pics from last post

due to a recent argument between me and my new mac, I have been unable to post some pix. here are couple things you should expect to see more of.
broach: from lost and found project:

and "love is like a butterfly"

Harpers (so) Bazaar

here is a lil hype being created about the QRPD line...

Quiet Riot Paper Doll

so much has been happening in South Studio (my little den-come-studio-come-office) this week. It looks like a "wholey-crap-what-the-f%*@-just happened-in-here??!?!?" ...a creative bomb-site, thats if the bombs had been filled with glitter, butterflies and multi-colored pompoms,ribbons and buttons.

I have been busy gluing away, putting together pieces for my first collection, and things are coming on rather nicely.

Here is a sneaky peeky at what is to come...check me out rocking the look I am calling Poppin' Cherries, one of my one-off broaches from the Lost And Found Project, and my butterflied tutu, Love Me.

would love to hear comments on anything...

thanks.
from
QRPD
ps been trying to post this for, like, a billion years, something is clearly very wrong with my server... or something, clearly wrong with.. something.

as promised.

as much as i want to move forward onto other extremely pressing fashion issues, I will post a few of the DIfW pix as promised... before next season! these r what i thought were 3 of the best....
:(designers below are Meher and Riddhima, my fav collection i think)

changing subject real quick - SHOES

i know i promised the fashion week pix..but hold up one min!!!

Just wanted to spread some love...love for shoes. WE want more, don't have enough, or enough room... here's imagining....
these are just some of the lovely designs I came up with that I'd like to see on my feet...

Dubai International Fashion Week

Did someone die and did I end up at the funeral? Thats how I felt towards the end of the week.

Ok, so its a little harsh... but someone has to be...without gaining anymore enemies.. (its been a bad week for me, with fist fights on set with the agency to ruining a girls life, I think I have earned myself a first class one-way ticket to hell...) I think being a new place and all, with fashion still in its infancy, we can all be a bit nicey nicey here in this little bubble we call Dubai... I mean I am all about supporting my competitor (right).. but I have to say, I did have fun sitting in the front row bitching about the garments that were litterally falling off the models, or cut so oddly that they couldnt walk right... unless that is how they walk.. I wont mention names, becuase, well... see beginning of paragraph....

The after party was alright, the music was too quiet, there was far too much talkin, not enough dancing..or food. The food we did order was picked at by others; next time I suggest supplying more then nuts to hungry dubai-ians, who are not models and need a lot more for a thursday night out.. I know, being a victim to that dubai 5kg or whatever it is that everyone warns you about when you first move here.

I did get some good pics though.. which I'll share with you.. tomorrow... for now, here is a pic of me and my mini-me, Deeya...

Maybe I'll have something nicer to say tomorrow.. I think I am PMS-ing right now. It was not soooo bad, but the AMAZING reviews I read everywhere else told a different story to my impressions on the shows. I will post the good, bad and the ugly tomorrow...
nighty night xx

QRPD

Ma Soeur, J'adore

my lovely beautiful french-wanna-be sister is back! and I am sure as hell glad to see her damn pretty little face! so she's all about talking in french, which is sweet for her, but I have no idea what she is saying.. it feels like when I used to work a 9 - 5 job.. and my boss used to tell me what to do, I felt like homer simpson listening to his boss, ya know.. when it all sounds like jibberish to him.... yeah, like that!

so, not only is my little sister one hell of a looker, but she is awesome at buying her big sista great gifts too...

I have this bad habit; anything i love (actually, even just reeaaallly like) I have to turn that buy into a collection, needless to say, I collect cats (not real ones, honestly, i can't take care of anything living), thimbles, necklaces, sunglasses, anything to do with fairies and angels, butterflies (again, not real),.. the list goes on.

So Lia, that's ma sis, brings back from France, my new, and lastest obsession, and new collectable, a copy of French Elle, circa 1962. Its so freaking awesome! I had to contain myself from dribbling all over it! It is truely delicious; yummy in everyway. the pages smell like...well, mothballs really, but the browned pages of the vintage Elle are filled with character, taking you back to somewhere..chic..and erm french..

It may, or may not excite you as much as me, but I thought it was worth a post anywayz. So enjoy... hopefully as much as I did!

London loves....(part two)

So just to vent real fast before I get onto the subject of london...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! my room mate decided (ok, I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose, BUT, she screwed up my computer, well, not the hole thing but the w key, its not attached to the key board..as you might have already guessed (if you're smart enough, no, its not me making more eirdo typos).. hich is really messing ith me right no, so ithout furhter complaints..I ill do my best to continue ithout....

If you know me, you'll know that I have problems with staying focused..this blog is most likely to go back and forth in time and subject.. if you feel confused...welcome to my orld.

Portobello did more then make my mouth water at this sight of vintage tea cups, old suit cases, bird cages and rows and rows of cheap socks and t shirts, but i discovered one damn fine awesome hair salon too! Feeling a little bit too goth, with my long black and very dry dyed hair, I made it some what of a mission to find a suitable salon hich screamed to me! Screamed what, I'm not entirely sure, the louder...the better...

