Totally Dope.

Loving Dope Chef's 2010 collection. I've been lucky enough to have a few pieces from the beginning of DC's lifeline, but with their new collection SO on point, I think I'll defs be putting my order in! Tinie Tempah's, G-Frsh, Rick Ross and Jim Jones are loving it to. I'll be taking my DC sweater to Amsterdam this weekend to spread the word to the Dutch cool kids.

CAN'T FEEL MY FACE

MONICA LEWINSKI

THAT'S RAW FOLKS

DOPE CHEF LOGO

Go to the website and check out the cool threads on sale... http://www.dopechef.co.uk/... NOW!

Hat trick.

Winter's arrived, and it's not taking any prisoners! Time to rotate the wardrobe, put the flip-flops to rest and invest in some good cold weather accessories. Obviously, practicality is the number one priority...right? But we can look good doing it...righter?! Here are my last 3 hat purchases to keep my barnett warm, disguise the mid-stages of growing fringe out and an attempt at keeping "on trend" on those nippy Winter nights. Ps - My lovely house mate Elle has a new camera so any excuse!

H and M - £6.99

Topshop - £25

Oxfam bargain - £4!

A little tip...

Walking around London I can't help but notice how outrageous people's manicures are becoming. Extreme nail art is no longer something we only see on a crazy weaved woman's fist, whilst whooping the air screaming "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry"! Trashy nails are in. The more impractical and ghetto fabulous the better. It's everywhere. Even the most straight faced business woman can't hide her talons when swiping her Oyster card on her morning commute. I paint my nails a LOT. Rather obsessively. It's like my back up to having a social life. If I don't fancy going out, I'll catch up on the latest scandal on Essex or X Factor and paint my nails...again. So maybe I'll try being a little more adventurous?? Wah Nails (Topshop, Oxford Street) can pretty much paint any design you fancy for £25+ and are amazing. Or MINX (selected salons nationwide) last forever using ready made designs secured to the nail using an ultra violet lamp, full set approx £30. One of my bestys, Arianne, arrived at my house the other day with the most immaculately painted leopard print nails. I was certain they were professional. No-no, she'd done them DIY stylee using a selection of varnishes and a thin paint brush! They looked incredible. I'll see if I can pursuade the lovely Arie to DIY my nails and get some pics up. In the meantime check out these creations (and my lazy Sunday attempt!)...

By Wah Nails. World Cup theme.

SO ridiculous, I love them!

The most profesh, obviously...



I reckon Ri-Ri did these with a thin paint brush too...



Kelly Cutrone in OUR city!

When I read on the Illamasqua blog that Kelly Cutrone, the coolest queen of PR, would be at their Soho flagship store last week, I could not contain my excitement. Watching her on The Hills and The City she seems untouchable, so to meet her, shake her hand and get a photo/autograph was a very surreal moment. I had to rush after work and there was quite a crowd by the time we arrived. Kelly was in the store supporting the brand, signing her book and giving all proceeds to the fantastic S.O.P.H.I.E charity. Her book "If you have to cry, go outside; and other things your mother never told you" sold out within a hot second. Posters of Kelly were given out to be signed for the unfortunate among us that didn't manage to get a book. She was so humble, cool, nice, chatty, funny and lovely. I wanted to say "please will you be my best friend" but thought that might be slightly cringey?! For someone with a dream of working in PR in New York, it was a great night and one I won't forget.

90's Revival...

As I wait for my black bowler hat to arrive in the post, courtesy of H&M, I remember Friday nights watching "Blossom" and Saturday morning Sister/Sister sessions, thinking these girls were the coolest of the cool. 90's fashion is back with a vengance and for once, I can say I took part 1st time round (yay!). With acid wash denims, velvet minis, crochet cardis, LGDs( Little Grunge Dress), floral cullotes and clunky chunky DM's, the high street's gone grungey as ever and I for one am LOVING IT! We saw the birth of the Supermodel, The Spice Girls and the Tamagotchi... what's not to like?!

It's perfect for someone with long hair who can't cope with the poker straight, perfect look everyday, or the girl who likes to apply the vibrant red lippy on the tube en route to work. It's all about the messy, stained, undoneness mixed with the girly, classy, lady likeness. Shorter, more flirtacious takes on the 80's power dressing, throwing in a pair of thigh high socks, braces and Chelsea boots. Think Cher from Clueless, Rachel from friends, Kate Moss for Calvin Klein, Madonna in "Vogue" and Brandy in Moesha, add eye liner and a blotted maroon lip, minus bronzer and GHDs and bingo! Being only 18 months apart, my sister and I were quite often dressed the same during our 90's childhood. Our favourite ensembles being polka dot leggins from Wembley market, Osh Kosh B'Gosh dungarees and our awesone matching shell suits (hers was purple, mine pink)...you could hear us coming from a mile off! Being an original North London punk, Mum would often get our clothes from little treasure troves in Camden which is always fun to recall when the family photo albums come out on special occasions. We used to call our Converse, "baseball boots"! 

