Hot Damn, Summer in the city: Part 9

This is a special "Hot Damn" as it something that I hold very dear to me. My friends and I are part of a music friendship project called The Note Well. We organise fun things that want you to make friends and talk about music. One of the events we run is called "Speed Listening" (I've told you about it already). If you are looking for something different to do in London, this event couldn't come with any higher recommendation as it is something I do a lot.
The next one is on July 10th in Carnivale in Whitechapel (facebook event here) and for the first time ever, I can't be there. So instead of speed listening with real people on July 10th, I'm going to have a faux speed listen via the internet.
Picture the scene. We both bought our tickets online. I introduce myself, maybe explain The Note Well to you a bit more, we plug our earphones into each other music players and we spend approximately twelve minutes sharing songs. Here is what I would play to you.

Cults- Abducted. I have a crush on this girl's hair. I have a crush on this girl. The band are also great live. This is my on-repeat song at the moment.

Jens Lekman- Your arms around me. It is the song from that scene in Whip It, you know the one. The sexy pool one.

Cold Pumas- Jela. I saw Cold Pumas a few weeks ago at Dance Magic. I very much enjoyed them. (This is when I show you I don't listen to exclusively bands with girls I have crushes on or music from sexy film scenes)

Twin Sister- Bad Street. I probably have a crush on these girls as well. I just need to see them live or dance or something for the crush on them to start. Good for dancing.

Virgin Forest- South Beach. These boys are my friends. They make good music. I have cool friends.

Grass Widow- 11 of Diamonds. More girls with guitars. You can't go wrong.

Then, people around us take out their earphones, you are told to move onto the next seat to speed listen with a new friend. Don't worry though, I find you on facebook the next day and "like" your status.
So, July 10th, come to East London for Summer Speed Listening by Note Well. You can still get some early bird tickets from here. If you do go, tell them you are replacement Fi, Team Note Well may leave you in charge of the glitter and may give you an extra piece of cake.
x Fi

Bueller can't stop the rain

Last Thursday was spent at the Queen of Hoxton at their Rooftop Film Club. Just like Ferris Bueller, we didn't let a thunder storm stop our fun. My friend and I braved the outdoor rooftop cinema, sheltering from the torrential rain with an umbrella. It wasn't so bad, especially as we got some extra freshly made popcorn (the best popcorn I have had at a film in ages, no joke). I left a small bit damp but young Matthew Broderick is so dreamy it didn't matter.

Braving the rain in a Zara blazer, vintage shirt, jumper and bag, sort of vintage button-up denim skirt, necklaces vintage and Go Go Phillip, Socks c/o Tights Please, faux creepers which have yet to leave my feet from New Look

This is definitely a fun way to spend an evening, just bring an umbrella. The Rooftop Film Club has listed new films on their program too! I'm thinking The Big Lebowski next.  Thank you Freya.
x Fi

Hot damn, Summer in the city part 8

Do you like to eat? I do! Here is a Summer in the City London food special! Yum.


June 18th and 19th and weekends afterwards... Red Market is going to be more than a food market tucked away behind Old street.  It will be open late nights at the weekend and will have an urban beach.   Find me here after the disco drinking a cocktail and playing petanque.


June 19th... Barter for lunch at Hummus Bros in Soho for Cancer Society charity.  The idea is that you bring a few useful items (like clothes, books, household items) which a Cancer Society charity shop expert will value and then you can use that to redeem on Hummus.  Nice way of clearing out unwanted clutter, doing a good deed and eating Hummus Bros.   


June 23rd to 26th...Head to Luna and Curious, one of the best independent boutiques in London and go to their Rock Lobsta crustacean delights East London take-away eatery.  They have East London themed rolls.  


Sometime in July... Register to attend Jacques Pop-Up Townhouse, which will have Jacques cider and pretty things in a secret London location.  I am particularly excited about this as Frankie Murray, vintage stylist extraordinaire, will be there styling people.    


July 29th to 31st... Cakey Perry is a secret pop-up high tea experience.  It was inspired by the Katy Perry video "California Gurls".  I am extremely excited about this, as it is being organised by Cakehead Loves Evil, extremely exciting cake people.  Read more on Don't Panic.


