LOVE

New internship.

I start today

wish me luck.

bisou bisou

Tadpole

1883

I left this amazing place on Friday after 2 months of amazingness. 

The next issue is out in the end of January so get it!!! 1883 will be huge!!

bisou bisou

Tadpole

Chelsea Football Focus

courtesy of www. guardian.co.uk

 Where to begin. I've been in shock and busy so this post is belated. Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to QPR began this hellish week. There are so many questions to ask. Why were Chelsea down to 9 men at QPR? What's with John Terry and the racism row? Scraping through the Carling Cup with 10 men at Everton? And how did we lose (deeply upsetting me) to a weak Arsenal team yesterday 5-3?

courtesy of www. guardian.co.uk

Yes it is definitely Halloween at Stamford Bridge but its not all doom and gloom (!). The week forces AVB's hand and that is the only positive about this. It's no trick (or treat- sorry I couldn't resist) that Chelsea have lost. Our defence is awful and has been since last year. I am ashamed to have John Terry as my captain as he sets the worse example to any footballers. This  racism row with Anton Ferdinand is the latest in a long string of indiscretions. TBH I think Lampard needs the promotion.

Anyhoo, John Terry aside, the rest aren't not good enough. A lot rested on Ashley Cole and now he is in decline, the weaknesses of the others are even more exposed. Ivanovic, Bosingwa and Ferreira are NOT good enough. Cech is the only saving grace but we have no backup. We spent well for the midfield and forwards (when Torres decides to score again- fool) but forgot about our defence. This is a sad case of affairs as Chelsea teams are built on out defence. Stamford Bridge used to be a fortress and now? it doesn't bear thinking about. We need defensive backup!

A new problem is discipline. As far as I'm concerned and regardless of the success-starved Arsenal fans opinion, if we had had Drogba we would have won. But no we didn't because of a stupid red card. We've lost him and Torres-our main strikers and, while Sturridge has been playing well, there really is no comparison experience-wise. The red cards have come from recklessness which steams from the confidence that AVB has installed in the team. This can only be positive as we are playing prettier things but we need to cut it out and have kinder referees. We'e usually top of this fair play ratings but not now.

The worse thing about all of this is that it happened around this time last year to Ancelotti and to Scolari before he got sacked. Something is rotten in the state of Chelsea. I used to say it was Peter Kenyon's fault but he's left. I reckon there is a warped player mentality and it stems from John Terry's rubbishness. He needs to be knocked down a peg or two.

I am looking forward to a thumping Chelsea performance against Genk in the Champions League to banish this nightmare. Also AVB is doing really well handling this but radical changes need to happen. Is he man enough (and hot enough) to do it?

I really hope so or we run the risk of turning into defensive Arsenal (pretty to watch but not good enough to win anything) which is not cool.

bisou bisou from a sad Tadpole

Putting my face on

I never wear makeup. Apart from special occasions, I mean. I tend to smudge it and ruin all my hard work. However I've been quietly accumulating a rather large selection to choose from when I do take the plunge.

I love love to have glitter/sequins on my face which explains the pots of sequins and glitter as well as the gold Urban Decay eyeliner I got on my first ever trip to Paris and the heart glitter palette from Urban Outfitters. I've just realised I have secret Yves Saint Laurent makeup addiction. I've received YSL Volume Effect mascara and nail polish from amazing friends on my last 2 birthdays and recently obtained the holy grail of concealer- Touche Eclat in number 6. I've only used it once but I love it so much!

My signature perfume is Jean Paul Gaultier 'Classique' for the bottle as much as the scent. This glitter bottle is a limited edition version bought to cheer me up after a trip to Nigeria (that's for another time). I lost my MAC virginity when I went to New York back at the end of June. The sales assistant found me my perfect foundation: Mineralize with SPF 15 in NC44-one I can't feel when I'm wearing it; and some Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Ambering Rose to emphasis my rosy checks (only when exercising otherwise). On my eyes I wear a combination of mascara (YSL, Loreal or Rouge Bunny Rouge) and eye-liner (the cheapest one in Superdrug). I don't really wear eye shadow but have been wearing my new Chanel Illusion D'ombre  in 83 illusoire, courtesy of Tank who gave it to me when I left, which is amazing.

I follow the makeup rule of eyes or lips and so lipstick happens very very rarely. The bottom 3 are all from Sleek and I'm really feeling the dark Mulberry one at the moment.  The top one is from Kate Moss' new Rimmel lipstick range which is really summery. I have a purple/silver lipstick and I really need some blue, gold, black and dark red lipstick in my life. New York also brought lip stains to my attention and I have Benefit's benetint (which I wear all the time), high beam and posie tint which I'll wear if I'm not using my Coco Butter lip balm. The Nars Body Illuminator tube at the top is for extra, natural shimmer. Finally I don't really paint my nails as I don't have the patience to wait for it to dry. I tried Chanel AW perdiot nail polish which was amazing but I smudged it within 5 mins of putting it on. The red, silver and black glitter nail polish is from Forever 21.

