Instagrammin...

So Instagram is about as huge as my love for outlandish clothing (that's a lot). Therefore I won't bother going through the motions of explaining what this is. It's great and that's all I need to say. Here are a few of my Instagram posts (does one call them posts?) from May...

Keep up to date with my Instagram antics by following me (Username: CocoCestChic)

Hats off to Vivien Sheriff

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit the studio of hat designer, Vivien Sheriff and interview the lady herself for Wish Want Wear.

I must say it was probably the best working Monday on record. The sun was out and we sat outside at her country-farm based studio and ate cheese and chocolate eclairs whilst discussing all things Vivien. The lady in question is not only super-talented but was also, to put it simply, was just down right wonderful (a small girl-crush has formed).

Her amazing designs are favoured the world over and she was the most worn designer by guests at last year's Royal Wedding.

Click here to read the full interview on Wish Want Wear's blog. Plus if you're headed for a wedding or the races this season then you can hire one of Vivien's designs at Wish Want Wear too, which quite frankly will make that outfit pop like no other.

LFW: Visual diary part 3

So my friend's I'm rounding up fashion week on my blog now. I have about a million other photographs to share but I need to break it up a bit, I love fashion week and even I am a little over writing about it so I'm guessing you might be bored of reading about it. All I will say is that as usual the week was filled with the weird, the wonderful, good friends, beautiful design, high heels and a hell of a lot of air kissing.

1. The LFW survival kit

2. Dans La Vie AW12

3. Cheeeeeeeese (image courtesy of Jay)

4. Snackage with Sarah-Leigh (image courtesy of Jay)

5. Temperley AW12 (what a show!)

LFW: Visual diary part 2

A second behind the scenes look into my adventures last week...

1. More coffee

2. Photographers in the main tent

3. The old fashion week ball and chain, Sarah-Leigh

4. Sarah and Jay whilst in line for Jasper Garvida, delirium really had set in at this point

5. Bora Aksu AW12

LFW: Visual diary part 1

A few outtakes in and around the shows...

1. The main tent

2. Me and Sarah-Leigh

3. Osman AW12

4. Much needed fuel

5. The lovely Jay with a pic of him and I last season

6. The frow at John Rocha AW12

7. Phone case, cassette mouth

8. Sarah typing up between shows

9. Corrie Nielsen AW12

Designer Watch: Baartmans and Siegel...

I have been one lucky lady...not only did I get the chance to work with design duo Baartmans and Siegel on their shoot for Harrods.com but I have also been lucky enough to meet them at their east London studio to find out a little more about the pair.

Fashion East Campaign

Before I get to the interview here is a little background info...

Baartmans and Siegel is made up of uni friends; Wouter Baartmans and Amber Siegel, who originally met at London College of Fashion. They teamed up to show at LCF's graduate show and their SS11 collection has been picked up by Harrods as part of their New Designers initiative to showcase and sell new designers online and instore.

Coco: When/how did you meet?

Wouter & Amber: We met at the London College of Fashion and also worked together at Viktor and Rolf. We worked solo but always worked together on brainstorming and eventually collaborated on a collection which was shown at LCF's graduate show and has now been picked up by Harrods.

AW11 collection

C: What inspires you most?

W&A: Conceptual design, pop-culture, art, fabrics, silhouettes and atmosphere.

C: What's the inspiration behind the AW11 collection?

W&A: Observing the 80s (the generation they grew up in) and specifically the film Bladerunner. The typography, construction and environment of the film. The costume department looked to the 40s 'dapper-man' for inspiration whilst mixing dynamic performance into the looks.

W: The looks were futuristic for the time but still had 80s elements and had a great mix of protection, masculinity and bravado combined with the softer elements of a modern environment.

A: Wouter is an 80s obsessive so it was always something we would base a collection on, now we've ticked it off the list!

Pieces from the AW11 collection

C: Where can we buy the collection?

W&A: At present at Harrods (instore and online), the SS11 collection is out now and the AW11 collection is also at Harrods from late June. Other stockists are currently being confirmed so keep your eyes peeled!

C: What's your favourite thing about London?

W: It's so accessible, so many research opportunities with a great mix of old and new within our industry.

A: I love the little pockets and villages within London, the different communities within a huge collective.

C: Tell me something unique about the brand...

