The Coachella Diaries: The Best Of The Rest

Palm trees and pool parties...

picture ops and beautiful bikinis...

Olympus E-PM2 camera, Tinned Bananas bikini & Topshop accessories

one mighty high ferris wheel... 

and the best hotel ever, The Ace...

breakfast of kings...

and cool clad Cali babes...

Kate Bosworth

Chelsea Leyland

Harley Viera Newton

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The Coachella Diaries: Festival Shopping at Topshop, The Grove

Topshop's swanky new LA store, The Grove, didn't disappoint on a recent trip to Coachella. I hit the personal shopping area with team Topshop in search of Coachella festival staples and enjoyed the shopping experience so much I'll be booking in with the London personal shopping girls soon. No queues, huge changing rooms, stylists on hand to help, food and drink - an all round winner! 

As a Brit visiting an American store, it was really interesting to see the carefully selected edit on offer. I'm used to three chock full floors at the Oxford Circus, London store, and while I love that there's so much variety and stock, The Grove made a refreshing change with hand plucked styles laid out in a spacious environment. Personal shopping appointments are free, and there's no commitment to buy. Check out where the service is available online at topshop.com  

I picked up Coachella appropriate gold woven sandals, a white crochet grungy top, cross stitch kimono top and a bleached out denim jacket.

topshop.com 

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Five Minutes With Marc Jacobs

I caught up with catwalk heavyweight Marc Jacobs at his recent launch for Diet Coke...

"There's a great energy that pulses through London which I'm always drawn to, it's very similar to New York in that way." 

"Kate Moss and I hit it off from the very beginning, she's a brilliant person and has such great energy. Maybe we knew each other in another lifetime! She does as she pleases and doesn't give a sh*t about what other people think. She's true to herself - that's something everyone should aspire to." 

"I do get scared before a show, it's the not knowing whether people will like it, the uncertainty that gets you. When something sells well, or I see someone wear something I've made, I feel so proud. After a catwalk show I like to go out on a shopping spree to celebrate. I love to shop! Antique furniture, art and clothes are my passions." 

"Diet Coke's an icon, and part of my culture. I jumped at the opportunity to design these bottles and star in the campaign. I love attention! The 80s bottle is all about big shouldered, very powerful, slightly androgynous women. The 90s was a big turning point in fashion for me, so I decided to do something glamorous with that bottle, hence the pink dress and hat. The noughties is more about now and represents the eclectic, eccentric 'anything goes' kind of attitude."  

"On the rare days I get time off, I like to go to the gym, visit galleries, look at art, go to the theatre. I like sitting at home watching a movie and have nice dinners with friends."  

Diet Coke and Marc Jacobs celebrate '30 Years Of Sparkling Together' with three limited-edition bottles and collectors' cases, at Selfridges now. 

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H&M AW13 - Paris Fashion Week

During Paris Fashion Week H&M put on their first catwalk show in eight years dedicated to their mainline. Presenting 'drama with a tomboy spirit' the autumn/winter 2013 line includes tailcoats, quilted leather trousers, velvet peak caps and knee high boots. 

"We wanted a very versatile collection that can be mixed and matched," Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M's head of design told me. "We are very proud of the line. There has been a lot of focus on our designer collaborations and with so many talented designers and buyers within the company wanted to show our own designs."

The setting: a candlelit path led to the Musee Rodin, Paris, which had been transformed into a grand mansion complete with dining hall, library, bathroom and kids bedroom 

Following the catwalk show I had the chance to view the collection again. Here are some of the key pieces, newly added to my shopping list! In stores September.  

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Guest Edit: Jewellery Boutique Kabiri

Check out my guest edit for London jewel boutique Kabiri at the Kabiri Journal 

Online now

kabiri.co.uk/journal

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Christmas Wish List...

Swan sculpture, £520 Abigail Brown at the shopfloorproject.com

Boots, £795 Balenciaga

Handbag, £1608.58 Valentino at farfetch.com

Scarf, £109 plumo.com

Jacket, £85 Waiste.co.uk

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It's Anna Dello Russo for H&M Day!

With Anna Dello Russo madness hitting H&M stores across the globe today, I thought it only fitting to share with you some of the snaps I took at the official launch party in Paris last week.

