Secret Dalston: LN-CC

Last week, while on a “fashion walk” around London’s east end, (that’s another story) I had the experience of visiting Dalston’s LN-CC - Late Night Chameleon Café - a concept boutique/event space/art gallery tucked away underneath an otherwise non-descript building on Shacklewell Lane. It opened last year and has fast become a figurehead for fashion in east London, offering a welcome relief from the all the over-priced pseudo vintage tat and influx of high street brands that permeate Brick Lane and Shoreditch. On this occasion, the group I was with was able to chat to the boutique's John and Charlotte, (John is the creative director) who explained a bit about the development. While the project has seemingly moved incredibly quickly, from conception to realisation, this growth is the organic result of a group of like-minded and creative people, which is why the whole thing works so well, without seeming pretentious or contrived (always a risk with these concept stores). The whole team has a long background in retail, and knew exactly what they want to do to try to evolve the business a little bit, while still retaining a workable shopping experience.

The interior is designed by artist Gary Card, chosen by the team because of their desire to see an artist that they love given a permanent installation space, and the result is a wonderland like maze of Perspex and wood, tunnels and a treehouse. The buying transcends “it” items and current fads or trends – you may well find things by major designers there that other buyers might pass by, which is perhaps because the pieces don’t necessarily fall into whatever trend is being peddled by magazines at the time. Everything feels like it’s been chosen because it’s special and different in it’s own right – no filler to be found here. Charlotte told us that they are soon to be expanding the womenswear section into a brand new room, which is exciting news for me and will definitely see me back there when that happens. My particular object of desire was the Maison Martin Margiela feather clutch bag, which I’d seen before online and was just as taken with in real life.

The reason for my ending up at LN-CC this time was actually not with the intention of doing any writing specifically on them, but I find it such an interesting place that I couldn’t resist. It’s completely worth a visit, and don’t let the “appointment only” thing put you off, its just so that they know there will be someone around to welcome you and give you a bit of info about the shop. It's probably one of the most interesting and modern places for fashion around at the moment, and I predict that we'll see some pretty good things from it in the future.

The Margiela clutch...

Ah! Now I know. I know that Miranda is a Botticelli angel.

I have never really worn much white. I mean, I'm happy in a white shirt or a white vest: any more and I find it too girlish for my taste and I generally just look and feel uncomfortable. However, after watching the 1975 film, 'Picnic at Hanging Rock', the other week I have been strangely drawn to lots of white, pretty items.



Then I found these images from Danish Vogue and I was convinced that white might become my "new thing".



I want to be that mysterious girl in white! A young Mrs. Havisham would've looked elegant (shame about the going crazy part because that dress looks like fun to flounce in), and look at Ophelia- OK so she's about to die in a lake but at least she looks good doing it. And Valerie in 'Valerie a týden divu' is cute too.



Now, the more I think of it the more I realise that unfortunate things happen to girls in white. Just judging by these examples there is death, madness, dissapearances and attempted rape by an utterly terrifying clergyman. All that gleaming white innocence is too much to handle. Maybe I'd rather stick to black.

Secret Danger: May

Come and see the boys doing their usual thing this Saturday at the Moustache bar in Dalston/Stoke Newington. The facebook event is here.

Again, watch out for me and Katie with our cameras. We promise to be a little less drunk this time! Is it possibly time for a Secret Danger Sister group shot?!

See you all there!

Paper doll.

My friend Lauren works in art direction and is amazing at photography. The other day we decided to have a little play with making clothes out of paper and taking photos through different bits of glass to get different effects. These first few were actually done through a clear jar. Thought I would share them, as they turned out, unexpectedly, to be quite cool.

Life's a Bleach

On Monday I finally took the plunge and trotted along to BLEACH salon to get my beloved red stripped out, in exchange for blonde. For those of you who haven't been listening to me consult them endlessly on this for the last month or so, red hair is a pretty difficult colour to maintain, and fantastically difficult and expensive to remove. To give you an idea, I had a consultation with another salon to discuss it, and they told me that I'd be better off just cutting it all off.

Bleach salon is without a doubt the best hairdressing experience I've ever had - it feels like hanging out in your friend's kitchen, if all your friends happen to be professional hairdressers and manicurists. They work with WAH nails in the underbelly of Topshop (but don't let that put you off, it's pretty safe from the prying eyes of customers). If you have a hair challenge - a dye job gone wrong or you want a colour that other salons will balk at, Bleach is the place to go. There was none of the lacklustre examining of my hair and tutting at my use of home dyes that I've experienced elsewhere. They didn't even scoff at my tendency to cut my own fringe. They're adventurous enough to try pretty much anything, but they're good enough at their job to know exactly how far they can push it.

