Monday 26 January 2015

BAR





In terms of design, I absolutely love this set of earrings from Zara...

But the first pair I bought broke within a week, so I went back and bought a second set. After another week or so, that one broke too. Too angry to go back and even swap them - now all I have is this picture.

They went down in the sale, and now I know why!


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Thursday 22 January 2015

WANG







As soon as I saw the H&M x Alexander Wang collab last year, I knew I was going to be one of the ones queueing on Oxford St for it before work. Being about 300 deep in the queue at 8 in the morning, I was given a 1pm timeslot.

I'm not going to go into the horrors of getting my hands on the pieces - but I am so, so happy I got this dress and the matching skirt. It fits like a dream, and is one of the few dresses I love wearing.


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Wednesday 21 January 2015

TOPSHOP TRENDS







Here is my final look for Topshop's Fashion Week trends campaign that ran instore. I wore Topshop fur coat, Topshop Unique blouse from last season, Topshop navy scuba trousers and & Other Stories heels.

For Topshop's Oxford Circus store, I designed a pop-up fashion week space to hold the trends, which changed daily. It was sooo strange seeing my photo in the store that I visit nearly every single day!





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CARAVAN






Working as a designer for Topshop, I'm used to creating the instore graphics and campaigns - but not featuring in them!

Still looking back at last Fashion Week while I start to get ready for the next one, above is a look at the day I was in front of the camera instead.

I turned up to King's Cross with my Topshop fur coat, navy trousers and Topshop Unique blouse nervous beyond belief. After a quick breakfast at Caravan, outfit checked by Rosie and Carly (pictured above), I was ready for my close-up.

 I'll post the final looks soon!




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Tuesday 20 January 2015

MY CALVINS





I spent months searching for the modern cotton Calvin Klein sets last year, until finally my opportunity came to snap them up when Topshop started stocking them in the Oxford St store.

I rushed to get my hands on both the black and white sets (and was elated to get staff discount!)

I heard a rumour that they'll be getting the grey set in Feb, but I can only dream...



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BRAIDS





One of the best things about moving back to Lewisham is the twenty or so barbers and hairdressers on my road. Mainly Afro-Carribean, I took it as an instant challenge to find the best braids.

I'd only ever had two at a time before, but wanted to try four... I don't know what it is, but as soon as I walk in all the women getting their weaves done kiss their teeth and look at me blankly as if I'm going to ask for directions.

They usually tell me £40 or more for braids, thinking that I'll pay anything. These ones were too tight, and even though I love the back of them, I look like I have four horns from the front.

Took them out only an hour later, so all I have from this expensive experiment is this photo... My search will continue.




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Monday 19 January 2015

A LOOK BACK AT LAST LONDON FASHION WEEK









With London Fashion Week already in frantic preparation, here is a throwback to the last one. The past four LFW's I have designed Topshop's Somerset House space for the NEWGEN part of Fashion Week. February will be my fifth, as well as our UNIQUE showspace again this time round (I hope!)

Above are some details from setting up on the first morning of Fashion Week, including the beautiful Patricia - the best bit about Fashion Week for me! Can't wait to see what the next one brings...





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Thursday 15 January 2015

DELICATES








It's in the details - Acne underwear packaging, Chanel nails & Topshop lace bra


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PINSTRIPES




Fitted favourites - American Apparel pinstripe top & Topshop Joni jeans


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Tuesday 13 January 2015

AMSTERDAM FOUR









Here are my final favourites from Amsterdam -

1. Scandinavian Embassy
Coffee shop / cafe (I had the strongest hot chocolate ever...)

2. Patta Negra
Tapas restaurant that we went back to twice. Have the fried chorizo, patatas bravas with aioli and some cheeses / jamon - amazing!

3. Cafe De Klos
Best dinner we had - I didn't get a photo of a single dinner the whole trip, so that says something! We had to wait a while, but you can go to the bar across the road and they come and find you when a spot is ready. I had the ribs and Gus had the chicken, both barbecued to perfection with potatoe and salad on the side.

