Hanging with Mister Cooper

Last Sunday The Big One and I went to the Celia Hammond Animal Trust to find Gary the Cat a little brother or sister.  Gary himself was a stray and through finding and taking him in we were made aware of how many cats are abandoned and in need of loving homes.  After Gary had settled with us we decided that having 2 cats was not much different to 1 and so why not offer another cat a home and find Gary a chum?

So having discussed it with one of the Rehoming Officers we went to the Canning Town branch and met Celia Hammond* herself who introduced us to a young tabby neutered male who they felt would get on with Gary.  It was very important to us find the right match for Gary as he's a little....meek and didn't need a dominant character in the house but someone who could be a mate and maybe back him up with the neighbourhood cats.

Celia opened this little cage to reveal an adorable 9 month old who got up, stretched then instantly reached out his head and a paw for cuddles and strokes. I think it's fair to say he adopted us and we in turn fell in love with him so we brought him home.

We have named him Cooper (Gary Cooper) and he has settled in really well, he's absolutely hilarious as he's still very kittenish and loves to play with anything! So far Gary has had a lot of his attention (not necessarily always appreciated) and there are certainly some house rules that he's trying to establish but in less than a week we have seen daily developments.They have been playing together and rough housing and I have no doubt they will soon be cuddled up together....

*Celia Hammond was one of the top models in the 60's, appearing on countless Vogue covers and travelling all over the world on photographic assignments. In the mid 60's, Celia also became involved in rescuing, neutering and rehoming stray and unwanted animals.

"Cats do not have to be shown how to have a good time, for they are unfailing ingenious in that respect."

- James Mason

 

London Fashion Week Wishlist

Acne S/S11

Acne S/S11

David Koma S/S11

David Koma S/S 11 This dress is so divine! The colour palette makes my mouth water!

Richard Nicoll S/S11

Richard Nicoll S/S11

Erdem S/S11 = Heaven!

“for me London has a great energy and momentum at the moment. I love the English way of clashing heritage and contemporary.”

- Jonny Johansson, Creative Director of Acne

A/W 2010: Part 4

Parts 1-3 will put this post in context.

Friday and the A/W 2010 Trend was 'Camel & 70's chic'

Polo top Topshop, Cardie Miss Selfridge, Jeans  Shoes gift from a stylist (ooh!)

The cardie is oatmeal really but it was the best combo I could come up with my existing wardrobe...which is the whole point of this challenge.

Last one tomorrow - 'Explorer meets Cable Knitwear' - could be interesting...

"If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door."

- Harvey Milk (1930-1978)

A/W 2010: Part 3

For full explanation please see Parts 1 &2. Then this will make sense.

Thursday was 'Sheer, Buttoned Up & Wedges', it was one of my favourite outfits of the week.

Sheer shirt & Socks H&M, Jeans Topshop, Wedges Asos

Sorry the photo's a bit rubs - the door behind me kept swinging open so I was trying to surreptiously hold it but it resulted in me looking  like I'm missing a limb...

In keeping with this outfits theme I wore sheer lace socks.

 I love these wedges soooo much and have worn them nearly to death since getting them months and months ago. I hope they never die as I'll be so bereft!

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror."
- Oscar Wilde

A/W 2010: Part 2

This week I have stuck with my challenge of translating the A/W 2010 trends using my existing wardrobe aka NOT buying in specific pieces.

And I have LOVED it! 

The challenge has made me play with my (rather large) wardrobe, I normally try and wear outfits which reflect my mood but invariably in a busy week there will be at least 2 days where I will simply pull on a 'uniform' of skinny jeans, oversized tees and pile on the necklaces leaving all my lovely clothing chums hanging wondering when their turn to come out and play in London Town is.

This week I interpreted 'Ladylike' as previously posted. Then on Wednesday I created a 'Lace meets Military' look:

Boots Urban Outfitters, Socks Warehouse, Skirt & Lace Top H&M

The top is sheer other then the lace pattern so I wore a nude vest top from Uniqlo underneath it.  I feel I ticked the socks trend box with this outfit too.

My 'army dog tag' nod is a Marc Jacobs necklace.

"Why can't they have gay people in the army? Personally, I think they are just afraid of a thousand guys with M16s going, "Who'd you call a faggot?""

-Jon Stewart

A/W 2010: A Tribute Part 1

This year I am not attending any of LFW's shows (cue tantrum re-run) however I decided instead of feeling left out I would spend the week (Mon to Fri) interpreting the A/W trends with my current wardrobe ie no shopping beforehand.  I figured it would prove an interesting experiment to use what I already have on my rails before heading to buy clothes that I may not need to express myself in the trends/looks of this season.

NB I am not a trend led gal, instead I am of course inspired by the new looks that I see in magazines/window displays and then I generally try and put my own vintage/unique inspired twist on it.

So Monday being the first day after my holiday where I had to get dressed in a way that was presentable to the outside world (aka I had to leave my house) was my tribute to 'Ladylike'.

