Put some Spring in your step

I was avoiding writing about this because it’s just EVERYWHERE but spring is fast approaching and the fashions that are coming with it make my skin spark, so it could not be ignored! As much as I love furs, big knits and funky tights, nothing gets me more excited than spring summer clothes, and have you seen all the colours?? Now, I have never been one to embrace outrageous block colours, let’s face it, as beautiful as they are to look at in magazines or on a catwalk, will we feel the same confidence in it while drawing attention to ourselves in all our best intentions running for the bus in the morning or ordering our obligatory latte on the way in to the office? My answer this season is YES YES YES!  Seeing it on the catwalk is one thing, but walking into all the high street stores and seeing all the gorgeous colours, I have to say I got carried away.  I’ve lost count of my favourite designers combatting this look for the season but here are the ones that stuck in my mind:

Jil Sander with her iconic orange skirt image.

Gucci with their flawless execution of multi-blocking

Mark Jacobs with his 70s inspired summer print maxis.

And here are some of my favourites pieces from the high street.

Thin line between catalogue and couture

I did my first photoshoot this week in the world of styling and I love love LOVED it!

I was pretty nervous at first as you can imagine. What if the pictures looked catalogue? I didnt know the size of the model, I was putting most of the outfits together myself, what if they didnt work/fell apart/weren't "big" (by big I mean grand) enough? Our concept proved winning though and I was extremely happy with the outcome. It helps that we had a beautiful model and a great photographer, but some credit has to be given to my team and I. We based our concept on the royal wedding, mixing it (slighty tongue in cheek-ly) with street clothes; a more urban take on a glamourous wedding. Have a look at some of the best (please be open minded they have not been photoshopped).

Radio Days

One of my favourite places in London, tucked away on the character rich street of Lower Marsh amongst juxtapositions like Greensmiths "trendy" grocers, lovely 2nd hand jewellery shops and Greggs bakery, is Radio Days. A vintage shop with such personality, it almost feels like a friend. Walking in you can hear the dusty tones of old jive music being played through a scratchy, vintage record player and one of the owners, Lee, whistling along to tunes like Dean Martin's "How do you like your eggs in the morning".  I love browsing the amazing decoration for your home like these old rotary phones, all sorts of glasses to stock your old fashioned bar with (even if its just the one you aspire to have - lets face it, who doesn’t want a bar?) and black and white photographs of all the old greats like James Dean. 

The fashion can be questionable, but there is no doubt that you will find at least one thing that you like, and if you don’t, they have various patterns to make your own; flares and dresses and capes (oh my!). But my favourite part is the shelves upon shelves of accessories, broaches, hats, hand bags, old cameras, hair pins and gloves. You will even find old 20 year old copies of vogue and gorgeous greeting or post cards.

This shop is truly inspiring and if you don’t leave humming a happy tune I will eat my newly acquired vintage hat. [....lala..I like mine with a kiss....lalalalala]