Watch Bronx Princess Online From Now Through October 23

Written By: Staff Writer—Rocky Otoo is the Bronx-bred teenage daughter of Ghanaian parents, struggling to make sense of her Ghanian roots and her American upbringing. Just one summer before heading off to college—a place where Rocky is determined to find freedom from her mother—Rocky visits her father, a chief in Ghana. Her American ideas of an independent American life conflict with her parent's traditional Ghanaian values. Reconciling her dual identities becomes an unexpected chapter in Rocky's growth and what follows is captured in Bronx Princess, a tumultuous coming-of-age documentary set in a homeland both familiar and strange to Rocky. You can now watch Bronx Princess online from now through October 23 at PBS or catch it on television (check your local listings).

MIMI Related Links: Bronx Princess, A Ghanaian Coming Of Age Story

Say You're One Of Them

Written By: Mimi Tsiane: Nigerian author Uwem Akpan book debut collection of short stories, Say You're One Of Them, has been selected by U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey for her book club. Akpan's short stories resonated with Oprah who stated that the selection left her "stunned and profoundly moved." The collection published in 2008 captures the childhood of African children growing in a setting that is marred by devastation.

Oprah's book club has almost two million online members and books chosen for Oprah's book club propel authors to the top of the U.S. bestseller lists. Akpan joins a legion renowned African authors; Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ama Ata Aidoo and Tsitsi Dangarembga.

Akpan received his master's degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan in 2006 and he has been ordained as a Jesuit priest since 2003.

MIMI Related Links: MIMI Book Review: Say You're One Of Them—Uwem Akpan

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Scarlett Valentine, at the Jeremy Scott show*.
I asked Scarlett if she would mind kind of climbing the fence for the photo and the poor thing almost impaled herself on one of the spikes- owwww!!! I felt so bad as I have done it myself (of course I wasn't doing anything illegal ;)) and I know it hurts like crazy. Sorry Scarlett- thanks for being such a great sport and laughing about it after :))
I didn't realise that Jeremy does an iconic Pliage bag each season for Longchamp (hellllloooo where have I been?!) until I photographed a guy with one last week. It was the Jeremy Scott gold credit card Pliage bag which I thought was super cute. From the photos, I also love the Poodle bag from a few seasons ago and the new one, available now, the telephone print bag. It has a very Get Smart feel to it!

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Tracy Rosenbaum, assistant to The Sartorialist, and a girl whose personal style I adore. Each day at LFW Tracey looked fantastic (I have more photos which I will share with you later) culminating in a wonderful amethyst jumpsuit at the Burberry show. Tracy just oozes chic but she adds quirky little accents (e.g. her wedge heels which had "Seance On A Wet Afternoon" written across them, and a beautiful, cascading turquoise necklace which she teamed with shorts, Breton striped tee and Converse) to keep things modern and interesting. Tracy studied fashion design in Nebraska (I suspect she also studied how to be utterly lovely and patient when 10 photographers are all wanting a photo of her, as well!) and then moved to NYC to work for Scott.

At the top of her back Tracy has a tattoo: Live, Learn, Create.....one imagines that that is exactly how Tracy approaches life :)

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Her tee-shirt made me smile: I was humming "Don't Worry, Be Happy" for about 30mins after I photographed her :))

She was looking off to the side to her Dad who was giving her encouragement! Cool Dad for taking her to a fashion show, huh?!

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Overalls and Louboutins? You bet!

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Alex Dunstan, model with Select, at LFW.

These photos are in homage to we could grow up together who is already living the photographic dream :)

Check out his blog for beautiful photographs of beautiful boys and beautiful things.

Argh. So need to make sure my Longchamp Le Pilage is OUT OF SHOT when taking photos!

Olivia Rubin's SS10 Look Book

Earlier this month I shot Olivia's SS10 look book which is out now. Do check out her blog on:
http://www.oliviarubinlondon.com/blog/
Credits:
Styling by Natasha Wray
Hair & Make-up by Holly Silius
Photography Assistant Luke Freeman
Model Alys at Storm
Accessories from American Apparel, Brian Altwood, Manolo Blahnik & Rayban

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

At Erdem, the beautiful, ethereal Nao Koyaeu, wearing vintage.

