A love letter to Blue (not the boyband)

Hey blue. Here's a song for you.

- Joni Mitchell

Preface

A while ago I was having dinner with my friend Will in a lovely pub in London and we were watching Wales winning the football. I said 'Isn't it funny that this year everything has turned out the exact opposite to how it was expected...Leicester City, Wales (at that point) on track to winning the Euros and BREXIT...what on earth is going on?!' And he said 'Grace in this ever changing world, this strange year of playing opposites, when everything has been totally unexpected and a complete surprise - there has been one thing that has stayed steady, true to course and hasn't shocked anybody and that is: in 2016 you still haven't written a blog post. Some things are a constant in our lives and never change...'

SO in the spirit of surprising people and playing opposites - Will babe, this one's for you!

*****

It all started with a conversation over another dinner  a few weeks ago where I was asked what my favourite colour was.  Without thinking I said BLUE. Then I was pressed to say why and I couldn't find the words as to why. If I had sat there explaining why and who and how - we would all have been sitting there long after closing time while I explored and bored everyone with all the references that lie within the depths of my memory palace.      

    

For me, it's seas and azure skies and eyes and it's Jodphur, it's Marrakech, it's tears and fears, it's dreams, it's the flowers on the wallpaper of my childhood bedroom, it's my great aunts Mexican rug on the end of my bed, it's fields of flax, it's the shrunken cashmere jumper my brother gave me (he insists that I stole it), it's Camel Lights, a Famous Raincoat, Joni Mitchell, Irving Berlin tunes, it's a lot of my favourite things, London plaques, boybands, Astral Cream, sweet peas and hydrangeas, Springsteen lyrics, Levi 501s, it's quite a lot of  Elton John songs, Yves Klein, Love In A Mist, a Texan tuxedo, Chefchaouen, it's Picassos Periodo Azul, Spencer Tuniks Hull Avatars, ultramarine,cobalt, forget-me-nots, twilight, bluebells, any blue will do, once in a blue moon, navy, baby, teal, true, Tiffany, Oxford, Violet, Iris, Midnight, Parker pens and Smythson boxes, breton stripes, Lapis Lazuli, Grace Kelly's dreamy chiffon dress in To Catch a Thief...

Blue with it's celestial, deep hues meaning honour, royalty, a symbol of wisdom and truth. It's oceans between countries I've never yet been to and pools I haven't swum in. It's misery, melancholy, sapphires and blueberries (the only blue food).  It's cooling from the sun but catnip to a mosquito (mosquito-nip?). It's peace, harmony, unity, trust, security, confidence, conservatism, order, cleanliness, stability, protection. It is sincere, reserved and quiet, however, it commands attention and can be bold. It's the snatches and patches in a grey city sky, it's coolness, it's peace. And in the past few weeks and months when I (and everyone around me) was grasping for something familiar, unified, comforting and lovely I had noticed that I was unconsciously gravitating towards all things blue in every shade and hue and that a theme was emerging...and you all know how much I love a theme!

Blue Scent: L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain

Having had a phase of wearing this in my early twenties I decided to revisit this glorious scent and indeed it was like revisiting that time in my life - for as we all know our senses of smell and memory are intrinsically linked. It's powdery, velvety, melancholic, romantic and mysterious and I've been told kryptonite-level powerful. L'Heure Bleue was created by Jacques Guerlain in 1912 as a reference to his favourite time of day - a blue dusk, a fleeting sensation  "The sun has set, but night has not yet fallen, It's the suspended hour. The night has not yet found it's star"  The bottle is a miniature monument to love with a hollow heart shaped stopper which alludes to the romantic pre-war years. Clearly, I am a total sucker for this kind of thing but nevertheless, it's a masterpiece of a scent.

Blue Music: Blue by Joni Mitchell

This album turned 45 this year...the album of my youth and my heart. Written by Joni Mitchell at the end of her relationship with James Taylor. For me it's a long hot summer spent with my best friend in Florence, gallivanting about in cinquecentos. It reminds me of singing 'I am a lonely painter, I live in a box of paints' at the top of my voice in a little flat off the Santa Spirito. It takes me back and yet always sounds fresh. If you've ever listened to the lyrics of Case of You it's a tower of a song on love, infidelity, infatuation and pondering forgiveness. I could write pages on my appreciation of its artistry. It is one of the best albums ever made. 

So recently I turned this on and tuned on out.

Blue Clothes - WHAT I'VE BEEN WEARING RECENTLY

Favourite Blue Harlequin  Coat - My first purchase from Lime Green Bow. 

Blue Carpet Bag from Sluiz Ibiza

Self-Portrait Powder Floral Blue Dress

This is on my shopping list. Vintage from here

Andy Pandy Thakoon Jumpsuit. Which clearly makes me so happy!

Close up on the collar of my vintage Jean Muir dress

Still my favourite. Theyskens Theory Bubble dress. 

The perfect sunglasses from Celine. I've worn these everyday since I've bought them.

Vilshenko Blue Silk Moroccan Anais dress. Total heaven.

