Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Kate, Kate, Kate: We Love You!

Kate Lanphear, style director at US Elle, rockin' the Jim Beam t-shirt.

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Another girl who I thought looked fantastic- I love her simple stripey dress (notice the raw hem)
and the way she has paired it with the exotic necklace (I am so tired that I can't think where it would be from- my initial thought was Indian? but perhaps it is Turkish or Moroccan?). I wouldn't have ever thought of teaming the two together but it works.

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Wow, this girl (I didn't catch her name- hopefully I will see her again so I can ask her) looked amazing. She is a student studying fashion in London and I am just in awe of how her style. I love the almost Argentian Gaucho? /Peruvian influences (the hat and the long-line cardigan, which echoes the Gaucho poncho) which she has worked in with thoroughly modern rolled up jeans, ankle boots and mesh/string detailing on her top.


The thing I love about her look is that, okay, you might not want to wear exactly what she is wearing because it is her personal style (as with everyone I photograph) but it gives ideas, possibilities, inspirations for your own wardrobe.

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Remember the Schni-Schna-Schnappi or Snip-Snap-Snappy, Snappy-Snappy-Snap (The Little Crocodile) song sung by the 9 year old German girl? MAJOR hit back in 2005 and I suspect the Christopher Kane for Topshop crocodile print dress will be just as huge. I have photographed at least 3 people wearing it at LFW so far, and I have to say, I still love seeing it. It makes me smile ... I adored his original primate print dresses as well.


P.S. Anyone purchased anything else from his capsule Topshop collection? I quite like the look of the Embellished bodycon dress and the rivet boot.

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Okily, so anyone who has been following my blog for awhile will recognise the utterly gorgeous Audrey from Be Frassy. Audrey, one of my fellow "Eurostar Little Fashion Break" bloggers (LFW has been a mini reunion for quite a few of us) has been at fashion week the last two days and I can tell you that EVERYONE wants to photograph her-once one photographer starts snapping away, about five others follow!

These are today's photos of Audrey but once LFW is finished, I will post the other photos to show you what she wore each day...fingers crossed she lets me take some more photos after today's little shoot :)


So how did this photo come about? I was standing chatting to Craig Arend from Altamira NYC when I spotted Sarah, the beautiful Saluki pup standing with her owner. My brain started whirring and I said to Craig, wouldn't it be cool if I could get someone to pose with the dog.....and next thing I spotted Audrey :)))) Holllla!

Sarah's owner was happy for Audrey to hold Sarah's lead and, well, this is the result. Sarah is a country dog so she was a little camera shy but I promise she got lots of pats after I shot a couple of frames :)

p.s. I didn't ask where Audrey got her outfit from but I know she said her shoes are from Office. I think she will probably blog about where her outfits are from anyway.

p.p.s Mark Fast's show this morning was fantastic- the dresses were WOW!

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Yes, she is wearing all black but wow, that !POP! of colour on her head just takes her outfit to the next level, particularly against her blonde, blonde hair. I photographed just her face and headpiece first but when I saw her standing up later, I was, like, I HAVE to shoot her standing up as well. Luckily she agreed :)

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

The always impeccabily dressed Luca Rubinacci of Rubinacci tailors, Napoli. You can read a little article on Luca and his father, Gennaro, here. I love that Luca isn't afraid of colour: everything just works so perfectly together and most importantly, accents his amazing blue eyes (and they are even better in real life!).

You can find Rubinacci in Mount Street, London, as well as Milan, Napoli, Tokoyo, New York and Rome. I also discovered, with a little googling, that they have an online shop where you can buy accessories such as scarves, pocket handkerchiefs and watches.

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

The stunning Tolula Adeyemi, model and actor (she starred in Last Chance Harvey with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson). Love her bodysuit and those futuristic heels (I am starting to feel guilty wandering about in my Converse with everyone else in sky-high heels!).

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Holllllla!!! It is almost 2am and the first day of London Fashion Week SS 2010 is OVER!! And I survived....although my feet feel as if they did not ;-)

I am so tired that I think I may be sleeptyping so this is going to be brief, very brief.

I had a fantastic day today- it was so nice to catch up with people I have met/photographed before and to meet so many new people. Normally it takes me a couple of days to really get into the swing of things but today things just seemed to fall into place so fingers crossed it continues for the rest of LFW.

Highlight of my day? Sass and Bide show tonight at The Dairy near Russell Square. It was amazing to have the opportunity to go (I had a ticket so I was actually sitting down rather than in the photographers pen) since they normally show in New York. Some of the pieces were just beautiful- skintight crème, black and loads of metal accents. Front Row? Garance and The Sart, Lara Bingle, Kit Willow (from Willow), Camilla (from Camilla and Marc), Pippa Holt from Vogue.

Roll on Day 2! I'm off to bed.xx

p.s. I shot this model as she came out of the Eun Jeong show. I LOVED the hair and makeup for this collection.

