BookCrossing Books

Walking past a phone box on my way home a few months ago, i caught a glimpse of an abandoned book inside. Never one to walk past these kind of things, i stepped inside and not only did i find a book, but also a wonderful story! My new book was part of a social sharing experiment called 'BookCrossing'.

Billing itself as the worlds library, BookCrossing is a wonderful way of connecting people through books, by creating a social network of book sharers all around the world! The social experiment, which started in 2001, encourages you to release your books into the wild, for others to enjoy, whilst tracking its progress through a central site. Now, i love anything with a story, so this was right up my street. The weird thing is once i looked back through my book's history, it actually originated from a small town up north, very close to where my parents live...small world, eh?! i love David Attenborough, so was well chuffed with my find. And after enjoying The Trials of Life for the past few months,  i'll be sending it on its merry way soon. Now where do i leave it...

Random acts of Kindness

There is nothing like an act of selfless kindness to warm the heart. And yes, they were delicious. A lovely surprise on my morning walk to the station.

Columbia Road Flower Market

LFW S/S'13 Christopher Kane

LFW SS'13 - Erdem

It was the colour palette and textures that drew me to Erdem Moralioglu's show. Sherbety pastels were punctuated with acidic oranges and neon yellow, giving a day-glo pop to the heavily embroidered and appliquéd fabrics. His signature lace was toughened with the welcome introduction of snakeskin, bringing a harder edge to the otherwise typically feminine collection. Inspiration for the show came from Zenna Henderson, a 1950s Sci-Fi novelist, (hence the silhouettes), leading Erdem to create an otherworldly concept, of woman who were trying fit in on Earth...By splicing colours and textures that don't usually mix, Erdem created a desirable and once again incredibly wearable collection.

LFW SS'13 - Topshop Unique

The Topshop Unique show had a lot to live up to after its successful, 'coming of age' show last a/w, where it seemed the Topshop girl had gone all grown up on us. Expectations were high...

With the sofa pushed right up to the tv and the show streaming live, these are the notes i scribbled as i watched, all whilst making a mental shopping list! From the off it looked like
clean lines, space age (more for the show space than the collection) and the Bauhaus were major inspirations. The linear prints and circular motifs evoking the less obvious of Bauhaus connotations, but certainly drawing on the best and most sophisticated work of the design house. Colours were tonal with flashes of primrose yellow, silver and later, deep sapphire blue. The slouchy trouser looks to become a staple piece, with boxy blouses, loose fit tees and long line jackets providing the perfect accompaniment. Sheer, fabrics, silks and relaxed silhouettes helped create a lightness to the collection, that will not doubt be as covetable, if not more, than the last. The countdown to launch is on!

The Bauhaus - Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

The Bauhaus - Josef Albers. Skyscrapers on Transparent Yellow, c. 1929.

The Bauhaus - Anni Albers, Wall hanging. 1926

The Bauhaus -  Josef Albers, Stained-glass window Sommerfeld House, Berlin, 1920/21

The Bauhaus - Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

LFW SS'13 - The Topshop Experience

The constant trend setter. Who'd have thought that on the back of their achingly desirable AW '12 Unique collection (the best selling range to date) Topshop could raise the bar to further dizzying levels. The collection was gorgeous, but more on that later...This was literally one helluva Unique experience for their SS '13 outing. This was THE first customisation of a catwalk EVER. This means real-time customised, catwalk shopping people!

If, you weren't around, let me set the scene. You've got your nose pressed up to the screen. The countdown is on and the anticipation is building back stage, where you have an exclusive view as models are primped an preened right up until the last second. You like their 'look'? Well guess what?! You can buy the product instantly and re-create it within 48 hours. Sorted!

On a second screen you can see the FROW start to fill with celebs and journos. As the lights lift and the music starts (another instant purchase through iTunes, if you so wish!), the world watches Jordan Dunn strut down the catwalk in a sheer panelled shift dress. Before Dunn even manages to make it round the catwalk, that same dress could be yours... in a colour of your choice... months before it's due in store. Unbelievable. And very dangerous!

The social experience was off the scale. The brand have been streaming the show on their site for the last few seasons, bringing the front row experience to our living rooms...but this was on another level!

Oh and the experience didn't end there! Topshop also worked with Facebook to create a 'shoot the show' button allowing an instantaneous sharing experience of favourite looks and an immediate media buzz. Very savvy.

So is this the future? You can be sure that other designers will follow suit with digital experiences come February. But you can guarantee Topshop will have already moved it on. Giving us something we didn't even know was possible.