Frances Bean x Hedi Slimane

Food For Thought

It has been a busy last few months for sure, with the last year of uni coming to a close and a dissertation hauntingly looming overhead, but 2012 is definitely going to be an awesome year, with a sure prospect of moving my Topshop love to the official HQ! Yes - I am terribly excited and with all fingers crossed. The only issue on my mind is how to update my wardrobe so I fit in with that swanky lot! 

All images © Topshop / topshop.tumblr.com

London Fashion Week SS12 Begins!!

It's that time of year again for London to host the Spring/Summer collections by renowned fashion designers from all around the globe, and of course I was there to snap everything first hand. Unfortunately, this season, the 'Press' criteria has been kicked up a notch so UK Bloggers, such as moi, are only issued with an Exhibition Pass. Don't worry, I do plan to fight my case but initially I thought my chances of sneaking into fashion shows were bust. However, while queueing for Caroline Charles, I met a follow blogger who was kind enough to invite me along to a few shows, including behind the scenes, parties and more! So apart from saving my day, Farrukh has totally made my London Fashion Week! 

Kind thanks to Farrukh for the photographs

Amy Winehouse x Hedi Slimane & The 27 Club

I couldn't go without dedicating a post to the loss of Amy Winehouse this week, despite not being a true fan of her music. Although I admit there was a time I went about my business singing 'should have gone to rehab, but I said no no no', I have always been more interested in the woman behind the music. Lyrics come from experiences and are an expression of these, whether personal or generic, the intention is to empathise with audiences and let your voice be heard. 

Amy had such a unique and powerful sound expressed through an eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. She was, in no doubt, an iconic figure of our day who strengthened and bought new interest to the English music scene. 

Just as her music was powerful, so was her style. Clearly never swayed by public opinion, Amy donned her larger-than-life beehive and over empowering eye make-up. As a tribute to the late artist, Hedi Slimane shared a previous photo series of the troubled British singer, casting her in a delicate light. This small collection is a precious snapshot of the real Amy, of the woman behind the drugs and controversy.

As well as appreciating her talent and recognising our musical loss, I thought I'd also touch upon the trivial matter of the deadly 27 club. Is it so much a coincidence that Amy passed aged 27, adding to a long list of talented musicians? Some have said she wanted to join the 'club' to be noted in history alongside other such iconic figures, or could  the rock n' rock lifestyle be claiming its victims at the young age so they forever stay young, leaving us with their musical classics with a foreboding and heavy sentiment? Whether or not the case, whether it is believed or not, Amy Winehouse is not, and will not, be the last of our talents today to be claimed by fame. While others pity, know that you are in control of your own life and be sure to live it by your own rules and integrity. The moment you start living for someone else you are lost, and we all have the ability to say no.

Brian Jones, The Rolling Stones. 28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969.

Jimi Henrix. November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970.

Janis Joplin. January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970.

Jim Morrison, The Doors. December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971.

Kurt Cobain, Nirvana. (February 20, 1967 – c. April 5, 1994)

Little Brown Pen

How well do we really know our city? Living in a busy metropolis and being a working woman, as much as I find beauty in the strangest of things, I often don't get the time to stop and appreciate them.


London is my home city and I can honestly say I am happy when I am here. I don't know what it is, whether it's the history or the architecture, sounds or the atmosphere, but something in London makes it special and recently I have embarked on a little adventure to keep me in the centre.


For the past few months I have been couchsurfing the capital - packing my bags, putting my trust in and staying with a number of kind strangers. It's not everyones ideal past-time and it definitely took a lot of courage, but it has been a fantastic experience, despite happening just on my doorstep. I have learnt so much about different cultures, different ways of living and met a genuinely beautiful group of individuals. Before all this, you could say I was somewhat ignorant and suspicious of people, and to some extent I still am, but I could never have imagined the limits that some individuals will selflessly extend their generosity to others unknown to them. In a way, it has restored some of my faith in others and has left me once again with a craving to travel...


