LOVE at Double Club

I haven't posted for a week, but now I return and with the aim to post more frequently and more light heatedly, saving the melancholy poetics for a moleskin that can be shut with a slappy elastic band.

I mentioned that last Friday I was off to Double Club where LOVE magazine were manning the decks. I dutifully donned a pair of high wedges (hadn't worn them since the 'accident' in Punk) and tottered across the cobbles with Jeanie.

It was a super night, 'poptastic' one might comment; I like music where the artist has talent, but on the dance floor give me Girls Aloud and Britney please. The LOVE team did. And they even played Dana International, from Eurovision fame- perhaps the catchiest song in the world, and one that inspires...'elaborate' dance moves!

I left at a modest hour as my feet hurt and that always makes me grumpy. It was only today that I retrieved my camera from Jeanie and found pictures of the night. It seems that Ciara appeared later in the evening looking glossy. I wish I had seen her and learned the 1 2 Step, that would be an excellent dance for future parties.

Alice Bands

I am behind on posting with a back catalogue of events and thoughts to post down; I just seem to be quite busy these days, evenings catching up with friends scattered over all corners of London. I get home, make a cup of tea and sleep.

Tonight I am headed to Double Club where LOVE magazine are manning the decks, I hope to see dear Jeanie spinning some tunes (I requested Hanson but she didn't even humour me with a reply!). Little time. So here is a picture I took the other week..

I really like the idea of all the hair scraped back from the face with a band. I found this old alice band and sprayed my hair, combing it tightly back before putting the band in. I think it makes me look ghostly (bonus!) and younger, I felt really naughty and underage ordering a glass of wine at the bar that night!

I always feel like such a twit taking pictures of myself seriously, I always have a mac in the background, or here, I propped my arm of the bed for some reason! I think one needs something about them to get away with it so effortlessly as the Rumis of the world.

Onomatopoeia. A twit so flawlessly defines that feeling for me.. I think I will stop with the self-portraits.

Only Boring People Get Bored

Bored of London, bored of life?

Etc etc. I hate the word 'bored'; I think this has been drilled into me from childhood. Living in the middle of nowhere the phrase 'Mum I'm bored' often flew through the mouths of my sister and I and she would always reply, 'If you're bored you can hoover the lounge/do some dusting/unload the dishwasher'. Even when young you learn fast, boredom can be stopped quickly with the right attitude.

The truth is though, weekends often are boring times. In London everyone has busy, separate lives and everyone is poor, a rotten combination when it costs money to do anything interesting. I often find myself in Starbucks, with a book, or notebook, or laptop and spend hours over a green tea (I'm not healthy, its cheaper than a latte) but today I let myself indulge in some fantasy online shopping. I have already spend next months salary.

First I was searching for some lilac. I love pale pastel lipsticks and have had my eye on the Hello Kitty for MAC lippie. Also, I read that OPI have a lilac nailpolish! I usually deal only in Chanel Black Noir but perhaps something lighter for summer?

Lilac by sarahedwinarose on Polyvore.com

And THEN

Oh my, excitement central, whilst googling my favourite boots in the entire world I found that they now come in grey!!


You may remember that I already have a pair of these boots in brown and I love them to death. They have a four inch heel yet the platform makes them as easy to walk in as flats! I have already re-heeled them but are freting about the rubber soles under the toes, I need another pair! Unfortunately I can't find site that will ship them to the UK for me, but I sent the people at Seychelles a desperate message so I hope they will tell me where I can get some. I NEED these shoes!

Wuthering Heights

I used to work under the pretentious sentiment that I would not post unless I had a point. Yet I am starting to realise that there is often little real point in much of life..

I just finished reading Wuthering Heights which despite having an English degree, I had not actually read before. I have not seen any film or adaptation of the book yet I have acquired a 'perception' of it over the years? I imagined Kate Bush style wailing over windy moors where the two protagonists run and embrace; Heathcliff is dark and romantic, Cathy is in a white gown. It is tragic and beautiful.

I really wanted it to be like this and I really wanted to like it, but I was disappointed.

Cathy is a complete (for want of a better word) bitch, she flounces and has violent tantrums and beats men and her housemaid. Heathcliff is a quiet child and a savage adult; the text constantly compares him to the devil and I could find none of that sexy brooding hero that everyone seems to label him with. He and Cathy do not embrace as adults and only come in contact once when she has fallen ill with insanity and is on her death bed.

Whilst they love each other, their conversation exchange shows no hint of tenderness, they are cold and unfamiliar with each other throughout. When Cathy dies, her ghost torments Heathcliff, instead of comforting him, it is seeking revenge. Heathcliff then abuses Cathy's sister in law who he married out of spite.

There is no running over moors. No real love story at all in my opinion, at least not between Cathy and Heathcliff. The continual questioning of the merit of a hierarchical society is very interesting and I am not condemning it a bad book. I enjoyed reading it but it was not what I expected at all. It really is strange how it has gained such notoriety as a romance, and that Heathcliff is considered a literary 'hunk' (that word always amuses me), he is certainly no Mr Darcy! Maybe people are influenced to read it this way due to the usual genrealising of any classic novel? Anyway, if you want some romance I suggest sticking to Kate Bush!





Kate by the way, has inspired me to whip out the white cotton nighty dress and enjoy my pale skin whilst it is still mildy acceptable to not have a tan. I wish I had that volume in my hair too...

Turban Turmoil

Ok, I'm not in turmoil, I just love a good spot of alliteration. We all remember the Prada s/s 07 drama when models were sent down the catwalk sporting silky turbans. It was media grabbing, a chance for the general public to tut over the ridiculous nature of fashion trends, 'whatever next?! It will never take off, not on my head' etc etc

Personally I also had doubts, we don't all have the supermodel cheekbones to carry off towering headpieces and my chubby cheeks and dimples were enough to convince me that I should probably never ever wear a turban as a fashion accessory.