On a side-note I loved seeing Virginia Bates, owner of the wonderful vintage/antique clothing boutique, Virginia, wearing Erdem to the show. Virginia is proof that one can look fabulous at any age.

So Clutch! Aya Morrison

Written By: Staff Writer—Helena Aidoo-Morrison is a young, up and coming African-fabric-infused ladies' purse and swimwear designer who describes her line as "vibrant." At once timeless and relevant, her pieces are instant collectibles and will have you rewriting your birthday wish list. Here's what Helena had to share about her line:

"I have always had the passion for accessorizing and a simple love for impacting the fashion world. What started out as a hobby in making arts and crafts at such tender age, turned into designing my own accompaniments for my outfits, which then grew into a love for the products she makes for my luscious line. All items are uniquely designed by me, using carefully handpicked fabrics to help unleash every customer's love for the African fabric-infused fashion products in ways that words cannot express. "

Contact Aya Morrison stores at info@ayamorrison.com or visit www.ayamorrison.etsy.com. The official website, www.ayamorrison.com, is coming soon.

(Photo Credits: All Photographs Provided Courtesy Of Aya Morrison)

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Ahhhh the gorgeous Yasmin Sewell....The thing about Yasmin (and the reason why everyone loves to photograph her) is that she always, always looks amazing..... I strongly suspect that Yasmin would even look good in a Snuggie!*. She wears things that suit her shape, her hair and skin colour but, more importantly, she looks comfortable and confident. Yasmin doesn't look like she has just whizzed around the floors of Liberty (where she is Chief Creative Consultant) randomly pulling on the latest designer items: what she wears is her own personal style and one suspects that she mixes pieces she has had in her (extraordinary) wardrobe for a long time with new, interesting pieces.

Love the lady-tweed trousers she is sporting here with the exaggerated shoulder top. We might not have Yasmin's budget for clothes (it is her job, after all) but we can certainly be inspired by what she wears and find our own interpretations on the high street and in vintage stores.

*Those weird blankets with sleeves that became strangely popular last year- you can even get one for your doggie. Crikey!

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Model streetstyle: love the pop of colour on her legs and the fluro pink stars dangling from her lobes. Oh yeah, and her drink just happens to coordinate as well :))

p.s. I have just realised that she has red-ish hair....does this mean I am officially obsessed?!! Eeek!

1901

Radiating boob studs? almost? maybe?

I (Heart) Your Style by Amanda Brooks

Today I received my copy of Amanda's book from the U.S. as I have an image in it of British Vogue's Emma Elwick on page 75.

V&A Talk

Yesterday I gave my first public speech about how I became what I am today in the famous V&A Museum's lecture theatre. It was for the 'Big Create-Does Fashion' day to inspire the younger generation how to get into the industry. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it seemed to inspire others, here are a couple of quotes from them.

Mary Jane said, "Just really wanted to say a big thank you for all the buzz and inspiration i took away from yesterdays talk"

Emily Barrett commented, "I was at your lecture at the V&A yesterday and found it very interesting, as well as inspiring."

I look forward to maybe doing some more talks in the future...

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Red hair + the hottest tights of the season: POLKA DOTS! .Love.

I seriously adore the way Filippa Smeds (from Stockholm) has paired her dainty Balenciaga-ish tights with those tough eyelet boots, zippered shorty-shorts and simple grey sweater. Oh but her hair! Wow! I can't decide what I am loving more right now: platinum blonde or red hair :)

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Okay, so America has Tavi, Europe has 14 year old Noa Leijdesdorff and Lev Livnev (love his red hair!) from brainsbeauty.wordpress.com.

