Sunday 20 December 2009

Special Swop shop/dressing up station Jimmy Saville Row at Christmas TOTP




For all you party people
tea and organges are running their special swop shop/dressing up station Jimmy Saville Row at Christmas TOTP - this Saturday at the Elevator Gallery, Hackney Wick, E9.
Should be an awesome party!(and don't forget you can pick up a last minute gift from tea and organes at the All I want for Xmas Boutique at The Old Truman Brewery, E1, this weekend)
I will miss it but dont you!!

My newest and most exciting shop!!! My, my Sugar Land!


Take nearly all my favourite designers of the moment, Reem, Fin, Bebaroque, Bernadette Deddens and then add some fairy assistants and Angel tube next door and what do you
get SUGARLAND!

Yep what a find ! and thats not taking into account their enormous stock pile of vintage fashion for gals and yep boys plus Laura Lee embroidery on nearly everything! The fact they even do workshops with her and you can embellish your own, brought with you pieces, or anything else you buy in the shop!

They are proming 2 events a month including Yoga! Ok so really do you ever want to leave the place! So just get onto their mailing list info@mysugarland.co.uk or just pop by.....My Sugarland
London. EC1V 4NJ -->T: 0207 8417131.Opening TimesMon - Sat 10.30am – 7pm Sun 1.30am–5.30pm

Saturday 12 December 2009

Oh no I forgot! Xmas shopping last minute....



I remember in the past in my office days pre organic farming.. people used to get half day allowances for Xmas shopping actually i never did the shopping thing but I did always take the half days to meet up with friends and party!


Always used to just do a mad rush last minute so I guess not much has really changed since
then.... Here we go the mad rush luckily a couple of savvy shops have geared themselves for just that.........


My favourite colour and fun lovin girls have a pop up shop in Covent Garden Neal street till the end of the month... I love Lowie Shes got the whole range in technicolour from socks to mittens with or without fingers and berets and hats and little cute bow headbands as well as this rather fetching green red riding hood cape... Lupe loves it ...

Oh and down the same street the Natural shoe store has got a Sale shop.. where you can get Above+below bootees for £49 there is a rather sicko comforting thought of stamping around in my central line rare boots, I am going to get some for some seriously angry weekend commuters I know.... tooo.
Then Terra plana has a cool offer and they're giving out a Burt's Bees gift
(nice stocking filler guys) with every pair of sale shoes.. they still have some of those terribly high pink courts left.. they will work well in Summer too. So I guess I could just hang around Covent Garden but not even the vintage goodies of Elton John and David Furnish at the cellars this weekend is going to organise me!
So thankfully Julia Smith is doing a discount for friends and family at her shop at 4 Porchester Place London W2 2BS020 7402 4758 on the 22nd of December so expect me and the whole family and drinks...
and loads of trying on!!!
Oh and if you're anywhere near East Dulwich way the delightful duo of Andrea and Kim of 21thingsi love are doing a designer sample sale luxurious bamboo and organic cotton butterfly motif t-shirts limited edition print silk scarves dates - 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 Dec E.D. Warehouse, 1 Zenoria St East Dulwich, London SE22 8HP Friday 10.30-5.30, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5.



Sunday 6 December 2009

Great New Find.....


Imagine how cool a find today,brought to us by Sweetling.co.uk who are actually at the clothes show Birmingham all this week.
For all us girlies this is an amazing piece of kit, ideal for carrying the all essential monthly item in style! Not only that though, it can double up as a nifty carrier for make up, card & cash too! Beats throwing some shapes around the bag. Just pop this item made from offcuts into your pocket and you can finally free yourself onto the dancefloor!!!
Yeahhh!!!

Thursday 3 December 2009

FIND YOUR PERFECT WINTER COAT

I remember the days when buying a coat happened around September.
The idea was that you bought something terribly sensible that would last you a couple of years, if not forever.