The yummy textures of crochet, velvet, leather and lace are making me wanna reach out and stroke the rails of Tophop right now. So crop your Tees, rip those jeans and get a nose ring. The 90's are back and it's all the RAVE....get it...?

The Originals.

Grungetastic!

Olseneffortlesslycoolness.

A very young Miss Moss in 1995

Giving Agy a run for her money....!

Easy like a Sunday morning...

When I lived at home, mum and I would quite often walk to Hyde Park in Leeds and have brunch at our fave hangout, Clock Cafe before having a mooch through the vintage treasures at Retro Boutique. As the sun was shining on what was a crisp, fresh sunday morning, it felt rude not to follow tradition.

With it's red leather booths and vinyl album cover menus, Clock Cafe is a delightful little getaway serving the yummiest of treats. Mum, being good, went for the muesli, Greek yoghurt and fruit option, while I went for the veggie breakfast consisting of grilled tomatoes, baked beans, mushys and literally a mound of scrambled eggs! Our other faves at Clock are the chicken caesar salad and the Dutch fries (curly fries and melted mozzarella, mmmmm!).

Once we'd eaten, discussed who we thought would be booted of X Factor that night and planned our Christmas trip to NYC (eeeeeeeeeeeks!!) we settled up and headed next door to Retro Boutique.

It never fails to make you want to touch everything, try everything on and wonder how that 3 seater wicker sofa with satin cushions could work at home? There's so much to see on 2 floors and the extra back room made into a kitsch boudoir, you find yourself constantly looking high and low and saying "OMG, remember those" or "Nanny had one just like that"! After trying on a few hats, masks and fur coats, I decided on a cute pink and gold floral Royal Grafton bone china tea cup and saucer that looks just divine in my own boudoir. The great thing about Retro Boutique being in Leeds is that it doesn't bump up the prices like the slightly more pretentious boutiques of Brick Lane... and I did notice a sign on my way out saying they now deliver to London weekly... maybe I will enquire about that sofa??!

And.... relaaaaaax.

After a day's shopping, what could be better than an Espa facial, customised to my individual skins needs? From the second you enter the spa, relaxing is the only thing on your mind. Waiting for my treatment in the "Chillout Zone", I choose from a selection of Tazo teas and flick through the latest Elle. Once in my treatment room, the lights are dimmed, the music is heard and I slip under a soft warm blanket ready for my facial. My therapist began with a sense test giving me a couple of oils to whiff revealing my skin type...(I didn't really get that part either, but it accurately told of my dry-combination skin!) The next hour seems hazy as I pass in and out of a deep sleep/conciousness filled with different smells and sounds. Franchesca used 15 Espa products inlcuding Hydrating Cleansing Milk, Concept Regenerating Face Treatment Oil, Essential Mineral Mask and Pink Hair and Scalp Mud. The products felt amazing and just when I thought it couldn't get any better, she massaged my scalp, chest, shoulders, arms and hands. I walked out looking like a zombie that had just been swimming but it was oh so worth it. Now for a home cooked dinner and a night of the X Factor. Pure bliss. xx

Eeeeh by gum...

This weekend, I'm trading the city life for a long weekend with my family in Yorkshire. With the best of both worlds (Mum lives in Leeds - great for shopping, and Dad deep in the Yorkshire Dales countryside - great for....walks and tea rooms!) I'm overly excitable for a dose of R and R and some retail therapy. Today I'm going to Ilkley for the vintage shops and hopefully find some charity shop gems, resulting in a couple of hours in the famous Betty's tea room for tea, scones and putting the world to rights. No one does afternoon tea better than Yorkshire folk. With the quaintest china sets and ornate cake stands oozing with fresh jam and clotted cream, Betty's is a must for anyone wanting to go back in time and taste the exceptional..... Gym twice a day next week me thinks!

Introducing the Art of Darkness... with a touch of sparkle.

Last week, I was lucky enough to be on the guestlist for the opening party of Illamasqua's flag ship store just off Carnaby Street. One word... AMAZE! So my friend and I were worried we'd be under dressed coming straight from work n'all, but upon arrival it all became to clear just how under dressed we were! Had we been wearing floor length McQueen gowns, covered in fools gold, we'd have still been the least spectacular there. The store was heaving with drag queens, make up artists (Alex Box actually spoke to me!), models, fellow bloggers and designers (Mrs V Westwood herself!), all dressed to impress and oooooozing with coolness. Not to mention the bus parked outside with a Tarot Card reader and dimly lit lamps on the top floor, free flowing wine, Patron cocktails and Vita Coco coconut water for the more sensible among us, a magical array of Illamasqua's new Autumn / Winter collection "Art of Darkness" ready to be played with and speeches from the founder of the brand - Julian Kynaston (waddagenius). Oh and of course, the after party with a little known DJ called Boy George! These guys know how to throw it down and top hats off to them.