My hair is now a bright golden blonde, and its amazing how soft it still is, considering what it's been through. Despite what other salons said, all the colour lifted out brilliantly, which just goes to show that nothing is impossible until you've asked Bleach.

Below you can see the stages that my hair went through during my afternoon in the basement of Topshop. First, the bleach bath (pre-lightening with a mixture of bleach and shampoo). Next, the main bleach application, complete with glamorous self-heating plastic bag. Finally - BLONDE!

If anyone wants to join me, I'll be back at the end of the summer for one of their temporary colour treatments - I've got my eye on a particular peachy shade of pink.

Fishnet stockings are too sexy.

French Connection campaign / ASOS magazine November 2010

I really like this image from the French Connection summer campaign. I noticed it for the first time on the Waterloo and City line platform at Bank and have been a little obsessed ever since. Unfortunately, not even I feel confident enough to wear fishnet stockings with a white crochet dress and heels whilst sucking ketchup off my fingers on a curb. No matter how cool that model looks in the photo, I would definitely end up looking more like a hooker. Or worse, a try-hard. So instead I looked more to the image on the right as inspiration for a going out outfit involving fishnets...and ended up basically copying it.


Gap shirt, vintage skirt, fishnet tights from a Whitechapel market stall, New Look shoes, Topshop lipstick in Vamp.

(Sorry about the creases!)

She Sells Sea Shells on the Sea Shore

Growing up by the seaside, I have always been fascinated by mermaids. Although said seaside happens to be the not so fanciful Blackpool, that has never dampened my love of 'The Little Mermaid', 'Splash' and the far too brief mermaid scene from 'Hook'.

Design trio Sretsis (spelling sisters backwards to reflect the collaboration of 3 siblings) have created a Spring/ Summer collection that my sea legs are lusting after. Stunning pearl and shell embellishments decorate delicate frills and sheer fabrics to make the whimsical outfits of my childhood dreams.

Available here!

The Trouble with Flares pt. II: Palazzo Pants

I'm still pretty much on the fence regarding flared or wide-legged trousers, but went for these Primark ones because a) the print pleased me and b) at £12 it seemed like a fairly harmless introduction to this particular genre of trouser. They are however, pretty tricky to style, and the best I've so far managed to do is to pair them with summery clog-style sandals (you have to wear them with a heel or you really do look like a hippy) and a super-plain grey t-shirt. They're also surprisingly weather-dependent; aside from the fact that they soak up rain, they also look bizarre in anything less than blazing sunshine. The print also makes accessories impossible, and you have to be careful with hair and makeup to avoid looking like you're going to a 70s themed pool party. Having said that, if anyone wants to host a Boogie Nights themed bash, my costume is competely sorted.

Trousers from Primark, clogs from H&M, t-shirt from AA

The Cat's Whiskers

I love Miles Aldridge's work, in particular this editorial 'The Vagaries of Fashion' for Vogue Italia May 2008. I wouldn't mind a feline serenade instead of my usual alarm clock.

The trouble with flares.

I'm about to venture out in my new Topshop flares. I bought them quite a while ago, convincing myself it was a good idea and that I would look like one of these three...



What I actually found was that they are the most troublesome trousers to get right. You can't wear them...

• in the rain
• with flats
• with shoes that are too bulky
  
• with anything else that is too 70s
• on a bike

Also, are they a day or night trouser? Are they meant to be dressed up (see above, can't wear them with flats) or dressed down (they seem to want to be worn with a laid back shirt but then they are SO TIGHT that I feel it's a waste not to show off in them a bit). No wonder everyone loves their skinny jeans so much! They are decidedly easier to deal with.

Here's what I actually wore them with in the end.

Topshop flares, causing a stir nail varnish and infrared lipstick, Uniqlo top, New Look clog boots, Mum's old leather belt and the necklace was a gift.

I would post a photo of myself wearing them but I'm worried I might look like Jessica Simpson so I'm testing the waters first.

Field Day Night.

Ollie and John are DJing at this on Saturday. Amazingly, it's FREE. If you want guaranteed entry email the boys at secretdngr@gmail.com

See you all there!