thestylecrusader

i've moved...

2010-07-17T15:38:00.003+01:00

THIS BLOG HAS A NEW HOME: THESTYLECRUSADER.ORG

wild thing...

2010-07-14T18:00:00.003+01:00

For full post hop on over to the new and improved blog.... officially launching in all it's glory (along with some very special giveaways) later this week.

Roxy Mahiki swimwear launch...

2010-07-14T13:44:00.007+01:00

Last night I attended the Roxy launch of their Mahiki swimwear line at the company's flagship store on Regents Street. The windows were filled with live models posing for tourists and passersby and the top floor of the shop was jammed full of people drinking exotic cocktails courtesy of Mahiki club. The collaboration couldn't feel more natural as Roxy's laid back surfer aesthetic blends perfectly with Mahiki's Polynesian influence. Personally. I haven't worn Roxy since I was sixteen. They are based in Huntington Beach, California... which ranks third on my list of favourite so-cal beaches, after Laguna and Newport. But nevertheless, the collaboration is pretty spot on. It's being sold exclusively in London and features Mahiki's iconic tiki emblem, setting it apart from the mainline swimwear collection. Even though bandeau shaped bikini tops tend not to suit me it's a perfect shape for teenage girls and I wouldn't even mind Mr. Crusader sporting the boardshorts, which are an updated take on the American surfer classic which tends to fall below the knee and be a bit baggier. Plus, I'd say fifty quid isn't bad for a limited edition swimsuit inspired by one of London's iconic hotspots.

English tea party...

2010-07-12T16:26:00.011+01:00

Wound up stranded at a bus stop in the middle of the English countryside on Saturday afternoon with Emerald after going to a beautiful tea party. Heavy fringe, geeky glasses, and polkadots are a winning combination.

p.s. check out a sneak peek of my new blog here. there are still some kinks to work out but just wanted to give you a heads up - think i am going to lose my current bloglovin/blogger followers so show a girl some love and re-follow me please. oh, and if you notice anything funky on it feel free to let me know.

a new love...

2010-07-10T14:34:00.003+01:00

Just when I thought I had found my favourite summer item (denim cut offs) something totally unexpected came along... this long black stretchy Monki skirt. I picked it up in Stockholm thinking I would wear it in the Autumn and then decided to try it out the other day. It is absolute and total heaven and seriously the only thing I want to wear at the moment. Especially on this weekend - which is the hottest England has seen this year.

Wearing: Monki black skirt, orange bra, and fringed bracelet. American Apparel grey vest, Rainbow flip flops, Rayban aviators and the HAUTE bag gifted from One Language.

things aren't what they seem...

2010-07-09T10:06:00.007+01:00

I was a little surprised to spot this girl, who couldn't have been older than 21, rocking these overtly sexy garters in the middle of the day in a posh area of London yesterday. When I say posh I mean it. I even walked past Margaret Thatcher, who was accompanied by 7 bodyguards, a personal assistant, one Jag, and a Range Rover, being escorted into a hair salon. Anyway, regardless of the part of town, this was a first time trend spot for me. Sure Taylor Momsen went a bit mental for them a couple months ago and Henry Holland made a tamer version by incorporating the look into real tights (you know, the kind that actually cover your behind) but I hadn't seen anyone wearing them in real life. This girl is young, pretty, tall, a bit lanky... all making her lean a bit more towards the model side than a sexy burlesque dancer. She looks a bit quirky and ironic - somehow reminding me of something Agyness Deyn might wear. As far as garter tights go she is probably pulling them off in the most day appropriate way... but I just couldn't help but think that if I had a daughter and she left the house wearing them I would chop her head off.

passaggi rosso...

2010-07-08T23:26:00.006+01:00

Italian fashion students Francesca and Angelica outside the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

gladitorial confusion...

2010-07-07T17:14:00.015+01:00

I picked up these Cut Out Shoes from Weekday while in Stockholm. I think I like them but something makes feels a bit unsure... Hmm? What's that you say? Why did I buy them then? Well, I do like the whole lace up black sandal look (seen at both Asos and Acne) and I do think they are pretty cool. It seemed everyone in Sweden was wearing a variation of these sandals and, what can I say, sometimes I'm a total sucker for a trend. Plus, they were 50% off. But whatever the reason for buying them, they are mine now and surely I should give them a chance. Maybe they just need to be worn in a little bit.

p.s. the feet in the photo belong to daniella.

arm me in it...

2010-07-06T20:55:00.007+01:00

It's no secret: Acne freaking rocks.

Let's be honest though, there is a lot of hype around the brand. Looking at their website can, at times, be a bit disheartening. Is all the hype really worth it? The prices are pretty high, a lot of the pieces are rather simple and aren't too dissimilar to what you might find in whole host of other shops. My Acne obsession, which has been festering for years, has recently started to wane. All I own by the brand is one pair of jeans. This isn't for lack of desire, I've been drooling over the Atacoma Wedges (which I happened to spot in their sale but sadly not in my size) for months. When I walked into their shop in Stockholm last week I was reminded of why the brand produces such covetable items and such a massive hype: quality. Not only is it a totally cool Swedish brand but its pieces really are little bits of treasure. I found myself running my fingers over the items hanging from the rails. Everything just felt beautifully soft. The fringed jacket I tried on fit perfectly and was cut like a dream. I spotted the most gorgeous sheepskin jacket (pictured above) that instantly shot to the top of my wish list. If only I had a few thousand pounds to blow on a new Autumn/Winter jacket... I swear, it would never leave my body. Then there were the armour plated jeans... a mere 1 grand, but surely worth it to channel the inner persona of a knight? Followed up by the Admire wedges in all their sci-fi leather strappy glory. Yep, that's right. Acne rocks. It might just require actually going into their shop to be reminded of why. Luckily, their flagship store is going to be opening in our very own London town...

fringed eye candy...

2010-07-05T09:02:00.003+01:00

Recently a serious love affair has sprouted between me and fringe. When I spotted this jacket in the Acne sale in Stockholm I knew there was no way I could afford it but I slipped it on anyway... it felt like an absolute dream to wear. Now, I'm haunted by this photo... if only I had 350 quid to fuel my fringed obsession. One day.

tallboys, hotdogs & stockholm...

2010-07-03T17:20:00.013+01:00

Stockholm is a magical city. It's like a toy town that is filled with beautiful stylish people and insanely covetable shops. I spent the day there yesterday with Jackie and Daniella. We patrolled all the shops, tried on so many shoes, and pretty much melted to butter in Acne (more on that insanity later). It was a perfect day and was followed up by hot dogs, beer, 'Just Dance', and skinny dipping at 3am. Holiday bliss? I think so.

p.s. the wooden wedge shoes that so many of you have been asking about are by Minimarket.

in memoriam...

2010-07-02T01:37:00.005+01:00

England let us down in the World Cup (and so did America). But, in honor of Canada Day I thought it only seemed right to bring a flag sailing with us today. We didn't have a moose one so we settled for the Union Jack. Can you tell it was a little bit windy?

Wearing: Urban Outfitters burn out tee, Levis 501 d.i.y. shorts, Rainbow flip flops, F21 turban, Monki sunglasses. Flag: gifted from my dear friend Emma at Jigsaw's head office.

baddmitton & weaves...

2010-06-30T22:23:00.004+01:00

little miss daniella and jackie arrived in sweden today... we are swimming in the lake wearing turbans, doing cartwheels and playing badmitton.

nautical themed miami vice...

2010-06-28T19:41:00.006+01:00

Spent the whole day sailing and thinking that I was channeling a bit of a Miami Vice vibe. When asked if I had ever actually watched the show I had to sheepishly respond 'No' and then be told that in no way was I rocking a Miami Vice inspired look. Oh well, to me these glasses have an eighties West Palm Beach sort of feeling... even though I have no idea what was going on in West Palm Beach in the eighties. Slightly problematic. Anyway, to avoid turning this into a philosophical 'if a tree falls in the forrest and no one hears it' sort of musing lets move on. The photographer and scientist, otherwise known as Mr Crusader, picked out these glasses at Monki for himself yesterday but kindly let me wear them. I'm seriously impressed with them because the lenses are so clear and really protect your eyes from the sun unlike most High Street sunglasses that run about 15 quid (ehemm... Topshop & Urban Outfitters). Plus, they even have a cheeky little message hiding inside...

Wearing: Monki striped t-shirt dress, Rainbow flipflops, Monki sunglasses, Barry M mint green nail varnish.

hey there cheeky Monki...

2010-06-27T17:15:00.008+01:00

After much anticipation, I finally made it over to Monki today... only to walk in and realize I had been to the shop plenty of times before when visiting Sweden, but just never remembered the name. Oh well, that didn't kill my buzz. The shop was a bit sparse for sale stock but I managed to find a little black Anna dress that I had been eyeing up on the website and a little florescent orange tube top (gasp!?) to wear under it. The back is quite low, racerback, and sort of mesh - all of which work to rule out a conventional bra. I also grabbed a grey and white stripped t-shirt dress contraption that has a massive pocket, a detail that seems to be a trademark of the shop. I then sauntered over to Weekday where I fell head over heels for a fringed suede jacket... it was still 70 quid after being reduced by 50% and since fringed suede jackets are normally my thing I thought that maybe I better think about it for a few days. But, seriously, how gorgeous is it?! Then headed into a shop called Solo where I found the coolest leggings with leather patches on them by Made in the Shade... am thinking they are going to act as the springboard for a new futuristic inspired look.

Ah, holiday goodies... how happy you make me.

a swedish montage...

2010-06-26T14:25:00.006+01:00

While everyone else seems to be tweeting about their near run-ins with Alexa at Glastonbury I've been living the simple life in Sweden. I struggled to fall asleep last night as relentless singing kept going on in my head. It was midsummer and the neighbors were loudly singing drinking songs until the wee hours of the morning... a tradition I definitely will be bringing back to the UK. We hit up a traditional pole raising event where everyone wore floral dresses, flowers in their hair, and danced around a massive cross - all the while singing songs jovially about frogs with no tails?! Slightly bizarre but entirely enchanting. Anyway, in all honesty my high-fashion run ins have been slightly curtailed as I haven't had much contact with the outside world these past few days... so instead I'm just bringing a little montage of the last few days which have been spent sailing, playing scrabble (where I felt pretty impressed with coming up with the world 'trilby' - I'm rubbish at words games), lying in the sun, eating copious amounts of cake, reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and wandering around deserted towns where every shop is closed thanks to midsummer festivities (Monki will have to wait until tomorrow)...

Wearing: Mouille swimsuit won in a giveaway from Miggy - which, by the way, I totally love and would highly recommend. It feels totally lush and is lovely to wear.

p.s. I'm currently contemplating a blog re-jig... so watch this space.

'everybody look at me 'cause i'm sailing on a boat...'

2010-06-25T10:25:00.002+01:00

Spent the whole day sailing yesterday. It was pretty much perfection. Sweden is unbelievably beautiful, so quiet and peaceful. The perfect place for me to tuck into Grazia and a massive bag of sweets. But, this scenario of spending all day lounging in swimwear begs a question... how do we feel about posting photos in bikinis? I'm not a swimsuit model (duh) and I probably haven't ever felt 100% at ease having my photo taken while wearing a tw0-piece... but I'm not entirely averse to the idea. I gave it a shot yesterday... some came out alright but then I started wondering how I feel about posting photos of it. It reminded me of a conversation I had with another blogger who said, 'the less you wear the more traffic you get.' Obviously not in the context of, 'hey, let's strip down and boost our numbers' but rather that it wasn't really the sort of thing we were in to doing. So anyway, I know the clear answer is probably, 'Listen Jen, if you feel comfortable doing it and you want to then do, if not then don't.' It's simple right? But basically I'm not too sure at this moment... and I'm curious about what you guys think about this. So tell me, what are your thoughts on blog posts featuring swimwear?

p.s. if you follow me on twitter you may have heard that I was very excited this morning about going to Monki... sadly, it's bloody mid-Summer's eve so literally every shop is closed. Bummer... Monki will have to wait for another day.

this bike has no breaks!

