Tropic'elle Nike iD's

Being the lucky girl that I am, I recently received an invitation from the lovely team at Nike to design my own pair of LunarGlide+ 4 Nike iD’s

I went to the Nike iD studio at Boxpark and got creative and made a pair of Tropic’elles! They’re black with a reflective layer underneath that only shines through in the dark. They’ve got a mint green sole, blue swoosh and watermelon laces.

When I came back of my run last night, I (lovingly) kicked them off and they landed against some vinyl that was leaning up against the wall – and weirdly they totally match it! Great minds eh?!

Love a Lunarglide.

run like ‘elle

Clever clogs

Designer Fred Butler collaborates with Stella McCartney for adidas

Read the full story on Grazia Daily run like 'elle

The Olympics, Prism style

With stores in New York, LA and Tokyo, US clothing label and multi-brand store Opening Ceremony is about to launch its first London store, so it only seems fitting that it should honour its adopted new home with a unique line to celebrate what Londoners are talking about most this summer - the Olympics!

And who better to collaborate with than London's own Anna Laub, founder of Prism. Prism has created a limited edition line of patriotic red, white and blue sunglasses to celebrate the games. And each pair comes in its own case complete with Olympic coloured bands.

Show your support and get 'em here.

run like 'elle

Jamaican Olympic kit launch

Miss Marley and the world's fastest man - I'm playing with the big boys now!

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of the Jamaican Olympic track and field sports kit by Puma.

Designed by Cedella Marley, the oldest child of Bob and Rita Marley, the collection includes active sportswear and formalwear, all inspired by the designer’s home country of Jamaica. 

Colours mirror those of the famous Jamaican flag  - which also formed the backdrop to the running track catwalk, and each look featured graphic black, yellow and green. The flag’s colours are said to represent ‘Black for the people, yellow for the Sun, and green for the island’s lush vegetation’.

Activewear features technical fabrics and ergonomic design, while the formalwear collection references military jackets that Cedela’s father Bob was famed for wearing.

Later this month Puma will be releasing a diffusion collection of apparel, footwear and accessories based on the Olympic collection. See www.puma.com for further details.

I have to say, I’ve been to a lot of catwalk shows of late and this wasdefinitely the most fun. Jamaica really knows how to put on a party! No matter that it was 5pm on a rainy Friday - the bar was churning out Wray & Nephew rum cocktails, the kitchen was serving homemade patties, curried goat and ackee and saltfish and the DJ played Buju Banton’s Champion (definitely one for my Reggae Marathon playlist) as Bolt took to the catwalk to close the show - seen here with Cedela.   

  

 

I'm not usually one for food photos, but I'll make an allowance for this one :-)

Then look who I found lurking amongst the mannequins - Candice and Bangs !! 

run like ‘elle – Jamaica will be. x

Nike Free Run 3's get run like 'elle iD'd

A few weeks ago Nike invited me down to the new Nike Boxpark iD studio to design my own pair of Nike Free Run +3s - the first running shoe to be offered on NIKEiD

The Nike Free Run +3s are designed to be an introduction to natural motion running, and their super light weight and malleable structure gives them a 'barefoot' feel.

The sole is divided in to small squares which mould the foot, adding support. The upper is made using Nanoply technology - a thin skin-like shell, and the midsole foam is continued over to the outsole, further reducing the shoe's weight.

All the Nike Free Run +3s are built with integrated Nike +, allowing the wearer to connect with their iPod, phone sportsband etc to map and record runs and measure training progress.

With the logic learned, I got to the fun part - designing my own pair! I went through the colour and fabric swatches at least three times, and the lovely Boxpark team were so patient with me. Eventually I made my decision, and what dya know - I went for colour colour colour!

A few weeks alter, and I arrived home to be greeted by amazing new trainers (so bright they almost glowed from inside the box!) 

This was their first outing - it was to Waitrose, so it doesn't really count. But no doubt you won't be able to miss me next time I wear them!

Nike Free Run +3s are available from Nike, from £80.00

Thanks Nike!

run like 'elle. x

Elle for ELLE (USA)

Fashion Weeks are always fun, and part of that fun is getting all dressed up (I know I sound like such a fashion girl cliché - but whatever!)

This was a dress down day during Paris Fashion Week (the final of the four). Elle USA seemed to like it - and put me on their website! Thanks ELLE

You can see the other entries at: fashion.elle.com/street-chic
Photo by Adam Katz Sinding

run like 'ELLE!

Nike x Undercover Gyakusou

The other day I got to test out one of the new Nike x Undercover Gyakusou jackets, a collaboration project between Nike and designer Jun Takahashi.

Takahashi is best known as the designer of high-end streetwear label Undercover, and he is also a member of the Tokyo based running crew GIRA.

