TOPSHOP UNIQUE

After two weeks deliberating and carefully crafting every graphic needed within the Tate Britain for Topshop's Unique AW15 show... Yesterday I finally got to see it all come together!

I won't go into all the last minute tweaks, technical hitches and model dramas (Kendall totally slipped as she walked in from the rain, shh!) Let's just say it was as interesting as ever, and I can't wait to catch a show or two tomorrow - Ashish is on my list!

My favourite parts of the whole day were watching the practice walk through (first picture), telling Julia Sarr-Jamois that she is my girl crush and brushing shoulders with Alexa Chung backstage.

Wearing my favourite coat - Monki, silk jumpsuit - Topshop and boots - Topshop

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!

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...

LONDON AGAIN YOU KNOW

I walked out of Heathrow airport just wanting my bedroom after a teary good-bye with my family in Bangkok and a delayed flight. Seven in the morning, I walked up to the first cab, not even thinking that it was a black one. Which means metered fare.

I tried not to watch the meter as it creeped past a hundred pounds, and just capture the sunrise instead. By the time I got to my flat in Hackney, I paid and rushed inside. Then that sinking feeling about ten minutes later realising I'd left my brand new iphone on the seat of the cab.

After two days of stressing, the taxi driver got in contact with me and returned it for a small price. Not the best welcome home, but hopefully a lesson to be more careful and a reminder that there are lovely people out there...

2014

Some white Cons and my little sister's crazy legs to bring in the new year...

TOUR TWO

In the last few months I packed up my life at Nan's in South East London and moved to a flat in Hackney. I've been lucky enough to make a group of friends here, who took me on as a sister - translating East London estate speak and showing me all the local secret spots.

My friend Gus made Sunday a tour day. These photos are from Sunday #2 -

1 & 2. Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington
3. Nuns in Clissold Park, Stoke Newington
4. Free records... I went home with "Reggae Disco", "70s Hits" and " Ray Parker Jnr"
5. Gus
6. Notorious B.I.G necklace... I can only dream

SEEING STARS

1. Starry night
2. Nathan King
3. Bare zute concerntration  
4. Gus Walsh

PARACHUTE

Portobello Rd Market is one of my new favourite places in London. It was there that I met Parachute, the incredible 83-year-old Jamaican man that refused to let me take his photo... "The last time me have me photo taken it was for Italian Vogue... You ain't takin' no picturesss gyal".

I could have listened to him for hours, but had to meet my cousin. As I went to leave, he called my name... "Here", he said as he reached into his pocket. He put a thin gold chain into my hand, and closed his hand around mine. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Don't ask that, me just gave it to you, didn't I?!"

1. Jamaica OUTCHEAAA
2. Jerk chicken, rice and peas with my cousin Tazmyne
3. Red Stripe on the overground
4. Junos Place

YAK YAK YAK

Last month Topshop partnered with iTunes for a month of concerts at the Roundhouse... As soon as I saw Kendrick Lamar was playing, I asked for tickets. The Weeknd and Schoolboy Q were down to support, but when the Weeknd posted a photo that morning home in LA playing GTA5, I figured he wasn't coming.

Private balcony, screaming every word to Schoolboy Q and Kendrick <3

L F W

Topshop x London Fashion Week

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...

AND SO ON...

Two things that caught my eye lately...

1. I usually rush from work to the tube station, but this man made me stop. Glasses, a matching salmon tweed blazer and trousers... And those shoes. I always feel guilty taking pictures of strangers, but am usually too shy to ask. I couldn't resist it and told myself he was too cool to miss.

Then a week later, I saw him back out the front of Topshop, camera in hand. Maybe he takes pictures of passers by (except he probably asks their permission!) Anyway... He was the kind of person that you wish you were cool enough to know.

2.  An alley near my work... It looked like it was about to be someone's job to scrub this off.

THE GODFATHER PART TWO

After Friday night's dinner, my Grandad certainly didn't expect another surprise the following evening. What he thought was just a meal at the Hilton with himself, Nan, Dad and I to end Dad's 48 hour visit... Was in fact 150 friends and family waiting in the hired function room for a night of dancing (walking sticks were getting tossed aside after several hours of the open bar) and then most of the guests staying for a massive breakfast the next morning.

As I walked into the room with him, it took him a minute to realise that he knew every single person in there. Most people hadn't seen me since I left for Australia (I was 10), and assumed I was my mum... After the third "Did you bring the kids over with you Jane?", I wasn't sure whether I look beyond my years or the oldies just need new glasses...

So preoccupied on the night by the amazing dance moves that were coming out, I only took a few pictures. And I swear, there were other people in that photo of me apparently dancing like a mad woman that happened to have just discovered Disaronno for the first time ever at the afore-mentioned open bar.

BICYCLE CAFE

A small cafe with high windows, wooden tables and a counter laden with neat stacks of hand-made cakes and sandwiches. I'll go to what I call Bicycle Cafe at least once a week... Whether it's with a new magazine from the off license nearby, or just to sit and write my sister a letter.

Gluten free almond macaroons, and the prettiest coffees. Without a doubt my favourite cafe here so far.

Tapped & Packed cafe Soho

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