Craving a Different Kind of Buzz

Jacket: Joules, Jumper: Mango, Skirt: H&M, Leggings: ASOS, Socks: M&S, Boots: River Island

After reading this Man Repeller post, and spending time my best friend who wears all-black like it's her job, I was inspired to wear top-to-toe black outside of waitressing (that attire really kills the idea that you look really cool in funereal outfits) despite my aversion to said colour palette for the past 12 months. Despite the inspiration, despite wanting to look like a New Yorker (I got close, my sister said I look like an art student), despite picking out an assortment of black garments I feel good, I came to photograph it and on the glimpse back went "yuck, no, grab your red coat, you need colour". I think that exemplifies which side of the Man Repeller office divide I come down on?

In terms of my non-sartorial life, it turns out that a Masters can be pretty full on and that all I want to do in my designated time off is watch rubbishy TV (I just discovered 'Reign', which is so painfully anachronistic that it's good) and hang out with my friends. As a change of pace from my usual nights though, my sister is visiting me for a couple of days and took me out to dinner tonight to (my choice) Turtle Bay on the harbourside. It's Caribbean food, that was seriously yummy, and they get brownie points for the ginger in the Marley Mojito and the Caribbean Pimms that we drank. That made it my second dinner out this week (I'm feeling spoilt) after eating at the Thali Cafe in Clifton - it felt a bit odd to still be ordering from the 'summer' menu, but the curries were lovely (we opted out of the actual thalis and had smaller meals). Both places had amazing decor though - lots of bright colours and sparkly lights, very atmospheric for friendly, gossipy meals out. It's been a wonderful change of pace from reading journal articles and books until late (let's not think about the amount of catching up I'm in for) or running around serving other people dinner!

Another Day

 Jumper: Anthropology, Jeans: Topshop, Boots: River Island

The best part about winter is the return to woolly jumpers, but mercifully it's still not too cold for my red skinnies, which are a touch on the lightweight side once winter proper kicks in (and yea, I know, it oculd be much worse than a British winter...). Life has switched back to it's usual regime of keeping my nose stuck in academic texts, although I'm feeling less and less daunted by the new level it's been taken to. I'm slightly starting to lose track of the days at the moment thanks to the onset of lecturer strikes and 'Enhancement Week' (I'm feeling super enhanced right now), but luckily (?) I have work to remind that there are days other than Thursdays!

Pure Heroine

Lorde being compared to Lana del Ray is a pretty obvious step - they sound similar, and sing about similar things, the main difference being just how young Lorde is. But this album would be good no matter how old Ella is, and making too big a deal of her age makes the praise sound verging-on-patronising. It's ennui-ridden synth-pop, and credit has to go to Joel Little for the musical production that I think really elevates the album from bored-teen to something worth listening to on repeat for a couple of days.

It almost feels like a reaction to the 'YOLO' spirit of a lot of music - instead of glorifying party culture, Lorde declares that she doesn't want to put her hands up in the air. If I'm honest, I can't help that imagine/hope that some of the songs will find greater resonance with people older than Lorde, if just because I doubt she has much experience of the lifestyle she seems to be critiquing.

It's the beats that really get you on this record - it's as though the xx produced a del Ray record. It's not a flawless offering; a lot of the tracks blend into each with a samey-ness that could quickly get old. The vocals are hypnotic, and although there might not be anything especially new about any of the themes or tricks she uses, that doesn't mean she should be written off. In Lorde there is something that it is increasingly difficult to find - a 'pop' star who doesn't seem so overly manufactured and bubble-gum pink that she becomes someone we love to hate, just someone we love.

Back to Breakaway

 
I talked a while back about my efforts to grow out my hair, but I've given up on that at last and got my crop back. It's been less than 24 hours, but I'm getting back used to it pretty quickly. Of course, all the people I've met since moving to Bristol are having to go through a period of 'oh wow, you cut all your hair off', but since everyone (so far) has been very complimentary, I don't mind too much!

Bakewell Tart

Bakewell Tart is pretty much my favourite thing - frangipane, fruit, jam, glace icing and flaked almonds is a combination that I'm never able to resist, even more than chocolate.But of course, I'm hopeless at actually making it, my sponge is always too dry, so I'm slowly becoming a connoisseur of bakewell tart from coffee shops and bakeries. At the moment my current favourite is from Boston Tea Party (who also do excellent coffee and soup). It's just the right amount of balance - not too much jam, generously applied icing, and the picture above is of half the slice I picked up this morning, no skrimping here.

