THE STYLE CRUSADER ON TOUR [SUMMER DATES]...

London, I love you always and forever.

My recent trip to England was #insane. So many wonderful things happened and every day felt like a total whirlwind. Highlights included: staying with Charlie May and Lexxie, meeting the people behind Tank Magazine (Kim and Caroline are amaaazing. Yes, Caroline ISSA, she told me I was gorgeous and I pretty much died. I've adopted her as my mentor even though she doesn't know it yet). I discovered Shini has WAY too many shoes, went to the Nelly party, ate lots of burgers and milkshakes and managed to catch up with some of my favorite PR people including Susie at Trace, Harriet at HPR, Rachel at Shine and the stuffed bear at Varg (we had a little cuddle). I had so much fun. I got to ride a Boris Bike and roam around east London like it was nobody's business. I got lost every day. I FINALLY did some summer shopping (at Aubin & Wills) and I got to spend an afternoon with VV Brown and Nik Thakkar. Love. That was all in one week... no wonder I came back home exhausted.

This coming summer I'm doing a bit of a traveling tour. For simplicity's sake I'll keep my plans updated on this blog post. Things always tend to change last minute but at the moment this is what my summer is looking like. Also, for the record, I work freelance and have time to take on new projects... so if you want me for anything please holler this way (stylecrusderBOOKINGS at gmail.com). Merci. xx

p.s. long term plans for the blog include a book (which I've recently started writing) and a mentorship program. If you'd like to talk to me about either of these two things or support the cause please let me know. I'm looking for sponsors and people to work with. Kiss kiss.

June 14-24th: Zurich

June 25-30th: London

July 1-10th: Zurich

July 11-27th: Sweden

July 28-August 23rd: Zurich

August 24-28th: Copenhagen

August 29-September 12th: USA

September 13-19th: London

September 20-25th: Milan

September 26-October 3rd: Paris

NAUGHTY LITTLE MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF...

Ooooo, how cute. Look, my nails are all covered in cute little characters. Awww, isn't that sweet? They even match my book.

Ahem. I have a penchant for anything immature and child like. Honestly, the more ridiculous the better. I'm currently planning a superhero themed bathroom (much to everyone's distaste)... I swear, it's going to be awesome. The main focal point will be a clear 'KAPOW' shower curtain (I just need to find a place to make it because actually no one stocks proper superhero bathroom stuff... it's all weird creatures I've never seen before).

Anyway, as you might know Meadham Kirchhoff is all the rage in London. After their 'cute as a button' ballerina x wild dancing girl show two seasons ago I was sold for life. As much as I'd like one of their adorable little kitty t-shirts and their big batting eyes cardigan*... I can't bring myself to spend that sort of money on a T-shrt and cardigan. But, I can handle 7 quid for a pair of Nail Rocks from Topshop. Don't believe what it says on the package though, they do not last 10 days and they aren't easy to put on. It took Shini and I about an hour to get them on... and afterwards they still looked a bit like a mentally deranged child had gone mental with her stickers. I didn't really care though because they are just SO FREAKING CUTE.

p.s. I still have two of the 'naughty' ones left over because someone refused to put them on me.... they will make an appearance though Mrs Park.

Photos by the most incredibly patient woman in the world.

* hello, have you SEEN my eyelashes? Was this cardi not MADE FOR ME?

EMBRACE THE CHANGES...

Why, hello there...

 You might have already noticed (or heard the incessant grumbling) but let's just get it out in the open. Yes, the are rumors true. After two and a half years the Style Crusader has finally landed peacefully onto a dot-com home. Please, please, hold your applause. Who would have thought it would be so difficult?! This baby started out on blogspot in August 2009. Then, in July 2010, was moved to wordpress. You know, because it gives you more flexibility in design (yada-yada-yada). That was fine, albiet slightly traumatic as I lost all my blogger followers. I bought the dot-com domain on the same day that I got my first DSLR camera (a second-hand Canon 450). Some techy glitches meant I wound up hosting on dot-org, a site which got so badly hacked/spammed that it reached the point of no return. Phew. So, here we are...

