The sands of time

It's been quite some time since I last posted, as I'm now in my third year at Uni and I don't get the luxury of rest and relaxation. My schedule is hectic. I've been reading a chapter on retributivism (sentencing and penology) for the past hour and I needed a break to let it marinate.
I tried to get an outfit post in today but there's no time to edit the pics- so another time.

As the sand settles on the time that has been my student life, I worry at what lays ahead in my future (not just for my final year research project) - where will I end up?  I used to know where I'd planned to end up after school, but now I don't feel as certain although I'm working pretty damn hard either way, and I'll do it with class and dignity. The world may not know of me as yet, but soon enough they'll want to - in the same way this woman's look tells only part of her story.

The Sartorialist

Tipping on alligators and little rattlesnakes

Hey my fellow bloggers it's been a while, I've had so many things to tell you and share with you but I went through a kind of the unveiling moment and subsequently had my very own form of existential crisis...Reality was not intermingling well with my Wonderland.

Majority of the things in fashion that so-called "artists" promote, like full nudity and semi-nudity in photoshoots and editorials and the whole lot, all of which seem allude to the industry's celebration of beauty, the body and eccentricity in a world that is excited by the next best thing/person, re-invention and boldness. I won't go into a full on rant, let's just say I got fed up. I'm not saying these are tasteless they, simply, leave a bad taste in my mouth and I needed a break (It hasn't been easy but I'm back- and hopefully with a little more clarity and aim for myself and this blog (thank you all for reading, following and commenting).

So...Fashion's Night Out for me was a complete flop [*sofia's voice from Golden Girls* picture this: dead fish]...Caught the tail-end of Janelle Monae's performance at Gap, didn't get my manicure at Chanel (I needed that desperately), Rose (Beautiful Truth) and I felt out of our depths [and I always love the challenge and adventure of new things... dimensions]. We trodded, aimlessly to Knightsbridge for my first glimpse of Harrods (I might add, not so special). I did glimpse a sombre Thandie Newton on [I believe] her husband's arm. I guess London Fashion Weekend will make up for it.

Guess what?! I've got a very exciting fashion retail position...ssshhh! I'm keeping mum on the who and where that blog post was my good luck charm. Be happy for me!
Sad face :( my summer internship with NYLA Boutique has come to and end but never fear you just need to pop over to their website to see what's new, I'll also be in touch with the sisters every now and then.

My cousin just wrapped up a brief yet rewarding trip to London, he took some amazing pictures with my camera (I swear I'm the only one that gets o.k. images when I use it) of places in London that I've  taken for granted and never seen/visited. These select images show a refreshing side of London - they remind me of how lucky that I am to be here.

 

Unleashed!

The amazing-ness of nylaboutique.com is now up and running and has been since Saturday! Remember these two? Weelll...They've been working extremely hard to bring NYLA Boutique to London, so show them some love and have a gander at the east coast/west coast flavours that NYLA has to offer.

Get on their website and check out the clothing, most of all the jewellery...

I can finally let you guys know the brands that NYLA stocks (trust me the collections will have you going back for more), but let me give you a breakdown of the designers and collections NYLA carries most of which are EXCLUSIVE, say it with me once more- exclusive to NYLA Boutique.


East Coast (NY):  
Christopher Lee Suavé - Unisex T-shirt collection

Prince Peter Collection (including some of his Mick Rock collab pieces) - Unisex T-shirt collection

nOir Jewelry - Looking at a nOir piece, especially this Bryan the Buddha ring makes me want to be a jewellery/accessories person. I still covet this ring.

Love Brigade - This pair of shorts has the most unexpected ruffle detail in the back...

West Coast (LA):
Tolani -

Left Coast by Dolan -

Bleu Feather - This dress isn't for the faint-hearted, but it makes you feel indecently and sinfully woman! Love it!

Sauce -

These are just tasters...You didn't think I'd give away all the secrets in one go, did you?! Get onto nylaboutique.com and check out the rest of the collections now!


The summer collection is here now, but a/w 10  brings new designers to NYLA Boutique and that means lots more goodies for you guys!

*All photos were taken from the NYLA website*
p.s.: Interning with these guys is going A-okay!! They're a pleasure to work for/with...

The horse is still in the gates and race has already begun

It's a crazy title right?! I like it. My previous post was a pre-cursor/ foreshadowing, if you will, to this A/Winter wardrobe post. Now, I don't make any judgements on those who don't but I find that it is a must to plan my season's key piece(s) in advance...Meaning... I see what Vogue and Elle are calling the next season looks and that includes accessories. Then I go back to the runway shows and scour the designer/ brand(s') websites - oooh-ing and aaah-ing! Wishing and Praying.  Then I make my selection of what will suit my tastes, figure, etc. and then the hunting through the high street, ebay.co.uk or vintage sales begins.

 Now that summer is basically over in my head, I'm running through the high street like a mad woman trying to find that specific coat or THHHEEE jumper and those boots or those gloves and those [ insert an item of your choice here]...The list goes on. So before summer began I already had an idea of what I wanted needed and then comes Vogue's every helpful autumn/winter catwalk report that refreshes my perspective and Oh! Well HELLO there! ELLE's COLLECTIONS book ( where have you been; and why isn't Vogue doing this better?! No offence) This book is like a colour by numbers colouring book! [ these books rocked, I was the next Monet everytime I opened those books] It's genius! and it will be with me forever decorating my future home(s)...hehe...

