Shirt

I love this Vintage shirt of my Mum's which I've been wearing for years now. Sensing it probably had a good story behind it, I text Mum... 'I bought it in Valencia, Spain in 1978 on the docks'. Well that is quite good isn't it.

 

10 Years of 'What's She Like?'

It dawned on me this week that I've been writing 'What's She Like?' for 10 years! A surprise, even though I know I've kept this digital diary/scrapbook charting my sartorial (and beyond) journey through my 20s and into my 30s. Some posts make me cringe beyond belief - others make me smile at how confident and enthusiastic I was about the things I love. Here is my first ever post, aged 21 sitting in a cold student house in Withington, Manchester.

10 years later as a Fashion Stylist living and working back in my hometown of London, the young woman in Manchester wouldn't have believed what was to come... As the world seems to be looking at itself afresh and working out what's next - myself very much included - it's important to remember how far we've come, the people and places we have cherished, and of course - the clothes we have loved and worn to bits! Some faves from the early days (click image to read):

Dave Heath

I visited the Photographer's Gallery this week to see the Deutsche Börse prize, but what really caught my eye were the Dave Heath pictures on display. Famed for his portraits of life in post war North America, Heath was predominantly self taught and well known for his skilled printing technique. Of course, I loved the clothes in these snapshots of 1960s New York, but it's worth a visit if you're sartorially interested or not.

High Fashion

There was absolutely no way I could walk past these jewelled slippers, found in a charity shop last week. They set my mind running with ideas for potential shoots... 

Clementine

Christmas day outfit inspiration? Makes a change from sequins...

Bruce Weber and Clare Richardson for Vogue Italia last April

Wardrobe in the woods

A dreamy set up last weekend on location - until the rain came! New editorial in the pipeline....

New Website

I made a website! Head over to www.josie-harris.com to see my most recent editorial work...

Cornish Picnic

While doing some research this morning for an upcoming shoot I came across this picture from c.1910 of a picnic on a Cornish beach

Probably my favourite activity - although probably less billowing cotton and more sun bleached swimming costumes

Layered Colour

Amazing shoot styled by Katie Shillingford and shot by Vivian Sassen for Dazed and Confused.

So much to look at!

Lacroix

Jewellery from the south of France that influenced the creation of a Lacroix 1987 wedding dress.

Christian Lacroix's haute couture embodies all the lavish opulence one imagines haute couture should be.

Sandals

New shoes..again... Thank you Zara sale

Peter, Grace and Daria

   

 

 

A friend of mine recently pointed me in the direction of this Peter Lindberg shoot for US Vogue back in 2011. I haven't managed to upload the pictures in order, but I love the way the photographs tell a story - a proper photo narrative. And of course, the clothes are incredible. Grace Coddington strikes again.

China Town

21 Tank

Check out my new trendy tank top from the £1 Traid sale

 

Also bought this skirt, which I quite like with the tank actually

 For that classic mad woman look...

In the background is the real reason I went in to Traid, trying to pull some clothes for an upcoming test shoot...I am far too easily distracted, especially when everything is £1.

Easter Bonnet

Easter bank holiday is fast approaching and I am counting the days til I head to Cornwall to spend some time doing not very much at all. If only I had these Easter bonnets from a party shop in Westbourne Grove to celebrate with

 

This feather boa trimmed hat wins hands down

 

Apparently making easter bonnets represents the tradition of wearing new clothes at Easter, fitting in with the theme of renewal, re-birth etc...

Great excuse for a new spring wardrobe?

Valentino

While scouting for some inspiration online I unfortunately found that Valentino's ready to wear ss13 collection is annoyingly desirable.

This is my favourite. Long sleeve tartan ruffle dress - one to look out for.

I could even wear it with this tartan swimming cap for the full effect!

January Sale

A

 O N E  O F F

 S A L E

Was £25, now £20

 

Was £30, now £22

 

Was £28, now £22

January is well and truly here and so is One Off Style's Winter sale. All our looks have been reduced and are now more affordable than ever.

See here for more.

Keaton/Smith

I watched a really awful film while in Cornwall, 'Because I Said So', which stars Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore and the mother from Gilmore Girls... So perhaps it is unsurprising that it wasn't a cinematic triumph. Anything with Diane Keaton reminds me of Annie Hall - which I'm sure is the case with most people - and her tie/waistcoat/baggy trouser combinations.

I'm never sure if I love or hate this look. I have friends who can pull it off really well, I guess I'm just not one of them. More of a Patti Smith fan and her take on the androgynous look

 

I was interested to know who did the whole men's clothing thing first....so: Patti's album 'Horses' (above) which launched her into stardom was released in 1975 while Annie Hall hit cinemas in 1977. Go Patti.

I found this picture on the web of an Annie Hall face off. 

 Diane vs Kate

I think Diane wins this one, but it's Patti who trumps them all:

Patti onstage in 1978.

Camborne, Cornwall

I am in Cornwall at the moment where it is currently so windy that I've had to wedge the front door shut with my DM. Yesterday marked a trip to Camborne, where there was many a picture worthy sight:

I almost got fleeced of my money:

I remember a phase when cool cats wore fleeces with stuff like a howling wolf and rising moon on it, in a kind of ironic Native American/Pocahontas way. This shop in Camborne is definitely the place to go to pick one up at a bargain price - or to get your own take on that trend, puppies anyone?

This really weirded me out:

A shoe horn back scratcher. Look at that mini plastic hand! The guy behind the till also waved me goodbye saying, 'GOODBYE MY SWEET'. Which sounds quite nice but it wasn't really, and it sent full on shivers down my spine.

 It's probably because I'm such a:

Trips to Camborne are too few and far between. Always so much to see.