I'd like to take this opportunity to formally welcome you to my new home. Curtsey

This was the first day I was at Paris Fashion Week. I decided to bring my bright orange beanie with me, you know, for warmth and stuff. I got this hat for $2 at Walmart when I was in the US at Christmas. My family was not impressed with it and my sister refused to stand next to me when I wore it. Imagine my jubilation when NYFW rolled around and I saw this. Mwaahaha. See family, I told you orange was the right decision. I have to admit though I feel like a bit of a turd when I wear this hat... it's so bright. People honestly give me funny looks and say strange things when I wear it. I mean, really, it's just a hat people. Come-the-freak-on.

Anyway, clearly I wasn't the only person at PFW that thought an orange beanie was a good idea...

This was outside the Stella McCartney show by the way. It was literally freezing. I felt a fool and was SO PAINFULLY COLD that I literally couldn't take any photos. I got a tall latte with an extra shot from Starbucks (so American) and tried to use it to keep my hands warm. Resistance was futile. Shini and I admitted defeat and went in search of gloves (we found some in an Adidas store - they were 10 euros and oh-so-stylish). After going home to regroup (i.e. change clothes) we headed back out into the city to try to catch some street style action - in flats and as many layers as we could pile on.

Yes, that's the story of my first day at Paris Fashion Week.

Wearing: [Part 1] Walmart hat, Muriee cashmere scarf (which is literally glued to my neck - ok, not literally... that would be disturbing), Jigsaw sheer jersey T-shirt,  Madewell jacket, J Brand Bette jeans from Anthropologie (found in the sale for $19?!) and Balenciaga boots. [Part 2] 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans (old version), Dagmar knit jacket, Converse and Varg canvas bag.

p.s. any questions on the blog change and/or how to follow please post in the comments.

JE NE PARLE PAS FRANÇAIS...

There is nothing I love more than stepping off a plane into an unknown place... when I don't know the language and have no idea where I am or what I'm doing, it's even better. 'Where are you staying?' Shrug. 'What shows are you going to?' Dunno. 'Why are you in Paris?' Hmmm...

Last minute trips are the best. I'm so glad that Shini twisted my arm and convinced me that going Paris was a good idea. I had so much fun - exploring the metro, eating loads and loads of food, freezing off my butt because I thought it was spring and didn't bring a coat... then going nutso in every shop because the rails were stupidly stocked with bikinis instead of gloves (even though it was three degrees outside). I remembered how much I love donuts, found a kids purple faux-suede jacket in H&M that has my name written all-the-freak over it and discovered a pair of printed shorts in Zara that would definitely see me right through summer (these are all things I could have done in Zurich, but nevermind that). I learnt that French people find no shame in staring, drive like lunatics, have archaic plumbing and are hilariously frank. Ladurée is good but so is McDonalds and, to be honest, I don't need to supersize my meal or get an extra portion of chicken nuggets (they aren't good the next day or at 3am when they're cold).

p.s. mark my words, Adidas gloves are making a comeback.

VIEW ALL PHOTOS FULL SIZE ON FACEBOOK

Weakness

Oh, the infamous power of a pair of statement shoes. They have the ability to bring even the most level headed of girls to their knees with desire. Slap a trendy designer name onto even the most ill-advised grotesque looking item and it will demand instant admiration and obsession.

The more bizarre, dangerous, and elusive the better...

Shini's been looking pretty fierce in her Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony boots. Leather, laces, wood, and dangerous heights?! What more could a girl ask for.

Check it

A checked printed shirt never felt quite as fresh as when it's made by TBA and has a little triangular hole cut out right in the middle of your tummy. I wore this outfit on the morning of our last day at Fashion Week Poland. We attended the On/Off shows at the most incredible location - a totally surreal and creepy abandoned building. I made the mistake of assuming the floors were clean and, after kneeling down in the middle of a show, found myself completely covered in grey dust. The collections being shown were as raw as the building itself... but I'll save a bit of that for tomorrow.

Wearing: TBA checked top AW11 and Paul & Joe wedges (both HPR London), Nudie Jeans long john skinny (My Wardrobe), and Ralph Lauren zebra havana glasses. Photos by Shini.