Phew, I sounds like I have and wear a lot of makeup but this lot will probably last me about 5 years. Seriously.

bisou bisou 

Tadpole

American Apparel Rummage Sale

 After the success (and riots) that the American Apparel Rummage Sale brought to the Old Truman Brewery in East London back in April, they're back with The American Apparel Flea Market. Open for business between 21st and 25th October 9am-9pm, there is no excuse not to check out it. American Apparel often pops up in fashion shoots and is great for basics but the prices often stop me reaching for my purse. So of course I lined up bright and early this morning to grab my AA bargains. After turning down a complementary cheese bagel, I finally made it into the warehouse.

Now I have found myself in the Old Truman Brewery a few times in the last few years, namely for the University of the Arts freshers fairs and for other sales and events; but AA always knock it out of the ballpark. Unlike the last sale, the stock available was the same as in the normal stores. So I was able to tick some items off my mental wish list. It was , as one girl eloquently put it, 'H&M prices for American Apparel clothes'. There were dresses/ skirts for £12, sweaters for £16, pleated skirts £20, hoodies £15 and so much more! My best buys were an oversized patent tote for £6 to fit my life and my laptop in , the 3D red rose mesh top I'd been style-crushing on for over a year at £16 and the high waisted zipper jeans for £12. My top tip- get there very early, travel light, wear comfortable shoes and prepare to spend a lot of money.

bisou bisou

Tadpole

Chelsea Football Focus

Courtsey of BBC Sport website

I haven't actually seen the highlights of the Champions League match Chelsea vs Genk but from the BBC Sport football live text I've been furiously refreshing on my phone,  the 5-0 thrashing my team delivered is well worth the wait. I've gaged that Torres' suspension has done him some good as he scored a brace and the whole team generally played really well. Lampard and Bosingwa were singled out as good performers and we kept a rare home clean sheet. Whilst this seems good on the surface, the Champions League is our bogey competition and the result is completely expected as we are the better team.

I'll watch the highlights in the next hour and I must say I'm so glad that the Premiership and Champions League football is back after the international break. I really missed it and the dour England game was really no comparison. Chelsea beat Everton last Saturday which was a minor surprise as we always seem to draw with Everton. What seems evident to me is that I can no longer call this team 'Mourinho's' as I did when when Avram Grant, Scolari and Ancelotti were in charge. Although some of the personnel are the same, AVB has really imprinted his footballing blueprint into the way Chelsea are playing. We pass more, attack more and make more gorgeous moves. The down side is that our defense, once unbreakable, is porous but it all seems to be working right now so I'm happy. We are also chugging along nicely in the title race, only 3 points behind leaders Man City. I will be watching the Manchester Derby closely and I reckon a draw would be the best outcome so we can win and be 1 point behind the leaders.

Finally there has been talk about moving from Stamford Bridge to a new and larger stadium. I personally think that it is essential for our growth as a football club. Stamford Bridge is a small stadium and we are a football club in debt. Football is a business and in order to have cheaper tickets because there are more seats and to create a greater atmosphere and fortress on par with Old Trafford, it is a good move. That said, Stamford Bridge is an amazing amphitheatre for our club and it would be sad to leave  but not going really limits our club's potential. Chelsea are a big club so we should have a stadium that matches our elite status.

bisous bisous

Tadpole

1883 Magazine x Moniker Art Project

 Highlights from the 1883 x Moniker Art project party. It was held at in the incredible exhibition space at Village Underground in Shoreditch. I invited some friends and we all had a great time. The DJ and band was great and I am so proud of everything 1883 magazine has achieved to date. Remember them. They are going to be huge www.1883magazine.com

1883 party!!!

So excited about this.

