Category: 2015
Badge of Honour..
When something is highlighted as a major trend is it already too late to embrace it as true fashion condemned a follower rather than an adventurer?..
Does the fact something is popular reduce it currency, making it smaller, grubbier..repetitive?
Can it become overused..or liberated?
With stripes there’s a reason it nags away at you, an appeal, an intrinsic quality passed down through nature and the centuries..
Like it?
Then take it and turn it into a world a possibilities with courageous style.
(All photos from Pinterest)
Because there’s always room to negotiate a different way…
Laters, Kate x
Kent, Part 1 x
The biggest downer about the UK is the weather – it’s why we’re so obsessed with it. Head out for a holiday by the sea and rather than a cheery parasol, it’s highly likely you’ll be hiding under a large umbrella. So seeing the sun on our first day, we clapped our hands with merry glee!
And sank a large glass of cold white to celebrate the whole damn great joy of it..
Whilst watching the kids chase seagulls on the beach..
We weren’t far from Dover; So often a passing point, so rarely for stopping. But overlooking the harbour is Dover castle, an imposing building with a cornucopia of history dating back to the Romans.
But we were there to see the underground tunnels…
Originally dug out as a prison in the Napoleonic wars, they were resurrected in WW2 to provide a secret headquarters and a hospital.
This is where all the planning took place for Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of Dunkirk.
Over 30 metres down there’s something like 3.8 km of tunnels, including deep, deep down, a nuclear bunker called Dumpy.
During the War Dover was hit by over 2000 bombs, making it one of the worst hit towns in the UK. But none fell within the castle walls – apparently Hitler rather fancied the castle for himself and banned it from being bombed…if only he knew…
It’s a brilliant exhibition – real thought and atmosphere has gone into the presentation with clever projections onto the walls and newsreel footage. On the hospital tour, you follow the story of a wounded spitfire pilot accompanied by the sounds of a bombing raid and flickering lights. Not for the claustrophobic!
A spot of light relief was then needed..
Even a star fish still has fascination..
Until Daddy chases you with it..
My kids are such urbanites..
We looked for sea diamonds..
And pushed Daddy in..
Before heading back home to be ready for another day..
Laters, Kate x
Still Thinking Ahead x
One of the surprise pieces I bought this year was a vintage 1940’s coat. A surprise because of the shape..it’s dark brown sheepskin with pure american football style shoulders. And my, those shoulders make you feel gooooooooood…I call it my bitch coat…
Perfectly balancing out the flare..
The shorter shape works too..
I think I need another one..
Laters, Kate x
Chambray love..
Soft, louche, lounging and easy..
Could this be the ultimate denim dress? The cuffs are to die for..
(All pictures J.Crew)
Timeless pieces that quietly scream elegant summer living..
Laters, Kate x
Retrospective Ahead x
Another wish for Fall 2015? A pair of sturdy Doc boots..
The lace-up ones have a certain something..
How high can they go??
( All boots from here)
Pretty high! (And perfect with an eighties mohair coat..)
Laters, Kate x
With a wink and a grin x
Perfect timing..we’re on a sandy beach under the blazing sun, so a cossie to make you smile!
One that makes you look twice..
(All costumes by Marysia Swim)
Because the beauty is in the detail..
Laters, Kate x
Big Day..
Today will see the 70th staging of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race: Iconic, exclusive, elitist sporting gold. And for the first time ever, women will be rowing their own race, on the same stretch of water, on the same day and, like the men, it will be broadcast live to millions.
The change is due to Helena Morrissey (Cambridge graduate with 9 children and no background in rowing) Chief Executive of Newton Investment Management and their sponsorship. She found it shocking that there was such a discrepancy between the men and the women..but don’t think it was plain sailing for her to introduce the change. It wasn’t.
Nina Carberry is also riding in the Grand National today (think of all the girls who have riding lessons. Now think how many female jockeys there are..) – there is Katie Walsh – she won the Irish Grand National this week…but she doesn’t have a horse to ride…says a lot. Carberry is in red-hot form having won over the National fences already on Thursday in the Fox Hunters’ Chase…it’s a tough, tough race but I’ll be backing her and First Lieutenant all the way to make history and be crowned the first lady of Aintree. It’s about time.
Laters, Kate x
If the Shoe Fits..
There was no transitioning..suddenly London hit spring and we’ve been bathed in sunshine all week. It’s the sort of weather where you want to loll on fresh, green grass and let your voice get weary from talking, not smoking. In honour, I wore my first official pair of summer shoes yesterday – my two year old pair of Swedish Hasbeens, and admittedly the walking was spliced between cycling and chasing the kids on the common..but there were no blisters at the end of the day. Result. But these beauties do need getting used to with their distinctive dry-bone no-give wooden soles – like the best things in life, they need time to wear-in. In Sweden, long before it became a trend, they’d do this by wearing them with socks – it allows the leather to give a little extra whilst avoiding the rubbing…and you can’t find a nicer pair of socks than these at Free People.
It takes it away from the Japanese school girl look and gives it back to nature and folk dancing..a technical and aesthetic tour de force.
Laters, Kate x
The Results!..
So this is our attempt at Tree Change Dolls..we were lucky that it was a gorgeous day (summer is on the way!) and we had Bella’s lovely friend Maya to help us. These were the dolls as they started (Charlie doll was given a reprieve as we thought he was rather pretty!)(Thankfully, we had a spare doll..)
First job was to take their faces off, which we did with the nail varnish remover – you let it soak for a bit and then wipe.
It takes off a fair bit, but does leave smudges (and avoid getting the remover anywhere else on the dolls as it starts peeling away the plastic..as we learnt to our detriment..)
For the rest and the harder marks, we used eucalyptus oil..and lots of elbow grease..you just have to keep rubbing hard! But I’ve now learnt the power of eucalyptus oil..my bin has never smelt so fragrant..
And we managed it!
Then they all had a wash..
(Although certain members of the party became more interested in the bubbles..)
After that it was time for the paint..the most exciting, but also the most nerve wracking bit. We used acrylic paints and Derwent watercolour pencils. What I would recommend is finding some really good, tiny paint brushes. Ours were kiddies ones which we then trimmed down with scissors..but it is precise work and the better your paint brush, the better the result. At this point, I will confess..we lost the majority of the children..they went off to play..
Not that it mattered..the mummies were more than happy to lose themselves over eyeballs! It was engrossing work..highly therapeutic we decided!
Big brother Alex was also game..so lovely to see..he just saw it as an Art project and was more than happy to get stuck in.
The finer details were done with the pencils – you dip them in water and then they work well on the plastic.
Bella with Bella..
This is Sophie’s doll (Maya’s mummy)
Who was then dressed at home!
I made a little dress for Bella..but we still have the feet to go..it all takes time!
Just doing it all for the first time was a learning curve. Time whizzes by..which is always a good sign. The painting is tough and particularly hard for the kids – but it was a great project to all do together. We intend to do another creative day soon to make the feet and more clothes. All in all, to be highly recommended! If you want to try yourself, there are loads of really good tutorials on Youtube..good luck!
Laters, Kate x
Meet..
Bella with Bratz doll Bella..
And Charlie with his doll Charlie, all ready for the tree-change experience we’re attempting today (I have one too!). Results tomorrow..but I have a feeling it’s not as easy as it looks!!
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 