street chic: loli

Adrian - aka Mr. SnappyLifeStyle - and I were moving through the crowds of Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, at a pretty, well, snappy pace, on our way to Snap some Pics at the Mall, the day before the Royal Wedding. I'm not sure who spotted Loli first, sitting on the wall, smoking and smoldering. But we both snapped away, and she was so nice about it. Also: this never happens, but I didn't touch anything about these photos. No softening of her porcelain skin, no spot removal. Not even dodging or burning or adjusting the light. She said she'd wished she'd brushed her hair, but I can only imagine how she looks when she makes an effort!

I couldn't remember at the time where she said her dress was from - I thought it was McQueen - but it was actually ASOS, for £14! And the shoes, some shop in Soho (she forgot the name). I'm going to meet her again, for lunch, as she's really nice and frankly: I can feel a series coming on. Note btw: yellow, and black, and yet - I feel - no bumblebee effect whatsoever. Just total street chic.

girls just wanna have fun

During one of the days of London Fashion Week, while I was taking photos of my friends, I realised I was in the middle of a fun little shoot so started snapping them, too. I know that the taller girl in the gorgeous grey and nude leather dress is Poppy Delevingne, but I was busy shooting my friends and didn't ask who the other girl was. And now I can't get that Cyndi Lauper song out of my head. The Killers did a cover of it, but call me old fashioned: I feel the original is the best.

p.s. Well what do you know! My 'anonymous' source came thru in a matter of hours. First Almina tipped me off that she's done some modelling for ASOS. Then Anonymous filled in the missing puzzle piece: they are, indeed, sisters! I just think it's so cute to see a sister, who model, shooting her younger sister, who also models (both for Storm btw) at fashion week. Just being normal girls. Read all about it here on Vogue.com: Sister Act. Which is what, had I known, I've have called this post..

sheep in wolf's clothing

Am I a sheep? I ask myself that question on this grey and listless morning. (Morning? Who am I kidding? As of typing this, in two minutes it shall be NOON, my dear fashionistas. I am a lazy, lazy cow).

Here's the thing: I didn't start this blog because I had any particular interest in the fashion world (I'd never been to a fashion week and assumed they were vile things filled with vile creatures: having only been to two so far, both in London, I can absolutely say hand on heart that is SO NOT TRUE, thanks mostly to the beautiful people at the BFC). I didn't 'want', 'need', of 'die for' any particular item of clothing.

I wasn't 'jealous' of someone's shoes.

Most of what I wore was either cheap, used, occasionally custom made (I found a great dress-maker years ago, in the Herefordshire countryside, and I'd design the Jackie O type dresses), or handed down. Sometimes, like in the case of my ex It Girl friend Nicole in NY, she'd literally borrow $100 from me and 'repay' me in discarded designer goods I did not want. I've probably posted about this before but this is one of the things she gave me (the others, I gave away, like a pair of never worn navy blue leather heeled Mary Janes by someone her mum was friends with named Manolo Blahnik). This jacket, which was so totally naff and dated at the time, with its big 70s collar and studs and bright purple leather, was designed by Claude Montana, before he was famous, from his first collection.



Why am I bringing this up today? Because it seems that all 'everyone' wants is a shearling aviator jacket (and by 'everyone' I even include stylish friends who I love and respect - I'm sure there are people around the world whose wants are more basic: freedom, for example, or food, clothing - any clothing - shelter. Good health. Their life.).

But as for the rest: they want a Shearling leather aviator jacket. The Burberry one, of course (specifically, the Burberry Prorsum Shearling leather jacket, shown above, left: £1895.00, or $2,961.58, but tough toodles, girls: it's already sold out. You can add it to your 'wish list' to 'see if more stock becomes available'.

Even 'wish list' is a phrase that makes me cringe.

Please don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Burberry - god knows, I love the brand and feel Christopher Bailey is a genius. But I bet even he is starting to feel a bit like 'hey, Dude, I'm not the Messiah. I put a girl in a lace dress and, on a whim, because I love that casual 'dress it up, dress it down' feel, I threw a Shearling and leather aviator jacket over her. I was bored with trenches, OKAY? I could just as easily have thrown a gas station attendant's greasy cotton poplar zippered windbreaker - you know the type, with the name embroidered on the breast pocket - over her delicate shoulders, and it would have worked just as well.' Actually.. not a bad idea. Are you reading this, Chris? I'm thinking, dunno, S/S 2011.. over a nice lime green silk and lace tea dress..

And yet: I love the look. What is not to like about a masculine, tough boy's leather shearling jacket, especially over a flirty feminine dress? And I've even dug out my purple leather motorcycle jacket and thought, hmm, if I added some cotton wool dipped in tea and attached with gaffer's tape, would that achieve the same look?

I'm just throwing it out there: I might, just might, be a slave to fashion. I'm not saying I can't live without it, but let's put it this way: I wouldn't kick a Burberry Shearling Leather Aviator Jacket out of bed.

