I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE, BUT THE BROCHURE LOOKS NICE

Bank holiday music playlist:



{Title: Lyrics from "Every Day is a Winding Road" by Sheryl Crow}

I AM WHAT TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCE HAVE MADE ME

I'm just now hearing this Schoolboy Q song from the mixtape "Habits and Contradictions", and it's a doozie. You can imagine riding out to war, praying to stay safe but also to be forgiven, and the video just adds another layer to that. A man sitting alone waiting for something external to happen, but also standing at an moral crossroads in an inner world - where has complete control over the choices he makes. Scorcese-esque.

{Title: quote from Jimmy Darmody in Boardwalk Empire - a wounded soldier who left university to fight in WWI. Emotionally scarred from what he's experienced and with only combat skills to fall back on, he falls into the world of organized crime when he returns home}

IM SORRY DOODLE

Spanner in the works, guys - no selfies. I know :( What would be eminently more interesting however, are some of my spring style in spirations. I'm doing a bit of a closet edit at the moment and, lucky for me, so is Barbara of ThePersianBabe. Check out the streamlined basics:



I also love this dual video from clothesencounters and soothingsista. Please note the joie de vivre and the California sun:

YOU TOO, BIG GUY

{Music: ScHoolboy Q - Blessed Feat Kendrick Lamar}
{Title: Quote from Brad Pitt in Fight Club, after Lou beats him up for brawling in his basement}

SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING!

I'm transitioning between two jobs and have a week off in between next week. Just the time to do all the things you put aside when you're workin' hard, right? So lots of errands and jobs around the house. I'm also going to work out loads (promise...), all three of which I WON'T bore you with. No selfies with my lunch either. Dignity.

The good news for Lola Re is I am also randomly quite busy OUTside my house - my dance card is full, y'all! Today marks the 1 week countdown to Diapsora Hair's first hair show - Curlvolution - on Saturday 24th May in Canary Wharf, and before that I've got the Chelsea Flower Show, an alumni event, a handful of lunches, an afternoon of vintage shopping and a brave attempt to kit out my balcony with plantlife.

This array of personal, social and business engagements says to ME that I should do a spring lookbook over the week including all my outfits. So maybe SOME selfies, but of my clothes not randomness. Here we go!

And just because I'm obsessed with the choreography of Marty Kudelka lately, here's clip of some incredibly inventive kid figuring out a way to shoot his choreography in the suburbs and still keep his street cred:

ELECTRIC CANDYLAND

Status: Watching sailboats float down the Thames into the sunset, listening to Aphex Twin. #lovely

THEATRE FASHION EDITORIAL

MEN'S STYLE

JEANS, LEATHER JACKETS, TSHIRTS, BUTTON DOWNS, SUITS, LAYERING, WALLETS, CUFFLINKS, SHOES 4 TRAINER AND WORK

TEETH WHITENING

SKINCARE ROUTINE

THRIFT STORE SHOPPING IN BOND STREET

STYLESPO: DREW BARRYMORE

SPRING EDIT: USC

STYLESPO: KATE MOSS

STYLESPO: ASHLEY O

TURN THE LIGHTS ON: DIASPORA HAIR SITE LAUNCH

We've been gone for a minute - now we're BACK. Well really, it's just me who has been gone - and I am very excited to announce what I've been working on in the meantime... I've started a business! It's called Diaspora Hair and here's the idea behind it:

'When it comes to afro, textured and curly hair, women from different parts of the Diaspora are coming together. I grew up in the USA, where Atlanta salons are on every corner, and black hair knowledge is second to none. In recent years, as the USA's Latino/a population grows, these two cultures have begun to cross over.

'Like the USA, the island nation of the Dominican Republic has a legacy of multiculturalism. Since 1492 Spaniards, Frenchmen, African Slaves and indigenous islanders have lived side by side. Fast forward a few hundred years, and you get a a vibrant, mostly mixed race nation. And thanks to Africa, the women boast a whole spectrum of hair - curly, afro-textured and everything in between.

'Dominicanas focus on hair growth and health. African American women have found that Dominican products work like a dream on their textured hair, really growing African American hair out and keeping it healthy. Women are helping women on both sides of the water, and everyone looks good as a result!

'But, when I moved to London, I couldn't find the same quality of products, though all around me I saw so many black and brown faces. Europe is full of African, Caribbean and mixed race women, with heads of hair that reminded me of my family and friends back home.

