In association with the the Nyanzi Report

So, I finally figured out what some of those buttons on my camera do, thanks to the very photographically talented David of staple streetstyle blog, The Nyanzi Report.  On Friday, after coming into town without his own camera (I almost didn't recognise him!), he acted as my very able assistant for the day, and this is the result.  I love the colours and the sleekness of the whole look, from hair to loafers - this is a man who knows how to accessorise.  Styleeast, in west London you say?  Shooting men?  Whatever next...

Thanks, David!

Take it back to the concrete streets

After that brief foray back to Fashion Week in the last post, I thought I'd bring it back east (with the help of a 90s hip hop reference, which I thought was fitting with the background.  I've been listening to a lot of the old stuff lately, definitely the genre at its peak...but I digress).  I shot this photo late in the evening after the Jones and Payne party - so for once the shoddy light isn't the fault of my questionable photography - but I couldn't miss it, it was love at first sight with that leather jacket.  Teamed with a floral playsuit and with a casual hairdo and plimsolls to top and tail the look, it's pretty much east London style at its best.  AND she said she'd seen my blog! That NEVER happens.  It made me happy.

Three of a kind

From Somerset House, LFW, aaaah remember that (clue - we were all freezing our asses off)?  I've been meaning to post these for ages, to demonstrate how February fashion week may be colder, quieter and harder work, but the style is also cooler, darker and much more Styleeast's cup of tea.  Almost made losing all feeling in my toes worth it....

Champagne in the afternoon

I think it's fair to say that Shoreditch's best hair salon know all the ingredients for a great party...endless champagne, cupcakes (complete with J+P logo), a candyfloss machine, superstar DJs and a collection of east London's most stylish people.  Oh, and about 100 handsome, tattooed boys.  Jones and Payne were celebrating their first birthday party in their gorgeous salon and, if you haven't been yet, you need to get yourselves along sharpish, not only for a haircut of joy (ask for Gary!) but to experience the surroundings and get a go on one of their massage chairs.  Thanks, Jones and Payne, for a great afternoon...

Happy Birthday to me

I was just thinking it might be coming up for Styleeast's first birthday, so I checked the date of my first ever post and - lo and behold - it's today!  You may all sing Happy Birthday and, if you insist, bring me cake.  Champagne to wash it down with is also welcome.  Slightly belatedly, I'll be cooking up a Styleeast giveaway, where you can win delights such as Henry Holland NY tights or maybe a Topshop maxi (just in time for summer).  In the meantime, let me leave you with these colourful characters.  Pulling off primary colours and cartoon prints isn't always the best idea for anyone over the age of 5, but if you do insist, take some tips from this stylish couple, all you need is a dash of bravery, some grown up accessories (e.g. no skateboards/Simpsons sticker books/Haribos) and bags of 'tude...

East

So, I've spent the last 2 weeks trying to think how to follow that pigeon shot.  And what better than going back to the streets of this blog's home, east London.  I've been saving this gem for a while, it needs few words to accompany it.  All I can say is, you might think you wouldn't want your boyfriend to wear a headband, you might not have realised you need a zebra coat in your life.  BUT....how much do you want to be these two right now?

Stop the pigeon

Do I need to introduce Roz?  I'm guessing not, as you've doubtless already seen her, maybe on Facehunter, Style Scout, Stockholm Street Style...I could go on.  BUT, did any of them employ a pigeon to fly in at just the right moment and make the shot even better?   I think not!   

It's a serious business, this fashion thing, of course, it creates jobs, it inspires young people (and not so young people) and it helps us express ourselves...but sometimes it's just a bit too serious, no?  Which is why when Roz, who'd spent three whole days at the mercy of the many streetstyle bloggers, started larking about when I tried to shoot her, I loved it!  I'd been all set up for the posed shot and then she took her position and started jumping about.  This is the first shot I took,  and I cursed that pigeon at the time for ruining an otherwise perfect, spontaneous photo.  I got the 'perfect' shot at the end, but I don't love it as much as this one. It's just a (literally) passing moment, captured through luck and maybe something to remind us all that fashion (and fashion week) is fun...and long may it remain so.

