Early September and there is evidence on the streets of London that the schools are now back (some), the buzz seems to be returning and London’s pulse is starting to increase in readiness for back to normal next week.

Monochrome polka dot and shades with a dash of colour Marble Arch Tube W1

Monochrome seems to be waning a bit on the streets but black combined with some sort of shade of brown appears to be emerging as the new colour combo. Tan, putty, mushroom, oatmeal, magnolia, camel basically the mid to lighter shades of brown. Rusty shades of red or brown with deeper darker oranges are also springing into life. This was observed in the West End but confirmed also in Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea. Doesn’t look to be a passing one off coincidence, it’s spreading and spreading fast. Black is still there though!

Monochrome and shades of brown Piccadilly W1

Tartan mainly red and embellishment seem to also be emerging buzzwords. About time too!

Monochrome and shades of brown Goodge St W1

Brunette Side Parting Monochrome Trouser Suit Regent St W1

Blonde and Pure Black Oxford St W1

The Debenhams Fashionista All black hat and DM’s Oxford St W1

Oatmeal chunky knit Street Food Stall Fashionista Berwick St Soho W1

Monochrome, shades of brown and green Wigmore St W1

Shades of brown and denim with massive Sleeper Hoops Wardour St W1

Monochrome and hat with shades of red Old Bond St W1

The post Fashionista Spotting London West End. Early Sept 2015 appeared first on FJ Girls.

Was looking for a punky type in Camden Town for the headline shot,found her in the end in touristville Piccadilly Circus of all places.

Punky Fashionista rockin Piercings, Dog Collar, Cats Eye Bag. Monochrome with bite. Piccadilly Circus/Shaftesbury Avenue

California Print Monochrome and Hat, Gt Marlborough St W1

A very quiet day at Camden Market with the August school holidays and the bank holiday a week or so away. Reasonably busy with tourists but a bit thin on the ground when it came to Fashionistas and Punky types. Managed to get just 2  which is unusual!

The West End is also VERY VERY quiet in fashionista terms out there at present. With the school holidays in full swing and the August Bank Holiday fast approaching combined with a distinct lack of sunshine for August, I think a lot are on holiday elsewhere. Loads of women on the streets but it’s obvious they are predominantly tourists which makes it a bit of a fashionista spotting challenge. I can normally find a dozen in a few hours in the West End, that’s pretty much guaranteed. Had to go back a second day just to find half that! That’s the August effect.

Oriental Monochrome Ripped, Beanie Hat Oxford St W1

Will probably be the same next week.

Results below all Canon DSLR with Wide angle zoom “street” lens and shot from the hip with one shot taken shot backwards whilst walking and looking  forward

The Russia at War Fashionista Monochrome and Yellow Bag Piccadilly Circus W1

Monochrome,Denim, Phonebox Top and matching Shades and Gladiator Sandals Marble Arch W1

Monochrome, Ripped, Shades and Hat Oxford St W1

Oriental, Pleated Skirt, Butterfly Brooch Camden Tube NW1

Cyber Shades Camden Market NW1

Multicoloured floral leggings and white Oxford St Selfridges W1

The post Fashionista Spotting Camden Market and West End. Mid August 2015 appeared first on FJ Girls.

Oriental Silver, shades and Black and white shoes Piccadilly W1

Areas covered on this fashion patrol are Regent Street, Oxford Street, Soho, Covent Garden and Mayfair. Basically inside the area of Park Lane and Marble Arch, South of Oxford Street and East of Tottenham Court Road and Covent Garden.

Not much sun on this particular fashion patrol so shutter speeds were down even with a high ISO on a couple of shotswhich  have slight blurring but have been included as otherwise they are good shots.

All photos Canon DSLR + street lens and from the hip. All taken Wednesday 12 August 2015.

