Anthony Burrill...
Walking through London a few weeks ago I spotted this poster through the window of an office: 'Work Hard & Be Nice to People.' It was stuck to the wall above someone's desk at a fashion PR agency. Simple and true, it's a message that's worth being reminded of.
Since that day it's been swirling around in the back of my mind. Anthony Burrill's prints are positive mantras of the most ideal kind. Not gimmicky or at all cliché, they are sweet little pieces of art that are worthy of being cherished. Printed in the UK using traditional woodblock printing techniques, each poster is signed and costs just £40. I'd love to get one for the new flat I'm moving into in January...
Photos via Anthony Burrill
Fruit face day...
It's Monday morning and outside the rain is pouring down. This past week I discovered the wondrous nature of the kiwi. If you're feeling any sort of winter blues I can't recommend them enough - it's like a burst of summery sweet magic. Every time I looked down at my kiwi, sliced in half and sitting on a plate, I felt like two little eyes were staring up at me. So, it seemed only natural, that those little eyes be given a face. Et voilà, there you have it: Ms Fruit Face. She's clearly a girl - the earrings give it away. On a side note: have you noticed how many designers have been using fruit and vegetables as inspiration lately (some more obviously than others)? I think food and fashion should go hand-in-hand.
Wishing you a very happy week. xx
Oooo, it's pre-fall 2012.
Ever since St John leaked their pre-fall collection at the beginning of November I've had my ipad glued to my hip, constantly checking the style.com app, waiting for the rest of the designers to reveal what's up their mid-season sleeve (after all it's the sneaky peek preamble to proper fall). Finally, much to my delight, the rest of pre-fall 2012 has started to trickle in. My favourite? Definitely Pringle of Scotland - although Burberry was a close second. Alistair Carr, who used to be at Balenciaga, has injected a more structured futuristic silhouette into the brand that was founded back in the late 19th century. While Pringle might be known predominately for their knits, it's the prints and genius layering that has won this girls heart. That and the shoes - which happen to feature a leather panel that can be taken on-and-off depending on your mood. It's the shoe that keeps on giving. Nice.
On a side note, there were some pretty strong similarities running through some of the other shows and Hanne Gaby Odiele in Michael Kors reminded me of how much I want these McQ printed trousers. Yumm. Must add it to my Christmas list pronto.
Images - Style.com
Prada vs Jeremy Scott
It's Thanksgiving, I know - I ought to be snuggled up in a wooly jumper making an apple pie and planning my Christmas shopping list. But instead I'm sitting here dreaming about spring and patching together a collage consisting of the Beverly Hillbillies and cacti. Random how these things happen. I don't even care though (soon I'll swap into holiday mode and bake my turkey etc etc ec).
I can't help but feel quite captivated by the classic 1950s imagery that inspired these collections. Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Thunderbirds for Prada. Flames, Santa Fe and Elly May Clampett for Scott. It's a sort-of nod to all things Americana, in an exaggerated surreal form. Currently at the top of my ss12 wish list are those platformed saddle shoes by Jeremy Scott and the Prada sunglasses that Anna Dello Russo has already been strutting around in (swooon).
Images: fashion via style.com, cactus, hillbillies, Elvis, Marilyn.
Who's Walter?
Randomly, I wandered into this little shop a couple of weeks ago. Tucked down a side street next to Zurich's famous Freitag tower, I must have walked past it at least a dozen times before without ever noticing it. As soon as I entered I was instantly won over: the coffee pot by the entrance, the dog sitting under a table and the undeniably warm atmosphere made it feel like coming home. Only, to a much cooler more industry-chic home than I've ever had...
Walter was established six months ago by Bettina Bucchéri. After her own search for industrial style furniture in Switzerland failed she decided to fill the niche present in the market by creating her own shop that brings together old and new in an effortless and authentic way. Despite the shops trendy feel, you won't find ridiculous mark-ups on the products. There's something to fit everyones need and price range - with glass jars starting at only 3 francs a pop. I love the shops no-fuss approach and small details that hark back to days past - raw bits of brown ribbon that tie together packages and factory style heavy-duty paper to wrap gifts. It's exactly the sort of no-nonsense simple approach that I'm after.
Coming up for breath...
Oh, hello there.
Surface to Air's ss12 collection might not be a bundle of revolutionary design but it's stuffed full of silhouettes that have been bubbling under the... err... surface of mainstream fashion. Most notably, the dress-over-trouser pairing - which has been creeping up on the catwalk for the past few seasons. The only people I've seen sporting this look though are the free spirited hippie-types who clearly aren't rocking it because Nicolas Ghesquière told them to. But these two-part printed combinations are pretty much perfect and a failsafe way to try out the trend. Plus, they'd work just as well worn as separates. Yes, it's clearly high time for the dress-over-pant look to get its proper revival.
Also coveting from this collection: slubby knits, the mint coloured simple dress, sheer details, bright pops of yellow and blue, the matching glittery lurex skirt/top, and the tops with shoulders cut out.
Photos via Style.com/View full collection here
Flashback: Day 4 LFW
On day 4 of London Fashion Week the streets were split into two camps: brights and heritage. Okay, maybe it just felt that way because I shot outside Christopher Kane in the morning and then Burberry in the afternoon. At Kane everyone was in fluorescent brights from the designer's ss11 collection. It was a bit of a circus outside. Then at Burberry it was an even bigger circus and everyone seemed to have pulled on their tweeds and rich autumnal colours for the occasion...
With people like Kanye West and Sienna Miller around the paparazzi were going a bit mental. Slightly surreal and, apparently, nothing compared to what Paris is like (good luck if you're going). It's intense to get a good shot, especially if you want one without a gazillion people in the background as there are people everywhere. It was so much fun though and totally worth the mania.
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Flashback: Day 2 LFW
Re-re-wind...
My superwoman powers failed me last week and, despite good intentions, I was physically unable to post everything the day it was shot. (Doh - as if going through 700 photos each night and waking up for shows at 9am is single handedly possible) So, as a result, we'll be dangling in a London Fashion Week related time-warp for a few more days... I know we've all mentally moved onto Milan (hello! Prada and their cars... spotted a pair of sunglasses at that show I'm desperate for and a pleated dress) but in my little world London is still where it's at.
So, it was Day 2... I went to DAKS, Masha Ma and Ashish - I always love the day that Ashish shows because Somerset House is suddenly taken over by people wearing rad sequins - this year they came in the form of red tartan jackets and trousers - hott. Then spent the remainder of the day dodging heavy bouts of unpredictable rain. It gave me an excuse to spend a while in Toms Cafe where I nibbled on chocolate cookies and drank lattes (yumm - can't complain about that).
Just want to say a big fat thank you to everyone that left comments or sent message about yesterday's post. Really appreciate that people took the time to read it. Means a lot.
p.s. to avoid posting on LFW forever I'll be putting a hefty chunk of photos up on facebook and tumblr.