All I want for Christmas...

... Is a nice, sensible coat from one of the new (well, relatively new to my radar) wave of cool, understated French brands*, such as these little numbers from The Kooples and Sandro; and a new Lomography (worran INCREDIBLE brand) camera to help build the collection I can soon see myself amassing, like this multilens one. I already have the Holga camera and received the Fisheye as a birthday gift last year (remember me showing you the results?). I'm excited about more photographical adventures to come.

So that's a good coat and a good camera please Santa. Come to think of it, some slippers would also be good. And then of course pjs. Ooh, and I could really do with some new, music sound quality-enhancing headphones... the WISHLIST really is never-ending in fact. It would seem I didn't in fact return from my late November trip to India** as unmaterialistic as I thought!

I am also super excited, as always, about seeing the faces of others as they open what I have wrapped and ready for them under the tree.

But of course, Christmas, and this time of year, is really all about quality time with family and loved ones, reflecting, giving thanks... and far too much fine food. (oh, the food).

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. Enjoy. I'm off to enjoy some eggnog prepared by le sister.


*more of which to come
**more of which also to come... ok, first official New Year's resolution: BLOG MORE

The colour-popping Lomography multilens camera
Check out the awesome results from the Lomography site, where people post the fruits of their with-camera adventures.

Manteau, by Sandro. French-designed, navy blue, exclusively sleeved in leather: what more could a girl want in a coat?!

The Perfect Duffle

Oh Alexa

Daria...

Oh the enviably never-ending limbs, the off-duty model style perfection, the Scandinavian platinum locks and porcelain skin... my muse of the moment ('scouted' by Leah): DARIA. Remember the name.

p.s. To Daria: I can only apologise for how long it's taken me to share with you the results of our festival photoshoot. I'll be surprised if you havn't, by now, given up on Muse du Jour... if not however, get in touch and let me know what you think of your shots!

Ridiculously Overdue LOVEBOX street style

No one is more disgusted than I at the lame overdueness of my select Lovebox Festival style gems. Trips to Canada, France, Londontown-jaunts and general summer frolicking... as well, of course, as WORK (boo), comprise the list of excuses.

I very much hope however that both my stylish young subjects and elite posse of Muse du Jour followers don't mind too much, and that it was worth the wait... East-London style bruv

Hot...European...Models... Quite simply a different breed.

Spotted this lovely girl looking exceedingly cool, hanging out taking in some Santigold (whose set by the way was increds) with her boyfriend.

I adore this look: feminine flirty dress toughened up with a trusty leather jacket and teamed with tomboy trainers, that really add some hipster edge.

The Kicks close-up... also, as she was kind enough to share with me, with 'Iggy' and 'Pop' embroidered inside each. Hip AND customised. I like le way this girl rolls.
I may have been inspired to tap into the girls in trainers trend. Very Eliza Doolittle.

I knew when I spotted these two cuties at Glasto 2010 that feather headdresses were gonna be BIG on the festival circuit. This lovely lady pulls it off with panache (and extra style points for the gothic lippie)

I want this FUR

Kelis-alike, rocking some off the chain (ahem) shades

LOVEBOX

Coming soon: Lovebox festival's stylish young things. Watch this space.

DJ Melvin Green

Currently up on a SoundCloud with the latest mix by DJ Melvin Green... remember the name.

Funky ones by melvin green

Lucasz Wierzbowski for Urban Outfitters

Now THIS... is my type of fashion photography.
Lucasz clearly hails from the same school of photography as Tim Walker.

Get me in a printed teadress and race me to a flowerbed.

Urban outfitters: championing creative talent and always on the money.

Vanessa Bruno

For when I need inspiration... drums in the forest and colourful dancing, holi-festival style. All in impeccably Gallic-chic threads.



How beyond cute is Lou Doillon. Head over heels in love.



Fashion showcased in nature: winner.

Marais

I always believed myself to be more of a clothing gyal than a shoe-fetisher, but recent postings would suggest otherwise. A recent blog-gazing session lead me to this cute little website that I'm now obsessed with: Marais USA. The brainchild of two impeccably-tasted American natives who, having spent a summer living in the Marais district of Paris whilst students at Parsons School of Design in New York, were inspired to create their own label of selling perfectly delectable as well as practical shoes for the stylish girl.