Brunette Monochrome and Pink and Stockings and Heels Wardour St W1

Monochrome and Tan and Shades Wardour St W1

Blonde Multicoloured print dress Brewer St, Soho W1

Blonde Monochrome and Floral Print and Tan Brewer St, Soho W1

Turquoise/Blue/Purple Hair and Monochrome with shades of Brown Peter St Soho W1

Black and Denim and Butterfly and Chunky Gold Rings and Flats Oxford St W1

The post West End Street Style. August 2015 appeared first on FJ Girls.

Monochrome and  Funky Shades with Blouse Collar over Jacket Fashionista Old Compton St/Dean St Soho W1

All photos are raw, from the street and as is, taken Thursday 30 July 2015. All shots from the hip with a Canon  DSLR and street lens (wide angle zoom). All shots high ISO at 1250 so some are pretty grainy. All unposed shots bar the model who was posing for somebody else.

Tried my damned hardest to get some colour………….. but monochrome is where it’s at!!

Blonde Model Fashionista “Think Only”?? on a Fashion Shoot Soho W1

Monochrome and Shades with a dash of Orange Oxford St W1

Monochrome, Leather and Dots Covent Garden Tube WC2

All black skintight dress and Mega Heels Piccadilly W1

Monochrome Skate Boarder Girl Soho W1

Fringe and DM’s Blonde Fashionista Carnaby St W1 (motion blur)

Painter/Decorator Fashionista?? Regent Street W1

Mini Turban and  Biker Leather Casual Fashionista Soho W1

The post The Street Style Informer. West End Late July Edition 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.

Monochrome and Shades Bruton Street, Mayfair, W1

FJ GIRLS NEWS
Some interesting developments at FJ Girls. Acquired yet another new lens, this one is a telephoto zoom of the 70-200 order. Again the size of a house, it’s bigger than my 300mm telephoto which was a big thumbs down with the London Fashionistas. Women did NOT like that one at all, although I still have the lens it will be used more for celebrity work. I got the message loud and clear!

This zoom lens is bought more for celebrity work and it got christened this week by taking photos of Lady Gaga leaving her hotel. Thought I’d take it out for a test spin in a fasharazzi capacity thinking you’re going to struggle with this  just like with the 300mm lens the size of a semi detached but WORSE you’re going to have a rough day. It’s going to be daggers, venomous looks and “stalker alert” looks in my direction even if I am 100m down the road.

How wrong I was? The approach I used is what I call the cards on the table approach. I’d just stand in front of then 20m down the road raise this huge camera set up to my eye (as in photo above) , make a meal of focusing it, some would see me, even look thinking “what the h#ll” but here’s the strange thing NO daggers. Not one? This was on Wednesday. Went home thinking this can’t be happening let’s try again Thursday you just got lucky. Same results again on Thursday as the photo above proves taken on that day! It has to be said quite a few are looking at their mobiles but a lot are not.

All Black Brunette and Shades Oxford Street W1

Much scratching of the head and analysing why this was the case the only conclusion that could be reached is.
1. I was not so far down the road that I was in the stalker category, I was visible and making it pretty obvious what I was doing. But I wasn’t so close that I was in their face.
2. The size of the lens screamed PRO and maybe they were thinking “this guy is a fashion photographer taking street style shots or shooting for a magazine or newspaper or something” and they behaved completely different as if they are on the catwalk but acting naturally pretending there’s not some bloke standing in front of them with a lens the size of the Park Lane Hilton.

VERDICT: I will be using this zoom lens in the future, the women seem to sort of give it the thumbs up. But the wide angle lens I normally use stays it’s better for more up close and intimate shots and shooting from the hip which gives an unusual angle. This zoom lens gives a good look but the downside is it’s  heavy and the shots just look a little detached but it has to be said some of these shots wouldn’t look out of place in Vogue or similar. Will use both lenses mixing them up from shoot to shoot. The wide angle lens gives a more urban street photography look whereas the zoom lens gives a more fashion catalogue/magazine look. My dinky wide angle I now call my “Street” lens and my massive tele zoom I call my “fashion” lens. Both  have their uses.

