Oh Zut Alorrrrrs, I am suffering from THE worst case of Le FOMO... I am daydreaming of being in Paris for Paris Fashion Week. Yesterday, attempting to make up for the intense lack of croissants and couture in my life, I headed to Megan’s café in Chelsea (above) for brunch and pretended I was at Café de Flore... This helped un petit peu. Today however, I am wishing I was floating nonchalantly down the Champ Elysees in this beautiful polka-dot tulle Alice by Temperley Celia Maxidress (below, RRP. £445.00 at net-a-porter.com). Cool, alluring, flirty and with just the right amount of je ne sais quoi.
Je voudrais this beauty and a Eurostar ticket s'il vous plait.
Trend: Socks and Sandals
Ordinarily I can appreciate the merits of a new trend, especially when pioneered by modern day style icons and fashion heavyweights Alexa Chung, Chloe Sevigny and SJP. I do feel however, feel the socks'n'sandals combo is a step too far. On six year old girls? Fine. On Japanese Hirajuku girls wearing neon wigs? Fiiiine. On the grown women we have come to know, love and admire? This is an open shoe step too far.
Look, I know we struggle to let go of the summer in all it’s heavenly rosé glory, and returning our favourite new heels to their boxes to only replace them with that ol’wooly cardigan is excruciatingly hard… but sometimes it’s healthier, and a lot more stylish, to just let it go Ladies… it’s not cute and it’s not clever (clogs).
Literary Death Match
Given that this week is International Book Week, I thought it was appropriate I write about a recent awesome evening at Literary Death Match, performed at Shoreditch’s ‘Concrete,’ under Pizza East. Established in 2006 and hailed as the “most entertaining reading series ever” by the Los Angeles Times, Literary Death Match is hosted by it’s quite brilliant co-creator, my dapper friend, Adrian Todd Zuniga (usually wearing a three piece suit and bow tie no less). This live show features 4 authors each reading from one of their novels for 7 minutes in front of an all-star panel of 3 judges and a usually quite rowdy audience! Critiqued in the categories of literary merit, performance and intangibles, two chosen finalists compete in a comical finale for the Literary Death Match medal.
At this particular Literary Death Match the authors included John Niven, Sathnam Sangera,Nuala Casey and Polly Morland. The judges, Louise Doughty, Sarah Morgan and Bunny Suicide's Andy Riley chose Sathnam Sanghera as our winner. I am really looking forward to reading Sathnam's book ‘Marriage Material,’ which he so brilliantly read from. Occurring regularly in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and London, the show frequently tours around the world and it really is worth checking their website to see if they are visiting a city near you as a truly random, original and hilarious night may await you... ‘The pen is mightier than the sword and ink will be spilt.’
Topshop with Tara Summers
I recently took British actress Tara Summers personal shopping at Topshop, Oxford Circus, whilst she was over visiting from LA. An old friend of mine, Tara is best known for her role as Katie Lloyd in ‘Boston Legal,’ for starring in ‘Damages’ and also ‘Ringer.’ I'm very excited about her latest venture, acting alongside Greg Kinnear in new TV show, ‘Rake.’ Tara was on the hunt for some smart, but comfortable, daywear to wear with both blue and black jeans. We shopped until we literally dropped (which luckily was atDean Street Townhouse - below - one of the best places to collapse btw!)
Tara’s favourite Topshop purchases included...
Above (Clockwise) L-R: Aerobic2 Hi Top Wedge Trainers - RRP. £45.00, Casual Drape Top in White - RRP. £34.00, Crepe Tunic Top in Colbalt - RRP. £34.00, Casual Drape Top in Khaki -RRP. £34.00, Navy Mallard Duck Ankle Socks (cuuuuute! I got them in pink!) - RRP. £3.50,Drape Sleeveless Top - RRP. £16.00, Able Pointy Lace-Up Boots - RRP. £62.00, Small Soft Zip Satchel in Camel - RRP. £32.00.
Gap's Rock Royalty #BacktoBlue Campaign
Amy Winehouse advised us to go ‘Back to Black,’ but in their first television advert in four years GAP are urging us to go ‘Back to Blue.' This autumn campaign celebrates the brand’s heritage by redesigning and updating its 1969 denim collection and featuring sons and daughters of rock’n’roll royalty covering their parent’s well loved hits.
Musician Dhani Harrison (above), a great buddy of mine, sings a stripped down version of his guitar legend father George Harrison’s ‘For You Blue,’ from The Beatles album, 'Let It Be,’ whilst wearing a GAP trucker jacket. LA-based Dhani is the frontman for band Thenewno2, and is also a member of band Fistful of Mercy alongside Ben Harper and Joseph Arthur. I am a BIG (super)fan of both groups. #Groupie.
