Goodbye August

Just a quick one from me this evening as I'm currently mesmerised by the Paralympics and preparing for a few festivals that I have coming up.  August turned out to be a pretty decent month with a trip to Copenhagen, a scorching birthday weekend and my first Mulberry purchase.  There's a few typical photos (I know cupcakes may be considered cliché on here, but I can never resist taking a snap) peppered with many unique experiences.  With Autumn around the corner, I'm determined to make the most of diminishing light evenings, comfortable temperatures and creative ways of not wearing tights.  What have you been up to this month?

Using wifi on my flight to Copenhagen - Models Own nail polishes in the new Selfridges Beauty Workshop - Flowers outside Liberty

Yayoi Kusama window at Louis Vuitton - Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen - Old photos for sale

Catching a bit of Olympic swimming - I need these checked Wolford tights - The view by the river

Olympic rings in Hyde Park - Teacups at a flea market - Modern art at Louisiana  

Cupcake heaven - I'm not normally a fan of typical trainers, but the A.P.C x Nike collaboration could change things...

Me & Zena style biscuits by Biscuiteers - A birthday cupcake baked by the lovely Lucy

Burger & Lobster seems to be on here every month - Cupcake surprises at work - Breakfast at Café Lyst

A birthday Meat Liquor feast - Trying out the new Lucky Chip venue in Soho - The perfect coffee

Treating myself to some Wah Nails for the first time - Acne bargains from the outlet - Braved the pedalos in The Serpentine

Finally purchased my first Mulberry - Matchy nails

A transitional outfit; my H&M trousers always come out when it rains - Multi-cultural nails - New denim dress from Mango

Remember to follow me on Instagram @fashionknitsta to see all of my updates.  You can expect meals before they are swiftly consumed, multiple bright objects and random places in London.

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Me Love Zena

You might be aware that I love an unusual necklace to add a playful edge to what I'm wearing and I'm always on the lookout for my next perfectly suited piece.  I can't remember how I first came across Me & Zena, no doubt it was through one of the many blogs I read or by stumbling across a particular tweet.  They've now become a firm favourite jewellery website I like to browse and I'm always excited to see what fresh ideas they're coming up with and attempt to understand the story behind each piece.  I recently stopped by their studio to view the new Saatchi Gallery inspired collection, not taking inspiration from the works of art but rather the painterly process of creating it.

How amazing are these treats from Biscuiteers?  Imagine the possibilities!

It's quite easy to think that everyone online business operates on a mass scale comparable to that of Topshop and Asos, full of numerous employees and plenty of departments before you get to the boss. None of that here.  Me & Zena operates out of a singular East London studio and boasts a team of three, including Zena herself busy designing and sorting out production. There's plenty of inspiration around the room, which suits their sparkly 90s aesthetic and I'm sure that I'll be finding every excuse to stop by for a cuppa and admire the new pieces.  I couldn't help spying some designs for SS13 which I already have my eye on, but in the meantime I'll be purchasing the paintbrush necklace to reflect my artistic roots.  All I need now is to choose a colour...

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Absorbing Copenhagen

Just in case you were worried I'd forgotten about the rest of my Copenhagen photos, here is a post overflowing with the best of them.  Looking back, they definitely seem to capture a lot of the lush, calm surroundings, rather than my typical sneaky-shop photos.  I probably should have attempted some of my rare street-style pics, as I was constantly in awe at the beautiful people who seem to inhabit the city in loose layers, but alas those images are committed to memory instead.  It was certainly one of the most laid-back European cities I've ever been to and gradually I managed to forget a few of my rushed London-isms in order to embrace everything around me.  You can probably tell I was particularly enamoured with the multi-coloured buildings that lined the lakes, making every picture look as other-wordly as possible. 

Seeing Fiona's relaxed yet eventful lifestyle made me jealous of her recent emigration.  Copenhagen is so compact that you can get around easily by bike and avoid public transport most of the time (unless you're easily lost without Google Maps, like me).  Even though the shops aren't open for as long as I would like (I constantly felt like Cinderella) there's always plenty going on in the way of shop openings, magazine launches and free festivals. If all else fails, then there is even the aptly named 'Party Bridge.'  During my stay I managed to pop to a flea market, where there were plenty of Acne jeans to be found (I managed to find a nice pair in the outlet) and typical bits of bric-a-brac. 

Dress - Joy

Converse - c/o Spartoo shoes

Socks - Topshop

Bracelet - Asos

Bag - Alphabet Bags

Somehow I still managed to fit multiple outfit changes in my tiny suitcase and brought along my much-loved flamingo print dress from Joy.  It's a dress that really encompasses Summer 2012 for me, due to it's kitsch nature and nod to all things tropical.  My low-top trainers were perfect for all of the walking I did and the socks are the result of a necessary hosiery related spree.  Surprisingly these pictures were taken in the Assistens Cemetery, which seems like more of a park rather than somewhere you'd avoid. 

At long last, I can also now say that I've been to Sweden! It's so easy to pop across the river by train to Malmo and take in a new country for less than the cost of a flight.  As per usual, there was a lot of aimless wandering around before stumbling across The Turning Torso and catching the train back to Copenhagen.

My trip is now feeling like a distant memory but it was the perfect way to start off August and refresh my mind.  I'm hoping to go back next year to finally brave the cycling and visit all the places I didn't manage to see (such as Tivoli).  Where have you been recently?