Brunette Shades and Monochrome with colour and shades Oxford Street W1

Totally bizarre. Results below. I’ll let the photos do the talking. Please note I’m new to this lens, some shots are sharper than others!

Model on a Fashion Shoot Covent Garden Piazza WC2

Big Black Hat, shades, snaekers and multicoloured Marble Arch W1

Blonde Shades and Monochrome stripes. Oxford Street W1

Extreme Lada Gaga Fashionista? Charing Cross Road WC2

Purple Hair and Leather Biker Jacket Mobile Phone Analysis Covent Garden Piazza WC2

Shades and Green Hyde Park London W2

Purple Streaked Hair and Monochrome. Old Compton Street W1

Blonde and Neutral Heels Reflection Hanover Square W1

The post The Fasharazzi Photo News June 2015. West End Edition Part 2 appeared first on FJ Girls.

Decided to take it out anyway for a spin and a test drive today to see if it’s a keeper just for a laugh to see what this lens can do and more importantly see how the women react to a lens the size of a house pointing in their direction?

Monochrome and stripes. Outside Selfridges Oxford St W1 Canon DSLR 300mm lens

The results were interesting to put it mildly but I wasn’t getting as many smiles as with my small dinky wide angle lens. Come to think of it didn’t get any smiles at all. Tension was definitely in the air. As soon as that camera was raised they notice even when you’re 100m down the road. Frosty stares are the result. How do they do that!

Despite the lens getting the general thumbs down and a frosty reception on the female front on the streets of London, it gets a thumbs up from me producing some nice arty blurred backgrounds (bokeh). Makes a change from the wide angle shots. Bokeh is not really my thing when shooting on the streets as what you gain in arty smoky backgrounds you lose in Street vibe. Street vibe is more important to me but these shots sure do look pretty.

Leather Biker Jacket all Black Look Regent St W1. Canon DSLR 300mm lens

This lens may get used from time to time for street style shooting but standing half mile down the road and popping a shot is not really my style, I prefer the more intimate in your face approach. The shots look more connected and I think the women prefer the cards on the table approach rather than the sly hand tactics that scream stalker alert.

Shots are from Oxford Street, Regent Street, Soho and Covent Garden taken today 21 April. Some of these are full length and others are portraits or what I call beauty shots. If these shots generate interest there will be more in the future. The lens passed the test bar some flare issues when shooting into the sun. See photos.

Meat and Smoke. China Town W1/WC2. Canon DSLR 300mm lens

Checked and Denim Covent Garden WC2. Canon DSLR 300mm lens

Shades and Stripes Covent Garden WC2. Canon DSLR 300mm lens

All black and shades. Soho W1. Canon DSLR 300mm lens

Lady Gaga? White Shades and Red. Oxford St W1. Canon DSLR 300mm lens.

Black hat and Tan Oxford St Selfridges W1. Canon DSLR 300mm lens

The post Fashionista Spotting with a new Telephoto Lens Central London appeared first on FJ Girls.

Brunette Ripped Leggings Mobile music Fashionista Oxford Street W1

Photo above for me was the best of the bunch, class, style, ultra cool with good looks and she had the walk. She really stood out and had her own individual street style!

In this Part 1 for February 2015, the DSLR was ditched, it’s fast but just too high profile, even shooting from the hip. The women definetly don’t look comfortable around it. Will still use a DSLR on occasion, but Siberian February will be mobile month . SO this gallery is a mess around with my Nokia 635 mobile to see what can be gleened off the London streets in fashion terms. Photo quality is highly variable as a result.

Inspiration to get into the thick of the action came from a certain street photographer by the name of Garry Winogrand. Saw a video, watching him in action on the streets. A revelation. I can do that I thought.

Selfridges Fashionistas Oxford Street W1

So the new learned “street photography” technique to get the shots above and below is basically what I call “in your face” get within 3 feet of a street stopping fashionista, stop dead for a nano second, smile, if they’re not looking hostile stick my mobile in their face, no messing, smile afterwards and walk off as if nothings happened, I’m just checking my Twitter updates in a rather bizarre manner. Objective to get some very close shots to make these women look as best as I can.

