Last week I headed into the heart of trendy London, Shoreditch. I was visiting Darina and Chris of the shopping service for busy parents – ShortStitch. Now legend has it that Kind Edward IV mistress, Jane Shore, died in a ditch there; hence the name Shore’s Ditch. Today it is the home of Shoreditch House, Henry Holland’s studio and a plethora of stylish boutiques, cafes, pubs, clubs and the very best of vintage. Yet despite the gentrification of the last twenty years, it still hasn’t lost its cool vibe and grubby appeal with many walls plastered in graffiti.
As a mum, I always give myself a virtual pat on the back if I manage to get somewhere on time and wearing an outfit that just about works. When anyone ever asks me what I do, I half mumble something about working in fashion, and hope they don’t critique my appearance too closely. Yet an early morning work meeting in one of the trendiest spots in London is not a day for clothes with half of last night’s tea down the front. Clearly I needed to think through my outfit.
Wisely, I remembered to choose my clothes the night before. There is never enough room in my brain to get Daisy, my daughter, dressed, ready for nursery and pick an outfit for myself. Victoria Beckham once said that when it comes to fashion “less is more” and whilst Iris Apfel might not agree, it’s a mantra I’ve taken to heart. But, it can be so easy to worry about getting a trend right and forget about what actually counts, style.
I opted for these check culottes from Uncivilised, the colour is a classic and the shape is clean, a nipped in waist with voluminous midi length trousers. Uncivilised are a new brand, which have somehow managed to walk a tightrope and create clothes that are cutting edge but still border on classic. I love their stylish staples that can live in your wardrobe for seasons to come, but without any frump. I wore the culottes with a black merino crew from Gap, one I’ve had for years that has recently resurfaced, and my trusty navy pea coat from Next. The obvious choice for footwear would have been a pair of black ankle boots or loafers, but as I was heading to a hipster part of town I went for my old favourite Gola classics.
We shot these pictures outside the iconic Labour and Wait, a store that sells functional, useful items that are timeless and good quality. If you’re ever in that part of town do pop in there as they have some great homeware pieces. But after a wonderful morning with ShortStitch, I did reflect that it was ironic that I put such thought into an outfit in the one area of town where actually anything goes.
You can read my interview with ShortStitch here.
Photos by Rod Leon