New York New York

Concrete jungle where things are made, oh..
There's nothing you can't do,
now you're in New York...
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you,
Lets hear it for New York..

I echo that, lets hear it for New York! Just before Christmas I experienced my first trip as part of the StyleWARS prize. What better place to go on a fashion expedition in search of all things cool and inspirational for the visual and creative team at Oasis. What we managed to see in four days was nothing short of spectacular. With aching legs from all the walking between Manhattans ridiculously lazily named neighbourhoods (TriBeca, NoHo, Nolita and so forth), we soldiered on, cameras in hand, on the hunt for creative stores throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. I'm here to bring you the best of those stores.....

My top stores for those lucky enough to escape to the concrete jungle in 2011 are:

Bird 

203 Grand Street

Williamsburg, BK
NY 11211

An ecclectic mix of mens and womens fashion pieces from some well known and some underground designers - a gem of a find and a beautiful shop too.  

Life:Curated
186 Grand St,
Williamsburg, BK
NY 11211

To find so many amazingly edgy shops within the one area wasn't easy, but they are out there. Head to Williamsburg, it still has that raw Brooklyn vibe thing going on. Life:Curated stocked so much stuff that I wanted that I found it hard to leave. My favourite piece was a quited leather t-shirt with oversize sleeves. Take my word for it, fabulous!

Fille De Joie
197 Grand St,
Williamsburg, BK,
NY NY 11211


Look at the image below of the owner opening her shop - she must LOVE going to work everyday. Inside she has a brilliant collection of designer vintage clothing, everything from Versace jewellery to Gucci medicine bags - you name it, she has it. My find was in the sale section of the basement - a vintage japanese fur-lined aviator hard hat. I loved it so much that I just had to buy it. The price tag - a bargain $40. I love it even more now that I've discovered it doubles as a Russian top-hat. Chi-Ching!

more to follow......


Kiss Kiss, Bam Bam xx

A quick ode to Beijing!

This snap was taken in Beijing a few days ago - I don't know what this girl is picking but thank god she's picking it because this ring is poxy mental - I love it!

Pikachuuuuuuuu Power.

Bam Bam xx

Amen to Men Style - The High Street

As promised here's the high street alternative to yesterdays designer look. This outfit has the same idea, a relaxed spring look, suitable for a last minute night out or one of the many spring/summer festivals coming up that we just can't wait to get outfits ready for....



All Saints - Sleeveless Biker - £98.00





Horace - Geo V Hem Tee - £48.00





Van Dale - Pele Shorts - £60.00



Swear - Ripped Leather Trainers - £48.00

Faboosh - BAM BAM xx

Amen to Mens Style

For some time now I have been asked by so many different people to do a blog on mens style and fashion so whilst I was infecting everyone within a twenty metre radius with my sickness over the last few days (stuck in my apartment feeling like Sigourney Weaver in Copycat - god love her), I decided to brainstorm new ideas for the men that read the blog and like my style. As someone who constantly browses the rails of both designer and high street online shopping sites - I decided that it might be a good idea to style outfits for those who have the moolah to splash out and for those who have a smaller budget but still want to look and feel amazing. Keep in mind that there is 'nearly' always a high street or cheaper alternative to a look - it might not feel as nice but you'll still look high fashion!

Lets beat those January blues! What better way to do it than with a black outfit (contradictory, I know) that you can wear throughout the year. Black is never going to go away - it's a wardrobe staple and you will use these key pieces no matter what the event.

Tips:
Leave the jumper out,
Pull the socks up,
Tie your trainer laces (don't tuck them in)

and FABOOSH - you're away in hack! Whether its a night out or a festival this outfit has you covered. Bam Bam!



Balmain Suede Biker Jacket - £2399.00




Tim Soar Mesh Jumper - £105.00




Odyn Vovk Drop Crotch Shorts - £194.00




Damir Doma - Slashed Leather Trainers - £374.50




Comme des Garcons - Houndstooth Stockings - £15.00

Oh and if anyone wanted to buy me the Balmain jacket - well, I mean, it would be rude to say no! x

The High Street alternative will be posted tomorrow on greenewithenvy.blogspot.com

30 years of FabulousNESS

30 Years of FabulousNESS!

Every once in a blue moon you will see something that puts a smile on your face for days, apart maybe from somebody that you're absolutely mad about. But just like that person it will keep you thinking about it for weeks on end. That's exactly what happened me at The Barbicans exhibit of Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion. The exhibit offers a unique insight into the avant-garde works of some of Japans most influencial designers of the last few decades. They include Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto, Junya Watanabe (Rei Kawakubos' armed and dangerous protege) and Kenzo Tekada.

Trust me, it will feel like you're on a rollercoaster that won't slow down and you're getting dizzy, not because of the twists and turns but because there is just so much to take in and be inspired from. My mind was going 90, notebook in one hand, hidden camera in the other. It was worth getting caught not once but twice by the very strict, very large members of security for the sake of a few personal images. Up until then robbing just one piece of Issey Miyake's 'Pleats Please' Collection was a distinct possibility! AS IF! So I just said "Bitch Pleaaaaase"

The collection begins with some of the earliest works of the 'big guns' - Yamamoto, Miyake and Kawakubo. A puffed taffeta parka/dress adorning chunky gold chains by Watanabe and a tulle skirt with slashed leather jacket by Kawakubo look like they are part of the one Comme des Garcons (the brainchild brand of Kawakubo) collection when actually they were years apart. It then winds quickly through some jaw dropping designs and concepts to the upper decks display of the modern wonders of the 'Japanese Masters' and their successors. Split into very distinct sections and showing complete runway collections it truely is a brilliant space. The shear silver draped backdrop even makes you feel like you are being taken on a journey. Head spinning from all the info, images of models turning dresses inside out halfway down the runway and feeling weak with the thirst, I forced myself to leave the exhibition. Smiling and thinking how they did it!

