California

Memories from a Californian road trip earlier this year. Big Sur, Palm Springs, LA... A feast for the eyes, mind and belly!

The Breakfast Table

 

The Breakfast Table, 1884

John Singer Sargent

Love the morning light - the new day - creeping in to this painting.

Breakfast is by far the best meal of the day; sustenance for adventures that lay ahead. A slightly hindered scope for that in Jan 2021, but there was lots of it here

Lucky Rat

Walking home from central London last weekend, weaving through China Town and suddenly very tempted by a 'lucky rat'. Feel like we could all do with as much luck as we can get at the moment

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):

DLR

Taken on the DLR at Stratford, way before public transport triggered a world of anxiety. It's one of the best places for people watching... I love these ladies' saris, and their big bags and coats thrown on for the commute.

Parisian Footsteps

I'm reading a novel set in 1940s Paris at the moment. At the same time I've rediscovered these pictures from last year, when I was working in Paris for 10 days and also carrying out a very important daily pain au chocolat taste test. I recognise some of the bars, streets and hotels from the book - Paris is so beautiful (so intimidating)! I wonder when it will be possible to travel and walk the streets of foreign cities again? Paris is magical in the way it is possible to arrive in the city two hours after leaving London, stepping off the train at the forever busy Gare du Nord.

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.

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.

Translyvania

Photos from a recent train journey in to the Transylvanian Mountains: Sighisoara, Malanchrav, Brasov

Bucharest

A recent adventure in Bucharest, Romania - the first stop of a train holiday inspired by my mum's past travels. Bucharest is like nowhere I've been before - crumbling disrepair and new buildings alongside. The centre of the city seems to convey some wealth and stability - the old town full of history and beautiful buildings. Close by though things start to fray very quickly... We walked from the city centre to the international train station where we were catching a train up to the Transylvanian Mountains... more to come

Plastic flowers

Late night train back to London after a weekend in stormy Cornwall, with some hydrangeas from the garden in tow

Spanish Lunches

Lunch by the beach at Deia, Majorca last week... Keeping my spirits up as London gets a soaking 

Mushrooms on a Plate

1923

1929

1940

All by William Nicholson

Spanish Refreshment

Drinks - both small and large, and a calamari sandwich in central Spain last week. 

Love these pictures from an editorial shot by Sam Rock for Double Magazine issue 37.

Makes me want to jump on a plane immediately.