Sunday cuppa and... Lucy Rose

I discovered this before realising "Red Face" was being played on the radio. This song really touched me  after discovering her whilst watching the current season of Skins (episode 2) - which featured "Don't You Worry"another beautiful song. She's toured with Bombay Bicycle Club (providing backing vocals) and Noah & The Whale. Triniman describes her vocals as "quiet and precious."

Lucy Rose knows her feet, her style and I've read she serves cups of Tea at her gigs. What more in a modern singer/ songwriter do we need?

Also heavily addicted to Jack Steadman's remix. Go out with this, wake up to the original. Listen here:

Buds of Spring

It's been a while - I'm happy to have a weekend free to relax about London. February was a busy one and my extreme case of bad luck seems to have eased (I can safely say I am touching wood.) So I am happily back to writing about what I love. 

A catchup on the last few fashion fuelled weeks is my first priority. Namely the street style prints I have been saving and dreaming about. The sun has been peaking out here in London so let spring begin!

Hackney Picturehouse; Dinner and a movie

Katie from Whirlygig Cinema treated me to Hackney Picture House to see The Descendants. 

The film was defiantly my favourite so far in 2012, and not just because of George Clooney. I loved all the strong characters and was moved by every performance. The Guardian summed up Clooney, who plays Matt King, perfectly as " eager to play the fool... yet here he clings to to his dignity while doing it."  Alexander, Matt's eldest daughter, brings along her stoner friend Sid for the ride and moral support. His lines are hilarious and he's always on standby to lighten the mood. The family's story is heart-breaking and director Alexander Payne (Sideways, 2004) is refreshing honest about the physical effects of comer patients. By my standards, a film in which I am constantly either crying or laughing is a definite winner. Read The Guardian’s spot on review here

Out of the films I've seen recently; The Artist is a requirement, Shame isn't everyones cup of tea, and The Descendants is a safe bet.

After the film, we descended (...) to the bar & kitchen. We chose two pizzettes along with homemade spring rolls to share. It was all satisfying on the taste buds and I am keen to go back to try their burgers which have recieved rave reviews.  There is also a range of yummy cakes on offer for those sweet cravings. In addition to the bar & kitchen on the ground floor, there is a bar on the second floor and the Hackney Attic that hosts a film quiz and live music events.

Spotlight; Jonathan Saunders

(images from Style Bubble)

Since becoming aware of Jonathan Saunders' signature style, I have spotted his accessable collections on sporting by both women and men of all ages more and more.

It is fantastic news that he has won this years BFC/ Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. The Scottish-born designer will receive a £200,000 cash price as well as a bespoke mentoring programme which will help him to achieve his business goals over the next 12 months. I am looking forward to seeing where his talents progress to with this opportunity.

The Independant described his spring collection, Resort, as "part 1950's housewife, part Miami-resort vibrancy" as his "finest yet." The show puts the 'pop' into current pop-culture and beautifully embraces the spot-on fashion trends of the season.   

Read the full article from Vogue here.

FutureFrock & VV Vintage

My new favourite online check in. FutureFrock; Empowerment Dressing is a quarterly online magazine which showcases "only the most beautiful of fashion-forward ethical products" to those who aren't looking to comprimise style to their ethical morals. It's contributers are made up of a stunning collection of those at the top of their game in their ethical styling know. FutureFrocks shoots promote the oozing intelligent sex appeal ethical fashion has as the as the only smart way forward. 

I'm looking forward to seeing the results of their collaborative project with ethical stylist Lucy Harvey and Green Lens Studios for Real Women, Sustainable Style, later in the year. The aim is to create a series of images that celebreate the individuality of the sitter. Realisitc images of beauty can have a postivie impact on the way we women view ourselves and our place in fashion's dialogue.  

http://www.futurefrock.com/                   
http://futurefrock.wordpress.com/

Futurenews:  VV Vintage

Singer VV Brown and  Lola Peach have launched a powerhouse for high-end up-cycled and collect vintage pieces with an ethos that "fashion can create a place where everyone beneftits." What I love best about this vintage store is that it offers a range of unique collectables from a variety of price points to suit all. I've especially got a lot of love for the Samurai Contemporary Jacket, found amongst the Japenese designers market. What a creation at £500. Alternatively there is the Gold Velvet Text Jumpsuit for just £66. 

The two creatives have teamed up with Oxfam  to provide emerging designers to customize and up-cycle the charity's resource of unused materials. To be apart from DWO (Design with Oxfam) send a bit about you and examples of your work to dwo@vvvintage.com.

Check out their DVO video below and find them on-line at VV Vintage

Perfect sunday start

Breakfast at The Counter Cafe, Hackney Wick

Poached eggs on crispy potato cakes with salmon 

What a perfect way to spend sunday brunch following a Victoria Park Village pub crawl. Certainly tasted as good as fresh as this picture gives credit for. Although the service was a little confused, the gorgeous menu, relaxed setting overlooking the 2012 London Olympic site, and very fair price point make it all a very laid-back worthwhile experience. (Plus the confusion scored me a free tea!) Head down before 11.00am to beat the inevitable queue, and you'll be full till dinner. 

http://thecountercafe.co.uk/

Resolutions/ On my radar

My three new year resolutions;

1. Get back into music - my itunes has been lacking in new excitement for the last year or so. Tracks on radar:

2. Read all the books I've started in the last three years. At the moment I'm continuing with Caitlin Moran's 'How to be a Women' - refreshingly honest and very funny however I often have to hide the pages if I'm reading on the train. I'm never quite certain how eye catching "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CALL HER VAGINA?"/ "THERE ARE MEN OUT THERE HAVING SEX WITH BICYCLES" is to the person standing/ sitting next to me - but I'm sure that says more about myself than the book. My director certainly gave me an extremely odd, judgemental look when I was reading on my lunch break, I know that much. Having said that, it is defiantly the book to break my reading barrier as the chapters are beginning to fly by.

3. And finally to start regularly doing my Pilates DVD and to start running with the 'Couch to 5K' app. Did 20 minutes of matt work this morning. 

So far so good with the 2012 aims.