then went 'shopping' - basically, tried on a few things. It's funny, the first thing she chose was their new riding pants (translation: trousers, not knickers), in black (I've got my eye on the same pair, in taupe). Oh and btw: if you want to buy these trousers, and click thru on the ad, I'll get a commission!



We shot her on the street, with everyone passing by (and countless guys clowning around, getting in the shots, leering, you name it). It was a quick thing. It was really hard to choose, you'll see more in time (and other looks: this one happened to be all black), but I just wanted you to have a taste.



Here's what I'd like you to do: Please use the top shot on your blog - just let me know when you do, by leaving a comment on this post. It's like being tagged, but you're basically tagging it forward. If you'd like, tell your friends. You can reduce the shot, write what you want.. I want to show American Apparel how much of a collective force we are.



Would you mind spreading the word? If you do, definitely comment with the link to your blog, so we can check your blog out.

Even if you don't have a blog: if you comment here that you saw this and like the trousers.. who knows? If enough of us pick them up they may let me do it again. And there could be ways we all can profit. I mean, let's face it: most of us who blog are already doing our bit, for free, for our favourite brands' PR. It's just a fine line, really. I want to do this as a series, shooting YOU: the Dot Icons on the street. Together, we can transform how advertising works.

Together, I passionately believe, we have a voice.

Emily's black riding pants are by American Apparel, ladylike big black purse is her mom's, lace body is similar to one also by AA, and everything else, model's own.

claire and her new puppy, pip

I was jumping into the tube at Gloucester Road yesterday, on my way to the Thing I Can't Wait to Tell You, when I saw Claire, with her cute little puppy, Pip. She was a great sport about a) letting me shoot her and b) trying to get Pip to pose, but, let's face it, it's really hard to teach a new puppy old tricks.



Claire is displaying perfectly, I feel, this season's Geek Chic. The essentials to every girl's wardrobe: cute little lemon pumps, boyfriend jeans casually cuffed up, fun tee, tomato cardigan, straw hat to keep that harsh sun off English rose skin, honey blond hair, big black geek glasses to only be worn if you're pretty to begin with, a proper lady's big black purse, and, small enough to fit inside, a cute little shiny black puppy.

now it's getting interesting

Maybe it's because we had such a cold rainy spell, but here in London it feels like we've finally burst thru - as have the flowers. With a vengeance. These shots are from last week, when it was still cold enough that we had to struggle creatively to peel away the layers without catching a cold (I failed, obviously).



These sweet girls from Turkey, I feel, got it just right. I did posed shots as well but I like this random one when they didn't know why I was shooting them. This week, we've reached enough warmth that everyone is looking fabulous.

Going back to the Serpentine now, cupcakes, so if you're there and you see me (Breton top, Ray Bans, brown hair, Canon round my neck) come up & say hello: you, too, could be Dotted.