Studio || Design space

If you follow me on instagram & snapchat you'll know that my inspiration boards and design space have started changing already as I'm designing for a new season right now. But here are a few pics of my calm little work space whilst it was actually looking quite tidy!

I love accessorising with pieces from Bloomingville interiors, these matching white pots look great on my desk, it's a design obligation to have a cactus placed in your work zone! 

My inspiration grid is looking quite bare in these images and a far cry from the madness it's displaying currently as I work on SS17. I'll document this on the blog soon.

During the inspiration gathering phase of a collection I love to scoop up new magazines, I always try to pic one I've never had before. The latest one I discovered whilst shopping in my all time fave bookstore Magma (in Manchesters Northern Quarter) is Dry magazine. The layout and style is really inspirational and the editorials are 'other wordly' . . . . is that a real phrase?! 

I'll be doing a write up on it soon, and nattering about it on snapchat :-) 

Meet the stockist || Antelope - London

Hot new stockist alert!

I've recently jumped on board with eclectic and innovative store called Antelope. Their selection is absolutely beautiful and I love how I can shop brands I've heard of like Fig + Yarrow, amongst labels that are completely new to me. 

Ran by store owner Helene from her central London based studio, I picked my fave items and asked her a thing or two about her beautifully curated store :-)

Necklace - Tzunuum

Ring - Antelope

Ring - Wild Fawn

Beauty Masks - Fig + Yarrow 

Marble Cushion Cover - Rianna Phillips

Laundry Bag - Monatandbag

Lipsticks - Elizabeth Street

Bracelet - Layla Cemal

Bracelet - Tzunuum

Evil Eye Clutch Bag - Rianna Phillips

Eyelash Clutch Bag - Rianna Phillips

What has been your background previous to setting up your store 

Well, funny enough I have no background in the online retail. I've been a makeup artist for different brand here in London, and created my blog under the name of Lexie Blush couple of years ago to share my passion about travelling, my favourite London areas, museum, beauty products I like. So being an online business women is a new challenge for me, I keep learning everyday and I love it!

3.What is your favourite aspect of running an online store?

I would say the media/marketing side of it. 

The launch of a new collection is always so satisfying, and tell people about it via the social media, communicate with customers, taking pictures of the pieces as well. I'm a little obsessed with pictures, I like a nice sharp and clean visual

4.What advice would you give to somebody looking to set up a boutique?

I would only tell him that it's need to be done with passion, if it's just for money or for the fame, forget it!

It's a lot of work and challenges, and it takes a lot of patience to make the boutique succeed. Some days are very successful, and some days not, it takes a lot of positivity as well to keep running no matter what.

But if the passion is there, I could not recommend enough to do because it's lots of fun too!

Your based in London, where do you like to shop?

I love to shop in tiny/not touristic areas where there's not too many mass market stores (not yet...). 

I like Portobello Road, there are amazing jewellery little shops there, I like Shoreditch, Stock Newington, Brixton, Angel area, and I like to go to car boot sales and crafty markets once in a while, there are always a lot in London and you can usually find real wonders!

Check out Antelope store
www.antelopeshop.com

Follow behind the scenes on instagram
www.instagram.com/antelopeshop_

Designers Directory || Tenby - Wales

Whilst my sister was over from Australia we all went on an a mini adventure to Wales. 

 In 2 cars we stuffed in the family, the luggage, food, buckets & spades, enough toy cars to fill Toys r Us' for my nephew Jacob (seen below with a kite on the beach), the buggies and bottles for my 9 month old nephew Toby and god knows what else?! It's safe to say the cars were absolutely STUFFED FULL!

We stayed in a gorgeous little independently ran B&B near my grandmas house in Milford Haven but the most memorable day was spent visiting the scenic seaside town Tenby. It's packed full of inspirational colours, architecture & photographic views. 
More importantly, nearly every other cafe sells ice cream cones :-)

My nephews on the beach, I call them my fluffy chickens :-) Such a heart melting pic!

Urban Surfside || Pin Board

Doors from around the world // These beautiful pieces of inspiration keep popping up on my pinterest board. As soon as they do, they get added straight to my URBAN SURFSIDE board

View the boho-luxe Urban Surfside collection here:

www.riannaphillips.com