It's Blitz!

You'd never guess from the sense of space in this photo that I nearly got knocked over by a cyclist, 2 cars and around 40 pedestrians whilst trying to get the shot.  It's come out almost monochromatic but for that amazing doll-like complexion and a peek of burgundy cut-off under the crochet tunic.  This girl (must start asking people their names) was flyering for the new Blitz Vintage Department Store on Hanbury Street, sister shop to The Vintage Store from where you may remember Ella of this post.  Seems like this chain has got east London street style all sewn up!  Pop down for a visit soon and maybe I'll see you there...

Also this week:

My photo of Ella (and several others) was also featured recently in Japanese street style magazine Jille, who did a whole page about my blog ...huge thanks to the lovely Aya and Sayaka who spent an afternoon with me shooting for the feature, which you can see below on the left page:

Don't forget I'm currently judging the Westfield Stratford City's 'Create your Take' competition , to celebrate their launch, and will be looking for your version of a family portrait.  The prize is good...all I can say is start thinking who your ten favourite people are.

And finally, I've discovered my new favourite self-style blog this week, and just had to give a shout out to the gorgeous Emily of It Girl Rag Doll, who also featured in the August issue of Jille.

Family portrait

I am very pleased to announce that my news is that Styleeast has been chosen by Westfield Stratford City to be guest judge for their exciting launch competition, 'Create your take'.  The regeneration of east London, in anticipation of the Olympics, is something very close to my heart, and the new Westfield centre is a major part of it - it will bring jobs, tourists and shoppers from across London into an area that was previously not much more than a wasteland in places.  So I'm very proud to be even a small part of the huge changes that are happening.  You can find out more about the competition here, or on my new facebook, get involved and you could win an amazing (though currently secret!) prize, with Styleeast as your guest judge in the 'family portrait' category.  And who better to illustrate that than the lovely Rosalind, who many of you will know well from her blog, Clothes, Cameras and Coffee, who I met for the first time this year, along with her lovely (and equally stylish - just check that vintage fur) mum - maybe they should enter the competition, though we probably ought to at least give others a chance of winning...!

Guessing games

This is Lally, of Oh Are You Sure About That blog.  Ever since I shot these photos, a couple of months BC (before Canon), I've been obsessed with this sort of look. I can only guess at the source of its inspiration...it's a bit 70s, a dash of peasant girl, a touch grunge - pretty but with an East London edge (it's all in the glasses, as anyone spending a significant amount of time in E1 will tell you).  Lally describes it as 'witchy'! Successfully combining all these elements is, according to my rule book, a mark of true style.  Perhaps that's why I haven't shown you these photos before now, I wanted to keep this look all to myself...

Now, stay tuned for some exciting Styleeast news later this week.  There will be prizes.  And shopping, lots of shopping!  In fact, it will be shopping on scale previously only available in West London.  And it represents a huge milestone in the regeneration of the east......can you guess what it is?

Hello, Canon. Goodbye, rain

The sun has got his hat on, hip hip hip hooray.  And how better to celebrate than by taking out my new pet (Canon 550d, 28mm lens, oh yes, it's turned me into a shameless camera geek).  This lovely lady was pretty much stalked round Brick Lane by yours truly until I'd got the shot, after initial photo fails due to incredibly bright sun (my eyes, my eyes!) and forgetting to reset all the manual settings I'd been mucking about with earlier.  But I got there in the end, and you can see her amazing floral and denim maxi jumpsuit in all its glory, plus accessorising so good it's practically an art form*. To quote a friend of mine, when it comes to accessories, "if you can't minimise, maximise".  Summer perfection.

*portrait shot is a blatant and unashamed excuse for showing off the new lens!

Goodbye, Olympus. Hello, rain

I'm back from my brief blogging hiatus and have to say am not enjoying this 'summer' we're having.  Luckily, the sun shone a few weeks ago, giving me the chance to photograph this smiley lady looking just as cute as a button in her summery pink confection, while giving a modern edge to her 50s jumpsuit with that red hair.  This may be the last photo you see taken on my trusty Olympus camera, which has been with me from day one of Styleeast, I'm moving onwards and upwards with what I like to refer to as the Canon of Joy.  Watch this space...

