The weather was out, and so were we, in celebration of last weekend's Croftfest in south London and all that's best in SE4. Highlighting both home-grown shops and produce in this particular part of London, Croftfest attracted families, shoppers and indeed passers-by to the day-long community street festival on Saturday, and certainly there was a buzz around Crofton Park in the September sunshine.
We were in our element: dressing up in lots of different styles and eras, courtesy of designer and vintage boutique, Paraphernalia, which celebrates its 18th year at 365 Brockley Road this month. I wore a slinky burnt-orange knit dress with divine Fendi bag and Dolce & Gabbana boots; a funky Traffic People metallic jumpsuit reminiscent of Studio 54; a chic navy ensemble; a sophisticated grey and camel outfit complete with Goyard clutch; and a glamorous vintage fur, with the best boots for strutting my stuff. What a great day and a Happy 18th to Paraphernalia! And check out the amazing street art in this neighbourhood!
That was Croftmas: a celebration of local businesses in Brockley, south London, including the show-stopping wares of Paraphernalia. We wore a fabulous range of clothes from a sophisticated pairing of a '40s mole cape with a contemporary pair of Chloé pants, with beaded embellishment; to '80s razzle-dazzle 'em jackets and a V-backed dress with jewel detail; and high-street finds, such as blazers from a Karen Millen brocade to a Topshop beaded number. Also in store is the recent 'Freestyle' range, together with local designers such as Mrs.Blak with her sartorial catchphrase 'Blak is always the new black', and Lira Leirner, where traditional materials are transformed into funky one-off pieces - check out those tweeds and tartans!
Blue skies up in North Yorkshire appear very rarely, so I'm making the most of Whitby, along with the sea, the sand and a Jacques Yves Cousteau quote: "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever". Typically, beach breaks include bikinis and flip-flops, but the temperatures here are forcing me to resort to a '70s shaggy coat by Panda. Alongside, I've opted for a pair of bold '90s Versace jeans and some simple shoes by Office. Of course, the look (and holiday) wouldn't be complete without these Topshop sunnies.
