SOLID-UNCOATED

proenzaaaaa.

2012-02-17T11:21:00.000Z

oh my days, this look is ideal! i've been wading through mountains of catwalk for work and i never get that excited about new york but this look from proenza schouler's aw12 collection is just perfect. who wouldn't want a quilted satin varsity jacket with two embroidered pheasants on it? who?! head over heels for the woven pailette skirt and the bambi bag too.. gonna be shooting at london fashion week over the next few days so will keep you posted on that. happy friday!
main image via style.com, to see the rest of the collection, go here.

daisy chain.

2012-02-13T15:45:00.000Z

love these images by maya from 'turned out'.. they remind me of a proper 90s primary school sports day where you'd spend most of your time trying to make the longest daisy chain (in between 3-legged races and games such as 'who can balance the beanbag on their head the longest?' - my favourite). images via turned out. if you haven't already been on it then check it out, full of lovely portraits and really fresh fashion.. bring on the summer - that jacket is callin' my name.

natural structure.

2012-02-10T17:14:00.002Z

we bought a new book last week for one of our stories at work, entitled 'then again' by shirana shahbazi (available from the photographers gallery bookshop, buy online here). it features a lot of photography that looks like art (somewhat of a trend at the moment). most of the photos are beautiful in their own right but what is interesting are the pairings in the book - where very colourful, structured, geometric images are placed next to those of nature. there's one in particular that features a very subtle photo of cracked ice next to a kaleidoscopic burst of shapes, that seem to echo the cracks in the ice. i'm rambling a little but just thought it was a really interesting idea..
these are not from the book but love the simple colour palette in these images, which are via here and here.

simen johan.

2012-02-10T15:44:00.000Z

surreal summer vibes in these photos by simen johan. visit his website here.

auerbach.

2011-12-29T00:26:00.000Z

absolutely love the work of tauba auerback and found it hard to pick just four to show here (to see the rest of her work go here). chose these because of their relevance to the whole pearlescent thing which is coming into action at the moment. they are all acrylic on canvas and all untitled. images via her website.

studies after nature.

2011-12-28T18:34:00.000Z

more rocks! this time they belong to juergen bergbauer, taken from issue 5 of newwork magazine. The series, called 'studies after nature', comprises of 42 inkjet prints and is another perfect celebration of the mundane. i'd like to own all 42 and have them framed in a special room in my house. ahhh, just imagine. images via the newwork magazine website.

sander '96.

2011-12-11T22:58:00.001Z

the walls of my flat are slowly filling up with ad campaigns - is it weird to want to frame them?! i often think that campaigns (well, when done by faves celine / jil sander) are so much better than any stylist-butchered shoot in a magazine - they're totally pure, with the whole look and aesthetic exactly how the designer intended. let's be honest you're not gonna top head to toe sander.. these two are from the spring/summer 1996 campaign, shot by craig mcdean.

off to paris.

2011-11-10T14:27:00.000Z

yeahhhhhh i'm off to paris tomorrow for a couple of days for work- can't wait!! haven't been back in so long... above is another beautifully inspiring design by tom speirs - if you haven't already, check out his website.

tom speirs.

2011-11-06T23:34:00.000Z

wow i just came across tom speirs - he has some really good typography and loads of these weird moving image videos - i could seriously watch this all day.. check out his website, the design (and content) is so slick. moving image from his vimeo.

firework studies (continued).

2011-11-06T19:38:00.000Z

thought i should probably give you a preview of the book as it is that time of year.. images by pierre le hors, images via his website. hope you all had a good 5th november! x

pierre le hors: firework studies.

2011-11-03T22:50:00.000Z

a few years ago i decided that i must be growing up because i reached a stage where i would be happy to receive a book as a present. about two years ago i decided that i must definitely, finally be a proper human being because i'd reached a stage where i was asking for books as presents. if anyone is wanting to buy me a present, buy this book. i saw it first about two years ago when it first came out and had completely forgotten about it until the other day when i was in the ica doing some research for work. the concept - page upon page of black and white photos of fireworks- is very simple but it is just absolutely beautiful and so magical and by the end, even though you've probably seen every kind of firework formation that exists, you just want more and more. this is definitely on my present recommendation for anyone's christmas list - there'll be someone you know that would treasure it forever..
image via pierre le hors' website, book available from hassla books or the ica bookshop.

lfw street style: all black.

2011-11-03T22:18:00.000Z

back onto a bit of street style now with two of my faves from fashion week - the girl on the right being the highlight of the entire week. i'm not going back on all the colour talk, because colour is everything, but when black is done right, it looks incredible. what i love about both these girls is that they ease cool - they have great natural style, the sort of people that could be wearing bin liners (and dad no, the trousers on the right are not made from bin liners) and i'd still be rabbiting on about them. in actual fact the jacket on the right is prada, not tesco value, and it is one of, if not the most exquisite piece i have ever come across in my entire life. i don't want to embarrass myself with the non-technical terminology here but something amazing has happened in the weave of this jacket, creating the most beautifully subtle ombre effect, where the base - almost a raw silk quality, transforms into an almost waxy cottony wool at the top. the reverse is attention seeking, eye-grabbing, and truly modern with hundreds of feathers intertwined with what can only be described as shredded vcr tape. absolutely amazing.