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A Birthday Treat

My quarter-life crisis is complete.  I've changed my hairstyle, started wearing Converse again and now I've only gone and purchased my first Mulberry!  To be honest the Bayswater was always in the pipeline.  Quality is really important to me when it comes to bags and I'll take a classic over a faddy design most days.  Somehow, I've been saving since March and thought it would be a great way to start off my 25th year of existence and show how disciplined I can be.  The sky's the limit now!  I believe this Black Forest colour is new for this season and it'll complement my wardrobe perfectly. Have you got anything on your birthday wishlist?  I still can't quite believe it's finally mine!

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The Spirit of Things

After 11 days off, normality is starting to set in again and I've rediscovered all of the non-BBC channels again.  My productive week off took a turn for the worse when I realised that I was a closet Olympics addict, free to watch hours upon hours of glorious coverage before watching it all over again in the numerous round-ups and montages.  It's a massive regret of mine that I was so apathetic about getting tickets and missed out on seeing some of these events in front of my own eyes.  It's not like I've avoided it before, vague memories of discussing the gymnasts' physiques with classmates during the 2000 Sydney Olympics are starting to come back to me.  Since it occurs every four years, as a child you're confused by the sudden influx of sport interrupting cartoons until all the formalities gradually start to make sense each time.  On Friday, I did the next best thing and caught the tail-end of one of the swimming events in Hyde Park on a sunny day, before enjoying Temper Trap, Ocean Colour Scene and Feeder at BT London Live. 

Highlights included a sighting of gold medallist Nicola Adams, watching the pole vaulters with baited breath anticipating another snap and narrowly missing the moshing stampede during one of Feeder's songs.  I can't even comprehend doing a tenth of what the athletes can do, but I am inspired to take up a few of the activities I've given up on and covet some neon trainers.  Are you sad the Games are over?  I'm starting to become tempted by Rio in 2016, maybe it's time to get saving...

Dress - Weekday

Flatforms - River Island
Necklace - Brooklyn

Bracelet - Asos

Ring - c/o Nelly

The hair is still going strong and I'm starting to realise that a bit of shoulder-length distraction can work wonders for my wardrobe.  Determined as ever to make a Weekday purchase in Copenhagen, I decided to ditch my skater ideal and buy this baggy t-shirt dress as an easy piece to wear.  The effortless way of dressing the Danes have, wearing one statement piece and one only didn't go unnoticed by myself and I set about trying to channel this upon my return to London.  You've probably guessed that I jumped on the Olympic nail art bandwagon and had to adorn myself with the countries close to my heart.  It took two attempts to perfect this design (I spent a day wandering around with bits of cotton wool stuck to my nails due to giving up) but I'm hoping to treat myself to some birthday nail art this weekend and give myself a break. 

Changing the subject oh so slightly, on Saturday I took a break from my beloved telly and hot-footed it to N7 to sell my wares at Susie Bubble's renowned Yard Sale.  Although I did turn up slightly late due to realising at the last minute that I couldn't actually carry my bag of stuff, let alone a camera, the day was worthwhile (partly for the seemingly unlimited chicken satay that was on offer).  It wasn't my intention to buy anything at all, preferring to concentrate on my market stall patter but I couldn't resist picking up this wool Y3 skirt from Susie's table for a fiver.  It seems like the most uncomfortable thing to wear during this humid August but I'll no doubt be thanking myself come December!

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A Nordic Escape

I probably don't take advantage of having Europe on my doorstep enough and the luxury of being able to escape to somewhere completely different after a short flight.  No matter how much I like to 'play tourist' at the weekends, I seem immune to the things that make where I live unique, taking the architecture, landscape and way of life for granted.  It's only when I happen to escape my homeland, that I start to pay attention to the ordinary things that differentiate countries, such as the arrangement of buildings or the patient way one might cross the road. When I found out that Fiona was moving to Copenhagen, I knew I had to visit her and experience a Nordic country for the first time (the Acne outlet that was a ten minute walk away had nothing to do with it, of course).  Although I was leaving during the peak of Olympics-fever, it was important for me to have a bit of a break from London and follow events from afar.

After a very confusing journey to the main train station, I finally arrived at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which is about a 40-minute journey out of the city.  I've never been to a place quite like it before, where I was fascinated by the pleasant coastal surroundings and peaceful lake garden as much as the art inside.  I learnt a few things about the way buildings in this part of the world are constructed in the New Nordic exhibition, making the most of limited daylight and accommodating the human senses.  This was reflected in the museum's layout itself, most logically explored in a large loop leading you from the original homely villa to modern chambers, which allow you to take in the scenery and sculptures outside on your way around. I would definitely recommend a visit there and I wish I could've spent a bit longer wandering around.

Mary Katrantzou Charity T-shirt - Matches

Shorts - c/o Jaeger

Sandals - Office

Spike bracelet - Asos

Ring - Monki

I wasn't expecting the weather to be quite so sunny when I went, so I took the oppurtunity to finally wear some shorts in that carefree sort of way that only Summer allows.  Unable to resist a somewhat 'designer' tee, I had to buy this charity number boasting the telephone-dial print seen at the AW12 Mary Katrantzou show.  It's unlikely that I'd be able to carry off (and afford) the namesake coat, but I knew that this surreal print would complement a lot of what I wear and become the main focus.  I'm trying to find more bracelets to wear and thought this spiky number would be perfect after seeing it in the Man Repeller ASOS feature.  I'm trying to work my way towards a slightly more layered look on my wrists and Elle's post on the subject provides some great inspiration. 

I really wanted to take this old sewing machine in Fiona's flat home with me, but alas, my luggage restrictions wouldn't allow it!  Have you ever been to Copenhagen?  I have another post to come featuring even more gorgeous scenery and the most comprehensive breakfast ever.  

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