The Preatures

Sometimes I find a new band, do a quick internet search, and feel like I'm a million miles behind the rest of the world. Take The Preatures for example, a five-piece rock band from Sydney - it turns out they were The Guardian's 'New Band of the Day' back in August, and they've already lined up a couple of London shows that I'm crying inside a little for not being able to go to. With an EP released in the past week, a music prize under their belt to boost their finances, and their first international shows upcoming, I'm hopeful that the Northern hemisphere will get more exposure to The Preatures soon.

The Guardian described The Preatures as 'post-Haim', and the sunny, slightly 'surfy', slightly 70s-esque rock they produced is certainly the sort of sound we've all come to associate with bands from the West Coast of America - but given Australia's similar surfing pedigree that isn't hugely surprising. Isabella Manfredi's vocals have that slightly eerie quality that I find incredibly appealing and that's pretty common these days, with just enough of an air of Stevie Nicks rather than Kate Bush to have rock-swag.

They list their influences as The Patti Smith Group and The Pretenders, and that late-Seventies punk influence is certainly there, but softened somewhat with occasional touches of 'pop' strains and country vocal turns. They send songs out into the ether that cannot fail to make you want to dance around your room, and then drag all your friends around for a dance-party, tempered with a smattering of 'slow' songs perfect for sitting and looking out of the window on train journeys listening too.

There's a chance I was supposed to be studying this afternoon instead of falling down a music hole, but then when the results are this good, it's 100% worth the mad cram on Wednesday night. I'm going to go listen to 'Is This How You Feel?' a few dozen more times...


I discovered The Preatures via Wonderland Magazine

I'm a Bore, Mostly

Shirt: Gap, Skirt, Topshop, Tights: M&S

I've found a positive to my current use-your-phone-as-a-real-camera game - when you're wearing about the grungiest outfit you ever wear, it's really easy to edit the poorer quality shots to look like slightly gritty film shots. And let's be real, that's what all the 'hipsters' are doing now anyway, so going with the theory that hipsters are really just the In-crowd now, that makes me cool*. The skirt is actually one of those pleated, chiffon-y, see-through-y ones that were everywhere a couple of years ago, and the little mini skirt that's supposed to stop me sharing my knickers with the world is a right pain, so I don't wear it much, but every time I do I swear I'm going to wear it more (I went into every Topshop I saw for at least 2 months hunting for it, so the effort deserves recognition in the form of number of times worn).



*Don't laugh too hard

The Bones of What You Believe

Indie synth-pop is having a moment, to borrow a fashion phrase that needs a time-out. With London Grammar, and now Chvrches, the air around me is filling with catchy hooks and a smattering of Eighties influences that for once aren't punk related.

Chvrches, with all their super-catchy dance-around-all-day hooks, their deliberately low internet presence (less so now, but you have to know to find them) and a sneak-attack on the airwaves of glorious proportions, are the current faces of a not-so-new sound that's replacing moody guitars as the soundtrack of choice to peoples' teenage angst. Not so much of a teenager anymore, and not so full of hormonal angst, and Chvrches are still a part of my musical horizons. 'The Bones of What You Believe' is fun, it's happy in that happy-songs about heartbreak way, it's a welcome contrast to the pop-punk that the walks home in the cold dark autumn air has been calling for.

Self-produced and recorded in a basement, Chvrches are clearly doing what they want to be doing - this is their sound, and the whole image of the album is what they must have intended from the off-ing. In a time when so much is being said about the way that labels are trying to manipulate their artists to fit what they want to sell*, a new band taking their music into their own hands in such a way is refreshing and reassuring.

Glasgow is a music scene that I often forget about, until something like this blows up and makes me wish that it was easier to highjack other cities' hidden music scenes without having it all being so far away...

*see statements by Lorde, and the story of why Futures decided to leave their label and start their own

Victory Over the Sun

Jumper: Topman, Shirt: H&M, Shorts: H&M, Leggings: ASOS, Socks: Accessorize, Boots: River Island

Heading back to the world of classes, I seem to be heading back into full boy-mode as well. So much so that despite the 'effort' that's gone into growing my hair, part of me wants to chop it all back off again. I've also managed to add my camera to the list of things that I've misplaced in the move, which is a pain and means that the above was taken balancing my phone on my bedroom mantelpiece, which is not the best way to do things.

