Designer Interview: Lauren Geoghegan (+Giveaway!)

Lauren Geoghegan once chased baby animals around farm yards of Retford, a tiny town in Nottinghamshire located in the East Midlands of England (aka farmlands very north of her now city of residence, London).

Its her upbringing that plays a large part in her design aesthetic, as she often is moved and inspired by the simplicity and beauty of nature. Earthy tones and smooth features are what make up her structured collection of handbags and leather goods. She's come a long way from her first design, which was mainly all tweed.

After designing accessories for some of the most well known high-street stores in London, such as Topshop and ASOS, Geoghegan, who graduated uni (college as we call it here in the states) just three years ago, decided to launch her own line.



What made you decide you wanted to design leather handbags? 
I just think high quality leather is so utterly charming and classy, not to mention how well it can last if looked after, aging to make the pieces even more beautiful with time. 

Frida                                                                Betty

Where do you source your material from?

I source all my leather from London, most of it from within 5 miles of my studio. I believe it's very important to work and support local businesses wherever is possible.

Barb

Are the handbags bespoke?

[Yes] It currently works well as I find a lot of my customers like to add personal little aspects to the bags to make it personal to them.  I like to be able to offer 100% unique.

Wanda

Do you think you will ever introduce color into the line? 
Ha. I will try! I have big plans for color in my SS14 collection. We'll see how that goes! Every time I add color to a collection I end up taking it back out again, so maybe SS14 will be the season it stays.

Tell me about the harnesses. 

I have always liked designing pieces for the body, some crazy, some more refined. I think my interest in still working with the shape of the body comes from my experience in womenswear. I see the harnesses being worn in a very casual way. I actually wear the bra harness from my new collection quite often just over a simple baggy t-shirt or a fine knit sweater and jeans. I find it just adds a different dimension to a simple outfit. 

You are introducing coin purses ....what other accessories would you like to add in the future (if any)?

I have a long list of things I want to add to the collection but the next two things that are being added ( due to repeat requests) will be a cool, easy to use and carry laptop cover and also a leather backpack. Many people tell me how hard it is to find the right backpack which looks cool but also serves a purpose.

Audrey

You have a lot of music on your blog, which is rare to see on a blog of a designer. Thoughts?

Music is what makes my world go round, and I just couldn't live without it. I would secretly love to learn to DJ!

Your logo is a dog....what made you choose that? 
The dog I have as my logo is a whippet. I hold this breed very close to me, having grown up in the country side animals [including whippets] were a big part of my life. They are much loved to me and my family, so the logo is something that gives me a warm feeling every time I see it.

What is your personal style?
90's lipsticked lesbian detective...

For full available collection, please visit www.laurengeoghegan.co.uk. 

UZ is giving away one of the A/W 2013 collection coin purses! Like Urban Zingara on Facebook  between now and March 31, 2013. If you are already following UZ, leave a comment below or a comment on this post on Facebook!

 A winner will be selected April 1, 2013.

Olympic Metals Just For You

It's not just Olympians that wear gold, silver or bronze. You can sport these metals too, and with more options. No competition required.

They even look Olympic-y!

Go For The gold:

1. A very gold metal: Wendy Mink

3. Archery anyone? : House of Harlow

4. A mini version of the torch: Pamela Love

A Silver Victory:

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs

6. Pamela Love

Happy With Bronze:

7. DeAnna Cochran

8. TomTom

For winners all around: 

5. River Island

You may also like:
A Shoreditch Moment
Jimmy Jubilee 

A Shoreditch Moment

I finally made it back to Brooklyn Shoreditch on my most recent holiday to London, luckily before the tourists and crowds from the Olympics took over. Londoners either love or hate Shoreditch, and I often have been stuck defending the coolness of it all to those of a less exotic nature.

To prove to my handsome bloke and his dear friend that Shoreditch would in fact be a thrilling place of shopping, eating and graffiti seeing, I urged them to tag along. Strolling a few steps behind me (I wore pleather leggings, black ankle boots, oversize vintage red blazer and overload of jewelry) were my two male companions, one who wore a denim shirt untucked and fully buttoned as he claimed he "looks more Shoreditch" like that (which it kind of did).

