AGGG!! I have found the biggest threat in a stylists life - a hole in her wardrobe! I have no "date" tops! Bugger - what is a girl to do. So far I haven't even spied any thing that I can pre-order.

It is Halloween and all so I will try not to frighten the children. I suspose I will take myself off to a party tonight but the though of seeing a whole bunch of club kids in bin bags is enough to put anyone off. My partner in crime this evening however is no doubt going to keep me smiling and keeping the spooks at bay.

Enough Already!

For those not in the loop the Press Days are on us in force this week and for the next two. This is a vital part of the wheel yet I still have quite a gripe. Is there any particular reason why there need to be 38 individual press events tomorrow alone? Do they think we are super human?

Those in the PR agencies and PR offices stay away from hosting their events on Monday and Friday (a mistake in my book) and try to wedge everything over the course of the mid week! There is no way anyone can even attempt to see it all - and some things get missed even if you hope it not to be the case. I don't think it does a client / label any justice; as you are having to hot foot it around rather than taking your time (and notes) with care.

It does become a bit like clothing blinkers - looking directly at only the items that fall in to the categories of the editorial you plan to shoot that season. However - as we all know - stories change like quicksand and you editor suddenly waltz's in to the office one day and says " I am feeling a goth moment " (usually when there is no goth influence that season - admittedly this could be because she is so on the pulse and ahead of the curve from having lunch with Designer so and so, or equally as she has her eye on a black leather Alaia coat).

I send my regards to all of those doing the press day shuffle - I am sure I will see you out there working away and you have my sympathies!

A tale in two pairs

I am not good (as most stylists aren't) at getting rid of things. Knowing full well that what is out of fashion today will in time come back around tomorrow. However, needs must and I have had to cull some of my 70 pairs of shoes. This as you can imagine is tragedy in and of itself but alas the fact that I can't close my closet I have had to be brutal.

One of the tragic habits I have is that I place my memories in my shoes. The hardest thing has been to part with two pairs of shoes that should have gone to the cobbler in the sky years ago. The first - my first hippy dippy pair of black suede Arizona Birkenstocks. I bought them when I was 17, young, bright and full of promises. They have seen me walking through my first festivals, first boyfriends, several houses and much misadventure. They are sadly now stained, damp, well worn but oh so loved. For sentimentality I should keep alone but tough decisions have had to be made.

The other - my first pair of Manolo's. The heels are shot, the toes worn through, yet the leather is still as soft as a baby's bottom. Mr. M does take good care when he designs shoes and if Evangelina saw me running around in them now (give the state they are in). I would surely be banished. The loving boots - walked me through my first seasons as an assistant, survived the brutal regime of Paris streets (and all that gravel in the Tulieries) and have come through like a retired general in the battle field. They were re-soled more time then I care to think, the heels rebuilt more than once, and yet they still soldiered on.

I will miss you both but after many years of duty and services rendered and hand you over to the pedicured feet in the sky my friends. You are gone but never forgotten.

Slipping up on a ....

Slipping up on a Banana.

Things are moving at a pace and back in January it was reported that Banana Republic would be hitting the UK - so come March BR will open is doors in the old Dickens and Jones building. (The other tenants will be a HUGE H&M, as well as an Armani Exchange and Nokia). Gap UK have just put final touches to the PR team (sterling choices) and starting to gear up for the media onslaught. It will be interesting to see marketing strategy.

I remember vividly when the Gap opened its first store (just a few doors down on Regent Street) in the 1980's - the prices were laughably overpriced as they were pure imports from the US. It took them a while to sort that out and now, as we all know they have a dedicated European design team - as they learned that the European woman is very different consumer to her American counterpart (far more Chic lets just call a spade a spade).

On the other side - I think the timing is right for BR as Joseph (since the great man sold it) isn't what it once was. Reiss is also has a bit of an inflated ego - I suspect they will be going head to head against them. If they get the price points right - it will be game on.

Thursday, October 25th 2007

Lots have things have happened since I have been away (several years). Myself imposed retirement was for my sanity but several new blogs have tempted me back again ... we will see how long until my blogging ADD kicks in.

We will take each week - well week by week. Until then I would suggest you take a look at the following other fashion bloggers.

Liberty London Girl

Mrs. Fashion

and

Disney Roller Girl

Enjoy! More from me soon.