It's starting to get cold now, which my American friends are lamenting (they're from Southern California and Texas, so this is a push for them), but I'm rejoicing the turn towards layers, boots, and coats. There's something very comforting about wrapping up in coats and scarves, digging your hands into your pockets and stomping on fallen leaves that makes me a little warm inside.

Not Acceptable in Suburbia

Yesterday, I sat down in a cafe, ordered food and, for the first time in what felt like weeks, breathed. I didn't have any schoolwork with me because I was only going to do one shift until someone called in sick. I didn't really have anything with me, other than a jumper and a change of shoes. No notebook, no music, just me, sat in front of a veggie burger. It was a relief, I won't lie. Even when I'm not at work or at my desk studying, I've been socialising or running errands. At first it was nice to be doing so much after a long summer of inactivity, but I needed to stop. And really stop, not call a friend to catch up, or snatch 5mins in a quiet park, or walk the long way round for a quick break. I'm tired, and I need to switch off more often, or I just know that I'm going to crash, hard, soon. This blog is for my downtime, to ramble about things I love and the places I'm discovering around Bristol; now that I'm starting to settle into a routine, I'll have more time for this sort of thing.

The song below is pop-punk, so different to other things I've posted here, but after the EP's pay-what-you-want release a couple of days ago, this is a song I've listened to a lot. Mostly for the lines "'cause I'm a hero after fi-ve" and "burning daylight at both ends", which seem fitting lately, but also because I feel somehow stronger when I'm running around Bristol listening to something with so much conviction and badass-ery.

If You Wait

Even though this album has been out for as long as 'AM', with the move and the accompanying need for musical hot water bottles, London Grammar have taken a backseat in my listening habits, which I regret after introducing new friends to the band last night (this morning? it's all a happy blur of time).

At the beginning of the summer I explained London Grammar to a friend as being like a more up-beat version of The XX. It might sound like an unoriginal comparison, ignoring the full range of indie-synth-pop around at the moment, but I stand by it. Part of what makes both bands so enjoyable to listen to is the way that they use silence as part of the music - there are whole beats without any sound, which could be jarring but I find interesting. It's almost as though they've approached composition in the same way that you would a 'classical' piece; the silences fill out the music a bit and in a way that you don't often hear with 'modern' music.

Reid's haunting vocals (I seem to use this adjective a lot lately, sorry...) and the depth of the sound make a pleasing counterpoint to a lot of 'pop' music now. The trio also manage to bridge the gaps across a couple of genres in my mind, edging towards trance at times and their previous collaboration with Disclosure only serves to highlight their versatility, especially in comparison to their nearest musical cousins in The XX.

Sometimes I have a slightly take-it-or-leave-it attitude to flyleaves and CD cases, even the slightly 'arty' ones, but the blurry, long-exposure, warm tones and the feel that this is a record very much a part of the London landscape (thankfully, considering their name), and the mini-poster included is already earmarked for a space on my bedroom wall, once I get round to such things...

A Spoonful of Sugar

I've 'moved' between home and university a lot - this is my fifth year. You'd think that after all the practice I've had, I'd have the packing-moving-unpacking game down to a tee, but I'm pretty sure it never gets easier. The pile of things that are absolutely essential for life keep changing, I forget about half my clothes until I need them, putting everything into boxes and then back out again within 48 hours seems like an epic chore and I'm back to dreaming of this Mary Poppins scene, and just how much easier life would be if I had magic tidying powers...

This year I'm battling a new city, a course load that seems to grow every time I think about it, missing assembly instructions for sister's old desk, and a lack of internet that is both confusing and refreshing. I still have 'basic' internet thanks to my trusty smartphone, but today I had to get over my pride and head to a nearby coffee shop to work out things for my course, attempt to start catching up with Fashion Month, and just be 'in touch' with the world again. Hopefully we'll manage to get our flat online by the start of class, but until that theoretical day, I think I'll be sticking with my semi-break from the wider world,except for academic emergencies (ah, no, wait, everyone else has reading already? I only found out my courses at the weekend? Am I behind already? ahhhhhhhhhh)

I could really do with that spoonful of sugar right now, Mary.

