Monochrome Print Dress and Cardigan and Brown Bishopsgate/Liverpool St Station EC2

This is hardly the land of the fashionista but occasionally it does throw up some head turners.

This patrol took in Bishopsgate, Bank, Threadneedle Street, Cannon St,  St Paul’s, Fenchurch St. Aldgagte borders, the new office blocks near Spitalfields and down to near The Tower of London. At 11.30 it was dead and as predicted around 11.55 onwards it just erupted with city workers. No shortage of women to photograph it’s just finding one with that “something Going On” factor, that’s the challenge.

Monochrome and Leather Mini  and Buckle Boots Cannon St EC4

All photos as per usual, unposed, shot from the hip, wide angle zoom lens and Canon DSLR. Not a word was said!

Monochrome and Brown Print St Paul’s EC2

Powder Blue Dress Leadenhall St EC3

Monochrome and Culottes with Brown and Pink Shades near Liverpool Street Station EC2

The post Fashionista Spotting The City. August 2015 appeared first on FJ Girls.

Simple but deadly Cream Dress Fashionista (Non Monochrome!) back of Tate Modern, Southbank SE1

Covering the areas of  Southwark St, London Bridge and Station, Tooley St, Southbank, Borough Market, Millenium Bridge, Tower Bridge, Shad Thames and surrounding back streets. Did try Old Kent Road, Elephant and Castle and even Peckam Rye where the new hipsterville is supposed to be but not much was happening during the daytime when I was there so came back to SE1 with Borough Market being the hub. I am looking to head beyond zone 1 to see what is happening where the real Londoners live but just seem to keep coming back to Zone 1 and 2 on the tube map.

Gone with this lady above for the headline shot, funnily enough the last one of the day, she got out of the cab with her boyfriend seconds earlier from the cab pictured left. Sometimes simple amd giving the impression of not trying too hard is best!

An area that this time of year is heaving with tourists and first thing in the morning is rush hour crush land with commuters. So in fashion terms you’re not going to get anything Camden punky or Shoreditch vintage here so the bar has to be lowered a couple of notches to ensure women who are going out on a limb just a little bit further than most appear on this website.

Monochrome print dress and shades and flip flops Millenium Bridge SE1

This is the vibe that is out there early August 2015. All shots taken with a Canon DSLR and Street lens (wide angle zoom) and shot from the hip or knee to give more natural shoots. They know what I’m doing these women but as soon as you put that camera to your eye when you’re close it’s either the daggers or they go into catwalk mode. As usual  never said a word to any of them. Promise!

Monochrome with cream and shades  near Blackfriars Bridge SE1

All black and blonde with tassle bag Millenium Bridge/Tate Modern SE1

Close Up Monochrome brunette and shades with green bag Shakespeare Globe Theatre, Southbank SE1

Anti Monochrome blonde denim and colour London Bridge Tube Tooley St SE1

Oriental cream and white hoody fashionista London Bridge Tube, Tooley St SE1

Monochrome with colour and ripped jeans and shades fashionista Globe Theatre, Southbank SE1

Monochrome with floral print and shades Tower Bridge SE1

The post Fashionista Spotting SE1. August 2015 appeared first on FJ Girls.

Kat from Eastenders?? Monochrome Shawl Fashionista and Gold Sandals Charing Cross Station/ The Strand

Had a good session down here on my first visit. Was that just a lucky day or could it be repeated?

With the school holidays officially started this is the peak holiday season. There must have been thousands upon thousands of tourists, so quantity wasn’t the problem but finding some decent Fashionistas was proving a bit of an issue getting beyond the jeans and leggings brigade.

Tried to get beyond the monochrome look as well but this is firmly entrenched in the London streets and is showing no signs of waning yet. This website is all about what is happening on the streets in fashion terms, so you’ve just got to go with the flow……….so monochrome it is!

All photos taken with Canon DSLR on Wednesday 29 July with my street lens (wide angle zoom). All shots from the hip/knee and shot at ISO 1250. It was a gloomy day so the photos are a bit grainy. Every single one of these women knew what I was up to and as per usual I never said a word. I got to hand it to them they clock me these days in a nano second!

Red hat and leatherMonochrome spots  fashionista. London Eye, Southbank SE1

Non Monochrome! Air Stewardess or Shrek Adventure Fashionista London Eye SE1

Monochrome with a dash of red and Non Monochrome dash of Faux Fur and Extreme Ripped Denim Tourist Fashionistas Westminster Bridge SE1

Denim,  Tartan, Piercings, DM’s and Tattoos and Monochrome Pure Black Boyfriend Southbank SE1

Monochrome, Drape and Fishnets + Big Buckle Boots and Shades Westminster Bridge SE1

Turquoise Hair and Monochrome London Eye, Westminster Bridge SE1

Monochrome and Cream Oriental Fashionista St Martins in the Fields WC2

Leather and Lemon Dress and Trainers London Eye SE1

Monochrome and Flats Fashionista Victoria St SW1

The post Fashion Patrol Victoria and Westminster. July 2015 appeared first on FJ Girls.

