Airport Chic

Airport Chic by cocoandboo featuring a white tee

White tee
499 DKK - musthaves.dk

Tibi pleated skirt
280 GBP - net-a-porter.com

Alexander McQueen ballet flat
340 EUR - montaignemarket.com

Proenza Schouler satchel handbag
$1,595 - editnewyork.com

TopShop enamel ring
$20 - topshop.com

Yves Saint Laurent leopard print belt
$495 - ysl.com

Bindya wool scarve
$47 - theoutnet.com

Sunglass

$15 - girlprops.com

Having just arrived home from a four day mini break to Budapest, I couldn't help but notice how important my airport attire was to me. Staying chic but keeping warm in changing climates, carrying all my documents and running to boarding gates whilst maintaining my composure where all issues to be addressed, and like any frequent flyer, I seem to have built myself an airport checklist which I try to adhere to every time I travel, be it by plane, train or car. 
My first essential is multiple layers. If you end up sitting on a runway in a delayed plane it can get extremely hot, but no doubt when you eventually get going you'll be sat next to someone who likes to have their air con on full blast. A scarf can add a splash of colour to any outfit but also provide a covering for bare arms and be stored relatively easily in hand luggage. I love this one from theoutnet.com.
A maxi skirt is also a perfect antidote to the hot/cold problem, allowing you space to move when warm but extra fabric to wrap up in when chilly. The bold yellow is totally right for the bold colour trend, as seen in the Jill Sander spring 2011 collection.
Secondly: flat shoes. You know how it goes: you get distracted by Kurt Geiger in the waiting lounge/there's further reductions on duty free/you get seduced by a group of tipsy stags in the airport pub, and you end up missing your flight call. This calls for a serious sprint to your gate and the last thing you want to do is ruin your outfit by removing your Choo's. Never fear, McQueen is here! I adore these skull detail flats simply because they are comfy and beautiful, and can also be whipped of quickly for airport security. The 'mold to your sole' rubber also ensures they will stay put when you're minding the gap as well. I want want want a pair please.
Lastly, a large colourful satchel for one last bold colour injection to the outfit, with space for my passport, Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, a book, laptop, headphones, phone, ipod, sunglasses, purse, travel documents...why is it that whenever I travel my bag seems to need at least five extra compartments?! The satchel provides the perfect antidote to this problem and the across body strap also means I can keep my hands free when pushing trolleys or pulling suitcases (leaving extra space for vital duty free goodies).
Accessory wise, I always try to keep it to a minimum as you know you're probs going to have to remove it through security. I'd go for a large index finger ring (love this Topshop one, a bargain at £8.50), and a classic chunky belt to clinch in the waist. I've gone for leopard print to create a stylish clash with the patterned scarf. Sunglasses can also help tie in your look with a certain era, and these heptagon sunnies give that summery seventies vibe, along with flowing locks and a chilled out attitude. Perfection!


Happy travelling!
Coco xxxx

i-D and ck one

Has anyone else got this months i-D magazine yet?

I loooove i-D - its probably one of my favorite publications - and this months is a brilliant issue. I chose the Anja Rubik cover because I adore her and think she looks fucking amazing with her delicate piercings; her shoot inside is ace too.

But the featurette I loved reading was the behind the scenes look into the new ck one ad campaign. I love how passionate the company is about youth, gender, sexuality and fun and how they all fit together and are accepted in our generation rather than we have to make a stand about everything like when ck one was first established. The whole point of ck one originally was that it was unisex and blurring the line between male and female, but in todays society androgyny is the norm almost; the boys can look like girls, the girls can look like boys and you can sleep with who you fancy, regardless of their sex. If you gon the website you can browse through all of the videos with the, quite frankly, fabulous cast and even upload your own.  I just think its a very intelligent and modern concept without being too wank.

Boo x

Cupcake Wars

Anyone who knows me will know that I LOVE to bake cupcakes. Although I have been known to invent a small amount of my own recipes, I tend to mostly bake from 'The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook' and 'Cupcakes From The Primrose Bakery'. Both of these are really great resources if you want to make a flavored cupcake with a matching icing. My favorite from the Hummingbird is defiantly the pumpkin with  cream cheese icing (although I make my own pumpkin puree instead of using tinned) and the raspberry swirl with white chocolate butter cream icing from the Primrose. 

One of the best things about these books is that if you're a massive fan like me, you can visit the actual bakeries to compare their cupcakes to your own. And today, I did exactly that. 

Firstly, I visited the Primrose Bakery just off Covent Garden. The yellow outside of the shop with it's large windows and stripy shader was so cute and inviting. Inside, the smell was amazing, with the chef having just bought a new batch of chocolate cupcakes up from the basement kitchen. There was so much choice with most of the cakes featured in the book plus a few guest cakes, such as cookies and cream, which I was tempted to also try. I went for a lemon cupcake which was £1.85, and sat in on the leather 50s chairs and round diner tables to eat it. The cafe was so light and airy and the place had such a friendly feel about it, especially after the staff had made me feel so welcome. The cupcake itself was absolutely delicious: not too sweet and not to lemony, the sponge was divine and had just the right amount of zest for me. The icing was really light and fluffy and stayed stiff even though it was a relatively warm day outside. For me, the perfect cupcake. I'd give The Primrose Bakery a 9/10 overall, especially for the homely atmosphere and welcoming feel.