Turquoise bracelet I bought in Florence all those years ago

Twinkle Toes - French Sole delights

D&G inspiration in Harpers Bazaar. On my wish list.
However, an unjustifiable amount of £!

The blue section of my wardrobe right now.

Birthday Blues - I think not!

Best birthday ever! The most beautiful navy blue, wild floral Olivia Von Halle silk PJs from my darling friend and my Breakfast at Tiffany's eye mask from another. I usually hate going to bed but since acquiring these beauties I can't wait for lights out. 

Always channelling this.

Blue Book: The Course of Love by Alain de Botton

I have a crush on genius Alain de Botton and have done for about 12 years. I have religiously read and re-read each of his novels. My favourite being Essays in Love followed by The Romantic Movement and Kiss and Tell. So you can imagine my delight when his new book was published...a young couple meet, get married but it's about their happily ever after, after that - which is tackled in the way that only Alain de Botton seems to manage - huge subjects, concisely documented and philosophically observed, with humour and knowing.

And how convenient that the cover should match my dress, sunglasses and handbag. Thank you Alain!

But the most beautiful blue is the one on a day like today when you can look up and see the vast dome of the endless sky. It is always the perfect backdrop for everything and never goes out of fashion. Dreamy, hopeful and all the good things. As Van Gogh once said:
  'I never get tired of the blue sky.'
Neither do I Vince! Blue skies ahead for everyone please!

Beautiful London today. No filter!

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Say No To Normcore! Wear Some Colour.

“The best colour in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you!” 

― Coco Chanel

The other day someone I see quite a lot said to me that they had only ever seen me wear black and about 5% of my wardrobe! Granted the longest, darkest months of the year have been draaagging on but I insisted it simply wasn't true.

Then it occurred to me that actually, as soon as the clocks go back I turn to a uniform of  grey, black and at a push, navy. To me colour is for Summer. For work wear it just feels easier and smarter to wear dark clothes even though my boss said that black ages me. Thanks!

I was also made aware of  'Normcore' (defintion here) which is the new word for a trend that is sweeping the streets  - 'a notion of dressing in a nondescript and utterly conventional way' as a backlash to the fashionistas trying out-look each other. A palette cleanser one might say. I do understand the desire to dress in streamlined simple shapes and tones but too much of it can be a bit snoresome and not very jolly.  So with a hint of Spring in the air and the changing of the clocks on the horizon, I decided to make a concerted effort to dress in colour. To my delight we had that mini heatwave which made it all a lot easier and helped in consigning tights to the back of the drawer.

Not only did I do this as a personal challenge but it was also a protest. The purpose of this exercise was two fold: Firstly to prove that black is not the only colour I wear. Secondly to demonstrate (to myself ) that I do actually wear more than 5% of my wardrobe. My flat consists of  rails of clothes that never see the light of day, taking up what little space I have. (I often lie awake at night worrying that I will become the old lady who lived in her shoe.......s, and unworn clothes.) So I decided to try out a few things that had been lurking in the back of my wardrobe because I couldn't find the right occasion for them,or to be totally honest, I had forgotten I own. Naughty. 

Inspired by the new faces-in-places Prada campaign - a riot of colour, textures and patterns, I bid au revoir to Norma and Norman Normcore and turned towards the technicolor. It wasn't easy waking up in the pitch black and wearing a bright orange suit but I did it and it made me feel a lot happier about dismal old Winter.

 Try it! You'll like it.

The Prada Campaign

Inspiration from my Instagram feed

Just looking at these outfits makes me never want to wear black again.

First day out of the darkness....

Fur Effect Coat from Scotch & Soda

I've realised the key is TROUSERS! Who knew?! And non-black shoes. This immediately takes black tights out of the equation.

Silk Trousers from Calla

Embellished Jumper from Topshop 

Ring from Accessorize

So I had to get the tights out. I usually feel a bit iffy about black tights with pale clothes - I just think it looks weird but as there is black in the background of the fabric it looks alright.

Orange Suit from Zara

Jewels

My Carven Bomber Jacket which reminds me of a scarab beetle

Pucci-esque Vintage Dress from Found & Vision on Golbourne Road & Clutch from Shrimps

Colourful jewellery and bits and bobs helped keep my mission on course.

Tartan Scarf from TRAID (£1!!)  & Snake Clutch from ASOS

Creepy or lovely?  Hand Earrings from Butler & Wilson

Cocktail Ring from ASOS

Heart T-Shirt from Les Prairies de Paris

Then it got all hot. So I got my legs out.

Topshop Embroidered Dress & Marseille Ballet Flats from French Sole

Coat Inspiration from Kate Moss

Leopard Coat & Printed Dress from Topshop who are ON FIRE at the moment.

Then it got all cold again so I put them away.

Thakoon Addition Silk Jumpsuit

Ainea Fur Effect Coat & Russell & Bromley Flats

So it's back to permanently chilly now and I've thrown away all my black tights which in hindsight was probably a bit premature. All my trousers are in the wash and I'm cold! Nothing a holiday to Barbados can't sort out though...hurrah!

