A simply stylish Shoreditch shindig

Apologies for the 'Bloggers Block' of late, I'm not really sure why it's come about.  There's a lot I want to write about but my head is all over the place (I'm still unpacking/chucking to make my room liveable) but the worst is over now.  Everyone knows I love a good meet-up and after being in New York for almost 7 months (when will I stop going on about that), my knowledge of the London Blogger Scene was a bit rusty, so I was delighted to know that'd I'd be back in time for a Shoreditch meet-up organised by the lovely Fiona.  The venue was the Drunken Monkey, the menu was dim sum and cocktails, so I  gladly made the trek into East London (albeit whilst comparing the furnace-like Tubes with the breezy subways).  Once I'd arrived I loved seeing British Style in all it's finery through all the bloggers (Jennifer even has an East London Street Style blog that I can't stop browsing), which definitely has an element of thrown-together fun. 

I hope I haven't soured the relationships with my new found friends by stealing all their pictures!  Please forgive me Natasha, Kate, Mariana and Lira!

Bloggers are an open, friendly sort of species and conversations ranged from weddings to facial expressions, though unfortunately the atmosphere was rather loud and I probably mis-heard a few things.  I fully overindulged due to the endless amounts of set-menu food and had to leg it to the last train home, but the others managed to spend the night dancing away in the Electricity Showrooms. How I wished I lived in Central London!

I look forward to seeing my new buddies again and meeting some more over the next few months; these are just the kind of people to get me loving London again!

 Role call

Alex (who has a rather nice Chanel bag)

Fiona (is always up to something interesting)

Lucy (I'm rather envious of her shoes)

Reena (is always inexplicably glamourous)

Natasha (who quite possibly has the best job ever)

Frankie (face of a Motorola phone, don't you know)

Maria and Nik (very jealous of their proximity to reduced ASOS-ness)

Kate B (blogs about spaces I would quite like to live in)

Kate A (is always up to something interesting)

Mariana (lives in one of my favourite places, Brighton)

Jennifer (takes lovely pictures in the heart of East London)

Lira (sports fetching attire)

Cillian (representing menswear I need to steal)

Tor & Jenny (always stylish)

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A few degrees makes all the difference...

So I'm back in London and surrounded by a Sea of Suitcases (perhaps a potential new blog name) due to some serious splurging whilst overseas.  It hasn't really sunk in that I'm home, but I've mainly been getting over the jetlag and catching up with British TV rather than dressing up.  It doesn't help that my camera decided to break during my last week, so whilst it's being fixed, here are a few Williamsburg outfit pictures taken by awesome photographer Rachel.

 Playsuit, bag - Vintage via Brooklyn Flea (bought during this post)

Belt - Vintage via Angels (actually broke this whilst eating one of those huge deli burritos, but it luckily still fits)

Shoes - Doc Martens

Necklaces - Brooklyn and more Brooklyn Flea, could this outfit get any more Brooklyn?  How I miss that place

 Shirt - Primark

Bralet - Urban Outfitters

Hareems, Bracelet - Topshop

Sandals - Steve Madden

Necklaces, bag - as before

Sunnies - H&M

I was desperate for cooler weather whilst in New York and now I've got my wish!  Of course the previous bare-legged and zero cover-up look won't really do and I'm looking forward to wearing a few light layers complete with tights or knee highs once my unpacking is complete.  I've collected a few looks that would for the British 'summer' to get me inspired and I'm looking forward to trying some London outfit posts (there is now an area in my house with a clean white wall) once my camera is fixed.  What have you been wearing for the 'summer' where you live?  Is it as temperamental as the UK?

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!  I'm still thinking that prices are in dollars and can see myself overspending massively!

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Nothing to Declare

Sorry for being a bad blogger this week, but I'm in a reflective sort of mood.  This involves wandering aimlessly around various parts of Manhattan, realising what I'm going to be leaving behind and attempting to pack three inevitably overweight bags. Of course returning home after 6 months will take a lot of getting used to, so while I'm not posting due to pleading with my parents for a walk in wardrobe and buffalo wings every night, why not check out some of my favourite NYC posts?