It seems that things have changed. Firstly, the prices have dropped, so on the high street buying a coat is virtually on a par with getting a good party dress. Secondly, the idea of being sensible is no longer valid. In fact, the more outlandish and on trend the coat the better; you want to get noticed right?!

But this new state of affairs doesn’t actually fit in with my ethos at all (well apart from getting noticed that is).
The favourite coat in my wardrobe to date was picked up on a vintage stall at Spitalfield market London for £5. I saw it and realised it looked like an Izzy Lane (izzylane.com) brown and white hounds tooth coat (which at about £395 a coat was going to take just too long to save for). I grabbed it only to find out later it was a hand-woven tweed from Ireland. But these are one off miracle finds: right place, right time with a fiver in your pocket!
Buying a coat - The plan


Option one: Buy a coat which is going to last you, well, forever. My mum is an expert! She swears that your coats should be as expensive as you can afford. Look after it well by brushing it down after each wear, hang on a proper hanger with lavender pouch, get it altered when you change shape (most expensive coats have extra material on seams for that purpose) and then give to your children or grandchildren.
Option two: Buy a coat you can wear throughout the year. Make sure there isn’t too much weight in the material but wide enough to play the layering game.
Consider which colour works best for you - black/brown or maybe teal/raspberry.
The correct shape is vital, and there are lots to choose from: pea, princess, trench, wrap, the list goes on.

So with all the above taken into account and a bit more besides, this is my tried and tested capsule coat collection for .................



1. Wool Holmes Short Coat, (above) Stewart+Brown, £310, ascensiononline.com. Wear throughout the year great for layering.
Colour- bluey-plum. Material- boiled merino wool from ‘annually renewable free-range resources without petro-chemicals in their processing’. Cut -Dolman sleeves (can be rolled up) length hitting mid thigh (approach with caution if this is problem area). It has a nice self tie belt to draw in the waist and is single breasted, which is great for leaving open and wearing with chunky knitwear.
Verdict – a really great classic investment piece to wear throughout the year! A big thank you to the fantastic Abbi at Ascension who tried every coat in the boutique.
2.Elizabeth 1 knee length, Eloise Grey, £899, eloisegrey.com. Going to last you forever.
Colour – Brown. (can be made to order in other colours check fabric swatch.) Material – organic and ethical undyed tweeds from the Isle of Mull weavers lined with organic cotton or silk blend. Cut – Classic flared with pleat down the back. Raised ruched collar adds a little twist.
Verdict – I think one to keep for the grandchildren. Fantastic for the smaller bust and curvier bottom half.




3.Elizabeth 2 knee length, Eloise Grey, £880, eloisegrey.com. Also going to last you forever.
Colour – Silver grey (can be made to order in other colours check fabric swatch. Material – Ethical Silver diamond twill lined with black hemp silk lining. Classic cut.
Flared loden style with pleat down the back and large collar. Because of the pleat in the back it does go into a princess shape, great for curvier bottom halves.Verdict – classic work wear coat that skims the figure.






4. Illusion coat, Julia Smith, £325, juliasmithfashion.co.uk. Wear thoughout the year albeit in the evening in Summer!
Colour – Black. Material – Scottish wool with hand painted cotton lining from Ghana. Has a narrow envelope collar with concealed buttons. Verdict - fabulous classic coat, amazing with vintage dresses and seriously cool with jeans.
5. SJ coat, mid thigh, Julia Smith, £275, juliasmithfashion.co.uk. Wear thoughout the year . If you dare, wear on its own with a vintage 80s shimmery top and sparkly American Apparel tights.
Colour – Black, Material Recycled polyester mpb and hemp/silk. Cut extremely deep. Has a smoking collar and is single breasted with great cape like sleeves. Verdict – Looks fantastic worn with trousers with the belt tied. The only coat to wear if you’ve bought into the 80s shoulder power dressing.
6. Riding hood coat, mid thigh, Cecilia Hammarborg, £250, ceciliahammarborg.com. Wear throughout the year.
Colour – Turquoise teal but also in black and rose pink. Material- Melton narrow pinstripe made and sourced in London. Fitted cut made of medium weight wool. It has a lower neck line so is good for a curvier top. Although the lapels are wide, the notches on the collar draw your eye upwards. Can be worn military style with all buttons done so great for flatter angular top halves too. Fitted at the waist, it has a half belted back with pleats so great for curvaceous derriere. Verdict – a great piece to suit a lot of different figures.
check more on http://www.daisygreenmagazine.co.uk/fashion/features/find-your-perfect-winter-coat/