I've never really gone out of my way to buy ELLE and so this is something new to me, so humour me.

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These mini planners (as I call them) are to me like candy is a high to a kid. Enough rambling! I'll give you the pieces I hope to purchase to fulfil my wardrobe wish this year, as funds aren't looking promising and the prices of the items I want amount to a first-class ticket to Florida, give a few £100... Yeah, exactly! Hence the title! It's a race against time to get everything and the gates are already open, and I can't even afford the race entrance fee! (haha)...

ThE most important must have for winter -

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Camel Coat or Cape or Shearling jacket...I can't choose so all three add up to one item according to my logic seeing as how they each have their own suitability.

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MaxMara, DKNY and Aquascutum have some great options as well for those of us who don't have the height and physique of Chloé models...

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This version that Blake is wearing finds sensible balance between Cape and shearling and I know for a fact TopShop will be doing this same version...Sooo, guess who needs a this?! So that I can incorporate shearling and cape and then only have the camel to contend with...

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I think Chalayan was going for broke when he designed this camel/ beige number...[the black one is YSL]...The whole look is safari-esque but this cape is too dramatic for me. The cape I've got my eye on is that sumptuous leather Céline cape, my eyes well up just thinking  knowing I can't afford it...

Remember at the very beginning I had a post about the Jumble n' Pearl vintage sale I went to...I wanted this aviator but at the time say it with me "I COULDN'T AFFORD IT..." (aahhh the story of my life) and to this day this jacket haunts me...everytime I shut my eyes it's there imprinted on the inside of my eyelids... And I knew I would've been strutting around in this and wouldn't have to worry when September came...Now, look at all the beauties circulating that make me want to shear a lamb...(I probably shouldn't have said that but it's how I feel *sad face*- tears of a clown-)

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All of these jackets are "well good!" and if I promise I'll be a very, extra good girl will Santa bring me those shearling boots first-class delivery?! in say six weeks?...I need all of the aforementioned items...No explanations they speak for themselves, and don't insult yourself by asking me...

So...This post was outerwear and jackets...Next post another aspect of A/W '10 wardrobe for everlasting-ness because as you know I don't buy unless I'm sure I want it forever...And all of what I want will come back around in a few decades and then the youngsters will be thinking that I'm one stylish peer...(hehe!)

The origins of my style

This post is dedicated to my darling of a mother whose birthday is today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY!!

I was reading chapter 3 - Inspirations in Nina Garcia's, The Little Black Book of Style, this chapter takes the reader through different forms of style inspiration like Music, Film, Art, Travel and other kinds can be interpreted from these headings. The first inspiration for my style that came to mind was my Mummy! (Awww) Immediately, I thought of a picture I had seen of my mum when she was around my age with a group of friends- she was wearing a multi-coloured plaid playsuit with white reebooks and thick tube socks...

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The colour scheme of the plaid design could be an exact copy of the orange, yellow and green design (second from the right) and at a glance the material was probably the same kind of feel - I know for certain that it wasn't cotton, not sure .

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  Now that I've given you most of the picture...Let me explain why this came to mind as Jane Cocteau's "Style is a simple way of saying complicated things."
Out of the group of people my mum stood out, her look was different from the others not just in the colours, mostly it was the way she was stood laughing at the camera, confident and knowing that she was comfortable and looked good! Her style was saying that what you see is only the beginning I'm like the colours you can't tell exactly where one ends and the other begins but it's all of the same material! (convoluted! I'm sorry it's the only way I could say it)

That is what stood out when I thought of inspiration. My mum loves clothing with colour but she also knows how and what works for her. I'll admit there were times we went out on the weekend and I was totally embarrassed ( as any teen would) with her in a jungle themed shirt that you would expect those annoying tourists to wear. (you know what I'm talking about) But she didn't care and I look back now with respect and admiration that this woman is my original style inspiration.

My mother isn't afraid of colours, she isn't afraid of a little bit (and I say little with extreme emphasis) of eccentricity for self-expression, that was all that was acceptable in JA. Today, my mum lets me do me! (do my thang! ugghhh that sounded weird) But she doesn't understand a few of my style choices and she isn't afraid to call me out on them. Most of all she knows when enough is enough!

I have memories of going to our dressmaker (seamstress to those of you who don't know this term) and I was always excited to go through the magazines and watch my mum pick out a style/ design she wanted to recreate to her specific tastes, even if it was her office uniform. I never really appreciated these visits for numerous fickle reasons but I'm happy I can say that because it still something I can take from my mum.

 Another memory that I think many girls will relate to is trying on your mum's clothes. I did that but with her jewellery and her shoes (she had a love for shoes and she still has jaw-dropping pieces of costume jewellery and playful pieces).  I gone on long enough and I have tonnes more!

