Category: Bohemian
Ugly Shoes?
Travellers with backpacks for wardrobes have been some of the best dressed people I’ve ever seen. What little they have has to be chosen with care – practical and loved, worn-in with just that touch of flair and imagination. And Birkenstocks make the ideal travelling shoe – invincible, hardwearing – slide them on and off – or leave them on – for dodgy showers and floors. So I can understand their growing popularity: over the years they’ve earnt their fashion stripes the hard way (although Birks with fur aka Celine will never have my heart) But sadly the molded Birk sole never fitted my feet rendering them painful, heavy, clunky and useless – it’s not a look I’ll be signing up to any time soon. But these shoes by Tods? Ignore the price-tag and I’d be there like a shot..
Laters, Kate x
Dame Viv…
(Photo by Heather Blockey/Demotix)
Dame Vivienne Westwood is a high ceiling where thoughts and dreams drift upwards and average or ordinary would be a rude word. So is it surprising that at the age of 72 she’s shorn off her trademark titian hair?
(Photo by AFP/Getty Images)
‘Vivienne cut her hair as we all must wake up to climate change’ a spokesperson said, adding ‘And secondly, she wanted to cut the red out for a while and have it white to show she’s proud of her age.’ Westwood is known as an active climate campaigner – indeed, last month she said she wouldn’t be expanding her empire in order to concentrate on backing Greenpeace’s work to protect the Arctic – but somehow, the age bit has greater resonance recognising that the way you look is a hyper-potent source of expression. More than visual bravado it says it’s not beauty in the classical sense that matters, but talent, integrity, intelligence and style.
(photo AFP/Getty Images)
Unique in a sea of sheep, she will always present the stuff that makes people feel uncomfortable..and she’ll do it smiling with mischievous pleasure. Just like those boots she’s wearing.
Of course, those of us in the know recognise the Laura Lynn effect..expect short hair to be BIG this summer!
Laters, Kate x
Friday Night is Quiz Night..
It all started out quite civilised..it was the school quiz after all. Our theme was the Godfather complete with horses head, grave candles, tommy guns and a priest to keep us on the straight and narrow.
It’s a quiz night like no other..the effort put in is extraordinary and as a result, so is the atmosphere…this year there was even the Jamaican bobsleigh team..with full sized bobsleigh…
Male member of the Geek team
I blame the Breaking Bad crew (who came with an entire smoking chemistry kit)..for trying to infiltrate our territory with their glowing vodka crystal meth jellies…
And our priest? Who we were relying on for our moral compass? She was on another planet..(icing sugar obviously has powerful qualities)..and things rapidly went down into debauchery from there…
One of the maddest, funniest (my throat is still sore!) – let’s face it – drunken nights I’ve had in a very, very long time..one that will live long in what memories there are!! It begs the question..
Can parents get expelled????
Laters, still recovering, Kate x
The Star Stella Jean.. x
Here we go! The vibrant, eclectic, charismatic Collection from Stella Jean AW14..
Full of bohemian chic, Stella Jean draws her inspiration from her two diametrically opposite cultures.
The Wax material represents her maternal roots – her Creole heritage from Haiti, the first independent black republic in the world.
The stripes stand for her father, Italy, Turin and convention.
More than a simple apology on behalf of competing factions, she sucks the marrow from both to create a diversity that is utterly thrilling as it weaves and wefts together.
She dances away from the Dinner party generality that has rather bled our souls of colour.
Till the cold tug of winter has been burnt away.
So elegantly put together..it’s about embracing what you love and living life to the full.
Laters, Kate x
Anything Goes..
There’s no getting away from it – part of the breathless anticipation of any Fashion Week are the Street Style photos of the good, the bad and the fabulous pretending they’re unaware they’re the players in their own performance.
An unfortunate accident? Or the latest accessory?
Because ultimately, even with this small number of elite beings, they’ll only be a select few who can really tick the boxes and dress the way you want to feel.
But they still all know to carry themselves with extreme confidence, no matter what they feel like inside..and as perception becomes more important than truth it makes these some of the most interesting, schizophrenic moments to secretly observe.
We’re no longer in the land of princesses. What we wear, even to posh events is becoming more generalised, more ‘every day’. Which is why these flashes of inspiration are so important – they’re within our grasp.
But innovative and desirable is still the holy grail.
(All photos by Tommy Ton from Style.com)
The pictures tell us: To change our spots, all we need to do is change our skins. Essentially, they give us hope.
Laters, Kate x
Mexican wonders..
Anyone else having problems with WordPress or is it just me? This wasn’t the post intended for today..but amongst other things I’ve lost the ability to upload pictures..to edit..to go into ‘Help’ which sort of sums up frustration..and Live Support is currently closed. Ho hum. Anyways – I originally collected these pictures as they never fail to remind me of the summer sun; It doesn’t matter what the fashion world is dictating, each year I always love the bohemian effortlessness of a peasant style shirt. Most of these are vintage from Mexico, a country which still embraces the beauty of embroidery but whether you’re a lover of colour or prefer the simplicity of a single colour, there’s something for everyone. Thinking of good times ahead..
Laters, Kate x
Erik Madigan Heck x
All photos from his website. Make a cup of tea and go and indulge in cocaine for the eyes.
A pure visual feast – Erik Madigan Heck is an award winning Photographer who’s developed his own uniquely beguilingly and surprisingly tender technique, blurring the lines between photography and the painted Arts.
In our minimalist world he’s looked to the past and found forgotten, curiously exotic textures to weave and layer into his creations.
Drawing inspiration from painters such as Matisse and Monet he revels in colour, clash and pattern with almost brutal thematic clarity.
Unconventional yet timeless with total emotional clout that hits you in the heart, I love him.
Laters, Kate x
Olivia Palermo, Really? x
(Photo by Johannes Huebl/instagram)
So the lovely Olivia Palermo is to become a Missus?…One can only wonder what the wedding will be like…I’ve rather fallen for these pictures from Vogue Tumblr of Caitlin Brown’s and Lee Schwartz’s bohemian wedding taken by Cass Bird…I think they’ll be a shared sense of DNA…but who knows!
(Bridesmaid accessory to die for!)
In our dark days of gales, rain, wind and storms it makes me long for the sun..
Laters, quietly dreaming, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 