© anna singleton 2011.

collage.

2011-11-01T22:13:00.000Z

wow oh my dayzzz just found an artist that i really really like - collage/mixed media is very relevant at the moment with lots of designers doing the whole miss-match/patchwork/print mix thing and leslie shows does it so well.. anything to do with rocky mountains is gonna be a hit with me but i also think she has an extremely good eye for colour. love this image alongside the acne stuff below...
images via her website.

acne ss12.

2011-10-30T19:58:00.000Z

love the fresh colours coming through in acne's latest collection.. kind of over the whole orange thing now (which also featured in the collection in some pretty cool leather pieces with cut-out stars) and more on to these newer, more sophisticated tones. Always been a navy girl but liking the introduction of the pewter tones into these two outerwear pieces, combined with the malt of the knit and the almost vinegary tone of the green. white has been a very popular base colour this season which can be pretty tough to wear unless you're blessed with olive skin and a figure similar to a twiglet but it does sure look nice.
images via style.com.

chanel.

2011-10-30T19:14:00.000Z

loving the relaxed vibez from lagerfeld's most recent collection for chanel - i have always been an extremely big fan of chanel as a brand - the logo mainly - but this season i have to say that i absolutely loved the collection. although spring/summer i thought it had a very light wintery feel to it, with an extensive use of white and the introduction of the most amazing iridescent, plasticy looking fabrics. it was also nice to see an air of simplicity to the collection, which is not something chanel is known best for but something that lagerfeld pulled off really really well - the clothes had an almost graphic quality with the simple addition of those thin black lines. fingers crossed for a good high street rip off of the jumpers cause i like them an awful lot.
images via style.com.

love always.

2011-10-25T23:23:00.000+01:00

this is a bit of a naff post but i'm feeling all loved-up at the moment cause two of my best friends are/ have moved in with their long-term boyfriends and one of them has just got engaged! plus been looking for an excuse to put up this horribly girly (but great) banner, available from 'nice' on etsy. love the tassles, love the glitter. love love love.

narciso rodriguez ss12 hair.

2011-10-25T20:21:00.001+01:00

move over dip-dye and make room for the spacey out-of-shower comb through coloured up-do seen at narciso rodriguez's ss12 show. i know the whole colour-in-hair thing is a bit of a fad but i do actually like it (especially when designers use it in a more innovative way than the blogger-style seen on most 17 year old topshop dressers in the country). there were some cool post-modernist looks happening with the clothes as well - to see the full collection go here. images from here.

christopher kane.

2011-09-26T12:19:00.001+01:00

there's a lot of metallic on this season's catwalk which makes me very happy indeed, especially when combined with the great florals and crisp white shirts seen at christopher kane. what makes this metallic so beautiful is the brushed, muted quality it has, inspired by the peeling brocade patterned wallpaper seen in the photographs of girls in crumbling council estate bedrooms that kane used for the base of his collection, (a very familiar source of inspiration for myself). really love it and if i had the money i'd buy up a lot of this collection, as it is choc a block with versatile statement pieces that would easily slip into and lift any wardrobe. to see the rest of the collection go here. images via style.com.

johannes.

2011-09-19T23:34:00.000+01:00

me and laura actually disgraced ourselves at fashion week today with our blunt schoolgirl manner towards this hottie lingering outside the bfc tent at somerset house. this beauty is johannes linder from fm models. it went like this: "oh my god.... you're so good looking" ".........umm.. ha... well.....yeah it's my job". so embarrassed. what a good face though?
image courtesy of laura mccluskey.

sunday street.

2011-09-18T23:59:00.001+01:00

absolutely knackered from my first day at fashion week and have heaps of editing to do but had to give you a sneak peak with these two beauties.. On the left is jessica wright, a personal shopper at topshop who I shot last season as part of my 'faces' post (to see last season's street style go here). she just looks so damn good in clothes and has this really lovely, warm air about her. didn't catch the name of the girl on the right but had to grab her picture as she had the most immense pink shorts on. love both these looks and funnily enough how they sit together.. faux fur is definitely staying around and it's nice to see the bright pops of colour be introduced alongside a softer, more neutral palette, be it dark or light..

images © anna singleton 2011.

preen.

2011-09-17T23:26:00.000+01:00

banging collection from preen, actually love the bottom three more than the top at a second look - they feel mega fresh and supa sweet. images via style.com, to see the rest of the collection go here. off to fashion week for work tomorrow, looking forward to london's offerings over the next few days..

all.

2011-09-17T10:49:00.000+01:00

all knitwear. images via the 'all' website.

leomie and harry.

