Smiles all around my face...

...and office today as it was announced that the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony has the theme of celebrating how lucky we are to be blessed with gorgeous countryside- 'our green and pleasant land'!

It is of course valuable and this will highlight the need to take care of it. Although apparently there will be dramatic changes taking place during the event- hopefully not a big skyscraper rising up through the middle...

London 2012 is set to be the greenest games ever so we know they will take good care of the sheeps and goaties and other animals taking part. BAArilliant MOOve!

Fashion Exclusive: Only 1 week to go!

Oh my goodness, this is really quite exciting, particularly for the ladies.

I have often marvelled at the sustainable fashion labels of From Somewhere and Goodone, which create sexy clothes from factory off-cuts and upcycle using reclaimed textiles. Despite how marvellous they are, marvel is all I can do, due to the expensive nature of the designs.

However, on June 15^th,  in both the Oxford Circus store and online, Topshop will be releasing their new range, which is…wait for it… made entirely from off-cuts!

Finally: an affordable, high street version!

Thanks to a collaboration with Reclaim To Wear, these products will be just as distinctive.

Many, many thousands of tonnes of waste are produced each year from the bits of material left over when a factory machine cuts out the garment shape. This goes for swimwear brands, luxury wear as well as high street.

Making use of that fabric seems like a fairly good idea- not only can sewing the pieces together make for something rather unique, but it is also positive for the environment.

Yes, this is a capsule collection, but if it proves popular there is no reason why Topshop couldn’t continue the partnership for our benefit!

Jubilations!

Click here!

And here!

Run Run Run

Inspired, in part, by the London Marathon 2012, I am running the Bupa London 10km on May 27th with my sister. We are running for Cardiac Risk In The Young, in memory of my friend Marion.

https://www.justgiving.com/Rosie-and-Gen-10km-for-Mio

Have a read of our page and if you can spare a dime, any donations are much appreciated!

Marion passed away whilst running along the beach of Reunion Island in April 2010 and is sorely missed. Having run 2 half marathons last year I feel very grateful I am able to do this.

Many thanks x

The Big Mama

Mum's are rather fab and without them we wouldn't be here! The same goes for life-giving Mother Earth. Like we have Mother's Day, today is Earth Day.

If you weren't running the London Marathon (you probably will need this moment to stretch/bath/cup-of-tea-yourself silly and think about what an achievement you just completed), perhaps you can take a mini moment to think about the beautiful amalgamation of rock and ocean and biodiversity that was here before us, that puts up with us living on it and that we take for granted.

Go girls!

I'd just like to take a short moment to BIG UP International Women's Day (#iwd) and also Vivienne Westwood's Ethical Fashion Africa collection, aptly sloganned 'THIS is not charity, THIS is WORK'.

The message is clear: empower women to create their own livelihoods in an environmentally sustainable way and it will bring positive benefits to the whole community.

Like a good vintage wine...

For some it may seem fairly obvious, but has anyone noticed how ALL THE S/S (and even A/W) 2012 TRENDS POINT TO VINTAGE?!

From the glitz, glam and twirling tassels of the 1920s ‘GreatGatsby’ flapper style, to the mid-calf pleated skirts and whimsical blouses in beautiful pastel and candy shades echoing 50s silhouettes; to me this cries ‘Oh hello most excellent and unique vintage classic!’

It’s been all over the catwalks from Prada to Louis Vuitton, and is mirrored to the max on the mass-produced high street, but what could be better than a second hand and/or vintage version, which has stood the test of time and is here to tell tale to all who view its awesome adornment ability on none other than YOUR elegant body.

Whether you go for a block-colour boxy coat, or indeed floral print leggings if that’s your thing (I was only little but can recall clinging onto my mother’s brightly patterned legs in the late 80s and early 90s), then you know vintage makes sense.

I love low-waist pyjama bottoms, although I am not sure about wearing them when out and about. Sportswear is here to stay, for now, thanks to you-know-what-event in the big smoke this summer. I am also intrigued by the ‘under-the-sea’ theme and all this lace, the frills, the sheers- they point to prettiness, romance, and nostalgia....

Haven’t tried second-hand or vintage before? Go on, give it a whirl! In London, I would head East. I am a big fan of Blitz and Rokit as well as other stores on Brick Lane and the vintage stalls at Spitalfields Market. I bought some Chelsea boots from second-hand store Carousel and have hardly taken them off since. I often walk past (and on more than one occasion per week- into) Paper Dress Vintage- last week there was an absolutely amazing black and gold sequin dress reminiscent of the art-deco high-glam era.

Why go for revival, when you could get the real thing? It is better for the environment and you can turn heads in a truly unique piece. If ever there was a time to go vintage, it’s now.