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Anyone who loves shoes will already know Charlotte Dellal, the gorgeous designer behind the shoe label, Charlotte Olympia. I adore Charlotte's shoes, the "island" platform being her trademark. They are edgy, beautiful and sexy, and I love that she isn't afraid of using BOLD, BOLD colours and fabrics. You don't wear Charlotte's shoes if you don't want to get noticed!


p.s. If you get the chance, take a peek under a Charlotte Olympia shoe....there is a teeny little spiders web on the sole, her signature. Oh yes, and her brand name? Her middle name is Olympia :)

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Duncan Campbell, editor of Acne Paper. I took loads of photos today but there was something about Duncan which was rather special and I really wanted to upload his photo tonight (actually, given that it is 1am, I guess it is, um, tomorrow) ....hmmm is it his socks? his watch? the jeans? I don't know, but I really like his look.

Running with The Fash Pack: Shooting for British Vogue!

A very quick post before I head into the fashion trenches....I am doing street style photos for British Vogue this fashion week and am beyond excited! Six months ago, when I started photographing street style photos 'seriously', I never imagined that I would have this opportunity (although I might have secretly dreamt about it ;-)). Actually, just getting to step into the hallowed floors of the Vogue offices was amazing- as I sat tightly clutching my portfolio in reception a couple of months ago (trying not to let me knees knock together), Alexandra Shulman strode past: it was rather like being in the presence of a Supreme Court Judge.... exhilarating and awe inspiring! The Vogue team were absolutely lovely....and yes, they really are fabulously dressed ALL THE TIME.

So, wish me luck and if you see me with my camera, come and say hello! I would love to meet you all if you are around this week at LFW. Anyone who has been shot by me knows I love a chat (although my mind went strangely blank yesterday when I was interviewed by a radio station- must practice my answers better ;-)

London Street Style...Ash

In this chilly weather, nothing beats throwing on a well-loved cashmere sweater, a vintage dress, knee-high socks and a pair of flat boots (biker, riding, etc....if the weather warms up, just shrug off the sweater.

I can imagine Ash, an actor, curling up on a sofa with a great book and a mug of hot chocolate in this outfit....mmmm I would love to be doing just that right now. Alas, there is work to be done :))

London Street Style....Joe Jackson

So the other day I was schlepping around Soho with my camera when I spotted Joe. I really liked his preppy look (I suspect a lot of guys wouldn't button their cardi?) and when I asked if I could take his photo for my blog he was like "Alright, go on then!". It turns out Joe is Joe Jackson, an up and coming actor, who plays the role of Jay in the new Nick Love film "The Firm", a remake of the classic tv film about British football hooliganism in the 80's. You might have seen the posters for The Firm on the sides of the red buses tootling about London- if not, look out for them: Joe is 1st from centre on the right.

Joe and I had a great chat (he admitted that he thought I may have been paparazzi at first- eek!) and it turns out he has never had an formal acting training...he was introduced to Nick Love when he was making The Football Factory and things progressed from there. This is his biggest role so far (3rd lead) but I predict even bigger things in the future for Mr Joe Jackson.

See, dreams can come true :)))

p.s. Click on the link to The Firm for the kickin' 80's soundtrack. I have been bopping around to

Tainted Love (Soft Cell), Get Down on It (Kool and The Gang) and Mad World (Tears for Fears) while uploading photos!

London Street Style...Last Days of Summer

I suspect, given the current weather pattern in London, that this might be one of the last shots of bare legs I will post on the blog for the current season. LFW shots are excepted because we know that editors, buyers, journalists, stylists are impervious to inclement weather and bare legs are de rigueur no matter how chilly it is!

Love her giant Miu Miu bag and leather jacket.

London Street Style...Fashion's Night Out

He was at Fashion's Night Out to support his girlfriend, one of the designers behind the hot new shoe label, Bionda Castana, which is stocked at Browns.

I noticed his suit and how well it fit him thinking to myself, okay, it will probably be from one of the Savile Row tailors but when I asked him I got a surprise: it was from Reiss! BUT and this is the key I think, he had it altered to fit his exact measurements by his tailor.

I think I read recently in a Times article that Carine Roitfeld does the same thing with almost all of the clothes she buys- she has them altered by what she terms her "retoucher" because "nothing is perfect or exactly the right length".

We might not all be able to afford bespoke but spending a little on alterations (sleeve length is a big one for me) can make the world of difference.

London Street Style...Fashion's Night Out

Browns on South Molton Street was absolutely heaving with stylish guys and girls on Thursday night- there was such a buzz in the (warm) night air and everyone was having a great time. If Fashion's Night Out was any indication, I think we are in for a very exciting (and exhausting) LFW! The line-up of designers turned sales assistant's/stylists/guests for the night including Ben Grimes and Lily Parker of LPBG, Henry Holland, Roksanda Ilincic, Jonathan Saunders, Osman Yousefzada, Marios Schwab, the Felder Felder twins (Annette and Daniela) and new wonder kid on the designer block, William Tempest.

It was a bit difficult to get photos because of the fading light (I wasn't toting my flash on the night) but I managed to sneak in a few photos before darkness fell. For any of you photo geeks out there, these images were shot at 2000 iso hence the rather "grainy" feel to them.