2011-09-16T15:22:00.000+01:00

so now would be a good time to prepare for the next installment of 'i love laura mccluskey' as we are about to spend fashion week together once again - a time we like to spend brainstorming and getting excited about all the lovely shoots she's been doing, all the ideas we've had and all the future projects we're gonna do together.. (as well as, of course, the job in hand which is shooting london's street style). for now (as a warm up) i give you her latest work for 'the ones to watch' website where she shot lovely couple leomie anderson (off the telly!) and harry uzoka as part of their 'stay beautiful' issue. images by laura mccluskey via 'the ones to watch' website.

cyberella.

2011-09-16T10:29:00.000+01:00

not gonna lie, never been a huge fan of dvf nor the printed wrap dress situation that appears in every 'dress for your figure' article in the history of magazines (cue gok wan 'a large floral print hides a whole manner of sins' yadda yadda yaddah...) so... i was bowled over with joy when these looks emerged from von furstenberg's latest s/s12 collection.. they remind me of the whole cyber-barbie thing i mentioned a while ago after seeing abi swann's collection at graduate fashion week. there is definitely still a 'moment' for all thinks sparkly, but to me this is different. it's girly but really, really cool and modern. i'm a girl after philo's clean lines and boyish attitude but something here is speaking to me.. could i be converted?
images via style.com.

pale.

2011-09-15T21:58:00.000+01:00

this breathtakingly beautiful boy is paul boche from fusion model management in new york - l o v e him, such a good face. photo from the series 'pale and interesting' by lucy carr-ellison, via 'the ones to watch' website - which is one of the best online magazines out there, so visit if you haven't already.

kew.

2011-09-15T18:38:00.001+01:00

i went on a research trip to kew gardens a couple of weeks ago to help with some of my print designs for work.. i made sure to go on a drizzly day so that everything was really fresh and dewy, making it hard for drawing but so beautifully peaceful that it was worth the wet bum and soggy feet. i'm sure i'm not the only londoner guilty of this but i'd never actually been to kew gardens (or indeed most of london's other 'attractions', deeming them too touristy to bother with) but there are reasons so many flock to kew's vast botanical space.. it is absolutely breathtaking (so good that i only got one third of the way round it so this may have to be done in parts..) my 'must-sees' are the glasshouses, including the 'temperate house' which is the largest surviving victorian glasshouse in the world and reminded me of the wild overgrown building miss havisham lives in, in great expectations... check the website here.

images © anna singleton 2011.

snakeskin boots.

2011-08-10T19:13:00.000+01:00

neeeeeeed to get my hands on (or rather feet in) these amazing boots from..... zara (i know). image via '5 inch and up' blog.

oyster.

2011-08-08T23:02:00.000+01:00

love these from issue 91 of oyster magazine, by one of my favourite photographers rene vaile. colour is seriously lacking in recent editorials (apart from the lovely kenzo one), with everyone jumping on the black and white wagon far too quickly.. to see rene's website (which is soooo nice and simple and easy to navigate - just to tempt you in even more) go here.

porcelain.

2011-08-07T13:34:00.000+01:00

perfect outfit from jayne of 'stop it right now' blog. love this girl's style..
zara crepe tank / leftblock trousers / ann-sofie back sunglasses / celine platforms / comme des garçons pouch.

kenzo.

2011-08-04T23:28:00.000+01:00

oh my gaaaad i am totally in love with this kenzo shoot by photographer can evgin for under/current magazine. the kenzo s/s11 collection is my favourite to date - although still in keeping with the label's trademark aesthetic of heritage prints and bold japanese silhouettes, it feels really new. the photographs are like freeze frames of a beautiful silent film, the casting is spot on and they leave me feeling really calm and really inspired. to see the full interview, buy an issue of under/current magazine or go here. to see the full collection, go here. wow.

alice waese.

2011-08-04T13:55:00.000+01:00

absolutely beautifully perfect jewellery from alice waese, available from london's hostem - buy online here. images via the hostem website. gimme gimme gimme.

portraits of amy.

2011-08-03T22:09:00.000+01:00

Keep showing these to people cause fan or not (I'm neither here nor there), these are wonderful portraits of Amy Winehouse by Hedi Slimane, who's diary is a daily read.. check it out here.

4 stitches.

2011-08-03T17:50:00.000+01:00

i know to most normal people it's 'only a bit of thread' but i love how margiela sew their labels in.. on another note, this blog is worth checking, some really good outfit posts from a self confessed tomboy that likes fashion.. just my gurrl.
image via jayne of 'stop it right now'.

jil sander store, nyc.

2011-07-02T10:42:00.000+01:00

so i've spent the last two days in new york for work doing client meetings but managed to find a couple of hours spare on monday afternoon to go and visit some of my favourite haunts. very well situated (opposite opening ceremony) is the jil sander store. i last visited two years ago and obviously loved it then but was really excited to see the s/s11 collection - what with all that colour against all that marble.. it didn't disappoint. i've got this ongoing battle in my head about 'when i buy a house how will i decide how to decorate it'.. (will it be homely and 'lived in' or beautifully minimal..?) and this just confused me further as i've decided that i definitely want an angular marble staircase and a wall of revolving slats.. if you're ever in new york then it's really worth a visit.

images © anna singleton 2011.

sunsets.