The Marais USA blog is a lovely little read and I adore that the label, as evidenced by the website, has embraced the muse ideology in their Marais Girls concept, which features the girls behind the label, who clearly represent the buyer demographic and are the perfect brand ambassadors. Discovering these girls' personalities via this feature and seeing how they put their own style stamp on the items, makes them all the more covetable.

Check out the website's great displays.

I've spent an unhealthy portion of my Saturday lusting after both the Mary-Jane Bow and the Cross-Strap Flat pumps in beige (a chic, goes-with-everything, alternative to black that I've hereby decided I must invest in).

They're so pretty and practical to boot. I love how they remind me of shoes you might have worn to school when you were like 5 years old. The cute little details like ankle straps tied with a buckle at the side- timeless.

And it would seem they ship to the UK... dangerous.

Sunshine-induced Wishlist

With the sun being out in all it's glory this weekend, my thoughts have turned to my summer wardrobe wishlist.
A few coveted items:
1. These simply delectable Charlotte Olympia 'Tutti Frutti' pumps- I think even just for the name I would love these (takes me right back to eating ice cream in summer with my Dad when I was little), but then they have the looks to match- look at them! Fruit-tastic. The beauts are competing on my fantasy wishlist (sigh) with the Prada Made In India woven multicoloured numbers already lusted over today below. These have been on my radar for a little while, since seeing some incredible campaign shots (interestingly, styled by the talented Valentine Fillol Cordier, style muse du jour)and now they're finally available at Matches
2. A pair of denim and/or (preferable the former) coloured cut-off shorts. The denim pair are by Ksubi, a brand founded by two Australian punk-rock surfers and the red pair by Maje, one of the recent exodus of cool Parisian brands, both of which I was excited to recently discover (a tad behind the fash pack I suspect!). Serious summer-wardrobe-staple potential.
3. A nice bright blue nail polish, like Topshop's Limited Edition 'Zenith' shade. After falling in love with my new Illamasqua orange lipstick I thought it's only right and proper that I roll with it as regards summer beauty brights.

All ideally to be worn together with a peasant-style floaty top and lovely wide-rimmed straw sunhat. I love wishlists.

from the Charlotte Olympia S/S 2011 campaign

Prada Made In India

Prada's Made In India range combines, with aplomb, two things close to my heart: India and fashion artisanship. I've always been completely awe-inspired at the sheer talent of India's craftsmen on family trips back to the motherland, which instils in me such pride in my heritage.

The items in the Made In campaign have been produced using traditional techniques, materials and craftsmanship from the world over.
India: clothing made using Chikan (an ancient embroidery technique that my Mum's been wearing for years), PUMPS (want, want, want) and bags conjured up using an age-old method of weaving fabrics. Peru: items of wool knitwear using peruvian 'campesinos'. Japan: jeans from world's most sophisticated denim manufacturer. Scotland: trad tartan wool knits.

Applaud to Mario Prada, Miuccia's grandfather, for scouring the globe to seek out the very best of global artisanship and to the ever-forward-thinking Miuccia for championing it today in this way.

Meeting the Made In India ballerina flats, pump-to-face, in Selfridges' beautiful Shoe Lounge only confirmed to me, in my day-dreaming little mind: I want these ballerinas on my feet right now please. Absolute beauties.

PRADA

Post-Valentine's Day Valentine in Erdem

As well as marvelling at the beautiful yellow and orange roses and white chocolate and lemon truffles my Valentine presented me with ealier this week (I heart my sister) I was also 'ahh'-ing over my latest style muse: VALENTINE Fillol Cordier (she's French, naturellement), modelling my latest label muse: ERDEM, in this cute little video.



So romantic and whimsical- makes me too want to prance around the house in divine prints, posing to my heart's content, ideally barefoot and twirling around with daisy chains in my hair.

Just Dreamy

Current obsessions: ballet and dreamy videos/ photography. Ah ah, wow.
Thank you Opening Ceremony.
(Also obsessing over Chloe Sevigny's new collection for OC: nothing new there then).

Pas de Deux Coda from Opening Ceremony on Vimeo.