feels like everywhere is paris in the twenties

Going back in time, but not that far: only to show you our first cupcake convention, at Ella's Bakehouse Cupcakes, in Covent Garden. As she said: 'I love mix of different material and contrasts, the wool harem pants are Helmut Lang, the silk blouse from Zara, jacket from Topshop, scarfs from Zara and H&M and my Alexander Wang bag.'



We shot this almost a month ago when we were still trying to find ways to stay warm but leaning towards spring. (My cupcake, btw, was espresso: divine). Suddenly, we've bypassed that transitional time. So many things I was looking forward to wearing suddenly feel too warm: today in Hyde Park, it was magnificent, but almost a bit too hot for jumpers & things. Everyone - I kid you not, EVERYONE - was in shorts. Shorts and tights and, of course, boots.

Still it wasn't nearly as hot as NY: something like 92 degrees fahrenheit. That's just.. weird. Cathy Horyn @ the NY Times tweeted 'It's going to be a bonkers day for fashion 'cause of the heat. Just saw a woman, professional looking, in peep-toe patent shoes with shorts.' If only she did street shots: she's a fashion literary genius. With a heart.



This is such a great time to be alive! I know I keep saying that, but it's true: it's like an explosion of creative self expression. I feel there have been creative 'hot spots' throughout history: Florence in the Renaissance, of course, and Paris in the 20s, and it feels like that, now, only better, cause we're connected thru this amazing technology. It's like everywhere is Paris in the 20s, and we're all in the same cafe.



Hedvig was trying her first cupcake - not just at Ella's, but EVER (it was banoffee, btw: banana & toffee) and Jennifer and I were both shooting her at the same time. I was laughing so much I shook the camera. When I asked if she minded me posting this, her reply was 'don't eat in front of a camera is my lesson learned, but I have no problem with it to be posted, it's just funny.'

the puffa, & the long haul

Having not left home since we returned to the UK, I can't report on any new trends in London for the past two weeks. I can say, however, that before I left - and I assume that things haven't changed that much - the emphasis was on staying warm. And that means fur, faux fur, or the infamous Puffa Jackets.

My inspiration for this blog - Bill Cunningham, who I've been following in print in the NY Times Style section since I was a kid - happened to do his column on it the first Sunday I was in Florida: this is the video, a very charming little film. It was a delight to sit on the sun deck, watching the exotic birds on the water, in a swimsuit, and read this article with my morning coffee.

I loved this couple, who we met at the Tate Modern just before we left. They were visiting from Japan. A rare sighting of non print style, in the Land of the Leopard Print.



Or, not, as it turns out. She found this vintage hat somewhere in London: their English was limited, so they couldn't tell me where. But they were really nice & fun to shoot.



I love Virgin: they have the best entertainment system. I stay up all night watching films, so naturally I'm a bit tired when we land. Still, I couldn't help but notice what the girls were wearing, as we queued for customs. Mostly: knits. On an overnight flight, you want to dress in the closet thing to cozy PJ's. Lots o' knitted mini dresses, and/or knitted ponchos or pasminas which double as blankets. I saw one look - a purple sweater dress with black tights & brown leather boots - that I liked. Just as I was about to whip out my camera, I remembered we were queuing for customs, after all, and if no phones are allowed, I can only imagine what they'd do if I took out my Canon.



So instead, I'm trotting out an oldie but goodie: Joanna, a London stylist I met last July flying over to NYC, where she was going to be working. Her look still uncannily is spot on trend. To see the original post: jet set (sea of hats).

What do you wear for the long haul?