When we heard that the delicious Italian restaurant Bocca Di Lupo was opening their own gelateria opposite their restaurant in Soho, we got ourselves on the list for launch night. The aim of the game? To try as many different flavours of ice cream as possible!
Chestnut, coconut and chocolate sorbet were scrumptious and the most requested among the party goers. And as we sipped on watermelon granita mixed with vodka, we couldn't think of anywhere we'd rather be than Gelupo!
We've been keeping in touch with anti-folk duo Peggy Sue as they take their music on a global tour. They recently played at annual festival Dot to Dot and sent us an update - check out what they got up to!
We are in the middle of a never-ending tour so it was nice to head back to Dot to Dot festival and see some familiar sights and familiar faces!
The first day was in Bristol and our dear friend Derek Meins aka The Agitator greeted us with his preacher/old soul singer performance. It’s just him on the mic screaming and shouting and Rob Dylan Thomas on drums hitting things really loud. Its pretty amazing stuff and they always look dapper. Here's Derek rocking the braces.
We went for a wander and spotted these three hanging out outside one of the venues. Katy is a bit of a sucker for black clothes and we were impressed the variation of tones they managed to achieve between the three of them.
Here is our friend Funtime-Bobby. There was a startling amount of baseball caps - Bobby was the best at wearing his backwards. The guitarist from Liars was the best at wearing his forwards.
We saw this row of colourful houses which reminded us of our old hometown Brighton.
In the evening we went to one of our favourite venues in the world - The Louisiana - and watched Lissie and then Villagers. Lissie was wearing a now infamous t-shirt from Brudenell Social Club, which is an amazing venue in Leeds. Villagers was probably our favourite show of the whole weekend. Very, very excellent!
The next day we moved onto Nottingham and saw these ladies hanging out having a bit of a barbecue...
…and also these colour-coordinated boys.
Also we loved this girl's really cool dress.
We went to watch our friends Blood Red Shoes and saw these shoes. That night we watched Beach House who were beautiful and a bit terrifying. Couldn't get over our star-struck-ness in time to ask Victoria for a picture, but did get one of this chap in his great big checked hoodie, with impressive hair angles!
Then we watched Los Campensinos! Gareth - the singer - is the only person we've ever seen look intimidatingly cool in a football shirt.
Later we watched a late night show by Yuck, which was brilliant. The bassist had one of those immaculate fringes that I'm really jealous of, and the singer was wearing double denim.
Bank holiday Monday we went onto Manchester. We played at the Deaf Institute there, which is Manchester's best venue mainly because it has Dolly Parton wallpaper on the toilet walls and it has a beautiful stage. This is Fol Chen playing there before us.
Later we saw these two looking beautifully awkward. We asked what band they were in and the boy was in Egyptian Hip Hop so we went to watch them and found ourselves in a room full of beautiful awkward young people. The band was a sort of electro grunge dream and the bassist was wearing the best t-shirt we've ever seen.
Our two favourite things in the world are pretty much clothes and cakes so when we laid eyes on The Berkley Hotel's SS10 Pret a Portea, we could hardly control ourselves. Inspired by the SS10 collections, this really is the ultimate in stylish afternoon tea.
Sip infusions like lapsang souchong, pear caramel and wild blossom and berries from fine Paul Smith china; nibble elegant canapés and sandwiches in luxurious surroundings; then sample the pièce de résistance - a collection of impossibly cute cakes and fancies, lovingly made in the shapes of all our favourite catwalk clobber.
There’s the Erdem dark silky chocolate cake filled with passion fruit and delicate lace, the Christopher Kane pale pink almond macaroon, this season’s must-have Chanel clog biscuit with chocolate brown studs ...
We could go on but we’re salivating too much! It’s available daily from 1-6pm in the caramel room and is possibly our perfect afternoon out.
Last weekend, we threw the first of our Bandstand Picnics in London and Bristol to help raise money for the amazing charity, Teenage Cancer Trust. We may be biased but we think they were the best picnics ever!
Don't worry, if you didn’t manage to make it, there are picnics taking place in Liverpool and Birmingham this weekend. So be sure to get your tickets... after seeing these pictures, we have a feeling there might be a mad rush!
The lovely Jameela Jamil presented both events looking stunning as usual! Her cut-out floral maxi dress from Topshop Boutique was a particular favourite and is set to arrive soon. And with Charlotte Hatherley; Chew Lips; Goldheart Assembly; Stricken City; Girlcore; New Young Pony Club; Ladyhawke; Slow Club; Blonde Ambition; Cocknbullkid; and Goldilocks hitting our bandstands in style, no-one could stop themselves dancing!
But that wasn't where the fun ended! As well as old school sports day events (the sack race was particularly popular), there were roller skates to hire, some amazing face art by Native Faces, a chill out area complete with deck chairs, delicious cupcakes from Lola’s, and to keep the hunger at bay, a good old barbeque.
We're so glad you packed up your picnics and came along! It was a really amazing day out and with all the money raised going to such a great cause, there couldn't be a better reason to have so much fun.
To see more pictures from the events and to get some street style ideas for summer's festivals, check out our albums on Facebook!
And to get you the inside scoop, we took five minutes out to ask some of the performers a few questions about life, loves and everything else!
