In my next life..

please bring me back as Joan Holloway..

Now we’re nearing the end of the summer, there’s a distinctly Autumnal feeling around the fashion office. Everyone’s investing in their winter coverups, in a style not to dissimilar to a new school term. New coat, new start and hoorah, those pasty legs can go back into hiding. After discussing back-to-school uniforms this morning we all discovered that Clark’s Magic Shoes were the coolest thing to be seen in during our childhoods. I remember how much I wanted to own a pair of these magical, shimmering shoes, not to mention the peer-pressure I suffered prior to my annual uniform shopping trip. Complete with a hidden key embossed into the sole, these were the shoes of every little girl’s dreams and no other style would do. After much whining and “please, please, please, I’ll do anything!” my mum succumbed and bought me my very own pair. I was as pleased as a child could be and remember how paranoid I was at scuffing their glossy patent finish. Nothing much has changed in my mid-twenties, only I have to buy my own shoes now and the price tag just keeps on rising. Rewind your style dial and watch this retro Clark’s ad below..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLj4cz3VmZg

C is for...

Comedy club..more coming soon

Strictly Fit

Yesterday I decided to try out a ‘Strictly Fit’ dance class in conjunction with the BBC programme. The poster promised a shimmering disco ball and glamorous dancers. No such luck in my case – just a run-down dance hall in Bow and four pretty eccentric people. The class was hosted by a beaming blonde lady who I can’t recall her name, but let’s just say her name was Mandy.
Mandy was small, petite and blonde and never stopped smiling. She taught the class alongside a handsome Latin-American guy called Gustavo who ended up being my dance partner -embarrassing to say the least. The rest of my class consisted of a pretty bonkers but very nice couple, and two middle-aged East-end ladies who cracked endless jokes and made sexual innuendos about everything.
We stood around for a few moments whilst Mandy got the music sorted and took down our names. I chatted to the couple who seemed to be having a pretty serious, but passive aggressive row in my presence. She told me she was from Australia and was sick to death of London and was moving home next year. ‘On your own,’ I asked, still trying to figure out if they were a couple or cousins or something. ‘well maybe,’ she replied. ‘I’m going whether he comes or not. I hate it here’. Her poor boyfriend / husband or possible cousin just stood there shuffling his feet and looking embarrassed. ‘Oh well,’ I said awkwardly, ‘maybe we should find a space’.
So the class went ahead and we cha cha cha’d for at least an hour, where I stepped on the teacher’s feet about a dozen times and worked up a slight sweat – Mandy on the other hand made it look completely effortless and we all looked like uncoordinated idiots in comparison. I’m not sure if ballroom dancing is really my area but I enjoyed the fun if not rather odd experience.

Vintage street style

You can always rely on Vogue for a mid-week pick-me-up and this vintage Parisian photo proved to be the perfect piece of escapism on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. The below picture is a snippet from the La Nouvelle Vague: Iconic New Wave exhibition on Saville Row. The collection features black and white photographs from Jean-Luc Godard’s A Bout de Souffle, shot on the set of the stylish 1960s film by French photographer, Raymond Cauchetierat. Here Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg are captured taking a stroll along the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Now that's a moment I wouldn't mind hanging on my wall - if only I could afford the price tag.




La Nouvelle Vague: Iconic New Wave Photographs is at the James Hyman Gallery (5 Savile Row W1S 3PD) until September 28
www.jameshymangallery.com

B is for beer, bowling and Brick Lane

Last night was the long-awaited B date and the Italian and I ran to Brick Lane to go bowling and drink beer. No we weren’t jogging but running late after spending rather a middle-aged afternoon doing DIY and planting flowers in our new hanging baskets. We headed to All Star Lanes which for those of you not in the East End is a ‘50s-style bowling and diner experience. With neon lights, booming pop music and beer on tap it’s rather a fun night out. We were quick to realise that we’re both rubbish at bowling (I’m better on the Wi), so we took to the food hall to eat our own bodyweight in bbq’d meat. We ordered baby-back ribs, roast chicken, fries and coleslaw. With full bellies and a well-earned beer, the date had been a success and there wasn’t a pond in sight. New rule for future dates; must be on dry land.

Notes to forget: Antonio’s mid-meal declaration of, ‘damn it, I’m missing Top Gear’, ‘i don’t really like bowling’ and ‘that waitress should be a model’. Hmmmm. 24 more dates to go..

New romantic

Last week one of my oldest and dearest friends told me they were getting married. Hoorah! Now, I haven’t been to many weddings but I’ve surprisingly been taken over by bridal fever and have since inundated her with blogs, pictures and pieces of inspiration. As bridesmaid, it’s my job to keep her calm over the impending stressful but very exciting months, as well as steering her away from meringue-type dresses and dodgy DJ’s. So here are a few ideas that I’ve come across over the last few days. Do you have any ideas for my bohemian wedding belle?













Images sourced from http://www.eatdrinkchic.com/, http://www.styleguide.com.au/index.php, http://www.snippetandink.com/ and Jonathan Ong

P.S.

B is for vintage bowling and burgers at All Star lanes in Brick Lane on Sunday. Expect an update later this week. Maybe I'll look to Isabel Marant for a retro-inspired outfit.

Summer, what summer?

So, even though we’re in high summer, (apparently) fall fashion is upon us and the trends are big, bold and surprisingly easy to wear. One of my favorite looks to grace the fall 2010 catwalks was the maxi skirt, worn with flat boots and layers of knitwear by day or dressed up for night with a statement camel jacket and sheer blouse. Mad Men has also worked its magic with everyone from Prada to Louis Vuitton, proving that curvy girls are back in fashion. With cinched-in waists and full pleated frocks, the style is figure-hugging and gloriously retro. Fur is also back with a vengeance - faux or real depending on your views or bank balance. Burberry Prorsum led the way with an exquisite peacoat that was so beautiful its owner may never take it off, whilst Fendi and Acne chose a patchwork technique for their sumptuous oversized jackets. So with summer turning its not-so-sunny back on us, it’s time to get thinking about those cozy winter wardrobes. What trends will you be investing in this season?
Read more at http://www.cathufton-aworkinprogress.blogspot.com



Bottega Veneta


Michael Kors

Aquascutum

Giles

Louis Vuitton

Bibhu Mohapatra
Images sourced from Style.com