'I see absolutely no reason why women in the UK and Europe should miss out on the best hair products, just because they happen to be made across the pond. So, I set about using my luxury eCommerce experience, Spanish language and black hair knowledge (read: obsession) to all our advantage. Diaspora's first line - Baba de Caracol - is finally available in the UK direct from the Dominican Republic.

'As a black woman myself, I felt it was important to to create this bridge, and a space for women of colour to come together. The crazy thing is, we women might live in the UK, America, France or the Caribbean, but we all have something in common - we all want luxuriously healthy, drop-dead gorgeous hair. Diaspora focuses not on a particular hair style or texture, but on its overall HEALTH and WELLBEING. As I like to say, "our hair brings us together".'

I'm so excited about what this company can do and what it means for the Afropean community. And now that we've launched, I have time to rededicate to LolaRe - the hiatus and experiences I've had building Diaspora so far have really given me a refreshed perspective on blogging. All good things - do stay tuned. :)

Visit Diaspora Hair

SPRING 2014 EDIT: FOREVER 21

ITEM LINKS:

NOBODY GIVES YOU POWER. YOU JUST TAKE IT.

Found a few examples of the perfect boyfriend jean/jean shorts. From Gina Tricot (I wish we had a proper Gina Tricot in the UK!!) and first seen on Victoria Tornegren and Ashley Olsen.







Considering power, let's pay it forward ... here are a few of my recent favourite fashion blogs:

Pale Division | Victoria Tornegren | Lisa's Place

{title: quote from Roseanne Barr}
{images: from here and here}

I LOVE SHOE

10 pairs I'd love to own from Topshop, American Apparel, Miss Selfridge and Converse:

TURN THE TABLES

 
{Music: Aphex Twin - Avril 14th}

(CASUAL) THINGS WHAT I WANT

Instead of the latest statement pieces, I'm currently craving staples I can live in. I'm busier than ever and, though wearing all black tends to work (for work), I want to invest in weekend/evening pieces I absolutely love that I can throw on that function just as well for running errands, meeting a friend for a meal, or hanging out at home. They include:

• The perfect baggy boyfriend jeans (comfy but smart-ish)
• The perfect ripped jeans (can wear with tights underneath for winter)
• The perfect 70s high waisted jeans
• Black Uggs
• The perfect black Converse hi-tops
• Shearling jacket (jean or Corduroy? Not sure)
• A million cropped tees in all colours
• A million tank tops in all colours
• A million flannel shirts in all colours
• Long jean shorts - roll-ups for smart casual
• Long jean shorts - ripped for more casual
• 40s heels
• The perfect black double slit maxi skirt
• The perfect slouchy Cardigan (in a few colours)

Haha and yes - I plan everything! I tend to make lists of exactly what I want and then patiently carve them out over the next few months until the whole thing is done. Maybe I'll post pics later of some examples....

THEM THAT'S GOT SHALL GET, THEM THAT'S NOT SHALL LOSE. SO THE BIBLE SAYS, AND IT STILL IS NEWS... MAMA MAY HAVE, PAPA MAY HAVE, BUT GOD BLESS THE CHILD THAT'S GOT HIS OWN

Found a really cool topic on IMDB's messageboard section - (that website is a freaking goldmine people). The question is: "Are there any recurring themes or similarities among your top 10 films?"

Well, yes actually. Mine are (in no particular order): 

MY TOP FILMS 
1. William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117509/ 

2. Disco Pigs 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0236157/?ref_=sr_1 

3. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473488/?ref_=sr_1 

4. This Is England 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480025/?ref_=sr_1 

5. The Basketball Diaries 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112461/?ref_=sr_1 

6. Frida 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120679/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 

7. Raise the Red Lantern 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101640/?ref_=sr_1 

8. Divorce Italian Style 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055913/?ref_=sr_1 

9. 28 Days Later 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/?ref_=sr_1 

10. Underground 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114787/ 

COMMON THEMES 
1. Good soundtracks 
2. About Artists or aspiring artists 
3. Young people coming of age and trying to find themselves 
4. Really saturated colours, or a gritty ambience (or both) 
5. FRIENDSHIP!!!! Hanging out with a group of friends, capturing that sense of having fun 
6. Close, intense, passionate romantic relationships that turn turbulent 
7. Tragedy 
8. Creative use of multiple types of art form within the film - (poetry, painting, music, etc) 
9. Well written, solid scripts 
10. Strong story arcs - sh*t HAPPENS 
11. Modern settings 
12. Mostly male protagonists, but the main women always seem to be intelligent, intuitive and artistic

[title: from Billie Holiday's song "God Bless the Child That's Got His Own"]

PLEASE AND THANK YOU

Okey-doke, I have trawled through the shows and made a S/S 13 mood board, linked down below. Next stop, Polyvore and styling the shiz out of these graphic, vibrant, patterns and colours. Love it.