If I can do this in my own city, what is stopping me from exploring others? Past the barrier of language, we all are the same. We want the same things, we feel the same...Though language is my weakness. In school I took lessons in German, French, Spanish, Italian and Latin but the strict curriculum was never lucrative enough for me to either take interest or learn more than random words and textbook phrases. Now, entering my career and becoming a little more in-tune with my ambitions, I am realising the importance and power language really is.


Pairing my love for travel, culture, beauty and art, I often find myself aggravated. Aggravated by the fact I am constantly running through each day but yet standing still. There is so much I what to discover...in London, in Europe and even further. I argue that there isn't the time for fanciful adventures, but in fact this is the time. We only have one shot at doing what we want to achieve, so whether it is wearing your heart on your sleeve after a heartbreak, or stepping out of a familiar and secure routine to explore the unknown, we should all take a chance. Can I dare to follow my desires? Could you?


So this post may have actually turned into quite a personal blurt and the reason behind it (other than being aggravated and extremely bored at work - yes, I said it!) is actually a blog I stumbled across called Little Brown Pen. Despite being from one of my most loved European centers, it encapsulates some of what I feel I am missing. Called 'The Paris Colour Project', the individuals running this blog choose to Flâner around Paris, no destination in mind, and take photographs of seemingly unrelated details, focusing on colour and Parisian spirit. The outcome shows the City as it truly is, appreciating every miniscule detail. A truly beautiful idea.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Remik Kozdra & Kasia Baczulis's stunning photoshoot for the May 2011 issue of Papercut Magazine has certainly caught my eye today. Doused in glitter and painted metallic, Patrycja and Justyna show their statuesque and natural beauty, creating a captivating collection of photography fine art prints and make-up artistry... Something worth appreciating. 

Corinne Day & Kate Moss

© theimagist

A revolutionary fashion genius, Corinne Day found herself a photographic visionary in the early Nineties. Embracing the dirty reality of London girls, she had an eye for the capturing her street plucked models when they least expect - slumped, laughing or simply messing around. This unvarnished approach to fashion was a controversial move on from the pristine glam of the 80's and her work was first met with outrage. Nevertheless, Day went on to become a regular contributor to Vogue with her images becoming modern classics.

Aged 48, Day died in late August of this year having battled with a brain tumour.  

"Corinne was a photographer of huge talent and integrity. Her work for British Vogue was entirely original and will always be remembers. She could capture raw beauty like few others." - Alexandra Shulman, Vogue Editor

© faultmagazine

One of her most renowned works was her depiction of Kate Moss in the '3rd Summer of Love' editorial for the FACE magazine in 1990, shown above. It was this shoot that really kick started Kate Moss's career - she was 16 at the time. 

Instead of launching into a whole history of her achievements, we'll look at her latest ventures which are of course linked to our high-street favourite, Topshop. 

"Topshop can confirm that the inimitable fashion partnership between Kate Moss and Topshop will enter a new phase in 2011"

Kate Moss's first capsule collection for the brand was launched back in May 2007 and has since been a regular addition. However, to bring a little more life into the collaboration, Sir Philip Green has given to go-ahead for his daughter, 19 year old Chloe Green, to join forces with Miss Moss to design together. Something to look forward for?

"She's really into vintage and I love clothes that are a little bit more modern, so I think it will be an interesting mix to work together." - Chloe Green

© Celebrity-gossip

This October will see the last of Moss's capsule collections in-store. Instead of being tied down with seasonal contributions, she is going to become a free agent, being able to introduce looks as and when they take her fancy.

"Kate and the Topshop design team will focus on creating Limited Edition drop-in collections, replacing the current Seasonal Collections"

This matches Kate's spontaneous style, and how exciting to have a regular additions from our London girl!

To mark this new chapter, Kate has hand-picked her Top Ten all-time favourites from her past 14 collections that we go on sale under a new label, 'Iconic Kate'. These include the pansy-print day dress from her first collection and the bold panther mini dress (shown above).