Press Officer from Browns (above). Adore her black backless top.



Simone La-Rose, personal stylist at Browns, in vertiginous Louboutin heels and THOSE fingerless gloves. Sexy, sexy.

p.s. fab moment: when I was photographing Simone, a group of girls walked past and said to her "Ooooo you look beautiful!!!". Love that :)))

London Street Style...Fashion's Night Out

A stylist, out and about, on Fashion's Night Out.

I love her colour palette (note the beautiful British Racing green of her handbag*)- perfect transitional Summer to Autumn wear. Weirdly, I was chatting to her and her friend about fashion and it turns out he is a fashion/style blogger who has just been asked to go on one of the Eurostar "Little Break, Big Difference" trips with We Are Social. Small World, huh?!

*In fact, the more I look at it, the more I am swooning over her handbag (it was originally her Celine boots I was loving!)...I forgot to ask where it was from. Maybe she will email me, or I will bump into her at fashion week :))

London Street Style...Fashion's Night Out

The Boys were wearing: Reiss (above) and Topman (below).

The guy above is an Aussie (yay!) and works for Reiss while the guy below works as a visual merchandiser at Topshop/Topman. He had been working since the wee small hours of the morning to get the store ready for Fashion's Night Out and was actually on his way home when I photographed him.

Question for the boys: when does one start to roll the trousers down and begin wearing socks again? Is it heat/weather dependant or trend led?

London Street Style...Fashion's Night Out

Outside Browns at Fashion's Night Out!

London Street Style...Fashion's Night Out

She was wearing a mixture of Vivienne Westwood and Topshop including Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boots.

London Street Style...Fashion's Night Out

Wish for Erdem and you shall receive!

Yesterday I was compiling my Loving Right Now list and Erdem's exquisite "Aracelli" floor-length gown was on it. I thought to myself why can I never find anyone wearing Erdem on the streets...and then this girl appeared wearing an Erdem blouse! I squeaked out a "Ooh you lucky thing" when she confirmed it was Erdem :)

Love her platform boots and ankle-zipped, studded jeans as well....oh yeah, and the sharp shoulders of her jacket.

London Street Style....Strictly Stripes

It's all about the stripes! And the heels!


She works for Wallis (loving the new Yasmin Le Bon collection for Wallis by the way).

London Street Style...Going Up: Grey Tights

Love her grey tights/brown brogue combination.

London Street Style...Swoop The Swallows

She works for Topshop and was wearing a vintage Swallow print jacket and those fabulous shoe-boots are from Liberty. Another tick for the bondage-esque trend?

Eurostar "Little Break to Paris" Competition Winner!!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the Eurostar "Little Break" competition! Your answers were outstanding and We Are Social thought so too. You guys totally rock and I truly, truly wish I could give you all tickets to Paris. Eurostar? Are you listening???!!

So, as chosen by We Are Social communications agency, the 5 shortlisted entries were:

Jess

Dario

Rhianna

Mike

Somewhere in Between Waking and Sleeping

And, after much agonizing over all the brilliant shortlistees, 2 G&T's (procrastination drinking) and a whole packet of Maltesers (procrastination eating) the winner is....dah, dah, DAH: Mike!

Mike, if you could email me (my email address is on the sidebar) and let me know the times and dates of your preferred departure and return, We Are Social will organise the tickets for you.

Thank you all again so much for entering- I really wish I could magic everyone to Paris (including myself!)

Lyon Street Style...Time for Stripes

This is the beautiful Faustine (she reminds me a little of Mischa Barton) who I met in Lyon, France. She was walking through the pedestrian mall as I was walking off my lunch, having dined at one of Lyon's famous Bouchon restaurants (they serve very traditional Lyonnaise food which rather tested the limits of my internal gastronomic gauge...but that's a story for another day and another blog :)). Faustine was starting her management course at University the day after I took this photograph and was understandably feeling a little nervous-but I think she will do brilliantly. Good luck, Faustine!

Faustine's booties were from French Connection (I think) and her tasselled bag from Lancel. I also love the tiny little clock pendant hanging around her neck-a family heirloom perhaps?

And what did I think of Lyon? I loved it! It is a beautiful city and I would love to go back and spend a little more time exploring. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière on the hill overlooking the city was absolutely incredible- a must-see if you visit Lyon. We also hired Vélo'v bikes (similar to theVelib scheme in Paris) and pedaled madly through the streets late at night back to our hotel- a perfect way to work off dinner and much cheaper than a taxi!

London Street Style...Dinosaur Designs

Ever looked longingly at the brooches in the shop at the National History Museum or the National Geographic Shop and thought, gee, I'd love one of those but I don't want to look like a 7 year old with a stegosaurus obsession? err, or is that just me?! In any case, if you do have a hankering for a bit of prehistoric adornment, then I think this girl is a good example of how to do it successfully: keep everything else super simple and top it all off with a great haircut...and a great smile!

Just remember to hide them away from any sticky-fingered, beady-eyed, t-rex obsessive 7 year olds!