4. Cafe Bern
Absolutely amazing French restuarant. The best fondue I have EVER had. I read about this one on Hypebeast before I went, and took a loaf of gluten free bread with us. They toasted it for us, and I excitedly scooped the whole fondue up with the bread and their succulent steak. Order a karafe of their red wine - went beautifully with it.

5. Cannibale Royale
Book this one, because we were lucky to squeeze in. Dark, moody atmosphere inside with candles and lace curtains. The burger was tender and topped with bacon, cheddar, salad and barbecue sauce - I couldn't help ordering the jacket potatoe with crispy bacon and sour cream too!



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AMSTERDAM THREE











Rijksmuseum
Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam



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Monday 12 January 2015

AMSTERDAM TWO






One thing I didn't expect from Amsterdam was the amount of vintage stores. The first one we stumbled across was Bij Ons Vintage - filled with racks and racks of vintage sports jackets. Fila, Kappa, Adidas, Nike, Ellesse just to name a few brands. Every colour of the rainbow, amazing condition and all priced around €12, which is a fraction of what they would be in London.

There is another Bij Ons store in Amsterdam too, with just as much sportswear. The only other vintage store that I liked was Episode, which was spread across two huge levels and I think I was too excited searching the racks of Burberry and Levi's to stop and take a photo.

Other stores worth mentioning are Patta (smaller than I thought, but with great collabs all the time). Concrete was a unique fashion store that had Opening Ceremony, Nike, Bape and lots of other amazing designers. And lastly Ben G (pictured above), which is three levels of clothes, shoes and accessories.

1. Bij Ons Vintage
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 150, 1012 SJ Amsterdam

2. Episode
Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 61, 1017 DD Amsterdam
Berenstraat 1, 1016 GG Amsterdam

3. Concrete
Spuistraat 250, 1012 VW Amsterdam

4. Patta
Zeedijk 67, 1012 AS Amsterdam

5. Ben G
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 142, 1012 SH Amsterdam




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AMSTERDAM ONE





Last night I got back from five days in Amsterdam with my boyfriend. Torrentail rain and gale force winds aside, the food, vintage shopping and museums made up for it.

One thing I noticed straight away was hardly any graffiti compared to other European cities I've been to. The huge wall pictured above was the only large piece I saw, and trust me I circled every canal in the city by the end of the trip.

Being coeliac (and now my boyfriend finding out he is too!), I always do my research beforehand for good gluten free places to eat...

Bagels & Beans
As soon as I head that this bagel chain offered a gluten free option, we hunted one down. I had the proscuitto, mozrella, rocket and pesto one and Gus had a BLT with pine nuts. The food was great, but service was not so great.


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Tuesday 6 January 2015

B E R L I N


Berlin was one of my absolute best trips in recent years. I didn't have any expectations from it, just four days of exploring... But I fell in love with Kreuzberg's endless cafes, cocktail bars and raindbow raods of graffiti. Here are my favourites -



Gipfeltreffen

Perfect breakfast, and beatiful seating inside and out. Fills up quickly so get in early to get a good seat in the sunshine. A plate piled high with meats, cheeses and salad - the German's do breakfast right!




Salumeria Lamuri

Walking past this little Italian cafe, you wouldn't expect what awaits inside. Beautifully tiled floors, a huge counter filled with paninis and sweet treats, cosy little tables and beautiful high windows looking out. Trying to find the bathroom, this back room (above) took me by surprise - filled with wood and windows covered in plants.





Burgermeister

I don't know if I even need words about Burgermeister. Hopefully these pictures (we went three times all up over our four days) do the outdoor Kreuzberg burger cart enough justice...




New Deli Yoga

Small vegetarian cafe near Gorlitzer Park




Baraka

Amazing mix of Lebanese, Egyptian, and Moroccan food. The platter we had was so cheap and delicious.










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