Glamour in the Kitchen!!

This is me home from work. I'm wearing a very old LBD by Topshop, M&S opaque tights and New Look Mary Janes.

Personal Style Week

According to a post on the British Style Bloggers' website today, last week was Personal Style Week. Which means;

This week is a celebration of everything that makes up your unique identity! We're pushing away trends, stereotype and labels and instead glorifying all the little things that make up your personal style. Personal style has to do with everything--from how you dress to how you decorate your apartment to how you live your life! How would you describe your personal style?

I know it's a week late but liked the idea. So, while I give some thought to my personal style I thought I'd put it to you all. Send me a comment describing your style and even send me a photo, if you can. You might even find yourself on here!

Art and Photography: Week 2

Photo information: Nikon D40; 38mm focal length; F/22; 2.5 sec exposure; ISO-1600.

Photo information: Nikon D40; 31mm focal length; F/22; 3 sec exposure; ISO-200.

Photo information: Nikon D40; 38mm focal length; F/11; 2.5 sec exposure; ISO-200.

Photo information: Nikon D40; 55mm focal length; F/6.3; 1/80 sec exposure; ISO-1600.

Photo information: nikon D40; 20mm focal length; F/5; 1/15 sec exposure; ISO-1600.

These are just a few (of the 360) photos I took at the class last night. Again, I loved it. This time we were at the studio space of our tutor, tactileBOSCH. It is such an amazing space - I could spend hours there and not get bored... ever! Can't wait for next week.

Will write more soon. Love, SG

Shop Launch: GIVe

I've just about figured out how to navigate the self-checkout at the local supermarket - without leaving an unidentified item in the bagging area! - when along comes George Davies with a whole new shopping concept. GIVe allows customers to shop in-store and online simultaneously. Shoppers scan in a garment's barcode at the 'kiosk' to see if it's in stock, make a purchase and then select next-day, home or store, delivery. Davies has combined the simplicity of e-commerce with the joy of the touchy-feely retail experience. (Of course, if an item's available in-store, you can buy it there and then). I've seen the future and I think it works!

As for the collection; it has a faded hippy/bohemian housewife vibe, ruffles and texture aplenty, and more black and hot pink than Katie Price's top drawer. Guaranteed to be popular amongst the Per Una crowd.

Photos:
Top, George Davies at the GIVe launch, Regent Street, centre and bottom, the online kiosk.

100% Street Style

We couldn't help but notice Freddie Robins' striking scarlet hair, 'It's been red forever,' she says. Ben Coode-Adams (they're both 44), would like to point out that his shoes are Camper and he's not wearing them to be trendy, honest!



Jette Egelund, 59, shows us how to wear colour with style.



Daniel Azzaro, 66, accessorizes with some well-trained facial hair and Miu Miu glasses.



Juliet Wood, 47, has got the retro look down to a tee. We think she looks fab in forties-style jeans, trompe l'oeil t-shirt and Herbert Johnston hat.



Top marks to Jiwon Hahn, 56, for wearing the accessory du jour - autumn/winter's oh-so- essential animal print scarf.



Straight off the plane from California, Shelley Guastucci, 41, slipped into a sunny yellow Nordstrom jacket to perk herself up.



Sylvia Leydecker, 44, in vintage Vivienne Westwood skirt and Paul Smith shirt - need we say more?



Hilary Mennell, over 50, and her sister own Rude Rugs. Forget the carpets, just check out the Louis Vuitton bag!



We love Jeremy Armstrong's old blue brogues (they're limited edition Loakes, if you must know). He's 46 and doesn't usually wear a tie but says, "Things are smarter at the moment.'



Top of the morning to ya! Anna Pantel, a forty-something architect wears a hat hand-made in Berlin.

Photos: Stephanie Rushton

Monday morning pic-me-up

I know, it's a little late but it is beautiful. And I thought it went with the previous posts.

Sunday Sunday

Saturday saw my return to Blighty and the boyfriend and I spent the weekend basking in the East End sunshine, and sampling the delights of all my favourite things. We started off at the Whitechapel Gallery and then made our way up Brick Lane and to Old Spitalfields Market which was fantastic; it's good to be back.

To our surprise on our way in to the Whitechapel Gallery, we came across an art book fair which was great - don't you love it when you come across things by accident like that!? The books were beautiful and the outfits even better, I don't think I've seen so many beauties in tortoise-shell glasses before, now on my must-have list. I also spied the artist Peter Blake in all his splendour, bow-tie, braces and all, doing a book signing; however I suddenly got rather shy and felt too embarrassed to ask for a photograph with all the people swarming around him.

We then made our way up Brick Lane, which is my favourite place to be on a Sunday afternoon. I love the atmosphere, its gritty nature and the fact that you can come across anything and anyone. Beigel Bake, the Brick Lane foodie institution, was a must-stop place and I picked up a delicious cream cheese and smoked salmon beigel, yum!

We stopped by at Old Spitalfields Market which is fantastic for arts, crafts and also food. The food looked absolutely delicious, with oysters, olives, and chocolate brownies stealing the show. However I don't think I've ever seen Spitalfields Market so busy, and with a large hang-over in tow after a night on the dancefloor, a slow pace was needed for the both of us.

A trip to this area is not complete without scouring a few retro and vintage shops so we made our way to Cheshire Street and stopped in Beyond Retro. However rummaging for retro finds was not on the agenda for long as the hang-over couldn't take it and we needed to escape the dim-lit, retro utopia and head home.

10 things I like about... Autumn

Lazy Sundays, rain, a new school term and the longing for an open fire can only mean one thing... Autumn is here.

