I can't stop listening to:

Christmas...

... On Columbia Road...

In my opinion, one of the best places in London to find not only the perfect Christmas atmosphere, but gifts to-boot.

Plus...  

...not too many of those annoying Christmas songs which seem to be played on repeat every year!

At Ease: A Glimpse at the Military Styles of Fall/Winter 2010/11

My final 6 illustrations...

Excuses Excuses!

Wow I haven't posted in a while!... well more than a while...

I could say that I had too much work...

... Or that I've been insanely busy...

... Or that I got side-tracked by my advent calendar (chocolate... mmmmmm)...

... Or some other silly excuse...

... but don't worry...

...there won't be any of that!

And now for some music...

Oh Summer! (Edwardian Style)

Picnic on the grass
The Derby - 1913

What they used to wear at Royal Ascot...
I particularly like the buttons along her sleeves

Henley Regatta - 1911

1908
I want his trousers...
...I also wish it was warm enough to sit outside...
... Oh well I can't have everything I suppose

Much sexier than skimpy bikinis...
... particularly like the shower cap

Photographer Horace Walter Nicholls shows us how its done

Faces

All drawn by myself in pencil and ink...

Stripes

pencil and pen - drawn by me

Sleeping Lessons...

The Cool Kids

Spotted in All Saints on the Kings Road, these guys definitely have their own seemingly effortless style...

Tom Hargreaves 

Henry Thomas

Will Boyd

Oliver Black

Anthropologie VS All Saints: Part Two...

Industrial... was my first thought upon walking into All Saints.

Instead of visiting one of the larger stores, such as the flagship in Spitalfields or the more recent development in Portobello road, I chose to visit a smaller store located on the Kings Road.  Unlike the bigger shops, this particular one did not have the stacks of vintage Singer sewing machines on display in their windows; however I felt that this wasn't such a big loss as sometimes the displays can seem like too much of a good thing. 

The shop floor was immaculately presented, with industrial theme still the main focal points. Unlike a normal shop, there were no rails or hooks. Instead, vintage and antique factory equipment was the main form of display.

I want some of these old reels...

While Anthropologie had made an attempt at using vintage cabinets and old furniture to display their wares, they weren't nearly as successful in doing so.  They had lined the walls with vintage light bulbs...

... and used half-decayed mannequins to present necklaces and other accessories...

I even like the way that they pin the price on.

The clothes were equally as individual as the antiques which they hung on... right on trend, with frayed edges and multiple materials...

... leather...

... cotton...

... sequins...

... beads...

... metals...

... military buttons...

.... and an amazing pair of military wellington boots... I want them!

Anthropologie VS All Saints: Part One...

Somehow, this season Anthropologie just haven't got it right.

I've always been a big fan of the chain... and as one of my favorite New York shops for both clothing and jewellery, I expected more from the Kings Road store. The layout is normally gorgeous, the ideas and styling always inspirational and the clothes always on trend with a vintage feel or twist.

No wonder I love it...

... and yet...

... suddenly its middle aged and dull... how on earth did that happen?!

Stapled card display...
not their usual well presented window filler

One of the things that I loved about Anthropologie was the way that they stocked small brands from independent makers; often selling handmade items that you would be unlikely to find anywhere else. Previously I  found it to be a place to find one off pieces of hand crafted jewellery (it is still possible to find these) but most have been replaced with mass produced alternatives.

The clothes were even more disappointing, attempting too much of everything. Too much embroidery. Too much lace. Too many pastel colours. Too preppy... resulting in clothing that I personally would never wear. 

The styling too lacked its usual lustre... with objects randomly place together with very little consideration. Plus the dire mistake of attempting to mix a classic British vintage with all manners of Asian knock-offs. But where was the beautifully stitched paper that the jewellery laid on? And the antique books piled high? When they first opened they used the old 'Antiquarius' building to full effect... but apparently no more.  

However (moving on from the negative) there were some definite gems to be found...

Polaroids...
both hand drawn and photographs.

... antique cabinets...

... hand made hair slides...

... hand knitted woolly hats (yes I bought one)...

... crochet peas-in-a-pod...

Some of the hand made jewellery...
I want more!

... a cape...

... a fitted lace jacket...

... and some beautiful cushions made from vintage Indian fabrics.

Leapfrog

probably banned by health and safety...

... Lorna...
styled and captured by me
Polaroid

Forty-Three years old...

'Life and Death' by Unknown Photographer 1967

I can't stop looking at this photograph... 

... with its fading and damage...

... half peeled away... half destroyed...

... the movement of the car...

... the smallness of the boy against the speed of the vehicle...

... the composition... the grain of the film...

... a glimpse into history.

Blue Jeans / Suede Shoes

Ben Schofield - Assistant Editor of Idol Magazine

OK so everyone apparently hates Henry Holland... but I think these jeans work with their statement colour blue.

DogHouse Print T-Shirt

Oliver Spencer Shoes

Oh MAN

Menswear by Martine Rose

Rinse Me Down

Put on your dancing shoes

T-Bars/ Mary Janes/ Office Chic/
1920's-night-out-on-the-town-heels
By Joe Casely-Hayford

First things first...

Wow... I thought I hated velvet and ordinarily I would say no to metallics as well...

...but Luisa Farani is definitely making me reconsider this with her combination of Vintage D&G velvet trousers and Vintage Valentino top.  I'm loving the autumnal tones.