Return to the North

Photographs: Tom Martin

This time last week I was sprinting - okay, more like jogging, given the hefty gear that I was lugging with me! - from the 'A Clockwork Orange'-inspired edginess of KTZ to the gentlemanly calm of dunhill via the backstreets of London's Soho. For those of you who hadn't worked out from my various social media postings (read: ridiculous bombardment of backstage snaps of the Instagram variety) I covered backstage London Collections: Men for VMAN magazine. (I try to convey nonchalance typing that but inside I'm still more than a little buzzing). As predicted the four days of shows were indeed exhilarating madness - and exhausting too! But I loved every minute of it and am so excited to share more of the photographs that I captured that didn't make it online at VMAN (or to my feature on Menswear Style). 

Blogger Lovin'

The best thing about fashion photography is undoubtedly the people. My experience of the fashion industry hitherto is a far cry from the steely-faced, cut throat atmosphere that hearsay would have us 'ordinary' folk believe. While it would be disillusioned to suggest that this side of the monde de la mode doesn't exist, it's just that there's the presence of more than a fair few nice people to make up for it. 

Fashion bloggers are a case in point. 2014 gave me the chance to photograph some of the friendliest, motivating and oh-so-very lovely ladies that I have ever had the privilege of meeting. And so this post is a collation of my favourite blogger photographs thus far. Featuring : Hannah, Zoe, Georgia, Natasha, Olivia and Megan.

Natasha on Westbourne Grove

On a last minute jaunt down to London last week, I finally got to meet with and shoot the oh-so-lovely and oh-so-stunning model and blogger Natasha Ndlovu, otherwise known as Bisous Natasha. It was also my first time visiting Notting Hill - scandalous, I know! - and despite it being a moody grey day I was rather in awe of how pretty it is. Aye indeed, I realise this is old news but honestly, even 232 000 posts worth of #nottinghill on Instagram couldn't prepare me for how elegant the rows upon rows of Victorian townhouses look en réalité. Anyway, I digress, here's a couple of photographs from my shoot with Natasha. Head on over to her blog to check out the full shoot!

Waiting On You

ASOS ovoid dress (similar here) / John Smedley polo neck (similar here) / Caterpillar boots (here)

Photographs: Josephine Cheng
Editing: Myself

Looking particularly Lorde-ish (apparently) in these shots that Josephine took of me back at the end of November in Leeds' Hyde Park. Longstanding followers of my blog might remember this dress from way back in September '13 - if you do, I salute you! Here the dress takes on a rather more winter-friendly form with the addition of the ubiquitous polo neck that appears to be the ordre du jour. 

Backroom

Backroom sweater* (here) / M&S shirt (similar here) / Nike shorts (similar here) / Caterpillar boots (here)

Photographs: Josephine Cheng for Backroom
Editing: Myself

It was way back in September that I last did an outfit post - oh university, what a busy busy being you have made me! - so I am super excited to be back on the outfit blogging bandwagon with this post *in collaboration with Backroom. 

The boyish shorts + oversized sweater combination is my standard outside-of-university-hours attire, smartened up here with the addition of my old school shirt. The boots I bought for practicality reasons after the daily walk to uni had me fork out a small fortune to get the soles of these boots repaired. And also they looked so damn fine on Megan when I photographed her at LFW that I couldn't help but follow suit.

And with that, I return back to the grind of revising for my last exam of the term whilst my dear flatmates are all cosied up watching Christmas movies. More photographs after the jump! 

After Vivienne Westwood

A quick sneak backstage in the aftermath of Vivienne Westwood's Red Label SS15 show. 

LFW Street Style

So in the second instalment of my London Fashion Week style photography, I bring you style from the streets themselves. On the whole these are more candid in nature and thus I much prefer this sort of style documentation - less preening and forced smiles/pouts/insert appropriate facial expression here. Click through for the rest of the set!

Street Style at Somerset House

So here we have the first of two collections of street style photography from my time at London Fashion Week SS15; this set having been snapped about Somerset House, the adopted home of many a remarkably attired individual for the duration of the week. It was my first proper attempt at documenting the style of complete strangers but I figured if I was going to start anywhere, fashion week would be my best bet - and it certainly was! A few of my shots ended up on the Facebook page of GQ Thailand too, which I was rather chuffed about. (They're shot under the name of Philip Banks if you take a look).

N.B. I write this from my new home in Leeds, hastily penned in a few moments snatched from the raucous commotion that is Freshers' Week. As such, please forgive me for the inevitably sporadic blog posts to follow.

Somerset House

Topshop dress (similar here) / M&S shirt (similar here) / Office boots (similar here) / Cambridge Satchel Company bag (here)

Photographs: Megan Ellaby

Editing: Myself

Apologies for my radio silence blogging-wise - Instagram is another story - but for the past week I have been having the time of my life attending London Fashion Week for the first time. It turned out more incredible than I could ever have imagined. A chance meeting with the marvellous Philip Banks turned my planned 'schedule' of shooting street style and catching up with my blogger pals into a whirlwind of backstage shooting, assisting and the chance to see my first ever catwalk show.