I Wish I Was A Girl

Even though I'm usually drawn to more masculine/androgynous looks when I'm getting dressed in the morning, I've noticed a counter-theme during the first half of Fashion Month. When I'm looking at runway shows, I'm drawn towards the more romantic, frothy, feminine looks; those are the ones that I've been saving to my computer. Much as I loved Margaret Howell's collection, in it's typical relaxed-masculine silhouette, there is something about the quiet drama of Oscar de la Renta, Emilia Wickstead, or Fendi that is irresistible.

 Creatures of the Wind

 Honor

 Jenny Packham

Oscar de la Renta

 Burberry Prorsum

 Emilia Wickstead

 Emilio de la Morena

 Marios Schwab

 Meadham Kirchhoff

 Osman

Roksanda Ilincic

 Alberta Ferretti

 Emporio Armani

 Fendi

 Luisa Beccaria

Mother of Pearl

images via Style.com

Summertime Sadness

Cardigan: Primarks Menswear, Dress: clothes swap, Leggings: asos, Shoes: Converse All-Stars

This feels a little like a non-outfit, just clothes to lounge about in feeling a bit under the weather, but the fact that I'm wearing leggings AND a cardigan inside for the first time since summer started is on the exciting side to someone who prefers layering properly than the awkward somewhere between the two seasons where it's too cold for shorts and t-shirts and too warm for, well, this.

My best friend and I are currently wardrobe-sorting and clothes-swapping, which is how I gained this dress. She's getting my v-necked jumpers from my preppy days, and in return I got several items in this colour, although she still has plenty of them. Isn't it odd that we all gravitate towards certain colours? We used to swap bank cards and make pacts not to buy certain colours in an effort to try and diversify, but it hasn't ever seemed to stick.

Even though this is, with the dress, a 'girly' outfit, for some reason it feels a little tomboy-esque, which is why I opted for my oft-neglected Converses to traipse up and down pavements in the rain, feeling a million miles away from my summer of nothing already.

Also (I appear to be in a rambling mood today), this is one the highlights of Radio 1's Live Lounge covers recently (they're running a live lounge a day through September). It's an excellent song to begin with, but this is a really amazing version of it.

AM

Talk about the Arctic Monkeys, and it always comes back to the fact that the band have never managed to match the everyman-anthem status of 'Whatever People Say I Am...'. But then again, no band I can think of has ever kept that going for very long in the end. And really, in the seven years since that album's release, I'd be disappointed if they hadn't switched it up a bit. With each record, they changed a little, and that's not a bad thing, when each release has been as good as the five albums currently sitting on my imaginary shelf. Scrolling through reviews of 'AM', more reference was made to 'Whatever...' than to any other Monkeys record, which says something about the place the record holds in popular culture, but it's in danger of eclipsing what is quite possibly one of the best albums of the year, from anyone, across any genre.

'AM', peppered with Turner's characteristic drawl, almost-whiny guitars, and the right amount of posturing, explicitly draws on a different kind of night out to their debut offering. This time around, it's less about the night out with your mates, and more about the emotional drag that offers around most people once they're in their cups. It's a sadder version of a night out than just freewheeling around town with your mates, and maybe it's just because we're all a little older, but it almost sounds more honest. It's a 'sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll' kind of record, but without the glamour put on the theme by other artists - the idea is portrayed as part of everyday life, which isn't a surprising attitude given that they can't escape from being a rock band at this point, but somehow seems fresh in the slightly seedy air they give it (things have always seemed a little seedy from where the boys are standing apparently).

This might be the album I've been looking forward to most this year. The gritty edges to the production, the very Monkeys nature of the music - because regardless of the evolution of the band, no one can ever quite sound like them - was something I almost needed to reappear again. Even though in theory anything highly anticipated has a small chance of living up to expectations, this did. Probably because, at the end of the day, what I expected was an album that filled out the gaps in the songs they'd released, and that's exactly what I got.

(No siblings were 'inflicted' to endless repeats of this album, I had 5 hours of travelling to and from Swansea to fill instead)

Erin Fetherston and Red Valentino Lookbooks

Fashion Month is upon us, as it always is, and with that comes the onslaught of runway shots. I love the idea of runway shows - the videos of girls strutting down the catwalk, the way that the music choice influences how you see the show, seeing the looks in motion - but there's something frustratingly 'flat' about runway shots sometimes. Lookbooks, on the other hand, are something else. Even though you lose out on the motion and the music, labels that opt for lookbooks sometimes have something else in their favour (when the lookbook is just the clothes on a model against bright white it's not the same thing). Just look at Erin Fetherston and Red Valentino's recently released Spring/Summer 2014 offerings:

images via Style.com

There's a whimsy about these lookbooks that couldn't be captured on a catwalk in the same way, without having the finances of much larger labels. In part it gives the label control of how the dresses are seen; they certainly add an atmosphere that makes up for the lack of music. They're like mini-campaigns and editorials, which is always my favourite fashion media.

