Happy Year 5772

Okay, it's a bit of a feeble one, but New Year deserves its very own post. Plenty more sweet things to be ingested, pronto!

To all, wishing you Shana Tova vemetuka.

BXL soleil

Good morning fellow bloggers and visitors.

It's new year, it's the end of September, and in London the sun is shining to mark the closing of a lame summer. The sun sets by 7pm and in the early morning there's that pretty dull mist floating in the air, car windows a little frosted over. 

I recently got back from a much-needed mini break in Brussels with my family. This doesn't seem to deserve a mention but it does, it's a rare happening. I think its rarity makes it all the more magical. I can't help but get my camera out and re-photograph my favourite spots. This time, the flea market on Place du Jeux de Balle. Belgium is one of the best countries for picking up antiques and curios, it's incedibly tempting. I could furnish a whole flat with found things from here. We are told that on some days, dealers line up in front of the church waiting for it to toll 6am before fighting their way to seek out treasures...

Over the weekend, the freakish heatwave set in which meant all of Brussels was out on the streets. September is an grounding time here, the all-important rentree means the city is buzzing after a sleepy summer. Delicious pale beers were sipped on street cafes, bar movie screenings (A Dog Day Afternoon) and far far far too many delicious edibles consumed.

College Shop

Mmmm Fashion. London Fashion week. Fashion blogs. Clothes I cannot afford or pull off. I have a love hate relationship with FASHION.

When I was 13 I started taking notice of what I wore. I was probably at my most creative when I was around 17 - I loved wearing boyish clothes: high waisted trousers, shirts and ties, old Docs, brogues, waistcoats, blazers adorned with badges. My style icon was
Rick from the Young Ones.
Where I grew up, you'd get an outraged reaction in the street if you wore red shoes. So being individual and quirky was effortless. My favourite acquisitions were a pair of canary yellow cords, and a collection of shoes pillaged form my mother (Brothel Creepers, cowboy boots...) and the Japanese-inspired clompy doll-like shoes from Gazith. 

London marked my disgruntlement with fashion. It's everywhere, it's generic, it's disposable, it's dictatorial. In London you can be what you want, however you want it and everyone is trying to be it. I found it exhausting. So jeans and t-shirts was the way to ignore it.

Now I'm getting over the 'attitude' and utter vanity fashion can be about, and just enjoying the fun, pretty stuff. 

Aaaaanyway. I visited the College Shop off Carnaby Street and was delighted to see one-off beautifully made pieces for the price of an average dress from Topshop.

 Silence Beyond Syllables

 Emma Erskine Omigie

William Tempest

 Michela Carraro

 Michela Carraro

Apologies for not liking all the designers' names. But you should check this little place out before it closes its doors for good...

 until the next fashion week. Which seems to come round far too quickly.

Some favourites from the big fashion blogs: Le Fashion, Oracle Fox, Milk and Mode, Harper&Harley, Street Style Aesthetic and latest blogger and fashion-knower (will solve all my fashion queries) MAYA at I want to be wearing.

Folly

After a rather long late-summer absence, it's time to ease myself back into blogging. A short sweet one: Folly for a Flyover in Hackney, a lovely little taste of alternative London outings. Cycled through Victoria Park and discovered this little piece of magic built from cementless bricks. Impressive.

 

And film screenings too!