2010-06-24T08:15:00.005+01:00

Yesterday was my first full day in Sweden... I spent most of the day lying by the lake dozing. I also rediscovered the wonders of cinnamon and sugar bulle and read i-D magazine for the first time. Does anyone out there read it? If so, what are your thoughts? I'm wearing the same outfit I had on a few posts bellow but it wasn't very visible in the last set of photos so I thought I'd give it another twirl... plus, I'm not going to lie to you: all I want to wear right now are these d.i.y. denim shorts. Alright, must get out of bed... am spending the day on a sail boat and people are waiting for me to get my act together.

Wearing: Jigsaw Junior cardigan, Zara cat print dress worn as top, Levi 501 d.i.y. shorts, Cabbages and Roses plimsoles and Topshop sunglasses. p.s. I never wear any makeup on holiday so get used to my 'fresh' faced look... or come back in two weeks when I'm back in London.

every little thing that we do...

2010-06-23T13:48:00.007+01:00

Played dress up last friday in Daniella's closet. Listened to Ja Rule and then ran all over East London dressed up like wild cats... luckily, no one got (too badly) hurt in the process.

photos borrowed from the f blog.

go on, give me a snog...

2010-06-22T07:10:00.002+01:00

Hung out at Snog in Soho on Friday afternoon. Ate gorgeous yoghurt littered with strawberries, bananas and oreos. Chatted with the wonderful Jill, Natayla, Kit and Shini. Tried on kooky Rayban sunglasses. Ran outside to photograph England football fans. Tried to keep up with the games via Shini's phone. Laughed about the copious amounts of allergy medicine that Kit carries around in her bag (literally about 20 differnt potions). And posed outside the scandalous 'exotic' shops that line the streets of Soho. A word or warning: if you're planning on bringing your kids to one of these frozen yoghurt venus I'd advise choosing a different location... this one sits amongst a throve of sex shops.

I wore Jigsaw Junior Cardigan, Zara Cat Print Dress worn as a top, Levi 501 denim diy shorts, Michael Kors belt.

p.s. am just heading out the door Heathrow to Sweden (baby!)...

if only it were my-wardrobe...

2010-06-21T00:52:00.012+01:00

Just over four years old, My-Wardrobe has already established itself as one of the leading UK contemporary etailers and aims to provide accessible designer fashion. I first heard of the brand about a year ago when one of my friends purchased a gorgeous D&G green bowler bag in their sale. At the time she was only 19 and was working in a high-street shop and this, I think, points out the genius behind the site. While there are plenty of lust worthy items that sit just below the thousand pound mark most of the clothing and accessories that they stock are much more reasonably priced. Instead of looking on with no hope of ever being able to actually purchase the items in my shopping bag, like at Net-a-Porter, I'm actually left thinking that maybe if I found something really special I could actually save up for it. Mixed in between the quirkiest Rayban shades and Kenneth Jay Lane jewelry sit off beat and hardly known Swedish brands and staples like American Retro and Splendid. It really is a gem of an online boutique. After spending an afternoon at their showroom in London on Friday I was only reaffirmed of this.

Sam Edelman.

Mentor Suede Lace Up Wedge Ankle Boot (my current favourite)

Minimarket.

Tom Ford Nikita Sunglasses - A slightly more tame Wang and officially added to my wish list.

This Supertrash body is currently in the sale but I couldn't resist showing it to you because it's just so beautiful and totally puts every other boring tight fitting cotton version to shame - the king of all bodies, I'd say.

I hadn't heard of Olivia Rubin before but I officially want to wear nothing other than her little dresses from now on (when I'm not wearing my new diy jean shorts of course). The shapes are so simple and clean yet the fabric and cut is divine. The images don't do these dresses justice. They are gorgeous in real life.

An Orvin oversized cape shirt. Another brand I hadn't heard of and very quickly fell in love with. The fabric and print is so ethereal - like smoke rising from a crushed flame. Also currently in the sale.

Timex 80 Pink Watch. I don't normally wear a watch but I'd consider changing that for this cute little plastic beauty.

And finally: Susie. She was kind enough to invite me along to the showroom and was so much fun to spend the afternoon with. We bonded over our past love of Lindsay Lohan back in the Mean Girls days and lamented her notorious fall from teenage celebrity grace. Susie was totally inspiring and so enthusiastic about her job. She was honest enough to admit when there were pieces she wasn't too crazy about and all the while her genuine demeanor made me love the company as a whole increasingly more. It really is the people behind a brand that have the power to make it successful and, if Susie is anything to go by, My-Wardrobe is a total winner.

p.s. I can't remember the brands for all the shoes but I'll find out incase anyone is curious...

Happy father's day...

2010-06-20T11:28:00.005+01:00

Pictured above with my sister back in the early 80s, I'd argue my dad is and always has been seriously cool. Ever since I can remember he has had a beard. He shaved it off once when I was 19 and it totally freaked me out... he didn't look like my dad and luckily he very quickly grew it back. He also has only ever worn Rayban aviators... the big ones that are totally black and curl around the back of your ear. He's totally laid back and I think if my mom hadn't come along and forced him to buy some new clothes he'd still probably be wearing the same tennis shoes (which notoriously had holes throughout them so his toes could poke out the front), worn out jeans and Members Only jackets. Now he's a Tommy Bahama polo shirt and Italian loafers kind of man.... I guess some things have to change over time. But, beard or no beard (bucket or no bucket).... he's still the same dad underneath it all. He's spent his adult days working in the desert in the Middle East and as a result always has the best tan. Once he came back from Turkey and had let his hair grow out long and I swear he looked just like Indiana Jones. He loves computer games, must have over a thousand dvds, and always has the coolest and newest electronic gadgets. My brother in law waited in line overnight in the middle of the winter to get him the Nintendo Wii when it first came out and his name was one of the first on the waiting list for the i-pad. Even though my friends swear that he's a secret agent (there's even a facebook group in honour of the conspiracy) he is a pretty big softy. He's my identical hand twin and I'd argue the best dad in the whole world...

Happy Father's Day Dad!

wild cat...

2010-06-19T21:02:00.007+01:00

last night i played dress up over at daniella's. she has the best costumes... masks, tiger heads, acne wedges, leopard print jumpsuits. what more could a girl ask for, right? i need to knick photos off the other girls so i can show you some of our ludacris (or was it ja rule?) outfits. for now, let's just say i tore up east london in a mad leopard costume. p.s. check out some more bizarre and yummy photos of our night over at my other blog Team Inglis. theres a shot of me in the kitchen of the restaurant with the chefs...

at least i've got one on my wall...

2010-06-19T19:18:00.006+01:00

so, before i share with you all the wonderful adventures of my post-exam celebration i just wanted to show you this beautiful little baby that arrived at my house today. i won it in a giveaway over at Alex's blog Alex Loves and it's by an artist named Jamie Ball of Little Kingdoms. i absolutely love it and hopefully it will inspire me to save my pennies until the day arrives (and yes, it will arrive one day) when i can purchase my very own real and utterly timeless chanel bag. thanks jamie!

p.s. i know a few of you have mentioned that you're trying to find the print online. so to spare you the searching... it's available here.

the streaker....

2010-06-18T10:12:00.003+01:00

happy friday everyone! i am officially finished with exams and am off this morning to spend the day with polka dot, shini and kit in london... and then to party the night away with daniella and jackie. so to celebrate this joyous day feast your eyes on this gorgeous Rare Opulence dress. needless to say, i so am not a size 8 and so this sample dress was unwilling to zip up... hence my awkward pose to avoid flashing the world. enjoy! hope you have a great friday filled with awkward but ridiculously fun moments.

this many incredible shoes? it's Rare...

2010-06-18T00:33:00.005+01:00

I have to give a big shout out to the incredible Almina over at Rare. She is the first PR girl I had ever met and was the first to invite me along to a press day. More than that, she's a girl after my own heart. The first time I met her she was rocking an incredible yellow Mulberry Alexa bag and gushed over my green Kate Kanzier brogues (she's been trying to get ahold of them ever since but, sadly, they've been sold out in her size). Since that first encounter we've become twitter buddies (if you too want to be my buddy just go here), she's gotten engaged, and has just bought a house next to the ocean. To top it all off she threw the Rare Autumn/Winter press day the afternoon before my final exam and promised that I could bring along my notes to study in the corner if need be. Well, my notes were definitely in my bag but there was no way I was going to be looking at them while I was there. I won't go into the whole collection now but, instead, just mention something I am very excited about. Rare have started doing shoes! Yes, that's right... girls this is something to freak out about a little. Two pairs, respectively dubbed the Almina and Jennifer (by, that's right, Almina and yours truly), have made it onto my wish list. The first is pictured above on the lovely Jazzabelle's foot and the other, my oh my the other, is an absolute stunner and I very adamantly shoved my size 38 foot into the 37 sample because there was no way I was leaving there without trying it on. I'll have to mooch a picture off someone of it to show you... I was drooling a bit too much to photograph it at the time.

Anyway, okay, all this to say that the Rare shoes (which you can spot in the background on the above photo) weren't the only incredible ones in that room on Tuesday. All the girls that had come to check out the collection were totally decked out in the coolest footwear. Check it out below... in order of appearance you've got: Abimarvel, Deepa, Jazzabelle, Saskia, and Jess.

p.s. Almina snapped my photo is an incredible Rare Opulence dress that was a teeny bit too small and utterly embarrassing (I look a bit like a streaker), but I'll show you if you want to see....?

love at first spike...

2010-06-16T19:00:00.012+01:00

Ever since I spotted Tiffany Hsu at London Fashion Week sporting the Givenchy spiked headband my mind has been filled with dreams of spikes adorning my little head. Months have passed though to no avail... there seems to have been a drought in the supply. Then, I spotted it... at Topshop. The one, the only, the perfect spikey studded headband. I had to locate mine on ebay because all the black ones had sold out... it arrived today and was sitting at the top of my steps in a perfect little package. A great present to celebrate my last exam. I think it's a sign that it's time for me to put aside my geeky study-girl guise and release my inner rock chick.

p.s. I have cloaked myself in an amazing Union Jack that I received today from my dear friend Emma because I am wearing a hideously and embarrassing exam outfit... but more on that later.

when i grow up i want to be...

2010-06-14T10:28:00.021+01:00

There is no doubt about it, Cindy Crawford was the single model that made an impact on me growing up. I used to walk around saying, 'When I grow up I want to be 5'10 like Cindy Crawford.' Turns out she isn't actually even 5'10? She's 5'9... so my stubby little 5'7 isn't as far away from her height as I always feared. I'm not really sure when or how this fixation occurred. But if I had to pick the ideal look it would definitely have been hers. Tall, dark hair, big lips, strong brows, an inherently all-American fresh faced look. Geeze, she even has a mole. That probably sealed the deal. Can you believe it, for her first Vogue cover in January 1987 they removed it?! What a catastrophic mistake that was.

For me, she's the ultimate supermodel... one part of a monumental force that no longer exists. Glamour, power, force, strength. These girls embodied an era and a mentality. The whole insanity that developed around Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford raised the bar of success to new heights in the modeling world. Has anyone been worthy of the title since? Some would argue England's own Kate Moss has... she certainly represented a new type of model dubbed 'heroin chic'. A look that took on such a force that even the then President Bill Clinton felt the need to speak out against it. Surely such emaciated and chid-like models gave rise to the outlandish use of photoshop that we are still recovering from. Clearly our sense of 'beauty' is an ever evolving concept. For me, it's all about being healthy instead of all emaciated and gaunt like... plus, who am I kidding? I like food way too much. What do you think? Have any models made an impact on you?

Think you've got a face that deserves to be on the cover of Vogue or a body that will inspire girls to want to be just like you when they grow up? Well, Next is currently running a modeling competition and all you've got to do to enter is upload your photo on Facebook for your chance to win. Click here to find out how to enter.

p.s. That's right, I've included a little Facebook 'Like' button. There is a little blogger competition going to help promote this Next modeling competition... whoever gets the most 'likes' wins. So, be sure to click 'like' if, in fact, you like it... Images sourced from here.

oh lordy, so unnecessary...

