I scream, you're outta your mind.

If it’s good enough to lick, it’s good enough to wear- that’s what they say, right?

Whether your favourite temptation of flavour is strawberry cheesecake, peach melba, banana split, minty chip or failsafe vanilla; it’s time to take inspiration from the delectable pastel taste of summer and childhood days gone by. Sitting on the pebbles of Brighton, chilling in London Fields with friends, floating through Brockwell lido or on a roof terrace in Clapton (I’ve heard it’s the place to be) nothing sums up ‘heat wave’ than a good old vintage Cornetto. Now it’s time for your clothes to incorporate the same feel good vibes.

Pastel is incredibly easy to wear as it works with every skin tone- the key is to go a shade or two lighter/darker to complement. Combining a stripe, a pleated skirt, a tie, a crop or faded denim playsuit can keep the look cute yet interesting, whist staying away from garish print and graphic formations to give it a scoop effect rather than twister-y taste. The ice cream hues are perfect when styling with the 1950's cat eye sunnies, rollers under full wrap headscarves, peep toe slingbacks and the must-have curvy behind. Well, with all that sugar to get through, it’s a blimmin’ good job… 

Style Envy: Solange Knowles

Move over Queen Bee, your lil’ sis is about to nick your limelight in a citric blast of rainbow prints, tantalizing textures and fusion of shapes (she’s basically a carton of five alive)- Solange Knowles, you are our new fav!

Whether it is the indigo blue, cyber dog braids; the 70’s Studio 54 gold lamé flares, ethnic printed playsuits, headscarves in fuchsia with traditional bold jewellery- to the Prada suits with ankle straps and afro fever alongside a beaded Chanel maxi.The list is endless to the vast amount of looks Sol can flip her neon hand at and achieve massive style success; it makes Beyoncé look like Kate Middleton in comparison. She may have the moves, the voice, the stage presence and the life of a goddess, but the endless toned pins of the other Knowles sibling can rock a harem pant and kimono like no other. (No wonder the genius footwear designer, Sophia Webster has chosen Solange as her muse.)

The HOJ clan are off to Dimensions festival in Croatia later on this summer and you can be sure they’ll be tweaks and twists of Ms. Knowles packed tightly within our baggage allowance. With leopard scarves multiplying as headdresses, two-pieces, a sarong, a towel, a bag, a sheet, a cover up, a bed, a bib… this look was made for an Easy Jet flight. It may be a tad hazy what the model/singer/DJ/fashion party attendee actually does but I think she may have found her forte- if you can’t compete with the most powerful woman in the world, don’t- simply do it your own way. 

BIRDS.

The original birds are back. Dusting off their feathers and pouncing over to ITV like it has only been, oh, 15 years, since we saw the trio cackle, throttle, leer and dust their way through each episode. A few pounds lighter and a few lines extra; the show follows on from two sisters, Sharon and Tracey (Pauline Quirke and Linda Robinson) living the suburbia dream in 90's Essex. Complete with decor that could rival the blandest Changing Rooms makeover,ill-fitting shirts straight out of Jo Brand's wardrobe and a scowl borrowed from Albert Square (surely Tracey is the long-lost daughter of Pauline Fowler?) -cleaning their way through jobs whilst their fellas are inside for robbery. The man-eating neighbour, Lesley Joseph provides the perfect antithesis to the dowdy wardrobe with leopard print, sequins, scarlet talon nails, the power shoulder and garish colour overload; you have to love Doreen, ("Now, now, Sharon. Fat people are supposed to be jolly; it's a tradition"). She’s basically Patsy's younger, raven, less-alcoholic cousin.

The sitcom will be back on our screens in September with eight episodes after a recent successful run on stage. Yet never has Doreen been so in vogue with the costume jewellery dripping from every orifice, large gold rimmed Jackie O sunglasses, body-con mesh dresses and 80's stilettos with a smoky haze that lingers throughout each episode (and a body at 67 year old that is quite frankly, ridiculous!). Bring on the show AND that theme tune. "What would I do, when you, are far way...." Pure 90's nostalgia at its finest.  

Midi ground.

It’s time to get dignified ladies! Skirt hems are falling, pass the thigh, creeping below the knee, further down the shin, yep keeping going, further… there it is-the midi has returned!