After a morning of exploring cafe/clothing shops, outdoor art pubs and some very overpriced vintage furniture stores, I convinced them it was not all that bad and turned out to be quite the artistic adventure. 

Next time I will most definitely be going alone, or with my equally stylish London blogger friend, in order to fully take it all in, browse and buy. 

If you happen to be there anytime soon, or read this and have an epiphany that it is time to take a visit out to Shoreditch, check out the shops on Kingsland Rd., Redchurch St., Shoreditch High St and roads around Arnold Circus.

 

Be sure to stop into this shop in particular:

AIDA

Photo credits: AIDA // Facebook

 

The smell of coffee greets you as they brew and serve it little stamped paper cups. After a quick espresso head slowly through the store focusing on the decor (old books, leather goods, clocks, variety of seating areas) and clothing. Don't forget to investigate the downstairs man cave or the vintage hair and makeup bar.

 

Very serious posing happening here. Photo credit: My handsome bloke.

Just a few others:

No-One // Kingsland Rd // Fashion and lifestyle store

Carousel // Turville St // Vintage

Present // Shoreditch High St // Accessories, clothing, shoes

Milk // Shoreditch Hight St // Fashion and home

Type // 138 Bethnal Green Road // Bespoke design objects
Aubin + Wills // Redchurch St // Womens, Mens, Kids// Cinema

Mawi // Calvert Ave // Jewelry

Squares And Chains

Ok, seriously, Zelia Horsley is making me drool. This London based designer has been featured on UZ before and featured again now because, well, her jewelry is that cool.

The SS and AW  2012 lines boast geometric shapes of rich color and a lot of gold.

Check it:

You May Also Like:
Hayley Kruger's Black and Neon Necklace
Fierce Jewels From London
Cuff It

Blank Wall Turns British

Fast.

The Goldfingers. Genius creativity from a can, fitted suits and a soundtrack that brings drama and emotion to what is going on. I posted this last June but something this good deserves a re-post (especially with the Diamond Jubilee in tow).

Check it:

                                       

You May Also Like:
Designer Interview Hayley Kruger
Diamond Jubilee

Talia Fabrizio, Quixotic Takes

A Jimmy Jubilee

Oooh look, Jimmy Choo is celebrating the Jubilee too! And, you don't have to be British to wear it. 

Jimmy Choo Union Jack Clutch

You May Also Like:
Celebrate The Diamond Jubilee In Style
Graffiti Of The British Pound. Sick.
Wearing Florals This Spring

Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee

60 years ago, Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, came to the thrown, marking this celebration as the Diamond Jubilee (she already had her Golden Jubilee in '02 and Silver Jubilee in '77).  The cool thing about Queen Liz, is she is only the second queen in history to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. Wowza!

Very la di da.

The official coronation of Her Royal Highness is marked on June 2nd, but the celebrations and chic-a-leek memorabilia have already begun. Skip tea time (you can do that later) and head straight to the shops to style yourself out in the coolest of Jubilee trends and purchase limited edition goodies from Ladurée and Bond No.9.

Check it:

Aspinal of London, The Aspinal Jubilee Clutch/ Miso London Earrings Pack, republick.co.uk/ If You Tea-se Necklace, Mod Cloth/ London Calling Idiom Bangle, Kate Spade/ British Flag Pillow, Jonathan Adler/ Sixtea Years Jubilee Tea, liberty.co.uk/ London Graffiti iPhone case + Diamond Jubilee Playing Cards, Harrods/ Queen's Fabric Shopper Bag, Stabo/ London Nail Wraps, Victoria Albert Museum Shop

Exclusive to Harrods, Bond No. 9 London Celebration has been created especially to commemorate Her Majesty

Ladurée Diamond Jubilee Macarons, $25, Available Online

Whilst enjoying a macaron and spot of tea in your finest of china, visit the official website of the Diamond Jubilee, for photos and fun facts, such as this one:

How To Handle The Umbrella Crisis.

New York is highly populated (gee, there is something you didn't know). You don't really know who is walking the streets with you; tourists, students, actors, models, foreigners, locals, delivery guys. It is a true smorgasbord of confused individuals when it comes to handling the rain. Today, when someone else's umbrella nearly blinded my 20/20 vision, I had enough.

First and foremost people, umbrellas are our friends and are made in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes to fit your lifestyle.

