Second-hand find: off-white Sheilagh Brown wool coat

I let my hands run up-and down this thin wool coat in the Oxfam charity shop in Highgate, caressed the soft and smooth fabric, tried it on, put it back, almost walked out the shop and then ended up trying it on again and finally buying it. Price 11 pounds.

The thing was: I instantly knew this was a top quality jacket but couldn’t really justify buying another off-white wool coat, as I already own these two.

But I’m very glad I did. Especially after having done what is one of my favourite things about second-hand shopping: Googling the designer. I’d never heard of Sheilagh Brown before but it  turns out she’s one of the British Biggies. She had her own London brand back in the 70s and was the famous hat maker/milliner Philip Treacy’s tutor at the RCA.

If you want to know more about her I can recommend this inspiring interview video, where she talks about her life as a fashion designer back in the good old days where Mick Jagger would come and lie on big pillows and smoke in her shop.

And best of all: it’s getting cold here in London, so I can start wearing it soon!

Fancy a Sunday curry in East London?

One of the main reasons why I love London so much is because it’s so multicultural. Every day you meet people who have come to live in this city from all corners of the world. It’s quite rare to meet a “true” Londoner, born and bred here.

Another reason why I love London is because of its many amazing “ethnic” restaurants and food. So why not combine the two and spend a Sunday afternoon sampling Bangladeshi, Indian & Pakistani curries at the Brick Lane Curry Festival in wonderful East London? I’ll be there that’s for sure.