Grace Wears: Anya Hindmarch

Showing posts with label Anya Hindmarch. Show all posts

Monday, 12 May 2014

Old Things, New Things

Apologies for the hiatus I took from writing. I couldn't find the words, I had nothing to wear. I nearly did a Grace Wears Absolutely Nothing post but thought that sort of thing could go viral, in a bad Paris Hilton kind of way. I thought about getting back to nature. But looking out across the morning rain, I just felt so uninspired. If your soul is in the lost and found as mine has been in the past few weeks, I find the best thing to do is turn to familiar pastimes, get out and about to recognise the old and discover some new. In anticipation of more consistent writing in the coming weeks, I thought I would share a handful of restorative, simple pleasures that have returned me to normal. The main one being an evening with the English cricket team but for various legal reasons I am not allowed to share the photographs. Spoil sports.

NEW THINGS

Le Pamplemousse from Miller Harris

Pamplemousse is the best word in the French language! How could I resist? This delicious scent which has just been relaunched by Miller Harris (I have a love affair with the brand; read here) and is a refreshing change from my usual ones. Inspired by grapefruits in the gardens of La Pameraie in Marrakesh, it has top notes of Grapefruit, a heart of Orange Flower and a base of Vetiver, this is the fragrance equivalent of a gin and tonic on a verandah after a long hot day.

Bee Ring

My beautiful ring from Bill Skinner which brings me joy every day. The jeweller used to design for Butler and Wilson and Vivienne Westwood so that distinct charm and eccentricity comes through in his work. The costume jewellery is wondrous. Save the bees!

Buzzzzzz

NEW OLD THINGS

Charity Shop Finds

One of my favourite things is striking gold in a charity shop. Indeed one man's trash is another man's treasure...which is good to know. Only £12 for this rather wonderful Chinese silk dressing gown. The Trinity Hospice Charity Shop on Notting Hill Gate never ceases to amaze. A quick dry clean to get rid of the cooties and it was ready to go. Ni Hao.

Unicorn

Oxford Revisited to reminisce about my youth and a small trip to Unicorn. A shop I frequented in my academic years. If you have been there before, you will know all about it. The old lady is still there, quite comfortingly, sifting through mountains of clothes. She would be a top candidate for Britain's Biggest Hoarders....On my return home, I took one look at my bedroom and freaked out. I am starting to see worrying similarities.

The Shop...

My Bedroom....

The Right Trousers

Lime Green Bow is the most wonderful company run by Clemmie Myers. When she first started out I bought a coat with blue and white harlequin print. It became a wardrobe staple. Ever since I have gone straight to her if I want something beautiful and unusual. She sources one off vintage items from around the globe. These vintage couture trousers are pale pink with diamanté in the middle of the appliqué flowers and graze the ankle. Look at her website - I defy you not to want everything.

OLD FAMILIAR THINGS

Bluebells & Blue Things

Due to a unusually mild winter followed by a bit of rain we are enjoying a bumper crop of bluebells carpeting the enchanted woods around the country. I happened upon these beauties over the Easter weekend while I was on a gloriously long walk. So intrinsically English, for me they summon up Penhaligon's infamous scent (Kate Moss' favourite), and Emily Brontes mournful poem (The Bluebell is the sweetest flower, That waves in summer air: It's blossoms have the mightiest power To soothe my spirit's care) and also reminded me of everything in my wardrobe the colour of bluebells that I haven't worn in an age and need revisiting. Inspiration really can be found where least expected.

Anya Hindmarch Shagreen Marano

Theyskens Theory Bubble Dress

Christian Louboutin Shoes

The Man With The Dancing Eyes

I pulled out this old favourite for a bit of inspiration. I used to carry it around like a bible and filled it with photos and letters. The most romantic old fashioned fairytale for a modern generation. Written by Sophie Dahl and illustrated by Annie Morris, the story follows the escapades of the heroine Pierre (a style icon of mine) who lives on a house boat called the Glimmety Glammety and falls in love with her Man With The Dancing Eyes who sings her Bob Dylan and brings her sweet peas.
Mr. Wonderful!

My obsession with Lapsang Souchong started here. Luckily Blue is not my style icon.

Bluebell Necklace from Catherine Zoraida

Bluebell by Penhaligon's

Bee Ring by Bill Skinner

Englands Glory Clutch by Anya Hindmarch

Le Pamplemousse Candle from Miller Harris

Pleated Sundress, Kate Moss for Topshop

Brideshead Revisited First Edition

When none of the above have made me feel better I have also turned to chocolate, vodka, Carole King and late nights which have helped maintain some equilibrium too.

