Kusama Louis Vuitton Concept Store: Selfridges London

Hi Everyone,

On Saturday I went to London and visited Selfridges on Oxford Street to see the Kusama Louis Vuitton Concept Store because of my love of Marc Jacobs, the creative director of Louis Vuitton.

The Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has collaborated with Louis Vuitton to create a collection of clothes and accessories all containing Kusama’s signature polka dot pattern.

24 windows of the Selfridges store have been dedicated to the Kusama Louis Vuitton collection. Some contain very lifelike wax figures of Yayoi Kusama with one infront of a large revolving gold heart, some contain small dolls of Yayoi Kusama, some contain manikins sporting the collection and some windows have big bright gold letters and the dotty pattern.

 

 

 

Yayoi Kusama has lived in the open ward of a mental hospital in Japan and she commutes to her art studio every day. Marc Jacobs and Yayoi Kusama first met in 2006 and he has been a fan of her artwork for many years. He said “The obsessive character and the innocence of her artwork touch me.” Yayoi Kusama said that “Marc Jacobs’s sincere attitude towards art is the same as my own. I respect him as a wonderful designer. Louis Vuitton understands and appreciates the nature of my art. Therefore there isn’t much difference from my process of making fashion.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved the concept store at Selfridges. The outside display cases looked amazing with quotations in large gold letters and dots everywhere and the clothes and accessories on display look amazing and the store inside looks incredible too. When you walk into that small part of Selfridges it feels like you’ve been transported to a strange dotty wonderland full of amazing clothes and bags decorated with large white dotty pumpkins, a signature image of Kusama’s. Some of the dotty bags and scarves are to die for, if only I could afford them *sighs*.

 

 

The concept store will be open in Selfridges until the 19^th of October.

S x

Trip to London

Hi,

On Saturday I went on a quick trip to London for a fun day out filled with shopping and food with my family. I got the 8.35 train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston (this was early for me but we had to go this early so we could be in London for longer). When we got there we got the Victoria Line to Borough Market. We walked around the market looking at all the delicious food and treats available to buy and we ended up buying some tomato and onion focaccia, some chocolate brownies and some cinnamon doughnuts. The market had so many different stalls such as vegetable stalls, smoothie stalls, bread stalls, sweet stalls, cake stalls, sandwich stalls and many more. Once we were finished looking around Borough Market and admiring the view of the Shard we decided to go to Piccadilly.

Borough Market

Inside Borough Market

Tomatoes in Borough Market

The view of The Shard from Borough Market

We walked to Piccadilly and went to Burlington Arcade to make a quick stop at Laduree. I went in and was told off for taking a picture of the delicious macaroons on display by a snooty sales assistant (ooops, I don't know why no photography is allowed :/). I bought a box of 12 macaroons which of course tasted amazing however the shop at Burlington Arcade was very small and cramped and I didn’t like the sales assistant so I may have to visit a different Laduree shop when I next go to London.

The window of Laduree

Burlington Arcade

Outside Fortnum and Mason

Once I had been told off for taking pictures in Laduree we went to Fortnum and Mason, a fancy Department Store in Piccadilly. It was very nice inside there and there were some lovely window displays.
 
After a quick lunch break of takeaway Wasabi sushi in the park and a visit to a Nordic Bakery we walked to Soho. We looked in a few shops along Carnaby Street and then walked on to Wardour Street to visit the infamous Hummingbird Bakery. I have never been to the Hummingbird Bakery before but I have both their recipe books and it has been recommended to me by friends many times. I decided to get a red velvet cupcake to go. It came in a very cute box with a nice little bag to match. We then walked towards Oxford Circus and I spotted the new Victoria’s Secret store that opened a few days ago on Bond Street.

Carnaby Street



Hummingbird Bakery

Then we walked to Selfridges, one of my favourite department stores in the world. At the moment they have the Kusama Louis Vuitton concept store so I had to visit the store on Oxford Street. I love Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs (the creative director of Louis Vuitton) and this is the first time that Selfridges has dedicated all the display cases to one designer. I walked all around Selfridges admiring the jewellery section, the Kusama Louis Vuitton concept store (which was amazing), the makeup section, the shoe section, and the clothes section. We also went to the denim section because in Selfridges from the 20^th August to the 9^th of September there is a Destination Denim event which is “a store-wide programme of exciting denim action, including exclusive product launches, designer appearances, style advice and special events”. As I passed the denim section I spotted Paige Adams-Geller, the creator of Paige Denim, and Sarah Harris from Vogue. I also found out after I got home that Robbie Williams was launching his clothing line in Selfridges on the same day but I didn’t see him there. I had very limited time in Selfridges and had to leave a lot sooner than I wanted to in order to get back to Euston in time to get the train back to Manchester. By the time I had sat down with my bags in the Virgin First Class Lounge at Euston Station with my Diet Pepsi and mini bag of sour cream and chive Penn State Pretzels I was exhausted.

