London Fashion Week Street Style - What Karina Wore

I've photographed Karina three seasons in a row at London Fashion Week and she is without a doubt one of the most stylish and electic ladies on the courtyard. Switching effortlessly from old school glamour to rockabilly, via the hot trends (midi skirts, two tone brogues..), Karina always stands out, and this season (from which the first 3 shots are taken) was no exception...

Sept 2010

Feb 2011

Inspired by this recent post, this is  the first of five 'what she wore' posts from LFW, also coming up:  Stella , Roz, Nadia  and Frances

London Fashion Week street style - Whites

I spotted a certain tendency to whites and creams in the courtyard of Somerset House, perhaps as a nod to the last days of summer sun.  Rules for pulling off the white look appear to be a) look like Audrey Hepburn circa at her most endearing, b) add tough boots and/or lace to keep textures interesting, c) incoporate coloured knits and/or infectious smiles, d) only come out when the sun's shining.

Thanks to all the photographers that have featured Styleeast during fashion week: Melanie at Street Muse/Elle; Style Crusader; Carrie for  Cosmopolitan;  Dina at She Loves Mix Tapes; Fashionistable; and  David Nyanzi - it was an honour.

LFW Street Style - French Kiss

Recognise anyone? No, me neither.  When I first stopped Hannah, from French Kiss Vintage, who I shot before (in this post) at Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair back in June I had no idea it was the same girl.  It's interesting considering that a few posts down I was going on about innate style, when Hannah is living proof that, when it comes to fashion sense, there really are no rules!  I can't choose my favourite from her two looks but what I do know is that she was rocking the courtyard at London Fashion Week in this get-up, check out the feather eyelashes in particular...

Btw, 4 posts in 4 days.... certain people should never again call me a lazy blogger!

LFW Street Style - Day 4: Montage

My final day at Somerset House this season and it didn't disappoint.  Kudos to the hardcore LWF-ers who have 2 days left, I'm bloomin' knackered.

 Maybe I'm just feeling patriotic, but I am loving that tartan

 Want

 Lucie wins the prize for accessorising today.  Her bracelets are from her own Band 4 Hope project, a truly unique and socially conscious initiative, which I urge you to read much more about here

 Polka Dot in polka dots (do you see what I did there?)

 Yep, it's those shoes

 Star blouse, red lippy, vintage Ray-Bans - gorgeous

LFW Street Style - Day 3: Snippets

Once I'd recovered from being in close proximity to Jefferson Hack, it was a very successful day street shooting. Here are some highlights from Somerset House for London Fashion Week, day 3:

A lady who needs no introduction, looking utterly fabulous and making time for chatting and photos

Matching for the second day in a row, this time in Christopher Kane skirts

Bloggers' bench (photo by the lovely Dina)

Quite simply, loved it

Jill's bracelets

My favourite colour combination of the day, not unlike the ice cream colours seen at the Mulberry show, but with added edge

LFW Street Style - Day 2: Details

Thought I'd make like David Nyanzi and focus on the details from my first day (everyone else's second) at London Fashion Week this season:

Rosalind's hat pin

Stella (right) and friend's satchels

 Minty bowtie

Bag envy

Jen, the Style Crusader's clutch and purse against her fabulous orange vintage skirt 

Frances's cowboy boots

Ladylike v Grunge

Often when I grab a streetstyle shot, I'm left wondering what my subject wears on every other day...is the photo I took their usual 'look', is it something they're experimenting with, do they like to glam up in the evening? And usually you just never know, the mystery is part of the appeal. In Ella's case however, I have crossed her path several times, as she works in one of my favourite vintage stores, and is now working for the new Blitz Department Store (where I expect to be a regular visitor).

It was at the press party that I took this first shot, in which Ella is the epitome of ladylike retro glamour, in a vintage lace dress from the store. The second shot is from when I first met Ella, a look I described at the time as modern grunge. About her dressed-up look, Ella told me she was going 'ladylike' having cut the green from her hair and wanting to dress up for the evening. But her innate style is still there, in the collection of rings she wears, and the attitude with which she wears that dress, and now I look back at that original shot, you see her tendency to glamour was there all along, in that flowy skirt and up-do.

Proof, I'm going to venture, that personal style is about more than just the clothes you wear- and that it's fun to mix it up sometimes...

Hats off to Blitz Vintage - part 1

If you've ever thought that east London couldn't possibly need a new vintage store, I can tell you now you'd be wrong.  That's because Blitz Vintage Department Store has arrived in town with something new and fresh to offer us jaded vintage shoppers.  Spread over a vast Victorian warehouse space on Hanbury Street, it's a delight to shop in, with an accessible collection of hand picked quality vintage (all at reasonable prices I might add), a delightful collection of rare 40s, 50s and 60s vintage dresses, plus homewares and quirky antique furniture.  There's also plenty for the boys too, and if they get bored while you're browsing there's space for them to sit (on stylish leather sofas of course), read and enjoy a drink.  Here are some snaps from the press night this week, with huge thanks to Ella for the invitation, who'll feature in a future post (I took so many photos I'll have to do it in two parts!):

Self-style blogger Stella, a swingin' 60s chick and an absolute delight, in a dress borrowed for the evening from Blitz (and subsequently bought!)

A 60s sundress I fell for

Writer Angel Adoree, her gorgeous book, Vintage Tea Party, is out now, featuring patisserie recipes from a bygone era - there is definitely someone in your life who needs this for Christmas!

Sparkly knitwear, for when the winter sets in (any day now!)

Plenty here for the boys too (by which I mean the jacket and shoes above, not the lovely lady below)

Gorgeous vintage styling, love the coordinated hat and lipstick.

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...