Roving Reporter and Flats . . . Do Camden

It may always seem that Flats and I spend our lives in Shoreditch but actually, I have managed to convince Flats that North London is bringing it to the table to. 

Camden has a fabulous selection of vintage shops - check out the Stables Market and The Lock Market for best bargains! Not only this, but the newly refurbished food area down by the canal is gorgeous and the seating area is a load of mopeds, how cool is that!

If you are looking for somewhere to stop for a drink and general refueling, may we suggest . . . The Lock Bar? Sitting right on the lock, it has a downstairs and upstairs seating arrangement and a huge balcony that is gorgeous when the sunshines and you can watch all the canal boats go past! Plus as you can see that cake is yummy!

Most people get their food spat on in a restaurant when they complain, Flats however, gets hers re-done and decorated! Upon asking for her brownie bites to be heated up, the lovely barman not only gave her an extra brownie, but heated them and then proceeded to decorate them! Madness I tell you!

Flats ... Chats to THE KABEEDIES

Bleu: Whats the next step for the band since you've released ' little brains ' ?

Fab Kabeedie: Well we've released 3 singles now, and what would normally be expected is an album. But at the rate we've been writing new material and also with the annoying sluggishness of the music industry and record labels, the timeframe for an album coming out has been pretty hard to predict. We've just been touring so much that it's difficult to think about what's going to happen next really - the plan is definately an album, but we won't rush one out. I should imagine we'll be going into the studio soon and doing our best to put on good shows at the festivals we're playing at this year. That's our favourite thing to think about.

Bleu: How has the tour been? Do you enjoy being on tour?

Fab Kabeedie: Yeah this tour in particular has been great. We've started to pick up fans who come back to see gigs and bring their friends, and it's really made us feel more apprieciated. There's been far less times when we're playing to 30 people who couldn't care less. Touring is pretty much always our favourite time as a band, when you've been in a band for 2 years, and the novelty of gigging wears off and you start to fight and argue, it's easy for it to be a chore, but we feel we've found a really nice stage in our friendship and our band in that we enjoy each others company and respect each other. And entertaining people and making their night is a huge motivating factor for us.

Bleu: Who would be your mistoe kiss if you could pick anyone ?

Fab Kabeedie: Mine would be Evan, even though he always tries to kiss me, it'd be nice for it to be on my terms for once.

Bleu: Do you have a pre and post stage ritual for nerves etc ?

Fab Kabeedie: Hahaha not usually, but with the exception of Latitude Festival last year where we played infront of our biggest ever crowd reception. We were backstage just as Huw Stephens announced us and as he walked backstage he saw us warming up by doing the dance-off routine from White Chicks...

Bleu: Who do you think the best british band is at the moment ?

Fab Kabeedie: Oooo, that would cause considerable conflict among everyone... I think probably a cross between Bombay Bicycle Club, Wavemachines, Metronomy and Let's Wrestle.

Bleu: what are your favourite snacks ?

Fab Kabeedie: Gravy, but Evan likes crisps.. he ate 10 packs the night after we played in Southampton and projectile vomited in the Travelodge. We enjoy a good Go Ahead bar too.

Bleu: What do you do to fill time while waiting around and traveling ?

Fab Kabeedie: We don't..unfortunately... it's the most annoying thing about being in a band. We've recently attempted to learn Japanese in the car but Evan shouting out the words soon put a stop to that. We occasionally play 20 questions but the answer is inevitably Ainsley Harriet.

Bleu: What books inspire you ?

Fab Kabeedie: I really really love 'The Tao of Pooh' which is a book about taoism in winnie-the-pooh (as the title suggests) and that inspired me to write the lyrics for 'Little Brains', i know Evan loves 'Where the wild things are'... but Katie and Roary are a bit more cultured and they enjoy 'A Picture of Dorian Gray' and William Burroughs and other intellectual rubbish.

Bleu: Who's your favourite WWF wrestler ?

Fab Kabeedie: Mine is Gran Master Sexy as my wrestling name at school was Gran Master Franny...
Roary loves Rakishi though and he often gives me his signature 'stink face'

Bleu: If you were a piece of furniture what you be and why ?

Fab Kabeedie: A sofa so Roary could sit on my face

Roving Reporter . . . Alternative Fashion Week Day 4

Today saw, what was, over all a fairly decent day of fashion. Though I must admit nothing floored me, on the whole, we felt that most collections deserved applause and seeing my call sheet littered with notations and scribbles, I obviously felt that there was a lot to take down!

Cherrie Camplin kicked off the excitement factor with her incredibly well constructed, structural and sculptural collection. Though the colours were at time, headache inducing. The outlandish collars, sleekly draped jumpsuits and pleat detailing, made up for some scary fabric choices. There has been far too much in the way of holographic fabric this week, it is however, just, so, Halloween! Not my dears, a fashion look!

Holly Dutton then carried on the weeks theme, for vintage, nostalgia and child inspired collections with a muted, coffee cream look that was very RTW. We loved the styling of knee high socks, very Pollyanna.

Rosie Boycott Brown's collection did not start well but, by the end Bleu Flats and I were OBSESSED with her knitting needle accessorised, patch work dresses, just so original, quirky and cool!

Our special mention however, goes to . . . Lucy Majerski for her beautiful grey and powdered pink collection, that was both rock chick couture, with a softer, more feminine edge. We loved the cuts on the floaty dresses and added the pink, structured, biker jacket to our wish lists!

