Bloggers

The Convenience Store




No sooner has one caught one’s breath after the razzmatazz of fashion weeks left, right and centre does launch season begin with a zillion different shop openings, high summer previews and A/W press days. In the fortnight ahead I have another Joseph shop relaunch to attend (poor me), press days for Harvey Nichols, Paul Smith, Lulu Guinness, Swarovski, Blow PR and so on and so forth. That’s not including the flood of invitations set to arrive next week for the rest of the press days or the Fashion Business Club talk with Alexandra Shulman I’m attending on 26th March.

On Thursday night it all kicked off with the launch of the clever new pop-up shop by The Convenience Store. The Convenience Store is taking a three-week sabbatical from its home in West London (next door neighbours to Rellik vintage store to be exact) and has taken up residence in the chi-chi environs of the St Martins Lane hotel.

What caught my eye? Ooh, where to start? Wonderful shoes by Camilla Skovgaard (those are her legs and sexy shoes below. If you think they look hot, you should see her face!), raunchy Pam Hogg catsuits, T-shirts and credit-crunch-friendly mugs, sequinny sportswear by Sophie Hulme, lots of lovely Ann-Sofie Back and A.F Vandevorst and plenty of Gareth Pugh including a ventilated armour dress which one commentator was overheard unkindly referring to as looking ‘like an airconditioning unit’, meow!

Everyone was networking like crazy – I have never been given so many business cards – and bemoaning the state of the industry. It was quite nice in a way as everyone is in the same boat and not bothering to hide it. There was a good flow of champagne, much gossip and laughter and a great procession of fashiony characters including Fred Butler, a rosy vision in head-to-toe pink, Pam Hogg, Steven Rellik, various mums-of-designers and handsome blogger Pelayo with the most perfect quiff ever. Topics of conversation: Blogging, men in skirts, Twilight the movie, Starlight Express the musical, soulful house clubs, street parties, press day goody bags and the price of toothpaste. You can’t buy toothpaste at The Convenience Store but you’re in for a treat if you’re after cutting edge, collectable fashion.

The Convenience Store is at the Front Room at The St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St Martin’s Lane, WC2 from March 19th-April 9th

www.theconveniencestorefashion.co.uk








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Dashing Tweeds




Oh how I love a good coincidence. When I was doing my reporter’s stint at London Fashion Week, I happened upon a jazzily outfitted dandy-type outside the mens shows. He let me take his photo and we got chatting. It turns out this tweed-attired fellow was a photographer and our paths had in fact crossed briefly before. He told me he was now dabbling in design and handed me his business card. “Dashing Tweeds?!” I exclaimed (as that was the name of his business), “No way!” My boyfriend D is a big fan of Dashing Tweeds and we’re both regular visitors to the blog, we just didn’t realise who was behind it.

Dashing Tweeds is a brilliantly innovative modern tweed company which was set up by Guy Hills (he of the dandyish attire) and RCA graduate Kirsty McDougall. Hills wanted to do something new and interesting with tweed and discovered textile designer McDougall while visiting the RCA. A keen cyclist, one of Hills’ innovations is a reflective tweed called Lumatwill that means you can cycle to work in a suit without having to grapple with reflective jackets, tabards or sashes. Another is the tweed cycling trouser that has adjustable hems and another is my favourite – the teflon-coated tweed tailored cape, as modelled below by Iris Palmer. Dashing Tweeds is starting to get a lot of recognition but Hills is extremely low key. Despite having created that purple tartan for Henry Holland last autumn and Dashing Tweeds’ suits being sold in Savile Row, there is no hint of ego or arrogance in this affable character.

An ecommerce site is currently under construction so I predict we will be hearing a lot more about Dashing Tweeds. In the meantime, check out the blog, it’s brilliant!






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The Sartorialist for Barneys?



An interesting article on Scott Schuman AKA The Sartorialist in the Times magazine last Saturday. The bit I liked most? This bit:

‘To launch the Sartorialist book there will be a pop-up shop in Barneys New York (“The Sartorialust,” he says, “selling great accessories that really define a look. A great watch, great pyjamas, great suspenders…”)’ – although Fashionista points out that this hasn’t actually been confirmed yet. Still, it does tie in nicely with my retail experience fantasy of stores having specially-curated areas by guest ‘buyers’, so if it does happen at Barneys, maybe it would happen in other stores…

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An interview with Miss Manicure, Sophy Robson




I met nail artist Sophy Robson at fashion week when I tried to get a photo of her beehive. Sadly the photos were terrible but we had a nice chat about nails and nail art. Later, she agreed to be interviewed…

How did you become a nail artist?
My love of hip hop and music inspired me to be more glam…

What inspires your work?
Making nails the focus without becoming ridiculous.

Favourite photographers to work with?
Solve Sundsbo, Mert & Marcus, Matt Irwin, Alasdair McLellan. Craig McDean was cool but I only worked with him once.

Favourite photographers you would like to work with?
Terry Richardson, David Lachapelle, Juergen Teller, Steven Meisel. I also love Camilla Akrans. Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin were the kings of nail photography but obviously I realise they are no longer with us…

Maddest shoot?
There have been tears, jokes, nudity! And lots and lots of waiting patiently and not so patiently involved over the years. Discussing pubic hair diamante decorations with Tom Ford is a memory I will cherish for ever. And a shoot for Harrods with David Bailey when the ring fell off the model’s finger into the pond in Regents Park. Funny afterwards but not at the time. I also worked for Rolex and was trying to do a perfect manicure in the Libyan desert on a plastic mat and a cardboard wall as my dressing room…

What nail look are you rocking right now?
I have long classic oval natural nails – I cannot wear polish when I am working every day. On my pedicure I have magenta purple.

Who makes the best nail polish?
Essie. I also love the colours of this brand Uslu Airlines but you can only buy it at Colette in Paris.

What’s your secret to a long-lasting manicure?
Prepping the nail plate and using good base and top coat – you can get away with any brand with correct application.

Should you match fingers and toes?
These days there are no rules to beauty….

Which model has the nicest nails?
Natasha Poly and Linda Evangelista.

THE GALLERY:





Read Sophy’s Paris and London Fashion Week adventures here and see more of her work here…

[Pics: www.streeterslondon.com, www.sophyrobson.com]

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