the shop that rocks on Brick Lane

This Saturday yours truly went for East London exploring mission together with my new dear friend Linda, talented stylist and photographer that also writes amazing Alice in Wonderland blog. After Columbia Road where I almost fainted when I saw Ryantown, shop of my favorite collage artist Rob Ryan, the road and Linda took us to Brick Lane, the heaven of hip and vintage. On the first glance, as soon as I stepped into This Shop Rocks store I knew I would adore this place. Two floors of the shop are full of all kind of vintage things from home décor, toys, books and postcards to delicate clothing pieces. The friendly couple (maybe) that works there look like from some aged novel and place has such a nice unpretentious and serene aura. 

Linda bought herself vintage silky nightdress in pale pink trimmed with nice delicate lace and I fell for adorable cake tins that are all over the place but since I have one suitcase I don’t allow myself any décor till I find a permanent place. However, I’ll be visiting this place often! 

address: 131 Brick Lane E1 6SE 

mail: info@thisshoprocks 

Etsy Vintage...Lipped Love

I discovered Lipped Love, etsy shop selling vintage clothes not so long ago, via instagram. Offering lovely range of carefully picked items from periods like 1960s or Edwardian age, it’s a real little heaven of vintage treasures. 

Did I mention that prices in this dreamy vintage shop are very affordable?
Chop-chop vintage shoppers, add to your etsy favorites list.

top secret: Louise Paris

In the sea of terrible second-hand shops today, sometimes it can be really frustrating to find a shop that offers proper second-hand pieces in your own style. Not so long ago, in the middle of investigation for Princess Tam Tam triangle bra, I came across this wonderful shop called Louise Paris. 

This online boutique offers wide range of luxury second-hand clothing for both women and men and ships worldwide. They have bunch of Chloe stuff and dozens of lovely and affordable See by Chloe frocks, as well. Most items are worn just once and prices are reasonable. For example, you will pay 800€ for awfully expensive Chloe Sally bag that costs 1710 € in retail. In this paradise of second–hand designer clothing, you can find pieces from Isabel Marant, Marc Jacobs, Lanvin, Carven, Le Mont St Michel, YSL, Stella McCartney, Chanel and many more. Apart from designer clothing, Louise Paris sells also no name pieces, which are in great condition. The showroom is based in Paris where you can make an appointment to try on the garments. The only problem is that most items sell out quickly, so you have to be up to date with website.

As I said, most of the second- hand shops really make us hate pre-owned clothes because they offer pieces in very bad condition. Au Contraire, Louise will make your relationship with second-hand divine. Keep a secret. Of course, if you want all this pretty clothes for yourself!

Clothes Friends

some of the lovelies

Oh dears, you just cannot believe what happened to me one morning about three weeks ago. I went out with intention to have a cup of coffee and few cigarettes, when in front of one building I spotted bunch of old magazines left at the side with garbage. Gypsy as I am when it comes to paper and clothes, you cannot imagine how happy I was when I saw these were 1960s editions of magazine Svijet (Yugoslavian fashion and lifestyle magazine). Except I found dozens of original sewing patterns in these issues published between 1964 and 1966, I was amazed by smartness and creativity of texts while all relationships advices and the rules of politeness made me laugh. I also found in these new friends of mine some great advices on clothing care. 

Since today we are testifying this prevailing trend of clumsiness, tons of clothes that we get on the high street seasonally because of its poor quality of fabrics don’t need a special care. Wear it and throw away, set up as a motto of new generation doesn’t need extra energy devoted to maintenance. As a girl that feels really fulfilled after all her bags and shoes are polished, I believe that order and caring attitude towards things in practical life are close friends of the way you are living your life. 

Since I know that You my dear, brainy readers are lovers of all things pretty, vintage and original, I thought it would be neat to share with you some of the advices on clothing care that I found on these pages of past. Hope you will find these helpful. 

• Never close umbrella if it’s wet. 

• When you are storing summer/winter wardrobe, after you wash it don’t iron it because the smell of ironed fabric attracts moths. Store in plastic bags. 

• To keep necklaces from tangling, use your wooden mirror as hanger (place little pins onto lower part of frame). 

