Out and About: God's Own Junkyard, Soho

Well do ya, punk?

In that boring bit of the year between Christmas and New Years, I managed to head down to see 'Chris Bracy's Gods Own Junkyard' at Lights of Soho. Chris Bracy, known as the Neon Man, passed away in November after a battle with prostate cancer, but his legacy is amazing. I love the way the shopfront lit up a dull Soho street!

Bracy started out using neon signs in the seedy Soho we all know and love, and it soon became a thing there, but also made pieces for big Hollywood films and fashion shoots and has saved an impressive collection. The mix of the two is tongue in cheek and fun.

Having been in the business over 40 years it's an impressive collection and this is only some of it. Details for the Gods Own Junkyard studio here

Mickey!

Downstairs there are also some cool pieces by other artists who work in this mind tripping world of lights.

I actually loved the blur on this shot as it looks like an error but not if that makes sense?

The Neon King's work lives on *forever*

You can check out Gods Own Junkyard in Selfridges or at Lights of Soho on Brewer Street until the 18th of January. All the pieces are available to buy and the shop is open until 8pm, so perfect to pop in after work or sales shopping up west.

Stripes in the Park

Striped crop top (now £4 in the sale) H&M

Fedora: New Look

Jeans: Topshop Jamie

Let's be clear, my stomach does not look this flat post-Christmas and New Year binge! All the more incentive to actually find a form of exercise I like in 2015. I'm really excited about the new year and all the greatness it's going to bring! How great is it that we don't even know some of the fabulous stuff that's going to happen to us yet? But it could be just around the corner...

Happy New Year everyone! Hope the first few days of January have been filled with family, friends and food, mine have.

Photos by Rianna Tamara

Old Faithfuls

I need a new black coat. As my mum keeps reminding me. But I can't say no to this old faux fur of mine, an Ebay bargain. That, Topshop jeans and Revlon Red lipstick. Old faithfuls for winter.

Photos by Rianna Tamara.

Cotton Candy Colours

I got this adorable little woolen jacket from a charity shop this summer for £4. There was a matching baby blue one with a rip in the lining that the lady was going to throw away so she threw it in for the same price and my Nan did some sartorial SOS and saved it for me. Even with just regular jeans and a vest, add a slick of candy pink lipstick and I automatically feel like a lady who lunches.

Photos by Rianna Tamara.

Eat: Veggie @ Hakkasan

"But what can you eat if you don't eat meat?" Well in some restaurants, the menu might be a little lacking but not so at Hakkasan. I went this week for a pre-Christmas meal with some friends, me being pescetarian and Ruth being vegan we opted for the veggie set menu and we feasted. Hakkasan specialise in modern Cantonese food, and their sleek dark surroundings are the perfect setting for a special occasion (the week before Christmas is special right?) Bowls of kumquat salad, roasted tofu with pumpkin and veggie dim sum with veggie fish floss (!) started us off right as did the off-menu, creamy cocktail the Hakka.

While the mushroom stir-fry was a bit bland I did like all the large cashew nuts. Difficult to eat with chopsticks though! The okra topped with pumpkin and chilli was delicious as was the aubergine and mushroom filled aubergine but the winner was the vegetarian steaks. Tender and served in a sweet yet creamy sauce, they were something I've never seen on a vegetarian menu before and really enjoyed.

We must always find room for dessert...

A little snap of what I was wearing. Fedora from New Look, dress and boots H&M.