The Kusama Louis Vuitton Display at Selfridges

 

The Red Velvet Cupcake I got from The Hummingbird Bakery

Overall I had a great day in London and being there made me wish I lived there but I still love living in Manchester too.

S x

City Breaks: What to Pack

Hi Everyone,
During this summer I have been on a total of 4 city breaks so I decided to do a post on what to pack while on a city break.

1.     A Sturdy Bag.
A good bag is essential when going on a city break because you will probably need space to carry a large number of items such as a purse, sunglasses, your phone, camera, maybe MP3 player, makeup and anything else you may need during the day.
I like to take my DKNY bag because it can fit large amounts in but isn’t too bulky. Also there’s space in there to fit any items I may pick up along the way when shopping.

DKNY Patent Scarf Shopper - £135

 

2.     A Jacket.
I always carry a jacket with me when on a city break because usually you never know what the weather is going to be like during that day. If you have my luck with weather then you will definitely need a jacket as every city I visited this summer involved some sort of rain. A light black blazer or a denim jacket is usually a good option as they can be worn in all sorts of weather.

3.   Some comfortable (but stylish) shoes.
Comfy shoes are an essential when going on a city break. If you’re anything like me and shop or sightsee all the time in a city then you will probably do a lot of walking, which requires comfy shoes. In winter or autumn I usually wear Uggs on city breaks because they are warm and comfy but in summer and spring I usually take a few pairs of flats for the daytime. This summer I wore black ballet flats and some studded pointy flats. They were comfy to walk around in (most of the time) and looked good with all my outfits.

4.   Some uncomfortable (and of course stylish) shoes.
Heels are always an essential for a city break, especially in the evening when going to restaurants or clubs to make an outfit more formal.

5.   Wedges.
I like to take wedges on a city break because they can be worn in both the day time and night time and are also formal enough for an evening but casual enough for the daytime and they are also great for summer.

6.   Vest Tops.
Vest Tops are always a staple in my wardrobe no matter what season it is I always pack one wherever I go. Vest tops are good because you can wear them with some nice shorts if you are in a hot sunny climate or wear a blazer or cardigan or even another top over it in colder weather. Also you can pair it with most kinds of shorts, trousers, skirts, leggings etc. I love these Warehouse vest tops because they are flattering, comfortable, and relatively cheap and they come in loads of different colours.

Black Zip Vest - Warehouse - £14

7.   Scarves.
I always take a scarf on a city break because 1. I love scarves. 2. I always use them to accessorise an outfit. 3. Depending on the scarf you take they can be worn in different weather. Also if you take a big scarf it can also double as a blanket on a plane which means more room for magazine in your hand luggage.

8.   T Shirts.
A T Shirt usually comes in handy on a city break and they are light and don’t take up much room in the suitcase. I usually like to take a graphic T shirt on a city break as well as a plain cotton T shirt in different colours for a comfy and casual option.

9.   Jeans.
 Jeans are not usually the first item I would think of when going on holiday but on a city break jeans are useful to take with you. If you go on a really hot city break then you may not need jeans but you could take cropped jeans or even denim shorts (which are sort of like jeans). I really like Topshop Leigh skinny jeans because they are made from a thin material and they are really soft and comfy.

Leigh Supersoft Skinny Jeans - Topshop - £38

10.  Sunglasses.
I love to accessorise an outfit and I love sunglasses so I always take at least 2 pairs of sunglasses with me on a city break. I like to take different styles with me for example Ray Ban Wayfarers and aviators so that I have different styles to match different outfits. Even if you go on a city break in winter months there still might be some sun so it’s best to always be prepared.

11.  A nice Dress.
Always take a nice dress to wear on holiday as you never know when you might need one for a nice dinner or just a special outing. A simple black dress with an edge is usually a good choice as it is stylish and sophisticated yet different and not boring or plain. For example a black dress with gold embellishment or a black dress with a dipped hem. I really like this dress from Topshop and some nice jewellery and a pair of wedges would look great for a floaty summery look or put some tights on underneath and wear a blazer over the top with some black heels for a smart and sophisticated winter look.