Time-Travelling Diamond

Vintage bomber jacket (similar here) / DIY batik dress (similar here) / ASOS round sunglasses (similar here) / Office brogue boots (similar here)

Anyone who knows me vaguely well will be aware of my love of vintage clothing. Not only is buying vintage more friendly on the environmental front - always a positive if we can reduce our carbon footprints etc. - but I love the patina acquired by a well-loved vintage piece. Coupled with a hint of mustiness, it evokes the feeling that one is wearing a piece of history, albeit a rather little one.  And try as they might, none of your everyday clothing shops can truly replicate this. No, not even you, Urban Outfitters.

Howay

Rokit Vintage basketball vest (similar here) / Topshop jeans (here) / Office brogue boots (similar here) / Zip bracelet (similar here)

So it's been nigh on five months since I last did an outfit post but here I am back on the fashion blogger bandwagon once more. This was my attire for picking up that dreaded buff envelope, stamped with my name and containing the four letters to determine home for the next five years of my life - in other words, A Level results (and five years because that's how med school rolls). Luckily all was good and so I be off to Leeds come mid-September, and with a taster of good old Yorkshire-ness in the form of Leeds Festival this last week gone, it's fair to say I'm rather looking forward to it all. #UWotUWotLeeds (included for the benefit of said festival goers). And for those pondering at the presence of howay, it's a greeting to outfit posting once more and a throwback to festival banter with a bunch of marvellous Geordie folk et al. Here's to the rest of summer and life beyond school!

Long Time No Speak

Why hello there, y'all. Clocking in for the first time in almost two months, you've probably forgotten I even exist! Yesterday marked the last day of my A Level exams (after a week of having one a day, plus more before that) and so my time has been consumed with discussing French literature, rearranging trigonometric equations, and just about a million other things that, alas, couldn't include the oh-so-distracting world of blogging. Anyway, now that I have three months of freedom I shall be donning my camera once more and capturing this summer one click at a time.

Like Pulling Teeth

Mango Shirt (similar here) / Zara Dress (similar here and here) / Office Lace-Ups (similar here)

I attempted to do a milkmaid braid for the first time yesterday. Is it still called a milkmaid braid when it's this messy? I don't know but Cameron Mackintosh won't be inviting me on stage for a rendition of 'Who Will Buy' that's for sure. Or maybe that's just my voice..

This is probably the last blog post that I shall do until I've finished my A2 exams in June. Blogging does wonders for procrastination but I'd also rather like to be able to take up my place at university so priorities, y'know. If you miss me too much, or even if you don't but you're just nosey, you can follow me over on Instagram.

Megan Ellaby (Outtakes)

As is so often the case in sunny (ha!) England, the rain threatened to thwart my plans of photographing Megan Ellaby for her blog last weekend. However, a defiant two fingers at the weather and we went ahead with the shoot anyway - granted I looked like a drowned rat by the end of it but hey, that's why I'm behind the camera!

Click on through to see the final images here and here.

Zephyr

Vintage Blazer / Gap Shirt / Cambridge Satchel Company Satchel / Elle Leather Look Skinny Jeans / Jones Loafers

So this is the blazer I was talking about the other day. Carrying my satchel as a blutch because that's what all the cool kids do these days (ask Garance, okay!). Also I'm slowly learning how to wear lipstick and remember that I'm wearing it so that it doesn't end up smeared across my chin / forehead / basically anywhere but my lips. So yeah, a hint of berry on my lips it is. Berry? But spring's just arriving? Yeah yeah, you try telling the weather Up North that.

Stevenson Square

Dad's Bow Tie (similar here) / Whistles Patti Leather Biker Jacket (similar here) / Mango Chiffon Shirt (similar here) / Topshop Leigh Skinny Jeans (here) / Deena & Ozzy Heeled Chelsea Boots (similar here)

On Thursday I went on a gander around town with my friend Harrison and managed to snap up some black spray paint (for use in my quest to a monochrome bedroom) and a £2 vintage blazer. We also came across this most marvellous painted bit of wall, which was a must for shooting a Lookbook post in front of.

Let's All Meet Up In The Year 2000

Vintage M&S Leather Trench (similar here) / Asos Textured Shirt (similar here) / River Island Leather Look Shorts (similar here) / Office Lace Ups (similar here)

Given that I am rather lacking in height, I tend to avoid trench coats. However, when my dad found this beauty of my mum's in the loft, I had to give it a go. After all, 'vintage' and 'leather' are probably my favourite words when it comes to clothes.

Cela Ferme La Bouche

Sweet Cakes and Milkshakes

Warehouse Biker Coat (similar here) / H&M Chiffon Blouse (similar here) / Topshop Tapestry Shorts (similar here) / Office Lace Ups (here)

Wishing y'all a very Merry Christmas, hopefully one surrounded by family and friends, and lots of good food! These were taken as the sun was beginning its descent from the sky and my family had begun to snooze after a most lovely Christmas dinner.

Christmas Eve and All That Jazz

I went on a walk this morning avec mes parents and attempted to shoot some Lookbook photographs however, with the wind howling around me and billowing up my shirt, it just wasn't happening. Admire the location in monochrome though, and a 'Merry Christmas' to you if it is already that time of the year in your part of the world.

Credits to my dad for this photograph.