Category: 2015
Me & Em..
I know I have friends for a reason! This site – Me & Em – with it’s tantalising array of lustful towelling, was pointed out to me by the wonderful Galliana D’ovey, High Priestess of Retail Therapy..
The navy one!..hides the stains..and a snip at £58!
The pockets are top banana..
For those with legs like a supple silver birch, they also have retro-inspired shorts and hoody sets..
And most nostalgic of all..a towelling playsuit!
Spoilt..
Laters, Kate x
The Essex Taj Mahal x
Grayson Perry
When was the last time you were touched by someone so brilliant they made your head start sub-dividing?
Stand back and welcome previous Turner Prize winner and national gem, Grayson Perry and his new project, a House for Essex: a collaboration with Charles Holland and the architecture studio FAT. Built in Wrabness this huge marmite piece of art is a monumental shrine to a completely fictional character, a lady called Julie May Cope and is dedicated to the ‘Single mums of Dagenham, hairdressers in Colchester and the landscape and history of Essex’. The house holds testament to Perry’s visions of Julie’s life, through her birth in Canvey Island in 1953 to her two marriages, her children, her work all the way to her sudden death at the hands of a pizza delivery moped on Colchester High Street at the premature age of 61.
On the outside there’s a shining copper roof and 1924 glazed terracotta sigils of St jules.
Inside, the main room is in the style of a chapel to pay homage to the life of an ordinary woman.
There are biographical tapestries and pictures over the ceilings with snap shots of her history.
In pride of place and hanging as a chandelier is the very moped that killed her.
Upstairs, the two bedrooms are dedicated to her two marriages..the second of which was a story of true, tender love which permeates through the whole building and draws it together.
Kitsch, ebullient and eccentric it may be, but the joy of Perry is that in his work, as in his life, he describes the truth as he sees it. Underneath the undeniable humour, there’s a deeper, thicker message running through. This is a celebration of a modesty of aspiration and acquisitions that uses high art to pay homage to the notion of hard work and normality. It’s one mans couture shrine to the silver linings and special moments that bless every single life, no matter how hard or down trodden. Which ties up nicely with why it was commissioned in the first place: It’s part of philosopher and critic Alain de bottom’s (great name hashtag-childish-sense-of-humour) Living Architecture programme to allow members of the public – that’s you and me – to stay in buildings by world class contemporary designers. Click here for more details for your own personal taste of Julie’s life.
Imagine…a weekend away…here??
Laters, Kate x
Self-Portrait x
I’m in the running for a posh frock because sometimes you need an outfit that ramps it up a little for life’s big events. The skill is finding that special something that won’t then die and lie discarded like an unwanted snake skin in the dark recesses of a wardrobe, festering with the pungent smell of a wasted fortune.
Self-Portrait, based in London and led by designer Han Chong lives and breathes those type of slightly exotic pieces..the ones that turn heads but can then be bundled into a suitcase and worn with a pair of battered (as in old, not fried…) flip-flops in the summer sunshine on a sandy beach..
He’s also keen to marry contemporary design with affordable prices, which floats my boat..and his attention to detail is impressive.
(All pics Self-Portrait and Pinterest)
Modern with a fit-for-combat edge, it’s a label that still manages to be feminine, graceful..and most importantly..very desirable..
Laters, Kate x
Indoors Out..
Baby, it’s hot outside (well..almost..) so let me grab some large, plump cushions and the Saturday papers (pretty please kids..) and lounge lady-like on my eco-friendly outdoor rug by Green-Decore..a company I discovered at the Grand Designs exhibition in London last week.
They’re seriously worth checking out – fabulous classic eye-catching heart-stopping designs that include outdoor benches, cushions as well as the more traditional cotton rugs.
There’s a great range of colours..from sea blues to neon pink and lemon yellow…
And a sensible price point to boot – the outdoor rugs range from £29 to £90 
And they even have rugs made from re-cycled sari’s.
I’m sold.
Laters, Kate x
So Far..
The plan this sumer is to find the perfect beach dress within a reasonable budget, made with the ravishing timbre of towelling. Apart from the lux offering of Lisa Marie (sigh), this picture above represents the biggest research success so far – it’s called a surf dress – which makes total sense: practical and for a purpose. The downside is that it’s not symmetrical (sadly I’m a sucker for 2 patch pockets or one large, central kangaroo pouch), it’s from Australia and personally, I’d like a longer version. But the price is good: £47.43 plus postage, so if anyone’s interested it comes from here. Now I know these dresses are a genre I’ve looked at other surf dresses, but infuriatingly, they’re either made from fleece, covered in logos or they don’t have the v-neck..and that v-neck is crucial…it’s what stops it from being a sack.
Then I thought: just concentrate on the utilitarian shape – what’s appealing is the boxy shape with the neck-line and the pockets..which is just like a painters or fisherman’s smock…then elongate for a dress.
And they’re pretty totes-amaze just as a summer top..imagine with a pair of cut off denim shorts?..this one is from..wait for it..Amazon! at £27.48..bargain..! The lacing is divine..as is the pocket.
I think they would work..except I can’t find a pattern..
These are my top pattern picks so far..a possibility..
Liking the pouch..worried the shapes not square enough..and it’s a vintage 6-8.
Would ‘A’ work in towelling??
Slowly it’s starting to make sense – it’s good to highlight what you love and want..but it’s still a work in progress..