Metaphorical bridge picture

Catfights and Spotlights at Y3
Tim Burton takes over my Saturday
First visit to the Brooklyn Flea
Rodarte Exhibition mixed with a bit of West Side Story
London Designers show their wares in the Soho Grand
I somehow managed to get dressed during the most extreme of weather conditions
Sailing, Sample Sales and Schiaparelli
First Impressions
Williamsburg, Seaport and Meatpacking

This post is my last from New York and although I've missed seeing my family and friends for 6 months (and sweltered in the heat), I don't think I'm ready to leave.  If you ever get the oppurtunity to live here, take it, as you will learn a lot about a great city and most importantly, yourself.  However sad I might be, the moping ends here.  Even though I'm determined to go back to work and live in the Big Apple, I have more immediate situations at hand, namely dissertation research, final year inspiration and bonding with the city I was born in, London. 

Really healthy food at Coney Island

However the random things I will miss are:

1. Hulu.com working
2. Soho/Lower East Side/Williamsburg/Park Slope/Chelsea/Greenwich Village/Meatpacking District
3. Cheap hairdressers
4. Cheap subway
5. People loving my accent
6. Crazy food portions
7. Beacons Closet
8. Amazing sandwiches/Buffalo wings
9. Actually being able to visit the places mentioned on The Cut and Refinery 29
10. Knowing that the price is pounds is somewhat less, making $12 cocktails bearable

Determined to smuggle Crumbs into the UK

Proper posting and reflections to resume once I'm in London!

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Penultimate

The last-but-one week has just been a whirlwind; I finished my internship, said goodbyes to friends and have temporarily turned into a tourist, meaning that I've not been home a lot and have been eating a lot of Mexican food.  I have a list of things to cover before I leave, presents to buy for various family members and a serious packing mission should I choose to accept it.  With 8 days to go, here is a mish-mash of photos from the penultimate week in NYC.

Went back to Met and saw the amazing Bambu sculpture on the roof.  People were actually walking around the upper levels as part of a guided tour.

Also managed to get the courage to snap this outfit at the American Woman exhibition (the mojitos on the rooftop bar certainly helped); I really love the embroidery of the lady playing tennis

The last two pairs of new shoes, bringing the total to 8

Random plaques near the library

Gotta love the views from the rooftops

Williamsburg graffiti

The Marc Jacobs spree includes a new tin for all my knitting paraphernalia for final year

The Intrepid was a source of unexptected inspiration

Went a bit crazy at the huge Forever 21 in Times Square; I'm lucky it only opened now otherwise my luggage situation could have been a lot worse.  Wish I could've picked up those paper sculptures...

My view of the spectacular July 4th Fireworks

Being chased by waves at Rockaway Beach; doesn't quite compare with Jamaica, but still fun nonetheless

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Sweaty Betty Dressing (OOTW)

Another post, another weather berating session.  New York is a city of extremes; I've been so cold that I've wanted to escape to the nearest sauna and so hot that Antarctica seems like a viable holiday option.  Now is the time of the latter, with 30 degree heat every day and a crazy, frizzy mess happening on my head.  This isn't just any dressing, this is NYC survival dressing.  At the moment I feel as if I'm lacking creativity, as my tights and cardigans are again redundant and I'm having to dress to avoid spontaneous combustion.  How do you cope in crazy heatwaves when creativity lacks?  I'm almost looking forward to going back to 'chilly' England and layering up again.

 Hows this for a new Bloggerism; pose like a Washington statue?

Tank - Emma and Sam via LF Stores

Skirt - Cheap Monday

Bandeau - eBay

Sandals - Steve Madden

Jewellery - Topshop

My Washington whistle-stop tour was a nice change to bustling New York, though the weather there was pretty much the same  (the Megabus air conditioning was such a relief).  I'm wearing the Cheap Monday skirt I featured on this post.  There wasn't much time for shopping, but I did pick up the bralet I wore the following day.

Bralet - Urban Outfitters

Skirt - Vintage via Urban Jungle

Belt - Vintage via Angels

Sandals - Steve Madden

Sunglasses - H&M
Necklace - Pema boutique
Bracelet - Topshop

I finally jumped on the maxi-bandwagon and wore the skirt I bought here.  I haven't yet found a maxi dress style to suit me, so the skirt and crop top combination is great as it creates some kind of illusion.  I'm not sure if it quite helped keep my legs cool due to the material, but it was strangely liberating having them covered.

Mesh tee - American Apparel

Shorts - H&M

Belt -Vintage via Angels

Sandals - Steve Madden

Necklaces - DIY, Tosphop

Bracelet - Stall in Soho

First outing of my new necklace and I showed it to my Mum on Skype.  Now she wants one!