Roving Reporter . . . Alternative Fashion Week Day 2

I am loving this summer sun! (Bleu) Flats and I turned up ridiculously early to nab front row seats, then tried to act fashion cool, lets be honest, when are fashionistas early! Flats opted for a truly summer, candy stripe play-suit while I somehow ended up in head to toe black?! Having not been blown away yesterday, we weren't expecting too much today. But we were proved wrong! There was tones of redeemable things today. 

It started with fabulously, purple, swingy, velvet coats by Hackney College. They had big sleeves, oversized collars and military and Victorian detailing. 

Other things worthy of note were Penny Baker's jersey creations, surrealist shoulders, panelling and general awesomeness that was very Sports Luxe with a futuristic edge; Sarah Punter's 'concealed and revealed' collection that had delicate prints, sheer panelling and spectacular slashed and shredded fabrics. It reminded us of a cross between the latest Jil Sander and Louise Amstrup collections. Futuristic, modern and unstated cool. Menswear was a treat too and our new crush is with Nelly George Hipkin. 

Her fun and fierce collection had a 50's come 80's vibe. There were polka dots, fluorescent acid, plastic macs and the most wackiest of man bags. Colour was clashed, prints were loud and cuts were excellent and perfectly mixed the traditional with the out there, for the most dapper and showy of gentlemen. Pics, interviews and further reports to follow!

Roving Reporter . . . Alternative Fashion Week

Flats and I rocked up to AFW today, being held all week at Spitalfield Market. Armed with press passes, I was looking forward to taking a pew to watch some new talent. Unfortunately there was no real press section and while I am supposed to be covering the shows for various publications, I wasn't able to get to the seated area to have a decent enough view. We were pretty peeved by the lack of organisation and Flats almost had a fight with some random chick. The problem with holding free outdoor shows is that it becomes a tourist attraction and lets face it, its actually all about the press!

We eventually found 'Ginger', a photography pal of mine who had a genius, high up view point, so we finally got a birds-eye-view of the show. 

The high points of the show were sky high and the low points were scrapping the barrel low. But the true star of the day was Aaron Ray Dowie, a fantastic, menswear tailor. We loved his country chic tailoring! The dress coats were divine and perfectly executed. Dowie, who currently freelances for some major brands and has worked on Savile Row is definitely one to watch! More interviews, reviews and pics to come . . .

Flats Tells Us . . . What's Hot - Runway Roundup

After all the London shows and trend spotting, I have put together ALL my must have styles for A/W 09.
Smiles rose to many faces when it seemed that everybody seemed to be using lots of prints and full length dress which were truly red carpet worthy.
My favourite collection was Avsh Alom Gur who took a playful and ironic twist to the current economic slowdown, using credit crunch slogans.

Glee for all those, who like me, were happy to see wet look leggings, teamed with Dr Martin boots, oversized t-shirts and floral prints are still chic for day and evening wear - a thrown together look. Topshop is perfect for this look.
Models seem to really be picking up on this! Luckily for them, their slender legs look perfect in wet look leggings! Don’t worry though if you haven't got the legs of Giselle, I'm going to still be rocking mine! (part of the normal sized fashion clan).

MUST HAVES:

- Dr Martins, In any colour or pattern (they're cool in any style).

- Floral print dresses and blouses which Topshop again triumph as the place to go to!

- Wet look leggings, I’d stick to black but if you’re braver than me hit the colour and head to American Apparel. 

- For really cool over sized t-shirts with cools prints and pictures head down to Brick Lane's Sunday market for some really cool bargains!

- You must purchase any insect inspired accessories and jewellery for a quirky look which a certain Roving Reporter and myself keep raving about! Mulberry did them as their free press gift and the over sized, bug brooches were a huge hit, being rocked by Fashionistas and Pop Princes alike! (Will Young was shown in Heat Mag rocking his).

- Blazers and funky checked jackets in all variations and styles, great to make an outfit for day or evening. Beyond Retro have plenty of options all that make me go week at the knees.

Flats Tells Us . . . What's Hot - Make Up

Running around, trying to make all the London Fashion Week shows; grabbing vitamin water at every venue, which became Fashion Week breakfast, lunch and dinner, which I squeezed in between some truly admirable shows, I got to do plenty of trend spotting, oh and of course the much loved celeb spotting.

Here is MY MAKE UP ROUNDUP:

Make up – A/W 09 really seems to be about two looks:

1. Pale dewy skin with a bright lip

And . . .
2. (To my delight) A grungy look, with lots of eyeliner, dark eye-shadows and a simple clear gloss for lips is also hitting the runways.

Must haves:

- black LIQUID EYELINER – Rimmel do a great cheap eyeliner.

- A BRIGHT LIPSTICK or gloss, Charles Fox do great colours and long lasting.

- A must have for every quick fashion fix is VASELINE, I live by the stuff, for hair, skin and lips.

Introducing . . . Flats

You may by now be beginning to recognise a few familiar names in the Fash-Pack family. 

I know so much time has been taken up by the travelling circus that is 'Fashion Weeks', but now it is time to return to what we adore best. Discussing, swapping and waffling about fashion.

For those of you who don't know Flats (code names are used to protect their fashion status, identity and ability to work undercover), she is a fashion assistant dabbling in PR and styling. She has access to hundreds of famous faces and spends an obscene amount of time working the room. This made her the perfect candidate for the Fashion Pack!

While readily admitting she loves a good party, Flats is no airy, fairy, fashionista! Not over thrown by the fashion darlings, nothing gets past this witty (very witty), fashion chick!

Flats will be reporting on What's Hot, as well as keeping us all abreast of the coolest fashion parties, who said what, to whom and where it all went down!

Welcome hun! Let the Fash-Pack Gossip Begin!