Wednesday 2 December 2009

Rachel Simpson - we just discovered each other and its LURVE

Ethical, stylish & totally fabulous! 30 Nov 2009

We are very fortunate to know and work with some amazing people in the fashion industry and Lupe Castro, an ethical fashion stylist who found us via our friends at Fur Coat No Knickers is no exception. We lent her some shoes recently for a photoshoot and the results are amazing, have a look at some of the shots here on our blog. Because we love to be involved with companies and individuals with passions like ours, we caught up with Lupe for a quick chat...




Tell us a bit about your company, who you are, where you started out .


I am an experienced and passionate independent ethical fashion stylist, working with individuals, celebrities, the media and fashion industry to ensure stunning, individual looks coupled with the very cutting edge of ethical, traceable, sustainable fashion and style. I also do sourcing and styling for magazine and advertising shoots, catwalks and shows.


Whats your best seller.


Hmmm I guess what I love doing best and what gives me the biggest buzz is making the clothes that women wear, reflects the real personality they are.



What should the 21st century Fashionista be looking out for next season?


Lots of Gold and Coral Red, medium sized prints..


Which designer from your industry inspires you and why?


Crumb! hard question - I love so many. I am in awe of the way some just cut clothing to reveal the figures so beautifully.


Celebrity shoppers, anyone we know?


Recently for shoots I have styled Deborah Meadon and Miranda Richardson, I love and admire both so it was mind blowing!!!


What are you looking forward to for the rest of the year?


Styling Summer Rayne Oaks and seeing Rachels new collection!


Describe your personal style


Glamour to get you noticed


What is your biggest fashion faux pas?


Aha that would be telling - involves a fancy dress party that wasnt and a 1950s swim suit!


check out more of this luvvy piece at Rachel Simpson shoes

Saturday 7 November 2009

Julia Smith, hits the WEST END




Earlier on this week Julia Smith opened her fab shop


in Connaught Village together with the shoe designer Joanne Stoker. I didn't manage to get to the vernissage but I did pop in the next day which was even better, as I didn't have to fight through the hoards and got to try on mostly everything. Also managed to talk to Julia who is difficult to pin down as she is back and forth from Ghana quite a bit.


The Shop Julia explained is the result of winning a competition - run by the Church Commissioners in conjunction with London College of Fashion- to kick start their own retail fashion business with a rent and rates -free retail unit for six months in Connaught Village.


Not only is the shop filled with both girls lovely creations but there is also a studio in the offing for made to measure.. and a lovely selection of cosy knitwear knitted in the UK just for them.


Prices are amazing starting at £135 for the gorgeous organic jersey throw on for all occasions dress below... + its so so easy to get to just 5 minutes from Marble arch.


Julia Smith & Joanne Stoker - 4 Porchester Place W22AZ







Tuesday 3 November 2009

Glam show last weekend at Earls Court

As it was Too near to miss thought I would pop into the Glam Show and see kat at EJF do her first live catwalk show ever.

The models boys and gals were amazing and wearing all of the designs as well as those gorgeous monkee jeans. teamed with some Hot Terra Plana, Beyond skin and B boheme shoes. Kat had organised a shortish video on the dreaded endosulfan(I think any longer and it would have been just to stomach churning I hate that pesticide), but just go shows what one Kat plus host of volunteers can do that she has just managed to get up in front of the Geneva Delegates at the fifth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee that have agreed that its sufficiently dangerous to humans and the environment that global action is warranted. About time ???Who says we can't change the world!!