Friday, August 11th 2006 - Moss Off already, why don't you

I am sick of to the teeth of the Moss. Ok we know she is normal, we know she is beautiful. Yes, she has done way too much Coke and booze in her time but find me someone in fashion that is cleaner than clean (ya right). I even have the utmost respect that during the height of the Kate witch-hunt, she didn't go crying to the press with some sob story or another. But ENOUGH ALREADY.

I am sick to the teeth of her at the moment - she has been over exposed. 1. PUT YOUR TOP ON GIRL! She seems to be incapable of keeping her clothes on. I am all for self expression and being uninhibited but I have seen more of Kate Moss's nipples than Jordan's! She has a great pair no doubt - so do I (so it isn't a case of boob envy), but it has become tedious that every shot of her seems to be topless - even when she is supposed to be flogging merchandise.

2. I like the cover of Vanity Fair - the Mert and Marcus pictures are great but then compared to the English Vogue Cover ... oh dear what was the Conde Nast UK camp thinking (and it maybe me but isn't it out of focus????). Again everywhere you turn there she is.

3. Finally - open any Fashion magazine (which I am likely to have to do almost everyday for work purposes) and she has landed every bloody campaign. It is like either every ad director worldwide was devoid of an idea!
"Oh I know ... lets get Kate Moss! ... that will be original and different!"
From Burberry (the one she was doing "before"), to Dior, Versace, Longchamp and Vuitton you see Kate on the pages of the first 25 pages of ads. I dread to imagine how much each of these companies paid for the privilege - when they could have gotten someone else just as worthy (Maria Carla, Daria, Hana etc).

Yes do support her, yes she is a role model (although she has never asked to be), but I am so sick of seeing her everywhere. I think the true public backlash might now begin. She will have survived the Cocaine scandal, and the addictive rocker but will she survive her own over exposure? If I were her agency (Sarah??? Rein it in a bit will you), I would be very wary about now.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - My domestic bliss.. and the thorn in my side

Time is tight at the moment. I have spent the past few days working on a national campaign and their shop images. Although we are sweltering in the heat it has been fun. (I just love dry heat but give me the humidity and I am miserable) Now it is getting a bit much so bring on those thunderstorms!.
The job so far has been a giggle! The team and the client are a delight to work with. I know I shouldn't be surprised but with these things everything goes well, or it becomes your worst living nightmare.

I have been put forward for the big one again! Lets see if they give me a shot this time. They have been asking for my show reel now. My portfolio has made the first cut so I am still in the running. The last stylist to do it was pulling a decent living off it alone and did so for almost 2 years! Goodbye debts (keep your fingers crossed for me).

Life has been crazy of late. Just put my parents back on a plane home (more about that later) and then opened my doors to my 4-legged friends. The gremlins, aka the terrorists, aka Itchy and Scratchy are owned by my friend the Photographer and his boyfriend. The boys were off to a week by the lake and I took the Jack Russells. I always have fun when I have them to stay. They don't always listen (but do you know a dog that does?) but it makes my flat seem more of a home. I am a dog person, and with my life, it would be cruel to have my own; so I do enjoy having them about the place. There is nothing more amusing than strapping on my rollerblades putting the dogs on their leads and heading out for walkies. It is rather like having a dog team pulling you along. They love it, I end up exercising my fat arse and there are smiles all round. It was pity when they went home this evening.

Karma is a funny animal. It is strange how things seem to pop up. As I mentioned I put my parents back on a flight home 10 days ago. They were not home more than 48 hours - before they randomly bumped into Rockbottom at dinner in the city. In a city of 6.7 million people I tell you! Lady Chance is laughing at me - in fact, I suspect she is having a right ol giggle. Now my mother would never admit to meddling. Heaven forbid! However, having bumped into him - I was dispatched an email to say that he was out with a woman who was married, that he used to work with. Furthermore, her husband and Rockbottom are doing some business together. I have heard him talk about the couple but have never met them. What I can't believe is, how fast my mother can extract information! I was then told how lovely it was to 'bump' into him and that he is on great form.

What actually galls me is, that I really dont want to know. I am doing my best to divorce him out of my head (with varying degrees of success) so the fact that he just won't go away pisses me off no end. I also know my mother; having stayed with me for the past three weeks, will have been delighted in volunteering all sorts of info (as only Mothers tend to do) Personally, I would rather he was information lockdown. At least she didn't know anything about Benefits Boy who breezed into town.