All the proceeds for the entire ‘For You Blue’ track (already available to download from iTunes here) by Dhani Harrison will go to the George Harrison Material World Foundation, in support of their current goal of raising funds for the amazing Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, dedicated to curing spinal cord injuries.
27 year old classically trained musician Alexa Ray Joel (above), wearing a GAP chambray shirt, wistfully sings her father Billy Joel’s multiple-Grammy-winning 1977 song ‘Just The Way You Are’ seated at her keyboard in the new campaign.
Apples do not, it seems, fall far from their trees. The campaign will include new digital content every day across its social media platforms (#backtoblue) and the adverts will be accompanied by in-depth films, interviews, quotes, images and facts about Dhani and Alexa that will be available across the brands digital platforms. Very cool Gap.
LFW Burberry Prorsum SS'14
Burberry Prorsum welcomed their beautiful FROW (Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, Poppy Delevigne, Suki Waterhouse, HARRY STYLES) and a host of lucky fashionistas to Kensington Gardens to enjoy their SS’14 pastel coloured collection. Filled with heavily embellished and translucent lace pencil skirts, worn with delicate sheer shirts and delicious, oversized cashmere, it was clear to see that polka dots had replaced this season’s hearts.
Striking white sunglasses and folded sheepskin clutches were the perfect accessories to the Ladurée coloured designs and the finale saw Cara Delevigne in a see-through trench (revealing her latest bicep tattoo honouring her mother Pandora) whilst rose petals fell onto the runway. Burberry girls are so damn cool. I wanna be in their gang.
Although the six new SS’14 shades will only be available to buy from January, you can purchase the entire set (featuring Rose Pink, Dusky Mauve, Pale Grape, Pale Yellow, Sage Green and Mink) for the next two weeks exclusively from Burberry.
LFW: Matthew Williamson SS'14
Just like his AW/13 collection, Matthew Williamson’s SS’14 collection showed his designs evolving steadily from the bohemian holiday wear he had long been associated with, to a more sleek, simple and mature aesthetic. “My girl is growing up, she is the same free spirit inside but, like the rest of us, maturing – and I have to respond to that,” Matthew explained. Hand-drawn and painted daisy and dragonfly prints were displayed on belted dresses, tailored silk trousers and feminine, yet sophisticated, dresses. I particularly liked the yellow organza based shift dress with ornate white appliqué flowers.
LFW: Orla Kiely SS'14
I love Wes Anderson's 'Moonrise Kingdom' (see trailer below) and being that I am from Kenya, I couldn’t help but instantly love Orla Kiely’s SS’14 campsite presentation which adorably combined both these two themes. Beautiful wild animal prints, knitted tops, berets and drop down waist dresses were worn alongside life size wildlife models and orienteering maps, with guests drinking champagne from flutes with giraffe cocktail sticks! All my kitschy Safari Camp dreams come true. A-Weema-Weh, A-Weema-Weh…
LFW: Mulberry SS'14
After having sent out THE most adorable London Fashion Week tea cup invitations made by Wedgewood, Claridges was transformed into an English country garden, complete with fresh flowers, astro turf floors and a stuffed peacock, forEmma Hill to say “over and out” with her final collection as creative director for Mulberry. Well known for bringin’ the brand’s sexy back, Hill emotionally commenced the show with an echoing voiceover from Sir Winston Churchill, ‘this House we have built together, brick by brick, stone by stone, this house we call home’ before blaring out ‘Our House’ by Madness as the models cue to strut. Showcasing typically cheery designs inspired by the Sixties London, the models (including Cara Delevigne) wore wide-leg trousers, over-sized silhouettes and enlarged floral prints. Turbo the British Bulldog wore a floral overcoat – expect one to adorn all the hottest dawgs next spring.
Above: I am naturally always most interested in the new collection of bags swung on the catwalk, and alongside stripey Bayswaters and a midnight blue Willow, the Kensal, named after the brand’s London roots, was presented. The firey orange Kensal (below) instantly grabbed my attention (after my flame Bryn having being my constant companion for the last few months, I can’t recommend a mood lifting, bright bag for the summer more!) Emma Hill is leaving some very big shoes (and bags) to fill.
Below: Alexa Chung with her pal Cara Delevigne at the Mulberry after-party.
LFW: Temperley London SS'14
Along with the Duchess of Cambridge, I have always been a big fan of Temperely London and am lucky enough to own a couple of their beautifully ethereal and embellished dresses.
Inspired by a Sicillian holiday, the Temperley London SS’14 collection, shown at The Savoy, was irresistibly lovely. Dresses with embroidered flowers, crystal detailing, cherry-blossom prints and flowing fuchsia (clearly THE colour next spring) had a tangible romance to them. The big surprise for me were the soft floral patterns transcending into leopard print (much like a chocolate pretzel, you wrongly assume this shouldn’t work!) An elegant collection fit for a modern-day glamourous Princess… Now, if only they knew one…!