Fight Night

What to wear when you realise that you are about to spend an evening in the company of a load of glamorous and beautiful people out-dressing each other? It's been a while since I have been to a bit of a do...so I racked my brains to come up with something snazzy. As my friend pointed out, it's a boxing match...you don't have to look classy if you catch my drift! It ain't the opera. And in my opinion a touch of trash never hurt anyone.

I found inspiration in the unlikely guise of Victoria Beckham. I can honestly say I've never before looked to VB for good fashion ideas. The only thing in common I have with her is that I too keep my mouth closed while being photographed. But I saw pictures of her and Mr. Perfect at the Met Ball recently - simple in white and I knew exactly what to do....which was call my dry cleaners. I was thinking WHITE and I was thinking JEWELS and I was thinking FEATHERS.



 In the Reiss sale last Summer I bought a pure white jumpsuit sample which I found in a heap on the floor of the store collecting dust-bunnies. I took it to my beautiful laundrette and left it there.*
Until last week that is, when it came in to its own on the most beautiful night of the year so far.

*we have a storage arrangement as I have run out of hanging space and he's got loads.

VB & DB

This is the beautiful blogger Natalie Joos of Tales of Endearment.
She gave me the idea to add  feathers and go top to toe white.
 Follow her on Instagram!

The evening was The Charge Ball held at the glorious Syon Park in Chiswick in aid of Tusk - a really wonderful charity which funds wildlife conservation, community development and environmental programmes across Africa. To learn more about their work visit here

Syon Park

I was terrified of doing the white thing. All it takes is a bump, knock or elbow and it's game over. The last time I wore white, somebody sloshed a glass of rouge down the front. I spent the evening in a portaloo with a tin of table salt and a sympathetic friend. I proceeded to run the dress under a tap and then sat on a stray receipt which then imprinted the following on my bottom  'PERCY PIG X1 £2.50, LADIES TIGHTS 20 DENIER X1 £3.73, CASH TENDERED' etc etc. I had to go home.

The carrier bag contains a change of outfit in the event that there was a code-red wine incident. 

Or in case I got too close to the blood, sweat and tears.

Boxing. 

Then this happened, ringside. My life is complete. The style guru Marc-Francis Vandelli appeared like a vision in blue satin and kept growling at my feathers all evening, in a good way. Apart from my hand looking weird, this is one of my favourite pictures of all time. Hello new screensaver.

NBF

Apart from a small mark I came away relatively unscathed despite getting pretty close to the action and gallivanting until 3am. So it's going back to live at my laundrette until I feel another Posh Spice moment coming on.

Ciao for now!

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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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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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