{all photos: style.com}

YOU BETCHA

I've just completed my seasonal mood board for S/S 13. Now is the perfect time of year for me to have a think/plan what I'm going to be wearing a season ahead (It's nowhere near spring in London...).


It's also pretty handy that London Fashion Week's a-going on and while I'm aware of the shows, I don't necessarily look them first. The FIRST thing I do is get my ideas down on paper (computer?) and sort out what I think is interesting at the moment. Right now, that's a combination of The Shanghai skyline, Jewels, smiles, high waisted pencil skirts, crop tops, bouncy pin curls, lipstick, Veronica Lake, Karla Deras, Bettie Page, Motel Rocks and Clothesencounters.


Since my everyday life is hugely busy, I don't have a lot of time to dress in the morning or change after work before I go out. So the options are either wear boring clothes (er, I might or might not be doing this now - depends on how much you like black I guess).

Or, I could look ahead a little. Here'sa behind-the-scenes of what I tend to do every season:

1. Make mood board - Pinterest
2. Post my fave fashion week collections (London, NYC, Paris, Milan, Stockholm)
3. Construct outfit ideas into a collection on Polyvore
4. Clean my closet and see what I've got already
5. Decide what else I need to pick up
5. Outfit of the day posts (Instagram)

Might seem like a lot of work but hey, I think it's fun and it definitely helps me to stay pulled together when I am facing a packed schedule of work, classes, more work, gym, other projects and (at some point!) a social life :)

I CAN FEEL THE NIGHT BEHIND ME

{title: quote from the film Stealing Beauty, starring the luminescent Liv Tyler}
{music: James Blake's "Limit to your Love". Feist also covered it, so check out that version if you like this.}

REST THY MIND AND FIX THINE EYE ON THIS

So yar... really into iconography atm.

{title: a phrase read in the novel "The Wierd Sisters" by Eleanor Brown }
{images: http://lauriezuckerman.blogspot.co.uk}

TWIST. SHOUT.

{images: http://lauriezuckerman.blogspot.co.uk}

FLASH THE MESSAGE, SOMETHING'S OUT THERE...

{title: lyrics from Nena's 99 Red Baloons }
{images: iconography from http://lauriezuckerman.blogspot.co.uk }

IMPLODE

{image: http://lauriezuckerman.blogspot.co.uk}

TILT

I REMEMBER, HOW COULD I FORGET

{Music: Earl Sweatshirt's "Chum"}
{Title: Lyrics from Frank Ocean's "Thinkin' 'Bout You"}

YOU'RE GOOD AT BEING BAD. I'M BAD AT BEING GOOD.

{Title: Modified lyric from Frank Ocean's 'Pink Matter' ft. Andre 3000}
{Music:  Frank Ocean's 'Pink Matter' ft. Andre 3000}
{Fashion: Tops from Forever21's Hello Kitty collection} 

IT'S NOT FAIR

{Music: The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist}

RE-READING OLD EMAILS, LIKE SEARCHING THROUGH GIFTS ALREADY UNWRAPPED, LOOKING FOR LEFTOVER JOY AMONG THE TATTERS OF WRAPPING

ROLL OVER AND SHOW YOU MY BELLY

Santa where you at....

 

2024 update (13 sept 2024) - this posts looks wrong - only one shoe / sock?! I think the placement of items as well looks more like the style I developed in later years. More likely this was several cute pairs of socks and a few options for shoes in different styles/colorways. like.... a blog post rather than social media ones. I am leaving it up rather than deleting or trying to reconstruct what I did, but the style is off.

THIS IS HOW I KICKS IT

Really fancying the idea of pencil skirts -- I've oscillated between minis and maxis for a while, so I want a new silhouette... These look best on women with bodies (like, erm, me) - but how do you make a pencil skirt modern without going Kardashian? Early ideas include mesh, panels and leather...