2010-06-12T21:26:00.004+01:00

For a mere 9.95 you too can have the lust-worthy asset that made Jennifer Aniston so famous in Friends. Yes girls, that's right... nipples. And no, they aren't natural. Nor are they being sold from a sleazetastic shop. But, your very own upmarket Selfridges is selling 'Nipple Enhancers' that you simply stick under your bra for that constant perky look. This is one trend I can adamantly say I will not be buying into. Surely some poor soul will have them go slightly askew under their top and wind up looking nastily lopsided. That's one fashion-don't I really really cannot wait to spot.

So the question is girls, will you have this secret little black bag stored in your handbag this summer?

turban head...

2010-06-11T17:35:00.004+01:00

F21 turban picked up in Dubai by my dear friend Emerald.

rarrrrrr....

2010-06-10T10:49:00.004+01:00

'The Africa' printed trunk by We Are Handsome is strangely summarizing my mood at the moment. But, with that left to one side... how incredibly beautiful are these swimsuits? They are handmade and have already sold out across some of Australia's top boutiques. I was lucky enough to check them out with Jackie at the Robinson Pfeffer showroom earlier this week. While the trunks remind me a bit of something an Italian football player might rock while shmoozing on a yacht there is no denying that these are really beautiful creations. Check out their website to see a closer look at some of the incredible prints that inspired these pieces. Speaking of swimwear, these reminded me of how anxious I am to go on holiday. I've got two new swimsuits lined up for my trip to Sweden and I've never actually tried either of them on. The first one is this J.Crew beauty in navy... and the other is this Mouille one that I won in a giveaway. Am very excited about those arriving... and am just keeping my fingers crossed that they actually fit and look alright! Eeeek...

good morning beautiful...

2010-06-09T07:42:00.007+01:00

Made the feeble attempt to wake up before 10am today. Alarm has been set for 7am literally every day for the last 3 weeks but I only ever manage to drag my self out of bed at around 9:30, I think it's an attempt to put off studying for as long as possible. But this morning I did it, I managed to get up before 8am... but still am not studying? Ah well, I suppose some things can't be changed. Anyway, Jill was kind enough to send over all these shots that she took of me at the V&A last Friday. Speaking of sleep, I had only gotten about 3 hours (I really am an 8 hours-at-least kind of gal) because I was trying to get those 5,000 word essays finished. They really were the bane of my existence, as you may have noticed if you read this blog regularly. It was sunny and I was determined to get out of my topshop sweats that I have been living in during this exam period. It was time to be a girl who had a nice life spending Fridays in the sun at a museum with lovely friends rather than a frantic, hunched back, grumpy, typing maniac. Clothes really can determine my mood... if I get it wrong (too hot/too cold/too short/too long/ too scratchy/too sheer...) then it just turns in to a bit of an off day. This was nothing like that though - it was just right. Floral dresses, raybans and converse? A triple threat that should be readily accessible in every girls wardrobe this summer I do believe.

I threw in a shot of the fabulous Polka Dot in her photographer alter ego mode just for fun. You may have seen some of these same shots posted on her blog already. We tried to do a little experiment where she sent me the pictures and we were meant to put up our favourites, without the other knowing which photos we chose, and then compare our taste in which we liked best. Jill wound up getting a little rushed to put the images up though and so just picked a couple at random. You can check out her post here. Also, thanks Shini for taking the lost shot of Jill who, at the time, was shooting me.

Wearing: Jill's vintage Rayban Wayfarers (I was totally gutted because I put my sunglass case in my bag without any sunglasses in it... very annoying), Urban Outfitters dress (that I got in the day after Christmas sale in the states for like $5), Topshop socks, Converse All Stars, Alexander McQueen bag.

astronomical...

2010-06-08T15:05:00.006+01:00

Inspired by Native American totem poles and the night sky the Autumn/Winter 2010 collection by Tina Kalivas is absolutely mind blowing. The prints are some of the most stunning I have ever seen. They are entirely striking and utterly dreamlike. Not only that but the sharp cut and tailoring of the garments are impeccable. Many of the shapes are quite traditional and simple but it's the details that set it apart. The digital prints are contrasted with traditional embroidery while wools and silks are mixed with power mesh and black shiny plastic. It is completely unexpected yet in some ways pays homage to the creations of the late Alexander McQueen who Tina used to work for. This collection is a total stunner. You can check out her Spring/Summer collection on Asos where it is currently being stocked. Personally, I'd love to have one of her pieces, but for now I'm pretty content just staring into the print on the dress pictured above... it's pretty mesmerizing.

heavy metal...

2010-06-07T23:18:00.012+01:00

The founders of Stolen Girlfriends Club seem to have developed a bit of a cult following. Three blokes from New Zealand with no design or fashion training, but rather a love for surfing, have managed to create a unique brand that the likes of Kate Bosworth, Peaches Geldfof, and the Cobra Snake covet. Luke Harwood, one of the founders, says 'We love the idea of doing things ourselves. Like just picking up a camera or making a film, there's something really nice about not being taught and not having your ideas or fundamentals shaped by influence or a teacher. As long as you have good intuition and vision for the final outcome, it doesn't matter how you get there and the technical imperfections actually add raw feeling and quality to a project, garment or brand.' As a girl who's studying for her masters in Political Theory but avidly obsessed with fashion, photography, and writing (with no formal training in any) that is a motto I can definitely get behind. I had seen their collection before, everyone has been going mental over their knit shorts from the Autumn 2010 range, but today was the first time I had seen their jewelry collection. I absolutely adore it. It looked positively magic hanging from white tree branches inside the Robinson Pfeffer Showroom that I visited today. Yes please, I would gladly wear them all. I especially like the key necklace with various locations...

At least this way a girl can dream about having homes in New York, London and Paris, right?

Featuring: Death Metal Bracelet, Key City Pendant, Safety Pin Pendant, End Has No End Pendant and Axe Ring.

a strange inkling...

2010-06-07T09:24:00.002+01:00

Ever since I saw this photo taken by Vanessa Jackman back at London Fashion Week in March I've had the concept of overalls floating around in the back of my mind. Ralph Lauren showed the look as part of his Spring/Summer 2010 collection and let's face it, no one does Americana like Mr Lauren. This is the best version of denim overalls I've seen to date. Loose, worn, battered, mixed with girlish touches. I'd be seriously surprised if the girl pictured above hadn't seen this collection before getting dressed... both have on round retro hats, girly shirts buttoned up to the neck, loose workwear inspired overalls, and heels. It's totally adorable and is seriously working. Although the idea has been dancing around in my mind I hadn't seriously considering wearing a pair. Surely they harp back to the days of my youth a little too much (osh kosh bgosh anyone)? Anyway, that was all until I saw this Urban Outfitters renewal denim dungaree dress. I am absolutely, totally and completely in love. I never thought I could fall so hard for dungarees... but I think they would be heaven. Possibly my summer 2010 version of homemade denim cut offs? Ummm... I think so.

resort 2011 highs and lows...

2010-06-06T11:28:00.026+01:00

My personal favourite of the 2011 Resort Collections was certainly Jason Wu's. The sleek aesthetic and the sheer wearability of every single piece that came floating down the runway set it head and shoulders above the others. With a mix of bold strips, summery tweeds and two-toned daffodil prints there was plenty to get excited about. The shapes were spot on. Lady like a-line shifts, swishy floor skimming evening dresses, streamlined shorts and full trousers. The proportions were quirky. Borrowing a bit from menswear at times (army jackets, oversized blazers and big trousers) but always done with a very feminine edge. There were soft colours mixed with bright oranges, watery blues and khakis. Pussycat bows, boater hats, and two-toned heels were the details to watch out for. There wasn't a combination that walked down the runway that I wouldn't wear in full. In my books this show was a serious stunner. I'd pair that outfit on the left with some chunky ankle booties, little socks, some retro sunnies and be good to go...

Hailed as being 'perfectly suited to the modern woman' I took Rachel Roy's collection to be a bit of a mess. Maybe it was just the frazzled hair and striped sheer pieces that threw me... because there definitely are some stunning pieces. But overall the whole thing channeled a bit more a schizophrenic vibe than a Michelle Obama one (who is apparently meant to be a fan). I love the massively oversized trousers, the colours, and the tailored dresses. But it just looks a bit all over the place: one part wigged out 70s hippie and one part sleek upper east side sequined socialite. It just doesn't go together to create a directional collection... rather, it just looks confused.

While we're on the topic of being confused, seriously what was Michael Kors thinking? No doubt there are some beautiful pieces - the man can do classic crisp white perfectly and his cashmere knits are to die for. But, who ever styled this collection should be shot. The models range from being so dramatically over-layered that they look like yeti-wannabes to teetering on the edge of resembling an exabitionist. Surely there is no other reason that you would wear this heinous square python printed coat (presumably with nothing underneath), paired with a massive floppy hat (to shield your face when the police come to find you), bare legs, and sandals unless, of course, you were planning on flashing somebody... she looks like a total bald nutter. Not only is none of it wearable but it looks awful. One of my least favourite things of all time are long boots (especially of the python print variety, hello! can you get any tackier?) worn with short summery dresses and bare legs. It looks so hideously cheap and slutty. Michael, seriously! You are meant to represent American style as a beacon of class. You've seriously let your girl down on this one. To top off the plethora of disconcerting combinations, monstrous layering followed skimpy cut-away python print (yes, there really was a lot of it) swimwear. Really just a bizarre combination that leaves you wondering what time of year it is and just what kind of resort he was planning for? I'm all about mixing things that traditionally don't go together... but you've taken it one step too far this time Mr. Kors.

Obviously this isn't representative of the whole of resort 2011, there were plenty of shows that I haven't mentioned plus more designers still have to show. Check out more of the outfits that came down the runway along with all the other collections at Style.com.

some old-school retro goodness...

2010-06-04T22:23:00.008+01:00

While lounging in the grass at the V&A today I spotted this girl walking by... 'ohhh, I really like her style' I cooed to Jill and Shini. They were in the middle of a conversation and I kept interrupting them all day, saying really pointless things with heated enthusiasm like, 'I realized yesterday that Mr. Dot looks just like Lindsay Lohan's dad' and other ridiculous things. It was that kind of day. Only three hours sleep, deadlines, serious heat, burning legs... I was feeling a bit skitzy as it was my first normal human interaction taking place outside the library in about a week. Anyway though, the point is I really do like her style. It sort of encapsulates a whole range of things that I'm just really loving at the moment and all which point to a kind of old time goodness. Cambridge satchels, retro dresses (even though she said hers only came from primark - it has this perfectly vintage look to it), thick hair with heavy fringes, winged eyeliner, tortoise shell ray ban wayfarers, brogues with socks... it was just spot on. Totally and completely encompassing everything I am loving right now in fashion. Laid back, effortless, with a touch of retro-oldschool charm... just the sort of look that should be sported on a day when you just feel like kicking back in the sunshine and breaking some rules.

p.s. I have to give a shout out to Jill who is actually the one who wound up stopping this girl, whose name is Chloe, while we were at the V&A. While I did originally gush about how much I loved her look I was feeling slightly too brain dead to actually work up the energy to approach her. Jill said, 'If you love something set it free - if it comes back, its yours.' Insinuating that if the girl walked back by us then we could ask to shoot her (in the photographic sense of course). Anyway, then when Shini was shooting me right before I had to run off I looked over and there was Jill - with Chloe, who obviously had come back. So, thanks Jill.

truckin along...