W&A: All products are produced in the UK. Our knitted jumpers are hand knitted by a lovely elderly lady in South London, it takes her two weeks to knit each jumper. Our suits are always in un-traditional fabrics and we use the same cuts and silhoutettes each season but strive to refine each suit from the last.

C: What's on your iPod at the moment?

W: Fleetwood Mac and Elwood King

A: The Labyrinth soundtrack

C: What's your guilty pleasure?

W: Miami Vice

A: Trash Americana, I run off to the states whenever possible.

C: What's next for the brand?

W&A: Next season will see us explore adornment techniques, jewellery and accessories which could be our way to enter the womenswear market. We are collaborating with Grenson to produce our footwear (brogues for SS and loafers for AW) and our site will be moving into the e-commerce world shortly.

Baartmans and Siegel also showed this LFW at Fashion East on menswear day.

I simply love this pair. Down-to-earth, super-talented and down right lovely. It was an honour to get to see their AW11 collection in person within the four walls where it was designed.

Check out their site here.

Buy on Harrods here.

Interview: Pandemonium over Pandemonia...

Pandemonia.

On initial sightings of Pandemonia last season, I originally popped her into my 'weird and wonderful fashion week file' and thought nothing of it. After further research I realised that this is not just style for the sake of style, this is art.

Pandemonia is a seven ft tall walking, talking work of art. Often seen on the front row and at the biggest parties and events, Pandemonia was inspired by the superficial world of fame and the ideals that surround society's views of 'the perfect woman'. Upon finding that she was in fact an artist and reading about her inspiration I knew I simply had to talk to the lady herself to find out a little more about the artist, the art work and those outfits...

Pandemonia stands in front of her artist prints.
Showing a progression of ideas from 2D abstract to 3D character work.

Coco: Please can you tell us a little about the Pandemonia piece/project?

Pandemonia: I am a conceptual Post Pop Artist. I show my work and ideas in the Public Social Space.

As well as being seen at many events I am also doing a sculpture show later in the year.

C: What influenced you to start Pandemonia’s life and when did it begin?

P: Advertising was a big influence on me. I constructed myself on all those ideals. I have been developing my ideas for a few years.

People need to see things more than any time before. I took my art work out of the gallery and put it into the Public Social Space.  My work both interacts with people and describes our world. The virtual world is getting more important. My work has relevance on line as well as off line.

C: Do you dress like this all of the time? Even on Sunday hangover days, or to pop for a pint of milk?

P: Oh, Pandemonia's always dressed. Up keeping my appearance is a big responsibility. I never need to shop for mundane stuff, someone else does all that stuff.

P in ID magazine- LOVE this dress

C: David Bowie in the Ziggy Stardust days or Lady Gaga?

P: David Bowie is great. Lady Gaga is more current.

C: What’s on your iPod right now?

P: Paloma Faith! I met her last week and I'm checking out her music. She's so talented.

P and Paloma Faith at LFW, image courtesy of Mr Paperazzi

C: Who is the most inspiring person you’ve met?

P: I'm more inspired by what's going on. The worlds remoulding itself so quickly at the moment. Just look at twitter. Global Village is here right now. Mcluhan got it right again.

C: What’s your guilty pleasure?

P: Mr Sheen. You won't repeat that will you. (My favourite answer)

C: How many pet dogs (of the inflatable kind) do you have or is there only one Snowball?

P: Snowball!.... that's a cute nickname. I've only one dog and he's called Snowy. I might actually start calling him Snowball now. You know dogs are great, they really break the ice with people. I say.... more facilities for dogs!

C: What do you really think of celebrities? Is the project to mock celebrities or to mock our view of perfection- or both?

P: I let someone else do the thinking. I'm just offering a cartoon parody of the world.

C: Do you ever get punctures? If so how does one recover from this?

P: I was doing a Haitian charity event last year and my speech bubble “?!?” burst. I made a swift exit back to Pandemonia Central. (Secret Central London Location)

C: Where do you shop for your looks?

P: I don't! I design and make everything myself.

Mind blowing - my favourite image

I simply love Pandemonia. Anyone who is out there and getting recognised for their work and originality is an inspiration. Keep up to date with her adventures and work on her blog.

Check out her website here.

Check out her exhibition later in the year here.

Many thanks to P for your time, see you next season!