Style Bubble

Shopped-Out

>> You're going to have to endure some sentimental mush as I'm deep in the process of packing up six years worth of belongings (plus the remnants from my flat before this current one, where Style Bubble first began) and inadvertently stumble upon things that send me on mad Google Image searches.  Today, it was a Sonia by Sonia Rykiel cherry belt, which then spiralled from Instagram into a look back at the shop counter culture in London, which I luckily got to experience.  London's shoptastic past is something I regularly fantasise about.  My time machine destination would be the stores that set things in motions such as Biba, Granny Takes a Trip, Mr Freedom - but as second best, I live vicariously through writers like Paul Gorman, who knows this subject like the back of his hand.  Growing up, as I began to physically seek out the weird and the wonderful in London's warren of indepedent emporiums, Camden and to a lesser extent Hyper Hyper in Kensington (I caught the vaguely crap tail end of this iconic London destination, which later inspired Dover Street Market) but the shop that defined my lustful relationship with fashion in my teenage years was called errr... The Shop, later known as The World According To and finally set up as a basement outpost in Maison Bertaux, which sadly shut up shop a few years ago.  

Max Karie  With full knowledge that my friends and I couldn't afford a single thing, we'd step gingerly down the steps (of the Brewer Street store) and rifle through the racks giving each other sideway glances as we baulked at the prices.  Fortunately owners Max Karie (who now consults for Cambridge Satchel Company) and Pippa Brooks (all-round multitasker but mainly does the sourcing for Hackney curiosities store M. Goldstein) were obliging and just about ok with us scroungy browsers.  Their way with retail was perhaps a little ahead of its time with its eclectic yet zeitgeist-ridden selection.  Silas, Hysteric Glamour X-Girl, their own Shopgirl line and later Marc by Marc Jacobs and Sonia Rykiel were all part of that late nineties to early millennium vibe when fashion didn't feel too precious or overwrought.  A pair of Dunlops emblazoned with cute Babycham graphics had me trekking out to the shop on a weekly basis to just stare at them.  That was satisfaction enough.  When the bores on Guardian regularly rant "Fashion taps into your insecurities andmakes you buy stuff you don't need", I am clutching on to memories like those unrequited Babycham x Dunlops.  Going to The Shop/The World According To every weekend was enough to feed the brain and make you dream a little.  You didn't leave saddened because you couldn't buy anything, but hopeful that one day you might just be able to.  

 

Oh, and I've only just discovered Pippa's previous life as awesome pop star with musical partner James in their various outfits Shopgirl, All about Eve Babitz and Posh.  Check out this video "Exotic Pictures" featuring real Harajuku girls, a lot of Elastoplast pink vinyl and Soho at its smutty finest.  

Bug-a-Boo!

 >> In new casa Bubble, where I'll be moving to imminently, there'll be a menagerie to keep all of the strange curiosities with two eyes that I've accumulated over the years - the penguins used in a Dover Street Market x Peter Jensen window, a bunny rabbit that Christopher Raeburn stuffed with upcycled materials and now, Fendi's Bag Bug, which I've called "Cheree" (as in Chim Chiminey - it's that blasted Saving Mr Banks trailer), has now joined the gang.  She - yes, it has a sex - will have pride of place next to the other creatures and when I'm feeling particularly loopy and deranged, I'll have a make-believe tea party with my mad hybrid Seletti plates.  Can you tell I'm getting particularly excited about setting up home for the first time.

Fendi's bag bugs have taken on a life of their own since their appearance at Fendi's A/W 13-4 show.  They join other runaway Fendi hits beginning with the letter "B" such as the Baguette and the B bag.  It's Fendi's opportunity to be a little whimsical as their bugs take on different names such as Lucifur and Furyou and are presented in a playful microsite and video.  Dare I say this is Fendi being fun for the first time and using it to their advantage as they've begun to step gingerly into the world of social media.     

 

 

 

Therefore on that note, I'm pleased to say that I'll be helping Fendi lose its Twitter talk virginity as next week on Monday, I'll be in Rome for the day to interview Silvia Venturini Fendi.  We'll talk baguettes, bugs and bags and #FendiTalks will play out on Fendi's Twitter page.  In the meantime, if you guys have any questions for Fendi, please @Fendi with the hashtag #FendiTalks.     

Worthy Winners

>> "Black Tie & British" was the appropriate dresscode indicated on the invitation for British Fashion Awards 2013, which took place last night at the Coliseum in London.  Not that I needed the instruction on the invite.  It doesn't take much encouragement for me to go for British (I went for S/S 14 gold Meadham Kirchhoff and resort 2014 Christopher Kane if you're wondering) seeing as my wardrobe is mostly made up of sample sale buys and personal orders from pretty much most of the people that picked up accolades last night.  In fact, I don't think there were any conentiously named winners on the night, which I vehemently disagreed with.  Everyone was a worthy winner and like a sad proud parent, I video-ed most of them picking up their gongs with highlights including Agi & Sam's hilarious "Is this a sick joke?" acceptance speech for Emerging Menswear Award, Simone Rocha looking awesome in her bubblegum pink ensemble as she picked up her Emerging Womenswear Award and Christopher Kane FINALLY picking up Womenswear Designer of the Year and making a cheeky joke about it on stage.  The list of "Yays!" went on with J.W. Anderson nabbing New Establishment Designer (this is a category that needs to be split into womens and menswear me thinks), Sophia Webster and Nicholas Kirkwood dominating the shoe front with their Emerging Accessory Designer and Accessory Designer of the Year wins.  Put them altogether in my scrambled brain and you get quite a funny composite image that makes me all warm, proud and a proper fashion patriot.    

I was curiously nominated in a big pot of slebs for the British Style Award (aka the Alexa Chung award as she has notoriously won it for the last three years) alongside the likes of Tinie Tempah, M.I.A. and Cara Delevigne.  Of course Harry Styles and his 1D Mob won it (it was chosen by public vote) but if for some insane reason, I had overturn the odds, then I would have had to thank British designers for their contribution to my style, their inspirational output and the many times their clothes always result in my explaining to some random person on the street about how brilliant British fashion is.  No sentimental mush here, just the plain honest truth.

With a slicker and classier venue, heaps better food and a general elevated atmosphere, it was also the perfect occasion to honour Suzy Menkes with a Special Recognition Award, Miuccia Prada (I had to stop myself from yelping "I love you Miuccia!" when she walked past our table") for International Designer of the Year and Terry and Tricia Jones for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion.  Terry and Trish got a fitting tribute with a sweet video documenting i-D's history and famed collaborators.  These honourees gave weight and gravitas to an event that has in the past felt like an excuse just to have a boozy X'Mas party for the fash crowd.  With the ongoing upward momentum of London Fashion Week and Natalie Massenet's contribution as chairman of the British Fashion Council, the British Fashion Awards was an excellent opportunity to give a giant pat on our collective backs.   

J.W. Anderson hat, Simone Rocha mirror leather jacket and clutch, Agi & Sam for Harvey Nichols shirt, Christopher Kane pink organza jacket and clutch, J.W. Anderson ruffle shorts, Sophia Webster x Revlon shoes, Nicholas Kirkwood for Pollini shoes