All summer long... Guerilla Bake Sale is your friendly rogue bake sale from The Note Well. Cake strikes when you least expect it.  It will definitely strike on July 10th though.


x Fi


PS If you want to let us know about anything food-related (or anything in general), drop us an email.
PPS.  I really should change the title of the series from "Hot Damn" to "Not Hot Damn".  

Hot Damn, Summer in the city: Part 7

June is doing that stupid weather thing... Whatevs. We can find fun cool stuff to do.

June 15th- July 2nd... Harry Smiles Vintage fun pop-up in Exmouth Market. I stumbled across this yesterday. They have embroidered denim shirts and brooches that look likely bloody daggers which is alright by me. On Thursday 16th of June, they are even having a vintage styling evening.

June 18th... Bandstand busking is having a bandstand at Ray Davies Meltdown Festival in Southbank. I saw Vivian Girls at Bandstand busking before, these guys are on to a good thing. It runs from 1pm to 5pm and Southbank is always wonderful on a Saturday.

June 19th... For Books Sake are having a Books and Blues afternoon, it sounds pretty wonderful. FBS is all about women who write, reviews written by women, generally a nice place to be a woman.

June 19th (again)... The Little Theatre of Dolls is a puppet show as part of The Hendrick's Lecture Series. It will be held in The Last Tuesday Society on Mare Street. It looks wonderful.

June 24th to July 24th... Folly for a Flyover is a five-week temporary space with cinema, performance and a cafe. It will be located in Hackney Wick, with the space being treated like a building hidden underneath a flyover (!). This sounds like a hit, check out their event listings. I am excited!

More to come. I love Summer.

x fi

Free Range

If you have been checking out our Summer in the City series, you will have read about something called Free Range, an exhibition held in the Truman Brewery, off Brick Lane. The basics of it is that different Universities show off their free range talent. All organic. The way I like my eggs.
Last week, I went to Free Range to see Middlesex University exhibition. You can read more about the Middlesex University degree show on their site.
There was a lot of talent. How I wish I went to art school. Check out some of my favourites from the exhibition. Picture heavy....

Collars, sparkly things, antiques hiding jewellery, transformer-esque pieces, conversations with sisters, records, neon... All the work here is by Middlesex University new Graduates

Every week there is a new University in Free Range, it is a great way to pass an hour or three.  Definitely something to check out over the summer.
x Fi

Bitching party

I am beyond weak for Bitching and Junkfood. I went to the launch for their new collection which is stocked in Urban Outfitters Spitalfields last week. It was lots of fun, zero bitchiness. Is it wrong that I want to wear yellow smiley face bitchy shorts forever? Like to the corner shop?

Bitchy Nails by Ama...

Bitchy Shorts...

Sarah and Emily...

OMFG Blue creepers...

Emily, Lexxi and Charlie...

This is my "I wish I was just like Bitchy Marion and Kath" face

You can see the new Bitching and Junkfood collection instore or online. Thank you Bitching and Junkfood and Urban Outfitters for a great party.

x Fi

Lazy Oaf x Fred Butler

Lazy Oaf is a super fun label I have liked for a while. They enjoy burger phones, just like me. Fred Butler is a designer I go girl-fan around. Put them together, it is pretty much a magical combination. I checked out the launch for Fred's capsule collection for Lazy Oaf last week. It was wonderful. The pieces are totally affordable and look great.
Fake Lazy Oaf x Fred Butler tattoos from Inkwear. I got two, 'cause I am tough. Cakes from Pomp de Franc. I only had two one cake. Fred Butler's capsule collection for Lazy Oaf is live now, you can get it on the internet!

The launch was super fun. Thanks Lazy Oaf for having such a fun evening and thanks Fred Butler for being lovely as always.
x Fi

Too much

Three parties, one school night, one tired lady. It's always important to dress appropriately for London hopping. I went for floral-leopard-print-clash-with-plastic-accessory-overload-chic on Thursday.