Also, I know that the last couple of days have been a final End of Summer fling with warm weather, but they're making me wish the mid-afternoon heat would last all year, despite my love of autumn.

White Lies - Big TV

I often forget about White Lies, dwelling as they do at the bottom of my list of artists in my library and ipod, so I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the album review section of the paper and found a new album, without having missed one since "Ritual". I then promptly forgot again, until I spotted it scrawled on my noticeboard after its first listen, and returned to it today. Some bands change their sound over time, or from record to record, but there's a distinctive-ness to White Lies that for some reason felt very comfortable to hear again. "Big TV" very much follows in the footsteps of their previous efforts, which, thanks to their relatively individual style, is nothing to be disappointed in. Unless, y'know, you don't like their previous records. But I'm going to pretend everyone does.

Their anthemic, orchestral, post-punk MO from "To Lose My Life..." and "Ritual" is the same, and works well with their 'couple moving to the big city' concept/story arch. The almost eerie vocals, the big choruses, the semi-chanted moments that almost verge on mantras, everything that drew me to White Lies in 2009 is still very present in "Big TV". The only 'almost' that frustrates me about the band is that they're almost popular, when I think they're the kind of band that's awesome as a small-time band but will also be able to translate that to filling big venues.

Concept albums are occasionally tricky and feel forced, unable to work as stand alone tracks, in a manner reminiscent of some musicals, but this is one of the times it really does work. I listened to the whole album maybe one too many times for my siblings' sanity* (this happens every time new albums appear), and then listened to a couple of tracks that had caught my eye on their own a couple of times**, just to test it. It works.

It could be easily seen as another judgement on the times we live in, and the first and last tracks certainly suggest some materialism-bashing, but largely what White Lies are good at is creating little stories in their songs, sometimes with lyrics about objects that make the emotions of the characters seem a little more real to me. Characters, rather than personal emotions, seem to be a part of the band's tool-kit, and makes the ideas far more wide-reaching than the usual tales of heartbreak (not that I'm one to turn down yet another love song).

*the thing about people growing up is that there are increasing numbers of them on the same looong holiday deal as me, although I am about to be too grown up for that *sob*
**brothers, I'm very sorrynotsorry

(Daft Punk is Playing in) My House

Left: Blouse: Zara, Skirt: H&M - Right: Cardigan: H&M, Dress: Glamourous via ASOS - Phone Case from amazon

I skipped off to Bristol for the second half of this week, to find new house mates and a place to live for the next twelve months. I'm pretty excited to move in three weeks, to a flat in Clifton instead of the little village I've been in all summer. But I am going to enjoy the end of this summer before I get back to studying and looking after myself, just chilling at home, relishing the end of the almost-country summer, watching ANTM (seriously, this season is hilarious) and planning all the exciting things I'm going to get up to once I return to city living.

All in White

Cardigan: H&M, Dress: River Island, Boots: Clarks

For someone who often tends towards androgyny, this is a very frothy dress to have added into my wardrobe in the last few months. But I was irresistibly drawn to it, and even though my siblings have delighted in the opportunity for "Anna, you're wearing a nightie" jokes, I really enjoy wearing it. Maybe the prevalence of all-white on the runways has rubbed off on me; it still feels like a very brave decision to throw caution to the wind and risk dropping food so obviously.

(Not So) Frightened Rabbit

Headband: my sister's, Dress: ASOS, Shoes: New Look Generation 915

I'm a sucker for a good print - the rabbits all over this dress drew me in in a way that the silhouette wouldn't usually. Even though the overall effect is on the traditionally girly side - the A-line skirt, the puffy sleeves, the lace headband, the bows on my shoes - sometimes it's nice to go for something a little different. It was a pleasant change to go for a 'pretty' outfit.

Ad Round Up VI: Paris ii

Despite the giant pit of nothing that I'm doing with my time, I still adore the way that time slows down when you just know that it's a Bank Holiday.