• If you have greasy spot on blouse, before washing it soak the spot in alcohol. 

• Curtains that became yellowish due to cigarette smoke, before washing, soak for 24 hours in lukewarm salted water. 

• To prevent dark green spots on skin made by costume jewelry pieces, apply colorless nail polish on the inside of rings and bracelets.

• Refresh white blouses and tops by soaking them for 24 hours in clean water with lemon juice (one lemon on one liter of water).

• Remove grass stains from canvas shoes and ballet flats with 90 % alcohol. 

• How to wash woolen items  Water for washing and rinsing has to have same temperature, has to be lukewarm, and don’t rub the garment, just squeeze it softly (same do when rinsing). Don’t dry them on direct sunlight or near radiator. 

• Taking care of leather bags At least once a month with soft cloth apply not too aggressive colorless cream on leather. (I use usually regular body lotion.) Clean suede leather with synthetic sponge and patent leather with piece of fresh onion, then polish with soft fabric. Light-color leather goods can be cleaned with linseed oil. Also don’t throw away old fur pieces; they would be useful for polishing leather items. Especially shoes. Clean canvas lining of bags (useful especially with second-hand bags) with mixture of ammonium and water (spoon of ammonium on ½ liter of water). After this, clean canvas with water. 

P.S. I am so sorry I've been a bad blogger-friend lately. I didn't have internet at home for almost two months. (I moved to new city and apartment.) Can't wait to sit in peace with cup of tea and catch up with all your reads you've been posting on your lovely blogs during this period of my absence. xx

Miss Eyre and cover art timeline

She might not be the prettiest and most dashing girl of the Victorian world, but her spirit, intelligence, wit and her soul is what makes her such a strong and loved character. Miss Jane Eyre besides is our favorite orphan, for a long time has been one of the world’s favorite female fiction characters. I am not sure that analysis and debates whether she was or wasn’t early feminist character, could give us the true judgment, because we cannot experience our own feeling and perception of living in the time the book is written. Miss Eyre, to whom Victorian society has been cruel in many ways indeed, is exploring her ways of living and self-relationship with the world under the framework of same snobbish world. This issue of creating your own place under the sun in the world that doesn’t turn out the way we imagined it would be in early days, after 150 years, is still biggest issue that we can relate to. 

The fact that when novel appeared in 1847, published as autobiography under pseudonym Currer Bell, was sensationally successful, gives us a thought that reader in that time, mid-Victorian woman was not just a pretty face, behind her husband with exceptional needlework technique as her best quality. And surely, that Victorian Lady was the one that was questioning together with Charlotte Brontë and Jane, the woman's right on equality of emotions with man. I am not sure thought did the idea of independence awoke flame in Victorian ladies’ hearts but Jane delights us with her courage and ability needed when she left Thornfield Hall to set her own life away from beloved man. The fact of independent woman, teacher that is helping those needed help, not only that could be characterized as pre-feminist action, but also the fact she is not settling for suitable marriage proposal from St John.

At first glimpse, when reader meets 10-year-old Miss Eyre in Gateshead, she or he realizes that she won’t grow into one of those female Victorians with tape strip over her mouth. So it’s not unusual that our role model has been a heroine not just for girls that have traditional perception of love, but also for all those sarcastic spinsters who still believe in old-fashioned breathless romance in unconventional way. 

Which cover would you like to own? I would love French edition from 1957, and the goth one from 1943 with illustrated girls from Lowood on cover. (Bit Wednesday Addams, don't you think?)

Biba and Beyond

I know, we don’t have usually little heart-to-heart here on misslikey about exhibitions or events, but when it comes to Biba, hardly any of the rules could apply. In fact, I believe that it would be sin not the mention that currently there is great fashion exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery that celebrates all things Biba and Beyond. The exhibition's aim is not just to tell a story about Biba, clothes, lifestyle, but to cover everything connected to this revolutionary brand and its and far reaching influence. Through illustrations, film, fashion, music, photography, ephemera and memories of visitors, intention is also to offer retrospective of Barbara Hulanicki’s fashion career, her childhood and views on fashion.

