My Style Scrapbook

As the temperature starts to rise (not that it ever really dropped in London) I'm starting to think about what I want to wear this spring summer.

Normally I rip out pictures from magazines that inspire me. This year it's different because I have so many inspirational garments hanging on rails around me. But I've gone a little further afield to international designers and (shock horror) the High Street.

I'm really feeling the tunic dress for this season. Having never stepped into Monsoon in my life, I might just take a look at their website after seeing this lovely bright tunic (source: Grazia Magazine). It makes a welcome change from the grey/black of my winter wardrobe and screams confidence and merriment. This Alessandro Dell'Aqua animal print coat is just calling to me too (source: Dazed and Confused February 2007).

Not having the legs of a supermodel I'd wear them with opaque tights until it gets too hot and then with relaxed fit white linen shorts.

Better Bangs

From mid last year whenever I saw a picture of a glossy brunette with a sharp fringe I wanted one. I dreamt about it and wished I could go from natural looking long blonde hair to something a bit edgy for my career change into fashion.

Even my hair stylists refused to cut a fringe and dye it brown saying that it wouldn't suit me and I'd regret it. I wished that I'd listened to him...

The result is me seen here with the lovely designer Hannah Marshall (on the right) at London Fashion Week in September. I look truely frightful. Even my partner found it disgusting! Luckily the fringe is growing out now and the th dark brown is fading back to a natural mousey blondey/brown.

Even now when I see this picture from the February 2007 of Dazed and Confused I think hmmm maybe it wouldn't be so bad? Then I look at this photo of me here and remind myself No No No!!!

Model Joy!

For some reason I absolutely detest photo shoots. From casting models, organising photographers, hair and makeup artists, stylists, studios and then the logistics of getting things there and then back panicking that the models are going to get makeup on clothing etc etc.

Last week I had a very funny, in hindsight, experience. I was testing with a new photographer and really wanted to have a couple of great models. So I organised castings and saw about 30 models the week before. I selected the amazing Claudia (who you can see a little of in the photo here) for the morning and then a Russian model for the afternoon.

Unfortunately due to diary conflicts I didn't get a chance to meet the Russian but her photos and model card were amazing and the photographer, Sam, makeup artist, Lorenzo, and I were really excited to be working with her - she was 5'11, size 8-10, blonde shortish hair with lovely clear skin.


So we had the shoot with Claudia in the morning which went really well. She was so professional to work with even in our little cold studio. Then the Russian arrived. As she walked in the door we could not hide the surprise from our faces. In walked a spotting, chubby, 5'7, girl who looked like she'd never modeled in her life. It was incredible.

Noticing our clear shock she immediately pulled out her portfolio trying to convince us that she was the same person. We decided that maybe the camera was kind to her. After Lorenzo trying his utmost for 90 minutes to transform this girl, Sam took a few shots and it was clear that she was anything but a model. And also, none of my lovely size 10 clothes fit her...

I had to be the meany and tell her that it wasn't working out. Then she was in tears telling me she would lose weight and I had to say it wasn't just the weight but the fact that she lied about everything wasting everyones time not to mention money. In the end Sam, Lorenzo and I had a good laugh about it. But it wasn't a laughing matter at the time.

Now I'm really looking forward to my next photo shoot...

Lunch with Tina Gaudoin, Roland Mouret, Jonathan Saunders and Todd Lynn

It's official - I'm the happiest girl in London right now! I bid and won a lunch with Tina Gaudoin (The Times style director), Roland Mouret, Jonathan Saunders and Todd Lynn in The Times Red Cross charity auction.

Now the general problems when invited out to lunch, what to talk about, how to make a positive impression and help the cause of new British designers. And let's not forget what to wear??

I'm open to suggestions on all of the above. Is there an issue in British fashion you would like discussed? And what should I wear?

Personal style dilemmas

Seeing these normally well dressed women in the most recent InStyle magazine (UK version, Feb 07) brought home the importance of defining your personal style. InStyle seemed to think that Jemima, Sienna and Mischa all looked good in these outfits, but I think they're not being true to their style and as a result look wrong. Jemima in generally elegant and sleek but she looks completely wrong in this Wheels & Dollbaby dress which would look great on a Hoxtonite type with a blunt fringe. Ditto for the other two.

But personal style is really difficult to define. I'm going through this dilemma right now. When I worked in corporate offices of a large fund manager in Belgravia I worked that look well with elegant suits, pencil skirts, pussycat bows and very high heels. Now I work in East London in fashion, wear ballet pumps and jeans everyday and I'm completely lost. The suits have long ago been sold on ebay, and now I just don't know what to wear - despite having some of the most beautiful clothes hanging around me (although I guess I should sell them and not keep them all for myself...).