Noa is Brains + Beauty's editor-in-chief, while Lev is the photographer (I held onto his TWO cameras while I was snapping these shots!). Their "about section" states that brains+beauty "is a blog for students from students. We are dedicated on providing the latest fashion and trends for students, so they can study and look stylish all at the same time…Brains + Beauty was launched December 2008 with a vision of supplying teenage girls with fashion advice, latest news on designers and more…all from one place so they could quickly update themselves on the fashion world and still have enough time to study…’Girls that are always up-to-date in fashion but also score top marks in algebra…Fashion-nerd-as! as we like to say’".


p.s. In the first shot is the guy who was managing the Matches on-site store....I saw him take a photograph of Noa and Lev and thought to myself, wouldn't it be cool to shoot him shooting them! So I did :)

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

Co-founder of Dazed&Confused magazine, Jefferson Hack (the other founder was Rankin- anyone go and see him shooting at Rankin Live?).

Cold hands and a cold heart

Margaret Durow, 19 years old, Wisconsin USA.

Fantastic Man 10th Issue Launch at The Saville Club

See www.fantasticman.com for more information

MANfashion and rising star Katie Eary

I have always considered London to be the creative epicenter of the fashion world, so it came as no surprise when models at the Katie Eary show walked down the runway baring more bone than skin. The clothes were based off of anatomical drawings dissected in ways that epitomized the beauty of the entire human skeleton. Exquisitely tailored pieces were accented with gilt rib cages and constricting chains to emphasize the intricacy beneath our skin. Eary's latest collection is not the only one worth paying some attention to. "How did we go from the beautifully tied caravat to a tie with elastic hidden under the collar?" Eary asks, at only 25 years old she is attempting to redefine menswear, to create pieces of both technical and architectural splendor, and to encourage men to dress up just a little bit more.

Fashion visits 10 Downing Street

TopShop at The Ivy

Christopher Bailey, Anna Wintour & Kate Moss
Vivienne Westwood & Andreas Kronthaler
Bryan Ferry
Michelle Williams
Sir Philip Greene & Jamie Hince

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

The stunning Akiko Aoki wearing Egg (I think). The above photo is one of my favourites- I just love the light on Akiko's face and the little splooshes of yellow on her bag and the railing.

I guess some of you might have worked out that my absolute favourite thing to photograph is people's portraits. I love faces, and I love making people feel and (hopefully) look beautiful, even if it is just for the minute or so that I am with them. For me, more than anything, it is the people behind the clothes, the hair, the make-up that are important, and what I want to capture in my images.

Running With The Fash Pack...London Fashion Week SS 2010

POP!!!

The perfect pink with Olga Grotova's PLATINUM blonde hair* and gorgeous blue-green eyes.

I finished a marathon photo editing session at 4am this morning....and I am beat. Despite my exhaustion from: living on 4 hours sleep each night; running madly between shows- don't get me started on how hard it is to locate the press buses: they mysteriously move from where they drop off so it is like a wild treasure hunt to find them after each show. By the end I worked out that the best approach is to attach oneself to the catwalk photographers who seem to have an inbuilt press bus location radar :); not eating properly: fashion week is the new boot camp!; trying to shoot while dodging cars, security guards, other photographers; getting abused by an irate resident who lives near the Topshop Venue (it is pretty chaotic with cars and people everywhere blocking the streets); I absolutely LOVED my first "official" LFW...I so wish I was going to Milan and Paris. Well, I actually am going to Paris during Fashion Week but I will only be shooting for one day :(

The highlight of my week? The Burberry show. OMG, it was incredible: I feel so fortunate to have witnessed the return of Burberry to LFW. The glittery/sequined trench towards the end almost moved me to tears. I loved so many of the pieces in the collection (the exquisite ruching, the pale sherbet colours, the strong shoulders, the reworked trench/dress) and I thought it was highly wearable for women of most shapes and sizes. Okay, so most of us can't actually afford any of the clothes that were on the catwalk but it is nice to take inspiration.

Thank you to everyone who has been leaving comments and emailing me :))) You guys are so lovely. I should be back to normal on the weekend and will email everyone back/reply to comments/questions then.


* BargainBex are you seeing this??!!! More platinum :))) It's a sign!