Barbara came to Brighton (“sleepy town in these days”, she tells) in 1948, where she attended Brighton Art College. In 1955 Young Hulanicki won beachwear design competition held by London Evening Standard. She left college during second year and started to work as freelance fashion illustrators for various fashion publications, including Tatler and Vogue. She worked also in London office of Women’s Wear Daily. With her partner and husband Stephan Fritz-Simon Barbara started small mail-order business. The pink gingham dress, offered in Daily Mail was the item that prompted the opening of the first Biba shop in Kensington in 1964.

ring the bell

Florence Welch with Jeff,  Lizzy Jagger and Theodora Richards, Kings of Leon, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liberty Ross, Naomi

Few years ago, when I first visited One of a Kind, vintage shop in Portobello Road in London, my best mate and me were in front of the door wondering what kind of shop is that when you have to ring the bell. When man in futuristic sunglasses wearing leather jacket opened the door and let us in, we were both in awe. You have the vaguely feeling that you died and you woke up in heaven of vintage. And yes, you don’t know where to look first when you find yourself in a hidden palace of vintage treasures like this. One moment your mind is confused with all the Chanel signs you see, in another you expect to experience fatamorgana of Moss coming out from staples of Vintage Versace. The owner Jeff Ihenacho is expert for high-end vintage fashion, so you never know what kind of rarity you’ll going to find here. And whom you might see in the most popular boutique of rock’n’royal, that’s another thing. Maybe The Jaggers, The Lennons or Florence? Who knows.
Ring the bell, shop online here and see heaven of polaroids here. Anita Pallenberg and Kate Moss huging? Just at Jeff’s.

do and love

I was recently interviewed by lovely Maria for her super pretty blog Avenue M.

For this she asked me to make a collage so I put all of my favorite things

and what I do together. Collage is above, read entire post here

summery frocks and all the pretty mint

I think mint color is stalking me lately. Here’s the thing;

I paint a chair in robin’s egg blue with white polka dots and next moment I regret cause I didn’t paint it mint. With polka dots. I am attendee of découpage workshop and I bring the wooden jewelry box with me. Lady talks about crack, lavenders and olives and rolls eyes over vintage and girly œuvres d’art, which my mate and me made. And I mix white acrylic paint with blue and I get the pale blue. Again I wish I made a mint background. Why I make such a terrible mistakes when all I ever wanted is the flat in Notting Hill area with mint kitchen, vintage lace curtains and polka dot tea set. Even my boyfriend when you wake him up in the middle of the night and ask for the flat, answers in a minute; “Mint kitchen! vintage lace curtains! polka dot china! big brass bed! floral wallpapers in the bedroom!”

SUMMERY MINT DRESSES; ONE IN 60S STYLE FROM ETSY SHOP BOHEMIAN BISOUX; 20S STYLE DRESS FROM CLEVER NETTLE, ETSY;
MINT TELEPHONE, KITCHEN, MINT NAIL POLISH CHANEL LE VERNIS 407 JADE

Blazer...Vintage or Nouveau?

In a category of good buys in mid season, blazer surely is item that girl has to have in mind for in a minute chic when temperature is just right for overlay. With all the girl meets boy trends, market was overwhelmed with blazers a la boyish so lot of buying was in game. If you have room for just one blazer you might fall for these loosen blazers in terracotta, orange or rust tones. With strong 70s vibe it’s just dresses kisser, brilliant is on maxi dress (remember the SATC movie 2 and Carrie Abu Dhabi romance with terracotta blazer), but also on simple black pants or LBD.
Strongly recommend the vintage hunting- the one at the photo is a bit pricey pick from Louis Feraud, French couturier that aside from couture was also creating prêt-a-porter collections. Jacket might be from the mid 70s when his silhouette style softened with the spirit of the era. Topshop also has a great offer- bit longer blazer in rust tone so whether vintage or new its up to you.

