Day 1, London Fashion Week Street Style

The bloggers, stylists, editors and photographers were out in full force on the first day of Fashion Week. Top spots of the day were some seriously alternative and vertiginous heels, maxi skirts (seemingly not going anywhere as we head into A/W) and candy coloured hair...is a true punk revival on its way?

Nathalie wears sunglasses by Miu Miu, Jeans by Current Elliott, Sweater by Iro & Bag by Fendi

Adriana wears dress by Aqua, Shoes by Primark & Vintage bag

Molly Taylor wears head piece by Alexander Huck

Kerry Wheeler (right) wears blue dress by Lulu Loui & Prada sunglasses. Julia Lang (left) wears coat by Marni & Prada sunglasses

Spiked cuff by Topshop. Click to buy it here

Jessica wears gold dress by Ioannis Dimitrious

"In the Pink"

London Fashion Week Outfit 1

I'm quickly getting over my post wedding blues as I am SO excited about all the trend spotting and London street style over the coming days at London Fashion Week.

Before I share all the amazing outfits I shot today, I thought I'd share what I wore on day one. It can be so difficult to plan what to wear with our typical London weather. But it surprised the pack today as the sun came out in full force. I do have a rather autumnal number planned so I am selfishly hoping for at least one grey, dull day!! Its London, so I'm pretty sure that my wish will be granted.

Happy Fashion Week everyone x.

Photo by GlamUK

Cardigan: Diane Von Furstenberg
Shirt dress: Miss Selfridge
Skirt: River Island
Belt: Jigsaw
Shoes: Aldo
Bag: Vintage - find similar at Beyond Retro
Necklaces: Both vintage

Total Wedding Picture Envy

With only 16 days to go to my own wedding, I could totally relate to the wedding nerves expressed by Kate Moss in the interview featured in U.S. Vogue's September issue. However, after seeing what I can only describe as the most beautiful wedding pictures I have ever seen, those nerves have reached a totally new level...will my wedding photos look anywhere near this good? Well, in short...No...But then again my wedding photographer isn't Mario Testino.

For me this is what wedding photography should be about - capturing those happy moments of the day in a non-staged and farcical way.

All photography by Mario Testino

Finally A First Look at Vogue's September Issue

The highly anticipated wait is over. After getting a sneak peek behind-the-scenes of Kate Moss & Jamie Hince's wedding day (thanks to a certain Terry Richardson) Vogue has finally revealed the cover of its September issue featuring the full pictures from the wedding taken by Mario Testino and an in-depth interview by Moss..a rarity!

Looking absolutely stunning in a regal purple dress, the cover is yet another triumph for US Vogue, which is one of the few fashion publications that reported a sales increase in 2011, as reported yesterday.

I cannot wait to get my hands on this baby...my local newsagent and I have become buddies after I started going in every day just to remind him to keep a copy aside for me when the delivery arrives! Oooh I haven't been this excited since the wedding day itself!

Speaking of weddings...just 16 days to go until mine...oh golly!

Debenhams Launches Pippa-inspired Dress

It was the bridesmaid dress that launched THAT derriere. Now, thanks to Debenhams women the nation over will be able to replicate the look with the launch of a limited edition version.

The dress is being launched due to a massive surge in customer demand. So much so that it will be launching a 'lady-in-waiting' service (...that's waiting list to you and me) and will cost you a fabulous £170 (so no taking out of second mortgages required!)

To find out as soon as the dresses are available, you can send your details through to ladyinwaitinglist@debenhams.com

Inside Kate Moss's Wedding

I am always so intrigued to see pictures of celebrities caught in natural, everyday situations (not that you'd call Kate Moss's wedding to Jamie Hince 'everyday' but you get where I'm coming from). So I nearly did cartwheels when I found out photographer Terry Richardson had posted 'inside' pictures from Moss-Fest on his blog. Kate unsurprisingly, look stunning and so so happy! Terry I'm getting married in August and you're welcome to wear official wedding photographer hat any day you like!



The happy couple




A kiss just after the cutting of the cake





Kelly Osbourne plants a smacker on Best Woman Alison Mosshart




Terry Richardson with Sir Paul McCartney




Terry & Jude Law (yummy!)




Daphne Guiness



Happy 4th July

What better way to celebrate Independence Day across the pond than with my favourite T of the moment?

Tshirt: Topshop
Jeans: Topshop
Pearl & Ram's head necklace: Emma Franklin
Yellow beads: Vintage
Puppy: Not for sale!!

Stylishly Shopping

I LOVE this look - a gorgeous navy summer dress paired with some gladiator sandals and floppy hat makes it the perfect summer outfit - effortlessly stylish and perfect for shopping the sales!!

Apart from a gorgeous smile, Zoe wears Dress by H&M, Hat by River Island

When The Sun Shines: Portobello Road, London

Bit of Blue & Lots of Red

I'm really not one for matchy-matchy outfits, let alone accessorising with just one colour alone. But this blue, seemingly paint-splattered dress by Cos just felt as though it was calling out for some red accents so that's exactly what I did. I also managed to dig out some reeeeaaaally old red sandals that I brought ions ago from Zara...they just had a bit of a geisha feel and I've rediscovered my love for them (will definitely be pairing them with all the kimono jackets I've been buying of late!)

The weatherman is saying that we can look forward to temperatures of up to 25 degrees this weekend so hoping I can get the summer wardrobe out in full swing. Oh, and I promise to mix it up a bit more on the colour front too ; )

Sunglasses: Ray Ban
Bag: Vintage
Sandals: Zara
Necklace: Ibiza flea market

Brazilian Colours to Blend with London

Check out this gorgeous dress which totally stopped me in my tracks whilst I was wandering around Portobello Road. I'm a sucker for a bit of fluro so when combined with a bit of a tropical print and flowy fabric...I'm instantly hooked. Totally lusting over that Celine bag too!