And there it was..in all its phsycedelic glory, Children Of Vision. Just before leaving for New York, about 5 yrs back, I had walked past it, and thought.. one day, I'll get my hair done in there...

I really wanted to get pix of inside the salon, but they were being kindda funny about it.. which is fine as I got a postcard...oh damn.. I had one, which I planned to scan in, but I put gum in it by mistake...BUT, i found this pix of it outside...so at least ya'll be able to find it!

So I rocked up, well, stumble in super hungover but buzzing from an awesome all-night party for 2 after one of the best weddings ever (its great being sat next to a cute boy, and then waking up next to him too!). I give a slurred description to Ian (my fav hair dresser in the whole world!) of the a-symmetric neon pink drama I had when I first moved to New York, one side shaved under cut, and two random pink rat tails with a blunt fringe was more then enough to frigthen my boyfriend-at-the-time on a flight right back to England. I wanted something similar, but not as full on! This time instead of going for pink (so o-v-a-h kill) Ian matched the color to the turquiose blue and bright blue I had painted round my eyes... (Yes, my plan worked).

An amazing-for-London 35quid for the cut, 35quid for the extensions and I call that a complete make over, London Bargain Barnet!

This salon will definitely go beyond the boundaries for you, with an extensive choice of mad colored hair extensions, and a dog that greets you at the dog, you won't find anything like it anywhere else. The space is wicked, has funky laid-back decor, awesome prices...and friendly stylists who will listen to your boring "i-pulled-last-night" stories.... or am I the only one at 27 who does that?!

Pls see pix, for before and after looks (I was hung over ok!) and check it out for yourself (and ask for Ian! mention I told you so, maybe I'll get some free extensions next time!):

195 Portobello Road
London
W11 2ED
tel: 020 7792 2494

xox
Lovely Jubbly

-Buffi

London loves....(part one)

well, its more like Buffi loves LONDON! OMG, well folks, thats assuming I have any 'folks'..being a new blog and all, and having been a while since I posted, not sure I have any 'folks'... but anywayz... as I was saying..

So, London is like my top place EVER in the WHOLE world right now! (you'd think with all the love I have I would have got a discount on my 200quid fine for being 9kgs over the baggage limit... but no!) I came back over weight, bags and all, I put it down to how much absorbing of the culture, fashion, soul of london..hey its a whole lotta soul.... and a whole lotta loving..you can't expect to come back short on the cuddly size. I am a 27 yr old woman who is (coming to terms with being) proud of my curves!

I made sure I hit all the awesome markets; Spitalfields, Camden, Portolbello, charity stores; marlebone, finsbury, oxford circus, victory, and ventured into topshop where I was very disappointed, Primark beats TopShop hands down, with cute cheap ass socks and knickers (underwear to you American folks)... only things I wouldnt be buying in second hand stores.

As well as the bargains and gems I picked up on my insane "shopping" trip, I met a few gems. Spitalfields market was the first place I hit, where there happened to be this rather dissapointing free fashion show event going on.. but apart from that, it was really inspiring. I met this awesome chick, Nina Dewey, who makes even more awesome dresses from vintage shirts... they look incrediable on! The one I tried on, and eventually bought fit me like a lovely Lulu Guiness glove. Especially now finally admitting to my self that I am a cool medium, not the tiny small that I once was in my youth (which only happened to have been 6months ago, but hey, some of us age fast), I slipped on one of the one-of-a-kind halter dresses behind the back of a mirror, in the stall where she sells. The gaps behind me were enough to give someone a right eye full! Poor them! Anyway, point is, fit like a ..gem (note self:using that word too much today)! Like the designer, the dresses are feminine, individual and edgy, the perfect London find to take back to Dubai. But unlike other stalls, Nina is as strick on quality as she is with her patterns and fit.

Here is a pix of the chick herself. You can find more of her work at;www.enienay.com
....and maybe, if ya lucky, I will post a pic of me modelling one of these awesomely stunning garments!..
til part 2. peace outy
buffi
xox

'Rockin' the box, livin' the mic' - An Interview with Kendra Morris

Kendra Morris' tiny frame does little to prepare you for her soulful, powerful voice, with heart felt lyrics that cause all the hairs on your arms to stand up, sending shivers down your spine. She manages to move even the very stiffest of the New York audience in a way unseen before. With her lyrics, beautiful and extremely powerful, a voice to match, her humor and presence on stage, everyone instantly warms to her. The audience becomes more then just a spectator, she invites them to become part of the experience.

Kendra has been 'singing since [she was in] the womb practically, since I was at least four, always in drama troupes or choir doing talent shows. Whatever I could sink my teeth into'. She went to a performing arts high school, which where she got her formal training. She majored in musical theater, receiving free vocal lessons, teaching her about breathing and how to take care of the voice she was gifted with. Kendra and her mother 'used to sing together, [they'd] sit in the car for hours and just try to one up the other on finding harmonies'.

