Down in the Valley

With many of the smaller independent multi-label boutiques in London, I always feel like I need to be going in there with a notebook and a camera as though I were doing research as opposed to shopping – I suppose it's an occupational 'hazard'.  In most cases, I tend to write random text messages that act as reminders for when I get home to immediately Google and hit up.  I also hang my head in shame that I haven't hit up the designers beforehand.  Still, that's why buyers/peeps in the biz still rule whilst I should best stick to figuring out what shoes to wear with my new trews.

A trip to Beyond the Valley with the other half to discover their newly rejuvenated menswear offerings (awesome pieces by Braile and Katie Eary – if you want my very undiscerning opinion of menswear…) also gave me opportunity to have a nose around what's going on in BTV to learn a few things, jot them down on a notebook and turn a weekend shopping trip into something useful…

These Finsk snakeskin wedges are exclusive to BTV and have been selling like hotcakes because Lady Gaga has a penchant for wearing them to yoga class… we're living in a world where you only have to say her name in stores and SAs exchange knowing looks to denote that "OF COURSE the item will sell…"

Nicola Morgan, a Northumbria graduate from 2009 whose interlocking puzzling/mind-bending graduate collection was picked up by BTV has made a few extra pieces to extend that collection including this neoprene jacket and cut-out leather gloves… she's currently finishing off her MA at RCA which means… an eye must be kept on Morgan…

I need to eat more boiled eggs…especially out of these…

Fiona Paxton's jewellery still very much rules in the realm of heavily loaded metallic, studded, beaded adornment…

Blandine Bardeau is still having a ton of fun making jewellery out of that plastic cording that I could never find any significant use for.  I also think they work in abundance, loaded up on the neck and arms so that you fill the air with that sickly sweet plastic-y scent wherever you go…

I'm finding myself drawn to the quilted leather skirt, trousers AND bomber jacket, from House of Holland x Roxy's collection, which currently has its own little corner in BTV, not to wear as snowboarding wear of course (I barely pass the grade when it comes to skiing let alone going solo with a plank of wood…) but just to tough it out against the cold triangular-motif-Michelin-Man style. 

Beyond the Valley's own in-house collection printed pieces go from strength to strength with S/S 11 promising to another digi-landscape stunner…

BTV also picked up on graduate Elsa Hedberg's ELSKA jewellery collection which uses royal icing, sugar crystals, powder and rock candy to coat chains, with the full intention of the pieces breaking, rubbing off, changing… licking is also an option I suppose…

In the spirit of being obsessed with all things that will make my hovel slightly prettier, I'm also loving these wooden raven-shaped hangers by Ingibjorg Hanna…

As always, BTV has a few neck warming/decorating options courtesy of Fernanda Pereira who has some jersey collars, KaPowWow and some Victorian-inspired collars by Arora Design that is the key to adding a touch of Meadham Kirchhoff S/S 11 to an outfit if you're inclined to also throw in some neon sheer things, a ton of lace and a dip-dyed rainbow hairdo that I think Bleach in Dalston's Wah-Nails would be adept at…

On top of all the pattern clanging that's going on in this outfit, I topped it off with the clothing equivalent of a cherry – this new KaPowWow ruff made out of vintage sari material.  Designer Mia Morikawa who is still in India working with local craftsman to get her new project Forest/River up and running. 

(FYI, no I'm not wearing repeat outfits, these pics were taken from a fortnight ago… apologies for outfit deja vu… actually should I be apologising for wearing things AGAIN in these hard-as-nuts, testing times?)