Shots taken within slapping distance, but haven’t been slapped yet . ……. but it’s coming. For some strange reason this technique seems to work? Facial expressions include eyes down, indifference, half smiles, he’s a nut job look, too much in a hurry to really care and of course once in a blue moon the daggers.

So what gave we got? Hats, scarves, boots, Selfridges, Michael Kors bags x2, leggings, faux fur, blondes, brunettes, Oxford Street, Soho, Hanover Square, Covent Garden + Piazza and more. General observation. Shiny leggings seem to be the thing at the mo!

The result of my latest fashionista spotting and photographic endeavours below. Please note these photos are of mobile quality only!

Blonde Michael Kors Bag Fashionista Covent Garden Piazza WC2

Big Scarf and Michael Kors Bag Fashionista Covent Garden Piazza WC2

Liberty Brown Faux Fur Buckle Shoes  Fashionista Oxford Street W1

Brunette Big Selfridges Bag Fashionista Oxford Street W1

Hat and Shiny Leggings Soft Focus Fashionista Soho W1

Lilac Faux Fur Gilet and Leather Fashionista Oxford Street W1

Brown Faux Fur and Chunky Heels Fashionista taking in some Siberian Sunshine Hyde Park W1

The post Fashion Patrol Central London February 2015. Part 1 appeared first on FJ Girls.

Knightsbridge Fashionista Brompton Road SW3

Fashion Patrol Part 4 in Central London for January 2015. What’s the vibe on the streets, what’s in, what’s turning heads and who and what’s caught my eye in the last few days.

The photo above is easily the best in this collection in my opinion, I call her the “Knightsbridge Fashionista”.

Story: Saw her coming fast out of Harrods but it was too late and missed the shot muttering the words “That would have been the best of the day”. Took some other shots then packed up for the day but kept the camera ON  “just in case”. She miraculously appeared again coming towards me on the other side of the road FAST, took about 6 frames machine gun style from the hip as she ran across the Brompton Road thinking “If you got that it will be a miracle!”. Result perfect exposure, perfect focus, looking just to the right, what they call in the trade the “decisive moment” a second later the moment was gone never to be seen again! Reminiscent of a classic Richard Avedon shot of Carmen Dell’Orefice minus the umbrella. If I’d put the camera away, would never have got this shot.

Blonde and Big Tan Bag Fashionista Covent Garden WC2

The area covered for Part 4 has been extended from the hot spots of Oxford Street, Regent Street, Covent Garden, China Town and Soho to include Portobello Road, South Kensington and Knightsbridge with a dash of Piccadilly to broaden the fashion horizon to see what the fashionistas are up to in these areas as well.

Blonde and Black Flats Fashionista Covent Garden Piazza WC2

All these shots taken with a Canon DSLR freestyle from the hip. A couple of experimental shots the camera was raised to the eye to see the response and the quality of these shots will of course be technically higher and sharper than the shot from the hip counterparts. Increased quality comes at a price, the candid nature can get killed in the process as is revealed in this borderline photo below here.

Faux Fur Brunette Fashionista Knightsbridge SW3

In Part 4 we have oriental fashionistas, blonde, brunette, faux fir, monochrome, denim, photogs, big scarves, shawls, big bags and more. Fashionistas stationary, walking or running with no posed shots just candids. Mainly full length and some portrait shots are in the mix.

As always If you appear in this article or others and you would rather not, get in touch to get the photo removed no questions asked

Latest fashion patrol and London Street style results below

Blonde Black and Denim Fashionista Portobello Road W11

Oriental Baseball hat Fashionista Soho W1

Blonde Chunky Heels Fashionista Soho W1

Harrods Shiny Boots Fashionista Brompton Road SW3

Blonde and Multi Zip Black Coat Covent Garden Piazza WC2

Oriental Big Fur Collar Fashionista Chinatown WC2/W1

The post Fashion Patrol Central London January 2015. Part 4 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.