2009-09-07T08:44:04Z Rachael Gibson Copyright 2009, Rachael Gibson SPHPBLOG

I'm really glad Iso bought this OMG necklace from Topshop. If I can't have it, it seems only right that the only other person on the planet who likes acronyms as much as me should. Congrats!

[Pic c/o some other smarty that bought it]
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090906-220300 2009-09-06T00:00:00Z 2009-09-06T00:00:00Z

('Scuse the face, you know my feelings towards photography)

Long-time readers will no doubt be aware of my love for the WAH girls. Not only is founder Sharma the brains behind an awesome online 'zine, but as I mentioned a while back she's also the genius behind the new WAH nail salon. It's got loads of great coverage since it opened and they've been super busy with clients too. Considering the salon is just around the corner from my office it's pretty dismal that it's taken me this long to go, but I guess that tells you something about how busy work has been lately.

Anyway, last night I made the trip down Kingsland Road with Charleen My Esteemed Colleague and it's safe to say we had a pretty epic time. It was great to finally meet Sharma and together with nail girl extrordinare Meghan they gave us both nails that.. well, I can't speak for Charles but I haven't been able to stop staring at mine since basically. With lustful eyes. These ladies make dreams come true!!

My dream, of course, is to look like Bianca Jackson's jacket:



The result?



Hell yeah! (So bummed I broke my nails the weekend before tho', boo hoo)

Charles opted for these bad boys, dubeed reggae rhinestones by the girls.



Can't wait to go back... I've already got my next ten sets chosen.

WAH is at 420 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AA. Call 020 7812 9889 for appointments and check out their blog for all things nails. We love you!
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090904-161909 2009-09-04T00:00:00Z 2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

If anything was gonna tempt me back to the now alien world of trousers, it would be these. They balance perilously on the fine line between awesome and yoga teacher called Bridget (hiya Twin) at climate camp wearing a pendant and some of these.

I like how you have a cosmos just casually bursting out of your crotch.

Risto, Silk Galaxy Pants, $684 @ Assembly New York via knightcat
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090904-134951 2009-09-04T00:00:00Z 2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

Just read on High Snobette that Saturday 12th September is the date for the fifth Yves Saint Laurent manifesto. Woop woop! Over half a million of the goodie bags and manifestos will be handed out in Paris, NY, Milan, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and new addition, Seoul.

Last year they were handing out the London ones in Covent Garden... but that's probably no help this time. ]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090901-212112 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z

I haven't really had chance to reflect properly (I think that means 'blog') on the sad loss of Ellie Greenwich yet. I have had time to write about dresses and hair and stuff obv but not this... ugh I know, I know. I just hate doing these entries because you kind of think, 'what's the point?' but then... I was just Wikipedia-ing Ellie to see how old she was when she passed and the opening paragraph of the entry made me smile;

"She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others."

Those five songs are all in my top ten tunes ever, so I guess it's only right I say how sad I am about this news. I love Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) so much that I listen to it year-round (shh). The whole Greenwich/Barry/Spector era is just so important to me that I do feel the need to put something down, even if it is just a small rambling paragraph and a couple of badass pictures.

You can read a list of her song-writing credits here - it's pretty spectacular.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090901-203916 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z

Archive Vintage has long been one of my favourite sites to while away lunchtimes. Doing vintage online tends to fall into one of two categories: C&A bumf from the 90s or amazing high end stuff that costs so much you might as well just buy it new. Archive manages to straddle the two really well with a well curated selection of designer bits and bobs at reasonable rates and cheaper pieces that aren't made out of 150% polyester. Top of my pretend wishlist right now are the Moschino smiley purse ($325) and Chanel dress ($1,050) which I'm convinced is the most perfect frock I've seen in months.



Anyway, the point of all this was to tell you that Archive have a new addition to the site... The Back Room. Oooooh. Aaaaah. The pieces on offer here are just as nice as the main site but waaaaaay way cheaper. It's still not charity shop cheap, but TBH I find it pretty rare to find any vintage online that's actually reasonable priced and still appealing. My two favourite things are this KISS bandana ($22) which would be a welcome addition to my collection and this totally awesome devil charm bracelet ($22) which I would be buying right about now if I wore bracelets. I have one studded gold band that I wear every day pretty much, but other than that I'm not a bracelet wearer. I find they get in the way of my typing and, let's be honest, typing is the most important thing in my day to day life.

Shop ARCHIVE VINTAGE NOW... I actively encourage it.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090901-132800 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z

I'm not one of those Olsen obsessives, although I do have a certain soft spot for their style... but this look is (here it comes) killing it. I'm a sucker for novelty ears at the best of times, but combined with that hair... oh, that hair. God it's brilliant. Sometimes they're a bit on the bedraggled side for my liking (and I do like bedraggled), but this all works. The colour, the texture, the lipstick. Nicely played girls.

