Vintage Photos

Being inspired by Scott Schuman @The Sartorialist vintage photo's posts I just wanted to share a couple of my parents that I have always loved!

These are without Hipstamatic or Instagram filters! True vintage!

Their first flight together

On their wedding day with my mum in her borrowed wedding dress with amazing covered buttons and peter pan collar!

Hangzhou, China

I returned home last night from my 10th trip to Hangzhou China so, a little bleary eyed this morning, I realised I have never written about it, to be honest not even my Nick has ever seen a photo! So I'm just going to give a brief summery of my trip. 

Westlake, Hangzhou

As it was (and always is) a work trip there aren't too many photos outside the office/ factory and no exciting stories of nights out and recommended restaurants/ bars!!

After flying into Shanghai our driver picked us up to drive the hour and half to Hangzhou. We checked into the Sofitel which after moving around once or twice managed to find a room that didn't make me feel like I was stuck in the middle of the busy road outside of the hotel. (Driving in China consists of one hand on a mobile phone and the other on the car horn!) The rooms are comfortable and spacious but def without a view!!

Sofitel, Hangzhou

Room without a view!

After a quick shower and change we went out to the local trim market. Trim markets tend to be quite overwhelming (and not just due to the jet lag!) as there is shop upon shop stacked to the rafters with lace, buttons, zips, hardware, beads, sequins, belts and pretty much anything else you can imagine needed to finish a garment. 

View of trim market

I find China a interesting mix of the modern and traditional, the two working alongside each other sometimes appearing to be totally unaware of the other.  

Bikes used to transport everything from fabric to families

Outside the trim market

New Look Press Day AW 2011

I might have mentioned once or twice before, I'm really not great at keeping up to date with my blog! I always seem to find an excuse not to sit down and post a little post. Today for example I've managed to clean the flat, scrubbing the kitchen included, organise and cull both my shoes and underwear drawer. I'm explaining this, frankly in more detail than anyone needs to know, to illustrate the reason this post is so late!


If anyone has read my profile they will know I'm a high street designer (actually I'm not too sure if I ever got round to filling all that in... hmmm note to self to check!) I do quite a lot of work for New Look so I was invited to their AW 2011 Press Day held at the beautiful church building opposite Great Portland St tube station.

The key messages New Look were channeling were: Seventies-Meets-40's, lots of fab tea dresses styles with faux fur stoles and floppy felt hats; Gatsby Glamour, fantastic flapper style dresses, all over embellishment in a soft washed out palette of minks and duck egg with highlights of antique and rose gold; 70's downtown, a clean modern take on the 70's trend, updating the pussy-bow blouse with colourblock details and clean sharp tailoring. For me this is the trend that will saturate the high st come August.

I know New Look has had some pretty bad press in the past nine months or so but this press show looked fantastic I just hope they can translate their trends to store.

The Gilbert Scott

After a slightly soggy day we thought we would treat ourselves to a tipple at The Gilbert Scott a Tanquary and Tonic later we sat back to admire the fabulous 20's decor listening to the dulcet tones of Nina Simone, I have to say I felt very at home! I would highly recommend visiting the newly refurbished St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, even if its just for a g'n't!

The Festival Of Britain

Despite the awful weather today we decided to go to the Southbank. Nestled inside the Southbank Centre itself is a cosy little exhibition celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the festival of Britain. Alongside people's memories of the original event was quaint black and white films of the time was a mock up of a 60's front room. I love the retro geo's of the print and the clean lines of the scando inspired furniture. It feels modern and relevant 60 years later the prints inspiring the likes of Orla Keily.

The Joy Of Clapton

The Clapton Festival was on this weekend, so yesterday we pottered down the road to check it out. The sunshine, swing band, mountains of cake and general good cheer made for a wonderful afternoon. I can't believe how much Clapton has changed in the past couple of years me and Nick have been living here.... If this weekend is anything to go by I think the transformation from Murder Mile' to Islington-Of-The-East is complete! Love It!!

Random dude playing a tiny piano (very well)

view of the green wonky gazebo's a must

Paris: Compare & Contrast

Over the past year I have been to Paris a couple of times on seasonal work trips. Aside from trawling through mountains of latest fabric trend and technologies I have stayed in some fantastic hotels that have been very different in style from baroque minimalism at The Hotel Sorbonne,
to the Louis XIV opulence of the Victoria Palace Hotel.
Both hotels, wonderful and equally Parisian in their own right. For me The Victoria Palace Hotel with its regal opulence was the most inspiring. I'm not saying that every curtain in my flat will now have fringing at its edges, although I'm developing a slightly unhealthy obsession with chesterfield sofas/ armchairs, I think my baroque curtains and retro chandeliers make a subtle nod to the grandeur of Louis XIV quite nicely!!