I went to Borders on Charing Cross Road today to look at the fashion magazines. I really wanted to look at something Russian but my only option was Vogue and it had most of the same adverts as the October edition of British Vogue. This made me sad because I feel like there's an international homogenisation of fashion going on, like the cultural influence that should be evident in clothing from different places is dissipating and flowing away. I really would like to get a tangible sense of Russian design. In my head there's a small but clear working knowledge of Asian design and Middle Eastern design but I don't have that type of compass for Russian design that came before modernism and Soviet imagery. I suppose that's what is striking about political dominance from the perspective of cultural image, when I think Middle Eastern that essentially means Byzantine Empire. There are obvious differences between designed silhouettes in Italy and Sweden and Japanese designers all have something in common even if it's just that they're surprising to my english eyes but could I make the same statement about Russia? Not right now but hopefully that reference will make itself apparent later.

Items I quite fancy wearing this season:


Balenciaga

Camilla Staerk

Ermanno Scervino

Yohji Yamamoto

Onagono is an ethical fashion company operating out of East London. There are loads of these companies around but this one has a particular geographical lucidity to it, the clothes fit the area that the designer operates out of. Nice T-shirts too.

And why isn't Georgina Goodman making these shoes for the all grown up among us. Jesus, what's a girl got to do to get a decent pair of flats around here?

This month's British Vogue looks a little more interesting than the last couple of issues. The prize quote has to be from Nicolas Ghesquiere on page 103 describing Balenciaga's collection, specifically a pair of trousers: "I made a sandwich". I knew there was a beautiful mind behind those clothes.

Incidentally anyone with £2,527 should consider buying a dress from Ermanno Scervino this season. I wish I was planning a wedding.