A reflection of New York's shoe service...

Sitting in a crowded and undignified shoe department of New York's Lord & Taylor, it astounded me that the designs of Ralph Lauren and Anne Klein were being discarded and treated in the same manner as if they had been found in a Century 21 or TK Maxx. Aren't these names supposed to be up-market? How have these prestigious labels been displayed so shambolic considering their high price tag?

Surrounding me are millions of uncoordinated shoe boxes, stuffing, pop-socks and abandoned shoes littering the shop floor. It is quite acceptable for a shoe sale of this size to attract so much excitement, and in turn disarray, but when it is DKNY shoe boxes in question, you have to ask yourself if the market is really segmented? After all, I think you will all agree that environment is emblematic of your standard high-street retailer which accompanies economy-class service. You really would expect more when you are buying a bit of First Class footwear.

Shoe shopping experiences offered within New York has been a varied. Saks 5th Avenue had their breath-taking Eighth Floor devoted entirely to the biggest and most successful names within shoe design; Christian Dior, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Laboutin...a total shoe haven. Given its spacious allowance of space per designer, immaculately presented displays and perfectly positioned shoes, it was a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of the mid-market stores.

Most identifiable is the change in pace that I, as the consumer, experienced from store to store which emphasised the significance of the shopping environment on the feeling of ease or unease from being present there. The calm atmosphere created by light, space and pleasant music meant that I was automatically at ease (despite the high prices!) The highest number of shoppers was around the sale section on Saks' Eighth Floor (not surprisingly) but this was displayed respectfully on glass shelves and tables. No metal racks would dare show their face in this store.

Brighton-Belle

I returned to Brighton today for the first time in ten years. I can't believe I don't go more often! It's a great place for shopping, sunbathing and socialising and you can tell from walking around The Lanes that it is a vibrant place full of eclectic people. I wish I had taken my camera and I could have conducted a bit research for trend-setters.

Parking, admittedly, was a total nightmare and unless you succumb to stumping up £4 an hour(!!) then you'll have a tough job negotiating the maze of streets for a more reasonable alternative. Having offloaded quite a way out of town, I enjoyed quite a brisk walk to the centre which was made more enjoyable by the blazing sun. Having pulled out of the closet my straw hat and perfectly matching straw bag, I felt extremely summery and, for a moment, forgot I was only half an hour from home and not in fact a plane journey away!

Whilst the shopping centre hosts the same familiar brands, it seems the case that many of the stores, where possible, stock a wider variety of lines. Having spent almost an hour in one shop and another half an hour deciding which androgynous-styled shoes I fancied from Aldo, it was lovely to walk through the winding streets bordered with alfresco-dining and quirky shops.

I had heard the rumours about a particularly special chocolate shop and had to restrain myself from entering 'Choccywoccydoodah' which had the most lavish window display that was certainly enticing! See their websiite: http://www.choccywoccydoodah.com/#intro

Another shop which made my mouth water was Fizziwigg's which was situated in the heart of The Lanes (27 Meeting House Lane) and is far more up my street as a candy girl. The mention of cola-bottles and flying saucers plus the animated visual merchandising reminded me of Chessington World of Adventure's Professor Bubbleworks ride.

I definitely want to go back with my friends; it's the perfect place to chill-out and with the sunny weather we've been lucky to have recently, it really does feel like you have escaped away on holiday (although the pebbly beach and sore bum does remind you of the reality!)

Now I wouldn't wear them, but they do totally sum up the angle I have taken for my blog. I just need to Photoshop a rose pattern over the frames and you've got an image which perfectly illustrates that my blog is a collection of ramblings from one person's point of view.

Surveillance & Voyeurism Exhibition at the Tate

I saw a poster on the London Underground for this the other day and found that it complimented many of the Design & Visual Culture (DVC) lectures we have received over the past two years. Although my dissertation is based upon the high heel and its symbolic meanings, my friend Megan is looking at the role of social networking as an extension of the self. Therefore, seeing this exhibition being advertised rang alarm bells that it is definitely something worth seeing! We're both planning to have a look whilst we're together in London in September around the time we will be working at London Fashion Week!

I found a link for the exhibition if you want further details: http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/exposure/default.shtm

Hat-itecture

My sister told me about this pop-up exhibition that is in London for the next month (17th June-18th July) which I am really keen to see. The hats are on display which show designers/milliners/architects interpretations of London.

For more details, follow this link: http://www.youandmearchitecture.com/

I shall let you know what I make of it once I go!

Freshers-Fifteen going on Third-Year Thirty

Everyone expects new students to indulge fully in the student lifestyle for a while: late nights, heavily alcohol-fuelled and kebabs at 4am etc. etc. Well I wasn't an exception to this rule. Cooking in a kitchen shared by 13 people was never a particularly nice or hygienic environment to want to prepare and cook food. The speed-dial for the local Chinese was always a more appealing option.

However, the Fresher's fifteen (pounds in weight, that is) became a reality for me and whilst my initiative was there to join the University gym, the self-conscious part of me dreaded (and in turn completely put off) actually attending for fear of sweating it out in front any fitties!

Instead, here I am at the end of my 2nd year with many hangover-curing MacDonald's and Burger King's under my belt (literally) seeing the effects of University life on my waistline. So I have attempted to take control and take advantage of my youth (while I have it) and getting into shape. I'm not promising a half-marathon (like my sister) or even a 10k but I do hope to tone up all the wobbly bits!

My second visit to the gym today consisted of an aerobics class with a bunch of menopausal women followed by an aqua-aerobics class with 60+ women. It struck me as rather odd that these "Older Women" were so eager to get into the swimsuits having had two grandmothers who refused to sit by a pool in anything other than shorts and a t-shirt and a mother who relies on her sarong and kaftan like a safety blanket. But then the instructor walked out: tanned, tones and in tiny shorts! Not sure I'll be back next week but I'll be damn sure they will be...

Lily Lewis...my favourite discovery amongst the vintage collection

I've heard you're either a hat person or you're not! Luckily for me, I am. Obviously it can't be down to genetics because both my mother and father tend to steer clear of hats at all cost. It was at the Frock Me vintage fair I visited back in Easter (2010) at Chelsea Town Hall where I came across the young designer Lily Lewis. Her stand stood out by a mile; an array of hats and head-pieces relating to different time periods. My favourite were the 1920s cloche hats and one in particular which was royal blue and featured peacock feathers as the decoration.

I even stretched my budget to purchase a hand-made headband of black velvet decorated with a beautiful black and white chinese bird feather. The cost may have been high but the compliments make it totally worth it!

Check out her designs at: www.lilylewis.co.uk

Sex and the City...Dry Spell

Reports are confirming that the much-loved girls are "hanging up their Manolo's" and drawing a line under the Sex and the City chapter. Whereas I think even the most avid fans can agree that the two films never quite lived up to our expectations following the six series on HBO, it still feels like we are entitled to a grieving period.

I for one was never able to watch any of the leading ladies in their other work where they weren't playing the relatable Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte or Samantha. (Although a much younger Sarah-Jessica Parker does appear in First Wives Club and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, which are great chick-flicks!)

I shall be keeping a close eye on what Patricia Field does next. I don't think Carrie Bradshaw or Sex and the City would have had quite the impact without the jaw-dropping outfits she concocted.

Will anything ever come close to the phenomenon that was Sex and the City?