Remember when Madonna was cool?

Believe it or not, there was a time when Madonna didn't resemble Iggy Pop. In her 80's/early 90's hey day she was the symbol of lust; women wanted to be her while most men had her. The oozing of confidence, the dripping of sex appeal, the salivating whiff of empowerment and spread of deranged (have you not seen In Bed With Marilyn?) that made her the formidable status of liberation. Throw a battered leather jacket over and she could have ruled the world. Perhaps that was where it all went wrong- lose the leather, lose the mind.

Don’t miss out on this vintage beauty, you have been warned…

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I'll take your brain to another Dimension.....

By the time you read this, the HOJ posse will be in Croatia, or more precisely, DIMENSIONS festival, avin' it large in Pula. Clear seas, pumping music, stunning villa, beautiful views surrounding rolling hills, an incredible abandoned fort as a backdrop, love and laughter with friends (you get the picture) can only mean one thing- COLOUR! 

Before the nights draw in and the gloom covers us all in negativity and shivers, we need to grab every opportunity like it is our last to inject vitality into the end-of-summer-so-now-want-to-kill-ourself-wardrobe. Whether you have also booked a last minute holiday somewhere warm, ripply and Mediterranean, are off to Bestival or planning to adsorb the rays in your local park; there really is no excuse not to get your vibrant on. You can always add ribbed tights, a pea coat, fur stole and cashmere mittens over the tequila sunrise dress in winter to give Jack Frost a startle on an icy November morning- I think you can call that an investment?

 See you on other side! Now pass the calamari down will you...  

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Limber me up, Jack!

If you thought it was just men that were sexing up the lumberjack trend of late, then think again. Beards may be so hot right now (preferably on a man) but us ladies have all agreed; the check jacket is back!

If like me, one of your favourite musicals of all time is ‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’ (ask your Nan) you will understand that it takes a lot for the lumberjack style to be considered sexy. Forget the hefty build, ginger bush and dirty finger nails and go along the more luxury squared, open front jacket route in a range of vivid colours, check sizes and length that have recently exploded onto the House of Jam site. Denim, sheer and leather works perfect, as does contrasting with another check to give that mitchy-matchy, lovely jubbly, vintage take on Derek Lam.

And if you are still not convinced about the level of seduction that lumberjack chic can create, then follow these two God-like words; Ryan Gosling. 

Utterly, Clueless.

“Do you prefer "fashion victim" or "ensembly challenged"? “ One of many ingenious one-liners from the 1995 parody of Jane Austin’s, Emma that has turned Clueless into a modern-day cult classic! Poking fun at the sorority of Beverley Hills girls who live off Daddy’s wealth, have a revolving walk-in wardrobe, receive a white convertible Cadillac before learning to drive, continually suck a lollipop and go out with the school jock called Brad, has always been fun- throw in a wardrobe like this and you are onto an absolute winner.

The garish colour, the over the knee white socks, the tartan sets, the assortment of hats, the chest, the puppy face, the fun fur, the glossy hair, the braids, the colour code, the brick mobile phones, the driving, the way they hold their school books, hold their pink fluffy pen, fling their handbag when they wiggle off to the swimming pool in the garden, the polo necks, Brittany Murphy's pout (RIP), the incestual relationships… this film is pure genius! Can you believe it is 18 this year? If you take a look at these HOJ gems and the inspiration behind them, it’s hard to imagine that time has even rolled on since that summer in Sweet Valley High.  

Mixing and mashing prints with Alice bands, patent platform Mary Jane’s and a neon green threaded tweed jacket thrown over the shoulder- it’s girly, it’s kitsch, it’s OTT, it’s naïve, it’s cutesy, it’s ridiculous, basically it’s a feminists nightmare- and our dreamworld!  

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Snug as a Bug...

Call us insane but we are mega excited for Autumn, even dare we say it, winter? No not the rain, grim frosty mornings, leaving the club in darkness and getting drenched on the dash from station to work; but the chunky knits, fur stoles, shaggy coats, heavy buckled boots, striped layering, bobble hats, mittens... bare legs- I'm over you!

Come on admit it, there is something really homely, cosy and  a tad romantic about throwing on an oversized jumper, walking to your local and sitting in front of an open fire with a large red and Style on Sunday, followed by a homemade roast and film back at yours with toasty socks and a cuppa. Yeah you can do it now (minus the outerwear) but it’s not the same. Don’t get us wrong! We love summer as much as the next guy but it’s true what they say; you always want what you don’t have. (You can hold us to that when we are moaning how we miss the long summer evenings, drinking cider by the river and the uncontrollable urge to chain smoke.) 

But if you are not convinced then just take a look at these mighty fine pre-A/W knits from HOJ. With a selection of colour, prints and no-scratch guaranteed, they have got us all hot under the knit- especially that umbrella design (we love a novelty number round here.)  And if you are STILL not in agreement then the image of Miley Cyrus in that nude latex bikini is enough to get everyone running for cover!

Bomb 4 Da Bomb Bomb 4 Da Reload.

How FIT? Yes we have to agree the new drop of vintage silk bombers are sure to cause a huge stir among you all. From skinheads and builders/80's power films to Fresh Prince/ Hip Hop bouncing with Bianca Jackson- it seems the bomber jacket unites us all from every background. With the luxe fabric and rich depth of colour brings us nicely into Autumn with plum and burgundy wine hues, to adopt that love for the 90's that is still very much prominent.
Adorn with crop tees and stomping chunky boots or over one of our many floral tea dresses for a 2013 twist on grunge. Scowl, pout, grimace or goof- whatever your flavaaa is this season, the bomb-bomb-bomber is reppin' it all the way. Well if it's good enough for Grant Mitchell...

Keep your eyes peeled for A/W to drop very soon!

All over the Macarena!

That time of year is here again- to dutty wind with a red stripe in hand and a plastic pineapple under arm with blacked-out shades tightly fixed to face and hair frizzed up in the humidity, all the while smiling ecstatically over the base- Carnival time!

Come Sunday, the streets around Notting Hill will be paved with colour! Music! Shapes! Floats! People! Food (OMG the food!) Visions! Movement! Vibrations! Don’t let the media hype ruin the fun, for Carnival is a time for everyone to come together under the most electrifying atmosphere; to embrace the show, to celebrate the big 'C' ("well cultured babes") and to have, oh yeah, FUN! Of course, what to wear is just part of the charm. Unless this takes your fancy, and lets be honest, if we had it, we'd definitely flaunt it too…

... then we were going to suggest something really stereotypical and obvious to evoke the full-blooded Caribbean flex and then we thought- yep that’s exactly what we are going to do. With the weather looking highly promising it seems there is no other option than citrus bounds of colour, midriffs high, batty riders even higher, with HOJ prints making new friends, (vital) flat shoes and to forget all about work on Monday because it doesn’t exist- for all exists now is this pavement, in which your nose is currently bouncing off. Headdresses are more than welcome, as is a bottle of Morgan Spice and beads; hang beads everywhere, just because it feels good.  

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There really is no other place in London quite like it. See you at the bus and let the Good Times roll!