Whats more the garments are described in one section as 'practicle'. Mind blowing considering that in one dress made from winding discs of sealed organdie and gold tulle, I wouldn't have fit through the set of double-doors beside me. Hmmmm.... One thing I will say however is that these designers have being doing for the last 30 years what most are struggling to do now! So maybe it is true that Japan are light years ahead, not only in terms of technology but it seems in fashion too. These clothes are like miniscule pieces of architecture, they defy any limitations and they're built from the core, the foundations upwards. Issey, Yohji, Rei and Co. We salute you!

The photographs below are some of my highlights from the collection, including Issey Miyake's 'Pleats Please', THAT gold disc wired organdie dress, the blanket dress from Kawakubo and Yohji's finest!

Enjoy xox

Picked a favourite because I haven't??

Press Day Madness

Wednesday, November 10th

I'm literally wrecked tired. However the excitement of the day got me out of my super comfortable bed in record time. I'm working with the creative team on a project for the press office, its the annual Spring/Summer press day, one of the only days were we get to go big with the budget and create high impact displays. The theme of the day - 50's, 60's and 70's vintage. By the end of the day the press office was transformed from a tranquil environment with dark wood floors and a neat desk at one end to a 1950's cream kitchen complete with vintage cake tins and all sorts of props. The floors were now covered with checkerboard lino and vintage vogue covers printed on canvas lined the walls. Customised breakfast and lunch menus on the tables and vintage print tablecloths made the room 'The Oasis Cafe'. Upstairs was a vintage 1950's room with custom made garments. Anything for the paps!

Press days and the goody bags that come with them are all about pleasing the press and making a lasting impression, in the hope that maybe, just maybe they might feature you in a minuscule section of their well read mag. However not one to moan ('smiles') this would be an opportunity for me to meet more members of the fashion glitterati from popular publications such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Cosmo as well as other popular mags among young fashion buffs, such as Wonderland, Love, Dazed & Confused, Lula and not forgetting the gays - Attitude. Acting as stylist, it was my job to dress the mannequins in the new seasons S/S collections. A good chance for my styling to catch the eye of senior fashion editors and people in the know. I was also on hand to help the girls pick out their outfits for the following day as all eyes would be on what people were wearing. FASHION!

It never rains but it snows...

Saturday, 23rd October

It's snowing but not in the common sense of the word. When I say it's snowing I mean in the Christmas window installation that the creative team worked so hard to perfect. The theme is similar to that of a winter wonderland, complete with rows of snowflake curtains. The main feature of each window is a wind infused snow globe (oh how I love a good wind machine), mannequin inside dressed in one of the new season exclusives, vintage jewels and hand made head pieces (my millinery skills continue to surprise me, maybe, just maybe I missed my calling or should I just give Philip Treacy a call, afterall I have him on speed dial). Madaboutme.com! Honestly though given the budget and taking everything into account, the windows look amazing and come Christmas week I'm sure they will feature in the strongest windows catalogue on London windows. Some of the high street competition is really high and the creative boundaries are being pushed further every year with external fashion influences like Lady Gaga clearly inspiring some teams. I have been asked to work on another window and have the theme planned out - it's in production right now and the photos will follow when it's done, however I can promise you this - it will be faboosh! Think big hair and plenty of tape. Lovehhh!


Saturday, 30th October - Sunday, 31st October

The day got off to a really bad start. I had been to the bank yesterday to make an appointment for this morning, only to show up (after being out the night before, eyes in the back of my head, dyyying) and be told that my appointment which had been scheduled for 11am was not on the chart, therefore I would be dealt with after the customers who were on the list. To say I flipped is an understatement, the poor fella - it wasn't even his fault "it was the one with head scarf from yesterday". Very bad! Anyway three hours later I finally got seen to by a personal banker, who apologised for not being full of conversation due to a headache (at this stage I was thinking, "bitch please, tell somebody who cares, I've been outside with ten screaming babies and a horrible hangover for the last three hours - capiche") Account sorted.
I then met my friend Caroline for a coffee and a stroll around now Christmas lit London, it was a welcome break to my day. She put me in good humour. When she was leaving, I gave her a hug, I thought she was laughing into my shoulder but when I pulled away I saw that she was crying. Please note we were in the middle of Oxford Circus and this was the type of out loud crying that grabbed peoples attention. All I could do was laugh and the more I laughed, the more she cried, mascara now rolling down her face. With Caroline gone and my night shift about to begin I thought to myself "I really missed my friends'.


The dreaded night shift:

Work began on the Christmas window installation at 7pm - the creative team were hard at it positioning the new scheme into the windows on Regent St and Oxford Circus. It was no easy task though - with a team of eight people and endless jobs to be done it was going to be a long night (and I was missing X-Factor). The snow domes proved to be a pain in the hoop and it was now 3am, the music playing in the background was the only thing getting me through. 4am, 5am, 6am - the clock was ticking. It was 7am before the windows started to take shape with snow domes being put in place. It was ten before we left and the hour had gone back. It was a 16hour shift. But the Oasis windows looked amazing and the team, as groggy as we were, were delighted with the result. We have already received rave reviews from the press.

"Avvv a loooook"

Window 1-   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNBtVVtVVd8wM0

Over and Out!

D x