Anyhow while I was milling around who should I bump into but just my fave rave Reem having , so I spent just a good 30 minutes trying everything on what an opportunity and I had thought she was in Japan well I ordered myself a great pair of sequin trousers!! Made note in diary she is at clothes show in December .... Yes!!!

Waiting for images will get them up soon!!!

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Fashion week and all that Jazz+ethetica




Reporting from the centre of London and the new venue, yes not in fact Somerset House



but 180 the strand past Kings College and onto a block that is going to be demolished terribly



shortly... Although very modern airy and on several floors vast improvent on the nightmare



of the Natural History museum fashion week was split and it showed. Not everybody managed to get around to the two venues traditionally people come for 1 or 2 days..



The fact that the sign posts were not really correct + on two sites, one of which was cobbled and painful seemed like a recipe for disaster . Standing in front of the Somerset main entrance on the first day in the sun looking at a map of different colour blocks was certainly a challenge!



But Somerset House main was gorgeous there was loads of light spilling through windows and there was even a bar serving mojitos overlooking the river heaven it made people watching and buyer spying seriously Fun!

Friday 19 June 2009

Potassium my favourite shop for men


Snuggily wedged between Oxford street and Edgware road Potassium has got be the easiest to shop menswear destination around. Not only that but the owner who is pretty chilled out and cool Karim is seriously helpful with sizes and styles... He has the best range of Kuyichi jeans for men in London and has his own great tees in the most luxury ethical cotton for £12 pounds a pop

fab fit even for those with even the littlest hint of pecs!!

My Only One

You know those really annoying friends that are really into sport logos addidas this and nike that and they spend a fortune on the latest or limited collection piece! Take a look at this for Class!!! Or like me you enjoy getting into your guys comfy super large sports to lounge.


Well guess whats made its way on to my radar….a new label to make it all superbly green and make friends drool with envy and selling now at our own very grand Top shop on oxford circus prices range from £22 - £55. SPORT NOUVEAU STYLE redefines the world of casual sports wear says Pamela Daniels, Creative Director and co-founder of My Only One and director of Ethical Fashion Forum. Oversized men’s sports t-shirts from the 70’s and 80’s are transformed and remade into playful pieces such as our Circus Dress and Tennis Skirt. Vintage dresses from the 50’s and 80’s inspired feature items such as our Echo Playsuit, a unique twist on a timeless all in one jumpsuit.
The look is casual, comfortable and highly functional with a flirty tomboy twist. The My Only One collection offers items perfect to step out for a day of Frisbee in the park with the right amount of individuality to translate into a fun night on the dancefloor. You’ll find our My Only One designers bicycling around east London lapping up inspiration and re-imagining new designs for our bespoke collection.



Swimwear my favourite pieces


Having spent loads of time analysing the ‘I hate swimwear’ phenomenon, I have come to the conclusion that even the most confident woman will, if pushed, have something horrid to say about some part of her body and that she would prefer to keep covered up.
Unfortunately, my pleas to clients about how gorgeous women’s bodies are and how marvellous it is that we are all unique works of art, falls on stony ground when the time comes to bear all.
So, my answer is loads of fake organic tan applied expertly in my favourite salon Glams in Soho, high heels and a few clever camouflage tips check them out on http://www.daisygreenmagazine.co.uk/fashion/trends-fashion/swimwear-to-suit-your-shape/

Check out this serious gorgeous Lina Rennell swimwear piece.. not availble in the uk at the moment!!