2011-07-01T12:21:00.000+01:00

more from photographer ann woo - this will be the last one now, promise. these lovely shots are from the sunset series on her website. they really make me want to get into the dye lab and start playing about.. think you could achieve something really beautiful by spraying the dyes onto fabric and then working into them with bleach and sandpaper (this is when i need 20 white shirts and a slot on blue peter).
from top left: 'sunset, blue' / 'sunset, purple' / 'sunset, orange' / 'sunset, yellow' / 'sunset, green' / 'sunset, cyan'.

spectrum.

2011-06-30T19:59:00.000+01:00

thought i'd do a little rocky sandwich and give you another ann woo image - this time 'mountain' from her third series. don't need to blab on but the colours in this are incredible.
image via her website.

celine resort.

2011-06-30T19:24:00.000+01:00

so i literally don't know where to begin - apart from the lack of nike sportswear (omg nike/ phoebe if you're listening then please collaborate) this is the perfect wardrobe.. you've got your beautifully simple yet designed white whirts, your layering of sheer over cotton, your THREE piece suit (i've been hunting down the perfect two piece for a while now but this speaks for a whole new challenge AND it's printed with the most glorious acid floral print..) you've got your slouchy shirt and trouser combo (no one likes the prison look more than i do) - there's the trademark leather in the most amazing cut trews and last but not least the acid pink pop dress, ticking the pleating and 'covered up' box, of which i am the ultimate fan. oh and the shoes are totally 'to die for' / get on my feet now.
to see the rest of the collection go here. images via style.com.

cave.

2011-06-25T01:36:00.001+01:00

i have actually been doing a lot of research (although it may seem like i'm only looking at one website) but ann woo's stuff is so beautiful that i'm just going to get it over and done with and drum out all her photos for the next few posts. sticking with the orange theme (i'm sure it's not the first time you're hearing this "it is the colour of the season...") - this is 'cave' from her fourth series.
photo via her website.

still life.

2011-06-22T23:55:00.000+01:00

just came across the work of photographer ann woo who has done some amazing stuff - these are from the third series on her website. i really like these two images together, they have a really odd and interesting colour palette but also a very fresh mood. i will be posting up more of her stuff as she has an amazing eye for colour. (also really loving still lifes and asian girls at the moment so double bonus with these two.)
images 'orange lilies' and 'lisa' from her website.

raincoat.

2011-06-22T23:32:00.000+01:00

keep getting an extremely mixed bag of comments when i wear this and i just don't understand why?! i keep telling people that these are selling for £200+ in all the 'trendy' menswear shops (admittedly not in the lovely plastic fabric i have - and without the additional 'authentic' oil marks) but i love it and it was an absolute bargain price of £1 in the charity shop near me mam and dad's. it also came with matching trousers but i kindly left them at shop. haha.
© anna singleton 2011.

gfw: kingston round up.

2011-06-19T19:05:00.000+01:00

went to see the kingston show with work last monday, felt nice to be watching it this time round, as opposed to sweating it out backstage.. i don't want to say too much as there were other collections that i really liked but looking back through, these are the ones that stand out. for me, ross williams' first menswear look was the most accomplished in the entire show and could have stood its ground easily alongside designers showing at international fashion weeks - love the pleated pinafore over digitally printed suit combo, not to mention the fresh length of trousers.. the other highlight (although you can't see it that well under all that beard) was the flash of teal - just wish there had been more of it...

next up is patricia pereira da costa, who won me over with the most beautiful fluid grey trousers. i'm always going to like the whole 'simple thing' but da costa had moved it up a notch or two, with everything there done really well - silhouette, colour palette, print, accessories.. probably my favourite collection overall now seeing the pictures, and definitely the strongest when all together in the final line-up.

i'm not a fan of the sickly sweet and when i first saw abi swann's collection come out, i felt like i needed to squeeze a lemon into my eyes but i ended up absolutely loving it - fashion is a far too serious game and this collection put the biggest smile on my face, it really reminded me of the girls from austin powers with the gun boobies...

last up is sum lo wai - perfect rusty orange colour and although done before, the tassel detailing was both fun and sophisticated and helped lift a very simple collection into something really lovely.. this collection also stood out to me as one that could appeal to women of all ages - something mastered by high street label cos. i think there's a temptation for graduates to focus on appealing to youths their age - playing up to the whole 'cool', fashion-y thing and whilst it is obviously important for the graduate to generate a lot of press and appeal to magazines, i think something can be said for mastering a collection that could be worn equally well by a lady of 60 years as it could by the 18 year old on the catwalk.

bella.

2011-06-12T10:34:00.000+01:00

went to the rca ma show last thursday for work and after almost passing out halfway through (i seem to have regressed into my school-time fear of public places that you can't get out of subtly), i was relieved to finally get outside where i stumbled across this beauty. i've realised what inspires me and it's definitely a good face - this is bella (i think - i lost the bit of paper i scrawled her details on), an anthropology student at ucl - absolute stunner.
© anna singleton 2011.

ponytail.