I'm very fond of Illamasqua and feel a kind of personal love towards the brand as I was working for Selfridges, Trafford Centre when their counter arrived with a BANG. They caused a stir at every beauty event we held and Illamasqua continues to shock and wow at every chance it gets. Using the tag line "Make Up For Your Alter Ego", they dare to be different and take risks in the world of beauty. Their products are so much more than make up and have managed, over the years, to replace almost every existing product in my now huge cosmetics crate! From my first powder blusher (it was a special moment) to my most recent purchase of the shimmery Illumine Oil in "Pulse" (defs gonna be a winner on a few Christmas nights out) with many lipsticks, false lashes, brushes and bronzers along the way, I am an absolute convert. The new incredible store at number 20 Beak Street, Soho is clear evidence of how successful this quirky brand is fast becoming, so get yourselves down and get with the programme - chop chop! xx

Make a statement.

I've never been one to shy away and be discreet when it comes to my jewellery collection; the trashier, tackier and more unpractical the better and I'm LOVING big, bold rings at the mo, knuckledusters in partic. They can get annoying if I need to get something out of my pocket and are rather noisy when hanging on to the railings up the stairs at Covent Garden station (197 steps - never again!). But they look incredible and can give any boring outfit a touch of snazz. VeraMeat do a great "puppy knuckle duster" which WILL be mine when I go to NYC in December! I'm slowly building my collection... at least I have 10 fingers so I can justify buying in bulk! Oh and I met Corrine from Big Bro 10 last night in Barrio Central, Soho. She was "buzzin"! My celeb spotting is officially pathetic.

Fangtastic... VeraMeat.

Amaze. I want...VeraMeat

Celeb spotting... or not.

Okay, so I'm not great with names and faces. I know who I know and I'm no Avid Merrion. I read all the weeklies and monthlies, but more for the fashion and beauty than to read that blah blah has launched an accessories range because her daddy has money and she likes getting drunk!

But when I moved to London at the beginning of this year, I at least expected to bump into Mossy, working on Oxford Street n'all. I think the most famous person I've spotted was the "wacky", "zaney", Shabby from Big Bro! HOW embarry. (not actual footage below, couldn't get my camera out in time...obviously!) I think I'll start to make a concious effort to look up when I walk and not catch up on texts and Tweets til I'm away from the hustle and bustle...just in case I'm missing out.

Come on you untouchable a-listers of London, where are you hiding??!

CarnivalCarnage.

1,000,000 people, check. Music, check. Sunshine, check. Whistles and vu vu zelas, check. Jerk chicken, check. Rum and coke in an Evian bottle, check! I can think of no better way to spend the bank holiday weekend than heading to Notting Hill Carnival for what was literally the biggest and bestest street party I've EVER been to. I may not look it, but I'm very partial to a skank and a whine to the best soca, bashment, dancehall, raggae, dubstep, hip hop and R n B and Notts Hill had it ALL. Two years ago, I was lucky enough to go to Jamaica with my best friend Ify, and stay with our friend who is Yahdie through and through. She got us fully involved in Kingston carnival with the full sequin bra get up and feather head dress! (see below- guess which one's me!) It was amazing and I felt like I was back there this weekend. Residents open their homes for carnival goers needing a wee which looking at the queues outside the pubs and getting the nasty whiffs from the portaloos, I know which I'd rather! Colourful costumes, amazing sounds and tempting smells every where, I wish I could live in a carnival everyday of my life. I'm on a serious carnival comedown after what may have possibly been the most fun I've had in England! Of course, where there's 1,000,000 hyper, tipsy people, there is also the occassional bit of drama. We were heading to the Radio One Rampage stage at one point only to realise everyone else was running in the opposite direction. Similar to the stampeed scene in The Lion King, minus the hyenas, jungle cats and miles and miles of flat, dusty terrain. We think someone got punched or stabbed as we then saw a guy being carried out, unconcious, by his group of furious looking friends, but then a good song came on and everyone forgot that we'd feared for our lives a few seconds earlier! I also had an encounter with a European lady who wasn't happy with me getting a picture with a guy that she wanted to get a picture with. I think she was annoyed when I kept laughing and posing to which she hurled abuse at me and got moved along by her friend, DOH!

Apart from those episodes of standard hostility, it was a great day and I didn't want it to end. After the 2nd jerk chicken stop, it was suggested we headed home, to which I nearly cried! I could have carried on dancing to the early hours (thanks to my converse!) but we went home and had a few more drinks before collapsing into bed. BLISS! Only 363 days until the next one then.....!