2010-06-03T15:29:00.007+01:00

currently riding on a low post-exam tide. am sure the euphoria would be pumping through my veins if only i didn't have 2 x 5,000 word essays due in tomorrow (don't worry, i promise, it's the last you will ever hear of these monstrous beasts). while i'd like to bestow some of my illustrious fashion-related thoughts onto you sweet little muffins the truth is my pillow is calling my name and i've got some hefty work in front of me tonight so i'll keep it short and sweet. here's a little peak inside my bag at the exam necessities that are keeping me upright and relatively sane: comfy shoes (converse), coffee (got given some free coupons for starbucks and now i am horribly hooked on their new cafe creme little wonder with an extra shot of espresso - that's right, it's 3.70 and an addiction i need to get over quickly), lots of black byros (nothing is worse than having your pen run out of ink mid-thought), ipod (because sometimes you just need to block out the incessant noise), feel good jewelry, books (lots and lots of books and notes - i'm a serious crammer up until the very last minute), excedrin (good for knocking nasty stress related headaches - the brands not important, just make sure it's got a kick), gum, sunglasses (no makeup + late nights + early mornings = not such a pretty face), water, and vogue. i treated myself to vogue today after my exam. i needed some non-academic light weight goodness to take my mind off what had just gone down. i've been a bit disappointed with vogue lately but i was actually seriously feeling it today... i pretty much read every word and felt inspired by the editorials (which was good because last months 'more dash than cash' scuba inspired spread kind of pissed me off). they even have a little pre-autumn section which has given me some ideas... will bring you more of my thoughts on this very important matter soon - but if you haven't checked the issue out yet i'd encourage you to do so.

p.s. what keeps you going through times of stress? any tips for me? i've got two weeks left to get through...

motivate me...

2010-06-01T09:35:00.004+01:00

While frantically shuffling through hundreds of pages of text and essays I can't help but think that having one of these little beauties dangling around my wrist would help ground and centre me. Definitely needed, along with cheerful nail polish, to help see me through the impending exam period. Not quite sure which is my favourite. Maybe a triple threat of stacked up 'dream', 'peace', and 'imagine'?

p.s. 15 days and counting...

what's with the craze?

2010-05-30T10:50:00.008+01:00

You know how those who can't afford proper Chanel are said to be the ones that buy the makeup? Diffusion lines are massive at the moment because they provide a more approachable way of buying into a brand without having to fork out thousands of pounds. Case in point: Yves Saint Laurent rings. They are insanely gorgeous. Big, chunky, raw, a statement-and-a-half, and utterly luxurious but without the outlandish price tag. They retail for $195 which, considering their bags are in the thousands, really isn't that bad. They've been popping up all over the place lately. Jackie was wearing the Arty Ovale ring in coral last time I saw her and coincidentally I happened to run into this girl on the same day rocking the Aco Stone ring in white. I seriously love it and, along with a Canon 550dslr, it has shot to the very top of my wish list. I would go for the Aco Stone ring in teal definitely... how beautiful would it look against my tanned fingers as they flipped through Vogue while I lie on a boat in Sweden rocking my new bikini?! Anyway, must send out a thank you to Jill who stopped this girl in Covent Garden as we walked past her last week. Her shirt came from somewhere in Brick Lane I believe and reminded me of this outfit I saw on Lily Allen at a concert last year. It's a real Chanel t-shirt that Lily's wearing and I was determined to make my own version after I saw it on her. My motivation to do that, and to get a YSL ring, has officially been reignited. It's funny how so many little things come together to start a wild craze...

utterly ridiculous...

2010-05-29T10:31:00.010+01:00

Some of my favourite moments from Tuesday's tea party: the amazing company 'is it the Becks talking? or are you actually inviting us to Sweden?', 'there's a face on that cake!', the un-classy side of the table that drank bubbly and 2 for 1 becks and ate cheese 'this is ruddy well good', 'show me your stripes!', old men in the background of shots, kit's fantastical twirling cape, 'i want to hold your hand and take a photo of your ring' and then not even get the ring in focus, jackie's post tea psycho robotics, 'no, i'm pretty sure. you used to dance. i think you did ballet' 'i really didn't.' 'yah, you did. i think i read it somewhere' 'no, but i can do a back bend.'

Pictured: Jackie, Daniella, Kensington Palace Orangery, Kiki & Tobz, Shini, and Kit. Photo effect inspired by Kit's lomography.

p.s. thanks for all the very sweet and encouraging comments you've sent my way regarding my essay drama (see yesterdays post below)! i really appreciate it!

pride comes before the fall...

2010-05-28T10:30:00.008+01:00

This past Tuesday, which was spent galavanting around Kensington Palace Gardens with some seriously lovely ladies, was absolute heaven. It felt like a dream. I ate gorgeous food, laughed a lot, and felt like I didn't have a care in the world. It wasn't a matter of pride really it was a matter of deep and effective compartmentalization.... essays? What essays? I was skipping on clouds that were suspended high above any sense of reality. Then Wednesday came (cue ominous music), Wednesday evening to be more specific. After a day spent working on my second 5,000 word essay that is due in next Friday (and having made little progress due to Tuesday withdrawal symptoms) I went to open my first 5,000 word essay, which was nearly finished, to find the document only had 2,000 words... 2,000 shockingly poor words. It was the essay of a week ago, not the essay I had been slaving over. Suffice it to say, a certain boy (who, don't worry, is still alive) accidentally saved over my nearly finished essay with an old copy and provided me with some serious set backs ('are you trying to sabotage me?!'). The details of it are boring. After a long tear session, many attempts at figuring out a way to revive it (all which failed) and some seriously puffy eyes later I came to grips with the fact that it was gone and moved on. This is why the next four days are going to be spent inside (not going to a Black Eyed Peas concert or punting in Oxford tomorrow like I had planned) with my head down. Wish me luck? I can't wait till this is over and I can go back to living with my head in the clouds like before I fell from grace.

Wearing: Rayban aviators, Dotinabox Necklace won on giveaway, Jigsaw Junior Cardigan, Jigsaw striped top and wooden wedges, Zara skirt, strand of turquoise worn as bracelet picked up in Egypt. Outfit photos taken by Polka dot.

shock me like an electric eel...

2010-05-27T10:39:00.002+01:00

i brought along a little video camera to the jackie's birthday celebration on tuesday. this is my first try at video editing so let me know what you think. a big thank you to jill who helped me film and to all the girls who provided excellent material to shoot. you can find the links to all their blogs in the below post.

keep to the path...

2010-05-25T22:57:00.011+01:00

Defy expectations. Break out of your comfort zone. Reestablish the terrain. Don't be complacent or without a voice. The London-Blogger get together today that was held in honor of Jackie's birthday reminded me that you needn't stick to the path. It's much more fun to shake things up a little. Whether that means meeting someone onliners for the first time or sitting right in the centre of the grass.

Attendees: Jackie of Platform Princess, Daniella of The F Blog, Jill of Street Style London, Shini of Park & Cube, Kit of Style Slicker, Lucy of Snippets of Shiny Thoughts, Tobi & Kiki of Style by Queens, Jennifer of Style East, Nicole from Power of Beauty, Not Just Medical, Fiona of Save Our Shoes (not pictured). I am always blown away by how incredible the people are behind some of my favourite blogs.... it was the first time meeting for some of them and they were happy to roll around in the grass, jump on command, and do back bends? Seriously wonderful. Big thanks to everyone that came. I had a wonderful time.

you spin my head right round, right round...

2010-05-23T19:52:00.006+01:00

i had a bit of an uncharacteristic shopping spree today - i'm a student you know, so the funds are certainly tight. but i had something to take back at topshop and exchange and then i had to pop over to zara because a certain someone informed me that a new version of the much obsessed over floral trousers were in stock. then, to top it all off, it was my last day as sunday manager at jigsaw and so, of course, i had to make use of my discount. all this combined into quite a hefty little purchase load. ah, the sight of new goodies really does set my heart a flutter.

a convert.

2010-05-23T09:24:00.005+01:00

the whole celebrity designer collaboration extravaganza of recent years has largely gone over my head. i haven't really ever found it that appealing or bought anything from any of the various lines. but something about the new Kate Moss for Topshop collection has really struck a cord with me. mind you, i realize there are some dodgy issues surrounding the prices and the fabric quality... so maybe it's because the weather is finally warm and my skin finally has a bit of colour to it. but really all i want in my life is a little white dress and frankly any of these three would fit the bill perfectly.

Kate Moss for Topshop: '50s Dress, Lace angel sleeve dress, & Lace wrap dress.

its been a long time, long time, shouldn't have left you...

2010-05-21T23:43:00.014+01:00

i feel like i've been absent for a while. probably a combination of having had a nasty cold that i couldn't seem to shake and being utterly preoccupied with university work. it's not a good mixture and it's enough to make anyone feel like they are starting to go mad. i'm not quite over the worst of it yet. june 16th marks the last exam of my academic career (seriously, i am not coming back for more after this) and up until then i'm afraid it's going to be a bit of a rocky road for me. please accept my sincerest apologies, i haven't been doing a great job of responding to e-mails or checking out everyone's blogs lately. if you haven't heard from me please don't think it was intentional i'm really just a bit all over the place at the moment. hence my spastic six hour stint at the park today as an act of rebellion that left me lobster coloured. every summer i underestimate the power of the english sun and overestimate how resilient my skin is. hopefully lesson learned? but, regardless, at least i've got my first batch of colour in for the season and no one will know i've actually been spending all my time in doors battling with justice... yah that's right, it's a painful process.

Wearing: Urban Outfitters burnout t-shirt, Madewell jacket, Gap shorts, Rayban aviators, Topshop sandals and bracelets.

p.s. you can check out a few more photos over at team inglis.

take me straight back...

2010-05-20T18:46:00.017+01:00

Music and fashion tend to go hand-in-hand and this couldn't be any more true than in the case of the Los Angeles based group The Like. Their sixties nostalgic appearance harps back to the days of Edie Sedgwick but doesn't sit firmly in the decade thanks to their unique mix of retro one-offs picked up by one of the girls, Leena, who works at a local vintage shop. They've got a distinct image with a very modern edge. I love their music. I can't watch He's Not a Boy (below) without smiling. It makes me want to throw on a peter-pan collared mini dress, some thick liner, saddle shoes and get my groove on. Not only are these girls totally likable, talented, and stylish but they've got that extra factor (no, not the x-factor). These days success seems to be about taking some clues from the good old days of the renaissance - being a person of multifaceted talents. That is, being able to think outside the box of conventionality and blur the lines of tradition. These girls are definitely doing just that. They have played shows for Zach Posen and have had Gia Coppola produce one of their videos. While their already a big force on the LA scene (snapped by the Face Hunter last time he was in their neighborhood) they are dubbed to explode on the British front in the upcoming months with the launch of their new album Release Me that was produced by Mark Ronson. Watch this space - the combination of factors spells big things for these ladies.

some friends I want you to meet...

2010-05-19T15:58:00.011+01:00

A couple weeks ago at the Sketchbook Pop Up Shop I helped run a little workshop on blogging with Jill. To be honest, I half expected that we would just have a little chat with each other... surely no one was going to show, right? Well, I was seriously wrong. Some really incredible people rocked up and it was quite the encouraging experience. There is a really great network of bloggers around London and I'm so thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to meet so many of them. Although our friendships are all very new I feel I know them well already from following their blogs and their tweets. Not only are they all seriously stylish but they are also bizarrely brainy (studying law, politics etc) and so friendly. One of the overarching themes of our talk was about how to keep your head above the water and get noticed in a blogosphere that can feel over-saturated. My advice? Get out there, don't be afraid to get involved in events and activities that are taking place - being able to put a real live face to a blog goes a very long way. So, with all that said... I'd like to introduce you to some of my new friends. I wont say much about them because I'll let their blogs do the talking: Toni of The Fashion Cloud (whose bracelet I am seriously drooling all over), Tobi - who is one part of the duo behind Style by Queens (loving her mixture of a dainty little floral dress with tough biker boots and an army jacket), Iris of London Fashion Diary (how sweet are her layered florals?), and Natayla of Treasures of a Ladybug (whose YSL bag I am totally coveting).

p.s. If you'd like to find out about upcoming London blogger get togethers contact me and I'll add you to my mailing list. Also, why don't you join the conversation and follow me on twitter.

what's your poison?

