Africa

I went to the British Museum last weekend (to see an exhibition that opens in March...whoops), and came across a room of African textiles - 'Social Fabric: African Textiles Today'.

So many beautifully printed fabrics - and a few great slogans too. Really liked this bicycle print with girl power tagline:

 

Hung side by side by a mango print piece:

 But my favourite were probably the fabrics decorated by the faces of Barak Obama and Michael Jackson

Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. 

Click on the poster images below for more details:

Which, coincidentally, reminds me of a song I have listened to over a million times and has an amazing video:

Blossom

Best accessorised tube traveller I have seen in a while.

Courts

I now have more snakeskin items of clothing in my wardrobe than you can shake a stick at (actually only 3 things but it still feels quite excessive)

They're much nicer in real life... I promise. They look here to be that in between high and low height, which is my absolute worst.

I've been wearing them with baggy rolled up stonewashed denim jeans - I like how that vibe looks like you were kind of playing dress up for the day and chanced across an outfit that really works. Never to be worn with black opaques.

 Yours if you're quick from the Primark sale for £6.

Anchored

I bought a multi pack of kids rings from Primark recently, which included this dangling anchor one.There's also one with a heart and shell - not bad for £1.50!

Test Shoot Texture

Love the colours and textures of these fabrics left over from a test shoot I did at the weekend.

Cold February

 All wrapped up in an old, slightly battered issue of French Vogue 2011 shot by David Sims and styled by Joe McKenna.

Much needed inspiration for prolonged winter dressing if this month's dismal weather forecast is anything to go by. I've nearly run out of enthusiasm for cold weather clothes and long for spring to arrive so I can get my ankles out and leave a couple of layers at home so that my jackets fit normally rather than being squeezed on rendering my arms virtually unable to move.

Anyway....

Fluff

This week's wonder of the market:

FLUFF

No not the delicious marshmallow sweet treats, but these:

What are they? What are they for? Does anyone ever buy one?

I was tempted but I literally had no inspiration (yet) as to what I could do with it.

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Paris

Calendar Girl?

I started to make a calendar towards the end of last year for my Dad's birthday but ran out of steam and time... I have kept what progress I made and am keeping it on my bedside table. I will be sad when I get to September and my cobbled together calender runs out.

Saturday Market

Yesterday afternoon was spent in Shepherd's Bush Market seeking out and buying fabric. A favourite Saturday past time.

Tessa and I realised that we have never been to A. Cooke's Pie & Mash cafe, which is probably pretty embarrassing for me as I find so much time to talk about how much I love Shepherd's Bush. Must fix this soon.

 

Alright Petal?

Neon rose petals

Offering an alternative to the norm this Valentines Day for all those budding romantics.

Pope's Rings II

I often refer back to a blog post I wrote about Raphaels's painting of Pope Julius II, and his amazing rings. This weekend while at the Musee de Cluny in Paris, I saw some real Pope's rings up close and I really wasn't disappointed - they were enormous!!

 

These rings are even older than Raphael's painting and date back to c.1464, taking the trend for statement jewellery back to the 15th Century...

Oysters in the 18th

I got back from Paris yesterday after spending a long weekend walking, drinking coffee and wine in equal measures and staring at everything/one with my mouth wide open. A highlight of the trip was a morning spent in the 18th, where we chanced across a food market and stall selling oysters and white wine in plastic cups which locals were standing around knocking back and chatting. I just loved it - what a great way to experience my first oyster!

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!

Trash & Treasure

The body of this woman carrying water is made from dried butterfly wings. Fear not:

An arguably strange buy, found at a car boot sale in Manchester's Trafford Centre. One of the reasons I like car boots, flea markets etc so much is because of the random, amazing things you can discover in the most unlikely places. Another favourite, also a find from our Northern friends (this time a flea market in Preston), is this Dave and Shirley name plate bracelet

One man's trash really is another man's treasure.

More from Preston here.

Some Kind Of Love

 

'Put Jelly on Your Shoulder'

These jelly candles reminded me of the bizarre/scary lyrics drawled by Lou Reed for the Velvet Underground from the song 'Some Kind Of Love.'

Window Shopping, Take Two

I wrote a blog post about this beaded collar a few months back, which I saw in the window of a fabric shop in Shepherd's Bush. It's now featuring as a great addition to this ready made dress, which kind of looks like a mini skirt with the reflection of my legs and coat in the window.

January Colour

I enjoyed these splashes of colour over the weekend, pre sleet and snow. Including pins for head scarfs

glittery ribbon

 and the world's most enormous hair clips ever!!

 Surely almost bigger than most people's heads.

Berets and Brogues

I've been thinking about ideas for shoots and have been seeking inspiration high and low. While yet another 90s throw back is certainly not on the agenda, I did happen to come across a shoot in an 1994 edition of Italian Vogue that I thought captured the vibe particularly well. It probably helps Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista the models too.

Shot by Steven Meisel, the pictures capture the sultry school girl mood so well, without slipping in to being overtly sexy which can sometimes feel a bit wrong.

Food for thought.

Fog on the Thames

 

A misty (and grey) London afternoon by the river yesterday.

 

Charing Cross Bridge

1899

Claude Monet

Charing Cross Bridge, Fog on The Thames

1899-1901

Claude Monet

 Monet was one of the first painters I remember learning about as a child, and going to see his water lily paintings at the National Gallery. I think his Thames paintings get better as they get more and more blurred. Monet came to live in England during the Franco-Prussian war, and was inspired by Turner and Constable.

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.