VARNISH

Working for Topshop, and sitting alongside the Beauty packaging designer - my main collection that has grown over the past few years is nail varnishes.

Admittedly, I have about three times what's pictured here... All stashed away in drawers and bags. But these are my top picks - all lined up neatly on my acyrlic holder.

You can buy the holder here - and there are bigger ones too. For £9, it's been one of my best storage buys for my flat!

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!

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.

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...

BLUE ODYSSEY

Everything I collect seems to end up colour coded. Including my online inspiration, which comes in washes of colours. My Tumblr is looking a bit blue at the moment - see it over here...

DAY JOB

London - a magazine lover's dream. It didn't take long for me to find my favourite newsagent. Right near my work, it's a little off license that stocks every magazine you can imagine. The first time I went in there and saw shelves upon shelves of delicious covers, my breathing quickened.

The three Indian men that work there know me well now, and as soon as I'm near the counter will rush to tell me teasingly "The Australian ones are running late this month... Like always!" They know my favourites, suggest ones I might like and always write down my suggestions (Monster Children please!)

I won't go anywhere else for my magazines, and I like it that way. My ideal lunch break is a trip down to them, then a coffee in my favourite cafe a little further down the street, trying not to get crumbs and sugar all over the new, crisp pages.

Above: Corduroy magazine / Day Job magazine

LOL

I've had to buy photo albums to house the boxes of photos I've taken since I've been here. That's one thing I like about film - you get to have it around you rather than just on a memory card or your laptop.

1. My family have always called me Lol. Just like Lol from This is England
2. Park Life
3. Garden
4. Halloween
5. Gloomy vegetables in Bromley
6. "You're the first one who's taken a photo of my veg love" he said skeptically...
7. Afternoon sun at the station
8. Squinty
9. Super glasses
10. The daily commute
11. Take Courage. My favourite for years

KING OF THE CASTLE

As the weather in London changes, so does my inspiration. This past weekend was a series of lazy afternoons in the garden while Nan planted her new flowers. The usual sirens going by were almost matched by the familiar tinkling tune of the ice-cream van and children yelling "I'm the King of the Castle" in the park behind my house.

And so I find myself saving images of breakfasts of berries covered in mountains of maple syrup, milk bottles filled with fresh flowers, black and white pictures sixties starlets in lace white dresses and tiny scalloped bikinis.

Find me on Tumblr here


 

TAKE COURAGE

People have joked that as soon as I'm back in London, my Instagram turns grey. Every other picture is of some scrawled graffiti, run-down high street shops, Off Licenses and council estates.

I can see how these things can be mundane, perhaps even depressing to some. Just this week on the train home, the lady next to me (an aging, extensioned and botoxed woman) tutted as we went through Lewisham. I watched her shake her head and pull her handbag just that little closer as she grimaced at the tags scribbled under bridges.

I could see how she could think it dirty, an eye-sore. But I've always been fascinated by street art, no matter how well executed. Inspired that someone has taken the time to make a mark there (even if sometimes they are pretty shit).

So yes, I will continue to fill my Instagram with whatever catches my eye - whether traditionally beautiful or not. I believe that whatever makes me stop whatever I'm doing, enough so to try and capture it... Is worth sharing.

All photos are recent Instagram posts (I'm @lsiss) - 1. Shoreditch. 2. Took a wrong turn in Soho on my lunch break. 3. Shoreditch "Big D". 4. On the train platform at New Cross. 5. The morning sun in an alley across from my work. 6. Local council flats, while waiting for the bus in Bromley.

RUSSH

Two magazine deliveries in one week, my mother is stepping her game up...

Only a couple of days after the Monster Children package, I came home to another favourite - Russh. The delicious summery images and sun-dappled bodies make me miss home like crazy. Enjoyed it with some tea and gluten free jammy dodgers.

Top image - fresh flowers from Lewisham market, and current issue of Russh.
Others - all from Russh, MBFWA Day Two - Backstage at Ellery.

MAMA

My mother indulged (if not created) my magazine obsession. From Sabrina's Secrets to Dolly. Then the kitten and sewing phase, and eventually design, fashion and illustration from 14 onwards. She would never say no to my pleas in the newsagents.

Living so far away, there is almost nothing better than to come home to one of her parcels after work. Completely unexpected, always filled with trinkets and my latest favourites that I struggle to find in London.

Yesterday it was Monster Children, the latest Country Road lookbook, a porcelain ornament and the best card. She knows me so very well...

TUMBLE WEED

Because Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr and Svpply simply aren't enough, I collect inspiration in yet another corner of the web - Tumblr.

Sometimes I want to crawl inside my laptop and live in my Tumblr - endless braids, kittens, sun filled lofts and Ryan Gosling gifs. If you want to live inside it too, even just for a little while, have a look at it here:

 http://laurensissons.tumblr.com/