Blog post tomorrow...

bisou bisou

Tadpole

Chopard 'Happy Mickey' Launch

I went to Chopard's 'Happy Mickey' Launch last week which you can read about here.
It was so much fun and when I left we got some goodies

Mickey ears, look book, mickey mouse tshirt

I also got this cute souvenir picture of myself, Charlie of girlalamode and Kit from Style Slicker.

bisou bisou

Tadpole

Afro beats

I need these African inspired pieces in my life.
This bag is by Ugo's boutique and is currently sold out right now :(

And this bikini is by Bantu Wax stocked on netaporter. I am not a bikini wearer but I love high-waisted things and I definitely want one for next summer to do the 1950s pin up vibe with a twist.

bisou bisou
Tadpole

Superstar Inbar Spector

I interviewed Inbar Spector about 10 days before her show for 1883 Digital and I had no inkling of what to expect from her show. But it really blew me away. It was set up like an Orthodox church complete with stained glass windows, semi darkness and an echoing hymn-like soundtracks. In her interview Inbar talks about the masculine/feminine interlinking and she played on this with heavily oversized gold jackets paired with delicate, netted mini dresses. Then she moved onto short sharp laser-cut metallic shift dresses. The highlight were her spectacular pastel coloured honeycomb dresses simultaneously reminiscent of ballerina tutus and Elizabeth ruffs. There was also an Elizabethan twist to some of gown silhouettes with farthingale shaped skirts (which excited me as Elizabeth I is my ultimate style icon). The metallic accents shimmered hardening the softness of the chiffon. The collection screamed femininity but it remained edgy due to the violent undertone in the slashes, cuts and brutal draping of fabric.

The finale to Michael Jackson's Thriller.

bisou bisou

Tadpole

Kanye West and Beyonce's House of Dereon

Both Kanye West and Beyonce are phenomenal musical artists who have decided to launch fashion ranges. Beyonce's House of Dereon has been round for a while in the US but she launched it in the UK in Selfridges during London Fashion Week (I somehow acquired a ticket but went to Dominic Jones and Fashion Fringe instead). Unfortunately it was a fashion fail. My mum and I commented that one could get something very similar at RISKY for a tenth of the price. There was no innovation, no unique selling point (apart from having Beyonce's name on it), and you couldn't even say you're dressing like Beyonce as she clearly doesn't wear this. The pieces had that rude-girl/ hip hop vibe that works in the US but not here as we are more creative and individual in our dressing than that. Regardless it will sell because it is Beyonce but I won't be getting any of it.

Kanye West showed his debut collection at Paris Fashion Week this week to the kind of fanfare usually reserved for Dior or Chanel. With Carine, the Olsens and other influential fashionistas front row, his show failed to live up to the hype. Don't get me wrong- the production, the models, everything else was perfect but the clothes let it all down. This designing lark isn't that easy even if you're shadowing Central Saint Martin's students. I did like certain ideas- the furry backpacks were cool, there were some cool trousers and I loved the white layered looks. But it borrowed heavily from past Balmain collections with a dash of Celine and Herve Ledger and lacked a unique design language. Again nothing really innovative or exceptional was delivered and Kanye West must be scratching his head trying to figure out how the Olsens and Victoria Beckham are succeeding when you could put their acclaimed clothing lines in the same category.

MY FAVOURITE LOOK

MY EQUAL FAVOURITE LOOK

 All Kanye West collection pictures from style.com




bisou bisou
Tadpole

Chelsea Football Focus

from BBC sport

Chelsea beat Bolton 5-1 today. Whilst expected, the game produced some talking points. First and foremost, it was fantastic to see Lampard's hat-trick- could he be the new Ryan Giggs (only in a footballing sense though, eww)? His 3rd goal was exquisite. He is a superb player, a vital part of Chelsea's recent success and so important to the team. Villas- Boas' rotation policy can only help him to prolong his career and on this performance, in his 350th game for Chelsea, he will win more accolades too. Sturridge is my Chelsea marmite player- I go from love to hate and back again. Today it was love for him and his goals, particularly scoring after 90 seconds but also for Owen Coyle who made him into a goal-scoring machine. However it is still worrying that we can't keep a clean sheet at the moment. It seems clear to me that goal difference is going to be important come the end of the season and, as the Manchester clubs have started as we did last season (with a stupid amount of goals) we have to keep ours as high as possible. John Obi Mikel is my Chelsea mushroom player (don't laugh) i.e. I deteste him. I really think he is incredibly overrated and lazy. He always makes mistakes and seems to have some part in the goals that are scored against us. On the whole a good performance but it could have been better as Bolton were so bad. Next up Everton, one of our bogey teams...

bisou bisou

Tadpole

London Fashion Week Focus: Dominic Jones

Dominic Jones has been on my radar for a while. His edgy, witchy, simple designs caught my eye whilst I interned at Brown Focus, one of his stockists. Then the Alice Dellal (one of my style crushes) connection was made and I loved them even more. I went to his presentation at the Portico Rooms at London Fashion Week and immediately wanted every piece I saw. I loved the rings the most and the photographs of his friends modelling the jewellery. Hopefully I'll catch the next sample sale...

 bisou bisou,
Tadpole