Saw this pic earlier, but then just saw it again on Fashin (formerly ONTD_FF for those of you that didn't notice the change) with an amazing historical reference point. Lulz!
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090831-222358 2009-08-31T00:00:00Z 2009-08-31T00:00:00Z

Oooooh what bittersweet joy, there's a headband from Ann Demeulemeester AW09 on Luisa Via Roma... needless to say I won't be spending 395euro on it because I've spent every last penny in my bank account on trains to Berlin, but (where was I?) it's still pretty awesome to stare at. I've been obsessing over the AD feathered headgear for ages now and have even managed to sneak a couple of the looks into the mags at work, slyly. You'll be seeing Icarus-esque numbers in Claire's as of next week, I guarantee it. I have that power. You could obviously DIY one if you were that way inclined, but it's one of those things I guess I'll say I'll do but never bother with.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090831-215201 2009-08-31T00:00:00Z 2009-08-31T00:00:00Z

I guess I'm the last person the planet to know that Kate 'God' Lanphear went for the buzz. At work at the moment we're interviewing for interns and as part of our fiendish interrogation we've been asking applicants to name as many celebrities as they can who've done the old half-shaven-head technique lately. No-one said Kate, but then no-one said Lala Vasquez either so what do they know?
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090828-141657 2009-08-28T00:00:00Z 2009-08-28T00:00:00Z

I love Shingai Shoniwa from the Noisettes. I mean, obviously, who doesn't? For one thing she's livened up the daily trawl of celeb hairstyles which is an integral part of my job, but mainly I just really like her style. Oh and I guess the music's good too, although it's probably my least favourite thing about her.



I just read on the Topshop blog that they designed some natty outfits for Shingai at V last weekend. The sketches make me sad I don't design any more, although in reality those things were the bane of my existence back in the day. The costumes are awesome anyway - that bolero is insane! Nice work Toppers.

Speaking of Topshop, I'm pretty excited to be going to their blogger event tonight with such literary giants as my pals Iso, Laura and Gemma. Anyone else going? Last time I was at Arcadia Towers I was working as a PR temp stuffing goodie bags... Funny old world. Anyway, come say hi if you see me, I'm wearing an astoundingly creased dress and a look of bliss c/o my off the hook facial with Emma Hardie this morning, more on which to come.

Pics: Topshop]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090826-134927 2009-08-26T00:00:00Z 2009-08-26T00:00:00Z

The London Paper (RIP sad face) has a long running debate going on about The Black Shirt. The general consensus is that black shirts are gross. To me, nothing says bad nightclub with a carpet and buy ten get ten free alcopop deals than a black shirt. Usually with creases where the cardboard was just hours before. However... Henry, Henry, Henry. To be brutal, the idea of Henry in anything other than grey or black would freak me out more. Look at him just posing like a pro at the Sons of Anarchy premiere last night. AMAZING.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090824-211736 2009-08-24T00:00:00Z 2009-08-24T00:00:00Z

While we're on the subject of nails... Twin sent me these transfers today. She knows me oh so well. Love these too...



From Nailtopia
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090820-215716 2009-08-20T00:00:00Z 2009-08-20T00:00:00Z

HEY. What are my friends at Rumplo doing? Airbrushed to order Pizza t-shirts by Kerry Kenney, the great moments of the 20th Century Series (I totes had that mac, as I'm sure you did too), a topical healthcare shirt and some ever-popular gems from Lizzy Janssen. That's it, in a nutshell.


]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090820-214838 2009-08-20T00:00:00Z 2009-08-20T00:00:00Z

In an ideal world I'd be wearing �10,000 Balmain sandals and not pumps that resemble Amy Winehouse's blood/shit/heroin-soaked slippers but que sera sera, that's life. Until I quadruple my earnings, I'll be controlling my Balmain yearnings with this snazzy little piece of fashionpie. Who needs to buy CLOTHES from a label when you can just get a pen with the logo on it instead? In a way, it's actually cooler because it's a bit more discrete than a dress. In the 'current climate' it's pretty offensive to show up in an outfit that costs the same as a house, but a pen? A pen works. Oh what this? Yeah it's just my Balmain pen. Whatevs!

