Camilla Åkrans

Ethereal and tinged with yearning, Camilla Åkrans‘ work is evocative, somehow arousing a personal nostalgic response.  I adore her soft and dreamy use of light and colour…

Oh Christmas!

My usual approach to Christmas can only be described as slap-dash and nonchalant (otherwise known as ‘lazy’), however, this year I’ve managed to acquire a bit of festive spirit and I’ve been getting into the idea of crafting and making and doing and even toying with the idea of doing my present shopping before christmas eve.  Wow, progress!

In preparation for a crafternoon sesh to decorate a friend’s tree today, I’ve been browsing the internet (surprise!) for some interesting/funny/absurd/easy-on-the-eye decorative ideas.  And via Flickr, I came across this brilliant alternative to a traditional christmas tree, on this photostream:

How sweet is that??  You could add lots of very personal touches – I’ve added photobooth photos taken of me and my friends in Berlin, polaroid photos, words made out of scrabble tiles etc for the version I’ve already created in my head.  Practically speaking as well, it’s a good way of being christmassy without taking up valuable space in a typical London basement flat-share.  Reality is that I’ll end up with a 2ft tree in a pot but you never know….

Numéro: Prima Ballerina Assoluta

Shalom Harlow, looking exquisite in “Chrysalide”, Numéro #108 (photographed by Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello, styled by Samuel François).

I love the graceful lines and the expressive manner in which the editorial interprets, what looks like to me, characters from ballets, with the focus remaining on high-fashion modernity.

Giselle

Odette

Baroness Mary Vetsera

Carabosse

Graziosa

Sugarplum Fairy

Old Meets New

www.spanishmossvintage.com

www.shopnastygal.com

If you are a veteran of online vintage shopping and/or a recovering eBay addict and/or a fashion blog zealot, NastyGal and SpanishMoss are names you will have heard of years ago.  However, if you are none of the above and have heard of neither, you will soon be wondering how you’ve managed without these stores all your online shopping life.

Having been both a vintage trader on eBay as well as an eBay addict, I can’t say I miss the bureaucratic and difficult monster that is eBay one little teeny minute bit.  However, negativity aside, eBay pre-2008 was a brilliant way of thrift shopping around the world from the comfort of your home.  It also was a fruitful platform for a handful of very smart and market-savvy vintage sellers (admittedly most of them were US-based) – these were girls who knew and loved vintage with a passion combined with talent; a skilled eye and an intuition for buying, styling and trend forecasting.

NastyGal and SpanishMoss are two such sellers who’s businesses have evolved off eBay and onto independent online boutiques; still selling unique vintage pieces but also selling collections from up-and-coming labels.    This is a model that works really well now that seasonal trends have become so diverse that individuality and style identity are the most valuable USPs of any brand.

NastyGal Vintage

Clockwise from top left: Leather jacket, Givenchy silk dress, Bondage stud knit dress,      Dominique Ikat harem pants

NastyGal New

Clockwise from top left: Mongolian lamb fur vest, Stylestalker ombre fringe dress,    Snakecharmer crystal cuff, Prince Peter What’s New Pussycat? tee

Although based on the left coast of the states, NastyGal has a slightly more urban edge that is perhaps more New York or even London than the more romantic and nostalgic spirit of SpanishMoss.   But whether your style is Studio 54 comes to Dalston or Badlands meets the Virgin Suicides (via Dolly Parton), both stores have a constantly updated inventory of clothes and accessories that will challenge and keep satisfied the most hardened shopping fanatic with a trigger-happy page-refresh finger.

SpanishMoss Vintage

Clockwise from top left: Carolina embroidered dress, Asphalt jumpsuit, Burnout grunge blazer, Leopard blouse romper

SpanishMoss New

Clockwise from top left: Studded butter leather glove, American Gold Cosette dress, Vicorian black leggings, Silver snake romper

Wildfox Barbie Couture

Set your calendar reminder! Wildfox Summer collection coming out in June 2010…

Malibu Sun, Wierd Science meets Clueless, Lolita Sunglasses, ice cream sundaes, 90s mix tapes, watermelon Lip Smacker, phone numbers scrawled on receipts, margaritas, breakfasts on sun loungers, salty skin, air conditioning in cars, text messages from boys…

Christmas Knits

As funny as it is to wear clunky and intentionally ugly jumpers to celebrate Baby Jesus’s birthday, a good piece of knitwear is for all seasons.  Henrik Vibskov has a great range of graphic knitted goods with a Scandinavian folk twist, in bold and unconventional colourways for both men and women – so you can all coordinate if that’s your ‘thing’ without looking like a submission for Awkward Family Photos.   Designed to be worn nice and clashy, layer these pieces up without reserve and jumble up the textures for a toasty winter!

Christmas Wish List

Just another excuse to add to my ever-growing wish-list….

Taking a flight of fancy

THEEEE Gareth Pugh’s headpiece from SS10 show, from Twisted Lamb.

Soft and drapey and muted perfection. Yes please!

T-Shirt from Seneca Rising.

The Holgaroid: Instant medium format gratification

Love my photos analogue and instant.

Dress me up in ruffles minus the 'girly'.

Artlab

Exteriors as interiors

Ice cream chandeliers in my outdoor rooms

Or maybe just the Tim Walker Pictures book, which I STILL do not have on my shelves…

You'll shoot your eye out!

Obviously…

Costume Dept.

Braindead Monday has resulted in a Manic Tuesday… I am sorting through 2 sacks of vintage clothing (watch this space in 2010 for exactly what I am going to do with all this vintage apparel!) which means just a quick drive-by posting today.

California based Costume Dept. has recently launched their new website, with an online shop coming soon!  Costume Dept. has been the ultimate spandex go-to brand for “ladies with an attitude and fellers who are in the mood” since their conception in 2008. Each piece is individually crafted and once a style is sold out, it’s gone forever, ensuring that those who love to stand out in the crowd can do so with minimum risk of running into their sartorial doppledangers at a party.  Rad!

Wendy Bevan: Nostalgia

I am currently finding visual escapism via the work of Wendy Bevan.

(images from TFS)

Back to the Future Knights

Interestingly, one of the most exciting, bold and versatile trends to emerge for SS10 finds it’s heart in the Dark Ages… enter, the Future Knights.  However, the spirit is more that of mythical female warriors whilst the philosophy is thoroughly modern, with designers marrying off different cultural aesthetics and even smashing the space-time continuum by venturing back beyond Medieval times and forth into the future for inspiration.  Future Knights picks up where the military trend has left off, stylistically amalgamating with the Tribal trend which will still be going strong come Summer.

Sass & Bide SS10

Future Knights meets Amazonian Tribes

Rodarte SS10

Future Knights in a Barbarian Brave New World

Balmain SS10

Future Knights in Ancient Rome

Aminaka Wilmont SS10

Future Knights in dark fairytales

Todd Lynn SS10

Urban Future Knights go back to the future with modern cosmic twists

I’m pleased to say that this is a trend that is going to translate well for the more humble subjects, (i.e., definitely me and perhaps you) AND will work well with spandex… YES.   Keep it bold with armour-like jewellery, chainmail/eyelet (as opposed to rock-chick metal-stud) detailing and don’t be afraid to add a hint of the mythical/fairytale with feathers and opulent, tactile textures. Think of the overall spirit as opposed to being concerned with historical accuracy (uhm, fancy-dress-alert!) and think feminine with a tough twist;  body-con Amazonian cuts, intricate use of leather, bold metallic statements contrasted with super-soft fabrics. There is still romance in the soul but in the manner of Boudica rather than Maid Marian.