SHABBY BUT CHIC

Generally when people think of Religion they tend to think of All Saints; drapey, maybe even gothy and always selling a regurgitated version the same old thing. However when I went to the IPR press day I discovered Religion was luxurious, innovative and highly covetable. The ripped and fraying pieces caught my eye the most, especially the coral dress ripped all the way to the bottom. They have touched upon the beauty of destroyed and demolished clothing that is very visually appealing.

I'll be running into that store on Shoreditch High St as soon as S/S stocks!

The Damir Doma - 'Silent' line also took my fancy with prices as low as £29 for a distressed tank top! I adore Damir Doma but they're mainline prices are way too pricey for me. 

The Silent collection is currently stocked online at oki-ni and Oak, but I can't wait for the S/S collection to hit the stores, especially those shoes!

Edun was another designer venturing on the DIY laddering and knotting front at the Exposure press day. My favourite piece of all had to be the navy blue jumper laddered all over and accented with gold rings. Made in Africa with the mission to encourage trade to the country, Edun is eco-luxurious whilst still having that important 'cool' factor. Smart tailoring, perforated leather and easy to wear white drawstring shirts all caught my eye. 

Rounding up with my current major style crush, Tiffany Hsu wearing her Prada jumper.

As often happens on the blogosphere images get copied and pasted and the original photographer is lost. If anyone's knows who snapped these I'd be grateful to know.

Do It Yourself or buy in stores next S/S, it's up to you but I am completely obsessed with this trend. I think i'll be trying it myself and when that fails it will just about be time to buy it in stores!

KATIE EARY X LONSDALE

The first press day of the week was Exposure on Little Portland St. I was so pleased to see Katie Eary's rail as I had completely missed the presentation at London Fashion Week, despite a tipsy Wolfwhistle telling me I had to come over immediately and see the er-hem, collection!

Katie Eary has teamed up with Lonsdale and the outcome is the mashing of 1950's boxer with Katie's hard edged British punk vibe; jewel encrusted boxing helmets, leopard print and tartan galore with some very vicious looking studded shorts. My favourite piece was the tartan shirt which to my delight when turned around had a pleated skirt back. Hoping i'll see it turn up in her online shop very soon.

I also found this previously unseen (by me) video though VOLT mag this morning. It features Katie's A/W 10/11 collection running wild in London's "Lost Quarter" the Heygate Estate .

Directed by Hidden

Music by Burial

Vintage with East of Eden

Last Saturday I was invited on a little Vintage shopping excursion with Emma, star of the Summer Glaceau Vitamin Water campaign; "show your vits". Blog crew and Paul Valentine from Exposure PR met with Emma for brunch at the Nude cafe just off Brick Lane.

After much fun drinking tea, hearing all about Emma's new Vintage shop 'East of Eden' and gabbing all the latest blog gossip, we headed over to Brick Lane to start hunting for treasures.

Isn't she a beauty? All the ads feature real people (you may have seen these ads as you descend into the depths of the tube) and have been picked based on the brand personality. Emma is Miss Revive - "a party girl with a twinkle in her eye, she is often hitting the tiles in her 1940s get up, painting the town red - specifically east london, where she runs a club night!"

She is also a university lecturer, vintage shop queen AND afro-cuban choir singer! Wowzaaa what a star! Her vintage shop 'East of Eden' will be opening on Balls Pond Rd in Hackney, Ldn. I can't wait!

I'm afraid this isn't the best picture, but it does show the whole crew, and Emma's insanely awesome outfit.

From left to right we have Amy from Wolf Whistle, Leigh from Style Canteen, Cyrenea from Freak Delux, Emma 'East of Eden', Charlotte from Style Cartel and Paul from Exposure PR.

Alexxsia from My Labyrinth was with me too!

I must say that Paul told us that he would be wearing a purple jumper and would be easy to spot, so we went right up to a guy in purple at the nude cafe and introduced ourselves, turned out not to be Paul. Cringe!

In Hanbury Hall Vintage Market where I bought a few treasures.

So wanted this emerald green velvet dress! It wouldn't even slip past my hips, boo!

Totally awesome bag in the Brick Lane indoor market, the bag flap was two uncut raw pieces of leather, very Ann D!

Incredibly beautiful 1940's pink crepe maxi, I wanted to try it on but I got my hand slapped just for touching it. Woops!

Anything that delicate isn't for wearing.

We finished off at a shop selling Vintage by the Kilo round by the bus stop (Really don't know my way around London yet!), it was pretty manic in there but I managed to pick out a nude skirt (was totally on the hunt after seeing a girl in a floor length nude skirt), brown leather lazer cut belt and few silk tops. All for £6!

The lace silk shirt was my favourite buy of all, the lace goes up the sleeves and down the back, a really rare find. I've always wanted a cute russian fur hat too!

My Topshop bag came today! I'm definately happy with my decision. It's beautiful and brown suits me down to the ground.