If you buy in bulk, they're cheaper too. Buy them for your friends? Genuine Balmain pens, BTC via Chic Report.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090820-213025 2009-08-20T00:00:00Z 2009-08-20T00:00:00Z

So I was waiting until I got paid to write about these, because I wanted to get my order in before you did. My package is on its way and tomorrow I'm going to see nailgirls so it seems like as good a time as any to talk about At Your Finger Tips and the STUPENDOUS assortment of 'designer' nail gizmos they have on offer. Decals! Dangles!!!!! ETC!!!!1 Here's the contents of my basket. Enjoy/sorry Karl.



Shop At Your Finger Tips now!
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090818-225201 2009-08-18T00:00:00Z 2009-08-18T00:00:00Z

I did warn that there was gonna be another post about Czech new wave cinema, and I'd like to apologise again for the ridiculous nature of that concept. Valerie & Her Week Of Wonders is a 1970 film directed by Jaromil Jires and based on the book of the same name by Vitezslav Nezval.



The vaguely EROTIC coming-of-age film starred the then 13 year old (can you imagine the Daily Mail reaction? Amazing) Jaroslava Schallerova, and features beautiful dream-like sequences inspired by fairytales (the proper ones, with blood and guts) and nightmares (with OMG vampires).



I encourage you to buy it. Broaden those horizons.



Pics c/o the very patient Anja Louise Verdugo on Flickr, whose capacity for screen-capping knows no bounds.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090817-205005 2009-08-17T00:00:00Z 2009-08-17T00:00:00Z

High fives to the jester at Carvela who gave these shoes the name 'Skint'. I guess �250 isn't too bad, but if I paid that out right now I'd pretty fucking 'skint' myself. Ho hum. Coincidentally, I learned this weekend that my friend's friend is now a buyer at Kurt Geiger. How irresponsible is it to track down someone who you've never met - but know quite a bit about through girl-talk - and ask her to hook me up with a fat discount? You'll be pleased to note that my colleague/style mentor Charles informed me that these are available with gold hardware, which makes them about 1000000000000x better.



Also in KG this month... I have a lot of time for these (also Carvela) Augusta heels, featuring a rather natty tassel detail. I'd be tempted to string on a few bonus beads if it was doable, the brown ones are kinda Pocahontas when they could be covered in gold.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090817-201857 2009-08-17T00:00:00Z 2009-08-17T00:00:00Z

I know it makes me sound like some conservative dickhead who thinks men can't cry and babies shouldn't have tattoos, but here it is; I'm not a fan of an espadrille on a man. I guess in my sick mind guys should wear Converse or nice sneakers or brogues or cowboy boots at all times, and probably opt out of any other footwear. Just my two pence worth, whatevs, no-one's making you listen.



Anyway, if you're some kind of baby man and require the comfort of a specififc summer shoe, hows about this? Sneaker painted espadrilles. I see what they did there. Do you?




String Republic's BSided collection. Buy here/don't be a pussy.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090811-230019 2009-08-11T00:00:00Z 2009-08-11T00:00:00Z

You're all erudite, cultural types, so I apologise in advance for talking about something that you're probably OVER. I saw my step-dad this weekend and he reminded me of this film that needs mentioning. So here it is, even though you'll all be yawning. Here goes. Ever seen Daisies? Of course you have, you're smart and culturally sound. But just in case you haven't... YOU SHOULD. It's a new wave Czech psychedelic feminist film from the 60s by the supremely awesome director Vera Chytilov�. To quickly recap: new wave, Czech, psychedelic, feminist. So far so accessible, right? It's actually nowhere near as pretentious as you might assume. It's about these two girls who decide that the world is spoiled, so they want to be spoiled too. Cue lots of food, winding up old men and MISADVENTURES.



It's been a good few years since I had to analyse a film for subtexts, so excuse my lack of any in depth explanation. I think you should watch it yourself really, that's my excuse. It's only 70 minutes long or something, and the imagery is so strong that to be honest, you don't even really need to follow the plot to enjoy it.



It's recently been rereleased and Amazon have it for less than a tenner. You can EVEN watch a clip before you buy it.



PS More Czech film posts to come. OH YES REALLY.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090810-213337 2009-08-10T00:00:00Z 2009-08-10T00:00:00Z

I imagine you've already seen these Kvast necklaces because they've been everywhere today, but deal with it. Vintage toys dipped in 24 carat gold and turned into a snazzy pendant. The giraffe is clearly the most superior creature (there were no pugs) but there's a whole selection of beasts on there. Something for everyone. Kvast also make vegetable jewellery which is pretty exciting. So far it's restricted to peas, cauliflower and broccoli, but it just so happens that they're 3 of my top 5 vegetables*, so technically I win.

*FYI the other two are carrot and asparagus.
]]> http://www.rachaelgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry090810-210843 2009-08-10T00:00:00Z 2009-08-10T00:00:00Z