Rhymes with....

I have to come up with a word better than inspiring.....but that is exactly how I feel.  This city is so vibrant, cheerful and crazy.  I went to Oxford Circus, Marble Arch, and Bond street today.  I am finding my way around quite easily, and people are more than willing to point me in the right direction.  Bought some lovely frocks today at New Look, went into Selfridges, Top Shop, and Accessorize.

At Vidal Sassoon, I did a cut model, of course with disconnection, and channeling!!!!  Channeling is so very rad.  I also gave her roundish bangs that were slightly longer in the middle to higher on the sides.  It was a super fun cut.  BTW one of our instructors looks just like Freddy Mercury...  I also had the honour of hearing Caroline Cox speak, she works directly with Vidal Sassoon's international creative director to figure out the seasonal trends.  Today she explained that in times of recession, the street fashion becomes the leader, as opposed to the designers inventing it.  People have less money, so become more inventive and creative I guess.  She also explained some of the trends right now in London, and how they relate to Sassoon's latest collection.  It was so nice to hear it from her perspective.  I took photos of the slide show, and the references as well.  Unfortunately they are on my camera, and I forgot to bring the cable to attach it to my laptop.  I will post them when I get home.  Caroline has written a number of amazing books, which we got to see, but were not able to purchase at the school.  Handbags, Shoes, and few others - all full of beautiful photos, I actually went right to Selfridge's and bought the only book they had of hers called Grown-up Glamour, how to age fabulously by the women who got it right.

I believe I saw my most favoured designer of all time Vivienne Westwood, on Bond Street.  She was of course with bright orange hair, pleatherish pants, and jacket, and the most amazing wedge shoes, they looked like something that Lady Gaga would wear.  Of course, I did not see her face, but I will forever think it was her.

And on that note, I say GOODNIGHT!

Always left or right?

Since I got here, I've been very confused about the traffic - the left side of the road seems confusing.  It is also confusing that people, when taking stairs down to the tube, or out seem to walk on the right side.  Sidewalks, people tend to walk on the right as well, until someone is walking the other way (head on), and then everyone moves left.   It is also different in different neighbourhoods.  I just do what they do :)  Today at Sassoon, my model did not arrive, so I got to check out every one's cuts and styles.  At first I was feeling down, but then I realized just how much more I learned by watching my fellow students do hair.  Tomorrow instead of one model, I get to do two, and was promised I would do something very out there, as I was left out today.  The school is very well organized, and the staff extremely professional.  I was also schooled in proper English - its' not a laundry mat dear, its a Launderette.   I was hoping I would not have to do laundry this soon, but I only brought one pair of long pants, and the forecast is for rain, rain and more rain, although the later part of the day has been sunny.  Keep posted for my wicked photos tomorrow!!!

Some more pictures from the Vidal Sassoon mid-season collection

Vidal Sassoon, surprises & inspiration

We were the first in the world to witness the mid-season trend for Vidal Sassoon.  It was a surprise for all of us.  I took lots of photos, and was so very inspired, perhaps more than I have ever been.  Check out the link - http://www.sassoon.com/collections/tribeTwo.php  Lots of disconnection, but done softly, and beautiful hues of blonde, golden pinks, inky blue greens, dark purples.  It was the first time in a while that they actually soften the disconnections with point cutting (for all you hair geeks out there).  Some of the techniques I have been doing for a while, and I only realized it now.  There are going to be lots of students over the next 4 days, but not many speak English, they all have interpreters.  Said interpreters were sitting downstairs while the students listened to them on headsets.  BTW Chenoa - if your reading this, everyone loved my hair!  Tomorrow I will be cutting and colouring, one of the beautiful styles I saw today.  Can hardly wait :)

Very current London trend - Young Fogeys (50's-60's inspired)

Inspiration taken from Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, London in the 60's
 

An example of the golden pinks (too bad it does not show up quite as well in photos)

The rain caught up with me!

Its a dreary day weather wise, rainy, but not too cold.  Everyone here is welcoming it as they have not had rain in quite a while.  I fell asleep watching Benjamin Button, and awoke at 6:30am - anxious to start my day.  I took the tube to Old Spitafields Market (or what I was told was Old Spitafields), and happened upon  a market in Petticoat Lane.  Problem was, I was there to meet a cousin of mine.  After some investigation, I found out from an old timer, I was in the wrong market completely!  I met up with Lucy and her husband, and we had a coffee, and an amazing blueberry muffin (it had butter inside, mmmm) and then we went to the right market.  I was in search of a shoemaker whom I Googled - she makes wide shoes!  We had conversed back and forth the past few months, and she was there!  She had brought everything she had in my size, and fitted me.  I tried on at least 10 pairs, and ended up buying 4.  Handmade leather shoes, super cute, and different, for less than half the price back at home (if I could even find my size).  We then went off to a pub, I had a couple of pints of Strongbow, then lunch, but most of all - amazing conversation.  We chatted about our families, and how amazing our family is.  It was great to talk about Grandpa and Ann.  Many stories were shared, and I am so happy that Lucy and her daughter will be joining Helen and I in Portsmouth.  Tomorrow is Vidal Sassoon.  Can we say excited???????  XO

I'm here and things are so different

Had a great flight, albeit long.  I had a window seat, and my mate beside me was from Glasglow Scotland. She pointed out a few things about Scotland as we flew over.  Lovely lady.  I spent most of the time having to pee and not wanting to wake her so that I could.  I have been awake for 29 hours now, and feel a little funny.  I decided to take a cab to my flat, and what an experience!  I would never want to drive here, ever. Its crazy, pedestrians running out into traffic,  buses going down a super skinny two way street, and cars parked higgily piggily on both sides of the street.  The cab was so cute, a real smart looking old style car, but new.  I met Marc (Castletown House Manager) at the flat and dropped my bags while they fixed up my room.  I decided to pick up some groceries, and was really tripped out by the supermarket.  Butter is in the fridge, but eggs are not!  I bought an Oyster card to travel the tube, then went to Marble Arch for some clothes shopping.  Encountered some surly staff at one shop, but once I told the girl "helping" me that she had nice hair, and that I was not American, all of a sudden I was her best friend.  Checked out Primark, its so crazy busy there, lots of clothes for 7GBP and under....I have had 4 people ask if I am American, and once I say no, they are much more friendly.  Poor Mericans!  Now I am feeling the affects of no sleep and flight.  Marc said that the pub up the street is a right smart place for some ale, so I think I will go and darken their doorstep, once I shower and change into my new blouse.  It's so amazing here, so vibrant, and busy - and inspiring.  I can't wait to see it with fresh eyes tomorrow!!!

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