I wonder if national pride can ever be fashionable outside the world of sports?   It’s just that it’s so damn hard to wear a flag without looking like a zealot, a punk, or a clueless tourist in a t-shirt. Even presidents and prime ministers confine their nationalism to speeches, tie colors, or maybe, when it’s really important,  they will go crazy and sport a flag button.

But I have to say, I’m loving Reckless Ericka  (note the k – not talking t-shirts here, remember). It’s a singapore based label spearheaded by four twenty-something designers. 

Sadly, you won’t find them stateside, but there are some pieces at Not Just a Label, the Shoreditch-based designer showroom  (Note: that’s by appointment only).

It’s not just the tastefully employed union jack, but I love the cut – british tailoring with a very european feel that is contemporary and not just “trendy.” Plus, you can walk down the street without feeling like you work for a national tourism board (cause who’d want to do that!).

The Broken Hearts, also known as Amber and Nisha, are a performance duo group that have been making a name for themselves on the London style scene.  Their beats are just as quirky and outrageous as their pop burlesque outfits.  An article from the UK’s Guardian described them as ”a Hollywood musical on hallucinogenics.”  I like them already. 

With Halloween just a few weeks away, the Broken Hearts have placed their stamp on one of London’s hottest bars.  To the tune of an exclusive Broken Hearts handpicked soundtrack, the hyper-chic Met Bar’s ever-popular “Afternoon De-Light” will offer a new seasonal menu.  Take the edible artwork by illustrator of oddities and lover of the macabre, Rob Flowers. 3 PM to 6 PM daily, October 26 to November 11.  If you’re headed to London this Halloween, The Broken Hearts will be performing on October 29 at the Met Bar’s Halloween Party – “Death on the Dancefloor.”

Since ‘Wannabe’ launched onto the airwaves back in 1996 and the phrase ‘zig-a-zig-ah’ forever entered popular culture, the Spice Girls have rarely been out of the worldwide media. The British tabloids have diligently reported on all aspects of their lives, be it marriages, divorces, babies or solo album flops- (of which there have been many, between the girls they have released a whopping 13 solo albums). After a lucrative comeback in 2007/8, which saw the group release a greatest hits album and perform music concerts across the US, the girls are now apparently in talks to develop a West End musical about their rapid rise to fame. Details are sketchy at this point but all the girls have been papped together in London recently and are apparently all in support of the idea. If it were to happen, who could resist a Spicey night of London theatre, bopping along to ‘Say you’ll be there’ and other such Spice Girl staples.

– Phil Underwood, Contributing Editor

If you look carefully you’ll find something particularly odd about a busy corner in London’s East End.  Underground train carriages perched atop a warehouse.  What the f*&# are they doing up there?  And more importantly, what’s inside?

It’s called Village Underground in Shoreditch – one of London’s trendiest neighborhoods.  The carriages serve as studio space for artists, designers, filmmakers, VJ’s and musicians.  The Victorian warehouse below holds club nights, parties, live music and exhibits, including The Thousands, an exhibition of some of the world’s renowned street artists including Banksy (woot!), KAWS, Shepard Fairey, Swoon, Herakut and Barry McGee.

Would working in a space like this get your creative juices flowing?

The Scarlet is a new adults only hotel on England’s north Cornish coast.  It’s been generating a lot of buzz here in the US and there are loads of reasons why.  This area of Cornwall is known for its surf’s up attitude with dashes of style with places like the Scarlet.

What stood out for me was its art collection.  Eighty percent of the pieces are from local artists and almost all of them are made from recycled material.  The hotel looked more like an art gallery than a hotel.  There’s one piece of a life size man made enitrely of tree bark.  Another sculpture that caught my eye was made of chestnuts that sits on a table in the lobby.

Take note of the furniture.   It’s modern without being stuffy.  There’s a room with cozy bean bags scattered around.  This may sound weird but the bathroom urinals are cool.  Apple red circular bowls.  Never seen anything like it.  I’m sorry to say that I didn’t get a chance to whip out my camera while I was in the john.  Head outside and you’ll see hot tubs that are heated by open fire.  Eek!

I can’t end this post without addressing the lengths the Scarlet goes to to be eco-friendly.  It has sea thrift growing on the roof and a pool filled with harvested rain water.  Mother Nature is smiling as we speak.

It’s time to take on an old myth. That of the supposedly ”stiff ” British character.

Anyone following fashion week catwalk couture can tell you that British design is distinquished from all the rest by creative ingenuity and taking expressive chances.  Especially this year it seemed that  the recession sparked young designers to create and innovate.  Whereas, on the other side of the Chanel, showings at this year’s Paris Fashion Week were characterized by “designers trying the keep their day job,”  creating tastefully restrained retail-friendly pieces.

You tell me – which fashion week is more expressive? 

For me,  if the stiff upper lip is a British trait, perhaps it’s time to at least include the stiff upper hairdo.

Considering I probably have the worst sense of direction, it took me forever to find Camden Passage in Islington – a London neighborhood that’s steadily growing in popularity.  But it was well worth it.  Camden Passage is a narrow alley chock full of vintage goodies.  Antique watches.  Score.  Old copies of James Bond novels.  Double score.  There were shops like Annie’s Vintage clothing (clothing and textiles), Vincent Freeman (music boxes to furniture) and The African Waistcoat Company (vests with an African twist).  ”Waistcoat”  is the British word for vest.  Wednesdays and Saturdays are the busy days.  I went on a Thursday and it was like I had the place all to myself.  Here are a few pics I took.  Enjoy!

Unlabelled Britain is born of a passion for all things independent, creative, and energetic that are popping on both sides of the Atlantic.

Written by Anglophiles out there to scoop some trends and reveal the side of Britain you might not know is there:  from indie fashion to where you should be crashin’, from pop to punk, from castle romps to celebrity cat fights…basically the whole cultural kit and caboodle. In what London speakeasies will you get to rub shoulders with the likes of Amy Winehouse and David Beckham, maybe Susan Boyle?  We’ll find out.  Where do you go shopping for nerdy-chic, eco-friendly cardigans in Wales?  There will be a post for that.  Take that, iPhone fanboy bloggers.

So who are we?  Unlabelled Britain’s editorial team is based in New York. Full disclosure here: some of us work for the British tourist office.  We’re a mix of Brits and Americans who share one thing in common – we’re transatlanticists with an addiction to the latest trends in Britain.  We work with insiders and tipsters based in the UK who serve as contributors every week.  If it’s going to happen in Britain, in many cases, we hear about it first. Think of us as a travel advisory board with an edge.  For all the dirt on us, check out our bios.

Unlabelled Britain needs your feedback. Talk to us.  Tell us what you think.  Give us a shout out.  Add us to your blog roll.  Ask what you need to know.  Send us Cadbury chocolates.  Maybe we’ll do the same.  Plus, we do have the power to occasionally send folks to Britain.