brand identity

Yesterday, when I was wearing faded denim shorts with tights & slight heels, inspired by Hedvig, I found myself in Knightsbridge, having just met some great friends and en route to meet my dear friend Natayla for lunch.



I happened to have gone slightly out of my way to check out the location of the new Topshop, opening in Knightsbridge on Thursday, so I could tell friends where to meet tomorrow for an early preview breakfast.



That's when I saw Rachel. I so often see someone with a great look that I just clock but don't shoot, but this time, I saw this girl waaaay across the road. In order to reach her I had to wait for two sets of lights to change, but luckily I could see she was stopped outside an estate agent, which gained me some time.

Still, she was power walking at quite a fast clip, carrying two large Starbucks lattes, AND an orange phone. (Not necessarily an Orange phone, mind you). I was noting the bead work and woven details on her fabulous Phillip Lim jacket, nicely tanned quite perfect BARE LEGS (it was freakin' freezing yesterday!) but as fast as she moved, I moved faster.





Finally caught with her. She's Rachel, she's American, from Michigan originally moved here with her boyfriend via Miami, where she trained in Miami as yoga teacher. Her boyfriend started a school here called Power Yoga London.

We couldn't help laugh at the cliche of it all: American girls, she's carrying these Starbucks coffees.. she's delightful. And now we're facebook friends. And that, my friends, is the end of the story!



Rachel's fabulous little griege suede boots are by a French brand called Maje. Her jacket is Phillip Lim. Her shirt is GAP, shorts Ralph Lauren, bag and sunglasses Chanel. Necklace 3, Forever 21 bracelets. Coffee, Starbucks. Phone, not a clue.

when your own initials are enough

We happened to pass Gregg, who is the general manager for Ralph Lauren on Worth Avenue, outside Chanel, just down the street. He's got the essence of classic Palm Beach style down perfectly, I feel. Actually Mr. Dot spotted him first and while he patiently was posing, Mr. Dot was just outside the shot calling out 'Get his shoes! Get his shoes!'

Gregg is in mostly Ralph Lauren, apart from the shoes Mr. Dot loves, which are Stubbs & Wooten, and bag, Lands End.



These were all shot within minutes of each other: I loved this jewelry shop window display. You might have noticed, by the way, I'm on a roll with this 'griege' colour: can't get enough and now I really do want the nail polish. I've got it on authority from Pearl that it's the Particuliere shade that's Chanel's 'griege', not Trapeze. Will we ever find the true griege?





And Bottega Venetta: they used to run a great ad campaign (perhaps they still do), in reaction to all the Louis Vuitton initials craze: simple photos of beautiful bags, and the strap line 'when your own initials are enough'.



Self portrait in window display: I am wearing navy cotton shorts & black tee, both The Gap. Black suede ballet pumps with harlequin pompom, Topshop, at least two seasons back. Silver watch, Quinn (Germany), bronze genuine bull nose ring worn as bracelet, from a shop in Wales that Mr. Dot bought me ages ago, and his dad, when he heard he spent £20 on it, thought he was a fool to buy as 'I could have gotten you one off a bull for free', purple huge faux jewel bracelet, from Primark for £3, and gold lame metallic bag, American Apparel. Not an initial in sight.