Playsuit - Topshop

Belt - Vintage via Angels

Sandals - Steve Madden

Bag - Vintage via Brooklyn Flea

Necklaces - Pema Boutique & random flea vendor

Made a visit to the garden state of New Jersey for a company picnic

Dress - H&M

Draped vest - Vintage via Salvation Army

Sandals - Steve Madden
Jewellery - as before

I decided to revisit the Salvation Army store I featured in this post, as I hadn't returned since that chilly January afternoon.  Even though there were a lot less rails and a lot more people rummaging, I managed to pick up this draped vest for just $3. 

Top - Splendid

Shorts - H&M

Sandals - Steve Madden
Jewellery - as before
Bag - Vintage, via Brooklyn Flea

The penultimate Brooklyn Flea visit; I went in search of more cheap bags and came back with a new playsuit after some successful haggling.  Check back next week to see what it looks like...

Wow, Kb photo overload!  I know I'm no model, but if you fancy becoming one (I know you're a  rather delectable bunch) the Next Modelling Competition is happening again with a Select contract up for grabs.   Read my post about last years final here and let me know if any of you enter.  Now for some random photos of the week....

Now that's one way to store your teacups; seen in a bar on Union Square

I made a quick stop at the FIT Eco-fashion exhibition which was short and sweet; I'm extremely gutted to be missing the Japanese fashion exhibition that happens later this year

A random sculpture garden found in Washington

Gorgeous Herve Leger dress spotted in Soho

Finally treated myself to a Magnolia's cupcake.  No photos of inside the box as somehow the cakes, ahem, disappeared...

I also have an interview up on Qype; I have been a busy bee.  Have a great week!

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A Jewellery Update

Long time no see/post!  With all the hectic happenings that a week brings, I somehow managed to finally finish my handmade necklace I wrote about previously.  There was some procrastinating, minor indecision and a lot of losing various the parts that I needed but I eventually decided to just try something simple and plait some random chains together.

30 degree heat = hair not so great

I'm pleased as punch with the result after trying something so simple and stayed true to form by layering it with my other necklaces.  Here's hoping it doesn't fall apart due to my questionable putting-together skills.

Another jewellery purchase was unfortunately not handmade, but still interesting nonetheless; a necklace/bracelet hybrid. I found it on one of the random jewellery stalls on Spring Street (near Broadway) and thought it was a unique, one of a kind thing, until I saw it on almost every other stall in the vicinity after purchase (slightly cheaper might I add).  Maybe you can find them in a city near you?  I'd never seen anything like it before, plus I liked the way it can morph and be twisted in numerous different ways.  At least I know where to go if I need to find another colour! 

Now here's another store model that needs to come to England (or perhaps it's already there, I'm really out of the loop with what's happening in my own country); the do-it-yourself jewellery store.  Brooklyn Charm is certainly prettily packaged and allows you to pick all of the elements of your own necklace or bracelet, from chain to charm and you can have as much or as little bling as you desire.  They can even put it together for you for a small fee and everything is easy to find.   

I will probably treat myself to a letter charm as Metalliferous has failed me on that front!

Does this count as a new hobby?  Certainly beats just putting 'shopping' on your CV/resume.  I intend to keep this up as I gain more and more inspiration and will stock up on some random bits just before I leave.  The above tray seems like a perfect start.

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Time is ticking

Don't be surprised if every other post on here is a haul post; I officially have less than a month left in NYC and I seem to be coping by shopping in my favourite haunts.  I can already tell I'm going to be heartbroken when I leave Williamsburg with my five overweight suitcases (estimation), but hold your horses; I still have weeks left here which is more than most.  I have a list that mainly consists of eating/shopping/museums and I plan to take an insane amount of photos to show you how I'm spending the last twenty-something days.

New York, New York; where else can you find a crochet covered bicycle left in the rain?

Now onto the purchases; I had a free afternoon and a friend in town, so decided to show her the best of Brooklyn in a four hour time window.  After a crazy amount of lunch, we stumbled into Beacon's Closet, where you never really know what you're going to get (or who you're going to see, pretty sure I was in the presence of models, fresh from the Resort runways).  People cash their wardrobes in (after the scrutinisation by the staff for seasonality) and what with New Yorkers being a diverse bunch, you get a nice mixture of High Street, Designer and Vintage.  I even spotted some Primark in the midst and my first find is an example of items hotfooting it across the globe; a boxy shirt by the Swedish brand Weekday.  Methinks that some well-travelled and seriously generous person donated it, to allow me the change to indulge my love for Nordic chic.  This is desperate to be chucked over a body-con dress.

