Beat Down To Your Soul

Sorry I've been a little 'offline' readers, the recent events of summer have really taken over the last few weeks. What with the long school holidays, a trip to sunny Tuscany and a big blow-out weekend at the first ever Vintage at Goodwood festival, I've been far from desk-bound.

The festival left me physically jaded to say the least, although it fuelled me with great style inpirations. From music, bands, artists to clothing , make-up and accessories, the weekend was full of cool glamour in a good old fashioned way , just like things used to be before commercially driven sterile style became the way modern folk dressed. So what was I going to pack to fit in with this dapper lot? Granted, I have a wardrobe full of vintage glamourous frocks and accessories kindly donated by my best friend ,a vintage enthusiast but was that going to see me through a wet and windy weekend in a field down in East Sussex? After a horrifc Bestival experience two years ago, I was fully aware that you just go for protection and leave the fashion at home at this type of event, but this was different. It was all about style and substance. So in the bag went the frivoulous and fancy forties dresses, heated rollers , red lipstick and nail varnish to show willing and then leather trousers, heaps of knits and wellies to be practical. It wasn't until the last minute I realised I didn't have any suitable outerwear. My coat wardrobe consists of chic beige trench coats, vintage furs and a tiny kids kagoul. So I found myself on a trolley dash to TK Maxx where I quickly found a cute navy Edina Ronay duffel coat for just thirty quid. Sorted. And needed. And it did rain, so out came the leather trousers ,rapidly slipped on in our tiny pop up tent with whatever else I happened to be wearing. Which happened to be a grey and white stripy top. With the navy duffel thrown over it all I had unwittingly created a 'look' for the weekend! 'Are you a Mod? ' asked one pillar of mod society, as I dashed to the loo. Well, not really but hey, how about a post-modernist Beatnik-type that just threw these items on in haste so as not to miss another classic track in the Soul Casino club? And well, I am quite liking it, the Beatnik look, that is. Once autumn hits I am going to channel this look with gusto and maybe indulge in some of these sixties inspired new pieces for the coming season.

Top right: Duffel coat by Proenza Schouler

Bottom left: Hat by Ted Baker

Liberty Scarf Camp

Last month in my post entitled 'Makes No Difference What They Say, We're Going On Holiday' I asked the in-store scarf demonstrators to rise to the challenge of turning a simple silk square into this season's headwear must-have, The Turban.

Those good people at Liberty of London are holding a week long Summer Scarf Camp for all the fashionistas who are looking for some extra curricular activity during the long holiday. On the 29th July, Professor Richard Weston will be holding lectures on how to fold, wrap and 'Turn it into a Turban' with his collection of wonderfully on-trend digitally printed scarves. Designers also showing during the week include The Lin Besson Project, Swash, Lousada Heyhoe and Michael Birch.

Pictures:Left- Liberty Scarf Camp Press Image

Right- Weston's Agate Print Scarf

Time To In-Vest

The soaring temperatures of last weekend had me resorting to pottering around the house in a bikini. Which is all well and good when sitting on the deck enjoying a refreshing cool drink and pretending to you are in the Med instead of South East London. But not so appropriate when you need to pop outside with a bag of rubbish to the dustbin or round the shops to pick up ice-creams. A lightweight cutaway vest is the perfect throw-over solution. Pair it up with some mini-shorts to quickly run these errands and keep cool at the same time.James Perse is a master of the casual but cool tee. His collection of tissue thin cotton vests and t-shirts are cut in such a way that their loose fits are not too baggy and just simply skim the curves to give a modern edgy feel to a wardrobe staple. Swedish brand ACNE are also from the same school of thought when it comes to their cotton t-shirt ranges, and their cleverly cut striped racer back tank top is fashion forward alternative to the plain white vest. Mint Velvet has included a soft white cotton vest in its latest summer collection. With a babydoll effect double layer and drawstring scoop neck detailing, it includes a little more design details that can be worn for a more dressy situation. Margiela's black gold clip vest has a longer hem and could just get away with being a mini beach dress for day or over glam shorts or tight jeans for evening.
Pictures: Top right - ACNE s/s10
Top Left - James Perse
Bottom left - Mint Velvet
Botton right - Martin Margiela

Mad About Margiela

There's quite a buzz around Martin Margiela at the moment. For the past twenty years he has been quitely building an enigmatic fashion brand with a cult following whilst also remaining elusive and keeping his identity hidden from the public. In March of this year, Margiela launched his first ever fragrance. Typically of Margiela, he wanted it to smell different from the established fragrances already on the market. At first spritz, the perfume smells of a masculine cologne combining a hint of dry tobacco with green, fresh notes. After a while on the skin and on the wristband style tester card the perfume moved on to a pleasing feminine scent that reminded me of a sweet-smelling version of Elnett hairspray. Different indeed. And then there is his clothing and accessories line, which cool girls and guys (especially) cant get enough of. The picks from the ladieswear collection include a pair of high waisted leather leggings and a black and nude two tone sandal with a gold strap. Both pieces are undeniably sexy yet understated. The Margiela vibe is so on trend right now. Perfect for easing the transistion from noughties excesses to today's desire for pared down minimalism. For the boys, its all about the reworked classics. A crisp white shirt with removable tux bib, a disco ball effect wallet covered in mirrored mosaic chips and absolutely anything from his T-shirt line. If this label has by-passed you all these years due to its cool and quiet nature then head down to the 'Maison Martin Margiela , 20 , The exhibtion' at Somerset House, until the 5th September and take a look at a retrospective of the collections and installations produced by the brand over the last twenty years.

