black, white and red...

Vertical Limit is a race up the 42 floors of the Tower 42 building in London. Sounds like my kind of nightmare. But then it is in aid of a good cause; all proceeds go to housing charity Shelter. Here's some pics from the 2009 race.

But it was the design of the poster itself that caught my eye, I couldn't miss it really – the strong use of white, black and red, vertical lines, perspective, diagonal type. All of it reminded me of some of the early Constructivist and Bauhaus designs (shown below) I studied at university. Great to see that these graphic methods are being put to use to create some great modern visual graphics.


Clockwise from top left: Lissitzky, 1920; Zwart, 1924; Kassak, 1924; Schuitema, 1926; Schmidt 1923

bag lady...

Right, I know there’s this thing for holding your big old designer tote in the crook of your elbow. Firstly, that’s going to make you ache like hell at some point surely? Secondly, wouldn’t you get in a mighty flap when trying to fish out your tube pass, muscle your way through a crowd, carry a million other things and maybe an umbrella at the same time??

No thanks, I’d rather go hands free. The cross shoulder bag, my new favourite thing. Ram as much stuff in it as you like, throw it over your neck and your sorted. Total freedom of movement. “ )

Here are my favourite lovely shoulder bags at the moment. And if it’s leather, even better, more battered equals better looking in my opinion. Shop on folks.


Clockwise from top left; leather bag – Rokit - £60; bag - Urban Outfitters - £38; leather bag - Topshop - £28



The Mulberry Alexa - £795. What my dreams are made of.

they way I want to live...

All images styled by Molly Frey

I want to live in a house that is white, but not sterile, I'm thinking soft, gentle and peaceful. Loads of different textures but all tones of white and cream, with a bit of bleached wood thrown in for good measure. Colour would be used as an accent throughout but everything would be held together by this gorgeous white canvas.



All images styled by Molly Frey

Now I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, and some would think that a white house would be cold and unwelcoming. But I came across Molly Frey's interiors and she has caught my mood exactly. Where are these houses she is styling, where are they?!? I want to gatecrash.



All images styled by Molly Frey

To me a white home is calm, peace, gentleness and would make a real haven to cocoon yourself in after a hard day. It would be a complete contrast to the chaotic London I live and work in. Perhaps this is why I crave it.

gold rush...

From top: brass necklace £55; brass necklace £30; brass earrings £30; brass choker £40; brass bracelet £55. All MADE.

Fancy some delicious jewellery that's ethically sound?
Check out what MADE has to offer. MADE has awesome looking jewels, and the added bonus is that all the materials are ethically sourced and the pieces are all fair trade.

MADE boasts a great standard collection, a boutique range and various guest designer ranges - Alexa Chung and Peaches Geldof have both designed capsule collections, amongst others.

All the jewellery is quirky and original and best of all it won't break the bank. A fantastic place to get some individual pieces, I particularly like these brass necklaces, bracelets and earrings, above, which all look really strong and contemporary. I want the brass bracelet, surely it would help release my inner warrior princess!

it might be time for tea...

All cups and teapots designed by Jonathan Plant for Moorland Pottery

A friend treated me to one of these great mugs from Moorland Pottery and I have been in love with it ever since. How cute are they?! Here I am fully indulging in my Black Country roots by showing some designs from the Brummie Ware range. However, there are also specific designs for Stokies, Scousers, Geordies and Yorkies. There is also a great set of more general designs.

All the cups in the range are designed by Jonathan Plant and I think they make great gifts. Or just treat yourself to one!

In regards to the first mug shown here, something I didn't realise before, Midlanders call their mothers 'mom' while the rest of the country say 'mum'. Hmmm, how strange...

gorgeous Gucci ad campaign...

Take a look out of your window and you will no doubt be sick of the sight of grey, cold January and the never ending dark nights. How much would you give to swap all that for Palm Beach, Florida, the location for this great Gucci campaign??

These shots for the Gucci Spring Summer 2010 campaign are just fantastic. Look at the weather, at the scenery, the endless horizons… ah… Loving the art direction on these shots, the line and composition are fantastic. These stills have been shot in such an artistically considered way. I want to be there, like, right now.

The campaign was shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott and I think it’s just so evocative of the decadence and sumptuous nature of the Gucci brand. The model is Natasha Poly who has previously modeled for Vuitton, Lanvin and D&G amongst others.

The last dress reminds me of a HR Giger painting, kind of skeletal and gothic. What do you think?