2010-05-18T11:50:00.009+01:00

girls, shoes, and obsession seem to be an inescapable combination. the girl wearing these marc jacobs mouse flats said she had fifteen different pairs... fifteen! what is it about shoes that make us totally lose all sense of reality? flats, stilettos, wedges, sneakers, boots, clogs and everything else in between... they have the power to make some of us go totally bonkers.

so, what's your poison - a particular sort of shoe or something else entirely?

expect the unexpected...

2010-05-17T15:33:00.007+01:00

there is no doubt about it - i'm a blog junkie. although this addiction might not be quite as destructive as the substance abuse that other addicts dabble in it has managed to alter my daily existence. mind you, i'm a bit under the weather and, as a result, most ordinary things are taking on a momentous character... i blame it on the lack of sleep and copious amounts of cough medicine that mr. crusader keeps trying to force feed me. but nevertheless, this world of blogging has been influential in my life over the last nine months. no doubt, had i refrained from starting this little entity more time would have been spent studying and my chance of graduating with a distinction would be highly more likely. never mind that though, some sacrifices are worth making. one thing this has all taught me is that you need not cast yourself into a single category and you should always avoid preconceptions that have the power to hold you back.

so what does this all have to do with shini? well, in my mind she is one of the best bloggers around and not just because she gets thousands of hits a day. she is insanely talented and driven. her photographs are beautiful, her posts are well written (just the right mix of clever, quirky, and insightful), she always manages to throw together the most original and inspiring outfits, she's a master at diy projects (being able to turn the most mundane item into something crazy-covetable) and to top it all off she is ludicrously down to earth. when i first met her at fashion week she seemed genuinely surprised that i had seen her blog (whereas another person introduced them self to me as being 'the next big thing' on the London blogging scene - needless to say they really weren't). humility and charisma go hand-in-hand in my books and to my mind shini has got the combination down just right. she is the nicest girl around and the most genuine. she doesn't take herself too seriously or let any of the hype get to her head. i absolutely adore her. she, along with every thing else i have experienced so far, was definitely not what i was expecting from my ever growing blog addiction...

Shini wears: Uniqlo sweatshirt, Gmarket jeans, scarf and shoes, Cos bracelet, Timex watch, DIY on vintage bag. To see more photos I took of Shini and her shiny new bike on that same day click here.

i'll set your world on fire...

2010-05-15T13:53:00.008+01:00

thursday night i took a much needed break from the relentless studying and went to a gig at the barfly in london. think about life were playing and, while i realize this isn't a music blog, can i just say that they were absolutely incredible. never before have i seen so much energy and enthusiasm from a band and, in particular, their lead singer Martin Cesar. it really was electrifying. plus, it didn't hurt that he dedicated what happens to be my favourite song 'set you on fire' to me... what can i say, i'm easily won over. while his confidence on stage was undeniable as soon as he stepped off he was completely down to earth and didn't exude the loftiness of a performer whatsoever. he wore some pretty awesome multi-coloured boating shoes that i sadly didn't manage to capture. afterwards, the equally cool Connor Hanwick and Jonathan Pierce from the new york based group the drums did a DJ set.

there were lots of cool kids around and in particular i spotted this pair who were seriously rocking out during the gig. the guy, who mentioned he works for Mark Fast, was wearing this awesome studded denim vest (vintage levis diy possibly? i'm not too sure - i didn't have the chance to ask). i also love the way the girl, who was with the band, is playing with proportions. the high waisted straight red skirt with the very oversized flannel is a refreshing twist on the normal short stretchy bandeau skirts that everyone has been wearing. on our way home mr. crusader trooped around the insanely bright corner shop in search of salt & vinegar crisps... sadly they were all sold out. but it offered yet another example of bright colours.... paired together in a random and haphazard manner - they somehow work to create something appealing. what do you think, can a convenience store qualify as fashion inspiration?

p.s. that's my red bag he's carrying, don't worry, he hasn't pulled a joey and opted for a girly man-bag.

take me to the House of Holland...

2010-05-14T11:23:00.010+01:00

while walking to the tube in camden last night i happened to pass by the illustrious Henry Holland. 'wait, was that just...' i muttered before turning around and running back. 'are you... could i....?' he very kindly obliged while looking to his friend and saying he was a bit embarrassed. normally he's spotted with a host of london's most fashionable and elite young-things dripped over his arm - no doubt, likely to be wearing one of his creations. but, no matter - i was pretty pleased i noticed him looking all paired down in a denim jacket, black hoodie, and brightly coloured rucksack. i have predominately known him for the provocative slogan t-shirts that shot him to fame back in 2007 and more recently for his line of quirky but quite covetable tights. after having a peek at his most recent autumn 2010 line though it's pretty clear he's got a lot more up his sleeve than just that. the reworked bandana print that was splattered all over a host of his creations is a fresh and funky take on the more traditional paisley print. i could seriously do with some of that in my life along with the bold stripes. mixed prints? yes please - especially when they look as good as these.

runway photos from style.com

we should all have 'one language'...

2010-05-13T14:10:00.008+01:00

not since summer 2007, when the anya hindmarch oh-so-covetable 'not a plastic bag' was launched, have i been so enthralled by canvas. i have a whole host of eco-friendly bags draped over the back of my kitchen door that i drag to the shops with me and god knows i don't need another to add to the mix. but for some reason these one language little beauties have seriously caught my fancy and really think i would use them for so much more than just lugging my milk home from the local tesco. the little gems sprang forth from the creative imagination of two sisters living in New York who wanted to be earth-friendly but not sacrifice on style or quality and i think that is exactly what makes their bags so desirable. the short handles, shape, hand written inspirational quotes that line the interior, inner laptop sleeves, and quirky emblems make them so much more than just another eco-warrior's go-to bag. i am seriously craving the 'haute' one pictured above... it would be perfect to lug around my camera, spare shoes, and notebooks. plus, poking fun at the extortionately overpriced leather handbags most of the fashionistas around london sport is always an added bonus in my books. you can check out the whole collection here.

add a slick pop of colour to your wardrobe...

2010-05-12T16:33:00.008+01:00

there are those of us who live life in blacks and greys and then there are those who swim in a sea full of colour. kit of style slicker is certainly in the latter category. since the first time i met her she's been inspiring me with her clever and well placed use of bright pop colours. from the littlest of details (see nails, ipod, earphones, and socks) straight up to her shoes and cardigan - kit mixes just the right amount of colour with neutrals to create a distinct and very spring appropriate look. plus, she tops it all off with the most contagiously authentic smile - what's not to like about that? maybe we could all do with a bit more colour in our lives.

take a chill pill...

2010-05-11T20:01:00.010+01:00

last thursday i met up with the seriously cool daniella from the f blog. i absolutely adore her style. long wavy blonde locks, army jacket, denim shorts, doc martins and socks, fingers covered in rings... she just oozes an enviable laid back nonchalant vibe. she moved to london with a few friends from canada about six months ago and has since been skipping around europe and traveling to new places. generally just trying to soak up as much culture and fun as she can along the way. she has got such a great attitude and is totally open to whatever the future might bring her way. while i'm currently smack dab in the middle of the most stressful six weeks of my life (not to be melodramatic but masters level exams are not my idea of a good time), daniella was a total breath of fresh air and a firm reminder to me that sometimes i need to just take a step back from it all and take a chill pill.

taking photos in front of the sketchbook pop up shop on newburgh street with shini of park & cube and jill of street style london.

here kitty kitty....

2010-05-10T22:30:00.011+01:00

not much of a trendster or a fashionista in the rarest form, i'm pretty content wearing jeans and a hoodie most days. i can't just 'roll out of bed, throw on whatever i see first' and look like i walked straight out of a vogue editorial. i decided to throw caution to the wind last thursday though and don some serious spring/summer trends. mixed prints? check. denim jacket? check. wooden clogs? check. ready to take on the world? check check check. british weather has decided to go all winter on our sorry bootys and as a result i had to bust out my opaques. i swore weeks ago (when the sun was shining feverishly) that i would not subject my pins to such entrapment until the autumn - sadly with temperatures getting ominously close to freezing that wasn't an option. i was totally unaware at the time that my miu miu inspired zara dress has developed a bit of a cult following in the blogger world. toni of the fashion cloud has put together a great post on all the people she's seen wearing it. honestly, i look at a lot of blogs - how did i not notice this?

photos by (in order of appearance): shini of park & cube, toni of the fashion cloud & jill of street style london. wearing: zara cat print dress, gap denim jacket, jigsaw striped top, turquise bracelet from egypt, moheda toffeln clogs, alexander mcqueen bag, chanel blue satin nail polish. oh, and i'm talking to the lovely iris of london fashion diary - but more on her, and the other bloggers i met at the sketchbook pop up shop, later.

put your best clog forward...

2010-05-08T23:41:00.011+01:00

i've had a few e-mails from people asking how to get hold of these moheda toffeln clogs. as they aren't the most conventional or widespread of clogs i thought i'd give a little run down on how to find them. i ordered mine from the manufacturers original site to avoid paying any marked up fees. start by going to the moheda toffeln website. you can chose from a range of styles or just go straight to my pair. pick how many pairs you want (antal), your size (storlek), and add them to your basket (Lagg till krogen). when you are ready to purchase click onto till kassan. the only part that might get confusing is at the checkout where you can select 'Privatperson samt Foretag, Leverans till Ultamingingsstalle.' this just means that you are going to have it shipped the cheapest way possible. this is what i selected and once my order was processed i received it after just a few days and we didn't even have to pay any shipping fees. if you've got any questions just let me know or use google translate. i seriously love these little clogs. they are super comfy and were really easy to walk in even when wearing them with tights. they don't slip or rub and i haven't even fallen - despite the cobblestone roads over here. plus, if you aren't sure about spending a lot of money to buy into the clog trend and want something that is quite traditional i would definitely recommend this pair.

p.s. the price converts to 26 GBP which is a total bargain.

clash it.

2010-05-08T13:02:00.007+01:00

double denim: most commentators are saying that in order to wear it you've got to mix your shades. pair your darkest hues with more faded ones to ensure your look tilts more towards chic 2010 than early noughties pop star gone wrong. while this is the dominant voice emerging from the fashion world that's not what dolce, henry, jeremy and sienna put down the runway. they opted for identical shades worn without fear or hesitation. vogue knows, it's all about head to toe in the same shade. while we're at it, we might as well throw off all measures of conventionality... red and pink? suddenly looking very chic.

Emearld wears: vintage levis jacket, topshop jeans, jigsaw sunglasses, chloe bag.

Topshop Makeup Launch...

2010-05-07T19:17:00.013+01:00

Topshop's new makeup line has officially launched here in the UK and to help you discover which colours and products to go for they have launched a virtual makeover site. It is hilarious, so easy to use, and actually works quite well. All you have to do is upload a standard boring photo of yourself without any makeup and then you can test out all their items. They even have a selection of '1 click looks' that you can try out that feature makeup trends used on their models. As you can see by my examples... they are probably best left to the photo shoots. Proceed with caution: this is one serious tool for time wasting, but it is so fun! I am loving all their lipstick colours!

what do you think? which face of the style crusader do you prefer?

first look: Sketchbook blogger workshop...

2010-05-06T22:18:00.009+01:00

just want to send out a very big thank you to everyone that rocked up to the Sketchbook Popup Shop yesterday for the getting started discussion jill and i hosted on blogging. it was really quite inspiring to meet other people who are trying to establish themselves and find their place in this weird and wonderful blogosphere. it was also such a treat to get to get to check out the pop up shop again. they have a new exhibition up and, if you haven't been already, you really should try to make it over. i can't recommend it enough.

bust out the old...

2010-05-06T21:21:00.004+01:00

i had totally forgotten about this strand of turquoise that i got in egypt a few years ago. originally i had intended it to be a long necklace but seems much more fitting these days wrapped around my wrist. if your in britain you've got 30 minutes left to get your vote in... it's polling day and tomorrow morning we'll know who the new prime minister is, if all goes according to plan.

so, are we going to be busting out the old or possibly just reinventing it a bit?

fancy a chat?