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Thursday, 5 September 2013

Selfies...You're So Vain

"I loathe narcissism, but I approve of vanity." - Diana Vreeland

So in other news this week...the words 'Twerking', 'Vom' (my favourite) and 'Selfie' have made it into the Oxford English Dictionary. I had to just Google Twerking to understand what the hell that is (Miley Cyrus' raunchy dance moves at the VMAs apparently?) and well, Selfie is a word borne from an egomaniac generation of narcissistic iPhone users. A few days ago, while having a mani pedi on my lunch break (yah!) I watched a girl parked in a van outside the nail bar spend half an hour taking pictures of herself from above, below, round the side...about 27 snaps later, each with a different shade of pout, she finally settled for the perfect pose. Maybe for a boyfriend (lucky chap!), maybe to stick on Instagram, Twitter, Facey or Tinder (my ultimate favourite!)...I just sat there with my hands under a grill and thought WHAT A LOSER! And hummed Carly Simon to myself...tralalaaaa.

I woke up yesterday morning thinking I had lost my phone. In my Aperol induced haze I lay in bed lamenting the photos I had taken in the last year and phone numbers of people who I would have no way of contacting ever again. After twenty mins of winding myself up and feeling like it was the end of the world, I rolled out of bed and realised that in fact the phone was actually on the floor and I just hadn't put it on to charge. Phewee. You don't know what you've got til it's gone I reckon so I spent the afternoon appreciating my phone, flicking through all of my long forgotten photos, digging into the darkest depths of old albums, reminiscing about happier times and then I realised...I AM A SELFIE TAKER! I remember thinking that if I were going to start blogging about what I wore then I had better document it properly. The thing is, they're all rubbish. I absolutely haven't perfected it and then it dawned on me the chick in the van had it about right...I would need on average 27 (or more) goes to get the perfect pose. I give up after about two, mainly due to time constraints and actually, boredom. Or in one case nearly garotting myself on a loo roll holder in the Pizza Express lavatories. It's embarrassing to explain why you've taken so long in the bathroom when you've innocently just been trying to make your arms look rexi while half smiling. You can't say "Oh I've been doing Selfies in the bog!"

Anyway, as an apology to the poor, judged van girl I am showing you my hashtag Selfies which I never thought would see the light of day. So here they are...me being vain and self-involved in various locations and WCs all over London. Knock yourself out!

Took this one to show a friend a dress (which turned out to be a brilliant purchase from Topshop here) I had been forced to buy because I had sat in tramps pee on a bus and needed something else to wear. Truly. It looks like I'm smiling but I was actually crying.

(I blogged these glorious Poplin PJs once before here )

Favourite ASOS ring - I think they do the best costume jewellery.

ASOS Jewel Print Dress and Clutch

Foot Selfie. Waiting for my close up in the Borders General Hospital.

Evil Eye from House of Harlow but you can get amazing EE stuff from Baublebar which has lovely things.

Another Topshop dress, Anya Hindmarch clutch and Christian Louboutins at St. John.

Best rezza in London I reckon. Cleanest loos.

You can't see it but I am wearing this Zara dress which is my new favourite thing.

Me and my Anya Hindmarch Huxley. I know, I can't see it either.

Me in the office today. Bye then!

I will endeavour to do MUCH better next time. Any Selfie tips are most welcome from you all. Unless your name is Miley Cyrus.

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Thursday, 11 April 2013

Capsule Wardrobes & Day Dressing

Now, as much as a I love a dress, a heel and a touch of the ridiculous, I also love a warm coat and a good pair of jeans. As Leonardo da Vinci once said 'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication' (Apparently?! Thank you famousquote.com) and I am inclined to agree when it comes to dressing for down time. But I do find it hard.

Give me a black tie party or a wedding and I feel confident that I will choose the right outfit. Tell me I've got a pub lunch on Sunday followed by a walk in Wormwood Scrubs Park and I break out in a cold sweat. I've never been able to dress for the day very well. I once had a job in a furniture shop and was taken to the stock room by my manager who instructed me to stop dressing like I was going to a party. In another job at a private members club in Mayfair, I was told to tone down on the dresses because I looked like I had ideas above my station.

I thought I looked fine.

The 'Capsule Wardrobe' was a term coined in the 70's for the modern woman who ideally needs about 10 essential but simple items of clothing that work together in order to have something to wear for every occasion.

I have such schizophrenic tastes, therefore am not a Capsule Wardrobe kind of person but recently have been trying to grow up ~~a bit~~ and go for a few classic purchases rather than say, a Francesca Couture dress (guilty). I've concluded that a white shirt, jeans, ballet shoes, leather jacket, utilitarian coat, a selection of jumpers in muted tones and some classic sunglasses with simple gold jewellery should get me through these weird weather weeks so that day dressing is a walk in the park. Maybe not Wormwood Scrubs though.

Don't be silly.