Style Bubble

Scarf Off!

Some notes of cliched clothes classicism I ignore.  But some are pretty damn useful even if they are predictable.  And 'm not one to go against something for the sake of rebellion.  One of these clothes classicisms is the humble silk scarf... in particular the oft-referred-to benchmark of style, Audrey Hepburn's use of scarves has stuck in my mind ever since I saw a documentary, which reported that apparently in her youth, in ballet class she managed to look like she was wearing a different outfit everyday just by wearing her one scarf in many different ways.  I've had a few run ins with multi-purposing scarves in the past but as it happens, I'm getting particularly scarf happy right now when they look rather good with their corners billowing in this annoying wind.

Benah is a label I encountered in Sydney (the tail end of designer discoveries is never gonna stop!) and whilst classic in its conception of well-made scarves and bags, the designer Brenda Harvey presents its wares with such finesse that you end up seeing further possibilities with Benah's goods beyond the realms of just a scarf, or just a bag... plus there's nothing wrong with things that are just well-made, a sturdy blank canvas to which you're free to paint daubs of your personal style.  Or in my case, create a rollocking mess... 

This is their S/S 10-11 scarf collection which consists of op-art polka dots and stripes...

From the same collection are these canvas and leather bags... of the Ally Capellino ilk admittedly but I suppose a Southern Hemisphere equivalent is no bad thing...

I particular like this compact cross-shoulder style...

I had a swift play around with the large silk scarves from the A/W 10 collection which give enough volume to do some excessive knotting and draping around... called "Ouroboros" (or-ohbor-us), the patterns on the scarves are inspired by serpents as well as the still life photography of Guido Mocafico...

This is hardly like the finished and skilled scarf dresses that say Clements Ribeiro has done for their capsule collection but for a minute of knotting and tying but it does give me ideas for more of my "Scarf off!" sessions...

(With vintage stripy top, Uniqlo leggings, Emma Cook for Topshop boots, Moustache belt)

Sprung from the Desert

This is illustrator Bryony Lloyd's bio...

"I was raised in palm desert by a gang of bikers.  While travelling by Harley through the Western Desert, I would collect scraps, images that interested me.  This was how my love of collage began.  Circumstances brought me to the UK, where I lost my accent along with my biker ways, discarding my leathers and attending the University of Brighton to study illustration.  After graduating in 2008 i have worked as a freelance illustrator from my home in London.  I do, however, intend on returning to the desert so you folks better commission me soon before I ride right outta here."

This is the beginning of mine...

"I was born in a scummy hospital in Brent.  Whilst attending numerous schools in Barnet (neighbour of Brent...), my mind gestated thoughts about Live and Kicking, Sanrio and foodstuffs that interested me.  This was how I became porky in the brain (and sometimes body depending on the time of the month)."

Such is the difference in life stories that therefore deems Bryony something of a talented image wizard and me a frivolous limp lemon.  Therefore I'm honoured that Bryony would want to illustrate me as she has done here...

You may recognise her work from Sketchbook magazine where she has illustrated some of fashion's wonderful women...

Melanie Rickey of Grazia (also excellent blogger - example of an industry type who has embraced the medium...) also recently commissioned Bryony to make a portrait of the Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, who is set to get wedded with Melanie soon (or has it already happened?)

Wondering whether Bryony sourced these images from the desert or out of space... either way, I love all the mystical and magical references...

I'm also intrigued by Bryony's zine of WOMAN - wild women in mythology... slotting in very nicely with my own desires to be a WIILLLLLLLLD poppy... alright, I may not make the WIIIILLLLLLLD cut but I'm prepared to observe Bryony's depictions of these women and learn a thing or two...

Paisley Bodybag

>> Apologies if this freaks you out a little... I picked up this sleeping bag from the H&M Fashion for Aids collection because I'm kipping on someone's floor next week in New York and I just couldn't resist getting a tad comi-morbid with my Clarks paisley desert boots poking out of the slightly pixelated paisley pattern on the sleeping bag.  I breathed ok in there if you must know...