That being said, let's touch upon umbrella etiquette. I am not an certified expert on umbrella handling or anything, but who is anyway? (Although, if they offered that in college as a core class, I would totally have taken it). Growing up in New England, however, I can safely say that it is the east coast version of Seattle, and any New Englander has a certain understanding of how to deal with the rain with grace (well, some).

Here are a few instructions on the to do's and don'ts of rain fall.

1. If you and a fellow pedestrian are walking towards each other or a narrow sidewalk, I believe it should be those who are taller to do the umbrella lift, so the shorter person can easily walk under without moving their umbrella.

2. If you forgot your umbrella at home ( or hate carrying an umbrella), do not cut a hole at the top of a trash bag and make it into a DIY poncho...so not chic. Rock a cool poncho, like this one from Urban Outfitters.

3. If you live in a densely populated city, a golf umbrella is not the answer to staying dry. The sidewalk is a shared space so don't try and take up the whole darn thing. Try a dome umbrella to keep you rain drop free.

Available at Bloomingdale's

4. When you enter a building, be weary of others behind you. Don't stop abruptly and shake out your drenched umbrella. Step aside. We don't want a pile up.

5. Do seek out an umbrella with a sleeve. It is easier to carry around a wet umbrella without ruining your own wardrobe.

Marc Jacobs, HM, TopShop

6. Update your umbrella collection. Aimless wires poking out are a hazard to not only your safely, but others as well.

7. If you want to stay stylish in the rain, it is possible. Check these cuties:

L to R

Top
Raindropsto.com, Diggsshowroom.com, Barneys.com
Bottom
Dorothyperkins.com, Momastore.org, Johnlewis.com

 

Romance: London

In the midst of crazy and rush, there is beauty and serenity when you look closer. - TCF

Yes please darling!

This tea-set ring is killing me! One lump or two my dear? Love. (By Betsey Johnson)

Gum not for chewing.

My obsession during my trip to London this summer: cloth tote bags. I could not get enough. Each stall I walked by at The Stables sucked me and I would not be surprised if my eyes seemed hypnotized, spinning and spinning and spinning.

Most favorite brand? Korean brand, Che.win.gum. The bag was not quite perfect for me. Italian style espresso pot and British flag, I loved, but wanted to add a little more to it. I requested a mini Italian flag as well as a speech bubble containing the word "ciao". After asking what colors were in the Italian flag,  the artist right then and there took out her miniature paint bottles (sort of like puff-paint but not so much) and in the nick of time the artwork was done. I simply love my customized tote.

Che.win.gum. customized literally anything (fashionable that is) including baby clothes! To die for! This brand has edge yet simple and darling touches.

Check it:

Hey there fabulous secret little store.

Forget speak-easy bars...let's have speak-easy shops,  kind of like this store by Top Shop. Knock, knock.

Graffiti under my feeties

Luckily I have Facebook and through news feeds and messages I was given the map to the graffiti mecca in Londontown.

Abandoned under the old train platform at old Waterloo station lies a dark tunnel, lit only by the fluorescent colors of spray painted art on every inch this tunnel could give. On the lights, on the pavement, the walls, the ceilings, the railings. If there was a pebble there, it was graffitied and well, let me add.

This isn't some gangsta made, 2-Pac-will-live 4-eva artistic decor in bubble letters type of graffiti. This is legit. And it all started with Banksy (and approval of Eurostar which manages this property). Banksy, famous for his offbeat stencil street-art and unknown true identity, told the Times of London that he hoped to "transform a dark forgotten filth pit into an oasis of beautiful art — in a dark forgotten filth pit,” which he did, along with other graffiti-carpet starlets including, Bandit, Schhh, Pure Evil and Orticancvoodles. (I feel maybe I need a street name now...)

In 2008 the first ever "Cans Festival" was held at the old Waterloo station and the walls and every other part of this pit, were cloaked with street-art. The original art remains, yet masked under the new art from those who come to show off their creations...while it lasts.

You gotta go to London to really get the experience, dizzy spells from the spray paint smell included, to be completely satisfied. But for now chill...I took some photos.

London street style

2-some in Londontown

I have been wanting this forever when ordering two cups of Starbucks, but they only have the 4-cup holder. The Brits have it right in Londontown.