Navy Topshop cardigan, Warehouse dress, Office shoes, vintage belt, white acrylic scissor brooch by ChilliPopElectric

All worn with a high hair wrapped pony, black eyeliner flicks and a slick of Mac Cherry Red lippie.

You'll be pleased to know, I'm sure, that all day I behaved like a lady too!

Today I have had to void as I am filming, unless Georgian nightdresses could be loosely interpreted as Boho/Romantic...?

“... let's be merry; we'll have tea and toast; Custards for supper, and an endless host of syllabubs and jellies and mince-pies, and other such ladylike luxuries”
-  Percy Bysshe Shelley

LFW: the RedRock extended version

On Wednesday London Fashion week will start it's fashionista handover to Milan and all the excitement will move away...so what better way to blast away all our LFW hangovers then with a debut show from an exciting new British label RedRock?

 

RedRock is an indie meets grunge inspired British label designed and run by fashion graduate Kiran Lall. Each piece in the collections are unique as Kiran personally customises every single one. PRess That, the show's producer's, describe the label in the press release as,

"[a] label for girls who want to have fun whilst peacocking an effortless dishevelled and sexy style."

RedRock has been in business for just over a year and is already on the rails in many boutiques and on the backs of many young actors but Thursday will be the label's debut show.

The 'Come As You Are' collection is premiering in the heart of London's indie scene, Brick Lane at 93 Feet East, a space I have already enjoyed many a fashionable moment in as Unkle Baxta has also shown there so the venue's fashion credentials are pretty impressive.

There will be a catwalk show, DJ's, cupcakes and of course clothes!

I shall, of course, blog about the event but til then here are a few images from the 'Come As You Are' Lookbook I received.

 

P.S I can't help thinking about what I was wearing the first time the Seattle grunge movement arrived in my world, I was 12 (key point) and wore little else other then my 'uniform': a burgundy tartan mini skirt, various black tops, cherry red DMs and I used to white out my face with an peculiar talcum powder/mum's foundation remnants mixture whilst listening to Nevermind NON stop...RedRock's offerings look like a far better way to express your indie/grunge side!

"We're so trendy we can't even escape ourselves." 

-Kurt Cobain

New York Fashion Week Wishlist

Davidelfin S11

L.A.M.B S11

Marchesa S11

Nanette Lepore S11

...and the entire 3.1 Phillip Lim collection as previously posted...

"Don't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live."

-Gianni Versace

My Latest...

I shall show you the FINISHED embroidered fire screen as soon as I've washed and ironed (yuck) it but for now thought I'd share my other completed holiday project....

I finished it 1 hour before we left for the airport and wore it all day I was so happy with it.

"Knitting is very conducive to thought. It is nice to knit a while, put down the needles, write a while, then take up the sock again."

- Dorothy Day

Painfully Gorgeous

Today I saw the 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2011 collection and it actually made my heart ache with appreciation.

I have been a long time admirer of Phillip Lim but this collection makes me want to utterly surround myself with his looks, materials and silhouettes.

The  textured contrasts and shadows that his looks and design creates are incredible.

I couldn't narrow my favourite looks down so you've rather a lot to drool over.

P.S The shoes are pretty amazior too...

All images are courtesy of Style.com 

 So I shall seek and search to incorporate mini satin collars, apron tunics and sheer lace pieces into my outfits. Any success I have I shall share but I think it's safe to say unless I can buy one of his looks (unlikely) it's hardly going to look as breathtaking.

"Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it."
- Yves Saint Laurent

I see a Red Door and I Want it...

We went for a wander around Lautrec the other day, it was absolutely stunning.
It's a small medieval village built on a winding hilltop.

I took a lot of pictures as the buildings were fascinating, the textures and colours against the blue blue sky quite mesmerising.

I also became quite smitten with a lot of the doors.

"Reality is a sliding door."

  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fashionably Late

You may remember that I said last month that I would try and introduce a new banner each month, 13 days into September, I can finally unveil my exclusive Unkle Baxta designed Paper - Rock - Scissors banner!

My ridiculously talented younger sister is the brains and vision behind the incredibly successful design label Unkle Baxta. She is a hot young British print designer who launched her clothing range a couple of years ago now. 

It has already been worn by Lily Allen

Pixie Lott

recently Gok Wan wore UB to present T4 on The Beach

and the label launched with support from Mr Jerry Dammers of The Specials

As you can see the label has a few fans! Not least ME! I have about 3 t-shirts and at least 1 bag and I absolutely love them - the designs are essentially multi layered electro pop collages all inspired by music, urban youth and legendary adventures.

So there you go, my exclusive new banner designed especially for me -  it's fashionably late but ain't it been worth the wait!

P.S Within the banner you can see a couple of her designs which are available to buy on tees, dresses, vests and leggings. See the Unkle Baxta website for more info, details on customised designs and the stockists list.

"Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well."

 - Vivienne Westwood