The Shoot: Chinatown Geek

Step into autumn’s Geek chic trend styled with Chinese influences as this editorial tackles street style in all its eclectic hues.

Where better to take on the Geek chic trend than Chinatown in London, a location I’ve been meaning to shoot at since I moved to London four years ago. It’s been a while since I’ve done a shoot that was more street style than high editorial and to be honest it was a bit of a tricky one.

This shoot was a more accessories heavy shoot than my usual fare, and since the street style found in London and especially that by the Chinese and Japanese street stylers is so eclectic and amazing, I felt that the best place to do a street style shoot would be in the heart of London’s Chinese area, Chinatown. So when I first saw the Geek chic trend all over the runway for autumn/winter, to be honest I didn’t like it very much. I got it, in that it was an unusual trend, but never having seen the film The Royal Tenenbaums, a lot of the references were lost on me. But I did like that it wasn’t figure hugging, sexy, dark and moody or any of the usual trends we get every autumn season. But as time wore on, it grew on me and I started to quite like a trend that didn’t fall into the usual fashion rules. In fact this trend seems to thrive on throwing a whole load of clashing items together and wearing it with a certain attitude. I decided to focus on the accessories and let them do the talking for this shoot. I also found these clutches that are Skinny Dip and exclusive to ASOS and it just cemented my need to do this shoot in Chinatown. How tacky, I know, to do a Chinese inspired shoot in Chinatown, but I decided to go for it. After all I’m wearing a pink pom pom beanie with a faux leather midi skirt. This is not about keeping to the usual style rules.

Lastly I was lucky enough to do this shoot while Chinatown was celebrating Happy Moon Festival and they had hung Chinese lanterns everywhere, as usually Chinatown doesn’t look this clean or so full of lanterns. It was a nice bonus and definitely added to the feel of the shoot.

Pink lapel coat: Zara TRF, found here – Pleated faux leather midi skirt: Mango, found here – High neck blouse: Topshop, found here – Bow heels: ASOS, found here – Pom pom beanie hat: Topshop, found here – Fur piping cross body bag: Skinny Dip, found here – Chinese fan clutch: Skinny Dip exclusively for ASOS, found here – Chinese lucky cat clutch: Skinny Dip exclusively for ASOS, found here – Blue and orange large pom pom: River Island, found here – Owl face pom pom: New Look, found here – Purple pom pom: H&M, found here – Monster lurex socks: Topshop, found here