Michael Stipe for Marc Jacobs...so refreshing!

Sorry for the delay...a reliable WiFi connection has been hard to find while travelling around the south of Spain (especially in the beautifully traditional white villages). Here's one thing that has definitely caught my eye; this startling ad campaign by Marc Jacobs. I love it. It jumped off the page of the magazine! Michael Stipe looks so innocent and fashionably unaware, genius! I shall continue to do my best to post but at the same time, it is nice to be cut-off and unobtainable for a change.

Little bit if me time...off on my travels!

There won't be any post for a little while as Mr. Things of Random Coolness and I are hiring a Smart Car and travelling around Spain and France. We'll be away for a few weeks but hopefully I'll be able to WiFi post when we settle somewhere for more than one night. I should have plenty of Random Fashion Coolness for you all, as we are hoping to take in most of the major cities. Will keep you all informed. Bye for now. R x

Urban Outfitters - The fall wardrobe starts to take shape

Urban Outfitters (.com), have just released their fall preview line and I must say it is very appealing. I have picked a few of my favourites above but you can feast your eyes here and make your own choices. Hopefully they will soon arrive in the U.K. store, so I may purchase some! Above is my first use of Photoshop to aid my blog, hopefully this will get better soon!

Temperley London - The true beauty of the Fall collection begins to reveal itself.

I truly underestimated the intricate detail behind Alice Temperley's most recent collection. Unless you see the collections in person at the catwalk show, it is difficult to appreciate the beauty of the clothes. So, I love this time of year when the Fall ad campaigns start to appear and celebrities start wearing the looks; it's as if the true beauty of the collections is revealed. Above are the shots from Temperley's website, adding a sense of true dramatism to each look, epitomising the name of the collection, "Beauty in Exile". The shots below illustrate my point perfectly. The Long Treasure Godess Dress oozes sophistication on the catwalk, yet during Nicole Richie's Marie Claire shoot, a hidden dimension is revealed. The back detail is breathtaking, something I was oblivious to upon viewing the catwalk stills. So lets see what other surprises the designer collections have hidden up their sleeves!

American Apparel - Buy your gold lame leggings from even more UK stores!

The ONLY downside of eShopping - being unsure of your size. You then have to order a couple of sizes for each item, pay for them all...then maybe wait an eon for a refund on your unwanted items. That's been the only drawback for me concerning American Apparel; I've never been sure of my exact size as far as their products go, especially when many items are unisex in their sizing. I've been able to attempt to gauge my size while in Paris or the U.S. but now more U.K. based stores are opening, I can try on to my heart's content! The new store is in Kensington High Street and another is coming soon in Brighton. I'm just praying that A.A. move to more locations outside of the home counties. So now you can try on your gold lame/metallic silver leggings in even more U.K. locations and not have to order 3 pairs online!

The Simpsons do High Fashion...genius!

Harper's Bazaar have just featured one of the most inventive fashion spreads I have seen for quite some time. The Simpsons go to Paris with Linda Evangelista and are dressed by several designers. The genius element - the clothes are actually part of the current collections in cartoon form! Feast your eyes on Matt Groening's fashionable delights! (Click on the images below to enlarge). Thanks to Dlisted for the scans.

Antoni & Alison - Let your accessories speak for you.

The regular readers of my blog will know of my love for Antoni and Alison but their new additions to the collection have left me drooling (in a fashionable sense!). I'm not a huge fan of logos or bold statements but I do have a soft spot for fashion with a sense of humour and a big splash of sarcasm! These bags and purses literally speak for themselves, so enjoy!

I love them...I probably shouldn't...but I do!

So, this is a contentious post...for some reason, unbeknownst even to myself, I really like these shoes. BUT only to look at, I'm not really sure I could actually wear them, or could I! You can see the quandary these sandals have put me in! These wing back sandals by Irregular Choice are so appealing; I think they need to be tried on to settle this internal conflict! (Click on the images above to enlarge)

FluffsStuffs - kitsch in fabric.

FluffsStuffs produce a fantastic range of jewellery, all made from material. I love the "snack based" theme behind the items above - teas, cakes and sweets; does it get any better?!! All items are available from Hannah Zakari.

