(London) My favourite word in the English language is ritual… most likely just because it has my name within it and because of what it defines. A ritual need not be religious and could be a comforting habit that you indulge yourself in now and again or the weekly girly dinner catch-ups you love so much. For such reason and some more, the word ritual attracts me. That is why I wandered into the Rituals store in St. Christopher’s Place just off Oxford Street a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it was fate or just a lucky day because they were giving away bottles of Rituals Yogi Flow shower foam!
With a name like ‘Yogi Flow’, I figured that returning the good karma with a glowing review was quite appropriate. I loved the product and will be returning for more, even though I’ll have to pay for it. Ingredients like sweet almond oil and Indian rose give it a gorgeous fragrance and add to its luxurious silky feel. The foam is thick and feels instantly moisturising which I noticed when testing out the product in store. The cute bottle will look good in your shower caddy and will make your bathroom smell amazing after a hot shower. Rituals Yogi Flow is sold for £6.50 online and in stores.
(London) I realise that I am clearly overdoing the ‘ster thing here but I can’t think of a better way to describe my friend Jason’s style. Preppy plus hipster, that sums him up most days (except for his lumberjack or skipper days). Here, he shows off the cool elegance of London men in a pea-coat and brogues. If black is the NYC uniform, then this is London’s.
Jason is wearing a COS Pea-coat, a COS Shirt, ALBAM Jeans, UNIQLO socks and Mark Mcnairy Suede Brogues.
(London) A big trend in 2012 will be flimsy fringes and the flapper is going to make a comeback in a big way. Various designers have displayed drop-waisted dresses in their SS 2012 collections and with Oscar buzzing films like The Artist, the 20s will make the trend unavoidable as well.
Zelda Fitzgerald – The Original Flapper
Take a hint from Zelda Fitzgerald, the original flapper as claimed by her husband F. Scott Fitzgerald, and find some fringy feathers to wear and put a pin-curl in your hair. Stand out by adding some fringe to your outfit like Zoe Saldana and Lanvin’s resort collection below. Late in 2011, we also saw Blake Lively sport the trend.
Zoe Saldana in a flapper inspired dress and Lanvin Resort 2012 collection highlighting some fringe
(London) I’ve been MIA from writing but in my defence it’s the holidays and I’ve been stuffing myself silly with Christmas food, running off the food (got up to 10K today, yay!), shopping the sales and generally lazing about. The most productive thing I got done is pick up my New Years Eve dress. I took full advantage of the Boxing Day sales and got this cool dress from Miss Selfridge for only £18! With a futuristic sleeve on one shoulder and a gorgeous green colour and accessorised with lots of gold and glitter, I think I found the perfect one.
Green 3D 1 Shoulder Dress, £18 on sale from Miss Selfridge
(London) I promise I am not obsessed with Susie Bubble, just a big fan. I can’t help it that content created by her is far superior than other ‘famous’ bloggers, is original and genuinely interesting. Always quirky, Susie is just cool. I’ll reiterate, I’m a fan. Check out the video profile that Avant Garde Diaries did on her and photographer Saga Sig.
(London) One of the lingering trends of the summer, thanks to end of season sales, is the fishtail dress. Short in the front and long in the back, these are kind of the reverse mullets of dresses. Party in the front, business in the back!
Here’s how I wore a very affordable fishtail dress with an asymmetric/bias cut cardi a few days ago.
I am wearing a fishtail dress from a no-name sample sale (£5), bias cut sweater (£10) and Spring lace-up shoes.
(London) I’ve been spotting two major trends on the streets of London this winter. The first is the Russian Fur hat and the second is pleated chiffon below-the-knee skirts. The fur hats are available year round and year over year at flea markets and vintage shops but their popularity sky-rocketed this winter. I’ve seen girls wearing them over biker jackets, capes, trench coats, shearling and the hat complements each and every outerwear type.
If you are wondering how to wear Russian fur hats, just let your hair down and throw on the hat. It will steal all the attention anyway so you don’t have to worry about much else. Wear it casually or in a formal setting because this season, it goes anywhere and everywhere.
Where to buy yourself one of these furry accessories? You can pick up faux fur Russian hats at Asos.com for £15 or head to your closest vintage store or flea market and hunt for clean real fur hat which will cost between £20-£30.
Isy, who is becoming quite popular in our Streetstyle section, was spotted in a fox fur Russian hat near Oxford Circus in London.
Isy is wearing a fox fur Russian hat that was handed down from her mum.
(London) When it comes to fashion magazines and fashion writing in general, I have found English publications to be more authentic, opinionated and to portray more personality than US magazines. I used to place Stylist magazine in that ‘original’ and fresh category as well but have been doubting it for the past few weeks and have sadly taken it out of the category after I read the last issue. Although the cover is stunning, the contents are less appetising if you are hungry for fashion and style. Come on people, the magazine is named STYLIST! Where is the fashion and style? Why am I having to read about how steak is cool again and recipes in this fashion mag?
Yes, food is awesome and can be quite stylish. I am a big fan. If I wanted to read about food however, I would pick up Delicious or Bon Appetit, NOT Stylist. In the contents of the issue, I hardly found only one thing relevant to fashion and style, which was disappointing. It is always great to invite a guest editor in but not let them turn the publication into something completely different and out of character.
Being a free magazine, I can understand the need to focus on different advertising categories, of which, the food sector is a lucrative one (this is where my day job in advertising is chiming in). However, the ads in the issue didn’t capitalize on the content either. That makes me ask, what was the point of this issue at all?
(London) I went to the Temperley Christmas Sample Sale yesterday, all the way in Notting Hill on a bitingly chilly night, but the trek was definitely worth it. Prices of gorgeous and trademark Alice dresses were priced at £70-£100, marked down from £300+. Leather jackets, skirts and trousers were between £100-£300, marked down from the thousands. Basics and sweaters were priced between £60-£150. I saw a gorgeous Spring coat for £80, lined and all with gorgeous gold buttons but my bank conscience and the disproportionate number of jackets and coats I have in my very tiny wardrobe (five in total… and totally unnecessary) stopped me from buying it at the final pay point. I bought a modest tunic instead with a striking buffalo print for £25. Machine washable and perfect over leggings and boots (my winter uniform) I think I made a wise choice.
Here are some photos from the sale as well as my steal!