The usual Regent Street, Oxford Street, Soho, Covent Garden and Mayfair was the fashionista patrol route with loads of sunshine.

Vertical stripes Fashionista up close Mayfair W1

This is Part 3 of the test shots with this lens with Part 1 and Part 2 producing not very impressive results. This is supposed to be a cracking lens so after stripping this lens down it was revealed that this lens had been dismantled and put back together incorrectly by somebody else, so it wasn’t focusing properly and the lens elements had been cleaned but probably made worse. A quick clean and service and the lens is now something else and a completely different beast.

Monochrome and strappy Fashionista Marble Arch W1

All shots from the hip as this lens is quite big so you’ve got to be a bit sneaky with it to get natural looking shots which is why I got it.

So after 3 test sessions this lens I’m calling my “close up” lens is a keeper and will be used alongside my other Zoom lens dubbed the “fashion lens” for longer range shots. This website is still in it’s formative stages so it’s a case of seeing which gear works best and there’s only one way to do that and that’s test it in the real world out on the streets.

Normal service resumes next week now I FINALLY have the right and decent gear!

Oriental Monochrome Fashionista Piccadilly Circus W1

Miss Funky shades Monochrome brunette near Selfridges Oxford St W1

Red Head and All Black Covent Garden Tube WC2

Colourful print and flats Old Bond St W1

The post Street Style London West End. Test Shots Part 3 appeared first on FJ Girls.

Red Head Monochrome and Hat and Tan Covent Garden WC2

Areas covered were the usual Oxford Street, Regent Street, Mayfair, Soho, Piccadilly, Covent Garden inc Piazza, Marble Arch and all streets in between. Busy main streets, quiet side streets, tourists, commuters and locals even some models on a fashion shoot.  Giving you the RAW street style as it’s happening with no posed shots and not a word was said.

Here’s my analysis of what is “going down” in street style terms in the West End of London for June.

1. Monochrome is definitely in with black, white and shades of grey being cool.
2. Flats are very much in, brogues, sneakers and slip ons
3. Horizontal stripes are a defo. If in monochrome all the better.
4. Jeans and leggings with ripped knees. A must. More rips even better. Distressed also rocks
5. Sophisticated shades are essential.
6. Monochrome bold prints seem to be popular.
7. Gypsy style maxi dress or skirts seem to be increasingly making an appearance.
8. Block heels are a yes but at the other extreme stilettos are also making themselves known

Model on a fashion shoot Golden Square, Soho W1

All photos taken with a newly acquired telephoto zoom lens and my Canon DSLR. Further details on this lens and how it went down with the London women in Part 2. Please note these are test shots with the lens. Some are sharper focused than others but have been included if they were notable in fashion terms.

Mega Ripped Jeans Fashionista Wigmore St W1

Balloon Girl Old Compton Street, Soho W1

Monochrome Horizontal Stripes and Colour Soho W1

Oriental shades of Monochrome Gt Marlborough Street W1

Monochrome Print and shades. Covent Garden Piazza WC2

Monchrome and draped colour Covent Garden WC2

Monochrome with Turban and Shades Covent Garden WC2

Monochrome Print and shades Old Bond St, Mayfair W1

The post The Fasharazzi Photo News June 2015. West End Edition Part 1 appeared first on FJ Girls.

This particular fasharazzi, fashion patrol and street style article will start with this quote:

“Street photography is like gambling, you get lucky or you get nothing” Markus Hartel Street Photographer.

How true it is!

Monochrome, shades and DM’s Upper St, Islington N1. Canon DSLR

Taken from a superb book called “Street Photography Now” featuring some of the current best street photographers out there at present that was browsed whilst at my local Waterstones the other day. An inspiration that proves that I have much to learn.

So far most of the streetstyle fashion shots have been taken in Central London in the Zone 1 tube area or in touristy areas such as Camden Market and Portobello Rd in Zone 2. These areas are relatively easy to find street fashion shots and relatively easy to get those shots because you can get lost in the crowds. There’s also lots of people with cameras so you just come across as just another tourist which is handy.

SO as yet another experimental test shot saga I thought it was time to move away from the safe haven tourist areas for a couple of days for a challenge and try the more ordinary, urban, gritty and hardcore London areas where there are few or no cameras on a weekday. Pastures new as they call it but areas with a bit more authentic character.