Miu Miu: Katlin Aas, Emily DiDonato, Daphne Groenveld, Georgia May Jagger, Adriana Lima, Marina Nery, Hind Sahli, Anne Verhallen, Lindsey Wixon by Inez & Vindooh

This collection/campaign is probably my favourite - the spots, the stripes, the colours, the quasi-nautical shoot, the scarves, the metallic boots - I'm just sending theoretical heart emojis at Miuccia for this one. Bonus Points for being just the right amount of sweet.

Valentino: Kati Nescher, Maud Welzen by Inez & Vindooh

The serenity of the Valentino models, and the slightly ethereal feel to them, is wonderful and fully reflects the medieval-princess aura of their shows and designs, even when it's a mini skirt. Bonus Points for the blue - it's almost Virgin Blue.

Dior: Daria Strokous byWilly Vanderperre

The 'new' Dior is just the right amount of polish, don't you think? It makes me think of people who are just naturally 'fabulous' - it doesn't even look like they're trying. And that's been pretty well recreated here, with the touches of red and the haughty expressions. Bonus Points for the shoe print, and making expensive look natural.

Lanvin: Edie Campbell by Steven Meisel

Remember the dancing campaign? This one's just as good; the clothes look dynamic, like something I could actually wear, despite how impractical they may really me. Bonus Points for making the same model look so utterly different with each look.

Celine: Daria Werbowy by Juergen Teller

I feel as though this campaign shouldn't work - the background reminiscent of the bathroom tiles at my grandmothers, the typically-Teller stark photography - but it does, and hats off to 'em.

Kenzo: Sean O'Pry, Rinko Kikuchi by Toilet Paper

This campaign is just an explosion of fun - it might be a tiny bit nightmare-y if you think about it too hard, but it's so bright that it stands out in the impeding gloom of winter (is that something I can think about on a hot sunny day like today?) Bonus Points for taking the 'hipster' eye obsession and making it way more fun.

Hermes:

I have a pretty intense aversion to snow - it's cold, gets in the way, you end up all soggy without an atmospheric rain-walk (some people have told me I ahven't seen 'real' snow, but I studied in New England for a year, I've seen snow). However, I would consider adjusting that on the basis of these images, where snow starts looking like the perfect accompaniment to my outfit. If I had a cape and thigh-high boots. Or skied. Hmmm. Bonus Points for The World's Most Expensive Ski Flags.

Ad Round Up V: Paris i

I suspect that a not-inconsiderable part of these images' appeal to me is the black & white, and the French cool they embody. It's a winning formula, and one I'm rarely not attracted to. This is another two-parter (which is leading to all manner of contemplations about why there seem to be more ads from Europe-proper), split by the colour saturation of the images.

Saint Laurent: Freja Beha Erichsen by Hedi Slimane

Even though I'm not really getting happy feelings about the current Saint Laurent direction (it's cool, but it feels like Slimane just took the name and ignored what it was?), this ad campaign is pretty kick-ass. My girl-crush on Freja probably helps here, but they emit the kind of cool I dream of being. Bonus Points for that bag, it's on my wishlist (OK, maybe Slimane has some good ideas).

Isabel Marant: Daria Werbowy by Karim Sadli

Who doesn't love Daria? And who doesn't love Isabel Marant? It might be an obvious pairing, since they're both having a 'moment', but that doesn't make it bad. Bonus Points for featuring shorts in an Autumn/Winter campaign.

Givenchy: Amanda Seyfried by Mert and Marcus

The half-Bambi print is already showing signs that Tisci's still got the Midas Touch when it comes to images-on-sweaters. It's been so pervasive already that I didn't even realise that there was a matching clutch. Plus, Seyfried looks amazing here. Bonus Points for the matching clutch

Joseph: Suvi by Boo George

Blurry backgrounds in black and white might be a photography student trope, but it's so rarely used in the fash-un world now that it still caught my eye as I flipped past on my way to actual content.

Sandro: Edie Campbell

Masculine tailoring (and the black & white) take this seaside shot a hundred miles from Mulberry's SS12 campaign - more icy chill than ice cream, it makes the most of Edie's current 'do, and makes my current moody teenager face way more zeitgeist-y than it should be.

Chloe: 

It's only half in keeping with the theme of this post, but don't the colourless pair look like school mean girls somehow? And doesn't their counterpart look like the new outsider? Not that anyone could be an outsider in Chloe. There's a chance that September-Back-to-School fever has hit me, even though I don't start for a month has influenced how I read this ad, but the fact that two images has started a story in my head says something.