Spring might be the season of all things new and expectation but it is often bittersweet as it gives way to the disappointment of another British summer.

Autumn, however, promises little but delivers much.

Walking down my road yesterday I couldn't help but notice the beautiful colours of the fallen leaves on the ground and those that were still hanging in there, so to speak. The tree-lined avenue looked lovely in the late sun.

It got me thinking about the things I like about this season that doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is; cold, windy, rainy and miserable:

1. I love that snuggly feelingI get when I'm all wrapped up in my winter woolies - v excited about getting out my winter coats, hats and scarves!

2. Autumn leaves. The colours. Beautiful.

3. Opaque tights. (I think I have made my love of these very obvious by now!)

4. The knowledge that Christmas (my very very favourite time of year) is getting closer.

5. Bonfire night and fireworks in the cold.

6. New season's clothes.

7. Boots. Ankle, knee high, over-the-knee. All gorgeous.

8. Lazy Sunday afternoons spent on the sofa, watching old movies and the wind and rain outside... knowing there is nowhere else I need to be!

9. Gingerbread Lattes back in Starbucks (soon).

10. New term feeling. That feeling of going back to school. New stationery. The smell of new pencils.

More soon. Love, SG

LUST LIST: Mulberry Bayswater

Whilst shopping in the new John Lewis in Cardiff I came face-to-face with my future handbag; the Mulberry Bayswater. I am in love with this bag. Officially.

Mulberry, like Burberry, is a quintessentially English brand whose products exude luxury and elegance in equal measure.

Founded in 1971 in the Somerset countryside, where it continues to have its headquarters today, it could not be much more English if it tried!

Of course, it has expanded, not only its manufacturing across the globe but has also expanded its products into clothing and other accessories. But it still retains 30% of its production in the UK.

The Bayswater, for me, combines effortless style with a very British sense of practicality. It is, without a doubt, beautiful. But it's pockets and size make it the bag of choice for the modern working girl.

For now, however, I will just have to lust after it...

LUST LIST: the classic Burberry trench

Burberry returned to London Fashion Week, from Milan, for the first time in eight years on Tuesday.

Christopher Bailey, Burberry's creative director, re-worked the classic trench for Spring/Summer 2010 for a funky twist, in pink and cut above the knee (see the images above).

The Burberry trench is surely one of the most iconic of British designs. The brand was founded in 1856, came to prominence during the First World War, when it produced its trench coats for the British army. Unsurprisingly, they quickly became popular amongst civilians too. This popularity continued throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first.

Christopher Bailey told Grazia, "The Burberry trench is iconic, unique, functional, ageless and timeless."

The trench is quite possibly one of the most versatile designs too. Anyone can put the trench on and make it their own; from HM The Queen to a member of Queen!

And it seems that Burberry have recognised its importance; next month the brand is launching a website dedicated to celebrating the trench. Check it out at www.artofthetrench.com.

Of course, I can't write about the Burberry trench without mentioning the current 'face' of their latest advertising campaign, young Brit actress, Emma Watson. This has to be my most favourite ad campaign of 2009. It is gorgeous. The photography and the model and the clothing all come together to produce some truly beautiful images. Vogue France's August edition featured three of the best ads for the campaign.

100% Design

Whilst out photographing fabulous over-forties, That's Not My Age popped into 100% Design. Here are a few of my favourite objets - street style photos coming soon.


This porcelain gramophone player/iPod dock, from Charles & Marie, is genius. It's called a phonofono and we like.


Fabulous moustache cups from Peter Ibruegger


Lovely cork lampshades from Benjamin Hubert


A grown-up's, fold-up scooter from Jamily



'Old Deer' silver plated antlers from Eskimo

How to... rip or fray jeans

Over coffee at lunch today one of my girl friends, Hannah (Steele!), asked about how to rip a pair of jeans; where to put the rips and what to use to make the rips. We then came across the above ad in the magazine aisle! So, I promised that I would do a little research and get back to her on that one! This is the result of that research:


1. I think the first point should be – get a very old pair of jeans (maybe from a charity shop) to practice on! Don’t do it straight on to a lovely new pair that you have spent £££ on!


2. Do your research! Look in magazines, shops, on line at pictures of ripped jeans and decide which ones you like best; those with massive rips at the knee or those with more subtle frayed bits. I personally think that the best place is just above the knee but this is only my preference.


3. Another piece of advice that I found during my research was to put the jeans on and mark where you want the rips or frays while they are on you.


4. Good tools for creating rips and frays are; sandpaper, pumice stones, cheese grater (particularly the small side), razor blade and scissors.


5. Use any of the first three to fray the fibres in the denim and the latter two to create rips, if that is what you are after. Remember to put something in the jean leg to stop the fabric from fraying on the back side too (like a piece of wood – if you have one lying around!).


6. Do remember; rips and frays will get bigger over time, with more wear and washing.


I hope this has been useful – Hannah!!


Good luck and send in photos of your finished jeans!


More soon. Love, SG

Grey is the New Black!

This is my kast day in Florence and I am going to miss not being able to wear my summer clothes every day of the week, I don't think denim cut-offs and a vest will go down well in England unless I have a penchant for pneumonia... Yesterday, I found the most incredible shop selling beautiful bags and purses and I came away with this suede beauty below - I hope you can see it against the camoflaging paving stones!? I simply love the colour, design and most importantly size, and spent literally ages deciding on the colour and style as there was so many to choose from. Tomorrow I am due to fly back to London and am trying to work out how not to be charged the huge excess for my overweight suitcase, answers on a postcard...