Dusty Fingers Market + SwapAholicsUK = Swishing Heaven!

On the 29^th and 30^th June, SwApoholics and Dusty Fingers Market hosted a super fun swapping event and vintage fair at The Pheonix Pub in Oxford Street. The Phoenix is a rustic but trendy pub in the heart of London’s West End with a massive basement in which the event was held. One side held Dusty Finger's vintage fair selling everything from quirky retro movie posters to swing dresses go go boots.

There were some really awesome pieced all of which were reasonably priced. For a vintage enthusiast on a budget Dusty Fingers is perfect. Rebecca (of Tribe Fashion) managed to pic up a  high-waist swing skirt for only £6.

I was very, very jealous. She said I could borrow it but we all know that I wanted to be the one to own that skirt outright. I cheered myself up however by snagging a pair of vintage 1920's accordian pleated shorts. See!

On the other half of the venue was the Swap. Piles upon piles of goodies. For every item you brought you could get one back. Naturally I bought bundles. I had ten items in total. The great thing about SwapAholics is their loyalty card. If you don't manage to get what you're looking for on that day, any remaining items can be carried over to your next swap. And your fourth swap is free. Now that's better than any old Cafe loyalty card. It costs less than lunch at Starbucks, that's for sure!

In the first five minutes of the swap I snapped up a pair of killer wedges. Unfortunately I mean killer in the literal sense that if I wore them I'd probably fall and sever my tendons killing an innocent bystander in the process. I made up for it however by meeting some awesome people and getting some awesome stuff. I got a Rolling Stones Crop tea, a poppy dress from Miss Selfridge, a denim pinafore and a sequin top. My stand out piece though over all came through meeting an awesome person. Sally Rohleder, a novelist extraordinaire was one of many SwapAholics baring all in the toilets, trying on more stuff. She gave me some great career advice and thanks to her I got these!

Hooray! Blue suede boots to make me feel as awesome as Elvis paying homage to Sailor Mercury.

It was more than worth the £5 participation fee. I am thoroughly converted. Prior to this event I'd shopped vintage, I'd shopped charity and I'd swapped with friends. This was the next step up and I am so glad that I made it. I am a bonified SwapAholic! It's social, sustainable and affordable. You meet great people and you great stuff, what's not to like?

I got a cheeky interview with the SwapAholic's organisor Diana Infernoo about just why she does what she does. Here she is (left) with Rebecca of Tribe (centre) with the lovely Holly Day  (right) another one of the chief organisers.

PIC OF DIANA

1.       Why did you start SwapAholicsUk?

I’ve always like to host community events that brings people together and love watching people have fun at new events that they normally would not come too or try. Swapping is huge in North America, back in Canada we had clothing swapping in large gyms and warehouses. It’s just a smart, simple idea – why throw something out when you can give it away! Our events turn into a little party, girls chat about what they’ve found, recommend clothing for each other, and are so happy when someone loves the item that they’ve brought. That’s why I love SwapAholicsUK, it brings smiles to people’s faces and when they say thank you I had a great time it brings a smile to mine.

2.       Do you prefer shopping in vintage and charity shops and swapping, to shopping on the high street? If so/not why?

I prefer shopping eco-friendly with charity shops and swapping because it’s so much more than shopping it’s an experience. I have so much fun doing it, the adventure finding something that you love, that you will not find everyone wearing, that has character. When you shop for pre-loved clothing there is a level of excitement because you never know what you will find! Whereas at the high street fashion, you know you are going to find in almost all the stores the latest trends in the same cookie cutter styles. You creativity and imagination expands with charity shopping and swapping with the mixing and matching for different items and brainstorming outfits from the amazing clothing finds that you come across.

3.       Do you believe that the high street will ever support sustainability the same way as swapping?

There is always hoping!

4.       Where are your favourite thrifty hotspots in London?

Honestly I love Brixton or Ilford because they are less touched then the rest of London. Also Richmond, you go to the charity shops there and you find amazing deals on designer stuff.

5.       What’s your favourite piece that you’ve swapped and/or bought second hand?

This is the hardest question ever! So many, at the swaps I always find what I am looking for. Like our last one I really needed office dresses and found two beautiful pieces. I picked up a beautiful Top Shop velvet dress that I wear all the time. These 1960s heels I picked up at a charity shop in Toronto for £3, is the item I get the most people asking about since they are really colourful but unique looking. So many treasures cant really pick a favourite, its like picking a favourite child.