2010-05-05T19:25:00.004+01:00

i can't promise that we'll sit in the sunshine, eat delicious pastries or sip on lattes but i can promise you a good chat. if your free tomorrow at 3pm and in the London area then pop over to the Sketchbook Pop Up Shop located at the heart of Newburgh Quarter. Jill and I are hosting a workshop, as part of the Getting Started lecture series, on what it means to be a blogger in this day and age when there are thousands to shuffle through online. even if your not an active blogger you are welcome to come along, it would be great to see some of your beautiful faces in person. plus, if you haven't checked out Sketchbook Magazine's gem of a pop up shop yet you really should - it's pretty incredible and wont be around for much longer.

above photos of me taken by the wonderful jill - while i waited for her in the sunshine at pauls. wearing - topshop leopard print headband, zip detail harem trousers, and sunglasses, gap cardigan, j.crew sequined t-shirt, shoes from some random american shop.

what their wearing: around soho...

2010-05-03T21:57:00.007+01:00

double denim, printed trousers, sequin sneakers, sailor dresses, denim vests, classic breton stripes.

lace, floral leggings, plimsoles, army jackets, old school sneakers, drop cropped jeans, 1950s greece inspired jackets.

SOS...

2010-05-03T21:48:00.007+01:00

meet fiona. she is one half of the blogging duo behind SOS! Save Our Shoes. she is so funky, vibrant, and gets invites to all sorts of cool events so her blog is filled with lots of behind the scenes peeks that i'm sure you'll be interested in seeing. she made it to yauatcha for our last blogger meet up but sadly i didn't get a chance to chat to her very much. what i did get to experience of her though was utterly fabulous - she seems to bubble over with excitement and enthusiasm which is totally contagious. am already looking forward to the next meet up so i can chat to her more.

p.s. if you based in the london area and would like to find out about our blogger meet ups then contact me and i'll add you to my little contact list!

copycat.

2010-05-03T14:38:00.014+01:00

is it just me or does the marc by marc jacobs petal to the metal messenger bag look eerily similar to my alexander mcqueen flapper bag? all i'm saying is i know which came first... and it wasn't the one with the silly little birds.

'my clogs arrived, my clogs arrived!'

2010-05-01T22:30:00.011+01:00

after waiting for almost 2 weeks for my swedish clogs to arrive they finally landed down in my living room yesterday. way more comfortable to wear than i expected, my only criticism would be the slight sauna sensation that started to develop around my feet after hours of walking around town. never-mind though, that certainly is not a reason to put me off of them. i decided to go for this very traditional version, as opposed to all the more fancy high heeled and studded varieties that are everywhere. although the clog trend already feels slightly overdone, i realized today (while people kept staring at my feet) that they haven't trickled down to mainstream street style yet. i know people who have bought pairs but none that actually wear them. this is because they always complain that the versions they purchased are too high and too difficult to walk in (especially on the cobblestone roads in oxford). with this said, i'm totally chuffed about the pair that i got. i will upload more detailed shots later and will include info on where you can find them - they are from some very random swedish site that my husband found and were a real bargain. thanks mr crusader! i love them.

Wearing: Rare ditsy print top, Urban Outfitters pull on jeans, Alexander McQueen bag, Swedish Clogs, Chanel Blue Satin nail polish - they I got as a birthday present from the gorgeous Jackie of platform princess. (thanks my love!)

p.s. did you notice? i'm officially thestylecrusader.com now!

happy may day!

2010-05-01T07:32:00.010+01:00

Oxford is a bizarre and wonderful place - hence the totally surreal happenings that take place bright and early every 1st of May. Reluctantly I dragged myself (and Mr Crusader) out of bed at 5:30am this morning and headed down to the High Street to find out what all the fuss was about. The streets were full of people - some had stayed out all night at balls while others were toting around small children and looking remarkably fresh faced. All the madness culminates in front of Magdalen college where a choir sings from the top of a tower. I wont lie to you, I could just barely make out the sound of their angelic voices radiating across the heaps of people - but regardless of that pivotal moment the whole experience of May Morning was totally perfect. The energy of hundreds of people, some who have triumphed over the night and were struggling to stand up straight, was totally electrifying. Some traditions really are worth all the hype.

Dapper Oxford gents wearing brogues, society jackets, burberry trenches, smoking cigars and drinking champagne - all before 6:30am. That is what it's all about.

Oxford High Street at 6am.

Morris dancers next to Hertford College.

Parades go through the streets with people dancing behind them.

Triumphant party-goers who managed to stay awake through the whole night! All this before 7am...

currently craving...

2010-04-30T23:59:00.004+01:00

asos and i are having a moment. i have never actually bought anything from the website (gasp!) but i seriously want pretty much everything they've got. i do not know what has gotten in to me but i feel like i need the above printed trousers! after seeing this post where sarah wears a similar pair - i just can't get them out of my head. do you think i've lost my marbles? are they actually hideous? on a less controversial note, the above skirt would pretty much be perfection- with my new clogs... uh, yes please. all the skirts i currently have seem to be either too bodycon (AA stretchy ones) or too... well, too not this one pictured above. in addition to those two pieces i'm also craving an army inspired little jacket and the rayban cat sunglasses that are on sale. yes, that's right, i've got some serious style cravings going on at the moment.

is there anything your dreaming about?

Items: Effie peg leg trousers, Button through casual skirt, Gap military parka, Rayban cats

rustic orange...

2010-04-30T11:14:00.004+01:00

not a colour that is highly connected with spring but it is totally working on this girl. this rusty orange shade that she's got in her hair, around her neck, and slung over her shoulder is the perfect accent to her otherwise neutral shaded outfit. i just love the laid back, but very well put together, and in sync look of these three. plus, i'm totally after an army khaki jacket (like the one hanging over her arm) and wedged desert boots (like both girls are wearing). seriously covetable - a masterclass on how to put together contrasting prints and colours and a reminder that attention to detail really makes all the difference.

p.s. apologies that i haven't been keeping up on everyone's blogs very well - i'm totally feeling overwhelmed with university work at the moment, but i promise i'll make an effort to catch put this weekend!

i smell trouble...

2010-04-28T23:36:00.005+01:00

as i was sitting on the tube this morning i spotted someone reading the stylist - this free fashion lifestyle magazine that is given out on tuesdays on the underground in london. as i was eying up the carriage to see if i could find an abandoned one the girl flipped it over and i saw this nina ricci perfume advertisement on the back. is it just me or are people kind of over perfume? the last perfume i bought was the marc jacobs daisy one... and that was literally two years ago. i really am not a perfume girl. it really bugs me when someone walks by and you can smell them after they've walked away, gotten in a taxi, and driven miles away. yeeuck. i think someone's scent should be personal - the sort of thing you can only snatch a whiff of if your lucky enough to get close to them. everyone in the room doesn't need to smell your scent, just a select few. am i alone on this? anyway, all this to say - i've never smelt this perfume and i've got no idea if its rank or divine. but immediately when i saw it i thought of a little someone i know....

this is my sister's daughter grace. she is seriously one stylish and adorable little monster. often my sister will post photos of her dressed up in ridiculous outfits - and i can't help but think that actually she is totally nailing some major trends. so, here she is, in all her four year old birthday glory sporting a pair of ears identical to the pair worn in the newest nina ricci advertisement. how stinking cute is she?

breton striped twinlets

2010-04-27T18:53:00.011+01:00

have you ever shown up at a party to discover that another girl is wearing your exact same dress? it's meant to be like the worst thing that could ever happen in girl world, right? well, luckily i've never lived through such embarrassment (but trust me, i've had my fair share of humiliations) but today when i met up with lucy we were wearing pretty stinking similar outfits. the exact same zara striped top, biker jackets, skinny jeans - all topped off with a good dose of wispy hair and makeup free faces (hence the big sunnies). i guess this is the way to wear breton stripes this spring... well, it is in our little world at least.

matchy-matchy. lucy wears: topshop leather jacket, zara breton striped t-shirt, gap denim, raybans, and some espadrilles that were picked up on holiday. i'm wearing: madewell jersey jacket (i swear this is the only jacket i ever wear, are you getting totally sick of it? well, today a bird did a massive poop right down the left arm of it! seriously distressing), urban outfitters denim pull on jeans, rainbow leather flip flops and banana republic floral tote.

lucy is one of the coolest girls i know. she is smart, absolutely hilarious, and so driven. i love her sense of style (err, probably obvious from the above photos). at the beginning of each season we end up having very deep conversations about what we want to be wearing this season and what we are thinking of buying... it's all very official, you know. a girls wardrobe is serious business. anyway, i love lucy because she encompasses so many great qualities and is so fun to be around. she ticks the intellectual boxes as well as the stylish and fun ones - hence the recent creation of her blog: cest gleek. your probably thinking, what the heck does that mean? well, it encompasses lucy's dual nature of being utterly GLam but a total gEEK at heart. hence the word - gleek. check her out, she's a blog newbie and needs some serious love.

a little obsessed...

2010-04-27T10:29:00.009+01:00

i tend to love things in waves - in a sort of obsessive all or nothing sort of way. for example, last summer, after spending my whole life detesting avocados, i literally ate one every day for lunch for three months straight. see, i have a problem. so presently i've got a couple fashion obsessions. one of those is the maxi. not the sort of floaty maxi dress that was so popular last summer but a new sort of maxi dress. i want it to be a solid colour and i want it to be very long. if it stops at my ankles that isn't long enough it needs to graze the floor - or come pretty darn close to it. and i don't want it to be full and whimsical i want it to be straight. i was warned that this sort of dress is seriously impractical - how are you going to walk if the bottom is small? how are you going to get on your bike? honestly, do you think i care about those sorts of things (i asked my husband). clearly, i do not. my first attempt at getting this covetable spring item was at topshop. i tried on a solid version of this and wound up looking like a total mermaid - to be honest i was trying to copy this look that i saw and totally loved - but the hip to ankle ratio was making me look rather ridiculous. so weeks passed and it wasn't until i stumbled across this little number at topshop that my maxi dress needs were met. now they've got it in three new colours and at 18 pounds a pop you seriously can't go wrong. if you haven't jumped into the maxi pond yet this is the perfect way to gently stick in your toe without sacrificing too much if it all goes horribly wrong. i for one am officially hooked. they are so easy and really feel so lovely to wear. my advice for wearing them though? you need to seriously consider your underwear situation - there is nothing worse than a beautiful silhouette destroyed my a nasty case of bum bulge. i opted for a long white slip from m&s to wear under it to conceal all the little lumps that you don't want anyone to see. next on my list is the asos lightweight maxi dress. after seeing olivia wearing it on friday it is officially on my wishlist. i think i'm going to go for it in the heather green and since it looks a lot looser than my topshop one maybe i'll be able to pass on the granny m&s slip.

have you fallen for the maxi trend? or am i a lone wolf in this obsession?

your new favourite thing...

2010-04-26T21:15:00.012+01:00

in the market for a new totally addictive blog? well, i've got just the thing for you and it's bound to be your new favourite thing. olivia came to our blogger meet up on friday and i totally did not realize which blog she was from during our lunch, i'm blaming that on my slightly delirious sleep deprived birth-week self. it was the first time we met and she was absolutely charming. i'd like to think we bonded over such deep and meaningful conversations as the thought of my husband wearing clogs in his laboratory... and my unsuccessful attempt at borrowing them (if you think walking in clogs your own size are difficult try a men's 11). not only is olivia lovely and down to earth but she is also so chic. i totally adore her long black asos maxi dress. you can't see in the photos but it's got short sleeves and basically looks like an extension of what would be your absolute favourite t-shirt. must get myself one as soon as possible.

