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):

Picnics on the road

Boiled eggs and portable tin of salt... what more could you ask for? Also love my vintage embroidered napkins from ebay - bought as inspiration when thinking about embroidering my own. Watch this space!

Misty Eyed

A few days in Cornwall last week visiting family - long overdue and not for long enough! Celebrating being reunited come rain or shine...

Broad Beans

Broad Bean season... Reminds me of a painting of peas by William Nicholson which my Dad introduced me to many years ago.

The Lustre Bowl with Green Peas, 1911

Pitching

I love looking through old Interiors magazines - they can be just as inspirational as fashion or art magazines for me. This was an editorial essentially about trimmings - something I seem to be collecting, judging by my styling kit and sewing bag. I love these embellished tents... food for thought. 

Tie-Dye Mania

There is no shortage of tie-dye clothing available at the moment: both the high street and designers are furiously peddling their take on the trend. I got quite heavily in to tie-dye last summer. My first attempt since childhood took place in Camberwell, see here. Min and I were hooked. Here we are a few months later in Portugal and up to our elbows in buckets of salt and dye.

Pictures by Allegra Pilkington

It's a very fun, inexpensive project. If like me your white t-shirts don't stay that way for long, or your other half is chucking theirs out - save them up for a Dylon sink session. I get dye from eBay (or your local art shop, when it reopens), but the Dylon website is helpful to see the full range of colours.

Lockdown Wardrobe

What have you been wearing during Lockdown? Or rather, what have you missed wearing? I've pretty permanently worn a pair of leopard print leggings originally bought for a shoot: after returning them unworn, I went back to re-buy because I liked them so much. Weird on many levels - mostly because most people don't look great in leggings, myself included. And yet here I am day in, day out wearing my trusty pair of now rather knackered leggings.

Slippers courtesy of Tesco

I do miss getting dressed for work. I'm a fashion stylist so this requires a balance of looking stylish (or at least, not a mess) and practicality. These days at home it's more a balance of comfort and stuff I don't mind spilling my breakfast/lunch/dinner on. I've realised how many clothes I actually have... Most mornings recently I've told myself that today is the day of the wardrobe sort out /season changeover, etc. I know I will find some gems to get excited about wearing again when I do. But it hasn't happened yet... I'll let you know how it goes. 

Lockdown Polaroid 1

9/5/2020

Bow, London

Inspired by Patti Smith, I asked for a polaroid camera for Christmas a few years ago. I've loved using it - harder than it looks! - and have been taking pictures on walks and at home during the Lockdown period. I'm not sure exactly to what purpose - I'm sure we are all keen to forget this 

weird, muddling time ASAP - but there is something in capturing what is beautiful in the world, Corona or not.

Woven Wire

A beautiful and inspiring show earlier this year at David Zwirner Gallery in Mayfair - Ruth Asawa's woven wire sculptures and line drawings. I love the relationship between the two - and how one informs the other. Asawa's sculptures were inspired by a trip to Mexico in 1947, where a local craftsman taught her how to weave a basket out of wire.

Loved this picture of Asawa working at home surrounded by her children

1957

Photo by Imogen Cunningham

Bank Holiday Haiku

Easter Bank Holiday has passed - and so differently to previous years spent with family in Cornwall. I spent the weekend cooking, and enjoyed some wine I bought with winnings from the virtual Grand National earlier this month...

Haiku

A perfect white wine 

is sharp, sweet and cold as this:

birdsong in winter.

By Wendy Cope

from Family Values

Cañas with Mum

With so much more time on my hands at the moment, and with so much to think about - I find myself turning to my sewing bag for some relief

I embroidered a photograph for my wonderful Mum for Mother's Day - cañas and calamari sandwiches in Madrid, a treasured lunch repeated many times over the years. Something to look forward to when the world calms down a bit. The food, drink and sun - but mostly my Mum.