For more fashion fun see also Roz's post and Lucy's shiny thoughts of fashion week

London Fashion Week street style - Crusading

I'm sure you all know Jen, the Style Crusader, by now.  But what you may not yet know is that her style at LFW was out of this world.  Every day she worked a different look.  Cat shorts!  Flares!  Big jewels!  But (despite being nuts about anything cat-related) this was my favourite ensemble of the lot, a crisp white coat dress, vampy purple lips and, well, it's all about those amazing shoes.  Custom creeper DMs!  Basically my shoe heaven.  Check out Jen's blog for the rest of her LFW looks...

London Fashion Week Street Style - Fred Butler

London Fashion Week street style - David Nyanzi (payback)

One of the best things about fashion week is catching up with other bloggers, and meeting those you 'know' online in real life.  David's and my paths seems to have crossed on several occasions recently - on a brick lane street corner, in snapping the same subject entirely coincidentally, and in Adorngirl's imagination where she sees us having some sort of X Factor-style blogger-off (he'd win, hands down, I'm not even going there).  And then again, daily, during fashion week, from which I'll leave you these photos of the usually-camera shy man himself, as payback for one he posted of me - since removed, there are rules people and I am sticking to them!  Check out David's blog, The Nyanzi Report  it captures perfectly his energy and talent, and you can see for yourself that the man also got style (plus, incidentally, more coats than a cloakroom)...

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 street style: I love cool stuff

(disclaimer: kids, smoking is not cool, unless you're this guy)

London Fashion Week street style: Roz

This is Roz, from Clothes, Cameras and Coffee.  I'm posting her as my first LFW street style shot this season as pretty soon she's going to be all over the internet and I want to get in there first!  It took her and her incredibly patient (and very lovely not to mention ultra stylish) mother probably about an hour to leave Somerset House today as the paps, bloggers and model agents could not get enough of Roz.  And you can see why.  Stunning, poised and impeccably stylish, not to mention a lovely, friendly girl.  Meeting her was one of today's highlights.  Many more to come...

Featured in London's Evening Standard Magazine 25.03.11

Sorry, black, you're over

You know when you open your wardrobe and see before you a myriad of colour and think 'this will not go together', but then you try it all on and....you were right?  The fact is, the majority of us shy away from bold colour mixing, or struggle to get it right (with Kit, the Style Slicker, being one notable exception).  And now, this girl, street-spotted at Spitalfields yesterday.  The combination of coral coat with red tights and blue scarf is genius.  Let's be honest, most of us would have gone for a dose of black to balance it out.  Instead, the finishing touches are a vintage floral dress peeking through, brown tasseled brogues, and that smile.  Enough to brighten anyone's day and, possibly, inspire a bit of colour bravery...?

ps - don't forget I'm twittering now, or tweeting, or twitting.   Here, anyway.

A little sunshine - twice

Well, I said yesterday that I was going in search of colour, and this is what I found.  As if the yellow coat wasn't divine enough, just look how it's paired with the olive trousers, the tartan scarf, the patterned carpet bag, and those rosy cheeks.  The perfect antidote to a long, grey winter.  More, please!

And speaking of more, a quick post-edit...turns out the very same girl was shot the day before, on the other side of town, by none other than David 'Nyanzi Report' Nyanzi, yes, he who also just happened to be shooting on the same corner as me the week before!  His shots are great (as always) - check out the rust and grey colour combination paired with the yellow coat, possibly my new favourite mix.  Wherever will this colourful lady pop up next...?

Don't forget, you can now find Styleeast on twitter, keep me company HERE

Baby you can drive my car

After looking all winter for the perfect 70s car coat, it walked right past me two weeks ago, on this stylish girl. The proportions, the lighter suede colour and the sheer cosiness of it have made me supremely jealous.  And that's even before you chuck in the gorgeous patterned skirt, oversized pendant and dark berry lips.  A marvellous example of perfect winter style.  Some people just have it all - including my coat!

ps - I just caved in to Twitter, I'm looking a little lonely over there at the moment...come find me here?

Max it up

Dedicated blogger that I am, I spent all of 7 minutes shooting last weekend before toddling off for lunch with a friend.  But, I packed a lot into that 7 minutes, getting not one but two great shots, and having the absolute pleasure of meeting one of my favourite bloggers, David of  The Nyanzi Report who happened to be shooting on the same corner.  One of the photos I got was this.  I couldn't resist the not-quite-maxi skirt and I loved the way it was styled so simply with the vest, leather jacket and brogues...proof that you don't always have to wear a long skirt with heels and that you can wear one in the winter...