The main lesson my mum taught me with her style from makeup to clothing and accessories is covered in one of her many gems that she drilled into me growing up it's taken from the bible. My mum showed me essentially that there's a time for everything; she always presents herself the way she wants to be perceived in any situation and her look never dates there's always some reinvention taking the time to learn new aspects of herself- even if it's the littlest of changes,  she knows when to make that extra effort and when to just be and let your personality do the talking, while people admire your look!


I Love You Mummy!
xoxo

Hot off the press!! I have LOVE for NYLA Boutique

NYLA Boutique is the brainchild of the Badyal sisters - Amandeep and Navdeep, and what I know to be the next BIG thing! The name derives from the fusion of New York and Los Angeles = NYLA!! The buck doesn't stop there...Oh no! the ingenuity of NYLA incorporates THE BEST style influences of both coasts, and not just your typical NYLA fashion but the hidden (unknown) treasure troves ( the best of both!)...

I was introduced to Navdeep at a meeting for the Summer Daze Fashion Show...My first thought was that her look was effortless; it was different relaxed and cool (a cliché, I know). It's not the - I'm too cool I'm from London so I look amazing without trying (but it still feels forced look) hers is more the - I just threw this on and they're all great pieces that mix and happen to complement each other... A NYLA vibe, if you will! Amandeep is just as great- her look has a sleek and playful edge! These sisters have got something...They wanted to forge their way into fashion - be it through personal styling or a store, with NYLA Boutique Navdeep and Amandeep do both.

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Amandeep and Navdeep personally source the pieces (each season) for the NYLA online store using internationally known designers and jewellers AND those up-and-coming... They are the new Joan Burstein!! NYLA brings aspects of NY and L.A. that we don't see much of in London - well-known, the undiscovered or the overlooked...Some of the labels that they offer have been spotted on well-loved celebs...nOir jewellery!! Christopher Lee Suáve and  Prince Peter among others.

NYLA Boutique offers the individuality and the culture of NY and L.A. unconcerned with the "in crowd" and more with self-assuredness that brings a whole new level of effortless style. It is this symbol of incorporation that is the key to NYLAs  success, not to mention their prices are affordable! I suggest you get on to NYLA Boutique's website (which will be up and running in the next few weeks - I will let you know of course!) Why?! How?! I will be interning with NYLA Boutique for the summer!!! [enter here]
 

Phantasmagoria

I live in my infinite world of dreams where there are no limits, only endless possibilities...I see what I want... what I need... I see what should be or ought to have been for you and me... my very own Glass Menagerie...  I'll take you along with me .

 

La Dame du Lac
Jun/Jul 2010 

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The etherealness of this spread spoke instantly to me, the stillness, the story each image protrays with each detail...I feel represents me...I feel every ray of sunshine on my face...every raindrop...every snowflake.

There is an elegant poise in my every motion...I stand tall, my very presence resonates my appreciativeness of all things...As beauty is in the eye of the beholder...I am unapologetic for my words, thoughts and actions - it doesn't matter that I am different, I am only sorry that you fail to appreciate what makes me me...

I speak volumes in everything that I do, say or wear...It may appear as though I say a lot, but I say very little. Those closest and dearest to my heart will hear... You will try to listen, but you will only hear what it is I want you to.                                                                                                                                                       

Back in Black: Summer Daze

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Well friends tomorrow or rather TODAY is the big day!!! Summer Daze Fashion Show, in aid of the Community Cancer Centre in Yiewsley is this evening...The culmination of SIX months work, and I feel like an expectant mother waiting anxiously for the delivery... wanting...wanting to meet this new life!!! 

From the first time myself and my friend Rose  were introduced to Kelly Cutrone (yup!! had to go large) in The Hills we adored her, feared her and respected her...You learn simple things from watching Kelly, and sometimes you think that is too excessive OR isn't that being too harsh?! NO!!  that's what I say... I now see from the limited experience I have had - her no nonsense, straight - to - the -  point attitude to work is necessary.   

From being a part of this amazing experience- I'm not sure...You tell me!! I think I love being in PR, I would love the opportunity for Kelly's tutelage...It has been a whirlwind these past few months with planning, organising, promoting, selecting...etc, the list is endless...Sometimes it felt as though everything was ripping at the seams ( I would question my sanity), but I had a lot of fun, met amazing new people, learned new skills...I wouldn't trade it for anything!!! I'm an adrenaline junkie ( and oh,,, how I've had to be!) - later on today I'll be having one the best highs so far!!

So, I'll take a leaf or five out of Kelly's book; figuratively not literally (duh!! but that could have been a good joke!!), and stay positive, be firm but fair...Most importantly do it all in black - can't go wrong there!!! 

Whisky Mist on the rocks

I went out with a friend for a birthday of a friend, we had dinner then went out- to Whisky Mist; loved the wall features more than the rest of the décor, it was was grand  in an over-the-top way! It was easily the best night out I had had in a long time...

The look for the night was sumptuousness with easy lines...I didn't have a specific designer look in mind then as I looked at all the pieces together I was sensing the jewel tones at Lanvin S/S 2010 RTW ...I tried my spin!! Looking back at the pictures I had an A-HA!! moment... What do you think?! I felt as fierce and amazing as Freya looks!

 

 

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