R.I.P Baby Girl

A whole decade and one day ago RnB songstress Aaliyah was tragically killed in a plane accident. This was something that shook up my teenage years massively as I spent most of my early years crooning 'Back and Forth' into a hairbrush and brushing up on my 'More Than a Woman' routine. I was always a fan, such beauty, style and poise but it was that awful feeling of premature death in her prime. She had had a promising career but as soon as she became really big and on the way to something mainstream outside of urban music, her life was cut short. Following the release of her self-titled last album, her sound and look had progressed massively. The more avant-garde and high fashion styling that went with her more recent videos I really felt she was on the cusp of greatness. She had transcended that RnB songbird stereotype and left all traces of baggy boy jeans, sportswear and an infamous dalliance with R. Kelly behind in the 90s, she had blossomed into a glamourous and elegant style savvy young woman and the world was starting to take notice. Her music grew with her appearance with the help of midas touch producer Timbaland. Aaliyah will always have a special place in my heart as her music meant so much to me during my formative years and I still love hearing it now. Given the sudden death of Amy Winehouse the other day, it is frightening to see how many of my female A artists that fill my i-pod have been swpt to heaven way before their time.

lady-like shoes

I love a Mary Jane like I love a t-bar, always classic, cute and elegant; 3 things that will never go out of styl. So if you are wanting to channel the sweet and sophisticated vibe, there is no simpler way than to don a pair. I think Mary Janes appeal to women as they are reminiscent of what one wore as a little girl. They are the perfect antidote to the hooker heels that have saturated the 20 something female crowd of late. Don't get me wrong, there is a time and a place for both, I love a chunky platform and a clumpy wedge, but in classic form one style is swiftly followed by its antithesis, and I am welcoming the lady-like shoe with open arms. Mary Jane come to mama..

Office

Louis Vuitton A/W runway

beautiful metallic Miu Miu wonders

nautical woven Prada SS11

REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT A ZIG-A-ZIG AHHHHHH

With the 90s grunge revival pervading the streets for the past couple of seasons, it was only a matter of time before the other cultural references of the 90s came full-circle. Therefore I am bracing myself for the return of Buffalo boots. As a 10 year old, my dad buying me a pair was one of my proudest moments..so whether it will make me cringe or swell with nostalgia for having worn them the first time around is yet to be seen! It's funny even as a kid, I thought I was too cool for the Spice Girls inane girl power nursery rhymes but I still dug the footwear! Now however, when I look back at pictures of them, I appreciate the brash in-your-face style of the Spicies, it is starting to look ironically retro, in a good way.

90s girl power courtesy of the Spice Girls

Lulu Guinness lip clutch

Spicy by Jeffrey Campbell

Ashish cuts an androgymous shape with his punky girl for A/W11/12

I wanna be in America

If only because they get Missoni for Target, which extends to cute homewares and soft furnishings! So unfair! I have been drooling over the lookbook, and imagining all the things I would pile in my trolley. Check out some of my top picks here:

crayola coiffeur

Dip dye was the summery California girl look that swept the nation a couple of years back. Last April I was one of many suckered into the craze, influenced largely by the carefree locks of Drew Barrymore, Erin Wasson and Rachel Bilson, and since then I have been loving my Ombré locks and recieving many a compliment. I may be a little late to the party, but neverthless I will show you now how it looks as I feel on the cusp of a change. It feels like the biggest hair related phenomenon to strike since the Rachel phenomenon, but I'm starting to feel it may be a little overplayed. I love the 90s grungey feel to roots and rainbow hued hair dye and I am toying with the idea of going brighter or more candyfloss colourful with my golden tips...watch this space.

me with my naturally dark roots and goldy blonde tips

this ash brown with a complimentary shock of aqua looks amazing

who said the neon trend was just for accessories and wardrobe?

Pixie Geldof gets properly tango'd

mousey with powder blue

Bleach @ Topshop

Kate Bosworth

Lauren Conrad couldn't decide on a colour so went for subtle streaks of them all!

sweet soul sister

Poor Solange Knowles, imagine having goddess Beyonce as a sister, that would be miserable by anyone's standards right? The talent, the beauty, the sex appeal, the superstar career, the perfect husband. Bleugh. I always champion an underdog and Solange has really found her fashion feet. She is a lot more quirky and individual than one blingtastic, bootylicious soul sister of hers. I particularly love her small messy afro. Beyonce may look like the woman who has everything, but Solange has an adorable son and is beating her sister in the style stakes. She loves african and tribal prints, patterned trousers, experimenting with short hair and colourful make-up. What's not to like?

striking a pose with Theoplilus London for Honey Magazine

 

Performing at Opening Ceremony launch in NYC

best outfit ever

African prints

70s styling

the perfect way to rock a trouser suit

tribal accents

dotty for dalmation

Daphne Guinness - a monochrome loving, modern day incarnation of Cruella Deville

This Autumn, Cruella Deville will be your go-to style icon as the fashion world goes dotty for dalmation print. It's been a long time coming, while I see leopard print as a classic wardrobe staple, it can look tacky or tired. We've seen forays into tiger stripe and snakeskin print but in classy monochrome dalmation spots are always set to look chic. Anyway seasoned front rower Daphne Guinnes looks like she's a cigarette holder away from chanelling Cruella.

Kurt Geiger's scrumptious dotty chelsea boots

Dalmation manis pervaded the catwalk at Topshop Unique A/W

boots by Reed Krakoff

a symphony of monochrome checks and print at Burberry Prorsum A/W11/12

London Calling @ the top of the dial, after all this, Won't you give me a Smile?

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river

The infamous song by the Clash has never seemed more poignant nor apt, although I don't actually live by the river. I have felt dejected, disheartened, ashamed and embarrassed of the barbaric antics that have taken over London this August. I love London, I feel defensive of it, I get protective of it and most of the time my heart swells with pride to be a Londoner, especially in summer. But this year a small part of me was crushed when I saw the way so many youths and adults were behaving towards their neighbours and local independent businesses. What kind of small-minded cretins would want to trash and set fire their own neighbourhoods? Needless to say I'm still in shock but hopeful that we have seen the worst of the damage. Rant over and chin up - here are some wonderful photographs of the events on Mare Street as captured by Leon Mark and Ruben Moreira:

if the cat is away, the mouse will play ;)

play cat and mouse with all these cute kitsch accessories!

be the cat that got the cream in these awesome Charlotte Olympia wedges

lion paw Loubs

Marc Jacobs mousey flat pumps

Kate Mouse tee by Simeon Farrar

MOOMBAHTON

If like me you love electro and reggaeton you iz gonna lurrrrve moombahton; it's like a perfect marriage of the two. The genre was created by American superstar DJ/ producer Dave Nada. Hearing moombahton tunes is guaranteed to bring the sound of summer and keep you dancing all night. This is the perfect music to accompany parties in the sunshine and balcony boozing. Long live the unreliable British summer! As it is positively chucking it down today, I advise you to tune into some moombahton jams, close your eyes and think of Sao Paolo!

hideous kinky

loving frizzy hair lately:

topshop SS11

crimpy kinks at Rebecca Taylor

Marc Jacobs SS11