London Fashion Week: Day 3

Seeing as it was Sunday and all, it only seemed appropriate to have a bit of a lie in this morning. Actually, I didn't get to bed until 5am because I'm developing a bit of laptop overload insomnia... and the birds on Baker Street will not stop chirping. Like right now, for example, it's 2am and they are at it. Why? Anyway, took it quite easy today. Went to two shows, showed off some crazy shoes my friend Charlie May made (more on that later), and tried to avoid freezing to death. London is so cold right now and there is an unyielding mist hanging in the air... tragic for any fashionista attempting to have a good hair day or wear stilettos (luckily, I never try to do either).

12:30 - Masha Ma

Last year, Masha's first collection was incredible but this year it only got better. The light milky colour palette teamed with fire engine red boots was such an original combination. A sense of overflowing origami remained present but it was taken to a new level and incorporated into slick leather pieces. Skirts were straight, fitted and midi length... one model was so restrained she had to walk with the most baby of steps. Rather than looking awkward though it resembled the way a geisha might teeter down the street. The entire collection was stunning and there were a whole host of items I left wishing I could pull straight off the model and wear out the door.

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2:15 - Charlie Le Mindu

The line for this show stretched all the way around the building and most of the people waiting, for an hour in the rain, were turned away. If you aren't familiar with Charlie's work it might come as quite a shock. He sent the first model down the runway naked with fake blood dripping down her body. The sound of pigs being slaughtered was blasted through the room to the point that it was physically painful and, while this might all sound a bit disconcerting, personally I thought it was impossible to leave without feeling a sense of serious wonderment. It felt more like a work of art than a catwalk show - a work of art that, understandably so, isn't quite everyone's cup of tea. Charlie has famously dressed Lady Gaga in outfits made entirely of hair. This collection, for me, translated into something that is more transferrable than just that: the incorporation of painfully dark elements coupled with a stark ethereal innocence.

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The Buzz

There were a lot of big shows taking place today (Acne, Mulberry, Vivienne Westwood, Topshop Unique...) that were at locations away from the main British Fashion Council location. This meant people weren't actually hanging around Somerset House and, because sadly I don't have a limo (uhh... or even taxi), to chauffeur me around London all day, there weren't as many people to shoot. That, plus numb fingers that made pressing buttons on cameras difficult, made for slightly slim pickings street style speaking. The tactical layering going on though is pretty impressive. All hoods are pulled up, cardigans doubled on two thick, and thermal underwear is secretly sitting under even the most incredible of outfits. Hot on everyone's lips, apart from the weather, included the question of why Alexa Chung wasn't at Mulberry this morning and whether the BFC could possibly squeeze any more blue rubbish bins into the area surrounding the main tent.

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See you in a few hours for what I wore.

London Fashion Week: Day 2

Woke up this morning to the sound of rain pounding on the window. Slept in and then headed to Somerset House while feebishly attempting to juggle a huge clutch bag, coffee, umbrella, and oyster card. Arrived to find the photogs were out in monumental force: Garance Dore, the Sartorialist, Altamira, Jak & Jil, Vanessa Jackman, Street Peeper... 'why hello, is it me you're looking for?' I asked as I sauntered past flipping my hair. Highlights of the day included being photographed by Vanessa (who I love), meeting the lovely girl behind State of Sunday, and being introduced to Mary Katrantzou's mother by Matthew (I said, 'you must be so proud'... uh, duh). Spent most of the day getting soaked out in the courtyard (though I did go to the J. JS Lee and John Rocha show - photos below) and topped it all off by having a big burger and vanilla milkshake at Byrons for dinner.

The Buzz

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12:30 - J. JS Lee

Seriously, it's a wee bit too late for extensive amounts of words but let's just say that J. JS Lee was good... and has got me trying to figure out how I can attach a jacket to the front of my shirt, while searching ebay for long grey dresses and strands of pearls.

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3:15 - John Rocha

Abbey Lee Kershaw, who didn't walk a single show in NY, opened and closed the John Rocha show. Insanely beautiful. The same goes for the entire collection. The slightly sheer textured details on the black dresses were some of my favourite details.

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Bye for now, need my pillow.

People featured in this post include: Tali Lennox (ph1/3), Matthew Zorpas (ph7), Peony Lim (ph14), Kit Lee (ph18/19), Sandra Hagelstam (ph20), Daniella Maiorano (ph21), Nadia Sarwar (ph22), Imogen Roy (ph23), Shini Park (ph25).