MAYFLOWER SUPPLY FALL/WINTER 2014/15

I'm a huge advocate of the lookbooks that Liz creates for Mayflower Supply (read about their previous lookbooks here, here and here). Super creative, Liz is part of a New York collective of friends that I've admired from afar via the world of blogging and instagram for several years now. Two more of these gals, Hannah and Emily have come together in the making of this most recent lookbook - photographed by Hannah Metz and modelled and styled by Emily Theobald. 

For FW14/5, Liz was inspired by Woody Allen's leading ladies in the seventies; namely Meryl Streep in Kramer vs Kramer and Diane Keaton in Annie Hall. Hence, slightly androgynous styling with a seventies-meets-nineties (a decade that Emily pulls off flawlessly) aesthetic. You can't go wrong in floor length velvet skirts, rolled-up mum jeans, oversized denim jackets and borrowed-from-the-boyfriend knits with your hair oh-so-effortlessly tucked in. Head over to the shop to create the looks for yourself!

RUST AND GREEN

There's nothing more pleasing on the eye than a landscape of rust and green hues. This is my favourite time of year to get out and explore.

Scandi Stories

Everything about & Other Stories is aesthetically pleasing, right down to the behind the scenes goings on in their Stockholm-based Atelier. Mood-boards, colour charts and easels hang on huge white walls whilst packaging prototypes litter wooden desks. 

I have to confess, one of the places that I am most looking forward to visiting during my upcoming trip to Copenhagen is the & Other Stories store.

GIRL CRUSH: ANA KRAS

Serbian photographer, artist and general babe, Ana Kras has got to be one of the coolest gals on the planet right now. She's got that nonchalant Parisian-meets-LA style absolutely nailed, she's uber talented (photographer, artist, furniture designer - what can't she do?) and her relationship with Devendra Banhart is the stuff of contemporary fairy tales. She flies to LA to take photos of Devendra for a magazine, after 5 minutes of knowing her he asks her to marry him. She declines his offer, but stays in LA for their happy ever after. Too cool.

INSPIRED BY: PARI DUST

I love coming across something so completely different and unique in the vast, sheep-like world of fashion blogging. There's so many sites out there that are near impossible to distinguish from each other. That's why I was so overjoyed when I discovered the work of Pari Dust. Fusing exquisite works of art (seriously, I need to visit New York immediately if this is what the art scene is like!) with complementary clothing and make-up, Pari's creations are multi-dimensional. You can look at them from various angles - does the art makes spectacular backdrops for her fashion shoots; or does she, the model, simply provide the perfect accompaniment for the pieces she stands beside? 

SIMPLICITY

Ouur

I'm leaning more and more towards a Scandinavian clean and minimal aesthetic - in my appearance and in my surroundings. It may be the result of too much instagram stalking but I'm craving a big bucket of white paint, parquet flooring and an abundance of indoor plants. I can't get enough of Kinfolk and Cereal magazines. I'm plotting a wardrobe overhaul that would put all my prints in hibernation until next spring. Frayed blue jeans, boater hats, oversized slouchy jumpers and simple T-shirts are all on my radar. As are In Bed 's creased cotton sheets in various shades of blue, white and grey. And don't forget Birkenstock sandals - summer's not over yet. I want to throw away all of my toiletries and invest in Aesop's entire collection. Half the items on my wishlist hail from Whistles - Acne, Commes des Garcons Commes des Garcons and a Joshu Vela canvas tote also rank high. In this picturesque world of simplicity, I'm drinking green smoothies for breakfast, cooking everything in the Hemsley and Hemlsey cookbook and waking myself up before work with an outdoor yoga class. One can dream.

Get your instagram inspiration from:
@melissasonico
@brittanybathgate
@seandpattern
@claireamiller
@anotherfeather
@katekipley
@wideeyedlegless
@kaity_lucas
@fibersandflorals
@alyshasheree
@tarafirma
@hannahroserose
@yesterdayssweetheart

In Bed

Jean Stories

My Scandinavian Home

Melissa Sonico

Ouur

Bethany Marie

I Wear Marina

Zara Pictures

Mayflower Supply

Melissa Sonico

SUMMER'S NOT OVER YET

I've twice before (here and here) babbled on about my love of US online vintage store Mayflower Supply. 