In a city where protocol stands for a lot, and it is considered ‘au fait’ to run around Tokyo clockwise, Takahashi and his GIRA crew make their point by running anti-clockwise. Hence the collection’s name derives from ‘gyaku’ Japanese for wrong or reverse, and ‘sou’ to run or running.

Now in its fourth season of menswear, Spring Summer 12 sees the introduction of womenswear.

With ergonomic design paramount, the pieces prioritise comfort and freedom of movement, so many of the jackets have curved and gathered sleeves. Some styles come with open underarms, and my jacket is made up of two pieces, so that it can be worn as a gilet or jacket.

As you would expect, the spring collection is made from a lighter weight material – Nike Dri Fit, perfect for springtime London runs!

As seen on my run...

For more information on the Nike x Undercover Gyakusou series, visit www.nikeinc.com

run like 'elle - summers coming ;-)

Sportswear inspires

The spring summer 12 and Pre Fall 12 collections were full of sportswear inspired pieces, from the inclusion of technical fabrics like neoprene, nylon anoraking and Gortex to key shapes being racer back vests, rugby shirts, varsity jackets and anoraks.

The designers looked to sportswear styling for detail inspiration too, with statement zips in plastic or metal with rounded ring pulls being a key feature.

Sass & Bide

Proenza Schouler

Acne

Blumarine

Alexander Wang

Daks

Ermanno Scervino

Kenzo

Sportmax

Tommy Hilfiger

Topshop Unique

Zero & Maria

I think this is a really strong trend for its vibrant colour and bold shapes, but it also links back to my initial reason for looking at sportswear – because for me, sportswear should should also hold strong aesthetic value as well as being technically functional.

I love the idea of mixing your sportswear wardrobe with your everyday one. I have seen so many pieces in the spring summer sportswear collections that could easily double as fashion items – be it luminous crop tops worn under a washed denim shirt, running shorts with crisp tailoring, colour accented trainers with prim pleated skirts and of course, anything in grey marl (my favourite).

Get experimenting. Here are a few ideas I like...

A simple grey marl sweat with something quite ornate

A rounded varsity jacket with a structured formal dress

Athletic running shoes with anything

A running vest with a tailored jacket

Technical fabrics become special fabrics

A baseball cap with everthing

Track pants working with heels & fur - who'da thunk it?!

Run like ‘elle. x

The runner's Christmas stocking

I'm an adamant believer that running is about the freedom of the sport, rather than just the acquisition of flouro clobber. So I've collated a shortlist of the best Christmas buys for the wannabe runner and the seasoned pro.

The pieces pictured above are some tried and tested equipment that are bound to be welcomely received.

Y-Fumble ipod/key holder: £5.99 Y-Fumble
Thorlo cushioned running socks: £9.79 Specialist Socks
E Glove touch screen efficient thermal gloves: £21.99 E Glove
Stella McCartney for adidas reflective jacket: £115.00 She Active
Sport Beans: from £4.99 Jelly Belly
Nike GPS watch: £70.99 Nike
Personalised playlist: invaluable!

Happy Christmas from run like 'elle. x

Ellesse Marathon neon collection

As you may have gathered, I'm a fan of anything with ‘marathon’ in the title, and most things ‘neon’ too – so I was pleased to see that Ellesse has rereleased its Marathon’84 trainer style in a rainbow of flouro colurways. (The Marathon '84 style is named as such, as the Ellesse team wore them during the 1984 New York marathon).

Though it may not have the technology of a contemporary running shoe, it certainly holds its own in the aesthetic stakes. In fact it’s quite nice to see a retro footwear style, when all others seem to be looking increasingly futuristic.

For more information visit www.ellesseheritage.com

Graphic art takes on sports bras

After a month of fashion I'm now enjoying all things arty, as this week was Frieze art fair in London - a huge private art fair held in Regent's Park (coincidentally, the same place where I do Nike Training Club) The main event prompts a host of independent fringe exhibitions, which I have spent the week visiting. So  - in celebration of art week, I was pleased to see these comic drawings land in my Inbox.

Nike - the king collaborator, comissioned two female graphic artists Jan Duursema and Amanda Conner to reinterpret the AW/11 collection's key pieces - the Legend Pant, the Victory Bra, the TR Fit Winter shoe, the Beautility Shell and the Thermal Hoody.

And this is what they did...

I really like the idea of the inane becoming something 'super'. Hope you do too. x

Run like 'elle in Grazia

This summer I was asked to appear in a feature on sports womens' wardrobes in Grazia magazine.

The piece came out today, and here's me attempting to brighten up a dreary London day by sporting some day-glow runing wear.

Thanks to the lovely Grazia team. x