2011-06-11T12:52:00.000+01:00

i've been loving the ponytail for a while now - gyals (and boys) get inspired, get your faces out and stop hiding under your hair.
images from russh magazine, via fashion toast. (clockwise from top left: louis vuitton, dries van noten, louis vuitton, alexander wang.)

solo.

2011-06-11T12:31:00.000+01:00

so.. apologies for the lack of posting the last few weeks - apparently the new 5 day week/ lots of late nights at the studio takes a bit of getting used to and has meant that i have only had the time (and brain capacity) to watch eastenders and go to bed (and it's not even good at the moment). so i am sorry and i will make a big effort to return to regular posting as of now.
on another note, the colours in this are amazing.. photo from the series 'solo' by jennifer endom.

autumn beau.

2011-05-22T23:13:00.000+01:00

beautiful autumnal palette - this a/w it's all about the wines and whiskies. image via beau grealy.

pantha.

2011-05-19T23:39:00.000+01:00

love these two. also love the blog i nicked them off - in between dreams. it's pretty much 100% beautiful girls and what could be better than spending hours of your life looking at girls you're never going to look like?! ha, seriously - nothing. it's also got a damn nice layout / simple / i love black and white.

rich.

2011-05-17T20:59:00.000+01:00

love the richness of colour and textile in this menswear shoot by paolo roversi for vogue hommes international s/s11 featuring adrian bosch . to see the rest of the shoot, go here.

kiosks.

2011-05-16T11:47:00.000+01:00

i love these images from the series 'small economies: kiosks' by olena slyesarenko. the accompanying text reads: 'small deserted kiosks, based between apartment blocks and parking lots of ukrainian cities, are archetypal of small enterprise, which is rapidly disappearing. big corporate shopping malls and supermarkets replace these local privately owned businesses, which are strongly representative of ukrainian visual culture.'

images via her website.

poem.

2011-05-16T01:02:00.000+01:00

i'm not one for sitting in a darkened corner and reading poetry but when i found this lovely little book in the isle of wight, i had to buy it - admittedly it was for the cover but the poems in it are actually good. really like this one called 'tiger tiger' by joan o sawyer.

tiger, tiger on the wall
do you hear the jungle's call?
do you dream of stalking rats
and mice and birds and other cats?

will you prowl and chase your prey
or will you stay at home today
and doze upon your sunny wall
and just ignore the jungle's call?

mop.

2011-05-16T01:01:00.000+01:00

went to visit my friend sophie in the mother of pearl pop up shop on new oxford street last week and was surprised at how much i liked their latest collection. call me stupid but i'd never actually heard of mother of pearl until a couple of seasons ago and even then, up until a few weeks ago, had a completely different idea in my head of what it would be like (cue mother of the bride colours etc) so what a lovely surprise to learn of its delicious sportswear shapes, beautiful fabrics and contemporary prints! the lookbook is as equally beautifully produced and shot against simple, coloured backdrops, adding to the allure of the garms themselves.
items on my wish list are obviously the 'spica wedge sandal' (worn throughout), orange leather 'atlas mac', cloud print cotton silk twill 'atlas mac', 'atomic spirits' knit skat pullover and the 'n=1' knit skat pullover. so not much then.
images scanned in from aw11 lookbook.

1994.

2011-05-11T22:00:00.000+01:00

verner panton vilbert chairs designed for ikea in 1994, available from mid mod design.

yen.

2011-05-11T19:38:00.000+01:00

big up the sicky pastel colours in the latest issue of yen magazine. photos of eliza humble by bec lorrimer.

zesty specs.

2011-05-10T01:14:00.000+01:00

want these - 'leonard blond' by illesteva.

more colour.

2011-05-09T14:45:00.000+01:00

fresh colours and tones in the latest issue of oyster magazine featuring bambi northwood-blyth, shot by bec parsons. that lilac and citrine combo is still my favourite so far this summer..

the royals.

2011-05-08T22:27:00.001+01:00

or rather royal-ly late - inherited these from my godmother whose dad worked in the photo editing department of the daily express back in the day. really like the group shot.

cailin.

2011-05-07T13:58:00.000+01:00

love this portrait of cailin at ford models by sam hessamian.

black and white.

2011-05-06T19:22:00.000+01:00

photo from rumi's coachella photo diary. image via fashion toast.

gem.

2011-05-05T07:57:00.000+01:00

i managed to buy something in every charity shop i went into on the isle of wight and swore when i entered this one that i wouldn't buy anything. not being a reader, i headed over to the book section (surely the safest place) and this lovely book was staring up at me from the bottom shelf. i had a quick flick through and nearly dirsegarded it as it was mostly text but then found these gems (ha). the colours in them are so beautiful, even the background greys. the scientific layout tops it off perfectly with the little numbers and descriptions in the footer. can totally see why this theme has inspired so many designers.
image source: 'minerals and rocks in colour' by j.f.kirkaldy, photos by folke johansson and michael allman.

precious stone.

