Yard Style

Milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.  Except in this case it's not milkshake, it's bargains, and it's not boys, it's girls.  The yard in question was that of uber-blogger, and our gracious host for the day, Susie Bubble, who was joined by a dozen of your other favourite bloggers to host the hopefully now annual Bloggers' Yard Sale.  I was stall-sharing with the lovely Kristabel and was pleased to see lots of happy shoppers go home with my wares, although I'm still crying (sob) for some of the things I decided to sell on a whim...Oh Rockabilly Checked Dress, wherefor art thou?  In all the excitement I forgot to take a snap of Susie - duh - or the Balenciaga (wtf!) and Christopher Kane (double wtf!) delights she was selling, but I hope you enjoy these other stylish lovelies, including - oh yeah - the in-house ukelele lady.  That's how we roll, yard style.

Le chic

I don't speak French, which is probably apparent from the title of this post which, I'm pretty sure, means nothing.  But having used an abundance of fake French during my weekend in Paris, I thought I'd just carry on regardless now I'm back on home turf.  It was my third trip to Paris and while most of it was taken up with getting round as many tourist sights as possible (and checking out the be-spangled topless ladies at the Moulin Rouge, whilst sipping champagne of course), I also took a moment to consider the city's fashion.  It's so different to London, and particularly a world away from east London's streestyle, but part of me covets the neatness, the classicness and the perfect tailoring.  So now I'm back, there was only one photo I had in mind to post, to conjour up Paris in my mind again (as if all the French wine I'm still chugging down wasn't enough), and this was it.  Taken at fashion week in February, it's a bit Parisienne (those red lips! that classic mac!), but still a lot London-cool, and proof that chic - whatever it does mean - doesn't have to mean dull.

There's something about Fumie

Fumie is taking over the world!  Well, not quite. But, as the dip-dye/coloured hair trend, long a feature on east London's streets, starts to seep into the mainstream, my photos of Fumie are certainly proving popular.  Look, here she is in Italian Glamour!  Look, here she is again, taking up the entire page in London's Evening Standard!  So what good fortune it was for me that I bumped into Fumie again (now with pink fringe) when I went shooting in The Vintage Store the other week.  I'm going to start pimping out these pics now, make me some dolla (*jokes*).  Though, now I mention dolla, I feel obliged to let you know that I'm off to NYC, for a little jolly.  That's right - Style(lower)east(side) coming right up, stay tuned.  In the meantime, let me know if you see Fumie popping up anywhere else, won't you?

Styleeast x The Vintage Store

The Vintage Store, 182 Brick Lane, describes itself as a treasure trove of fashion-led vintage gems, and I could not agree more.  Whether you're after a 50s look to get your Mad Men on, or fancy a bit of what I like to describe as Rihanna denim - or in fact anything in between - then this is the place for you.  The cast of Made in Chelsea shop there, dontcha know (coming to a tv screen near you soon...).

But I digress from the news that I am here to bring you - that the Vintage Store is having a KICKASS spring clean this Thursday, which means endless bargains for you, from £5, not to mention 10% off the full price stock too.  You can find out all the deets here, and if that's still not enough for you (what more do you want people?!) then there will be live bands too.

Oh and this being Styleeast, I couldn't resist a little streetstyle snapping of the Vintage Store staff while I was there.  I'm sure you will recognise manager Ella from this post I did last year, and she and her colleagues promise to go out of their way to make shopping at the Store a pleasurable experience (I've witnessed it first hand, now it's time you got down there to see for yourself...)

You can also follow the Vintage Store on Facebook here and Twitter here

London Fashion Week street style - I should Coco

Hey there, remember me?  I'm been a bit slack on the old blog front in recent weeks, what can I say, life (drinking gin) is keeping me busy and I've had things (gin) to do.  But I've been holding back on this post for a while, as Coco was one of my favourite street style spots from February's LFW.  I love her printed column skirt and matching top and how she's styled it down with that long jacket and good old DMs.  Coco works for Vice and told me that her friend designed her outfit - I'm hoping she sees this and tells me his or her name***!  As you can see, the pastel hair trend isn't going anywhere, but now the sun's finally peeked out, I'm hoping for some new trends on the streets as summer approaches.  Any guesses?

***post-edit...thanks to Chu Eva, Coco's blog has been found here  and the designer in question has been identified as Roberto Piqueras (we think!)***

By the way, you can catch Styleeast in the Hackney Citizen these days, here, and you'll find some of my LFW photos in the hard copy version that's available now.  Thanks to Rosie for the chance to get involved.