Extract from ZDF Bild, HR Giger

vintage style packaging...

from left to right; bath foam £6.29; body lotion £5.49; cuticle oil £3.89; cleansing milk £3.89; all Boots Original

I might be a bit behind the times with these as I think this Boots Original range has been out for a while, but I thought it was worth mentioning them. I love the packaging on these products, really harking back to a bygone era. I'd like to imagine that ladies in the 20s and 30s had products that looked like this on their dressing tables. They make a lovely change to all the stripped back and minimalist designs that most cosmetics brands use these days. These products are unashamedly girly, I want them all. If anyone knows of any other great beauty packaging let me know.

some great typography...

All images © www.extraverage.net

Looking for some inspiring type design? Check out these great pieces, some of the most wonderful shapes and colours in type I have seen in a while. Karoly Kiralyfalvi under the name Extraverage has put together some awesome type design for the Keystone Design Union. The series is called Trust the KDU. The actual letterforms may not be immediately identifiable straight away, but I don't think that matters too much, I personally don't mind spending the time trying to figure these words out, they look so good.

For more of the same check out Extraverage's Flickr page.

stripey happy people...

I love stripey clothes. I'm not sure why, but they make me feel happy and the task of getting dressed in the morning is much more enjoyable when there's stripes involved. Here's a pick of the stripes available on the high street at the moment. There seems to be a real Parisienne vibe going on at the moment with Topshop devoting an entire collection to it. I am swooning over the Eiffel Tower knitted sweater, but it is sans stripe so I couldn't include it in the pictures below. I think my favourite is the All Saints dress, effortless. Yet that Sonia Rykiel stripey tee is a winner too, even in grey and miserable January you would feel pretty zingy with that on! Enjoy.


from left to right; waistcoat - Warehouse - £35; dress - Oasis - £60; skirt - Reiss - £110; sweater - River Island - £29.99

from left to right; tee - Sonia Rykiel - £158.73; dress - River Island - £19.99; tee - Topshop - £30; tee - Warehouse - £18

from left to right; vest - New Look - £8; coat - French Connection - £124; dress - All Saints - £90; tee - Dorothy Perkins - £18

stairway to heaven...

One evening just before Christmas I was walking down Aldwych on the way to Charing Cross when I saw the strangest thing. It looked like a neon staircase leading into the pavement, the staircase just disappeared into the ground. Intrigued but not really understanding what I was seeing (it may have been the cocktails) I kind of forgot all about it. Then I stumbled on this article in Time Out and so I am relieved to find that I am not completely bonkers after all and the neon staircase does actually exist! Turns out the stairs lead to a rather cool underground bar called Cellar Door, which believe it or not is a converted men’s public convenience. Nice. I think it must be pretty cosy down there as it only holds about 60 people, but I’m intrigued by this place. It’s open untill 1am nightly and has live acts playing from 9pm. So if anyone fancies joining me for some drinks in a fabulously seedy sounding bar that used to be a public toilet let me know.

Cellar Door
Zero Aldwych
London, WC2E 7DN
020 7240 8848

some great illustration work...

Album artwork for Under the Iron Sea by Keane, Sanna Annukka


Archipelago, Sanna Annukka

I first noticed Sanna Annukka's work when I saw a huge poster for Keane's 2008 album Under the Iron Sea. What a beautiful illustration. I love the blocks of bold colour and simplified shapes that Annukka uses. Check out her new website for some more examples of her work, I particularly like the Screenprints, especially Archipelago, how cool would that be on your lounge wall! It also looks like she is branching out into home furnishings as well. To view more of her work visit her site. Delicious.




I found Sarah Howell’s work at an exhibition held by Debut Art, an organisation promoting the world’s best illustrators, at the Coningsby gallery in Soho. She uses a great mixture of mediums, namely photography and illustration to create fantastic dreamlike compositions. All very detailed and precise with loads of layers. You could catch something different every time you look at one of her pieces, a real distinct montage style. Check out the rest of her stuff if you can.


Summer Exhibition 2006 poster, Si Scott


Love Will Tear Us Apart illustration, Si Scott

Si Scott, the British illustrator is pushing the boundaries of hand drawn typography. Isn’t is just brilliant? All the typography is hand drawn using fine liners. Such intricate work must take so long to accomplish yet what a result. The Love Will Tear Us Apart piece was also in the Coningsby Gallery and I stood in front of that piece for a long time just drinking it all in. Loving the fact that hand drawn styles are breaking up the monotony of computer dependant design.