Teenage kicks

When I was young(er than I am now, ahem), I could not possibly claim to have good style.  You would have found me as a teenager most likely in a baggy jumper and some bad denim from the Jean Scene.  I most certainly would not have had the confidence to rock a half-shaved head and some badass colour blocking like this young lady (of course I'm only assuming she's a youngster, she might just be clean-living and heavy on the Oil of Olay...).  It's a strong look and one she is 100% pulling off, she stood out a mile from all the other stylish people on Brick Lane for her don't-give-a-crap look and attitude.  It was one of my top shots from the weekend I went style spotting with Kate, while she did her 'A Day in the Life' feature about Styleeast, which, incidentally, you can read about Here.  Now I come to think of it, I really should thank Kate for suggesting my messy, frizzy barnet was in fact 'Alexa hair'.  Bless her...

West End Boys

You'd think, in the wilds of Scotland, that fashion would be the last thing on my mind.  There's not a lot in the way of style round here (unless you're into, er, cow print, or sheep wool, or, well, fields), but I've still got a whole load of photos I want to show you from my recent adventures.  I'll start with this, from my day out to Carnaby Street, away from the east London badlands.  A very stylish pair, definitely with a similar sensibility, but in overall very different looks.  People say that friends tend to dress the same and morph into one another style-wise, but I think these two demonstrate that you can have some similar tastes (note the skinnies) but still have your own thing going on - whether that be a nod to the mod in that scarf and hat or a grungey denim and DM combo.

Do you have a similar look to your friends?  And which of these is your preferred style? (David and Mat, I'm looking to you two for answers here..)

A day in the life

Last weekend I was happy to be invited to style-hunt at Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair in Spitalfields market (thanks, Kieran and Jill).  Judy's is exactly what it says on the tin - affordable vintage clothing, they do fairs up and down the country and it's pretty much the best place to find high-quality bargains all under one roof.  The day of the Fair just so happened to coincide with the day that fashion journalism student Kate was following me around, doing a 'day in the life' story about little old me.  Now, given that I'd spent the first part of the day in my scruffs cleaning the house, I thought I'd better jazz up the afternoon somewhat, lest anyone get the impression that fashion bloggers are anything less than exciting and glamorous at all times.  So to Judy's Fair we went and what a perfect place for style spotting, the stallholders alone were flying the flag for true vintage glamour.  We topped off the day with a Japanese cherry tea at my favourite Brick Lane bar, Hookah Lounge, and shopping at Beyond Retro on Cheshire Street.  Here's a selection of the stylish ladies we met at Spitalfields:

First up, from Dandy Dolls, a lesson in casual glam, with a silk white maxi and Moschino belt mixed up with white Cons (and a great smile):

Next, one of our favourite style-spots of the day, the lovely Hannah from French Kiss Vintage.  We loved her rockabilly styling and her red shorts:

Credit for this one goes to Kate, who spotted Jessica from Smoking Gun Vintage's beautifully toned hair and outfit.  Catch Smoking Gun at Spitalfields on Thursdays and Brick Lane at the weekends:

Vintage Fair

Another of my west London style spots, ably assisted by David, it's a very east London-y vintage look which, as David noted, is what I'm always drawn too even when dragged kicking and screaming from my usual turf.  This look is also a masterclass in layering and accessorising - I don't know if that's a poncho, a cardi or a shawl, but I want it. 

I'm style-hunting at Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair in Spitalfields today so look out for someone barely able to use their camera and instead just shopping excessively, chances are that'll be me.  Oh and check out Styleeast waxing lyrical about the midi skirt for Heatworld Star Style here, with thanks to Callie at Heat.  Blog favourites Jill aka Polka Dot and Jen the Style Crusader also feature.

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...