2011-05-04T21:13:00.000+01:00

got this a while back at the natural history museum shop, fighting off 7 year olds to get the best bit (smooth).
© anna singleton 2011.

thrifted.

2011-05-04T19:55:00.000+01:00

got some more deer to add to my collection on my charity spree in the isle of wight, as well as these sweet shot glasses that make me want to sip miniature cocktails out of them. big deer 50p, small deer 3 for £1, shotglasses 15p each. bargain.
© anna singleton 2011.

sandown pier.

2011-04-30T12:24:00.002+01:00

have had the best week in the isle of wight with my boyfriend's fam visiting all the sights.. this is the end of sandown pier, which was suprisingly tranquil, home to an arcade and some pretty rad carry-on style 'stick your head in the hole' photo scenes (someone please let me know what their official name is?!) it was the most amazingly gloriously sunny day and i just wanted to jump in the sea. worth a visit if you're ever on the island and enjoy the typical seaside town arcade. which i do - a lot.

sandown pier, isle of wight. © anna singleton 2011.

easter bunnies.

2011-04-26T23:06:00.000+01:00

these absolutely amazing fluffy little lads belong to annie novak who runs a rooftop farm in new york. images via the selby, which you should visit if you haven't already. look at them napping. ridiculous.

afternoon sister.

2011-04-26T22:53:00.001+01:00

still from "afternoon sister" directed by beau grealy for test magazine. love their hair and their young faces and the white shirt on the left. and the bench and the yellow in the background. laavly.

molly's bag.

2011-04-24T23:25:00.001+01:00

snapped this pic at fashion week back in february of my friend molly. she has the most amazing hair colour, which looked great against the deep red of her jacket with the flashes of lime green coming through. then there's the bag. fur is gonna be big (like it or not) and this is the perfect way to execute one of next season's biggest trends.
© anna singleton 2011.

easter chicks.

2011-04-24T09:11:00.000+01:00

i got this postcard a couple of years ago from the antique market near my parents and have been dying to use it all this time.. happy easter ya'll.

beach front.

2011-04-23T18:21:00.000+01:00

having a bit of a road trip round england at the moment starting with a visit last week to see me mam and dad in exmouth - was really nice to see everyone knocking about on the beach.
images © anna singleton.

shini's back.

2011-04-21T20:47:00.000+01:00

..back again... this time looking so sweet in the most beautiful pink leather jacket and red trouser combo, obviously transported to new levels of goodness by the simple white tee / jumper / can't quite make out what it is but it's white and i like it..
image via park and cube.

beautiful red.

2011-04-19T10:20:00.000+01:00

from the series 'ghost whisperer' by photographer ann he.

blue.

2011-04-18T10:08:00.000+01:00

absolutely love this bit of dip-dyed hand pleating from glennis dolce.

knit x puffa.

2011-04-17T10:22:00.001+01:00

ok so this really is an all time low - stealing another blogger's outfit post to avoid doing my own but i know people yearn for 'accessible fashion' / 'fashion on real people' so here it is... on the lovely shini of park and cube, probably the only blog i actually bother to read as opposed to flicking through pictures mindlessly as if it's a chore. although it's an old post of hers, i wanted to sneak it in on the off chance that the sun might come out again and the lovely winter knit/denim/puffa combination becomes irrelevant (in addition to the lovely snowy background, of course) so here it it, a ladylike spin on the crotch shot. image via park and cube, go and visit her lovely blog here.

dan holdsworth.

2011-04-16T19:04:00.000+01:00

i seem keen on posting mountain shots for some reason.. here's another lovely one from dan holdsworth. image from the series 'black mountains' via his website.

bohoboco.

2011-04-16T11:09:00.001+01:00

riiight so this top from bohoboco might as well have been made for me - it's absolutely perfect in every single way with its clean white silk, its LOVELY detailing with the inside-out seams and the very carefully crafted 'i just drew it on' trompe l'oeil effect. i really want it. i would re-direct you to the site but they've shot their collection in such an awfully boring and cheap way for such lovely clothes.. this image from park and cube does a thousand million times better a job.

dion lee.

2011-04-16T10:21:00.000+01:00

well these are a bloody nice example of how soft, deconstructed, feminine tailoring should be done. they belong to australian designer dion lee, whose line II collection is launching this summer. his site is temporarily under construction. LOVE the aqua colour in the background of the left-hand image.
images via 'style bubble'.

goodhood x r.newbold.

2011-04-15T17:46:00.002+01:00

this was obviously too good to be posted up with other items.. goodhood x r.newbold 'jacquard leopard jacket' in washed indigo.
images via the goodhood store.

goodhood.

2011-04-15T17:34:00.000+01:00

did an online window shop (screen shop?) last night - window/screen in the sense of (a) if i had money and (b) if i was a man/boy. my friend thom bought this sweet t-shirt from norse projects last week, which prompted me to have a look on the goodhood site. low and behold i found some beauties, admittedly the shorts are for the more exotic man but i love them (they also come with a matching shirt but i didn't want to push it). lads, if you've got some cash, head over to goodhood immediately - ladies, the womenswear is disappointing.
1. junya watanabe man x le laboureur 'wax jacket' in blue.
2. wood wood 'sunday shorts' in blue/white.
3. norse projects 'hunter lambswool knit' in amber gold.
4. monitaly 'flat front shorts' in ikat brown.

images via the goodhood site.

gang.