Now I am not so sure...
Whilst browsing my favourite ASOS I noticed they had a black turban in their 'just arrived' section, and against my better (chubby cheek realising) judgment, I found that I rather liked it! Here it is...



I'm a little cautious that they have shot the model profile in both pictures, what does it look like from straight on?? But I can see myself in a dark party with straight long hair poking out under the coil of black silk. I think it would work well with really strong make up, dark lined eyes and bright or super pale lips.


What is the general consensus on this? The black one is £25, not a ridiculous amount but slightly too much to buy without a great deal of realistic pondering. I hate being realistic. It spoils everything.

Are Kickers Cool?

I wasn't going to post about the Kickers event as I imagine pictures of me partying with commentary about drinks are of little interest to many; however, Coco makes an excellent point in commenting on my last post. Are Kickers still cool?

When I was in school Kickers were the bees knees! With a strict (bottle green ick) uniform policy, shoes offered the only possibility of grasping onto remains of personal style, and Kickers were the shoes that everyone wanted. They were slip on, with a higher than flat rubber heel and a shiny plaque across the front. They were also expensive, £50 and therefore elitist; any sensible mother would march a child with growing feet to Shoe Zone, only the lucky got Kickers.

But now? Where are Kickers and what are they doing with themselves? The party last week suggests that they are trying to regain their former cool reign by taking Kickers hungry school children of the 90s and re-shodding them with a grown up shoe. The evidence?

Venue
Camden's Lock Tavern- cult cool watering hole that has seen many a drunken rock paparazzi shot

Guests
London scensters dripping in graphic tees and geek glasses (goodness knows how the invite landed in my inbox?!!!). Even Daisy Lowe turned up, hipster young London

Entertainment
Foals DJ set, Hot Chip DJ set, pretty Kitsch East London girls Broken Hearts and the super super Team Mega Mix vs Work It. A reputable bunch in the cool stakes I'm sure you will agree

Collaboration
I should mention that the party was to launch 'Random Bandits' - A new series of animated films in association with Modern Toss, risque swearing animations.

Pretty flawless combination there, certainly not what you'd expect from the same Kickers that made our black leather school shoes. The products themselves are very classic and rather basic, but as we see these sorts of robust shoes coming back more and more, Kickers indeed stands a chance of making it onto the feet of young and style conscious










Also, we got some Kickers samples in work recently, and this pair did actually take my fancy, they are sort of a less clumpy DM with some added glossy. Would look nice with lacy tights no? Though they do still have something of toddler about them?







Once again my camera packed in, maybe I didn't charge it from last time? So these are B's photos edited; sorry to keep stealing I shall take my own next time!

I LOVE...

Hannah Marshall A/W 09


Hannah Marshall had an Autumn/winter 09 'preview and personal orders evening' yesterday. I had a Kickers party the same evening so couldn't make it, but I had already seen and fallen in love with the collection at London Fashion Week.

Hannah Marshall is perhaps one of my favourite designers at the moment; the dark mysterious nature of the clothes manages to combine the ethereal with structured warrior goddess. I haven't been lucky enough to ever try anything from the collection, but I imagine that if I did I would feel instantly powerful whilst feminine at the same time...

I tried to narrow down these shots but I found that I like almost everything! The Bat Dress caught my eye on the presentation with its beautiful back. The Power Bra is also amazing, I have seen a few girls in London working this look already, however I haven't been friends with the gym for some time so its maybe not for me!





Power Body & Amour Pants





Amour Dress & Bat Dress




Contour Mini & Exoskeleton Dress





Power Bra & Protector Dress

Links A la Mode: Weekly Round Up

Sense and Sensibility

This is a little late but the links are definitely still worth a look!

Links à la Mode : March 26th

• 39thandbroadway.com - Thought it was hard picking a job interview outfit, well, what do you wear if you’re interviewing for a fashion job?
• A Few Goody GumDrops - A Few Goody Gumdrops scoops an interview with handbag designer’s Be and D about the re-launch of the Garbo bag!
• Breakfast at Saks - A little slice of heaven: Erin Wasson’s Venice Beach Tree House
• Consume or Consumed - Soleful Shopping: Negotiating Men’s Footwear (Guest Men’s Fashion Entry)
• Dogmom’s Dish - Norma Kamali NK: Spring Blossoms In Unexpected Places
• dramatis personae - Curious About Corsetry {part 1}: Answers to Your Most Basic Questions
• Fasshonaburu - How to rock multiple brights this spring
• fete a fete - DL1961’s 4-way stretch denim slims and shapes
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - How essential is twitter to your blog?
• Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Fashion - Virtual Shopping Cart: Urban Outfitters
• misslikey - misslikey is still zipping
• Munique Fashions - Twinset and pearls with a modern twist
• Or False Glitter - fall/winter 09 inspired hair style tried at home!
• reLYME - Studs were all over the runway this season…a few cheaper and more girly alternatives.
• Retro Chick - Ethical Design Spotlight - Tammam
• Solo Lisa - Tips to take with you when shopping for clutches
• Star Fashion Addict - Summer Trend Jumpsuits and Rompers
• Style Eyes Fashion Blog - Cheer yourself up with a little lipstick therapy
• Style Symmetry - The Best Thrifting Tip I Can Give You
• THE COVETED - The Elegant Punks an interview with Felder Felder
• Thrift Eye - Making a circle scarf, then turning it into a circle dress!