Shopping: Coggles

I've been stuck in a bit of a shopping rut since my trip to America last month. The great British highstreet is great and all but it just doesn't compare to cheaper designer brands and amazing vintage selections. "Gok's Roadshow for Less" where he tries and finds outfits for under £50 in Asda and Primark is really not helping matters either (and I LOVE a bit of Primarni). It kinda makes me want to commit fashion suicide...

So when I come across sites like Coggles, they put a smile back on my face =)

I actually knew about Coggles before but attending their press preview this week reminded me why I love it so much. This site has pretty much EVERYTHING you could ever want. Cool designer brands such as McQ, Sam Elderman and Comme Des Garcons as well as vintage and even books. There's also a bike section coming soon, but my favourite part has to be the interior design section. Im in love with their snazzy pillows and wallpaper.

The fact that they also have a sweet style section is a cheeky bonus. Its not just a site, its a brand, it's a life style. "It's about the clothes you choose to wear, the bike you ride to work, the book you read in bed, you favourite chair at home, the world you design to live in."

It puts the fun back into shopping knowing that you're buying an investment and not a piece that every other Tom, Dick and Harry will own. Something that you will keep in your wardrobe for years to come and not a catwalk rip off made by some poor 10 year old child in India, that you're going to throw away in a months time. I know the economy sucks right now but Gok Wan take note.

Turning heads: Tomihiro Kono

I didn't really have time to attend shows this season for LFW but I did come across Tomihiro Kono during a showroom based on Japanese designers. Tomihiro actually started out as a hair dresser in Japan and the moved onto session hair styling when he moved to London. His wig and head prop creations soon caught the eye of creatives in the fashion, performance, art and music industries.

On his website it says that he's style is based on Dadaism and Surrealism. He's also heavily influenced by a movement called 'assemblage expressionism' started after WWII, where 3-D compositions where created using found objects. I've always been a fan of vintage so the fact that he uses vintage materials is a plus in my books, as it makes his creations unique and eco-friendly at the same time.

Some of his pieces are available on trusty Not Just A Label.