Next, I went off to find the Hummingbird bakery. I had not visited this branch before as it is the newest one to open, and was really surprised to see the spot which they had chosen. Although a little further down the street is busy Leicester Square, the street was quite quiet and the shop was extremely dark. I also spotted around four larger and busier bakeries down the street, which had huge window displays of gorgeous breads and cakes and looked much more enticing than the Hummingbird.

The layout of the shop was not very well thought out in my opinion. As you walk in, there is a long bench on the right filled with cakes which the staff stand behind. There is a small table at the back, and then the left hand side of the shop is a bench facing the wall with single seats. It was pretty impersonal to eat a cake staring at a wall, and I left the shop after eating my cupcake pretty quickly, which annoyed me, considering it was so expensive (£2.75!!!!) and really didn't taste that great. I chose a red velvet cupcake, which is supposed to be quite chocolaty, which unfortunately it wasn't. The cream cheese icing also seemed quite thin and not very creamy, which was disappointing. The best thing about the whole experience was the look of the cupcake, which was basically identical to the book. However there was not a large selection of cupcake available to choose from, mainly chocolate and vanilla, and the only differences where the icing colours. I really expected more from the Hummingbird, especially as I paid 90p less in the Primrose and got much better service and seating. A poor 3/10, with me wishing I'd spent my money in one of the other cafes on Wardour street as I walked back to the station.

Enjoy! Coco xxxx

I'm Dreaming Of...

Hair done by BLEACH London

Dying my hair grey/blue/white

Thin black dresses

ASOS

URBAN OUTFITTERS

A cute romper for the summer nights

URBAN OUTFITTERS

New ink

Looking hot in a bikini for Italy

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Sandals in the sun

URBAN OUTIFTTERS

Now off to grab coffee and attempt to revise.

Boo xx

P.S Coco come home!!

Summer Fun

So today I had a really nice afternoon with my old friend Holly in the beer garden of our old local. I had a while to get ready so I blow dried my hair and decided to wear my favorite leopard print maxi from Urban outfitters, which I got on sale a while ago (£40, reduced from £80!). I styled it up with my I <3 NY tee and studded over-sized blazer, also from Urban Outfitters. I love this outfit as it's so comfy and easy to wear, and also because maxi's are so in this season. the blazer is also the perfect lightweight summer cover up. I also cheekily borrowed my mumma's Chanel padded handbag which helped to add a bit of glam! This dress is defiantly going to be worn over and over this summer and especially for the couple of city breaks I have planned!

Coco xxx

Procrastination

I so should be starting my revision today for my exams in two months, but somehow I keep finidng other things to do with my time. I'm currently addicted to, after following the advice of Coco who's away in Budapest at the mo with her Mum and sis, The Model Agency on 4od. I literally love the whole career world of fashion, they're so bitchy and fun and fabulous but there's this bond that always seems to shine through.

At uni I study History of Art and English Literature, with an outside course (bleurgh!) in European History. So what I thought I'd do, to try and mix procrastination with revision - sort of - is compose a list of some of my favorite and most stylish people in history, art and the world of literature.

Salvador Dali is probably my favorite artist. If you haven't been to his absolutely incredible gallery in Figueres in Spain and you're a fan then I would implore you to go. Its simply amazing. In terms of style Dali certainly held his own. Here he is with his wife Gala in 1964, a beautiful image of a crazily beautiful, and madly in love, couple. I'm thinking of getting a Dali inspired tattoo some day.

Any of J.W Waterhouse's ladies for bringing romance and boho chic to the art world. The first image is quite possibly one of my favorite paintings ever. Its magic.

Another favorite, Oscar Wilde, who was just so dapper and sophisticated. I love the guy.

Whenever I see portraits of Anne Boleyn I cant help but feel like they can't be doing her justice. I always imagine her to be darkly beautiful and so goddamn sexy!! She had to have been to seduce the King right? But anyways, she's on my list for her dignified femme fatal style...and Coco will agree; she loves anything to do with the Tudors.

Joan of Arc for pioneering feminism, and, more importantly, androgynous chic. 

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote is probably my favorite novel EVER! I want to put the film (don't get me wrong, it's fabulous darling!) aside when I talk about this book, and the character of Holly Golightly in particular, because in the words of Capote Holly is a much darker, more troubled girl than Audrey Hepburn plays in the film. This is primarily because of censorship Hepburn wasn't aloud to play Golightly as promiscuous  as Capote wrote her, and while I adore Audrey, I find the character in the novel much more compelling and enchanting. Her style is unquestionable.

Boo x

What I wish I was wearing today #1

What I wish I was wearing today #1 by cocoandboo featuring long dresses

Today is one of those Sundays, not much going on but I'm quite content. I slept in till midday then got up, did some cleaning and went for a walk and got some food for the week. I played some guitar and now I'm just hanging out in my living room listening to music (Eeels at the mo), drinking coffee and writing/drawing. I'm actually just dressed in an old vintage Led Zep tee, a huuuuge denim shirt I got free at Urban Outiftters, leather look leggings and my Docs, but I wiiiiish I had this Alexander Wang dress and all the jewelry!! I am about of a jewelry whore. In fact, both Coco and I like to pile on the accessories. She goes for cute quirky pieces and I like big chunky metal things! Hope everyone's having lovely Sundays!! Boo x