Welcome to ‘Indie‘ (Independent) & ‘Pop‘ (Popular or Commercial)* by Sophie Osborne.

Kate Moss styling out the nappy rush for British VOGUE by Juergen Teller (2003) Styled by Bay Garnett SOURCE

Think of me as somewhere between Mary Portas & Mary Poppins.

Living a London lifestyle without the Post Code or Pay Cheque.

On a mission to seek out conscious, chic & canny style for families from the best in Independent & High Street stores. You’re as likely to bump into me in LIDL as you are in Liberty.

The way we shop has changed. The Internet has become our High Street & Marketplace. I believe it is still possible to consume with conscience & convenience.

I also believe in loving where you live & embracing local life, wherever that may be.

I live in a Town in Cambridgeshire. Named as one of the Top 5 UK ‘Cinderella Towns’  – that sounds so pretty but life’s no fairytale. We used to live in Cambridge itself but were simply priced out when it came to finding our ideal Family Home. Before that we lived in London (N1 postcode, same story).

At first it felt like we’d had to settle for second best, to head back to the area where we started out from, but now we feel truly settled. I think having a sense of home & community are especially important when you have a family.

Eyes peeled & on the prize, (the Eric’s Fish & Chips Menu in this instance)

My perspective has changed since becoming a Mother & that has influenced the way in which I shop. It has completely changed the way I live.

I’ve always been a seeker, a savvy spender – ‘SOPH’ is an anagram of ‘SHOP’ – & a sharer.

I’ve certainly got a taste for luxury but it has to have longevity. I’m eagle-eyed when it comes to sourcing cheap yet chic finds & budget alternatives.

Via indieandpop.com I’ll be highlighting & championing an edit of :

• Style – Womens & Childrenswear focus, with Mens for good measure
• Beauty – Eco credentials & indulgent little luxuries
• Health – Mental Illness & Physical wellbeing – my personal experiences
• Home & Family – Decor, Food, Entertainment, Activities & Culture
• Local Lifestyle – Cambridgeshire & beyond – ideas for wherever you are

My ethos is BUY LESS, BUY BETTER or just BUY SMARTER

My aim is a realistic, useful & honest guide.

This also applies to my own photography  – no filters, just lighter & brighter. If I’m working with a Photographer it will be clearly stated (& pretty obvious).

Sophie x

*NB: Not to be confused with ‘IndiePop’ A genre of alternative music. More melodic than its relative IndieRock. Think: Belle & Sebastian, Feist, Florence & The Machine, The XX, Arcade Fire, St.Vincent artists who, incidentally, I’m a fan of too.