Who Wore What: Spring is here

Today in our new Friday special WhoWoreWhat post- which will be a weekly treat from now on- we are bringing our dear readers a nice dose of Weather Envy. For those unfamiliar with the concept, Weather Envy occurs when it’s raining cats and dogs outside and you are stuck indoors looking at pictures of tanned celebs having Fun in the Sun.

It has rained all week in London, so compiling this Cannes-themed WhoWoreWhat post was an exercise in self-flagellation, and I loved every minute of it.

So without further a do, prepare to get well-jell at these dresses:

 J-Law here has been behaving very badly this week. She allegedly cracked a ‘rape joke‘ at a party, and even though she thought she would not be overheard, those are NEVER okay. She has not confirmed it, or apologised, and it really is just gossip so far. I hope it isn’t true because I really really love this Dior she wore in Cannes last Saturday. It is simple, beautiful, and I love the Window to Narnia on her chest. Also, this hair length is great on her. Also I love her. Please Jen, don’t crack anymore rape jokes and let me continue admiring/loving you. Thanks, bubs.

Happy Goth Day!!

There is something deeply incongruous about this headline, I know, but that is why I have been so keen to celebrate Goth Day this year; the image of the stereotypical gloomy, pale goth rocking out with a party hat on is simply to delightful to resist.

Of course I know that not all goths are gloomy and pale, and they they don’t all wear black, and they aren’t even a single homogenous bunch at all. Gothness has evolved and is now part of the mainstream- though I suspect a number of goths will despise me for saying that. But it’s true: their influence is everywhere, especially in fashion.

However, it might be a bit unlucky that Goth Day happens to have fallen right in the middle of Spring- a time of the year that no goth could swing a cat without hitting twee flowery dresses gingham prints.

So, like the helpful little angel that I am, I have decided to put together a few tips about how to make the most of Goth Day, in the spring.

About Town: Street Feast @ Dalston Yard

Spring is finally here. THANK HEAVENS, it has taken it’s bloody time.

I have  packed in my wooly jumpers, cracked out my sandals and sat in the sun for at least three days to rid myself of all the winter dampness. I am feeling truly fabulous.

In London, where The Coolture Club makes its residence, the arrival of Spring marks the appearance of a number of exciting markets and outdoor events. All over town, people set up stalls or trucks and flog their goods to the excitable revellers, giddily celebrating the arrival of sunshine by parting ways with their hard-earned cash.

Last year, the Dalston Yard hosted the rather fabulous Street Feast for 16 weeks. It was such a tremendous success that they have upped the ante this year, and brought the best of London street food to Hackney for a full four months.

It all kicked off last Friday, and I have to say it was terribly exciting. The sun was shining, the beer was cold and all the Dalston Lovelies were out in force, sporting their finest gladrags. Of course, as bonafide Dalstonite myself, I headed out there to check it out.

Sadly, I went without my trusty camera, and was far too hungry to take pictures of the food, but I must tell you, lovers, it was lots of fun.

We drank delicious citrous-y cocktails by Kamm & Sons, purveyors of the finest British Aperitif. At £5 a pop, their light and delicious Kamms Bitter Lemon was just what the doctor ordered. I will certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for the boys at Kamms over the summer!

After drinks we indulged our bellies with a wide variety of delicious food, all of which I was too much of a glutton to photograph and just scoffed down unceremoniously. The highlight must certainly have been the Hot Box ribs, delicious, juicy, and fatty- just like ribs should be.

We also enjoyed a delightful lobster Mac & Cheese at B.O.B’s Lobster shack. While it was delicious, I doubt I will ever be able to enjoy lobster-less mac & cheese again without longing for the sweet crustacean meats found in this one. B.O.B’s has ruined me for life.

And because we are True Fatties, for desert we samples some salted caramel cones from Sorbitium Ices, as creamy and delicious as you would expect.

I thoroughly recommend a jaunt down to Street Feast this Spring/Summer, it is just a hop and skip away from Dalston Junction station, and less than five minutes from Daltson Kingsland. The food is utterly enjoyable, so are the beveredges. Just remember to bring cash- and lots of it!- because it may look like your everyday market, but they kids ain’t messin’ around: this is a gourmet melée.