I might, just might, be a Sheep, after all. I'm just saying.

Well, here's a comfort: ASOS is selling a very similar look, above right. Using real leather, but fake fur (okay, so a cow died to make the jacket, but at least the sheep was spared). And, at £120.00, it's not just one tenth the cost, but about one SIXTEENTH the cost.

OR, I simply could wait six months, and snap up one of those BAAAd babies on eBay. Because by then, Mr. Bailey will have moved on, and so, one assumes, will we. Ah, the fickle finger of fashion.

Are you a Sheep? In the meadow of life, which side of the Shearling fence to YOU stand?

object of my obsession

It's shaping up to be a beautiful Saturday, and we're off to a pool outside London - yay! - but first I have to talk about my current obsession: playsuits. When I met my lovely friend Natayla (it's fashion week), altho I'm not by nature an envious person, I just so wanted to be wearing what she was wearing. She just looked so comfy in her leopard print playsuit by H&M, the material is so silky soft.. I bought a playsuit at Topshop a few seasons back, but there's something about it that doesn't feel right: the fabric, while thin, feels.. hard. The pattern is black background with flowers in orange, turquoise and white.. it's not bad, but it's not perfect.



(I love her cat's eyes sunglasses, btw: must ask her where she got them! And sorry, Nat- she's a teeny tiny slim thing - the angle of the shot from where I was sitting gave her thunder thighs, but they're truly not)

I want a playsuit just like this: something soft, and silky and comfortable. Nat was all smiles when she was showing me how well constructed it is. I mean, if I had the right playsuit, I could re-create yesterday's shot because - guess what, Pumpkins, I tried that trick at home and I can still do splits in the air! With both legs.

So I tried late Thursday night, after Mr. Dot was asleep, to go online to H&M and perhaps, if the price was right, order Nat's playsuit. But I couldn't find my way around the attractive, fun filled site that is H&M. I don't care about the perfect beach - I already know where they are and plan to go there soon - I just want to buy a playsuit!

So I went to the source, ASOS, and found this treasure chest of jumpsuits. (Speaking of: are they playsuits? Jumpsuits? Catsuits? Can we agree on a word, guys?) And scrolling thru all 196, this is the one that screamed BUY ME:



It's not just cause it's polka dots, I swear (I really don't have a wardrobe of polka dotted clothing). I didn't even realise that til after I chose it in my head. The model's look, hair cut, styling with these boots... and, coincidentally, I swear: it's already one of the cheapest, AND on sale. I went online again last night, after he was asleep - after seeing Davina evict Jovan in a very similar number (I swear, it's all I'm noticing on the street now, it's all I want), and I snuck back online and played the game again. They even added styles: previously it was 187, now it's 196 (not too obsessed, am I?)

They say we're only as sick as our secrets, and I'm hoping if I post this, and walk out the door - in my current inferior playsuit, with swimsuit underneath - my obsession will be lifted. Granted, it's only going to leave when I finally cave and buy THIS ONE. Mini polka dots, on sale, for £36. I'm going there next Friday to take photos, maybe they'll have one in stock. (hint hint).

Which one is your perfect style? Or do playsuits leave you cold?

Enough chit chat: off to play.

. . .

p.s. (later) Your comments are all so great. I stand corrected; it's a ROMPER. And my wonderful friend Carry Somers, who has the BEST ethical Panama Hat company, Pachacuti, tweet photo'd me a shot of her today wearing an 18 year old vintage romper. To me, the perfect, definitive romper. Check it out here.

pink variations: a short story

You know how sometimes you see an image that would make such a great photo? When I was at ASOS HQ, I met Kevin, who at the time was getting into an elevator carrying a stack of boxes. He just carried them so effortlessly, while laughing and joking, and the image of those hot pink shorts (by Peter Jensen, but he got them thru ASOS, of course), the warm mahogany of his skin tone, crisp navy blazer, tan boxes... I mean, granted, it's a Happy Place, but he was unbelievably upbeat.

We saw him later and I tried to recreate the shot but we just used one little box (he had a stack: it seemed taller than him) and it's so lame. He looks like a basketball player holding a tennis ball. It's a scale thing. Still: it's such a cool look. I mean, he's got just the right attitude to carry this off.



I didn't even notice til now: he's got TASSELS on his loafers! Can you see? I'd love to get Mr. Dot in this outfit, but it's never gonna happen. He's got attitude, too, but I'd never ever get him to wear hot pink shorts. I can't believe after all these years, I finally got him to try sushi! Baby steps.

Had a fabulous afternoon @ Earl's Court, shooting the Gala catwalk Graduation Fashion Show. With the big boys!! At the end of the runway, like a real photographer! Talk about energy. I'm wiped out. Tomorrow, I promise.

be still my beating heart: JESUS @ ASOS

There is a story behind this story. Of course there is.