She has this unbelievable old soulful sound, from a time pasted, which separates her from the other New York musicians. It is unsurprising that she is influenced by some of the greats, 'Donnie Hathaway, Ike and Tina Turner, Jimi Hendrix, Nick Drake, Brian Wilson, Pj Harvey, Liz Phair[...] The Temptations, my mommy, Bowie, The Faces, The Zombies, Hole, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Jackson 5, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, Dylan, Janis Joplin.'

Hidden behind her blond streaked highlights, and rocking her 'hair-metal look of the 80's' influence, she rocks 'loud pants and band tees', with funky jewelry all mixed together, which wouldn't normally make any sense, but on Kendra it somehow does. But then again, this 25 year old gal from Stockton, CA, can pretty much get away with anything; as she charms you with her sound, 'itching that scratch for someone that they just might not be able to get to'.

Moving to New York only 3 years ago 'to do nothing but hit the music scene and make something fabulous happen', Kendra has managed to caused a real stir. Her ambition and natural talent has already got her far. Having played at various places in New York, from Mercury Lounge, to Sin-e, to Fat Baby, she has a large , faithful audience already. Managing to fill out clubs more then many bars/clubs can on a Monday night gig. Kendra spends most her evenings at The Library, where she has worked behind the bar for over 2 years. She has a similar way with the customer's, but is slightly shy, which really does not prepare you for stage-Kendra.

It is easy to see where she gets her talent from, her mother 'sings and plays accordion and piano' and her father 'is an amazing guitarist and has a set of lungs as well!' A musical household where her parents 'were always playing in jam bands [and] would often hold practice at the house', while also attending church regularly, Kendra was destine for the stage. Kendra describes her musical style as 'Lofi Soul':

I say SOUL because I'm a soul singer, i make soul music [...] it comes from that very special sacred place... It bares the things that are so often hard for many of us to really let out. Soul music stirs. It is so expressive and often so sad. Its like it deals with our subconscious. Soul music wants to sob and wail and make love and groove and it tastes and smells and it is just something amazing and unique and rare. It is truly a gift to be able to make music, sing music that can execute for oneself and others those often hard to describe feelings.
I say LOFI because a lot of my recordings are very stripped down. I try to just let the song speak for itself. Sometimes less is more... Silence says a lot. Tape hiss has a comfort to it. We go through life aiming for perfection [long pause.]; looking for perfection in others; ourselves... but what we fall in love with are the imperfections. Its the burnt cookies your friend made for you from scratch that you remember, that you long for in the end. Not the Whole Foods 'gourmet chocolate chocolate chip' cookies on aisle 9.

It is Kendra's love for the burnt cookie, the mistakes in life, and the slightly broken, but individual characters that she meets along the way in New York that makes her so perfectly Kendra Morris.
check her out at: http://www.myspace.com/ckendrago
and if your in NY, send her my love xox
buffi simone

Patrik Rzapski s/s 08

Friend, mentor andjust plain ol' awesome designer (although nothing is plain about him), Patrik has been an huge influence for me. Working under him 3 years ago involved watching Jem dvds (seriously inspiring stuff! Jem is "truely outrageous"!!)
Here are some of the highlights from his S/S 08 fashion show....
ITS AWESOMENESS!!!




well.. he did it again! bigger, better and just Totally Rzepski!

Using his fav black and white combo with an awesome turquoise pop color, the collection is both wearable and fierce.

Patrik, I miss you, love you and can't wait to see you in Dubai sometime soon!

xox
Buffi Simone
pix from papermag.com (check out for more highlights from NY fashion week)
also see:
patrikrzepski.com
for more of his work

I Love Lillies

I would love to see some interesting ink.... send pix this way.

peace.love.lillies.


xox
buffi simone

Another New Fashion Blogger

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....Let me introduce the blogger..Thats me, looking fierce, but I dont bite... tooo much.

This is a blog which promises to be as different as every other blogger. (there are certainly not enough fashion/style related blogs out there! to be honest.. I think that is impossible!)

My recent move to Dubai has seen more then just a sun tan, my studio is quickly becoming a creative lil den for me. Although leaving New York seems mad to most ..ok, everyone! Its been the best thing ever. The bright lights of NY's East Village nightlife was far too attractive to me, and those nights spent at the bar, (or under it.... or on top of it) are now far more productive. Not that I didnt take anything with me from those dayz.

This blog will be more then a mini intro to my fashion line, which is evolving so fast.... Its looking far more buffi-ish..which is bit worrying.. as I know, some things... only I could wear! But, we will see.... I want this to be a sauce for inspiration for peeps all across the globe...

I would love to have a fashion/stylist correspondant from London, Melbourne and New York to feed me with awesomeness style, art, music from around the globe... If you think this could be you... send me some info, ideas and what ya got to offer! Send pix, links, ANYTHING!

Whether you are a designer, a fashion student, a photographer, a musician or a nobody with some interesting info for me...pls feel free to add to the blog! Lets make some colorful magic happen here...

looking forward to hearing from some inspiring people.....
peace.love.butterflies.
from
Buffi Simone.