6.       Some people shy away from second hand shopping, what pushes you to buy pre-worn clothing and shoes?

Realizing that we are killing the environment with our excessiveness and it needs to slow down. Also, I like to find deals. I like the feeling like I am saving money and not spending overboard thus swapping you feel like you are getting an amazing deal. You bring 37 items and can find 37 new items to bring home for only $5. It’s basically revamping your wardrobe for £5. And it’s a fun event, with live music, friendly people and fun extras like nail stalls and cupcakes.

7.       What advice would you give to someone who wanted to host their own swapping event?

Call us, we’ll help you for free!

8.       What is your favourite era fashion wise?

1920s and 1960s

9.       What inspires your own personal style?

People watching. Love watching people, must be the psychologist in me, but they give me the most inspiration on trying out different things or creative ideas in my outfits. If I see something I like, either I’ll try to find it and add my own style to it or I’ll try to make it myself. There are so many amazing fashionistas in London, my tube rides are better than opening a Vogue magazine. 

Make sure you catch the next swap! 

SwapAholicsUk Clothing Swap @ Arbeit Gallery Saturday 20th July 1-5pm Arbeit Gallery Unit 4 White Post Lane London E9 5EN

See that beautiful shawl Diana is wearing? Want one? Well she makes them herself and she'll make you one if you get your tail down there this Saturday! Hand stitched, you can choose your colours. She's so nice she'll even be showing you how to make your own!

If you're clever you can get in even cheaper by getting your tickets ahead of time at,

http://billetto.dk/en/events/swapaholicsukhackneyclothingswap

What are you waiting for?!

The Breakfast Club

'Don't you...forget about me!' I am so slow! So, tucked away, or not so tucked away in Islingtons beautiful beating heart is the 'Breakfast Club'. That's right, that place you already know about. Well, I'd only vaguely heard of it until my bosom buddy Riquel took pity upon me and took me there.

You see, Riquel is one of those cool people- no not hipster- just cool. She's taken me to Caribbean dance classes, salsa and talks to me about bantu knots and Korean BBQ, she's awesome.

Anyway, the Breakfast Club serves breakfast, American breakfast. All day, everyday. Ooh yeah. It's also named after one of my favourite movies- on purpose. You have no idea how many times someone has bumped into me at London Bridge station and I've wanted to stop them, double point at them and say 'Don't mess with the bull, young (wo)man. You'll get the horns!' A la Principle Vernon- what is it about men called Vernon? Principle Vernon (authoritarian douche bag), Uncle Vernon (authoritarian douche bag)...Vernon Kay? Well maybe just the two, then.

Man am I a loser or what! They even have the letter the Breakfast club leave for Principal Vernon at the end of the movie.

You know I always tragically related to Alison. I was never the pretty, it-girl Claire was even though I dig her skirt. Alison was oddly charming albeit kind of gross (that cereal sugar sandwich and the dandruff snow- eww). And even though the makeover she got was bitchin', I kinda liked the eyeliner better.


Back to the point. The Breakfast Club's decor is perfect. It's kitschy, it's bright, it's quirky. The walls are littered with pictures, postcards and posters. Bunting hands from the ceiling and there are nostalgic hits blaring out of the restaurant stereo.

The highlight on the walls was by far this.

Seriously FOLLOW him on Twitter!

I want this in my kitchen.

I had the 'All American' because I frigging love pancakes. The scrambled eggs were perfection and the bacon was crispy and flavoursome. And the potatoes, sweet Jemima, the potatoes- herb and garlic fried with skins still on. The pancakes were light and fluffy, unsweetened for that perfect balance of stick sweetness from the MAPLE syrup. (Yeah stick that Macdonalds Breakfast- cut out the Maple syrup will  ya...*incoherent grumbing*)

And Veggie Option!

There's also a delicious and budget friendly fruit salad option perfect for cleaning the pallet after all that comfort food.

It was amazing!

Bantu Knots

My hair is natural. Therefore it's not straightened and I don't have extensions or a weave. It's not even dyed. It's not for any particular reason. It just suits me. I'm fidgety as it is, if I had a weave I would itch the bitch out of it. It would add a certain crazy to my general disposition if I was constantly patting and scratching away at my scalp. My hair doesn't stay straight for long no matter how violently or intricately I apply chemicals and heat to it. Besides, I look my most awesome with my natural hair and I love it. When I texturised my hair in my teens it huffed and it puffed and it eventually committed suicide so in the summer of 2010 I decided- to hell with this and got my poofiness back.