Saturday 30 May 2009

21 Things I Love - Tees and Butterflys


The London Clothes Show this weekend! 29-31st May

The London clothes show is back at excel this weekend. And guess who made it on the first day. With one more day left of gorgeous bargains of some of my favourite labels get yourself down there!. Labels such as Where are you now, Lumina jewellery, Komodo.and Oxfam who have 70% off of their remade designers. With butterflies being so de riguer this summer I was lucky to pick up a couple of tees from my fave rave 21 things I love, and great news their fantastic bamboo dress is now down to at an affordable £150. Yippeee. Life is not fair but my knickers are, also there with some great offers,briefs £5,vests£8 and pj pants £12. Plus loads of tips ,styling celebrities, fun and fashion. ENJOY!

Thursday 30 April 2009

Julia Smith at Top Shop


Julia Smith ?
That was being kept rather quiet will have to by pass the madness this weekend.
Not sure if it was just me but last weekend it was heaving even more than usual, plus there was a sale on Monkee jeans at £25 Junkee styling had some great jackets down to £35 but the changing rooms were hopeless so yes I left empty handed!! will try and sneak in early!

Re lucky lady me cause I have to style a rock group x shh not saying anything I have had chance to check out christopher raeburns gorgeous collection again hard to keep on track really With so many gorgeous pieces on show but I still like the trench for women so versatile but. I can see why the parker is so popular can I wait till hits liberty dover street market or asos I don't think so I need to order now luckily for us you can order directly by email from his website might need to wait a bit but my god and least we will be on trend before the fashionistas where it oh yeah oh yeah

Saturday 21 March 2009

Spring FLING for 1 week only!!!!


favourite item gorgeous little twenties cardi designed by From Somewhere together with coop in Veneto




Spring Fling! with Ethical online fashion boutique, DeviDoll.com
and the gorgeous Green People Organic Beauty company (www.greenpeople.co.uk at the fabulous From Somewhere boutique space at 341 Portobello Road, London W10 5SA . Nearest tube Ladbroke Grove.


With two special late night opening evenings on Friday 20th & Sat 21st March and a rare Sunday opening from 11am-6pm on the 22nd March. Then open normal hours 10am-6pm Monday-Friday with a final fling! on Saturday 28th March.


Your truly inspired fashonista has already had a look-see and there are some
gorgeous bargains to be had ! Fabulous bamboo and elastane leggings from
Lara Miller down to £20 and some hot summer dresses From Somewhere for £35 great over swimwear or belted with leggings and in this summers 80s colours!

Friday 13 February 2009

The Cdc video the first of LONDON FASHION WEEK

Gosh have to learn how to do this Mark Liu was fantastic at the CDC -AVEDA show and all I have to show for it IS something worst than a pirate OR methsDRINKERs attempt! HeRE endETH my video blogging CAREER I think pictures will have to suffice FROM NOW ON preferably by A professional!!!

Trade Show Margin is over NOW







You might have noticed the banner on my site has gone well! Both trade shows Pure and Margin are over and now London Fashion Week is in the ready! THERE is a behind scene of activity press, models, stylists and designers all in a hullabaloo!!! But more a little later!!!








Of course your busy lady was at Margin, and nearly first in. A couple of exciting new and not so new labels.


Credau for men???? her tailored jacket and baggy trousers will be in Debenhams in March 2009.












Jumble another one for the men had some really great sweats and cardis screened with 80s icons as well as dress shirts short and long sleeved.







Trousers London organic denim from Turkey and Italian Selvedge finally are doing women narrow and bootcut, only available this Summer but worth waiting for will be on line to order so keep checking. With Mathew Williamson a fan of their men’s range, I guess the girls range will be a sell out!!! Price £160.



Streetwear and two of my favourites Girly brands Miksa , has added more woollens to her popular collection,still using organic alpaca from Peru to design dresss, jumpers , mittens and leggings. Bibico knitwear, tunics dresses and tops in navy ecru and charcoal all manufactured and sourced either in Nepal or the cooperatives situated in the slums of Mumbai. Available at Top shop Oxford street in feb. Both are on line at Bochica.co.uk