CHEW LIPS
Having managed to book gigs before actually writing any songs and telling record labels to release their singles, cheeky Chew Lips have become a roaring a success. They’ve all been affected by cancer in some way and jumped at the chance to raise money and awareness with Topshop and Teenage Cancer Trust. We caught up for a pre-bandstand chat!
If you had to name a few, who would you say were your biggest influences?
In the eyes of children... Failing that it's usually The Shakespeare in Stoke Newington.
What’s your most treasured possession?
My bass guitar which was my Dad's, it's literally the only possession I care about. I would leave everything else in a house fire. Sum up your style in three words… Nautical but nice!
What’s your SS10 must-have wardrobe staple?
A skinny flat front trouser, cut slightly too short.
What was the last thing you bought from Topshop?
Burlington socks, we love them.
What’s your absolute favourite food?
Pizza.
And finally, complete this sentence: The very best feeling in the world is…
…getting into your own bed with clean sheets!
STRICKEN CITY
After getting inspired at uni, buying an 8track recorder and two guitars, and then teaching themselves how to use them, Stricken City was born. We caught up with the indie foursome about their favourite things.
How did you come to be teaming up with Topshop and Teenage Cancer Trust?
Topshop have been supporting us for ages, so we were really pleased to be able to do something like this for them and Teenage Cancer Trust.
What was the last thing you bought from Topshop?
Velour leggings. I love velour.
Do you have any party tricks?
I can play Chopin’s Revolutionary Study really, really fast.
Complete this sentence: The very best feeling in the world is…
...when people sing the words of your songs back at you.
GOLDHEART ASSEMBLY
They left their old bands, bonded over supermarket red wine and formed Goldheart Assembly for the world’s aural pleasure. They all feel really strongly about Teenage Cancer Trust and say they’re honoured to be taking part. We got in touch to find out what makes them tick!
Where do you find inspiration?
At the bottom of a bottle of supermarket red wine...
What's your most treasured possession?
My vintage 1960s Vespa scooter.
Sum up your style in three words...
Retro comedy chic.
What was the last thing you bought from Topshop?
A pair of Topman jeans, yesterday.
Where's the best place in the world?
Hartlepool.
And your favourite London hotspots?
Putney Tandoori.
What's been your biggest fashion faux pas?
Guyliner. And a waistcoat with nothing on underneath.
Complete this sentence: The very best feeling in the world is...
...being able to play music together.
BLONDE AMBITION
Deanne Oliver-Evans and Gabby Sanderson used to host a radio show together, but after being asked to DJ at a friend’s party they were hooked on performing and Blonde Ambition exploded onto the scene. We asked them to join us in helping out Teenage Cancer Trust and got together so we could pick their brains.
If you had to name a few, who would you say were your biggest influences?
Young Madonna - for style & inventiveness, and Debbie Harry... influential blondes!
Where do you find inspiration?
The streets of London. Pretty much every great song I listen to. My amazing friends. Family.
Sum up your style in three words?
Quirky. Jumbled. Blonde.
What was the last thing you bought from Topshop?
A little denim crop top with hook and bar clips down the front. I love it!
What's been your biggest fashion faux par?
Borrowing my Grandad's fishing trousers. Not as 'festival chic' as I first thought?!
And finally, complete the sentence:The very best feeling in the world is...
having the whole crowd with you on the last song of a set. dancing & singing their hearts out like they never want it to end!
You may remember that WAH, East London’s hippest nail salon, set up shop in the basement of our Oxford Circus store a while back.
Well alongside their totally fabulous trend-inspired nail art - think cutesy bows, neon leopard print and cut out details - they're now offering a fully blown nail service. From manicures to extensions and gels, get down to Topshop Oxford Circus and have one of the seriously stylish WAH girls work their magic on your digits.
To get the inside scoop on everything from this season's hottest shade to her favourite summer pieces, we caught up with the founder of WAH - the lovely Sharmadean Reid!
Tell us a bit about how you got started in the nail business?
I started as a fan, painting my nails lilac as a child, then as a consumer, getting my nails done at various cool places around the world. And then I just thought - there's NO cool nail salon in London, which sucks because we're meant to be the best city in the world, so I just decided to open one.
A few words that sum up WAH?
Hip hop aesthetic, punk attitude. Half Riotgrrrl, half Rudegyal.
The hottest nail colour for summer?
A sizzling, exotic deep green!
Your favourite WAH design at the moment?
Cut out nails - any design that leaves some of the natural nail exposed. I love stripes where you can see the natural nail.
Where do you find your inspiration for your nail designs?
We're currently inspired by the YSL exhibition in Paris. We've been working on some amazing designs influenced by his massive archive.
How often do you get a new design on your nails?
Not as often as you think. I'm a terrible polish peeler...
The best kept nail industry secrets?
Metallic gold tips for that special event and Seche Vite topcoat, which keeps our designs looking glossy.
What can we expect from WAH for AW10?
Less print and more graphic, block designs. The mixing of Minx with polish, and definitely some high octane glamour for the party season, with either crystals or metallic finishes.
Comme Des Garcons tops that look like they could be from Miss Selfridge in 1995 and stretchy ankle length dresses. I love the red and white Topshop long dress. I'm going to live in it this summer.
OPEN SUN 12 - 6PM, MON - SAT, 9-8PM. EMAIL TOPSHOP@WAH-NAILS.COM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT!
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