Spring: New Beginnings

Hello fellow life-enthusiasts!
First, I must apologise for my lack of posts. I have been re-thinking The Coolture Club model, and it has taken a little longer than expected.

So for the good news: WE ARE BACK, BABY!
Expect more post, of a more varied type and many exciting new enterprises popping up. The real news is that we are no longer a fashion-focused shin-dig and will be instead opening up our horizons to a series of exciting new ideas: fashion, art, music, food, culture etc.

I want to keep this short and sweet because there is no use crying over split couture, it’s time to move forward!

And to cheer you all up, here is a happy goat:

I have missed you!

Stay tuned for more.

Ava x x x

Worst buys of the winter

DISCLAIMER: I do actually believe that it is possible to wear any of these items and look AMAZING. But equally, I believe the majority of us mortals will fail at that. 

Every year when it starts turning really cold and the trees all go bald, we all compile a little list of items of clothing we will need to see us through the winter looking Cosy and Stylish.

Cosy and Stylish is one of the hardest adjective combinations to pull off when choosing an outfit because everything cosy is usually a bit lacking in the style department (think fuzzy socks and cashmere onesies) and our favourite stylish items can be rather impractical when braving the elements in the winter (think cropped angora jumper).

Truly Cosy and Stylish pieces- the rare items that can claim the two adjectives- also tend to be wallet-busting. A good winter coat or leather boots don’t come cheap, which is why it is of UTMOST importance to THINK BEFORE YOU BUY.

Every winter a number of ‘statement’ items make the rounds on fashion columns and blogs because, let’s face it, us fashion writers can’t peddle Black Peacoats and Sensible Shoes and expect to get any readers. But the majority of these “season must haves” are usually not practical, not useful, and, crucially, not affordable.

So, in the interest you keeping you, my darlings, warm, looking good and in full possession of your savings this winter, I have compiled a list of things you should AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE, when shopping for your winter gear this year.

Aren’t I simply a doll?

How to wear green lipstick

Dolce & Gabbana have just released a new line of lipstick, one of which is green.

Yes, GREEN. Like a lush rainforest canopy.

And not just green, it’s also sparkly.

Monday Wish List: Hats

It is easy to fall into an outfit rut in the winter. Nice coats are quite pricey which tends to limit our range of cool outerwear. Also there is the imperative of keeping WARM AND COSY, and that is something no fashionista should ever sacrifice.

So I find that accessorising becomes even more important when faced with cold weather constraints. A great scarf and chic leather gloves will go a long way. Because my main winter coats are black, I try to mix it up with some splashes of colour in order to avoid looking like a giant walking raven.

One of my favourite winter accessories has to be the Humble Hat. This little pieces of wool or felt can make or break any outfit and can take a girl from Winter Drab to Cool Fab.

Here are a few of my favourites:

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Bring an extra touch of SASS with this wonderful geo-print number from Asos. Wear with a bomber jacket and nigh-tops for maximum Cara Delevinge-ness

Named after me, this Reiss hat is called Ava. I like to wear it with a knee-length black overcoat and leather boots to pretend I’m Carmen Sandiego.

Can you ever go wrong with Missoni? This black and white beanie goes with everything, even pyjamas. Style in whatever way you want and you will still look LUSH.

This Marc by Marc Jacobs neon beanie is bang on trend. Neon, yes; beanie, yes; Marc Jaconbs, YES! How can you go wrong? (Note: redheads are particularly well-suited for this hat).

And to add a little glitz to any drabby winter look, just add this huge and obnoxious BLING from Topshop!

Which one is your favourite?

Victoria Beckham’s Red Cross Donation (and a useful insight into her wardrobe)

The big news today is that Victoria Beckham has donated over twenty boxes of her own personal clothes to the Red Cross in aid of the victims of Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Philippines two weeks ago.

If you have been too engrossed reading fashion blogs over the past two weeks and missed news of the typhoon, then you might be horrified to learn that it killed over 5000 (latest count) and left MILLIONS homeless and without access to food, safe drinking water or shelter. So it was an incredible gesture of Posh Spice* to donate all those clothes to the Red Cross, which is providing invaluable emergency relief to countless families in need.

