Paris fleas: My silver lining

Paris is amazing for many things and one of the most amazing is the aray of vintage and trift (freep- as they say in Paris) and flea markets and didnt i find this out...

After a false start on day one in Milan, where my two favourite coats were stolen at the infamous Punks Wear Prada party, i was livid and upset. Not only had all my outfits packed been carefully planned around these two coats, but also that someone was and is walking around Milan looking fabulous! The plan was to shield myself from the cold with the vintage rabbit fur and then wear a variety of grey sweatshirts and over sized tee shirts underneath teamed with leggings and tights... easy and then any one of these shoes! And then at night throw on my River Island denim Balmain style biker jacket- all effortlessly of course...
Anyway, after drunken tears and a 5am total wardrobe re-think, i had a plan. The coat that got me through the Milanese cold was this military red beauty:

This and of course lots and lots of layering.

Anyway upon arriving in Paris, i did my research and within 2 hours of touching down at Charles de Gaud airport and into our beautiful Marais apartment in the 3rd, i was down to Guerrisol and had acquired these beauties...

This luscious fox fur coat in an amazing ginger colour matching my ginger mane- A snip at €30Del-boy-esque/Prada AW10 style sheepskin 70s coat- a steal at €10

They say every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe this cloud is lined in Parisiene thrift!

*PS- If by stroke of chance anybody does know the wearabouts of my two stolen coats, please do let me know as i am still pining over them...
x

Shooting...

After a well deserved break, i am back and raring to go. Feeling refreshed and currently on day 14 of the proverbial 'new year new you' detox (consisting of no booze and a diet of mainly vegetables and fruit), my mind is clear and busting with so many things that i love and just want to shout out at the top of my lungs....
With a day of shooting down yesterday i wanted to post a few behind the scenes pictures from the shoot. The editorial was a 6 page spread for Diva magazine shot by the amazing Holly Falconer and video shot by James Yeomans. The theme was love with a 90s grunge feel and managed to shoot some amazing pieces by my favourite designers: Mawi, Alexander Wang, Balmain, Acne, Christopher Kane and of course what says 90s more than Dr Martens?

Model Eliza from Nevs sporting Mawi

Mmmm...Accessories

DMs

The 90s clothes rail

Shooting spring summer in the snow...Videographer James at work

A reason to embrace the cold- Full Circle

One of the depressing and often disorientating things about working in fashion is the industry's advanced time scales that magazine and press often have to work in. As some of you know, i was in Milan and Paris reporting for Buckstyle in June 09 for menswear fashion week seeing the spring summer 2010, almost a year before it is due to hit the shops! Meanwhile the last fashion week i attended for menswear, autumn winter 09 in January is already old news in my mind (as the next season has shown already) and it has not even hit shops yet. The upcoming London Fashion Week in less than a month will not hit stockists till at least February/March next year and for all press the Xmas season started 2 months ago. It can sometimes be a real head spinner, planning and shooting a winter story in 30 degrees heat, or vice versa, a summer swimwear in single figure celsius. It is so easy in this industry to jump ahead and of the gun, so i decided to consult my AW 09 look books and refresh my memory of trends and fashion of the coming season... Instead of coveting next spring summer key pieces prematurely, i want to jog the memories of the more urgent season ahead. I was delightfully caught off-guard upon perusing the Full Circle look book. Within their 29 pages of womenswear i picked up a few amazing key items that i would love lining my wardrobe in the coming months.*

Mmmm! this delectable short leather dress, i cant wait to get my hands on this most especially, this will see me through the season, any event or party. Just need to get my hands on the perfect heels.

These Balmain effect shoulders on this outerwear coat. Perfect length, great funnel neck and petite waist, but will have to watch out taking peoples eyes out on public transport.

Not sure which of these i love the most, the drop crotch tailored trouser or the sculptured drape shoulder on the blazer. I suppose they can be worn together, or separately with different pieces.

Off the shoulder jumpsuit with the carrot leg pant.

Last but no least, i feel like i must get into the spirit of the coming cold front. Yes, i know premature after the scorching weekend we had, but then look at the grey/white skies we have today. Gotta think ahead!

It is brilliant collections like this that make me not want to bypass the cold and dreary-ness of the upcoming 6 months of AW ahead.

*curiously and for some reason, all the key pieces i loved were black... Is this some sort of premonition of my AW wardrobe, i fear so.

Islands In The Stream....

Well, the high street is thoroughly impressing me, bowling me over left right and center. Now with the high fashion press days, you had either seen the collection at the shows or online, so you know what you're going to see. In the presence of Chanel, Louis Vuitton or Prada, i get the same "bowled over" feeling, but knowing fully well that i might be able to afford maybe one piece from the whole collection. God bless the British high street. River Island designs are becoming more and more trend led and fashion relevant, offering purse friendly alternatives to the high end counterparts. Here are my favourites from River Island press day:
Janitor style coats: There are a few of these coming up in AW09 from RI and i have already noticed a few in store. I really like the idea of these oversized jackets, but they just don't work on me as i have broad shoulders. Boooo to my bad genes!
Both above have that great Balmain look. Its great to see that the high street have taken inspiration from that show. I think it is probably one of my favourite looks on the high street at the moment, that and the nautical look (which i am showing a slow death, in my everyday wardrobe). I need to get me that jacket before i am off to the Milan and Paris menswear shows!
Military/Nautical (ish) inspired jacket (modelled by the fabulous River Island PR, Arieta)
Mary Katrantzou style oversized tee. I think you all know how much i covet her collection. Great print!

You'll Never Guess Who...

The last press day i attended was one where i was pleasantly surprised. Not only because the brand in question had always had somewhat of a mumsy feel, a place for staples and the odd classic item for your wardrobe that i had to double take the name it said in the label. A name we have all grown up on, and worn since we were little nippers, and in fact lots of OAPs frequent this shop. In fact let me see if you can guess who it is, bet you cant from the pictures below....?





Do i hear: Dynasty, 80s Glam.... Yes i do. It is Marks and Spencers...! Amazing right! Oh and they also had this amazing Balmain style jacket...