I'm still not totally on top of it. I'm slowly learning to take care of my hair and discovering new ways to emphasise it's beauty.

One of my favourite things I've discovered was a twist out. And in doing so I also re-discovered Bantu knots or 'China bumps' as we St.Lucians and Antiguans and Jamai...well I think it's most of the Caribbean call them China bumps, but I can't be sure. A Bantu knot/China bump is best done with wet hair. Just washed hair is better but sometimes I cheat and use a spray bottle full of water. I would explain how to do them but I'm lazy so I'll include a link to a wonderful Youtube vlogger who inspired me instead! Here's what they look like though.

And this is what it looks like fresh out.

You kind of fiddle and separate them until you get the affect you want.

I have to say I'm at my happier with my hair now than I have ever been. Even though we fight a lot and it always wins. See diagram.

When we aren't on speaking terms I usually revert to the old vintage scarf-cum-turban look. My collection is expanding impressively.

Here are the links to the tutorial by Naptural85

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4BWt3_7WVQ

I hope it brings you the happy twisting it brought me.

Until Next Time

Flattery

I am a little free with my compliments. If I see someone in the street with a jacket I like I will tell them, stranger or no. I think sometimes though, it can make things a bit awkward. Like this poor East Asian girl I met briefly while working. Firstly I remarked how cute her jumper was, then I started gushing about her eyes (I have a thing for eyes).

She left with one of those 'please-don't-follow-me' smiles that you wear when you pass someone on a tube platform screaming into their tote bag of eggs-crazy cat ladies. You know what I mean.

 I was livid when I realised how I must have come across to her. Usually I am quite secure, not at all a 'no homo' type of girl but I could help for her and even more so for myself.

The reasons why I give compliments are numerous. Mainly though, I like when someone looks good and enjoy the fact that by acknowledging that I can make them feel good too. When someone compliments my hair or my shoes it gives me a spring in my step. I like passing that spring on to as many people as I can.

Of course I sometimes pass people who are dressed in a way that doesn't appeal to my tastes. But so what? If my opinion is negative, I should keep my mouth shut. Nothing positive or helpful is going to come of my expressing it. Who the hell am I to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't wear? That's what guru's are for, I'm just a humble appreciator.

I used to see people all the time who were well put together, quirky or cute but not say anything even though I was foaming at the bits to tell them the goodness I saw. It's part of my shyness that can sometimes be crippling. Frankly, it sucks. Talking to strangers can e pretty daunting at times. But complimenting strangers or saying good morning to arbitrary locals has taught me that most people are nice and wear the same mask of apathetic indifference and borderline aggression.

A positive reaction helps boost my confidence in people, as fundamentally as kind hearted and social as me. A negative reaction like you standard blank stare or worse the old 'cross to the other side of the road' thing, can easily be brushed. After all, they don't know me personally, so why take things personally?

All it takes to peel away the negative 'f*** off' persona of your average Londoner is a compliment, a greeting or even a nod and a smile.

Try it, give someone a boost and in the process boost yourself! Most of us city folk aren't as bad as you think!

Until Next Time!

National Gallery!!

I go for long periods of time without absorbing anything culturally enriching. I just finished a season of Geordie Shore, only to start the new season of Jersey Shore. I need to feed my brain something good instead of all this junk television that tastes so badly good.

I can't lie that I was inspired to go to a gallery by my blogging friends Emi and David who went to see a Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the Tate Modern. One of them was intrigued and the other repusled and their polarized opinions made me want to try viewing art for myself. I was craving something a little bit more classic so I went for the good old National Gallery with my friend Felicity 'Flick' who is certifiably insane and lots of fun.

While I was there I didn't want to get told of for taking pictures (lol Emi) so I wrote down the name of  few paintings I liked. I'll list them below and attempt to tell you exactly why.

Dona Isabel de Parvel- Francisco de Geyo

It's very dark and moody looking. Her smile is suggestive of a seductive elegance. I like the idea of using pictures  as stimuli for writing prose or poetry. I think this would make a good story.

