Eclectic Uniform

londannn - 1 of a kind

If to admit the truth, as a biggie London enthusiast, I only deeply realised how beautiful the historic city is a few days ago. The major factor was that the symbolic british weather hasn't inhabited the country for over a fortnight in lieu replenished by the sizzling sun that affectingly caused a few fashion obstacles (a) I'm a modest person and likes to be covered up b) A isn't possible as its too warm to be wearing coats, cardigans, layers etc c) I don't own many non-winter garments) which I did overcome. So on that note, I'm sure your all dying to see what I wore for such a negative mind against that big fire ball in the sky that provides us with life...

Here is me and Pearl attempting our SICCKKKKKKKKKK HOLY poses behind a door neighbouring the SICKKKKKKKKKK World's End boutique in the bona fide affluent area of Kensington & Chelsea (I envy the people who are lucky enough to resident there) I wore the tiney winey 70s bomber jacket with navy and teal paneling, All Saints breton t-shirt, Valentino X Gap ruffle trousers and my trusty Office boots (I always wear these boots when I go to London as I'm not brave enough to in Wilmslow *weeping) and don't bother questioning Pearl's...you know its Westwood. 

Our first destination on Pearl's extremely beautifully planned...plan is the cultured uber cool (borderline overrated) area of Notting Hill where finding a toilet is extremely ambiguously challenging and home to a magical shop where some of the most phenomenal pieces are hiding - 1 of A Kind (according to this months Vogue the emporium has a new online website). It's name really does speaks for itself, We were buzzed into the beloved Aladins cave from the hustle-bustle of the tourist filled street on a hot Saturday afternoon. Surrounded by awesome clothes, clothes fucking everywhere, side to side and right above you. I was beginning to question the irrelevant fact that will I walk out of this dreamy place with out a 1920s tassel jabbed into my eye or a similar type of scenario. Jeff (the owner) was running late so we were shown around the immense appointment only room by one of his fellow laid-back colleagues as a matter of a fact is a freshman at Central Saint Martins studying Graphics. 

All four of us (Pearl, ME, Rich and Jen) wriggled into the brimming room (and fellow I thought the BFC tent at LFW was a tight squash) and in a place like that, you really don't know where to look.....

*****CHANEL BAG GALORE*****

Abundance of contemporary, retro and old Chanel bags, (I favored the massive one...which was about 1 metre in width) One off pieces from Ossie, Paco and Westwood; Speaking of Vivienne Westwood, Jefferson Ihenacho is in fact a personal collector (rumor has it he has his own warehouse full of it!) of Vivienne and John Galliano who are both tremendously iconic british designers. My favourite piece was an early Westwood clutch, Cut in an odd shape in the most supple crimson leather with an edging of tassel and two caricature features (an eye and smackers) that winked/blew a kiss when walking. I adored it mainly because I haven't seen anything like it...the only thing that comes to mind is those crappy 3-D bookmarks with unrealistic moving images of polar bears or stallions.

****THIS RAIL ABOVE - ALL CHANEL*****

To be honest this place is heaven to the trained eye, Prices range mostly £1000+ It ain't cheap but you have consider that most of the stock is archived in this shop to be rented out for photoshoots or glamorous events, I picked out an Issey Miyake crumpled top and was told that it was worn by Lana Del Ray for German Interview Magazine. The majority of the battered VW shoes that covered the carper were pre-owned by Pete Burns and every fashionista & designer imaginable has visited to buy to wear or for inspiration. 

Thanks 1 of A Kind for letting me visit your radical boutique! The ratio of my next post (after the ohh so important patriotic Jubilee post) will be 8:2 World's End and Alfies Antique Market.

 

Lawrence

 

cornerhouse + moonshine kingdom (art teacher hate)

OMG THIS MOVIE IS THE MOST ADORABLE FILM I'VE SEEN IN AGES! I JUST SUGGEST TO YOU AND GO AND SEE IT! (save me on the writing) Set in the 1965 in the middle of nowhere about a boy scout and an emotionally unstable girl go camping together - Reminded me of the Peter Jensen collection! OK so here is why I haven't been blogging for 6 WHOLE DAYS! SIX! Please scroll down.......