Black Chiffon Dip Hem Dress - Topshop - £42

12.  A Cardigan.
I find it useful to take a cardigan with me wherever I go just in case it gets cold and rains (which usually happens to me wherever I go). A black cardigan will always match everything and can be comfy but also look good at the same time. Paired with a nice top and shorts or jeans it can really pull an outfit together. I like waterfall cardigans because they sort of look like blazers but are much comfier and warmer.

13.   A good pair of shorts.
Whether you like denim, linen or tailored shorts they are always a good idea on any break. Just because you aren’t lounging around on the beach doesn’t mean you have to leave the shorts at home. I love shorts so I have loads of different kinds. On city breaks I tend to take tailored shorts with me in black, to match with a colourful or patterned vest top, and a bright colour such as red, to match with all my black tops (which I have a lot of). If it’s warm you can show off your legs in the shorts but if it’s cold you can put a pair of tights on underneath.

14.  A Large Suitcase.
Definitely don’t forget the suitcase otherwise you’ll have nowhere to put all of this. I recommend taking a suitcase rather than just taking hand luggage on a plane because even though it usually costs extra it is usually worth avoiding stress over trying to fit all your things in your hand luggage, not being able to take any toiletries and trying to rummage through your suitcase at the airport all the time to find something important like money, passports and boarding cards.

S x

Beyonce: House of Dereon Ad Campaign

Hi,
I just thought I'd do a quick post on Beyonce's latest House of Dereon ad campaign. Beyonce has modelled for her and her mum's clothing line and the photos (and clothes) look stunning. In case you can't tell by this post I love Beyonce and her style and I basically think she is just incredible. I love the prints that she is wearing and the fact she is wearing black (my all time favourite clothes colour) and I love just how amazing she looks in these pictures.

S x

Vogue and Topshop Autumn/Winter '12 Preview

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday I went to a Vogue and Topshop event held at the Topshop in the Manchester Arndale. I managed to get a ticket after seeing an advertisement in Vogue a few months ago. I sent them an email with my details thinking that all the tickets would have been taken by then but a few days later I received an email saying I had a ticket and they would send me the invite a few weeks before the event. I couldn’t believe my luck.


The ticket

 So last night (22nd August 2012) I attended the event after a quick look at the new season H&M clothes and a quick visit to Tiffany’s and Selfridges. When I went into Topshop it just looked like any other day in Topshop except for A/W clothes instead of S/S so I decided to walk around and look at the clothes.

Then I made my way upstairs and saw huge queues and a vast amount of people where the accessories used to be so I decided to just stand in a queue and hope for the best. I managed to get in the queue to get into the sectioned off area so I showed my ticket and stood up at the back of the seats (all the seats were already taken). I was handed a glass of champagne and then the area began to fill up more and more. Then after a long wait Ginnie Fraser, British Vogue's Retail Editor, gave a presentation about A/W 12 trends and showed us different items available in Topshop. Some of the clothes she talked about were gorgeous such as a military jumper and a textured skirt.



Ginnie Fraser's Presentation

Knitted Military Jumper - Topshop - £42 

After the presentation we were free to explore the shop so I decided to try on a few clothes and use the 20% discount to my advantage. Although I liked most of the clothes I tried on I decided not to actually buy any of the new arrivals yet and I decided to buy some Leigh skinny jeans instead because I’ve had my eye on them for ageeees and I thought I’d use the 20% off and some Topshop vouchers that I received for my birthday.





Leigh Super Skinny Ankle Grazer Jeans - Topshop - £38





I didn’t realise how long I’d been trying on the clothes for but most people had left the shop so I decided to pay and after a long wait (due to the new till system and a faulty Topshop voucher) and some very helpful Topshop staff I bought the jeans and received a free Topshop scarf in the process.

 

This is the free scarf that I received - Topshop - RRP £16

So overall the event was good. I got a free scarf and free champagne and the presentation but had a long delay while paying and I couldn’t get my makeup/nails done because the queues were too long but it was also kind of exciting being the last customer in Topshop and having to leave through the Topman entrance because all the shutters were down.

S x





Airport Style

Recently I have been travelling alot and this involves alot of travelling through airports so I thought I’d do a post on Airport Style. I always like to wear something comfortable when flying but this doesn’t mean you have to wear jogging bottoms and a hoodie. There are some items of clothing that can be comfy and that look good at the same time.