Extravagant doesn't quite cut it!

The AdR suitcases, inspired by an antique chest of drawers in Anna's house. 'I always thought it would have been nice to add wheels to it,' she says. 'So that's what I did!'

Me and The Very Simon G get our AdR on at cabaret venue, Paradis Latin.

Anna Dello Russo makes her entrance to the launch party in style - rose covered throne/swing creation!

Even the canapes had Anna's face on them. Yum.  

On arrival at the official AdR for H&M hotel in Paris, welcome packs and prezzies greeted us in her signature turquoise and gold baroque deco. 

Below, the AdR for H&M article I wrote for LOOK Magazine.

Click image to enlarge

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London Fashion Week Guest Edit - themilkzine.com

Over London Fashion Week I kept an eye out for emerging trends sure to storm the high street come spring/summer 2013. 

Here's my guest edit of the top three, for themilkzine.com 

Opulent Brocade

Above from left to right: Temperley London, Mulberry, House of Holland 

Having already made an impact on the high street this autumn, brocade is set to stick right through to summer, in the form of sun dresses and practical boxy jackets... Click here to read the full report.

Honeycomb Lattice 

Above from left to right: Fyodor Golan, Temperley London, David Koma

Spotted at Fyodor Golan and Temperley London, before finishing up with David Koma making honeycomb-style latticing a starring role in a staggering 13 of his 18 spring/summer 2013 looks. Meet the new texture of choice... Click here to read the full report.

   

Unexpected Prints

Above from left to right: Kinder Aggugini, Mary Katrantzou, Mulberry

From flowers to birds, foxes to owls, novelty prints are big news on the catwalk and high street. For spring/summer 2013, it's all about maps, stamps and geckos... Click here to read full report.   

Read the full report at themilkzine.com

themilkzine.com

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The Brains Behind The Ragged Priest

Bex Koppit, (top right), Designer at The Ragged Priest

theraggedpriest.com

"The Ragged Priest was born in Essex five years ago. It started out as an eBay vintage store. I studied both womenswear and marketing, but my role at The Ragged Priest was a big bunch of fluke - a lot of luck but predominantly a lot of blood, sweat and tears! But not just by me... We have a very close family here at Ragged."

"We are all very proud to be from Essex - and especially Southend - and pride ourselves on being a home grown, Essex born and bred company. It's a very creative place, with a lot of different scenes AND we are by the sea!" 

"I think there's TOWIE chicks in every county, not just here, but being from Essex you harden up to the stereotype pretty quickly and even start enjoying it! We work our butts off to keep everthing as local as possible. Everything is made by our Ragged army in our HQ and I think that definitely sets us apart from other companies."

"Style is very personal and you need to feel comfortable. Always wear what feels right for you. Failing that, wear our studded shorts with a beaten up t-shirt and OWN IT! We have lots of celebrities like Rihanna and Jessie J in our designs. It's great to see celebrities supporting the brand but I get more of a kick from people wearing our stuff in everyday life. They have their own sense of style and that is way more fun."

"Inspiration can come from anywhere. We recently got back from a trip to Berlin and it has got to be up there with one of the coolest cities! I also lived in New York for a while and I love it there. Punk store Search and Destroy is one of my all time favourites. I am massively influenced by street wear and am an avid people watcher... Is that creepy?"

"Music-wise we are an eclectic bunch ranging from the Misfits to Elton John, Azelia Banks to Joni Mitchell and Wu-Tang Clan. There's a club in Dalston, London, called Alibi which is pretty solid for a good night out."

"We don't do trends as such, we do street cluture. We see the collections as our babies! For the new season 'Stargazer' is our printed tye dye hip hop girl who listens to Dr. Dre and parties with Azelia Banks. 'Jarhead' is our military grunge kids who scribble in their diaries and rock out to Daisy Chainsaw. Then we have 'Bond-age', our new baby, for those Fifty Shades of Grey addicts!"

"Autumn/Winter 2012 has taken a slightly darker look to our previous collections. Try pairing it with some grungy florals. For instance, our Bulldog crop T (above left) over a 90's floral dress. Think Drew Barrymore in Poison Ivy."

"What's next for Ragged? We just try to take each day as it comes and enjoy the ride!"

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