Venice: The Basin of San Marco on Ascencion Day- Canaletto

I love any scene with water, especially when the artist pays special attentions to the way the light plays off the water. It was such a vibrant scene that I wanted to be part of it.

The Coronation of the Virgin- Johann Rottenhammer

This painting is mesmerising. I love the shadow of the clouds and the faces of the saints and the souls in the background, each painted with exquisite detail. All together the painting gives off of a breathtaking ethereal light.

The Holy Family and St John the Baptist- Jacob Jordeans

I remember it from when I went to the National Gallery last summer. It's a really unique representation of the Virgin Mary. She actually looks her age. She looks fragile and innocent. My eye is drawn to her immediately. The rich colour and the lustre in the folds of the fabric is stunning too. This is one of my favourite paintings ever.

Flick being Flick, we couldn't go to an anything without visiting a coffee shop. We also did a tourist stint around Trafalgar Square.

From here on in it's a bit less cultured. Those of an artistic disposition look away now!

Look everyone, Nelson's Column- Huzzah!

Here she is looking modelesque- I am aware that isn't a word. And I'm sure you are aware I care little for the triviality of failing to speak ones first and only language.

And here I am! Attempting to look poised or something. I don't know.

I would definitely encourage you to give the National a bit of time. You only need an hour or so and the National Portrait Gallery is just down the road. Didn't get a chance to to it but will definitely go for it when I have the opportunity.

Bye for now!

London Riots Aftermath

To all the rioters that were out last night. Poor disaffected youth's so angry with the police that you decided to break into wine bars and ransack them for alcohol and cash. Power to the people?You felt obligated to destroy five generations of a family's history by burning down Reeves in Croydon and leaving parts of London in ruin. You put the lives of people in your own communities at risk, destroyed homes and businesses in your own back yard.

What have you done?

It cannot be denied that there is a very strained relationship between youth and the police force, particularly black youths. And anyone who would completely dismiss these riots as mere criminality and deny any connection between the dire economic situation and the events that unfolded last night would be naive. Young black males are more likely to be stopped and searched by the police. I remember even as a girl in secondary school being paranoid about the public image of young people. I used to go out of my way to act against the stereotype stamped on urban youths.

Inevitably there is anger rising in those suffering as a result of government cuts. Jobs are scarce, taxes are rising and even those with relatively good degrees find themselves unemployed. We get it. The social, political and economic situation is a breeding ground for things like this to happen.

But as for the actions of those involved in the riots last night, no matter what your motivations were, the things you have done are unforgivable. Last night you attacked and destroyed peoples homes and livelihoods indiscriminately. You behaved like animals pillaging retail parks for commercial items like Trainers and iPhones.

You cannot pretend that attacking police officers with fireworks and metal poles is way forward. These people have children, they have families. The police force is an institution, but it is made up of normal individuals with just as many rights and grievances as you.

Even if the police were your primary target, you didn't primarily attack the police. You attacked anything and anyone you came across, like mindless thugs. It wasn't enough for you to just rob those businesses, you had to burn them as well. You felt the need to ensure that nothing could be salvaged, that everything was completely destroyed. How monstrous of you all.

You claim this to be your way of showing the government that you can't take it anymore. Don't lie. Don't try to turn this into a political protest. Looting Curry's and your local Chinese restaurant isn't protesting. Saying to your friends 'Let's get some watches, blood', shows just what you were out there for- everything you could get.

There are pictures springing up all over Facebook, Twitter and BBM showing criminals posing with their  spoils; a girl with tights over her head and a crate of Supermalt under her arm, a young boy on a bike with a basket of snacks stolen from a local supermarket, a grown man slipping a monitor under his hoodie in broad daylight. And it isn't just fearless youths either, not just angry blacks. There are mothers and children, grown men, whites, blacks, Asians.

I'm watching a girl shouting at a BBC news camera about respect and rights. What about all those people whose homes you destroyed, whose businesses you burned to the ground? Don't we as citizens of this city deserve the right to live without fear? What about our right to our own property, to keep our jobs, to keep our homes and families safe?

Don't speak about the police's lack of respect for you, when you blatantly have no respect for the ordinary people going through the same economic and social struggles as you are. If you wanted to win the respect of society or the trust of your community, you have failed. All you have done is ensure widen the chasm between young people and the rest of society.

Violence begets violence. Respect begets respect.