Yesterday, having infiltrated ASOS HQ, or the Happy Place, as I now call it, I was taken on a tour: they actually have a CATWALK, with models being filmed and still shot all day long. It's insane.





Later, by accident, I found myself shooting an empty dressing room when who should walk in, but Jesus. Changing his shirt. God is he cute. And really, really nice. We chatted a bit and then I started shooting him and he started doing that thing that models do. After that, I honestly don't remember anything, not even his name.* It was a bit scary, actually. I think I realised he's American, but the rest is a blur. I couldn't hear over the beating of my own heart.

*(My lovely new friend, ASOS Nat, who is at the core of the story and who was with me at alleged incident, and somehow was more conscious than I, just told me: it's RANDY. Swear to God.



When I was young and single, I had several 'types', but this wasn't one of them. Friends would see a guy and say 'he's your type': tended towards young Bob Dylan, kinda scrawny, curly hair.. Mr. Dot was kind of my type, but more bad boy than I normally went for (he was more like a young Mick Jagger). I tended to go for a kind of geek chic type, but after yesterday, I'm a convert.

Messiah chic, in black and white. Shirt, jeans, belt: ASOS. Hair and tattoos: model's own. As for the story behind the story, what I was doing in the Happy Place: stay tuned.



What's your type?

into the sunset

Today in my inbox, from ASOS community was, among other things, an Ashish-inspired 'sequin sunset vest dress', below. (The above shot is one of mine, btw: A/W 2010).



I got so inspired that I pulled out some photos from our sailing trip to the Virgin Islands last February (when I missed what would have been my first London Fashion Week, incidentally), and, having some Fun with Photoshop, I produced this:



Then I realised that net a porter is currently selling the real deal.

So, okay, I've done the math. I could buy the Ashish dress today (below), from net-a-porter, for £1,070. Or, I could buy the ASOS Ashish-inspired dress, sans sleeves, for £85. Another way to look at it is, for £1070 I could buy 12.68 ASOS dresses.

That's a lot more sequins.



I wonder at what point technology made it possible to mass produce sequins. I mean, even for the Ashish dresses, they can't possibly be hand sewn, can they? The dresses are quite different, apart from the sequins and the sunset motif. I used to wear the style of the ASOS dress: fitted, same neck, but.. maybe it's back to the 'act your age' debate, but I find I'm not in a stage of my life right now where I'd be wearing that kind of 'pulling' dress. I prefer the loose feel of Ashish's original design, the sleeves, and the colours feel more sophisticated. I'm not normally a red person but I love it next to hot pink and orange. Everything, with colour, is relative.

Don't get me wrong: I adore Ashish, and I love ASOS: two opposite ends of the same spectrum. And ASOS aren't saying that Ashish designed that line, only inspired it. And I feel ASOS is a brilliant, absolutely brilliant brand, and I like how they think. It's like the print vs. online debate: I believe there is not just room, but a need, for both. And at the moment, I'm not buying either dress.



What I'd love (Ashish, are you reading this?) is a large turquoise Hawaiian shirt, like what he's shown on the S/S 2010 catwalk, but bigger: as a mini dress. In sequins. Failing that, I am looking for a vintage one. I just think it would be a gorgeous look, with black tights and heels for night, or leggings, or bare legged with brogues. I haven't seen anyone wear it yet but I am starting that trend. Right here, right now. I'm throwing down the gauntlet.

Your thoughts on the subject, as always, are most welcome. Thank you to net a porter, ASOS, me, Photoshop, the British Virgin Islands, and the British Fashion Council, for unwittingly giving me permission to make this post possible. But especially, thank you to Ashish. Your vision and your talent is so joyous, far reaching, and above all, inspiring.

biker chic (yin yang)

Speaking of trends, you can't go wrong this season with leather & lace. It was once so rad, (I love that phrase, thanks PD) but I bet you'd see it on any high street, or any shopping mall round the world. And yet: everyone can work this look their own way. It's like fur and tweed, or gold jewelry with a ripped old jumper: just mix it up. Masculine & feminine. Glam and casual. As long as they're pieces you already love, that have a history and a story all your own, as long as you love the elements individually, you can't possibly go wrong.

. . .

UPDATE: Okay, this is weird. Blame it on my fever, I'm feeling a bit delirious. I happened to check my sitemeter which shows where people are clicking from, and there were a bunch of people coming from ASOS. So I clicked on the link and someone named Nat said she's just discovered herself in this shot. I took just the one shot, and don't remember taking it - must have just passed her quickly, and clicked - her head was cut off in the shot. So Nat, if you're reading this, please get in touch! Email link on my profile, or comment here - let me know how to find you. I trust I've got your permission, which I'd normally ask, but I'd love a shot of you with a head! So, where'd you get the dress?

I had to register with ASOS to comment there, which isn't a bad thing, as half the people I shoot are wearing stuff from them, so, frankly, it's about time.