And don't forget you can follow me on Twitter too, here  

East London street style - Ice cream

So you might have noticed, summer is here. Or, if you're living north of zone 5, you'll have heard it on the news at least. What this means, other than that I can consider a Magnum lolly and strawberry beer an adequate lunch, is that there is some COLOUR on the streets at last. Alexandra illustrates the spring pastel trend perfectly, channelling Mulberry's ice-cream colours by clashing her fuchsia hair to her minty dress. Oh, and, why the heck not, just adding a little vintage Chanel. Happy Summer, everyone...

East London street style - Be happy

Style crush alert!  This is Frances, of Happy Because.  She always looks amazing.  Not in a "I'm going to Brick Lane and there might be streetstyle photographers" type way, but in a "I just rolled out of bed (ill) and chucked this on but just happen to have a damn frickin' good sense of style" type way.  She always looks cool but never try-hard - the jersey flares, Cons and sleeveless jacket here being a case in point - and she's also a fan of a great hat and/or neck detail.  Maybe that's why she's so happy.

Now also seems an opportune moment to thank Company Magazine for a highly enjoyable and successful Style Blogger Awards ceremony this week.  I was so happy to be nominated but not at all shocked to be beaten in the streetstyle category by the man himself - Facehunter.  Congratulations to all the winners, oh and you can see who wore what (cos clearly that's what you're wondering) here.  Also this week, the very eagle-eyed among you may have spotted this photo I took of Fumie flash up on Friday's edition of The Culture Show on BBC2, featuring Styleeast's good friend David of the Nyanzi Report talking about the streetstyle phenomenon.   And that concludes this week's edition of Styleeast News, thanks for tuning in! 

London Fashion Week street style - D'you wanna be in my gang?

Do you wanna be in my gang, my gang, my gang, d'you wanna be in my gang..my g-a-a-ang.  

#inappropriateGaryGlitterreference

But yes, we do, for it is the most colourful gang in all of Fashion Week.  And also because you have the most nonchalant denim jacket, sheer shirt and pastel hair.


Featuring: Second from left Anna from Anna Lee Fashion and, far right, photographer Erick LeStrange

London Fashion Week street style - Aesthetics

This luminous lovely is Ivania, of Love Aesthetics, in town for fashion week from the Netherlands. Her outfit, and her whole blog, is a lesson in what I believe we are calling sport-luxe these days - an effortless mix of pale jersey and bright colours, with Ivania's own added twist of some serious lipsticks.  That lemon/lilac combo is making even the most colourful fashion week looks pale in comparison.  Ivania's shoes are Acne, the hoody is nicked from her boyfriend, and the jeans are trusty Toppers - go get (though maybe not the hoody as her boyfriend would have something to say about that) .

London Fashion Week street style - Simplicity, Kitty

Meow.  The Kitty clutch and pink pony creepers take this ensemble from simplistic denim to fashion (wait for it...) purrfection ( I apologise...). Just the job for a day in the courtyard of Somerset House, especially with the addition of that furry scarf to keep out the cold.  Plenty more LFW streetstyle to come so stay tuned.

London Fashion Week street style - Chameleon

Styleeast loves a fashion chameleon which is why I was pleased to bump into Elizabeth, who works at Elle, two days in a row at Somerset House.  Not that I recognised her the second time, but perhaps I can blame the fact that by the third day on the cobbles my eyeballs (along with my fingers and toes) had completely frozen.  Choosing my favourite of Elizabeth's looks isn't easy, so I'm going to sit on the fence and say I like her different takes on masculine tailoring in both outfits, though I do have a particular penchant for that lime green beanie.  Which is your favourite?

*post-edit.  By the way, I saw Kanye West today.  KANYE WEST!  You can see my rubbish photo here on the Styleeast facebook page.  I'm also chattering nonsense on Twitter, here

London Fashion Week street style - Gaga ooh la la

Just add pom poms.

London Fashion Week street style - Stella does neon

Fair to say that Stella will be all over the internet before you can say "paparazzi", so I thought I'd get in there first to show you her amazing Jonathan Saunders neon.  A rare flash of colour on a dull and rainy day.  Fingers crossed for sunshine tomorrow.  See you there...