Creeper-esque shoes c/o New Look (!!!!?), socks with fringes from HM, necklace c/o Go Go Philips and ring byTatty Devine, bracelets by Nicholas King, dress from Johann via my sister, blazer from HM, brooch in the shape of an automobile from a vintage shop in Cork, bag made from old Russian records from Sziget Festival in Budapest

It's hard being a hipster sometimes. More on all the parties later, yeah? Thanks Sarah for the pictures and for being an all round great person.
x Fi

Laura Lees Teaches

I have a dress from Laura Lees by Topshop collaboration for quite some time.  Since secondary school even, long before designer/high street collaborations were a hyped thing.  Laura's cheeky embroidery makes me want to get her patterns as tattoos.  I was always on the look out for more of her dresses in the teeny tiny concession in Roches Stores in Cork.  I have two, it never really made it to Cork. 
Then they stopped, no more cheeky stitched swallow birds on floral print tea dresses.  I kept wearing my dress.  People kept complimenting me on my dresses but I never knew what happened to the label.  This was all before accessible internet and my ability to navigate google.   I always remembered the name Laura Lees though.


Skip ahead a few years and through a random, fluke encounter, I met Laura Lees.  She is rather cool.  She mentioned that she would be hosting some embroidery  workshops over the summer.  You can read more about them here!
They start on July 30/31 and are £90 for a two day workshop and will continue one weekend a month.   It would be a great place to learn a new skill from such a talented artist.  If you want to get more information/book a place drop an email to them.

Candy skulls from Laura Lees S/S2008 Femme Fatal collection

I am excited to hear what other things Laura will get involved in.  If you have an interest in stitching, you should definitely check out her workshops.

x Fi

Hot Damn, Summer in the city: Part 6

Micachu is one talented artist. She was one of my ATP festival highlights and has been involved in curating a festival of her own in East London.
Spitalfields Festival runs from June 10th-25th, with special events organised by Micachu on the 12th, 14th and 23rd. If you have any sense, next Sunday June 12th you would head to Spitalfields market where Micachu has curated a 70s themed market selling all things 70's from books to clothes to records. There will be a lot of people DJing (all in one breath now): Kwes, Cakes, Kwake bass, Micachu, Amish rules aply, Edmund finnis, Mathew herbert plus The Pukes and Cries of London live.

Shopping plus music. This is good.
You can find out more information on the Spitalfields Music site and on Micachu's site. Attend on facebook here!

I asked Micachu what her favourite thing to do in London over the summer is (apart from her festival, obviously). "I'd always say notting hill carnival. Its free and good and a tradition."

See you Sunday, yeah?

x Fi

Brighton Rocks

I had the pleasure of getting to go to Brighton this weekend to check out Brighton Fashion Week.  I found some great new talent at their Ready to Wear show and a new vintage store to obsess over. More on them once my sunburn is gone.  

Windswept mobile phone hipster pic taken on Brighton Pier... wearing denim dress (seen as a top) c/o FCUK, skirt from Rokit Vintage, Rayban Wayfarers, vintage leather bag from Copenhagen vintage store, sandals from HM, necklaces are vintage and Go Go Phillips (who now have an online shop!).

It was basically the best day, hanging with Fashion Daydreams, Deer Brains, Mariana and Katie.  I had two ice-creams in one day.

x Fi

Hot Damn, Summer in the city: Part 5

Where is the sun gone? Less of the "Luke warm Damn", more of the "Hot Damn", London.


While the weather is throwing a summer tantrum and spitting tears of rain, I would totally wear this outfit to one of the many exciting things happening in June.

Flower headpiece from Lulu Loves You

Heart with Roots Dress from Migh-T

Pretty Polly Nylon Stockings (cause it is not warm enough for bare legs but still sunny... weather get a grip) from Tights Please
Bitching and Junkfood x Underground Creepers exclusively available from Bitching and Junkfood's Facebook store. I pine for these shoes.

x Fi

Peacock Wishes

Dear Santa,
It's July right?  But this dress is totally a transitional piece right?  Red and can do for parties?  

Sorry about the phone picture, but this dress is too good.

Piggy bank is filling with pennies so I can get this Reiss Peacock Dress.

x Fi