iPhone Pics - September 2012

I love playing around with the different functions on my iPhone, I've had some photography apps for a while without really doing anything with them. So this month I made an effort to utilise and get to know Snapseed. It does take a bit more time and effort than just using the usual Instagram filters but I still haven't decided whether I like the effect or not!

1. View from my bed. 2. My bathroom. 3. Dreaming of Paris.

4. Favourite breakfast. 5. New York Winter painting. 6. Diet Coke break.

7&8. MaxMara fashion show in Fenwick. 9. On the way to London.

10. Brunch in Notting Hill. 11. Lunch in Notting Hill. 12. Miniature Valentina Assoluto perfume.

1. Package from Valentino. 2. Ginger cocktail. 3. Fish & chips.

4. Longingly looking at my bed wanting a snooze. 5. Virgin Atlantic animate drawing as hair inspiration as I start to re-grow my long hair. 6. First Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte of the season.

7. Half-moon manicure. 8. Second Pumpkin Spiced Latte. 9. Obsessed with Lana Del Rey.

10. Rainy day. 11. The things you find on the street. 12. The new Simple Things magazine.

Valentina Assoluto

Fragrance is so personal, I like to be able to choose it for myself (despite being rather nice to receive as a gift). So I was a little wary to be offered the chance to be sent the new but unknown Valentina Assoluto by Valentino fragrance. As it turns out, I have become obsessed with this fragrance, one of my favourites to date. It is an unusual blend, rare, strong, musky, sexy and feminine. Above all else, it smells expensive, if that is at all possible with a perfume. As well as the amazing packaging, I love how it makes me feel when I wear it - the sign of a very good perfume.

Wearing: Valentina Assoluto by Valentino ~ Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Scarf via Zalando ~ Chanel Lipstick in Gabrielle ~ Chanel Nail Enamel in Pirate ~ (Unknown) Gold Nail Enamel (for half-moon manicure)

Uniqlo x Orla Kiely ~ Look 2

My second Uniqlo x Orla Kiely purchase was another smock dress in black and blue with a pale blue printed stole. (You can see my previous look here). I used the black background of the dress as the basis to coordinate my accessories - a black floppy hat and new suede platform sandals by House of Harlow 1960 - these shoes give me fabulous height and aren't too bad to walk in either! 

I really loved the Orla Kiely range, my only grievance being that although there were lots of prints to choose from across the dresses, tops and stoles, there wasn't a lot of variety in the designs and cut of each. As a big 'dress-wearer', I definitely would have bought more of them if there had been a few different styles to choose from. However for the amazing cost, it was a fantastic chance to buy into the covetable Orla Kiely brand.

ASOS Floppy Hat ~ Uniqlo x Orla Kiely Dress & Stole ~ House of Harlow 1960 Platforms Sandals via Spartoo ~ Tabio 110d Tights (photos of me by dad)

Merchant Archive via Farfetch

And so on the first day of London Fashion Week, I headed down to London. But instead of pounding the cobbled paths of Somerset House, spent time in quirky boutique Merchant Archive in Notting Hill, enjoying a long brunch and lunch around Notting Hill and Portobello courtesy of a kind invitation from Farfetch. As an online marketplace for independent fashion boutiques globally, Farfetch showcases boutique partners which are handpicked for their forward-thinking taste and unique viewpoint on fashion. You can shop from any boutique within the network and have your order delivered to your door direct from the boutique itself.

If you could imagine the perfect dressing up box with a well-sourced mix of vintage and designer clothing, Merchant Archive in London's Notting Hill would be it. The vintage is a selection of the most stunning and delicate pieces covering a selection of decades which I am unlikely to find anywhere other than at the best antique fairs. They sit alongside up-to-the minute, edgy labels and quirky household items, art, fashion books, accessories - this two floor boutique holds a little bit of everything. 

Established in 2007, Merchant Archive is a vintage and contemprary life-style store, mixing true vintage with new designers and great contemporary labels. Rising from modest beginnings, Merchant Archive started off in the bedroom of founder Sophie Merchant, who sold vintage to design teams for inspiration. Quickly moving into her first store - a Victorian Lipton tea store - Merchant Archive soon became known to stylists and designers worldwide. Recently relocated to a new luxury location in Notting Hill, Merchant Archive boasts two floors of hand-selected garments, accessories, homeware and also plays host to revolving art exhibitions. Brands to look out for - Vintage 1850-1970's, Karen Walker, Emma Cook, Comme des Garcon, American Retro, Folk, Designers Remix, Robert Clergerie, MiH jeans, Paper London, Superga, Lucas Hugh, Zara Simon.

Not being from the capital, when I do visit London I am constantly on the search for shops, boutiques, experiences that I am not able to find in my native Newcastle upon Tyne. Merchant Archive is definitely one such experience. These labels are not stocked in the North East that I am aware of and the vintage is very much high-end, so unlikely that I would come across them myself. Of course for those not visiting London in the near future, it is good to know that Merchant Archive have recently partnered with Farfetch, making their dream pieces accessible to all. There was so much that caught my eye, here is a selection...

Vintage Lace Victorian Capelet

Paper London 'Moka' Blazer

1910-1920 Blouse ~ 1830's Georgian Necklace ~ 1970's Tigers Eye Necklace

Emma Cook Printed Shirt (left) ~ 1920's Floral Kimono (right and below)

1930's Lamé Floral Jacket

Vintage 1920's Chinese Kimono

The Merchant Archive Boutique ~ 19 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2EU ~ 020 7229 9006 ~ Nearest tube: Ladbroke Grove or Notting Hill Gate ~ @merchantarchive