Olivia wears: Asos dress, Topshop cardigan, vintage jacket, Alexander Wang bag, Marni shoes, Rolex, bracelet from Mykonos.

p.s. after i got back home on friday and i went to check out Olivia's blog i was left feeling like a total muppet. i love her blog! how did i not realize this when i met her. i seriously sat and scrolled through the pages and was totally won over again by how charming she is... i love the photos and her commentary. it is all gorgeous and it makes you feel like you want to be her best friend. as cheesy as it sounds it is my new favourite thing.

and the winner is...

2010-04-26T08:08:00.003+01:00

congratulations to Adorngirl who is the winner of a piece of jewelry from Brooklyn Thread. thanks for all your comments, i was so glad to see there was such positive feedback and that so many of you wanted to get your hands on one of these gorgeous bracelets! sorry to everyone out there that didn't win... i know a lot of you had your fingers crossed pretty hard. hopefully i'll do another giveaway soon and bring some monday morning cheer to more of you out there.

make a wish...

2010-04-25T09:22:00.004+01:00

i've been reading carrie's blog wish wish wish for a while now. the quality and feeling conveyed in her photos has always inspired me. they are absolutely gorgeous. for example, check out this one. she reminds me of some sort of ethereal creature from another time and place. so, when i found out that she was planning on coming to our blogger meet up that took place this past friday... i totally did not know what to expect. she was so sweet though. sitting across from me, she looked nervous about all the exotic and unfamiliar foods that were being delivered. once the egg fried rice was placed in front of her though she was a seriously happy little cookie. i'm so impressed that at 19 she's established such a memorable and gorgeous blog. honestly, it is one of the most beautiful blogs i've come across and has such top notch quality pictures and content. it's definitely one of my favourites. oh, and carrie's got a mulberry alexa (which is pretty enviable), a lovely boyfriend who she sometimes moans about on twitter for spending more time looking at his computer than her pretty face, and seems to have a closet full of beautiful clothes that she puts together in the most unique way. i feel she's definitely a girl after my own heart.

p.s. she said she's got a camera 'face' that she pulls whenever she's getting her photo taken - mouth clothed, headed perfectly tilted... but i happen to think her natural smile is pretty darn sweet.

march to the beat of your own drum...

2010-04-24T21:27:00.006+01:00

lucy, of snippets of shiny thoughts, is absolutely hilarious and totally quirky. she seriously cracked me up when, after our delicious lunch in soho, she was standing around with her reading glasses on under her sunglasses. that's just how she wears them. she is so great. i love her unique and off-beat style. she's the type of girl that marches to the sound of her own drum. her blog is filled with all sorts of things - great photos, inside peeks at press days, and just a range of shiny things that inspire and motivate her. be sure to check it out.

oh, friday you are perfection.

2010-04-23T23:31:00.013+01:00

in the true spirit of birthweek (a concept i introduced into my life last year whereby you extend the festivities of your birthday over as much of the week as possible) i got together with some lovely girls in london today for a blogger meet up and all around good time. i met up with hedvig and jill beforehand at the victoria & albert museum. and no, i didn't see the hotly discussed grace kelly exhibition. i didn't even look at one bloody piece of art the whole time... i just sat by the fountain and enjoyed the feeling of the sun on my back. (photographed above with the gorgeous hedvig - whose wearing: acne dress, kate kanzier shoes, ray ban wayfarers)

lounging by the fountain, i noted one negative of growing up: you can't take off your trousers and go prance around inside the fountain like a toddler (bummer).

coconut cocktail at the fabulous and seriously incredible yauatcha restaurant in london that hedvig recommended. honestly the whole place totally blew my mind - the food, atmosphere, service... it all was impeccable. i'm sure it didn't hurt that i had delightful company. plus we spotted jason bradbury from the gadget show playing with an ipad at a nearby table... i am so easily starstruck.

we held a little impromptu photo session on some poor guys door step in soho. i've got so many gorgeous photos of lots of amazing bloggers to show you. everyone was dressed so well and was so friendly and down to earth. it was so much fun to meet the girls who i hadn't ever seen (in real life) before - actually i think these are all the girls here in this shot. so, if you haven't met them before... i'd like to introduce you to carrie of wish wish wish, fiona of save our shoes, lucy of snippets of shiny thoughts, and olivia of my new favourite thing. more on all of them, as well as the other regular lovelies, soon...

p.s. i'm wearing topshop headband (yes, again - you seriously did not want to see what my hair looked like this morning - this is my go-to accessory now for bad hair days... i'm heading back to get one in every colour), sunglasses, and harem trousers, j.crew reindeer antler sequined t-shirt, gap re-invted cardi, and yellow espadrilles from some random american shop (which my mom has too! - remember mom?)

a great earth day...

2010-04-22T23:34:00.003+01:00

first, i just want to say thanks so much for all the lovely birthday wishes you have sent my direction. i have had one of the best birthdays. i got woken up at 7am with my favourite ice cream (cookies n' cream) in bed with strawberries and presents. seriously, is there any better way to wake up? and the day just kept getting better from there... we had a gorgeous lunch, followed by more presents in the park, then drinks and dinner with friends. the weather was gorgeous, the sun was shining, and i busted out my sandals for the first time this year. oh, and to top it all off i received a canon dslr in the post from our uncle who lives in new york... he just decided to give it to us, because he doesn't really use it anymore. so, there was a birthday miracle today - because after all my wishing and hoping that it would arrive before my birthday it turns out it made it - just in time. so we had a great time playing with it this afternoon.

also i got wear some of my new topshop goodies - which is always exciting. more of it will come your way over the next couple days. wearing: strappy jersey maxi dress, leopard twist headband, topshop sunglasses, madewell jacket, topshop gold sandals from a few years ago, urban outfitters destination london charm necklace, topshop love ring. oh my gosh, seriously although this may look like a topshop sponsored birthday it actually totally is not. i didn't actually even realize how decked out i was in the brand until just now.

p.s. if you haven't entered my birthday present (to you) giveaway you've got until sunday to enter. just click here to do it and you could win some brooklyn thread jewelry.

the little crusader...

2010-04-22T08:51:00.004+01:00

if only i could still pose this well.... just found out this morning that my lovely husband bought me the domain name www.thestylecrusader.com - how cool is that? oh, and i went on a bit of shopping spree at topshop yesterday so i'll be sure to update you soon on all my new purchases.

p.s. it's also earth day today... so hats off to our lovely planet.

together we have a voice...

2010-04-21T14:10:00.006+01:00

i love street style for its ability to motivate and inspire. for the fact that it's normal people, in their normal clothes, going about their normal days... except that often the people don't feel entirely normal. they look utterly cool and make you swoon after all the items their wearing. street style provides such a great way to get useful styling tips that you can incorporate into your own looks if you want. jill from street style london had an idea about mixing street style and ads together. it has been done before but not to a great extent. it's a way to show how you can mix your own clothes and accessories with new pieces from a shop and make the look individual. plus, if you like the pieces and think they would work in your own wardrobe you can easily click onto the site to purchase them. this is jill's first photo from her American Apparel collaboration of mixing people's street style with new items from the brand. i think it looks great and has serious potential. definitely a cause i can get behind.

check out jill's full post here and find out how you can get involved in the movement.

and we lived beneath the waves in our yellow submarine...

2010-04-21T08:00:00.003+01:00

is it just me, or could he totally be mistaken for a member of the beatles? i'm loving this couples in-synch retro style.

the platform princess...

2010-04-20T17:31:00.004+01:00

meet jackie. she is absolutely fabulous and has a blog called the platform princess. i am a little addicted to it because she updates it with photos of herself looking utterly gorgeous in the sweetest little outfits. it makes for great inspiration... and often leaves me wanting to go out and buy identical goodies so i can look like her! we first met when i snapped her photo at London Fashion Week back in February - i didn't take her name but someone left a comment pointing out who she was and where i could find her blog. so after a couple months of twitter stalking we finally met up again for cupcakes in covent garden and i was so happy to discover that she is just as lovely in person as she is on her blog. plus, she has such a great sense of style - managing to look utterly chic and put together by mixing high street, designer, and vintage pieces together. also, she always manages to look bang on trend without it being too try hard. notice her nonchalant take on the double-denim trend? totally not in your face and for that reason it works so well. I'm seeing Jackie again on Friday and I can't wait to see what she'll be wearing (no pressure).

mulberry patent shoes and bright pink nails.

snacking on pink cupcakes at Ella's Bakehouse - seriously divine.

taking photos of all the girls for a post she did on our cupcake meet up. Jackie wears: Reiss blazer, vintage bag, Mulberry shoes.

am i the only person that thinks this was a bad idea?

2010-04-19T17:44:00.010+01:00

agyness deyn with buddie pixie geldof at coachella festival in california rocking her new hair do... a shaved head? really? first it was bleached, then it was black, and then when all other shocking options seemed to have been exhausted came the 'sure to get you attention' idea of shave it all off. is there something in the water in LA that makes young starlets want to do this? granted, aggy doesn't look all that bad. her and natalie portman might be the only two women who can actually pull this look off. but, surely a bit of colour wouldn't do her any harm... that pale skin and dress are totally washing her out. she looks more like she is verging on the edge of having a medical disaster than a great time at the coolest musical festival around. do you think acne paid her to wear their dress when she debuted the hairstyle? surely she knew it would end up in every magazine around. if you feel so inclined to emulate aggy all you've got to do is grab the nearest razor and snatch up this acne gorgeous dress....

tah dah! dispensable fashionista in a bottle.

and, in other news kelly osbourne continues to sport her grandma inspired purple stiff curls. i like it when she goes for the retro vibe... but its all going a bit wrong, with the exception of the very cool saddle shoes.

no, sadly i didn't jump on a magic plane that can bypass volcanic dust and take me to LA - both photos are from here.

summer essentials: the perfect hat

2010-04-19T12:04:00.009+01:00

the right summer hat is more powerful than your most coveted pair of shoes and has the ability to transform any drab outfit instantly with the flick of your pretty little wrist (provided your hat is connected to said wrist - and you make sure it lands on your head, not the floor - in which case you'll just look a bit daft). kicking off my list of summer essentials is the summer trilby. worn above, yesterday by yours truly, in the park to cover up some seriously dire bed head (the one i'm wearing is two seasons old from jigsaw i do believe). trilbies are the perfect way to ease yourself into summer hats because they aren't difficult to wear or too pretentious. which reminds me, yesterday i spotted a whole row of oxford toffs strolling through the park in matching boating hats and cream suits - seriously obnoxious. which brings us nicely to...

rule number 1 of sporting a hat: do not, under any circumstances, match your hat with your friend's hat. one person in a summer trilby = cool and original. a whole group = lame fancy dress. plus, whoever started wearing the hat first probably wont like you very much and rightfully so.

rule number 2: wear with confidence. most people start of feeling a bit self-conscious when sporting a hat but the last thing you want to do is look self-conscious. okay? so if you're going to dare to wear a hat, suck up your gut, push your shoulders back and walk with confidence. otherwise, just take it off and pass it to your envious friend who will probably want to wear it.

so which hat is for you? well, take your pick: break open your piggy bank savings and indulge in albertus swanepoel, eugenia kim, anthony peto or proceed with caution and go for a reasonably priced one from asos, reiss, or topshop. just be sure to avoid monstrosities like this one.

happy birthday (present to you)!

2010-04-18T10:38:00.006+01:00

it just so happens that it's my birthday is this week (thursday, April 22nd... that's right, Earth Day, in case you didn't know). so i thought we should celebrate this momentous occasion (yes, i'm going to be twenty-five, gasp!) with some presents. yes again... go ahead, send them my way. no, no, a present for you. the lovely Joanna of BrooklynThread has offered to give away one of her gorgeous pieces of jewelry to one of my lucky readers. i pretty much adore all her bracelets and want my wrists to be covered in them. covered in them, i tell you - from my wrist straight up to my elbow. they are so simple but totally unique and chic. not your average festival goers bangle, that's for sure. plus all her pieces are hand made in Brooklyn using natural fibers, which is pretty sweet.

so the winner will get to choose their favourite piece out of the three that i've selected. all you have to do is leave me a comment below (just one, don't double comment please) and make sure there is a way for me to contact you to let you know if you've won. winner will be randomly selected from comments left before midnight (british time) on April 25th and will be announced on Monday April 26th. happy early birthday present!