Fringe benefits

The first photo was featured on the BBC's Culture Show on  Friday 9 March 2012

Spot the theme!  Brick Lane is being taken over by coloured hair.  Not that I'm complaining, especially with Fumi's interpretation of the trend - just a dash of jade in the fringe, beautifully complementing the accents in her scarf.  I'd become a bit jaded (get it!) myself recently and sick of the sight of just black black black, as if dressing to match the sky helped beat the cold weather; so this colourful ensemble was like a breath of fresh air.  Welcome to all of my new readers, joining me from the Observer article last week and thanks for following.  Don't forget you can also find me on here on Twitter.  See you at Fashion Week! 

Debatable

I was very excited to feature in this week's Observer New Review, along with a collection of other UK bloggers, in this article that began, controversially, by stating that 'what we wear is increasingly shaped by fashion bloggers'. I, an avid reader of many blogs, wholeheartedly agree that since discovering a wealth of quick, innovative inspiration at my fingertips, for free, the way I follow fashion has changed. And I bet many of you reading this would say the same.

One scan of the 100 comments left on the online article will leave you in no doubt many people do not agree. And that, of course, is absolutely fine, it is the Guardian after all, the comments always form a fascinating, if sometimes visceral, debate - whatever the topic. I didn't enjoy this particular debate any less just because I'm a part of it. Perhaps that's why I don't feel compelled to defend or justify the topic of the feature at all, that would be for the paper to do, though I'm sure they're content with having sparked such a great furore!

What I will say in response is this: Contrary to what some people tend to assume about anyone who does fashion, my day job ensures I have good perspective about what 'really' matters - family, opportunity, education, democracy (all of which the Guardian covers amply) but let's not forget that fashion is a multi-billion pound industry that creates jobs and supports our economy. I know fashion isn't important, or even interesting, to everyone and appearing in the paper doesn't mean I think my little blog, a minuscule cog in a huge wheel, will ever have the power to influence anyone (which unfortunately thwarts my plan to use it for taking over the world, Bond villain-style).

But the growth of blogging is interesting to me, and (contrary to what one comment suggests) brings me, and hopefully my readers, joy. Which, along with the fact my mum could go out for the Sunday paper and tell the man in the shop her daughter was in it, is why I was thrilled to be included in the feature. Let's not forget, fashion is allowed to be just for fun and, sometimes, frivolous. Or perhaps, as one commentator put it perfectly, fashion is simply the fetishisation of something we all have to do in order not to die of exposure.

Thanks to the Guardian staff for being helpful and courteous throughout. I hope you enjoyed reading the article, and the comments, as much as I did.

VOTE FOR STYLEEAST IN THE COMPANY MAGAZINE BLOG AWARDS HERE

FOLLOW STYLEEAST ON TWITTER HERE

In good Company

Before we get down to business and discuss the Company Style Awards, let's just pause for a second on this wild ensemble.  From pastel curls to red creepers with clashing green socks - with fur and spikes aplenty inbetween - it just screams 'I don't give a you-know-what'.  Possibly one of my favourite street style spots ever, and totally sums up why I shoot where I do as, on Brick Lane, as this chap demonstrates, anything goes.  And somewhere within me is a proper photographer just dying to get out who loves the light that creeps across the graffitied walls in the late afternoon.

So, yes Company magazine.  Guess what!  Yours truly has been nominated in the first ever Style Blogger Awards, in both the street style and overall best blog categories.  To say I'm chuffed and surprised would be a serious understatement.  It's an absolute honour to be sharing the longlist with some of the best bloggers around, not to mention for a magazine that I not only read (honest) but have a lot of respect for because of the way they recognise and promote the importance of blogging in fashion in this day and age.  Good luck to all the nominees, and if you want to give a little blog from the backstreets of east London a chance, you can vote for me here

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN FOLLOW STYLEEAST ON TWITTER AND SEE ME TALKING A LOT OF CRAP ABOUT DR DRE AND TEXTS FROM BENNETT AND OTHER SUBJECTS IN MOST WAYS UNRELATED TO THIS BLOG - HERE  

Glasgow smile

No, I don't mean this (warning - it's gross) type of Glasgow smile, but an actual one, on a lovely smiley lady from actual Glasgow.  It certainly brightened my day, so much so that I didn't even notice that amazing pastel topknot at first. I've yet to take my first east London streetstyle shot of 2012 (failed to shoot today, I blame the gin), but stay tuned...