the girl they call Bambi

Life is made of small simple pleasures, I love exposed brick, loft spaces and attic rooms, art deco furnishings, a perfect manicure, cheese! I have a penchant for peonies and the two physical attributes I find attractive in people (both men and women I think) are straight teeth and a groomed but bushy brow. I'm obsessed with eyebrows - for me they are such a key maker or breaker of a beautiful face. They are the framer and definer of windows to the soul, as it were. Bambi is a testament to why THOU SHALT NEVER OVER-PLUCK. In fact, never pluck at all, don't touch your own eyebrows, go get threaded. Anyway rant over. Not only does Bambi Northwood-Blyth have one of the best model names ever but the girl also has got it going on in the brow department. See here why I think she is so incredible!

toxic nature

Toxic Nature is the name of Illamasqua's new cosmetic collection. As there as campaigns go, I think they are the only brand out there giving MAC a run for their money. The natural look is all well and good, but it is not what is going to get your products noticed by the youth market when it comes to advertising. I've always been a die-hard MAC girl especially where lippy is concerned but I like to think of Illamasqua as the British equivalent, for offering an outlandish array of colours, and their nail polishes are especially good. Besides how much would you love to be able to do make-up like this!? Even if just for Halloween, I marvel at what can be acheived with a face and effectively some paint and brushes! Be inspired..

TUTTI - FRUTTI FABULOUS

For those of you who like your style to have a dash of quirkiness and a side of humour, you will be loving the fact that this Spring/Summer conversationals have gone citrus. If you are happy for your ensemble to look more fruit salad than sartorial perfection this is surely the look for you! In the past few days we have been blessed with glorious sunny weather in London town and it's put me in such a great mood. These looks have the same affect, reminding me why fashion should never be taken too seriously! If you're not one to go all-out Carmen Miranda style, make a nod to the fruit trend with kitsch banana earrings a la Prada or cherry accessories!

KEITH HARING 4 LIFE

To know me is to know I love watching documentaries about influentical creatives - designers, musicians, artists and the like. One particular favourite of mine was the Hip Hop inspired street artist Keith Haring whose work is synonymous with 1980s commercially thriving vibrant New York and really an amalgamation of everything I love. The documentary which I watched while staying at the Standard Hotel in New York, (giving his work new found meaning and poignancy) gave me a new life goal, to one day own one of his loud and proud paintings of happy dancing rasta coloured joyous squidgy stick men.  
Not only do I get a kick out of the exuberant and childish figures in Haring's work, he also came across as a real good guy. He did so much work with kids and charities and anti drug campaigns and painted murals everywhere from Germany to Brazil. In fact he was so omnipresent in the 80s and never made his art out to be a precious commodity, he was a real artist of the people. It also occured to me how much of a legacy he left behind after dying from AIDs in 1990. Keith Haring has been gone for over 30 years but his work is still so relevant to me, not only because it still looks cool and now in an aztec, slightly retro 'come one rude boy boy' kind of way. But also because designers are still using his work which means he still has a major influence today! He represents to me a huge slice of 80s American culture and really represents what 'pop art' is all about with his connections with music and fashion.

 Keith Haring and Grace Jones back in the day

'Crack is Wack' by Keith Haring

 Keith Haring for Nicholas Kirkwood

 Lady B in Haring's designs

 Keith Haring for Patrica Field jeans

Rihanna wears jacket by Keith Haring x Schott

feelin' festy

(Written last Sept) As the magic of summer evaporates through progressivley greying sky I think back through my highlights of summer 2010. This year I partook in my first ever camping/festival experience at Benicassim in Spain. I loved the whole thing - the community atmosphere, the heat and of course the music. I had an unbelievable time and saw lots of fantastic performances including: Ray Davies, Skream, Benga, Skratch Perverts, The Temper Trap, Mumford and Sons, Vampire Weekend, Julian Casablancas, The Prodigy, Ian Brown, The Klaxons, The Specials, The Cribs, Gorillaz, Dizzee Rascal, Ellie Goulding, I Blame Coco, The Courteeners, Two Door Cinema Club, Foals. Here are some photos I took whils there. Hearing Ray Davies sing 'Lola' and thousands of people singing my name was a particularly surreal and memorable experience! Ah summer days drifting away...

we no speak Americano

This Spring I was lucky enough to visit the Big Apple not once but twice. Ma petite soeur has been studying fashion merchandising there so I went to stay with her and then went back out a month later for her graduation. It is my favourite city in the world - it has an electric buzz yet a laid back anything goes vibe. Needless to say I had the best time. Here are some of the pictures I took.

sister + Diego Bucket

burger + steak sarnie at Soho Park

Patriot

me being a tourist

fire escape frolics 

sis

peek-a-boo

tiles for America + Marc Jacobs billboard

Brooklyn graffiti

CLOGAHOLICS ANONYMOUS

During my sabbatical from blogging I feel I have missed a great deal of things to report on. Namely the fact that clogs took over the world. Back in May I took this picture of my friends the clogaholics. C is rocking vintage Dior while K sports this year's Chanels. This post is dedicated to all you clog doubters and non believers!