Silver and Linen Woven Earrings

Gold Woven Karma Circle Bracelet

Gold Coin Bead Leather Bangle

it's like mexico!!

2010-04-17T22:03:00.007+01:00

glorious weather once again swept across britain today. the english don't know how to deal with it. one of my friends (ahem... alex) kept randomly shouting 'it's like mexico!'... apparently mexico is the only other place that gets sunshine? actually, we were eating delicious burritos in the park - that probably added to the mexican vibe. ok, so here i am, in all my stripe-y glory outside the library (with absolutely no intention of going in) today. tomorrow swimming in the river is on the cards. don't worry though, you wont spot me here in a bikini - it is surely too early for me to be dipping my body into any English water source. Wearing: Rare embellished shoulder jacket, Urban Outfitters bright blue vest, True Religion jean shorts, Cabbages & Roses white plimsoles, Michael Kors brown leather belt.

p.s. first giveaway being announced tomorrow in celebration of a special event... watch this space.

stand out from the crowds...

2010-04-16T23:19:00.007+01:00

Not for the faint hearted or the self-conscious: brightly coloured jumpsuits are the sure way to stand out this spring/summer. Spotted this gorgeous teal number in Covent Garden. Love how it's been paired down and given a certain level of street cred with the worn in worker boots and funky knit beanie. A similar outfit was spotted at Paris Fashion Week by the talented Vanessa Jackman. So, teal jumpsuits are the item to be spotted in!

Do you dare?

p.s. notice her friend's (with the black/white striped tights) red clogs? i so need to get myself a pair. i think the three of them were Scandinavian... the authentic clogs are so much cooler looking than the trendy super high heeled ones. ah, another thing to add to my wish list.

how to be a london hipster...

2010-04-15T23:36:00.006+01:00

headwear: fedoras, slouchy beanies, tied up scarves, side braids.

sunglasses: of the retro variety - preferably ray ban or no name.

clothing: graphic t-thirts, leather jackets, bodycon stretchy skirts, skinny (but worn in so slightly slouchy) denim.

accessories: layered jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, whatever you can get your hands on), patterned tights (animal print or floral), worn out dirty plimsoles, aged ankle boots, hats, sunglasses, small cross body bags.

do: drink coffee, smile, and act surprised/flattered/friendly when someone asks to photograph you - these three were absolutely delightful.

Click here and visit my Facebook group to view some behind the scenes shots.

currently craving...

2010-04-15T22:05:00.009+01:00

Asos: Blush Frill Sleeve Heart Print Dress & Blush Window Button Down Dress

Nasy Gal: Bamboo Scoop Top & Overboard Chambray Jacket

Whistles: Chino Peg Trousers & Pleated Waistband Trouser

H&M: Fashion Against AIDS accessories available May 10th at select shops

i've been crusaded!

2010-04-14T22:31:00.010+01:00

friday evenings in central london are magical. all the hoards of people who have been cooped up all week in their offices pour out onto the streets and transform the sidewalks into little hubs of what will surely turn into great parties. while walking from covent garden to marble arch i spotted this girl sitting in a little alcove of a building. she was so striking because, while her friends were all standing nearby drinking and chatting, she was sitting all alone on these little rocks with her eyes peering out from under a perfectly sharp bright blond fringe. i rushed over to her, silently handed her a card and started shooting, she was on the phone you know - so i didn't want to be rude and interrupt... when she suddently jumped up onto her feet and yelled 'I've been crusaded!' then she shot her arms up over her head and did a little victory dance. i can honestly say - that made my day.

her friends were laughing and pointing at her 'worn out shoes'.

Fierce accessories.

get a little opulence in your life...

2010-04-14T10:34:00.009+01:00

In the market for something utterly feminine and totally glam? Don't want to break the bank but want something unique and that you can covet for many months to come? Rare Opulence has just been released and is your ticket to dress up heaven. Launched as a diffusion line from its sister Rare, the Opulence collection steps it up one serious fashion notch. The designs come in a range of shapes and styles and will channel your inner saucy side. The colours ring true to this season's popular washed-out soft neutrals. No matter if you prefer to rock out at the hottest nightclubs (the Nude Sequin Dress is probably for you), sip champagne in the park (Floral Lace Dress), or flounce around the coolest gigs in town (Cropped Corset is totally knocking out the whole underwear-as-outwear trend). Personally, I've got my eye on the 3D Flower Skirt, the Rose Bomber Jacket (gives the red H&M garden collection jacket a run for its money) and the Laser Cut Petal Dress.

Ah, and with that my girly side will be perfectly satisfied...

Preview the entire range here.

a generous spirit...

2010-04-13T22:20:00.005+01:00

Jill of Street Style London (pics by polka dot) is, without a doubt, one of the most inviting, warm spirited, and generous people I know. She has got an amazing eye for style, incredible vision and is so determined. Totally modest and the most outgoing person. To me, this photo captures her perfectly... carefree laughter, moth eaten jumper, layered bracelets, camera in hand, neutral shades, her current favourite colour (lavender) just peeking out around her neck, natural bag, vintage raybans, ready to take on the world and looking for her next 'jump victim'.

what better way to usher in spring...

2010-04-13T10:46:00.011+01:00

the sun on your face, flower tucked behind your hair, bare legs, and a new dress... what better way is there to usher in the first warm weekend of spring? i've been trying to experiment a bit more with my outfits. to move beyond the normal skinny jeans, t-shirts, and hoodie combination that i wear most days. it's a difficult transition, i'm not going to lie to you. i tend to come up with an adventurous outfit (adventurous meaning not the aforementioned lazy-butt gear) and then 'ummm' and 'ahhh' about it until i reach a climatic state of paranoia (after such thoughts like: 'surely i look like a total spazz', 'everyone will stare'), rip the outfit off, quickly jump back into jeans/t-shirt combo, and run out the door before i can think twice about the decision (phew, near brush with disaster avoided!). but lately i've been putting my foot down. it is time for a change. so saturday morning, when it happened to be uncharacteristically warm outside, i thought it would be the perfect opportunity to test out this new Rare dress i got. this is totally out of my comfort zone... for crying out loud it's a polka dot hoop dress! could i really wear this out in public?! after much deliberation and coaching from my husband, i decided to go for it. after all, you only live once, and chances are it will be months before its warm enough again in England to go bare legged and strapless. so i pulled on some black running shorts underneath (there was no way i could cycle into town in this dress without something underneath... uh, indecent exposure alert) and hoped for the best.

once i got into town i quickly loosened up about the dress and completely forgot that it wasn't the sort of thing i would wear on any given day. i was just too happy to be paranoid. it was so fun to lounge around the park wearing this gorgeous little retro polka dot dress. it felt like the perfect outfit for a perfect spring day. plus, i didn't get any funky tan lines from it. perfect for tanning in glamorous locations while still looking chic.

i am so glad i decided to bite the bullet and just wear it. what's the point of having cool items sitting in your closet if all they do is exactly that: sit in your closet? my challenge to you is to bust out some of those items that you think you've got to save for special occasions and just wear them.

if not today, then when? after all my dears, you only live once.

Wearing: Rare Polka Dot Hoop Dress, Madewell Jacket, Cabbages & Roses Plimsoles, Topshop Love ring, Primark sunglasses.

whose that girl...

2010-04-13T00:01:00.003+01:00

some people just manage to look so achingly cool every time they step foot outside the house. they make looking chic, glamorous, and utterly put together look so easy. i can honestly say i'm not one of those people... i often suffer from bed head, have nervous breakdowns over what i'm wearing, and can never manage to find anything in my tornado-esque closet. hedvig, on the other hand, seems to be one of those people. the type of girl you see walking by and just want to look at because you can't help but wonder who she is. where is she going? what sort of fabulous life does she lead? how does she get those perfectly bouncy curls? (just with a hairdryer she told me). she is quickly becoming a regular feature on here because each time i see her she is rocking a totally different and unique look, is wearing a gorgeous mix of high street and designer pieces, and just looks absolutely fabulous. i'm thinking of asking her to do a q&a with me about her style tips and maybe it will help me avoid my nightmarish morning clothing crises...

Hedvig wears: H&M maxi dress, H&M Garden Collection Jacket, Ray Ban wayfarers, rings by Efva Attling, men's Tag Heuer watch, Acne Pose 1 S/S10 shoes, and Alexander Wang Washed Shoulder Bag.

it's all in the details... the simple and classic items Hedvig is wearing are brought bang up to date by her directional accessories. the laced up acne shoes add an interesting an unexpected element while the leather and chain detailed bag add a tough vibe. the men's watch keeps it all from looking too feminine and girly. plus, you can never go wrong with a pair of ray bans. a perfect selection of accessories... and all of this is topped off with the most perfectly bouncy curls. so chic!

the new it bag?

2010-04-11T21:49:00.008+01:00

trends tend to sprout in unexpected places. for example, remember when bum bags (aka fanny packs) were more associated with the awkward tourist rather than Rihanna? when they were black, nylon, and totally lame instead of fur and covered in logos? and then they got all designer, American Apparel did them in gold lame... next thing you know, all the cool kids are sporting them. so here's a bag (spotted in China Town in London by what appeared to be some trendsetters) that's totally cheap, cheerful, and unpretentious. let's see if their the hottest thing come festival season. afterall, chances all you felt equally repulsed by skinny jeans, leggings, clogs, and double-denim once upon a time...

two of a kind...

2010-04-10T22:43:00.004+01:00

spotted these two stylish fellas in covent garden and just thought they looked so cool. i was actually a little surprised by how friendly they were, but even more surprised once i got home and looked at the photos to realize how similar the pair are. you know how people start to resemble those they are close to... dogs and their owners, couples, good friends? well, obviously these two are buddies, otherwise they certainly wouldn't be sharing one set of earphones - but their also pulling similar expressions, are sitting in the same way, both have on rolled denim jeans, almost identical shoes and just have a very funky urban look. well, you know what they say: birds of a feather...

shake your tail feather...

2010-04-10T01:54:00.011+01:00

i had the pleasure of spending a very sunny afternoon in covent garden yesterday with some lovely fellow bloggers. jill, jackie, kaz, vanessa, hedvig, michelle and i ate cupcakes all afternoon at the insanely gorgeous ella's bakehouse. a compulsory event when meeting fellow bloggers is photos... there are always lots. this means you better not be in a rush to get anywhere because we move like snails: pausing to stare into shop windows, chatting to men with infamous dog-cats who have facebook pages, stopping strangers to photograph them... it is great though and pretty hilarious. we decided to do some compulsory shooting in the square where i was directed to shake my tail feather in front of what felt like the entire british public. i'm sure no one was actually even looking and, let's be honest, i enjoyed showing off my new 'rah-rah' skirt (that's what jill called it all day long). apologies for my slightly geeky faces and attempted hip shakes but, in a skirt that moves like this one, its hard not to try and shake it...

Wearing: Rare Laser Cut Silky Skirt, Madewell Jacket, Cabbages and Roses Plimsolls

p.s. thanks to Jill for taking these photos of me with my generous friend Andy's camera (that he kindly let me borrow) - also, if you haven't seen Jill's post on this outfit I'm wearing definitely check it out... she snapped a beautiful shot of all the little laser cut leaves in motion.

england, i love you!

2010-04-10T00:51:00.007+01:00

due to some freakishly high pressure this little island which is usually dark, wet, and cold is experiencing 'Mediterranean' temperatures... okay, okay, the Daily Mail may have exaggerated that a bit. 17C (63F) isn't actually a reason to get your panties all in a twist - but, around here, it is a reason to strip down as close to your skivvies as you can legally get. at the first sight of sun it's off with the tights and on with the sunglasses... and I must say, London was looking all the more glorious today for it.

i know it wont last for long... but i'm going to enjoy it while it's here! wherever you are i hope you are too.