But more on that next time...

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New York...What I Wore By Day and By Night

“I regret profoundly that I was not an American and not born in Greenwich Village. It might be dying, and there might be a lot of dirt in the air you breathe, but this is where it's happening.” 
― John Lennon

John Lennon I hear ya! Oh to have an American passport so I could live freegally in the best place on earth! I'm in a New York state of mind. Actually scrap that, I'm ALWAYS in a New York state of mind. I have an ongoing love affair with the place. The land of the Cronut, cwaffee and cool cats. The capital of the cupcake. I just returned from a whistle-stop visit to top up my dosage of the coolest place on earth. I love every inch of it - the glamorous Park Avenuers and the downtown dawgs. You can turn a corner from the snazziest street into the dirtiest den. I always feel that it gives me the possibility to be whoever I want to be and wear what I want. Like living in a real life postcard and there's an avenue for every outfit!

On the surface it is much changed since I last visited, but to me, it is still the place I knew as an overly romantic 19 year old, listening to Leonard Cohen, and trying to become an actress but actually spanking all my rent money on clothes. I spent a very long time looking for a famous blue raincoat to wear and days scouring Salvation Army dollar shops for dresses. Hanging around The Chelsea Hotel (I remember it well) I searched high and low for earrings like Edie Segwicks and Breton tops to look like Warhol. I spent a week trying to locate the exact spot of The Factory and cried for an afternoon when I discovered it had been turned into a parking lot for some well-groomed Midtowners. I took a walk on the wild side to find Studio 54 only to realise it had closed in 1979 after being raided by the Inland Revenue. Days longing to be like Carrie Bradshaw...in my imaginary life I was running around town wearing Manolo Blahniks and a tutu...waiting for my Mr. Big.

In reality...I couldn't walk in heels and my Mr.Big came in the form of a jock from Ohio with a tattoo of a cartoon octopus on his chest. 'Octopus' being his wrestling nickname from college - arms everywhere.

This time I return with a song in my heart (something by Dylan most probs) and a rather anorexic looking bank account but happy as a clam. 

BY DAY

I took my new Sophie Hulme bag to the top of the Empire State building to show it the view. It's a superb winter handbag and goes with EVERYTHING.

I thought New York was the perfect place for the first outing of my Ginsberg is God jumper by Bella Freud. Especially here in Brooklyn where I thought the beatnik hipsters would appreciate it. Channelling Alexa Chung, just a bit less hungry. I walked past a man who whispered in passing "I tend to disagree" and then ran away. It's a sure fire conversation starter. Especially in New York.

Still wearing my Illesteva sunglasses as mentioned back in the summer. Best sunglasses.

 

Packing for a city trip is always a bit of a nightmare for me. I'm having a monochrome moment - it's either black or white (maybe with a bit of navy) - These tones are very conducive with city stomping...as New York is not the cleanest place.I am currently living in my Liston Wool Dress in Coal Black from Acne and long waistcoats from Zara. They are absolutely brilliant - while it's not too cold. When it does get chilly I'll put a leather or fur coat underneath so the arms poke out. 

   

BY NIGHT

Wearing vintage Givenchy dress from a flea market in Paris with nude heels from here and a wonderful Cedric Charlier bag (he used to be head designer at Cacharel) from Avenue 32. Avenue 32 is currently my favourite website to lose hours and hours on...it has the most wonderful collection of interesting pieces and designers.

This is what the dress looks like up top. I don't tend to wear the ribbony bit in my hair because, let's face it, I look cuckoo.

I've just realised this is my eBay outfit! Wearing MSGM green skirt. Topshop Goat Coat similar here. My favourite Christian Louboutin shoes. Everything I'm wearing (apart from the clutch) I found on eBay - all items were brand new, unworn and most importantly, a smidge of the original price.

I bought my Goat Coat after seeing this picture of Edie Sedgwick. I mentioned her as one of my favourite fashion Goddeses here

This image came up on my Instagram feed. British Vogue upload images from their archive which is really wonderful. I saved this image (below) on my phone dreaming of owning a similar dress one day...

...so you can imagine my delight when I came across this Pierrot dress from the wonderful Merchant Archive on Kensington Park Road. The perfect dress for a night clowning about on the tiles. They have the most INSANE collection of vintage bits and bobs. I want everything in the shop. It's well worth a visit if you're in the area. Sorry I know I'm meant to be writing about New York...I tend to get distracted.

I am currently sitting at my desk with my Statue of Liberty (interesting fact: the actual one has a 35 foot waistline - nearly the same as mine after all those Cronuts). I am eating Lifesavers from a box,using Visine eye drops (illegal over here, but brilliant!) to combat the red-eye and swallowing handfuls of Advil to stave off my jet-lag/hangover from Hells Kitchen. 

TTFN!

               

Most photos credited to A. Lintell

Other photos: Zara, Acne Studios, Merchant Archive, Instagram

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