Hot off the press is the news I've just WON Platform Princess's recent competition and will soon be taking delivery of some amazing 70s flares, as modelled here by the lady herself.  I never win anything, and I'm currently obsessed with the 70s (I blame the excellent Runaways movie - Dakota Fanning, you are just too cool) so it's made made my weekend.  Thanks!

Hazy shades of winter

You'll either have that song in your head now, or be far too young to even know what it is (as am I, she adds hastily).  But hazy shades perfectly sums up this gorgeous winter ensemble.  Though still understated, it's an antidote to all the black on the streets.  It's what I'll call wartime chic, given a modern twist with the kneesocks and leopard scarf.

Happy new year

Gosh, it's good to be back.  For your delectation, here is styleeast's first street spot of 2011, and a perfect way of starting as I mean to go on, bringing you original looks and natural style from Brick Lane and beyond.  I love everything about this casual look, from the hair colour to the 50s half-rim specs to the on-trend midi - and she was a lovely friendly girl too.  Lots more to come so stay tuned...

We wish you a...

As I sign off for the festive season, to face untold transport delays and a break from east London's street style, I wanted to wish you all a happy, happy Christmas and - as we say in the homeland - a braw Hogmanay.  As this is Styleeast's first Christmas, it seems like as good an opportunity as any to thank all my readers and followers for their encouragement and support.  When I started this in April, it was for my own amusement, a hobby and just somewhere to wax lyrical about the style of my neighbourhood.  But it's fast becoming a vocation and I've had some unbelieveable experiences already (Vogue!  Fashion Week!  George Lamb!...the final one is a story for 2011 I think) and made some amazing friends.  Special thanks go to Jill, Jen, Nicole ,Fi, Jackie, Kit, Shini, Ashanti and Lucy for adopting me right from the beginning and making me feel welcome in their world, and to Kat from Frock and Roll for helping me go international!  Roll on 2011...

Love
Styleeast x

I'll be there for you

Are you still with me?  I've been a tad AWOL lately, but I can promise you plenty more east London street treats soon.  Put on your glad rags on Saturday and look out for me and my trusty retro Olympus (no, Kit, I still haven't got a Canon).   In the meantime, appreciate some of the best style my stomping ground has to offer.  Is that two jackets he's wearing?  I love the flash of dogtooth collar.  And those shiny shoes!  She's sticking to classic mac paired with high waisters and a gorgeous peroxide crop.  Having a fashionable friend, it seems, is the trend of the season...

The Alexa effect

I wanted to share with you this trilogy of photos.  This first girl, shot last weekend, doesn't look like Alexa, does she?  She has her own style and her own poise.  But there's something about her which reminds me of the ubiquitous Chung.  And she's not the first streetstyle spot I've found which puts me in mind of (arguably) the country's current biggest fashion icon.  These other 2 photos were taken at separate times earlier in the year.  So...what is it?  Blatant copying?  Clearly not - none of these girls are wearing an Alexa copycat outfit.  A subtle interpretation?  Possibly.  But, I think honestly, it's not deliberate at all and is more likely just evidence that Alexa's easy, mixed up androgynous glamour is now firmly a part of our style consciousness.  And, judging by these ladies, that can only be a good thing.....

The last photo is Kate, one of my original and best street spots, pictured also here

Featured in Frock and Roll

Say you want a revolution

Styleeast loves a Russian revolutionary fashion reference and there's no doubt it's now firmly fur hat weather.  Following on from what I've been saying about the importance of details in an outfit, this fur-topped fashion pixie shows how to use them to dramatic effect - the two-tone brogues, checked wool trousers (cue major style envy), cape, scarf, bucket bag.  It's all going on.  But the result is a beautifully coherent outfit, which will be keeping her lovely and cosy too...

Details

I've noticed a few of my posts recently have focused on the details that make an outfit complete.  This seems to be the new way that people are dressing...nothing outrageous, not too over the top (apart from when the situation calls for it obviously), no whole "looks". Instead all it takes is to just add a little something that sets your outfit apart, this girl's ensemble being a case in point.  Take a simple vest dress, ankle boots and then chuck on a vintage knit (perfectly toned to hair, of course) add scarf as a belt, and - voila!  Unique, individual, classic and all in the details...

