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INDIVIDUAL STYLE UNITED SPIRIT COMPETITION

Wearing: Dior sunglasses, Aquascutum shirt, Charlie May skirts, Dr Martens leather tote and shoes

I've teamed up with one of my favourite brands Dr Martens to run a style competition celebrating INDIVIDUAL STYLE UNITED SPIRIT. I'm representing the heels range, which actually I've never gone for before now, but I'm loving these slip on loafers! The slimline leather tote has been used every day since I got it too, it's perfect for fitting in an extra jacket, notebooks and even ferrying half made garments to and from the studios! 

To enter the competition all you have to do is post a photograph of yourself in your 'Dr Marten's style' to twitter or instagram, making sure you @charliemay and @drmartens #FIRSTANDFOREVER. I will be choosing the winner, so feel free to butter me up all you like.  

The winner will receive £500 to spend on DrMartens.com and an all expenses paid trip to the original factory with me on 8th October! 

I'm really looking forward to seeing your outfits; I'll be picking the winner on September 10th, good luck everyone!

How much of a serious girl crush does everyone have on Alice Dellal? Such a perfect face for Dr Marten!

TRANSITIONING

Wearing: DESA pony leather jacket, 2nd Day tank, Ann Demeuelemeester skirt, Chloe sandals, Miu Miu sunnies

Autumn is apparently here and I'm finding the best thing is to carry a leather jacket with me everywhere. My favourite at the moment is this minimal black leather jacket by DESA, with some not-so-minimal lace print on the front actually made out of laser cut pony leather! 

LOCK AND CHAIN

Wearing: MOOD by me shirt, Bond Hardware necklace (currently on sale HERE), Acne trousers and boots.

Sometimes a series of detail shots is just better than one full outfit. Especially when in this instance I seemed to be pulling a funny face in every picture! I guess I was just giddy after the Sanderson spa experience - which is where I'm stood outside of. Hello fresh skin! Wearing a shirt that I customised myself online via MOOD by me - you choose a garment and then can customise colour, fit, length, everything! I always wanted a navy shirt with black detailing, worn here with a more S&M vibe necklace from BOND hardware. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my blog yesterday - 4 years old! Thank you to all my wonderful readers, I never imagined I could have achieved so much in this last 4 years and I'm so happy that I have you all to share it with. Here's to 4 more!

Pictures by Lexxi 

TABI

Wearing: Alexander Wang shirt, Ann Demeulemeester skirt, Margiela tabi boots

I finally got my hands on some tabi boots! I was a little worried as Margiela only goes up to a 7/40 (WHY), but they actually fit well. They're leather on the inside so I'm sure they'll stretch out a little too. The white leather tabi's are still on my list for dreamy-all-in-white-outfits, but I think these brown hessians will get a lot more wear. Perfect transitional Summer to Autumn boots! 

MATT VS SHINE

New in: Graphic matt and shine clutch by Kzeniya, now available to buy in Selfridges. My bag collection has been growing rapidly as of late, I seemed to have clutches in every colours except black, and the two finishes won me over - perfect addition! 

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Apologies for the lack of posts as of late, if you follow me on Instagram (@girlalamode) you'll be seeing sneak peaks of my SS13 collection! So exciting, and only 17 days to go!

SUSHI DATES IN SOHO

Sitting here editing these photos has made me so hungry! Last week Lexxi introduced me to Ukai Sushi; just down the road from her work, she goes regularly for a bite and was the perfect partner to order all the best dishes on the menu. 

It all looked so good and we sat there hungrily eyeing up everyone else's dishes, until we decided to go for a mix of sushi and hot plates, washed down with some miso soup and a bottle of their sweet homemade Sake! The sushi was out of this world and I'm pretty sure I'm hooked, next time I'm in central I'll be heading back here to catch Lex on one of her impromptu lunches! 

A NEW STANDARD OF ACCESSORY

This week I discovered new London based accessories label, KITE. Specialising in leather, their designs are minimal and clean with a strong focus on texture and material - a label after my own heart, I'm sure you know. 

Kite was founded by designers Sally Kite and Grace Eden who between them have worked for Meadham Kirchoff, Halston and Marios Schwab, and despite only being around for one season, are already stocked at Shine in Hong Kong, and Darkroom. The edgy design of the mohawk clutches strike me as something I'd be gawking at walking around somerset house at fashion week or on the street; whilst the wallets and card holders are keeping it clean and classic in beautiful python and pony leathers. 

What can I say, other than I need to get my hands on all of it?

THE BOX

Wearing: Ann Sofie Back coat layered over Limi Feu jacket, Edun shirt, Moxham Eygypt necklace, Acne trousers, Jack Purcell Converse, Dagmar and Helmut Lang bracelets

Whilst this outfit may seem a little extreme for the nice weather we're sort of having at the moment, this is the kind of look you get used to in London; warm if the weather turns mean and easily shed when the sun turns a smile. 

I love this new shirt by Edun, which is pretty much just a square with a collar attached, also the whole 'cocoon with some legs sticking out and walking around' look. Super comfortable and super layered. 

Photos by Jen 

WIN TICKETS TO FASHION WEEK WITH MOTILO!

How would you like to win a VIP trip to fashion week? One of my favourite websites, Motilo, have teamed up with Jonathan Saunders and will be streaming his SS13 show live from Motilo.com on 16th September! To celebrate, they've created one seriously amazing competition - A VIP trip to London Fashion Week  for two, plus accommodation in a swanky hotel and £1000 spending money!

To enter all you have to do is create your LFW look on Motilo and include LFW in the name. Even if you're not the lucky one, runner up still wins £500 or 5 x £100 to spend on designer brands in the Motilo shop! The lucky winners will be chosen on the 7th of September. Good luck everyone!

Find out more details and enter HERE!

CLAW ILLUSION

 Wearing: Aquascutum shirt, Acne shorts, Miu Miu sunglasses, MFP bracelet and Dominic Jones rings

I've been experimenting with more and more manicure variations of the DIY I posted last week. Absolutely in love with this one! Nude undercoat with black spiked tips. Almost gives the illusion of claws!  

I painted the nails nude first, then cut triangles out of masking tape, this time putting them further down the nail, towards the end, then painted over with black. Remove when dry and add top coat. 

In the mean time I've been working on my SS13 collection, so excited for fashion week in less than a month now! I also got myself a bicycle to zip around the city in. Took it out for it's first ride to the flower market yesterday! 

Thanks to Nathan and Kit for the photos! 

COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET

 There's no doubt that East London's Columbia Road flower market is the place to be on a Sunday, just a short walk away from Brick Lane's PUMA YARD, it hosts live music, a farmers market, coffee pit stops, cafe's and of course, the flower stalls overspilling with freshly cut or grown greenery. The sound of merchants trying to out shout each other is deafening as you walk down Columbia Road (GET YOUR ROSES £5 A BUNCH!), and always brings a smile to my face. 

For lunch I stopped by Printers and Stationers, an old printing workshop converted into an eatery just off the square where you can watch the buskers play, it's the perfect chill out spot for a beer a beer and pulled pork sandwich, as well as being just around the corner from the fresh Oyster bar. The flower market is open from 8am to 4pm on Sundays only.   

Helpful tip: turn up around 4pm, closing time, for bunches of flowers for £2 or £3!