Two Ways

Those of you who follow me on Instagram will have already seen these jeans a fair amount as they're proving something of go-to in this muggy-but-not-quite-sunny weather. So after just a quick mention in my Tulum holiday photos, I thought it was about time I gave them some proper airtime.

They came about after a wander into Gap one aimless Sunday in need of a new top for yoga or something equally nondescript. They're meant to be skinny fit but after a process of trial and error in the changing room, I found a loose-fit by going a couple of sizes up and roughed them up a bit by take a cheese grater/razor to the knees. They do need washing and tumble-drying before almost every outing as they get so baggy after just one wear, and annoyingly I can't wear sans belt without unintentionally referencing low-slung skater boys, but they've now all but replaced my trusty skinny jeans.

A recent black tie trip to the opera forced me into buying some strappy heels after many, many months of living strictly in flats. So over the course of the weekend I gave both said heels and my Birkenstocks a whirl with the jeans. There's something about the super baggy, boyish fit that dresses down heels to the point of making them almost totally inconspicuous, which is always okay by me. My trusty black fedora also came out after being in hibernation for a little while. Excuse the lopsided band on the last shot, this is it fresh from its dusty perch. 

Jacket / Whistles

Jeans / Gap

T-shirt / Urban Outfitters

Belt / Olive Clothing

Nude heels / Zara

Black sandals / Birkenstocks

Hat / Vintage
Rings / Noemi Klein, Vera Meat and Natalie Marie Jewellery 

All photos by James Wright

Bohemian Like You

The other day, as per usual, I went shopping for one thing, and ended up buying another completely unrelated thing that I just don't need and have several similar versions already. But as soon as I saw this embroidered 70s cheesecloth number, I knew it would be coming home with me.  Perfect for the warm, sunny evenings we've been having of late. 

Watch / Larsson and Jennings

Shorts / vintage

Top / vintage

Espadrilles / from Spain

Sunglasses / Rayban

Necklace / Marc by Marc Jacobs 

A Marant of my Own

Favourite new jeans by Isabel Marant Etoile that have already become one of those 'what would I do without' pieces. 

Wearing with the standard LNA t-shirt, Whistles jacket and Office boots.

Get the jeans here.

Ph. by James Wright

A Day in Brighton

Fierce concentration on Time Crisis III

 Loved these string bags for sale at Bill's on North Street.

 Morroccan treasure trove in the North Laines

With the bank holiday bringing an extra day to play with, we decided to hop on the train to the coast for the day. I've been living in London for four years now and yet I've never ventured down to Brighton before so I figured it was about time I checked it out. Plus, we were craving some salty sea air, fish and chips and a fresh crop of vintage shops, all of which we found in abundance. 

We started with some shopping in the North Laines (although we later realised we'd missed an entire street brimming with great vintage so a repeat trip will have to be planned) before grabbing a late brunch at Bill's. Kensington Gardens, one of the busiest streets in the laines, housed Snooper's Paradise, where both Jamie and I uncovered some vintage finds before indulging in some cheesy black and white photo booth snaps. There was also an amazing Morroccan homeware shop which I've bookmarked for textiles and ceramics when I'm living somewhere suitably deserving and a certain mermaid mural you can probably tell we became slightly infatuated with for 5 minutes!

We thought the bright lights of Brighton pier had to be experienced at least once, so we spent a few hours shovelling coins into arcade games, eating candy floss and wandering the boards of the bustling fairground. While it was as fun as it was trashy, it was a welcome relief to escape the crowds for the quiet of the Royal Pavillion at the end of the day. With its turrets silhouetted against the blue sky like those of an ancient Ottoman palace, we felt like we'd been transported to Istanbul - a strange yet beautiful end to the day. 

After buying giant foot-long deli baguettes stuffed with avocado and mozzarella, we hopped on the train back to London in time for a relaxed, lazy night in with the remote control and Maltesers on hand.

All photos by myself and James Wright

Leather jacket / Whistles 

Shorts / Zara (new)

Stripy Top / Vintage

Boots / Office

Watch / Larsson and Jennings

Convert

After much coveting and indecision, I finally bought a pair of New Balance.... and they subsequently stayed in the box for a good few weeks while I ummed and ahhed whether a black ankle boot person could make the transition into trainers. I’m a real amateur when it comes to trainers. The only ones I've ever really worn are converse and a fairly dodgy pair of white hi-top Reebok Classics while at university.

So I grappled with the New Balance for a while with the intention of returning them until one morning I saw said box, had an urge to wear them and without thinking too much, I did. And I haven’t really taken them off since. They've quite literally put a spring in my step and are really aiding my pre-spring resolution to walk more, rather than hopping on the nearest bus/tube/taxi.

I won’t be relegating my ankle boots to the back of my wardrobe just yet (read, I doubt I’ll ever deem my collection complete), but these definitely have me converted.

New Balance 410

 Khaki Shirt - Urban Outfitters
  T-shirt – Urban Outfitters 

Belt – Olive 

Leather jacket - Whistles

jeans - Zara 

Ph. by James Wright