Bring it on

I'm mildly incapacitated at the moment so the stylish people are safe on the streets while my camera and I are bunkered down at home.  Not so last weekend, when I had my first real winter fashion mission.  As you may have read in my last post, there weren't many inspiring looks on the street, I'm putting it down to that tricky trans-seasonal period.  But the day was saved somewhat by this two for the price of one style swoop.  Finally, something interesting!  Monochrome cape, two-tone tights, some rusty suede (my current obsession), colourful scarves and laugh-in-the-face-of-the-cold shorts.  Winter?  Bring it on.

Welcome to winter

Happy Halloween everyone.  As we bid farewell to October, it's time to accept the fact it's very nearly winter and turn our attention to the warmer fashions on the street.  Out and about today, I was struck by the extent to which there appeared to be a winter wardrobe of fake furs, trousers and boots.  So it takes a lot to stand out, but this girl does it.  No browns and denims for her, instead a fur of dazzling white, paired with some patterned pants and accessorised beautifully with the slow-burning shoe of the season, chelsea boots, and what I think is an Olympus Pen (so I'm not the only girl on the block with an Olympus!)

Get well soon

This is Roz.  I don't know her but I do know that she's a blogger, is only 15 and has just been through major spinal surgery.  She made this dress to show the curvature in her spine that she's having corrected and I was struck by the maturity she has shown in facing this adversity head-on and sharing it with her readers.  I'd only ever seen Roz before on Jill's blog and was struck by her youth, beauty and style.  It's amazing to think what she was going through behind the smile.  Jill, of the aforementioned blog, is leading the charge to bring one of Roz's creative ideas - the "mummy scissors" - to life and, through spreading it across our blogs, let Roz know we're thinking of her as she recovers.  You can read about it written far more eloquently here.  And of course, please check out Roz's blog Clothes, Cameras and Coffee and perhaps leave some comments for her to read on return from hospital.  I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing her a speedy recovery.

Photo from Clothes, Cameras and Coffee

[Just to say I'm not making my own mummy scissors as I'm away at the moment without camera, or scissors!]

Elements

I think the best outfits are those that aren't too try-hard, that look comfortable but unique and are composed of some simple elements that together equal great style.  This recipe for fashion success is demonstrated a treat by this young lady from Ease the Squeeze clothing, in her Aran knit, leather shorts, button-up shirt and sock/loafer combo.  And, if you have perfect hair as she does, that helps too.

Goodbye summer

It's freezing outside - and Styleeast is actually looking forward to bringing you some winter fashion.  But in the meantime, here are two friends both in black and brogues, enjoying the brief Indian summer last weekend.  It's all in the details for their looks, his cropped pants and barrel bag, her sheer top and what I'm guessing are AA jodphurs (a style that rarely fails to impress).  Goodbye sunshine...see you next year...

Featured in Frock and Roll

How to wear a maxi

Yesterday was a good day blogging.  I went slightly off-mission to buy a new hat, chatted to some lovely people, including Mr+Mrs Style Scout (and Baby Scout in his dog shoes, that's some serious cute), and took some great shots - at last, after a period where it seemed the stylish people of east London deliberately hid indoors when they saw me coming. 

Anyway, as regular readers will know I am a tad obsessed with creepers shoes.  Even more so since meeting this girl and seeing how ingeniously they update the maxi trend, for a laidback, grungey style.  I almost don't want to give away the secret that this pleated number is from Topshop, as it looks so fresh and unique paired with the old t-shirt and those perfect shoes.  She works in The Vintage Store on the corner of Cheshire Street, which is, incidentally, my new favourite shop.  Pop along if you're in need of a new pair of ankle boots, leather shorts or some vintage denim, and pick up some style hints from the staff while you're there...

Featured on Line Love & Katarzyna and Frock and Roll

Fast women

Now, just to be clear, I'm not casting aspersions on these ladies' character!  I spotted them working for Mark Fast in the New Gen hut at LFW, ahead of the hot-ticket show, with both of them pulling off some seriously risque Fast cutout gear in the daytime.  Jill of Street Style London did a gorgeous portrait shot of Laura, on the right, here, which really shows off her gorgeous make-up.  Both of the girls had completed their looks with perfect faces and the girl on the left was made up with one of the trends I spotted throughout the week - dark, drawn-in brows and coral lips.  Not that I profess to know anything about make-up, really I should stick to the street style...