2011-04-13T23:50:00.000+01:00

right. i promise i'll cool off on the blazers front but this was too good not to post. grey ones get on my feet now. and the red. and i wouldn't say no to the yellow. perfect with rolled up jeans. just perfect.
image via 'streetfsn'.

nike x liberty.

2011-04-12T20:50:00.000+01:00

still dying for a pair of blazers and (i think) i still prefer the originals but these are pretty sweet.. the collection is exclusive to liberty this april, with select styles hitting office and independent retailers from 1st may. visit the nike website for more details.

golden brow.

2011-04-11T19:57:00.001+01:00

more gold leaf - keep seeing it coming through in editorials - like the look of it painted on.. liquid browzzzzz..

photograph by ann he via studded hearts.

orange scape.

2011-04-10T20:31:00.000+01:00

don't want to drone on about the weather but it's been the best weekend.. hope the sun is here to stay! image via my image archive (photographer unknown)

wear orange.

2011-04-06T22:14:00.000+01:00

orange is one of the key colours this season and is here to stay for the foreseeable future. if i had my way i'd invest in the celine coat, unfortunately at the moment all i can stretch to is a nailvarnish (well i lie as i actually bought it over a year ago) - i recommend essie as it goes on really well and seems to stay put..
1. celine aw11 - image via style.com.
2. artist anka mierzejewska's door via where they create.
3. friendship bracelet via m.e.r bracelets.
4. viviana volpicella via garance doré.
5. botanical drawing by pierre-antoine poiteau - image via google.
6. jil sander ss11 - image via style.com.

friendship bracelets.

2011-04-06T21:42:00.000+01:00

i'm having a bit of a colour moment (as you all know) and when i saw the proenza schouler bracelet, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. i still don't know what actually appealed to me the most; the colourful twine with chunky hiker-esque fixtures, the prospect of another craft project (i've already spent two and a half hours on ebay trying to find the perfect rope) or the fact that it sits so awkwardly on the taste fence. in recent weeks i have been challenging the latter a lot - trips to charity shops where i have (in my mind) purchased a karen walker-esque industrial two piece (i was told i looked like a convict) - more to come on that (the two-piece, not prison life) and a sparkly silver bag.. still, i don't think a bit of coloured rope is going to hurt anyone.. now just need to find the perfect fixtures...
1. diy bracelet via 'some hot dishes'.
2. image by guy aroch, via 'it's nice that'.
3. images via 'oracle fox', flickr, google, opening ceremony.

icy landscape.

2011-04-06T00:26:00.000+01:00

really like this and was feeling for a landscape shot.. image via haw-lin.

rumi's knit.

2011-04-05T17:45:00.000+01:00

there is a big emphasis on knitwear at the moment and it's here to stay for the next few seasons. i think one reason for this is the lean fashion has taken towards practicality and function. with colder winters, knitwear has become an ever more important staple in our wadrobe, often layered in different weights and textures. this needn't stop for summer.. find yourself some lightweight knits or if going for a chunky, make sure it's 100% cotton. this lovely silver-coated jumper belongs to rumi neely of 'fashion toast'. if feeling inspired, do it yourself - acrylic paint applied with a roller works well as it wears in nicely over time.
image via fashion toast.

storage.

2011-04-04T12:13:00.000+01:00

i've been doing some research for my photographer friend sophie's flat as she's asked me to help her out with the design for the interior. love this storage idea from designer dhiren bhagwandas. ticks both the 'minimal' and 'lived in/old' boxes. image via 'where they create'.

kitchen.

2011-04-03T20:35:00.000+01:00

i keep getting confused as to whether it is fashion i should be doing or interiors, with places such as this inspiring me to do the latter. then again, the beauty of this kitchen is the lived-in clutter, which is near to impossible to create as it can only really come with time and use. although a great fan of the aesthetics of minimalism, i think when it comes to living and creating a home, a certain level of maximalism should be explored, especially in places such as the kitchen. (when i say maximalism i mean things such as displaying pots and pans and crockery as opposed to hiding them away in cupboards). this space belongs to chef and food stylist marlein overakker who lives in amsterdam. images via paul barbera of 'where they create', my favourite interiors website.

charlene.

2011-04-03T19:48:00.001+01:00

this is charlene almarvez, one of the new faces from premier model agency in london. came across her when searching for a model for the shoot i did with laura a few weeks ago. she's super cute. really want to shoot her (with a camera, not gun), something really pared down as her natural beauty is off the scale.
image via premier.

bear.

2011-04-03T12:34:00.000+01:00

continuing on the animal theme.. again, photos from valerie roybal's flickr.

two-piece.