It's rather big, maybe it belonged to a man but I don't really care...

The next purchase were some full shorts, hastily picked up to try on with another item I ended up ditching.  Although I will probably belt them at the waist and tuck tops in for an easy option, I'm probably more a fan of the drop waist silhouette and will pair them with baggy jumpers come Winter. 

Damn that left on Ikea sticker, ruins the illusion of a clutter-free life

Isn't it funny that all the things I picked out were grey?  I fell in love with the unusual pockets on this skirt and plan to shorten it drastically, using the leftover material creatively.  For what exactly?  Answers on a postcard please.

This Cheap Monday skirt might not have hanger appeal, but it is an interesting take on the body-con skirt, with a draped outer layer. 

Yes, I'm aware my clothes could do with an iron...

Feeling slightly ashamed now, I've broken my six month Topshop ban.  In my defence, I knew I had to get this asymmetric hem tank ever since it appeared online months ago (Queen Michelle's ownership only confirmed the fact) as it was the perfect price for something, which normally comes under window-shopping territory in the pricier boutiques. I stalked the rails of the Soho branch for weeks, annoying shop assistants with my persistent questioning along the lines of 'Whadda ya mean you don't know what asymmetry is?'   On Sunday my prayers were answered and I managed to pick up the last one in my size just before closing time, and thus the ban was no more.  

Remember the rest of the collection?

Now for something a little less dull, more American Apparel nail polish!  Despite their store hiring policies you can't deny that colour variety and choice is the main reason to shop here (most of the polishes are matched to actual garments in the store if you really want to coordinate) and I love the fact that they don't just do the usual pinks and reds.  I tested out some pastel shades and decided within a few hours that they were for me due to the whole skin tone contrast.  They're slightly reminiscent of vintage cars and I am desperate for a pale blue to be added to the collection.

How's everyone's week going?  I just booked tickets for an extremely flying visit to Washington DC on Saturday; does anyone have any recommendations as to what to see, where to eat and cool areas to visit?  Hoping to cover a lot of ground in a very limited amount of time.

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One can never have too many magazines...

One of the most interesting recent tasks was choosing some Japanese magazines to buy for inspiration and I went to Kinokuniya near Bryant Park to browse.  I know Winnie is a big fan of Vivi and regularly posts scans on her blog, but it was great to see these magazines in the flesh and to also browse some of the other titles the store offers.  I didn't get a chance to look, but there's apparently some cute Japanese stationery on the ground floor, perfect for all those exhibition doodles I create.  Think of the Japan Centre in London, but without the sushi (sobs).  

 I'd been reading on the blogosphere about the magazines/lookbooks that certain designers produce in Japan, often with a free gift, but I never thought you could get them anywhere outside of the country.  Might just have to go back for the Eley Kishimoto umbrella to replace my battered old brolly

I chose Vivi, Jille, Scawaii and Sweet; would definitely recommend these for some fun inspiration

It's hard to put my finger on what makes fashion in Asia streets ahead and able to interpret current and future trends swiftly. For example, many of these magazines also serve as catalogues and with my limited (scrap that, non-existent) understanding of Japanese, I could see that many of the items were available to purchase online.  There is an overwhelming amount to choose from, with every style and possibility covered (in six handy colours), a total contrast to Western magazines where you're just left to fend for yourself in locating the items.  It's also nice to also have a mixture of celebrity, designer and blogger inspiration. 

 There are quirkily styled photoshoots galore

Sections guide you on numerous ways to create outfits; I wonder whether these magazines are responsible for the kind of street style seen here, or whether they were more of a response.  Chicken and egg situations aside, I quite like the layering possibilities shown here though you do run the risk of looking very similar to a fellow Vivi lover.  If step-by-step outfit creation wasn't enough, there's also beauty guides, hair tutorials and even diet tips, providing a reference point for every part of your lifestyle.

And lastly, a whole page devoted to lace!  Though these magazines can be quite pricey due to import prices, they're are a lot cheaper than visiting the country itself, so I'll perhaps be making do with Jille for the time being since it was a rather reasonable $8.  Of course this is part of a bigger plan; I've managed to find a Korean-speaking buddy to help me tackle Gmarket, where they sell similar fast-fashion in endless combinations.  I've figured that most clothes sold and marked up in shops are pretty similar to those sold on these sites, so I'm going to try and find things at a reduced cost.  This is my solution to getting my Far East fashion-fix until I save enough pennies to go!

Cute little purse freebie

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