One item that I usually wear when flying is leggings because they are comfy, go with almost anything and look good at the same time. You can wear heels with them, flats, trainers, boots or whatever your heart desires and if you go for classic black leggings then pretty much anything matches. Also leggings are not too hot if you’re going to a hot country but will also keep your legs warm when on a plane.
I usually buy these leggings from Topshop because they’re cheap and last a long time.

Topshop Leggings - £12

Another item I always wear when flying is a scarf, even if I’m travelling to a hot country. It doesn’t have to be a huge thick wooly scarf, just something that will keep you warm when on the air conditioned plane but will also add some style to your outfit. I usually like to wear a large leopard print scarf because it can also double as a blanket if you feel like having a snooze on the plane.
I usually wear this Warehouse leopard print scarf because its light but also quite large.



Warehouse Leopard Print Scarf - £22

When travelling I like to wear layers because I’m usually travelling from a cold country to a hot country or vise versa so you need to be prepared for all kinds of weather and temperatures. A nice black blazer always goes well with most items of clothing and looks stylish but is also comfortable to wear. You can take it off when you arrive in a hot country but wear it on the plane to keep warm.
I like to wear this blazer from Warehouse because its made from a light material and I love that it has a waterfall effect.

Warehouse Black Waterfall Blazer

  When it comes to shoes in an airport you don’t want anything too uncomfortable because you will probably have to walk around alot e.g walking through security, walking to the boarding gate, shopping etc. Also you don’t want to wear a shoe that is too bulky like knee high boots because then you will most probably have to take them off at security and this seriously delays duty free shopping time. Instead it is probably better to wear some simple flats like ballet flats that are comfy and easy to walk in.
I like to wear these Topshop ballet flats because they are comfy and durable but also look pretty and make it look like you’ve made an effort.



Topshop Black Ballet Flats - £16

Keep the amount of jewellery you wear to a minimum and try not to wear any belts or clothes with metal on them because this will usually cause a delay at security. Sometimes jewellery is ok through the scanner but to be on the safe side its probably best to wear small light items of jewellery. I usually wear a small necklace and stud earrings.

Always keep your sunglasses in your hand luggage. If you are going to a sunny country you’ll want to wear your sunglasses as much as possible (because of the lack of sun at home) and you’ll probably need them as soon as you step off the plane or leave the airport so make sure you keep them handy in your luggage. Also sunglasses can come in useful if you have an overnight flight or a long haul flight as wearing them when you land can hide the dark circles and signs of fatigue.
My favourite sunglasses are my Ray Ban Wayfarers and I usually wear these all the time.

Ray Ban Wayfarer 2140 - £135

Bags are also an important factor. You need something that is big enough to carry all the things you'll need for the plane but small enough to actually fit on a plane. I never usually take a suitcase as my hand luggage because it's so difficult to find things that you need quickly. It's good to have a bag with lots of compartments inside so that you know where you're passport and boarding card are when you need to show them quickly and you also know where your phone is when you need to turn it off when taking off. I like to take a handbag that is big enough to hold my passport, boarding card, phone, purse, a book, a magazine or two, a makeup bag (with a clear plastic bag and no liquids over 100ml), my camera and some sweets for the plane.
A bag that I find useful for flying is my DKNY bag. It has different compartments on the inside, is large enough for all my stuff but small enough to fit under the seat of the plane so I don't have to put it in the overhead lockers.



DKNY Patent Scarf Shopper Bag - £135

 I always take my makeup bag on the plane just incase, especially on a long haul flight. I usually carry with me mascara, a small foundation, translucent powder, a lipgloss and a pencil eyeliner. I particularly like Maybelline mascara and Rimmel powder and foundation. I also usually take a MAC lipgloss and a random black pencil eyeliner.


 

I hope you all enjoy your holidays :)

S x



Cat Eye Sunglasses

Hi Guys,
I’m really into the retro fifties/sixties trend at the moment so I was delighted when I was browsing H&M a few months ago and I came across these cat eye sunglasses for only £5.99. At first I tried on a bigger pair as I usually suit larger sunglasses and then I tried these ones on just to compare and I instantly fell in love with them. In my opinion cat eye sunglasses are timeless with classic actresses such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn (two of my all time favourites) sporting them and recently many celebrities have been wearing them too such as Miranda Kerr, Olivia Palermo, Scarlett Johansson, Kourtney Kardashian and many more. They have become a staple accessory that I have worn all summer.


H&M - £5.99

S x