Straight and tight or high-waisted and A-line, the midi length has come back with a vengeance after slutty Sandy discarded hers for a pair of spray-on leather trews. But this look has come a long way since mumsy, middle age suburbia. Now the likes of Miu Miu, Vivienne Westwood, Moschino Cheap & Chic and Louis Vuitton are showcasing the 50’s throwback with SS13 being the season of the middle ground. Even Rihanna has started to cover up her best assets (on occasion) by using the white Gucci number as her choice of disguise. Wear with strappy heels, a crisp tied shirt and your best abs- just because the skirt has gone low, doesn't mean the top has to. Keep hair in a top knot, the clutch boxy and the lips bright- and remember from now on; no-one puts midi in the corner.  

Take the Box.

Whether you pop, sizzle, skank, drop, grind, flutter, shuffle (or not) – Lovebox has got it all going on this weekend.  From Friday to Sunday you can bask in the glorious sunshine within the heart of Victoria Park whilst listening to a fierce mix of hot-footing house, tantalizing hip hop beats, singalong R&B grooves and a flux of drum- oh, and Jodie Harsh. The emphasis on a particular festival fashion is such a cliché, with every publication setting a ‘style’ radar on what specifically to wear to each scene. But with HOJ- there is NO messing. Cool, unique with prints galore- and more importantly, not a flower headband in sight. 

Start your Friday Funking by getting your Annie Mac on. Preggers or not, the Radio 1 DJ keeps it natural with her preppy mix of floral tea dresses, checked shirts and pastel hues. Keep the hair frizzed (in this heat, there is no other option) the make-up peachy and the hoops always gold. But remember when channeling this look; more sunset in Bora than San An at dawn- save the latter for V.  

Saturday sees South East London raised, Rainy Milo show us what she’s got with her soulful blend of instrumental hip hop bounce that will fit the surrounding area of East to a (cropped) tee. This is all about the 90’s flava- mesh, faded denims, button ups and retro sport labels- beanie hat, optional unless you want to look like another Rita Ora cast off. Or even worse, Cara Delevingne at Glasto.

Sunday is Funday! Colour, colour, legs, colour. Dungarees need to be bum skimming, tie-dyes neon, jumpsuits kitsch and pom poms galore (there has to be a pom in there somewhere). With Lil’ Kim headlining, it is time to make that booty work, so for practicality reasons, wear as little as possible. Embrace the sun, the warm cider and the fragrant musk of the 3^rd day portaloo and forget you have work in under 12 hours.

House of Jam is where it's at.

Amy, Amy, Amy...

Mingling on a boat in the Adriatic Sea during Soundwave festival, the four fatal words every fan had been dreading came as the sun went down over Croatia; “Amy Winehouse is dead”.

No-where felt the heartbreak and utter loss more vividly than here at HOJ HQ: from her jazzy/hip hop fusion tones (that came with a first album that is up there with the greatest) the rockabilly/yardie style that put 2 fingers up to the trends of the time; to the cab driving, mayfair puffing, foul mouth husk that spoke with utter frankness and an effortlessly raw talent- that was at times distressing to watch yet could mesmerize and spine-tingle an entire nation.

On 23^rd July it will be two years since the ‘Back to Black’ singer perished alone in her Camden house and in celebration of her life that was; her brother Alex has co-curated an intimate exhibition at the Jewish Museum in North London (Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait) to give further insight into the unique yet lost soul.

Amy’s style was one like no other- all beehive, eyeliner, tats, tits and ballet pumps- her strong aesthetic presence has been emulated by the masses (from Camden-ites to Jean Paul Gaultier). Yet for the summer months, it was all about the tropical print that she adorned on body con dresses and 50’s style tied shirts- from festival tottering on stage like a baby bird to picking up numerous awards and making cups of tea for the awaiting paparazzi outside her manor at 5am- the bright, Hawaiian print was there, trying to keep up along the way. She even incorporated the paradise hues into her S/S 11 Fred Perry collaboration with sleeveless shirts and cropped cherry cardies.

Now you are able to get your inner Amy vibing with a selection of fruity shirts from HOJ that have recently dropped.  Worn in or out, rolled up or down, with denim or clashed with checks- it’s time to embrace the Amy we love.

Now pass the Caribbean twist... 

HOUSEOFJAM ♥'s EGO ELLA MAY

20-year-old singer/songwriter/beatmaker Ego-Ella May, has already been tipped by MTV, MOBO's & soul legend Omar as one to watch and we can see why. We've had her Badu-like tones playing out of House of Jam HQ all week as we gear up for Wireless festival on Friday where we'll have the pleasure of watching the self taught songstress perform.Turns out Miss May is fan of ours too (seen below in one of our re-worked vintage dresses) and will be wearing another of our handpicked reworked creations on Friday.

We can't wait to see this beautiful lady bounce around stage in one of our creations!