The beautiful ones.

Surf, art and fashion are a union which has spawned a lifestyle and being a bit of a magpie for these three things means I am constantly inspired by the world around me. Surf was a vector for change in the West, its popularity grew out of young people rejecting the norm and living a life of freedom. These credentials matched perfectly to the wild abandon of art and fashion thus creating a wonderful paradigm for modern surfers like myself to find creativity in all arenas. 

I am constantly overwhelmed and awed by the breadth of talent circulating on instagram from pro surfers, to Joe blogs surfers and businesses surrounding the industry. Such mooching led to my discovery of Mara Hoffman a New York designer who has captured my imagination with her beautiful bikini and surf suit designs. She makes me think of travelling, artists living in Costa Rican communes and surf trips to places like Morocco. 
Her designs are definitely on the lust list!  

   
























Until next time stay strong and surf well, 
Love 

The Beach Life.

When your a land locked surfer its sometimes hard to get your wave 'fix' in the midst of deadlines, commitments and stuff generally getting in the way. Obviously our obsession for surfing often overrides those prior engagements but sometimes you have to hide the wet suit and stay home. So how do you live the surf life when you live in the city? Surround yourself with surf friends/things.

Here's my not entirely accurate list! 

Make your home look like its a beach house. 

As a yogini I'm going to reiterate acquiring 'things' doesn't make you happy but surrounding yourself with positive influences and inspiration is so fantastic for the soul! Here's some beauties I've seen on pinterest to get the creative juices flowing. 

     

 Eat like a surfer. 

I've never had it explained to me but surfers seem to have an unhealthy obsession with coconuts. They either rub it in their hair, slather it their bodies as cocoa butter, fry their food in it or drink the water. For some reason when I do any of those things I feel more like a surfer?! Go figure. 

Power dress. 

In the same way you wear a suit to get a job I think if you want to feel like a surfer dress like one, (ok maybe don't wear a wet suit on the morning commute, but you get where I'm going with this). Whilst the outside stuff isn't all that important it does give a 2 second blurb about who we are and acts as a reflection to others about our preferences. I find dressing in that casual, laid back boho vibe makes me feel like I'm living the surf life. It can't hurt can it. 

 

Do something for the sea! 

You don't have to join Greenpeace's sea shepard but doing something awesome for sea conservation is one way of truly declaring your love for all things marine!

Tell yourself your a surfer everyday. 

Meditate on it if you have to but make sure you embrace and celebrate that you have found something that makes you goofy happy and remember you are a surfer because you are passionate about the ocean not because you ride for Roxy!

Until next time
Stay strong, surf well

Tribes.

Fashion intrigues me in the same way the cultural norms of the Omo Valley tribes of Ethiopia do. Fashion is culture and whilst it can have its frivolous and sometimes cruel moments (fur anyone)? I see it as a non verbal opportunity for an individual to express aspects of themselves. 

Surfing and its counter culture fashion industry has a strong presence on the high street, from the California surfer girl look to the disheveled street style of skate/surf/snow genres it continues to shape our preferences and define a lifestyle. For me fashion is serendipity, the joy of encountering a garment like a genie in a lamp. Its why I love charity shops and stores with the need to rummage, every discovery is like finding buried treasure. 

In the aftermath of a break up, while I relearn who I am and come back to my core self, fashion provides an outlet in which to vent those pent up emotions. I continue to have a problem with my left eye which has resulted in me wearing glasses again (photos coming soon) so I'm also trying to rework spectacles into the me I am at present. Lavishing attention on my body and wrapping it in clothes which make a statement about me are helping both preserve and sculpt the woman I am. 

Here are pictures me and my sister Emily took on a grey, rainy Tuesday afternoon. 

Anatomy of a wardrobe. 

Look one: Sleek Skateboarder
Hat - Bought for 40p from a car boot sale
Top - H&M sale £7
Ripped Jeans - H&M Sale £10
Stilettos - Hand me up from my littlest sister Laura! 

Look two: 1970's Australian Surfer.
Paisley shirt - £3 from a charity shop
Ripped skinny jeans - £23 New Look
Mustard Wedges - £4 from a charity shop
Sunglasses - Upcycled from my mom! 
Dog - Preloved Jack Russell x border terrier! 

Look three: Urban Yoga. 
Hat - Free *ahem borrowed from my ex boyfriend's housemate!
White Tee - £3 Primark
Ocean Leggings - £6 Primark
Stilettos - As above. 

Look Four: Punk Gentry.
Velvet Jacket - TK Maxx £90
Tartan skinny jeans - £13 Primark
Stilettos - As above.

Whatever style your rocking remember you wear the clothes, the clothes don't wear you! Have fun with fashion and let it amplify the wonderful individual you are underneath the ornaments. 

Stay strong, surf well 

Love Sophia 

x
  

   

   

 

  

The Sea Limits.

Consider the sea's listless chime: 

Time's self it is, made audible,-- 

The murmur of the earth's own shell. 

Secret continuance sublime 

Is the sea's end: our sight may pass 

No furlong further. Since time was, 

This sound hath told the lapse of time. 

The Sea Limits by Dante Gabriel Rossetti