ASOS SS11 Pressday November 4th 2011 @ Victoria House

Seeing that I’ll be cameraless for a few days I thought I’d give the backlog a good shovelling session… turns out I’m also backlogless with my hard drive over at a slumber party somewhere else… oy vey. Thankfully found this ASOS SS11 pressday post has been lingering in the drafts cabinet since November of last year. I’d like to say it was warming up the bench but as always the truth is that Susie of ASOS had put out a shush note until an appropriate time closer to release and judging by what they’re bringing to the table it looks more like a secret card than a benchwarmer. Particularly fond of the perspex heels, pop-colour bags and the ASOS Africa collection (second to last row) – I know this will be my catchphrase come fashionweek, but Summer where art thou? Take a cab, will thou?

Looks like ASOS just launched a Facebook app store, novelty! Not sure I’d like to advertise to everyone that I like to shell out at ASOS at 4am in the morning but there’s an option to turn that off, right?

Outfit: Top – DIY FCUK, Skirt – Storets.com, Shoes – H&M, Furry pouch – ASOS, Long vest – Gmarket; Prints by La Boca as part of promotional graphics;

Don’t we often say ‘I know it’s really bad, but what do you think about…’ just to put a cushion down first before a potential bad review? Black Swan did exactly that in the first 10 minutes into the film. “Done to death” was one of Vincent Cassel’s lines describing Swan Lake in the movie, and there he beat me to the chase – the cushion was laid and I had to hold my tongue about the genericness of the subject. And from that point on I had to accept that the film was not going to be another box standard dance school flicks where the climax is when the protagonist is grounded by her mother. Gladly I’m tough trained in blood & gore after years of being steeped into war movies, but I really couldn’t stop the chills running up and down my body during the screening. Well I guess that can be called ‘refreshing’.  The Ballerina trend is indeed done to death but I think this time it’s going to be different because Black Swan was very little of the dainty feather muffs and white tutus, but more of the saturated evil of the dark swan twin that we always seem to neglect.

The pre-screening event was another one of Robinson Pfeffer‘s bountiful functions, including a Barre class held at Frame studio in Shoreditch. (If the screening came before the class we’d have expected our reflections to move on its accord) A generous dance kit was provided by Bloch, and a smoky-eye makeover by MAC Cosmetics, and off we went hobbling over the bars clutching our butts that were spilling out of the leotards… At least whatever I lost in that class got returned to the rightful owner while shoving down fistfuls of popcorn at the Aubin cinema during the screening.

Thank you Pascal for the outfit shots

Shoes – Emma Cook for Topshop, Sweater & cut black jeans & black Outerwear Sweater – Zara, Bumbag – ASOS, Coat – Kappahl

I’ve had this post draft open by my bedside for about 30 hours – I have the flu equivalent of a death sentence in the 17th Century, or at least that’s what I like telling everyone around me to evoke sympathy and donations. (Le boyfriend keeps asking if he can have my DVD collection once I die) But when you’re 1) horizontal in bed and 2) 39 degrees and steamin’ from the ears, coherent sentences don’t come together, especially not for a blog entry. As I was drifting in and out of sleep the photos above started to merge into one dream and in a state of semi-high I somehow managed to relive this day trip I took to Oxford visiting Jen with Jill and Kit. Of course, this being a dream the trees were broccoli and Harry Potter was frolicking in the field with the cows (bits of HP were shot in Oxford)… but what an awesome way to re-experience a wonderful day in a beautiful city.

BTW, remember to get your annual flu shot, because as cool as it sounds to stay in bed the whole day and pick your own dream subject (should’ve watched Avatar…) to feel like you’re going to DIE is not very pleasant.

Shots of moi by Jen, thank you!

Jacket – Quiksilver, Sweater – Gmarket, Necklace – Courtesy of Jennifer Loiselle, Sheer tunic – Zara, Leather pants – ASOS, Shoes – H&M

Jennifer Loiselle (Photos from her etsy store)

It seems that only when I’m literally walking out the door I’m able to catch the postman before he scribbles a We Missed You card and vanishes… he really can’t miss me enough to wait 30 damn seconds for the power-sprint from door phone to the door. If this was a relationship I’d be researching numbers for a freelance assassin, I tell you. The package was such a pleasant surprise though, containing two of Jennifer Loiselle‘s perspex necklace/headband designs that I’d seen in Susie’s post not a year ago. The designs are right up my alley – bold necklace that doesn’t require any intuitive jewellery layering skills (that I haz not), and can be worn on head or neck. Apart from the fact that the spikey number is a bit lethal and I’m a little afraid to mount it on my head, they’re a perfect addition to the family (Cow says hi). Thank you Jennifer!

On a separate note, I’m pretty sure in a few more weeks of this slush snow London will be looking to purchase a giant bottle of Head & Shoulders for dandruff control. Oh yes, I remember, last year they had to buy emergency salt from Spain because of said ‘snow’. Krakow has knee-high snow, I hear, and life goes on. LEARN, LONDON.

Thank you Kit for the photos!

Jacket – Courtesy of H! by Henry Holland for Debenhams, Black shirt with back-hole – ASOS, Orange top – La Moxie, Scarf – FCUK, Jeans – Uniqlo, Boots – Zara

Leave it to my brother to book things way early in advance – he’s got paranoia-duty in my family and is infamous for backup plans ranging from B-Z and travelling with one too many papers to prove that he is indeed who he is. Alright, I guess he’s not that bad since we both found ourselves severely broke this month, but he’d bought a pair of tickets to the Tennis ATP Finals live at the O2 area a few months ago, along with his weekend ticket to London (erasmus in Spain at the moment). I’ve never experienced anything like that, to tell the truth, it was exhilarating walking into the arena – full to the brim with thousands and thousands. Thankfully, the gentlemanly nature of tennis seems to plant a somewhat civilized behaviour in the said army of onlookers and apart from the occasional GO ANDY (Roddick) I LOVE YOU it was such a pleasant crowd experience. Who knew a tennis match would rekindle my (lost?) hope for civil manners? A roar of clapping never sounded so gentle and encouraging.