ILLUSTRATION FEATURED IN COLLAGE BY KELLY SMITH

The Happy List

I've received award and tag from Haute World, one of my favorite bloggers that visits shops all over the planet and writes awfully smart, to do a list of 10 things that make me happy. So I made the happy list.
Since I have to tag other bloggers to receive and do the list, I'll tag 10 blogs that make me happy, some of them are my old bloggers colleagues and some are new but they all are amazing.
Squarectomy , The Last Miaow
shotguneddie, COSMICaroline
Dream Sequins, Refugee
Modelizing, Fashion She Says
My Kinda Magazine, Stolen Inspiration




On the Photo above; Portobello Road rambling, Vintage Round Tortoise Shades from etsy,
Vintage floral romantic dress from Penelope Vintage store on etsy, Cacharel Anais Ad

covet shop

Covet is one more shop bookmark for dilettantes of current or vintage designer goodies at reasonable prices, as those with constantly opened eyes for vintage Alaïa or Chanel catches.
Intention of the founders, charming NYC couple was not only to create profitable online shop but beneficial to economy, so they offer consignment portal through which you can sell your old designer goodies you don't wear anymore. The money stays in industry and that is a philosophy we support, isn't it? While Nancy has background in fashion design and has worked for small boutique designers such as LAMB to those corporate like J. Crew, her partner Gregg is web and graphic designer. She revealed misslikey her vintage craves, inspirations and how her boyfriend and partner have become Alaïa expert.

Where from idea for covet shop?
I love to vintage shop and thrive off finding amazing one-off pieces at a great price! My partner and I saw an opportunity to create an online consignment boutique so sellers can get back some of their original investments and buyers can find gems at far below retail price. Being online allows us to reach sellers and buyers all over, not just in the local market.
Your favorite designers?
One of my all time favorite designer is Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel. Actually favorite would be an understatement. I think it’s more of an obsession. I also like Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga and Frida Giannini for Gucci.
What would be your inspirations in daily wear?
I take inspiration from anything creative such as fashion, movies, art and food. I am also very inspired by the style I see on the streets of different cities and countries.
Vintage lover or not? What are your craves?
Definitely vintage lover! The craves?
Designer vintage of course! Anything from vintage YSL to Chanel from all eras!
How did your partner/boyfriend with his graphic background fit in all this...did he became an expert on Alaïa or he is just in charge of the look?
Gregg is a very talented web and graphic designer. We both share a passion for style and aesthetics. Before we started this business, he was always very fond of my designer shoes. Now after eating and breathing this, he is not only an expert on Alaïa but he can tell you who’s wearing Alaïa on the streets of NYC. It scares me sometimes on how much he knows and can appreciate the finer things in life for a woman.

Now these goodies are just catches, don't you agree?

Visit covet shop on www.covetshop.com

Where to buy…Plaid blazer?

Plaids or checks are very seen on the streets for past few seasons. I am not crazy about mass following of trends and that I felt about long boyfriend blazers. But boyfriend blazer with checks, oh that’s the item I cannot resist. Do you remember Vivienne Westwood Anglomania collection back in 1993 and man's suits made in wool tartan, invented by Vivi herself? Oh those were the real days of punk. Last year many boys around fashion shows and parties mainly in Paris animated me with rocking plaids; on jackets, suits and shirts. RTW was not so passionate about them on outwear except Alta moda pronta in Milan that offered to boys lot of plaids for fall 09, but zero for the girls. So again we are borrowing (irreclaimable this time) from our boys.
We used to think they are too sensitive like outwear because they are already detail for itself. I remember last year how I caused 24h drama with complaining I am too too Kurt Cobain when I bought plaid bomber jacket. But again how can a girl ever be too much Kurt? He is totally important person for our grunge looks.
1. FIRST
Don’t worry about simplicity and find really good plaid blazer (suggesting vintage)Plaids are more than simple.
Misslikey is enormously head over heels for Jean Paul Gaultier plaid blazer from VagabondNyc but her LIKES are also checks in different patterns from topshop and
Smythe Dickens wool-blend jacket from net-a-porter
2. SECOND
Then wear it in a model off duty style on leggings, black stockings with basic dress, in manner of Britt punk, on your favorite jean jeanies for college look, with harem, tweed or wool pants for complete glance a la France. See?! Plaids are beyond practical and give you a very warm fall look.