Liz has an uncanny knack of sourcing the kind of vintage garments that people are going to fight over. Loose-fitted maxis, printed shifts and little checked dresses all transcend seasonal trends to become the pieces that are constantly on rotation in your wardrobe for years to come. She also styles a damn good look-book.

This high summer showcase was inspired by Liz's love of a long hot summer - and the thought that why does summer have to end so soon? Hot and balmy days will (hopefully!) drag on languidly until mid-October - so why start packing away your summer wardrobe in August? It's still too warm to wear that new oversized knit and don't even consider slipping your tanned legs into a pair of tights!

Together with friend and model Emily Twombly and photographer Elizabeth Weinberg, Liz headed to Palm Springs to brave the sweltering heat in order to bring us her latest editorial offering.

#ForeverSummer

THE L.A DREAM

I'm a West Coast girl at heart. Drawn to the perfect meeting place of nature and city; where rolling hills and crashing waves meet bright lights. I know that I would feel right at home travelling up the coast through California, Oregon and Washington; I imagine that I would never want to leave.

L.A has never really factored into that dream. I spent a jet-lag fuelled 24 hours there seven years ago, temporarily stranded between flights. Memories of orange hazed skies, terrifying concrete highways and carb-orientated fast-food put me off wanting to return. A recent post on the Urban Outfitters blog, detailing the friendship between two of my Instagram crushes is seeing me reconsider. 

I want to hike up to the Griffith Observatory, admire the city skyline during magic hour, laze on rooftops, shop in all of the stores I follow on Instagram and mess around in the photobooth in the Ace hotel. I want to live in Silverlake, start my day with yoga on the beach and hit up all of the health food cafes that I somehow completely overlooked during my one day lay-over.

When I imagine myself in L.A, it's with long wavy beach hair, big bug-eyed sunglasses, wearing oversized cotton dresses and zip-up ankle boots. Summer lasts forever yet winter's within grasp, just on your doorstep. There's a myriad of landscapes surrounding you, just waiting to be explored.

Images by Chantal Anderson featuring @claggie and @skinnybmel

INSTAGRAM LOVE: JULY

Be prepared for an onslaught of tiny squares and feast your eyes upon the most aesthetically pleasing Instagram accounts on my roster. I could wax lyrical about lighting and colour and contrast and effortless personal style - but instead I will leave you to admire.

Follow me @kissesxstitches

Above: @rima_rama

@brittanybathgate

@claggie

@visionsofjoanna_

@seaandpattern

@lucywilliams02

@maryavocado

@claireamiller

@guidedbycereal

@melissasonico

@katekipley

@lucylaucht

@sara_moschini

PLANT LIFE

I almost purchased a new magazine today, only stopping myself because it's four days until pay day and there was quite a hefty price tag. The Plant Journal called to me through the window of the Cornerhouse; peeking in as I walked past, as always hoping to see a glimpse of Apartmento or Kinfolk (fellow Mancunians, help me out here?). 

Boasting the tag-line "A journal about plants and other greenery", you may wonder why on earth I would want to pick up such a tome. This is no gardening manual, however. Lovers of the titles I mentioned above, you will rejoice that there is yet another magazine to quench your thirst for all things aesthetically pleasing that also features distinguished, well-written articles about things you actually want to read about.

Featuring photography by several of my favourite analogue photographers, including Coke Bartrina and non-other than Lina Scheynius, The Plant Journal explores the works of creative people with a love of plants. Amongst the various photographic pieces there are articles detailing as wide a topics as the coconut palms of Ghana, cinematic childhood fantasies and the gardens of Versailles.

Screw the price tag, I'll be picking up a copy of The Plant Journal tomorrow.

Behind the scenes at So It Goes Mag, Style Slicker, Melissa Sonico, Kinfolk Magazine, Melissa Sonico, Filipa Alves, Kinfolk Magazine.

BERTA PFIRSICH

Now that I am getting back into analogue photography, I'm seeking inspiration from people like Berta; queen of perfect lighting.

All images Berta Pfirsich