Middle range brands are ruling the U.K. high street at the moment. Reiss, Jaeger and Whistles are all receiving lots of publicity in the fashion press and rightly so. Their lines are elegant, fashion forward and refined. The problem for me starts with the prices. Yes, in designer terms, they are affordable but in terms of high street, mass produced clothing, they are not. £185 for a party dress at Reiss, £600 for a Jaeger coat…all a little too much for me. I did buy a fabulous dress from Reiss in the summer, paying £165 but so did a lot of other people! I think Topshop has marred my view of what affordable fashion is. Their stock is updated several times a week, it is still fashion forward, maybe not sooo refined, maybe worn by hundreds of other people…but at Topshop’s prices, most definitely affordable and disposable. That brings me to the Whistles dress above, aptly named “Watergarden.” A very Balenciaga inspired design yet at the very un-Balenciaga price of £130. For me that’s still a little too much for an on-trend look, although I sense florals will transend the seasons, as they always have. To see it “in action” on Vogue.com’s Street Chic, does make it seem more appealing. The only question I have to ask myself is, should I buy it and if I do, am I buying into the escalating prices of these middle of the range “brands?”

Seeing people in their own space, their natural habitat, offers an unadulterated insight into who they really are. The Selby offers a photographic platter of images that represent people in their true light, in their comfort zone. Visually the site is stunning; then click on the main image to discover a little more. What quirky ornaments lurk on their shelves, what pieces of art do they hold dear? See Alexander Wang in his atelier, see cutting edge designers and artists relaxing at home. The part I love about The Selby is that is humanises people that are often separated from the average person and although it is extremely voyeristic, with the permission of the subjects, it really doesn’t seem so. Spend a few minutes (or, more likely hours!) clicking…to reveal just a little more.

Urban Outfitters markets its clothing impeccably. In the vein of American Apparel, it’s staff are now aiding the marketing machine. Closet Space allows a glimpse into the wardrobes of its designers and buying team. You can then click through to the Urban Outfitters store and buy any of the stocked items; you too can attempt to be as cool as the UO staff. I was exposed to the inane sense of cool that many shop staff seem to possess while we were in Paris on our trek. American Apparel in the capital, seem to only employ the über cool staff with the best hair, insane tattoos and unique sense of style. This can work two ways – intimidate you massively, as you realise the AA clothes do not and will never look like that on you….or offer you an achievable style option; the former seemed to affect me! So, can employees offer style solutions? It seems they can and boost their company’s profits too; just be careful you don’t suffer from low-cool-esteem as I did!

I am returned! Married, travelled-out and overwhelmed. The wedding day, a joy that seemed to fly by in a blur. The honeymoon, a visual onslaught that took us from Italy to France, on to Spain and finally Morocco. I shall endeavour to get some photos on flickr soon but the whole experience could be summed up as a tale of concept stores, galleries and walking, all mixed together with heat! Reality now seems strange but I have plenty to post about to hopefully keep you enthralled.

I know, posts have been lacking…but this wedding business has been busier than I thought! So, this Thursday’s the day and then we’re off on our travels. Things of Random Coolness is looking forward to our little trek through Europe, with some well deserved respite in Marrakech to end our jaunt. So I shall be back in 3 weeks, with some photos and lots to tell…wish me luck.

Miss. Suzy Style Bubble tipped me off to Shop Curious and today they finally launched their e-store. So, who are they? Creator Susan Muncey tells us, “ShopCurious is for lovers and collectors of naturally beautiful things. It’s the online shopping equivalent of ‘slow food’: A backlash against the must-have consumer frenzy of the branded goods crazed brigade.” The store itself is an eclectic piece of genius, full of unusual trinkets and nicknacks; from vintage to contemporary, clothing and furnishings. My favourite items have to be these resin bug bracelets – vintage bangles from the 60’s, housing formerly real bugs (slightly inhumane…possibly, gorgeous…most definitely.) Get curious and peruse the site.

I’m sure by now this has been posted over multiple blogs and will get massive exposure…but I just had to post about it too. Audrey is set to become the new face of Chanel but a much more anticipated project, in my world, is the up-coming film in which Miss. Tautou will play the eponymous Coco Chanel. On the right, we get our first glimpse of the film poster of Coco before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel) detailing her life as a cabaret singer. Director Caroline Benjo says, “It isn’t really a biopic because it is about Chanel before she became famous, it is about the events and people that shaped her.” I think Audrey will add her quirky sense of cool to such a monumental portrayal of a true icon of the industry.

In Bethnal Green hides a little gem of haberdashery named, Prick Your Finger. Hand spun yarns from rare breeds of sheep, adorn their shelves, as well as Fairtrade cottons and vintage silks. If you feel you need to be further enticed, there are also wondrous exhibitions of work; including Kate Talbot’s British Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner above. I adore their website, especially the quirky details about the founders, Rachel Matthews and Louise Harries – “They met at Central St. Martin’s college, in the canteen, where they took their own flasks!” If in Bethnal Green, go visit the unconventional duo…and their pet angora rabbit (every cool shop must have one.)

…the real world and my real job have impeded my posting of late. My “busy” time is now hopefully behind me…so lets get back on track. The Bast print on the left seems to best sum up the chaos that has been ma vie of late. See more of Bast’s génie here.

…the answer – Lake Tahoe, California. After a few years of skiing, I decided to dabble in a little snowboarding and spent a significant period of time falling, collapsing, slipping, along with many other collision style verbs! So, I am back but damaged; a little like a bruised banana and facially, slightly cooked from the Californian sunshine!