This is my art teacher, For many reasons I had to conceal her identity so for this post she will be called Jessie J. I didn't take this picture of her btw, I found it on my camera so I'm presuming Camera Girl couldn't resist the chance of snapping photos. This woman gives me SO SO SO MUCH COURSEWORK AND DOESN'T MARK IT! (Irritates me as I could of used that time wisely to improve it however she demands it in) Not to mention the characteristics about her (You can point'em out for yourself but *table + boobs)  so I haven't been able to blog for a bit, Hopefully tomorrow it will all be back in the norm routine. I will be discussing about Notting Hill's most famous vintage shop - 1 of a Kind. 

 

Lawrence

welcome to the moviesssss

Short films have become a major part of the fashion world, Its one step into to making a designer label into a international brand. From coffee table books to competitions; Every little helps! But my main focus will be videos that have caught my eye recently. 

PRADA - A THERAPY

 

This is favourite short films at the moment, Its so simple! Who doesn't want to try on an amazing coat when your in a boutique or walking past a chic person on the street. It definitely better than Karl's handy work! Helena Bonham Carter is probably my favourite "older" actress so I will give a 10/10 for that. Though I'm very disappointed that Prada chose Roman Polanski to direct this film....you know...the paedophile who fled his own country so he wasn't put in prison. 

 

HOUSE OF HOLLAND - SUPERGA COLLABORATION

 

One of my favourite video effects is this one, very common on the west-end stage and WILL.I. AM X Cheryl Cole heart-breaker music video. Such a fun way of things look like they're floating! The music is pretty catchy too and I find it funny how it sounds like the N word at the end. I can't say the same for the actual product though, I can't decide if I'm liking this. I might considering wearing the polka-dot platforms though as I will say to myself 'Its Comme Des Garcons!'

 

OPENING CEREMONY - S/S PART 3

 

Who doesn't want to be forced to smile, then thrown out of a Parisian building, turn into a lifeless sex doll, back into a normal human and tell your husband/boyfriend/friend that he's a scumbag! 

Lawrence

 

 

admiration for saddle shoes & hermes scarfs

Behold my dainty yet without a doubt worn-out saddle shoes, I don't believe saddle shoes have ever had their illustrious paddle in the pool of mainstream fashion especially in the fast-pace world we live in today. That may seem like a rare thing in our society (society I mean the young people and some adults) where everyone puts blood, sweat and tears into attempting to be edgy, different and unique - SPECIAL!!!!! To me the saddle shoes style elicits that 1950s school gurl look....you know; smooth hair washed, combed and hair-sprayed to perfect, sweet candy-floss plaid prom dress decorated with an embroidery of a cute poodle, bare legs with pastel lace socks frequenting in a groovy diner/rollerblading club/bowling alley. 

 

I can imagine Marina Diamondis rocking a pair of monochrome oxfords with her new identity......she ain't no vintage cartoon varsity jacket collector anymore. She is a big-boobied, americana prom dress wearing queen who needs re-touching on her roots ASAP! My favourite song off the album is entitled The State of Dreaming - I like it as it reminds me of High School Musical, A song you would sing at the climax of a....high school musical play. WE'RE SOARRRRRIN' FLYINNG THERE'S NOT A STAR IN HEAVEN THAT WE CAN'T REACCCCCHHH! (breaking free if any of you want to join my karaoke) The only problem I find with saddle shoes is that the fundamental sole is SHITE! Not only that this problem reoccurs with every pair of saddle shoes I can find! I'm presuming that the footwear is meant to last a month or two. My next venture to find a quality pair is to buy the Dr Martens verison but I can imagine I will get more of a steam punk finish than a squeaky clean school gurlll.  