How to Fashionably Survive The Festival Season

The biggest event on the summer music festival calendar passed last weekend without the usual mudfest or lashings of rain. With the UK being in the middle of a fantastic heatwave at the moment, Glastonbury was spared of the classic British summer that normally sees revellers sloshing and skating around Pilton Farm. The festival season is with us for another 3 more months, and you can bet that this sudden spell of nice weather won't last as long as that. With that in mind, lets get some mud-defying outfits on stand-by in the rucksack. At Bestival '08 I made a great discovery and an excellent fashion choice to pack a pair of brand new leather trousers. I didnt take them off for 24hours (all I could bear to stay on The Isle of Wight in the horrific weather conditions!). By the time I reached home they had that perfectly worn-in look. And what a saviour they were. Whilst everyone else was peeling off there damp denims with no hope of every drying them out, I was warm and protected in my black skinny numbers. For more inspiration of how to wear this look, check out the spring catwalk collection from Balenciaga. Their sport-luxe combinations of leather hoodie gilet and trousers combo, will certainly have you looking stylish as well as ready for a spot or two of rain.
Pictures: Top left - Leather glittery trousers by Les Chiffoniers
Top right - Balenciaga S/S 10
Midle - Gilet from Topshop

Makes No Difference What They Say, We're Going On Holiday

Thank you random i-Tunes player for selecting that Jet track whilst I was checking in online for my five day break in Ibiza. So now I've got the boring bit out of the way, I can start to think about a suitable capsule wardrobe to pack in my measly 15 kilo bag allowance. On my wish list (and at over £900 it is just a wish for me) is a Celine shopper bag. Just the right size to take on as hand luggage and still roomy enough for another pair of ridiculously high heels that wouldn't quite fit in the hold luggage. It's casually styled too and would look a treat poolside holding sunscreens, hats, books and magazines. It also comes with a handy leather purse, perfect for throwing your hotel keys and euros into. When it comes to holiday trend directions, this season it's all about The Gypset or Bobo's (Bourgeois Bohemians). Think Talitha Getty's summer looks of the late sixties, all floaty and hippy. A photograph of her walking down a Roman street wearing a simple white shift, japanese kimono and thigh length gladiator sandals sums it up nicely. A vintage kimono gives maximum holiday mileage as a bikini cover-up or belted to make a dress and do like Talitha and wear over an evening outfit to fend off the cool night air. It's always a good idea to overpack a little on accessories. Jewellery, hats and scarves can really transform a simple outfit into a statement look. A light, good sized scarf with a neutral coloured pattern or print can be used in a multitude of ways as we know from the Hermes demonstrations held regularly in the department stores that sell them. So here's a little challenge for all you in-store scarf demonstrators. How about showing us how to create this seasons hot headwear style The Turban? Go on ladies, I dare you.
Pictures: Top right - Celine bag
Left - Talitha Getty in Rome
Bottom right - L'Afrique scarf by Prova

Something For The Weekend?

The long weekend is nearly upon us. In the U.K. we have an extra day for rest and relaxation this Monday. For those of you who are visting London this weekend, or if you are a Londoner who has decided to stay home for the Bank Holiday (and who could blame you, what with this bothersome volcanic ash cloud wavering around Europe) then here are a few tips for having fun in town this weekend. Pack your trunk, or even a neat little weekend Liberty print hardcase by Merci for Liberty and head to The Dean Street Townhouse for a night or two. Situated in the heart of Soho, its a great central location hotel for taking in some unique exhibitions on show in London at the moment. Hurry round the corner onto Marshall Street to catch a look at the 'Browns: 40 Years of Fashion Innovation' before it ends on Sunday. Witness how, over the last forty years Joan and Sidney Burnstein, the founders of Browns boutique, have changed and championed the way we buy designer fashion goods. Mrs B (as she is known) has a keen and sharp eye for new design talent and over the years has discovered and helped nuture the successful international careers of John Galliano and Christopher Kane to name just a few. With the help of Paolo Roversi ,whose photographs of their fashion friends in key garments that have been bought and sold by the South Molton Street boutique over the years , is a feature of the exhibtion and turns a history of high fashion retail into an art form. Then, make the most of not having to get up for work on Monday morning and head out for a few drinks. This sunday, Happy Sunday party returns, as it does the end of every month, to The Century Club on Shaftesbury Avenue. Raise the rooftop to the delightful sounds of DJ Ben Jamin and crew for a cocktail or two without the worry of it being a schoolnight! Have a great weekend dear readers, whatever the weather.
Pictures: Top left - Merci for Liberty mini suitcase
Top right - The Dean Street Townhouse
Bottom left - Browns Exhibition flyer.