Laters, Kate x
Black Beauty.. x
Welcome to my unexpected night of bacchanalian revelry with it’s feast for the eyes and over-flowing platters of deliciousness.
Unexpected because it was a Corporate night out with The Husband and his suits…
But then strange things can happen when you mix the dark arts with a private viewing of the McQueen exhibition..
Pure alchemy..
Laters, Kate x
Birkies.. x
The rise of the Birkie shows no sign of abating, indeed it’s all praise for the fashion trend that works with any outfit, any where and even keeps the chiropractor smiling.
Except I have one unexpected niggle..the most comfortable shoe ever they might..but eewch! Give them a while and they can put up a pong that gives a goat cheese factory on a hot day a run for it’s money (I don’t think this happens to everyone, but google ‘smelly birks’ and there are enough results to prove I’m not an isolated incident)..mine reeked so badly they spent the winter months tied up in a plastic bag in the bottom drawer of our freezer in an attempt to kill off the evil, perpetrating bacteria. Sadly it worked for all of 5 mins..the time it took for them to de-frost. Loathed to throw them away, I’ve finally come up with a solution that thankfully seems to work..a regular wiping down with bleach..it makes the leather for a bit hard..but rather that than inflicting chemical warfare on the local neighbourhood and resident small furry animal population..
The company aren’t resting on their classic laurels either but are continually bringing out different colours and updating styles with subtle, clever changes – one of the best being the addition of coloured soles. Red?
Or Pink?
They are the no-brainer-must-have shoe of the summer…it’s just deciding how many pairs which ones to buy..decisions, decisions..
Laters, Kate x
Life’s a Beach.. x
My personal crush with Lisa Marie Fernandez started last year with her delicious towelling cover-ups. This season she doesn’t disappoint…easy, breezy summer dresses with perfect proportions and edible edging.
There’s more cheeky towelling..
(All Lisa Marie Fernandez pictures from Matches and Net-a-porter)
And the cutest bikini ever..Fernandez manages to walk that sophisticated but essential line between utilitarian and chic…in a fabulous pair of gladiators with no sign of foot-slap or lace louche…
I still love the whole idea of towelling as summer clothes. Why isn’t it more popular? It’s the summer beach dress that’s missing from my wardrobe..that sense of something warm and cuddly to throw on when you’re trying to eek out the last few hours of a perfect summers day, that magical time the dusk starts to draw in and shadows lengthen and a g’n’t tastes especially good..I’ve looked for cheaper brands but there’s very little..unless you’re a child…never thought I’d be jealous of childrens’ clothes…but take away the polka dots and I am.
This is the second year I’ve lusted after the impossible, so this time I have a cunning and devious plan because where there’s a will, there’s a way. Watch this space..
Laters, Kate x
Light and Shade x
Time is running away. I have May to make decisions, June to order..we’re away in July..work starts in August. It’s really not long. I’m sort of there on most things..but I know that what I want to do is a dance with the dark side – the really dark side – which in view of the popularity of scandi design is like holding hands with the devil..but if I stand back it’s more a collective reaction to inspiration from my past that’s already firmly stood the test of time..
One of my most favourite interiors ever is Henry Higgins house in Wimpole Street from the film My Fair Lady with it’s opulent multi-layered mash of texture and colour..there’s a welcoming warmth far removed from the clinical hotel look we’ve come to view as the norm. The William Morris wallpaper is spectacular as is the sense of history and quality.
(The Cecil Beaton costumes weren’t bad either..I still want this blouse..and my wedding dress was based on Audrey Hepburn’s dress to the ball)
The other interior that holds it’s place to this day is the house in Practical Magic..
All dark and brooding woodwork..
With stunning cabinetry..
A kitchen to die for..
And a heavenly conservatory to boot…
It’s not the colours – it’s the good/bad design thing that’s oppressive about our modern interiors..the time has come just to claim the space. I think a trip to Leighton House where the above picture came from is needed to further that connection with Victorian opulence and underline the fact it’s not about being different – there’s very little that’s truly new – it’s about going with what you feels is right..rather than what’s expected.
Laters, Kate x
Morden Hall Park x
My book club book (due for discussion next week) is H for Hawk, a memoir by author Helen Macdonald about raising a Goshawk in a time of grief. So it was pretty thrilling to go to the Morden Hall Park Country Fayre on Bank Holiday monday to see live birds in action.
Morden Hall Park is a National Trust property right at the end of the Northern line where the river Wandle, the river used by William Morris to power his factory, flows powerfully through.
It’s a place that manages to marry urban and country in seamless unity..and this Fayre was no exception.
A barn owl flying over one of Charlie’s class mates.
Full of people but still far from the Madding crowds, there were salt of the earth stalls like this man, quietly making the most beautiful and realistic flys for fishing.
In the grounds blacksmiths and basket weavers were practising their fine arts.
There was even time to catch bubbles..
With miniature steam trains, ferret racing, dog shows, lots of animals as well as traditional stalls..and not so traditional ones…it was a genuinely great and unexpected day out.
But that’s the nature of Morden Hall Park – they really like to embrace the wild. In July they’re holding a Big Camp weekend with the opportunity to set up an overnight camp in the same field that Lord Nelson tethered his horse whilst he fished in the River Wandle and two days of ranger led activities with dinner cooked on a camp fire and story telling. Just gutted we’ll be away…next time Rodders, next time..
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 