*********HOT*********

My next love affair is with sexy Hermes silk scarfs, This one in particular is my grandmother's jardin scarf. I believe this one is very collectible as Hermes have released a fragrance called Un Jardin Apres La Mousson using the same print on the box. I also have my own scarf from the indian collection which I bought myself in 2009, The only problem is....I CAN'T FIND IT! I will find is someday anyway back to my love of hermes sick silk, I absolutely adore the print, texture, hand-rolled stitches of an Hermes scarf. No wonder Miranda Priestly and Clarisse the Queen of Genovia (both fictional characters!) are die-hard fans. I was bored today so I took some pictures of myself modelling both an Hermes scarf and a 2012 TEAM GB Olympics t-shirt! 

WHY DO I LOOK REALLT BAD IN THESE PHOTOS (skin, hair and face wise?!) O WELL #YOBO

 

Lawrence

OMG I FORGOT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMES! 175 years is a very long long time 

ossie clark lamborghini jacket

WAHHHH :'( ! - This is what is going through my head when I think about the Ossie Clark jacket, I'm slightly glad its gone; It was absolutely tiny and would require a lot of TLC to keep it going considering its over 50 years old. But still I feel empty handed even though I'm guaranteed £300-£500 from Kerry Taylor's own trusted words. In my eyes Ossie Clark is a genius, His use of print, cut and colour made him a major figure in the swinging sixties period in London. 

Clark's pieces were usually layered, floaty, romantic in the most bold materials such as chiffon, snakeskin, silk and crepe. He used a special ruler shaped in a circle brought back from a wonderland holiday in India as a template for all his dress designs, It would flute out with a biased cut giving that fluid drapey cut he was praised for; Most of his garments fitted in key places so you couldn't wear a bra nor panties. He told Marianne Faithfull when she questioned him on one of his designs (most likely the one Emma Watson wore) "You're meant to be able to lift your dress up and pull down the top and have sex anywhere" Sophisticated yet practical???? 

In the early years he began designing at Quorum in 1965, His stuff wasn't affordable - His clientele included names such as Twiggy, Penelope Tree, Marianne Faithfull, Talitha Getty, Bianca Jagger, Jean Shrimpton, Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minnelli not to mention the uber cool aristocrats of the King's Road. But after getting into serious debt he had to collaborate with Radley to produce a cheaper line. Sadly Ossie was stabbed to death by his ex-lover in 1996 (my birth year!) but his style still lives on and influences many designers of the present. 

Today there is still a large demand for his hedonistic and darling style in luxurious vintage shops in London and LA. But there is a little thing on the internet, you may of heard of it. Its called Ebay and you can find pretty much anything! I bought the Ossie Clark jacket for under £150 (BARGAIN) but I can understand why I got it for such a low price. ITS FUCKING TINY! The only person who could wear that jacket was probably Twiggy. However though I couldn't fasten the pearl buttons at the waist, I felt like a million dollars - The smooth touch of satin, the eye-catching print; Totally understood why so many people describe his clothes as exquisite. 

I should of took an outfit photo before it was packaged posted off to London for auction, But still thankful I have the shitty photos I took on my blackberry. I HAD to try it on when I came through my door so I could send glorious model pictures of myself (not including a duck face) to all my pals!!!! Its design is called a Lamborghini jacket famously after Twiggy was shot in the same style in a cream satin whilst getting out of a Lamborghini car. Ossie only created a handful of non-dress pieces and this piece was actually a part of a suit alas I only have the jacket :'( Mine is even rarer as its mainline Ossie Clark cut in a beautiful chinese print. Its form-fitting silhouette and diagonally placed pockets accent the waist and hips to give that skinny-yet-shapely figure. 

I hope one day I will be reunited with a Lamborghini jacket (or even a suit) that I can fit into comfortably but at the meanwhile at least I've tried a piece of his work. For all of you guys who want to invest in his work I suggest Ebay but any high-end vintage shop will have some Ossie Clark pieces in. 

 

Lawrence