2011-04-01T13:43:00.001+01:00

love this guurrl.. i've been searching for the perfect two-piece suit for over a year now - this one is pretty perfect (minus the gold buttons) and hits the spot on this summer's colour trend. looks cute with the hat and sunnies too.
image via tommy ton for style.com.

colour inspiration.

2011-04-01T11:19:00.000+01:00

this is what everyone should be doing this summer - clashing brights. key colours are purple/ green/ citrine/ acid yellow/ blue/ pink/ orange. if you're apprehensive to do the whole look, the sock/sandal combo is still looking pretty good.
images via tommy ton for style.com.

bambi.

2011-03-30T13:12:00.000+01:00

this little guy is here to cheer up your drizzly wednesday. photo from valerie roybal's flickr.

lfw mens: christopher raeburn.

2011-03-28T23:33:00.000+01:00

christopher raeburn's presentation was one of my favourites on menswear day at fashion week. even though most of the collection veered on being too 'urban sportswear' for me, i still really appreciated it, with this jacket made from scandinavian tyvek snow camouflage being the stand-out piece.

'this limited edition garment is one of a maximum of 100 proudly made in england. constructed from scandinavian tyvek snow camouflage and lined with re-appropriated parachute nylon. each garment is unique and original fabric may contain imperfections.'

© anna singleton, 2011.

rocks.

2011-03-28T22:48:00.000+01:00

i went to the natural history museum for work a while back and forgot to put these (very) blurry photos up. my initial reason for going was to see the new 'images of nature' wing - specifically to see the john reeves collection but, whilst there, these images of rocks (i don't know that they are rocks for definite as i've lost my notebook) took my fancy. great patterns of nature. great colours. again please do excuse the dodgy blurriness of the photos, it isn't for effect.

ummm...

2011-03-25T18:19:00.001Z

...i don't know how i missed this but pantone do iphone covers? that is probably the only thing that would make me switch from my blackberry (cue the never ending and never exciting iphone/blackberry debate).. so nice. available from colette in paris, go here.
image via the lovely sandra at '5 inch and up', who i met at fashion week.

before and after.

2011-03-25T11:25:00.000Z

painted these eggs at last - want to do more, hundreds more, and then gonna hang them off a nice big branch (that i'm still yet to find). the ones that accidentally got a larger hole i filled with red food colouring so they had a pink inside. paints from daler rowney, eggs from tescos.
© anna singleton 2011.

jacket from shoot.

2011-03-25T11:15:00.000Z

this can kind of replace an 'outfit post' as i'm not one for full length photos.. i got this jacket a couple of years ago from uniqlo - there were about thirty on the rail, all reduced to £7.99 - as if none had sold. strange, as it is one of my favourite items in my wardrobe. love the paleness of the blue against the brushed silver fixtures. 'worn' here with my chanel broach.

thursday shoot.

2011-03-22T14:21:00.000Z

decided to be proactive on thursday and do a shoot with laura, shooting (mainly) my graduate collection along with a couple of other pieces. we were blessed to work with tatiana from d1 models, who had us all in stitches by the end of the day. to see the rest of the photos, go to laura's website: www.lauramccluskey.4ormat.com. to see my graduate collection and other design work visit my website at www.anna-singleton.co.uk.

photography: laura mccluskey
styling: anna singleton
make-up: ellie gill

darryl.

2011-03-18T18:25:00.000Z

currently obsessed with this boy, darryl sharp, from d1 models. love his chavvy look and his ck jumper. what a great face. images via models.com.
photographs for 032c by alasdair mclellan.

his and hers.

2011-03-17T19:55:00.001Z

can't decide which i prefer out of the mens/ womens collection this season.. think it's the womens (just because of the knit) but the mens definitely comes a very close second. again, the trousers are perfectly cut, the shoes are are a good balance between smart and cool, the colour palette is beautiful, the textures are lovely and the silhouette is spot on. if you can spare the cash, i think every man should have a jil sander suit in their wardrobe, plus probably worth investing in the coat on the bottom right because it's d i v i n e.

jil sander aw11.

2011-03-17T18:50:00.000Z

wowowow. so slick. i'd really like to crawl inside raf simon's head and steal his brain. he is always one step ahead.. i understand that to a normal person it's 'just a pair of trousers and a jumper or a coat that's too big' but to me, it is genius. i absolutely love (one again) the colour palette, the knit, the wool trousers, the sleek lines, the boyish boots, the duvet-like pieces.. i could go on. to see the rest of the collection, go here.
images via style.com.

heikki salonen lookbook aw11.

2011-03-16T14:53:00.000Z

oh. my. days. this is so beautiful. flawless collection and flawless look book. so much so that i wish there was a way of scanning it in and sending it out in 3d form.. for now my 2d scans will have to do. salonen's signature grungey tailoring continues this season but with a new level of delicacy. the sheer fabrics and layering of textures offer a ready-styled look whereby you can happily dress head to toe in it without looking like a maniac. his website leads to straight to a mail page but still worth a look because the splash page is one of my favourites: www.heikkisalonen.com. to see his profile on the lfw site, go here and to see my other posts on him, go here.
photos by nicole maria winkler.