Styleeast goes west

Amorous pigeons, posing squirrels, baffled tourists, scones with cream and jam and - most importantly of all - 10, 12 (or was it 100?!) fashion bloggers.  Mixed together, it's the recipe for a perfect afternoon.  It's not often I venture west so I have to thank the amazing Jen, the Style Crusader , for inviting moi, a totally random and very new blogger, to join in the fun.  We gathered, many of us having never met before, at the gorgeous Orangery at Kensington Palace in honour of the Platform Princess 's birthday. 

To say it was a surreal experience at first would be an understatement - when else with complete strangers would you feel comfortable launching immediately into a run-down of who's wearing what, where did they get such and such and lots of 'stand there, let me take your photo'.  I felt like I was in front of the paparazzi - my worst nightmare! - but then for the next 4 hours it was some of the best fun I'd ever had. 

Every single girl round the table was lovely, so friendly, stylish (duh) and utterly unique - everyone had a blog that gave them an outlet for their (often-secret) passion for fashion, but each had their own twist, their own particular identity and all were bursting with the personality of their owner.  I've discovered so many interesting blogs and, I hope, made some new friends.  I thought you'd like to meet some of them here...

First up, the instigator and, clearly, a talented organiser, Jen.  Her blog has always been one of my favourites for its down to earth approach to fashion commentary and the general exuberance that comes across in her writing and photos.  It was great to find her as down to earth and exuberant in real life, not to mention beautiful (and tall!), brimming with intelligence and, to use a word that was applied to her often that afternoon, generosity.  The whole time we were there at least someone was talking about how great she is.  Thank you Jen for organising such a fantastic day...

Next, Jill of Street Style London.  I love her blog, it was one of the ones that inspired me to go into blogging in the first place.  Her photos have always been a cut above, showing not just a snapshot of someone's outfit, but an insight into their personality.  The pictures always look like they've captured a moment, sometimes something secret, and they make you want to know more.  Jill herself was a revelation, I've rarely in my life met someone so easy to talk to, so warm and so vibrant.  I took loads of photos but for Jill I thought these ones, of her performing an impromtu dance on the grass for the line-up of bloggers, pretty much summed her up...

And so to the birthday girl, Jackie , a statuesque beauty and a fantastic blogger.  I had major dress/poise/general envy when she turned up.  And then add to that the fact she's the type of girl who happily invites a bunch of total strangers to her birthday party and you know you've met a real gem....

You might recognise Nicole, from an earlier post  about us snapping each other on a style scouting mission in Spitalfields.  Her blog The Power of Beauty remains the best street style documentation i've ever seen and she's just had books printed of her photos from around London, which I can't wait to see (and not just because I'm apparently in one!).  She's ridiculously photogenic and a lovely girl too, not to mention my first blogger friend...

The rest of the gang I knew nothing about until yesterday and I could go on all day about each and every one and how nice they were, how welcoming and how much fun.  But I think the photos speak for themselves, and their blogs even more so...please take some time to check them out, you won't be disappointed....

Snippets of shiny thoughts

Not just medical

Style by queens

Style slicker

The F blog

Save our shoes

Park and cube

Thanks for a great afternoon everyone...may the next one come soon.