Topshop Archive Collection - All the whites.

Topshop's Archive collection is something I have been looking forward to for a while. What is this collection:

Showcasing a fantastic selection of dresses internationally sourced by our in-house buying team, Archive reveals how the British high street has always been at the forefront of fashion. With pieces from the likes of Biba, Bus Stop, Ossie Clark, Mary Quant, Jean Varon and Radley to come, it's a top-of-the-chocolate box selection of rare finds for die-hard vintage collectors.

The pieces that have caught my eye include these white shirt/smock tops. Top is a white broderie anglaise cotton blouse by Lee Bender for Bus Stop and below a 1960's white cotton blouse by Mary Quant. The frills and flamboyance are so attractive and have that element of extravagant fashion that I love. None of the items in the archive collection are cheap but they are one-off vintage pieces that show some of the true inspiration behind Topshop's looks. With the promise of more great pieces to come, Topshop has added another prosperous strig to its bow.

Rotter and Friends - Music and Design collide.

Jess Rotter and Alison Zero pay homage to the likes of Bobby Gentry and Neil Young through their stunning designs under the label Rotter and Friends. Each t-shirt seems like a unique, vintage find; the only type of graphic tee that I love. The website blows me away. I love the quirky illustration and evocative photography. The site also has some fab designs to download as desktop wallpaper, they are guaranteed to make you smile. Rotter and Friends provide one of the most pretty sites I've seen in such a long time!

The New Season's looking fine.

The fall season is usually far from my mind during the summer but the weather has been unseasonably wintery, so my thoughts have drifted towards the warm and comfortable side of fashion. Net-a-Porter have already begun stocking new season items and here are two to definitely lust after. Top left is a Vivienne Westwood Red Label jacket, it has a subtle theatrical feel to it, very Blackadder! Right is a green silk habotai (Chinese silk) dress by McQ, the ruffling and layering - simply stunning. I shall begin saving now!

Topshop Luxury - equally appealing.

Topshop also provides an element of luxury with these oversized slouch bags. I didn't really give them a second glance on the website but in store, a fab, fashion expert friend of mine made a beeline towards these holdall size beauties, extolling their virtues. She opened my eyes to their true beauty! The leather is incredibly soft to the touch and the oversized look would compliment any arm! I did that stupid thing, when you try the bag on and take a look at yourself in the mirror! Big mistake - when you see what the bag could look like if it was actually yours, the psychological "want" sets in! At £100 they are a little pricey (especially for me at the moment!) but well worth it when you see the sheer amount of bag you get for your money.

Topshop Basics - Still the best.

With the plethora of good value, U.K. High Street stores (Primark, Peacocks, New Look etc.) it is hard to choose between them for the basics. Recently, Topshop has emerged head and shoulders above the rest (in my opinion only!!). These basic pintuck detail tops (scroll down the link page to find them) are an amazing find for £14 each! The pictures really do not do these tops justice - the pintuck detail is great and the fit (flap wing sleeves) is extremely flattering. I bought this top in electric blue, as it suits my colouring - I have to say Topshop triumphs for me!

Sonia Rykiel...simply enchanting.

The piece at the centre of Sonia Rykiel's campaign has completely enchanted me. Sunburnt orange is not a colour that usually suits me but the flow and detailing on this swing dress is delightful. On further inspection of the latest runway collection, one thing really stood out - the smiles on the models' faces. The models look as if they genuinely had fun at Sonia's show, quite a refreshing change. Maybe I'll take a look at some burnt orange...

Apologies for the lack of posts!

Just a quick apology. I know the posts have been very infrequent recently and I just wanted to explain why: a. I have been crazy busy at work, b. I have been poisoned by some FOOOOD! I am on the way to recovery now, so the posting shall begin again!

3.1 Phillip Lim Chiffon Blouse - OooohhH

There is nothing to say, other than I am completely enchanted by it. Make up your own mind here.

Makool - A Refreshing Change.

Makool is an independent clothing label based in the U.S. Their quirky, breezy take on fashion is refreshing, particularly in these dark days of what isn't summertime in Britain! I'm loving their use of socks and sandals, which despite posting about frequently, I still haven't got the guts to try out! Check out their website and e-store for more original items.