Beckham’s donations went on sale earlier today at the Kensington branch of the Red Cross store, and as you might expect it has been a total a total frenzy. The pictures on Instagram shoe a queue of crazed fashionistas going around the block and the Daily Mail has reported at least one fashion face off over a black and white silk shirt-dress.

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MW, a London-based fashion enthusiast spoke to The Coolture Club about buying some nice black Dolce & Gabbana trousers from VB’s sale: “They’re just plain black formal trousers,” she said. “We were only allowed one item per person (crying emoji). I would have bought three pairs, but there was the limit.”

“I arrived like 45 minutes after it opened so the good stuff was gone,” she added. “Stuff they were really cheap as tops were £25 and trousers were £50; shoes and suit sets went for £100. I guess for men it was really worth it as you could get an Armani shirts for £30.”

After carefully scrutinising the items on sale (the ones I could find pictured online!), I have to say that though I admire Mrs Beckham’s generally impeccable taste, I can only hope she kept the good stuff at home. Ladies, some of this stuff is bad. And not just bad, some of it is AWFUL. Like the denim and diamanté Victoria boots (see slideshow above).

Though of course, in 20 boxes, there is bound to be a lot of wonderful stuff, and even the crazy stuff, like the pale blue flowery scarpin, will sell for tonnes of money! It would be great if more celebs would follow in the Beckham’s footsteps and donate clothes and time to causes such as these. Though MW didn’t spot any memorabilia hunters she did say that Posh’s old Spice Girls items and some of the more iconic dresses would be auctioned off later.

There is still time to make it down to Kensington to back yourself some fashion bargains or celebrity memorabilia pieces. It’s for a good cause.

If you can’t make it down but still want to help the victims of the typhoon, visit the DEC Appeal page for more info. The DEC Appeal is a good place to donate because they represent a consortium of Britain’s biggest charities who them split the donations between them. Check out their work, and maybe lend a hand!

*For those of you born after 1995, before marrying David Beckham and becoming an award winning designer and Fashion Icon. Victoria (née Adams) used to pout in a band called the Spice Girls wearing questionable black slip dresses. She was known as Posh Spice- though i can’t really explain that because she was neither posh nor spicy. But there it is; the nickname stuck. I urge you do look them up, their single Wannabe is a thing of genius. 

What do you get when you cross a lamb with a sailor? That’s right! YOU GET MCQUEEN

Having been born and raised barefoot on a sunny beach far, far away winters in London always get me down. It’s not just the cold, and the rain, and the wind, and the darkness, and the grey and the glumness, it’s….well, it actually IS all of that that gets me down.

BUT all the warm winter coats and cosy jumpers perk me right back up, and if there is one thing I invest some serious CHA-CHING on is a good winter coat.

If could have ANY COAT IN THE WORLD, I would have this particularly exquisite McQueen number:

This twill and shearling number is not only stylish, but it is also super warm, perfect for the harsh London winters.

It is also SO FUN! Part sailor, part darling little lamb; now there’s a look that can’t go wrong!

Dress it down with jeans and Chelsea Boots, throw in a nice flannel shirt and you are all set! Or dress it up with a vintage printed dress, particularly in cream/off-white palette with high-heel ankle booties for a night out.

How would you wear it?

 

 

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Who wore it best Ms Piggy or these celebs?

Every true fashionista is always looking for new sources of inspiration, new designers and sometimes even some guidance, and there is no doubt that the internet is an invaluable ally in the Battle to Look Good.

Fashion magazines, blogs (ahem), tumblers and Pinterest are all MUST HAVE tools that can aid even the most stylist dressers. But today I have found the definitive resource for plugged in fashion fans: The Buzzfeed Fashion page, and in particular this post. I think the title speaks for itself: Who wore it best, these celebrities or Ms Piggy?

With all the the wit and humour that Buzzfeed readers know and love, this post also offers fashionistas the most valuable of all advice:

If Ms Piggy would wear it, then you probably should change.

It is certainly a piece of advice that I will take to heart when getting ready tonight, and carry with me through life.

It is a simple litmus test for any outfit, that can be used to determine how successful an ensemble has turned out. If Ms Piggy would rock it, then do like Coco and take some of it off.

Top Tip: The Ms Piggy Fashion Test can also be applied to determine if you are wearing too much makeup, or if your hair has turned out too big.