Platinum Blonde on a Boris Bike. Old Street Roundabout EC1. Canon DSLR

Over two days (Thurs, Fri last week) I hit the Post Code areas of N1 including Islington, Upper St, Highbury Barn, Essex Road, Angel and Chapel Market, Silicon Roundabout including Old St and Hoxton and the land of beards and fixies and the bitcoin currency that is Shoreditch taking in the tourist area of Brick Lane and the land of the banksy but not on a Sunday so the tourist factor was non existent.

In short I was shooting in residential urban areas, tech head and creative type land on the edge of the city. A lot of real Londoners here who are pretty sharp and not keen on having a camera thrust in their face. This was going to be a tough call.

I wasn’t expecting high glamour here. Confidence was initially high but I have to say I struggled on those two days like I never struggled before but managed to get more on the second day than on the first where my Oxford St aggressive tactics just were not working. Not even 1%. A change of tactics on Day 2 produced better results. I call it the softly softly approach.

Obstacles that were enountered included Police at Kings Cross, heavy police presence around Angel, a cracking shot on Upper Street of a fashionista (headline shot material) that promptly asked me to delete her photos (A First) that took the wind right out of my sails. Tons of Charity Fundraisers in the hotspot areas ruining prospective shots (you know the ones). This was clearly tear your hair out territory. It was not looking promising.

Islington is hard with lots of mums and prams during the day. 1 or 2 exceptionals amongst hundreds were spotted at the busier lunchtime period. Loads of women but not much in the head turning fashionista department. That’s during the daytime but if you went there in the evening with all the bars and restaurants on Upper Street it would be a different story. Something that will be looked into when the warmer weather arrives.

So after 2 days this is all I managed to get. Not bad considering. These test shots are a bit more wide angle showing more of the gritty street surroundings and the odd graffiti and banksy as a backdrop. It’s as much about the street as it is about style. No pretty smoked out backgrounds here.

Despite the struggles this looks to be a new stamping ground. Hackney, Dalston and London Fields is another area being considered amongst others. Real local London Zone 2 stuff with a realistic urban vibe.

Latest urban street style shots from two days of hard struggling below.

Green and Black brunette fashionista. Commercial St E1. Canon DSLR

Brown, shades and boots. Ely’s Yard off Commercial St/Brick Lane. Canon DSLR

Leather Mini Skirt and flats. Old St Roundabout EC1. Canon DSLR

Big bag brunette Pitsfield St N1. Canon DSLR

Brunette, Red tights and flats. Old St Roundabout EC1. Canon DSLR

Red head monochrome and white sneakers. Old St Roundabout EC1. Canon DSLR

Monochrome and Shades Redchurch St E2. Canon DSLR

Blonde and shades Old St EC1. Canon DSLR.

The post Fashionista Chronicle April 2015. Islington, Hoxton and Shoreditch Edition. Test shots! appeared first on FJ Girls.

Mobile and Big Bag Fashionistas on a shopping mission in Regent Street W1  Canon DSLR

London Fashion Patrol January 2015 Part 3. Bringing you the latest street and fashion styles from the streets of London. Normal everyday women that have something going on, have their own style, are attractive and stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons.

No posed shots, all taken on the fly in Central London by pounding the streets. Bringing you the more candid look. With casual, smart, grungy and urban fashion styles all making an appearance with full length or closer portrait shots but trying to capture as much of the London Street environment that they are in as much as possible. I call it Fasharazzi..

All Black Layered Fashionista Cambridge Circus WC2  Canon DSLR

All shots in Part 3 are from the Regent Street, Oxford Street and Covent Garden and Soho areas as usual. This seems to be the hot zone. With some decent light appearing over the last couple of days it’s been a case of literally “making hay while the sun shines”

Fashionistas that appear are tourists and others are locals. All taken with a Canon DSLR and shot from the hip “streetstyle”. I call it freestyle minds eye subconscious shooting with no constraints of viewfinder or LCD screen. Put simply it’s No big black box in the way. Others call it “spray and pray” but that technique doesn’t produce consistent results like this. Good old natural shots as if I wasn’t even there. Some of the more perceptive women do clock me though especially with the DSLR but if they are neutral or give me a half or warm smile then they are here. If it’s otherwise then they are not.

Purple Hair and Pierced Nose Fashionista Oxford Street W1  Canon DSLR

Pushing the creative boundaries with fashionistas running, closer shots, two or three in one shot, juxtapositions and some pre planned shots where the lighting is a bit more cutting edge giving the photos a bit more bite.

The results of my latest endeavours below.

White Faux Fur and Chanel Bag Mega Shades Fashionista Regent St W1  Canon DSLR

Top Shop Fashionista opposite Top Shop Oxford Circus W1  Canon DSLR

Grey and Denim Booted Fashionista Bryanstone Street W1  Canon DSLR

Mega Faux Fur Fashionista running in Hanover Square W1  Canon DSLR

The post Fashion Patrol Central London January 2015 Part 3 appeared first on FJ Girls.