My old boot cut deniums look very out of place during my coffee break and meetings at Coffee@ but I'm a bit too well thighed for skinnies. The main problem is that I haven't given myself time to really think about my personal, now more casual style and what it is I want to wear that fits in with my new life and most importantly, looks good. I know what I'll be doing this weekend. I'll welcome any help!

Organics are not just for breakfast

I know this blog is about fashion, but lately I've been as concerned about what I'm putting on my face as I am about what I put in my mouth. We eat organic food, drink filtered water and get our oxygen fix at the Selfridges oxygen bar (is that there anymore?), but what about our skin, hair and nails? They absorb the chemicals that you put on them and today many pharmaceuticals are delivered via the skin.

Six months ago I developed an irritation to my usual beauty products which was probably caused by the stress of starting a new business! I looked like a teenager, spots though, not lack of wrinkles unfortunately, it was terrible. I went straight to the beauty section at Harrods and asked for the best of everything they had. After clocking up the ££ on my Amex, I left with a large bag of products. None of it worked and one product actually burnt my skin!

I've started using Miessence just this month, a completely pure chemical free and organic range of beauty products and so far my skin is much better. My hair looks much shinier too and I love the smell of the body lotion. Now hopefully it irons out wrinkles too...

Special Spring/Summer 07 preview evening

I attended a fabulous networking breakfast hosted by the most delightful ladies at Sister Snog (more on them soon!). There I met Katy, who runs the very successful online lingerie retailer La Femme Fatale. We're going to work together to host a special preview event in early March to give you a sneak preview of the new Spring/Summer 07 collections for clothing, lingeries, shoes, handbags, jewellery and other accessories all while sipping champagne, having your hair, nails and make up done and meeting with professional stylists and personal shoppers.

Leave a comment here to register your interest or contact us via Brittique.com.

What a brilliant idea! YourOni

No more ruining the bottom of your Birkin on dirty pub floors. The Oni fits on the edge of the table keeping your bag high and dry so you can keep an eye on it.

I met with founder of the company, Suzanne, to see the Oni for myself. It's quite amazing how it balances on the table and can hold so much weight! Even my over stuffed maxi-bag was held up high with ease.

Your Oni will be coming soon to Brittique.com in a number of styles including an extra beautiful bejewelled design exclusively for us!

Gender Bender - Hannah Martin

It was a busy weekend for Hannah Martin with press in both The Independent and Telegraph.

Hannah has such a niche with jewellery for men. And yet each piece is so beautiful that women want to wear it too.

Her collection is available at Brittique.com.

The Little Black Dress

In 1926 Coco Chanel designed what has now become the key ingredient for every fashionable female; the little black dress. Dubbed as the ‘Ford Dress’ by Vogue in comparison to the hugely popular car manufacturer of the time, the dress was not merely fashion but a necessity for the modern woman. Prior to Chanel’s design, black garments were for mourning the loss of loved ones only. Now the LBD is a timeless classic; sophisticated, simple and sexy it is the only piece of fashion that has not faded or faltered over the last 80 years.

Of course, with every iconic fashion staple there is undoubtedly a style icon to match it. The little black dress conjures up an image of Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. Standing with her cigarette holder, elbow length gloves and shining jewellery set against a flowing black canvas; she captures an image that is still famous over 45 years later.

The LBD is adored for its versatility; it is the perfect backdrop for a multitude of accessories and as a result is appropriate for almost any occasion, from the office to the cocktail party. The concept of the little black dress taps into the female psyche; offering elegance whilst maintaining approachability, it is wonderfully flattering, easy to wear and unadulterated by the fast paced world of fashion fads.

By Joy Scott

Woolenstocks keep me warm at night

I'm sitting at my desk feeling toasty in my Woolenstocks despite my boiler breaking down! The joys of an English winter...

The press is catching on to the delightful slippers by Woolenstocks with The Times and The London Paper both featuring them recently.

Each pair of Woolenstocks is handcrafted by villagers in the Himalayas. So when you wear these slippers your heart feels as warm as your feet!

A star is born - Zoë Boomer

NW (Northern Woman) magazine featured the talented Zoë Boomer in its Christmas festive special edition.

Zoë worked as a stylist to Natasha Bedingfield before setting out to launch her own collection. The collection includes limited edition vintage belts each made from carefully sourced fabrics.