The Exsoteric Makes it on to Elle UK

Picture by Elle UK

Sorry I haven't been around much of late guys...haven't forgotten you - I promise! Its been a manic few weeks but I've been busying myself taking some amazing street style pictures in and around London which I'll be posting in the next few days.

In the meantime feast your eyes on this...(not that its anywhere near as exciting as the great people I've photographed of late) but my fluro pocahontas jumper actually made it on to Elle UK which I'm kinda chuffed about!!

Sweater: Starstyling
Skirt: Cos
Bag: Alexander Wang
Boots: Urban Outfitters

Saffron Tones, London

Asymmetric & Stripes, Covent Garden, London

Sometimes, a sharp haircut really makes the dress. Akiko wears asymmetric striped dress & accessories, all by Cos...possibly one of my favourite stores on the highstreet.

Grazia's Angela Buttolph in "The" Skirt

So its only fitting that fashion journalist extraordinaire Angela Buttolph should wear one of this season's key pieces...but the pure highlighter pink, the pleats...the sheer playfulness of the Whistles Carrie skirt that I have been lusting after for how long now? I've still not managed to bag one in my size but I will keep searching and keep hoping.

I adore the way Angela has paired it with a simple white T, allowing the fabulous skirt to be just...well, fabulous!

An Afternoon with Ben de Lisi

I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful Ben de Lisi yesterday afternoon. Famed for his timeless and elegant dresses, the afternoon was set in an equally elegant setting in London's The Ivy. I was invited as Ben was showcasing his fourth collection for Principles as relaunched by Debenhams a year ago.

The collection for high summer has been designed using a neutral and monochrome colour palette and then infused with bold purple and orange accents. As well as key weekend-wear pieces, the collection has some classic smart day-wear...the type of staples that will complete your summer wardrobe and that will allow you to accessorise perfectly. However, don't think of accessorising to much...well, not according to the fashion connoisseur himself. Ben and I talked fashion tips, trends and even Kate Middleton's wedding dress. Here's what he had to say...

Exsoteric: You originally studied sculpture at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. What made you decide to make the transition into fashion?

Ben: For me it was just switching the medium. Whether you're sculpting in stone or fabric, its a similar sensibility but with fashion I sculpt using the female form as opposed to alabaster.

Exsoteric: What are your top three tips for a woman getting ready to go out?

Ben: Never over accessorise, don't buy anything with mediocre detail - instead buy something that has one focal, flawless piece of detail and don't underestimate the power of looking simple and effortless

Exsoteric: Which highstreet brands do you hold in high esteem and which are translating key trends most successfully?

Ben: Principles by Ben de Lisi of course as the range is elegant and classic whilst being designed for the modern woman. I think highstreet brands should focus on key pieces with a twist as opposed to following trends. Cos and Banana Republic do this so well and I don't even consider them as highstreet brands as such.

Exsoteric: Are there any celebrities you have yet to work with and who you would love to dress?

Ben: Absolutely - Julianne Moore, Kristen Scott Thomas and Sandra Bullock

Exsoteric: You've just listed three very timeless beauties. Does that encapsulate your whole design ethos?

Ben: Exactly

Exsoteric: And finally - if you were (or indeed are) to design a dress for Kate Middleton, what would it look like and why?

Ben: I did actually sketch for Kate but the designs weren't published. The dress was modern but also celebrated the pageantry of the day. A fitted bodice to accentuate her long figure. The bodice was covered in French ribbon which was frayed and knotted to give it a really modern but classic twist

View the whole Principles by Ben de Lisi collection here 

My Evening with Karl Lagerfeld

So...possibly the most glamorous event of 2011 (apart from my wedding that's coming up in August of course!) I had the pleasure of going to Paris yesterday as creative genius, Karl Lagerfeld unveiled his hottest collection yet for Diet Coke. Celebrities from Lily Cole to Lou Douillon attended the glam event at Le Georges at the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

But it was seriously a stylish trip from start to finish, from our plush carriage on the Eurostar, settling in to our rooms of the boutique L'Empire hotel to kicking off the night with a scrumptious dinner at Kong (as in THE Kong restaurant featured in the Paris episodes of Sex and the City!)

I've had 3 hours sleep, have the most horrendous bags under my eyes but it was SO worth it!

Lily Cole and the creative genius that is Karl Lagerfeld

Giant versions of the Diet Coke bottles designed by Karl himself

Dinner at Kong restaurant pre party with Emily from Fashion Foie Gras and Pat from Cosmo.co.uk

Hold the front page...photographic proof that karl Lagerfeld has his own Diet Coke butler!!

Hanging out on Portobello Road

Colour Pop!

How delicious was the weather yesterday? It was the perfect excuse to dig out my new Sunettes...I'm so predictable with my colour choices and a bit of a leftfield magpie in that rather than being drawn to all things shiny - I want all things candy. Candy pink, candy blue...(you see where I'm going with this!)
Liberty has an amazing selection of the Sunettes range in all the colours of the candy rainbow.

 

Orange jumper: Zara

Cream cardi: Vintage customised with pink Dylon fabric paint

Bag: Vintage Chanel

Stacked - Rings...and Lots of them

I'm digging layers at the moment, only not with clothes but accessories. There are so many stacked rings in the shops at the moment at various price points. This bronzed set of woodland animals caught my eye and I couldn't help but treat myself (even though payday is still a week away). Good news is they were my bargain du jour at...wait for it...£5.99 from H&M.

With Pom Pom's in her Hair

Kitsch and cute headgear is still a must to add a little kooky interest to a monochrome outfit. This pom pom haidband stood out and I want one SO bad!