In good Company

So, it's no longer a secret that I'm a blogger!  All thanks to Company magazine, and their kind invitation (via Lexxi) to take part in a photoshoot, wearing the spring trends, along with many of my favourite bloggers. It was a hard offer to refuse, not just because it's nice for my Mum to buy a magazine with her daughter in, but because of Company's consistent support for bloggers and their ever-growing place in the fashion industry.  It was a privilege to be invited to partake, with my blog being the tiniest of cogs in the biggest of wheels. And  it was also an awful lot of fun (fashion cupboard! hello!).  Here are the results, worn on the double page by  Chantal; Alice; Camille; Frances and Claudia; and Frances; and alongside me by Kavita and Lucy. Grab a copy now, chums.

Ps, I hate having my picture taken

And now for something a bit different

It's surely only a matter of time until these looks are translated into style on east London's streets.  And although pulling off a sequined head or a giant box might be tricky in real life, I was so impressed with these collections by students of the Swedish School of Textiles this London Fashion Week.

London Fashion Week - Masha Ma's Kinky Boots

After a stellar debut last season, all eyes were on Masha Ma's show this weekend back at the Freemason's Hall.  And it did not disappoint.  From my spot in the front row (thanks, Ashanti!) I could see that still firmly in place were the sculptural shapes and the icy shades, the softest fabrics and the minimalist styling.  But fresh for AW11 were higher collars, zippering and more than just a nod to the fetishistic. 

Those red boots were the talk of the town on Sunday afternoon.  They wouldn't have worked without the beautiful, precision cuts of the garments, and perhaps the knitwear and midi-lengths would have looked too chaste without the boots.  It was a design marriage made in heaven, so right it made all who watched feel like that's the only thing we should be wearing.  All in all, another sure sign that Masha Ma is destined for great things...

London Fashion Week - Masha Ma

Time goes quickly in fashion, I've realised, so you've probably already heard all about Masha Ma.  But I couldn't let this one go.  Thanks to Shini of Park and Cube, I was fortunate enough to find myself in a great spot at the Freemasons Hall for the debut LFW show.  To say we were all impressed would be an understatement - there was such a buzz of excitement after the show amongst all its guests.  It was the slickest, most enchanting show I saw at the weekend, putting some of the more established brands to shame, and everything that came down the catwalk was stunning, cut with the highest precision and entirely wearable (though requiring a dash of bravery in some cases).  There was just enough risque, a lot of glamour, and a pallette of soft tones to enhance the sculpted shapes, all styled up with only the models' unwashed hair and gleaming skin.  The phrase "one to watch" is often overused but, in this case, wholly justified...

all photos by me - please credit me if you'd like to use them

London Fashion Week street style - autumnal blondes

Do you have room in your lives for more LFW street style?  I hope so, as how's this for a new season colour combo - earthy shades of brown and rust, mixed with black and topped off with icy blond hair.  First up, Anastasia, who had just walked for Mark Fast and was still wearing her catwalk make-up, which I think looks great with her classic 'model off-duty' style...

I also noticed a recurring trend of maxi-length waistcoats or shirts over shorter layers.  I like it, it's a great mid-season look, worn pretty darn well by this beauty....

And finally, just to doubley emphasise what I am officially declaring a new trend, here are two of them, taking all the colours and toning them down a shade or two...extra points for the matching hair colour...

Now, be sure to tell me when you've had your fill of Fashion Week and I'll get back to pounding the pavements in the East again...!

London Fashion Week street style - Georgia Frost

I grabbed this shot after the Masha Ma show yesterday.  In my not-down-with-the-kids ignorance, I had no idea who she was, only that she was wearing excellent trousers and my favourite shoes - creepers.  She was also very friendly and, obviously, absolutely stunning.  So it's no surprise she turned out to be (as I was informed today) model of the moment Georgia Frost.  Only 20 years old, according to Wiki anyway, and already a veteran of Burberry, Vogue and many other big names.  But even before I knew that, it was one of my favourite shots of the weekend....

Featured in Frock and Roll

Featured on Masha Ma

Aside from the gorgeousness of Georgia, today's LFW highlights include meeting the man without whom, probably, none of us would be here reading or writing this - The Sartorialist himself.  Overriding impression is that, in a scrum of photographers, he seemed incredibly calm.  Also enjoyed watching Jill charm Julia Roitfeld to the point where Julia asked Jill to look her up on Facebook. Swiftly following in the highlight stakes was afternoon tea with scones, cream and jam in the press lounge, whilst taking Kit, the Style Slicker's advice on how to sort out my (Olympus) camera - "get a Canon".  Wise words.