Category: Creative
Jewel x
There’s a perverse delight in unearthing a bargain, and one of my best ever were these earrings from Siren London – not that you could buy this exact earring as they were actually my mash-up of two of their pairs…but it’s still possible to emulate.
The ‘kiss’ part was from one pair, and the lips from another – the ‘kiss’ earring was a ridiculously clever design with the word being a separate part of the earring which then hung off the main stalk of the stud and looked cunningly suspended just below the earlobe. The design meant there’s this blue-sky-thinking ability to use ANY stud earring to hang the word from. Sadly ‘kiss’ is no longer available..but ‘love’ is (tempted?) The lips were then the perfect foil to the words, but at £3.94 precisely one had to worry about their quality (having said that – I never got an allergic reaction wearing them) and how long they’d last..but now there’s a rather wonderful solution..
As requested in the original post, there’s now a posh version available..which means treasure, longevity and rapture..
Aamaya by Priyanka also has some other rather cheeky, desirable designs..
So here’s the thought: Indulge and mix them all up..sad face on one side with ‘kiss’…(yep..still got mine..)
Heart eyes on other with ‘love’..
Oh, how I laugh!
Laters, Kate x
Neuter not Neutral x
Have you heard about Selfridge’s new Agender Project? Starting in March, instead of separate departments for men and women, the shop will stock three floors of unisex clothing for browsing by both. So is neuter the new cultural shift and a serious re-thinking of fashion? Or the prophetic skid marks of car crash about to happen? Or just someone with an unerring nose for hype indulging in the need for a good, loud scream?
Selfridges says ‘We want to take our customers on a journey where they can shop and dress without limits or stereotypes.’ It can be argued there’s always been androgyny..and the men’s fall runway highlighted a further blurring of the gender lines. It was only a couple of weeks ago I was listening to a discussion on Radio 4 about a new brand of neuter pants by Play Out – a sort of boxer for boys and girls – I would’ve blogged about it, but I actually found the designs desperately ugly in a post-eighties germanic way that really shouldn’t see the light of day again. But it’s definitely a subject making waves..
(All photos Tommy Ton from Style.com)
I wonder how they’ll manage the button debate – (to the right? Or to the left? Or maybe a coalition??) – not that it’s ever stopped me nicking The Husbands clothes. But then women into men has always been so much easier – if I look in my wardrobe I’ve shoes, jeans, shirts and jumpers all from the mens departments because I prefer the heavier, straighter cut. Men into women? Why not? I love a bit of flower with my masculinity..
Whether or not this is an anathema to the wonderful diversity of gender expression and just another step towards global greyness and generalisation, it’s going to be interesting..but the truth is, it’s just an eight week project..maybe just enough to get people thinking..
Laters, Kate x
Man Mania x
One myth to nail is that women are not the only peacocks of the fashion world..and how my heart beats for this coat..
The male members of our species are more than happy to step up to the mark and find new ways to make outfits spring to life..
Just accessorise with red and a smile..
Choose your favourite raconteur..sharp, witty and erudite.
I want this coat too..how charming to see it on a masculine man, a moment where art and expectations collide.
( All pictures Tommy Ton from Style.com)
Bold, brilliant and beautiful..and always ready to grumble rumble..
Laters, Kate x
French Fancies x
It snowed in London last night – not a lot, but enough to make a new ,white world and Charlie a very happy boy. I’m just grateful we got our boiler to work again..why is it that boilers start staggering on what will be their last legs just when the coldest weather kicks in? And why are modern boilers so crap??
As a distraction from impending doom and financial ruin, I’ve been ogling Tommy Ton’s street style photos from the french Couture Shows, which have to be some of the greatest shots to obsess over: The ideas, the outfits that should look promisingly awful but by small strokes of magic give irony and imagination pride of place..
Maybe the cut out and keep part of the twenty-tens will be eclecticism. That heady mix of anything goes and modern-old-soul..
The power to dazzle by mixing high with low, latest and oldest, hard and soft, summer and winter with mesmerising narrative power…things that shouldn’t work in an outfit…working..
It’s a cocktail of collision..it’s dangerous territory and a high risk way of telling a story..easy to hype or misjudge. Or not.
(All photos Style.com)
It’s an organic development that creates the dramatic pulse, exploding the rules and energetically galloping over the baseline..
It’s the stuff of dreams…
Laters, Kate x
Hot Fuzz x
Karen Walker has managed to capture the sex-factor in her new campaign..with a dog. A dog called Toast with a strong sense of self who doesn’t let anyone walk over her, but is more than happy to throw us a bone..
Sassy and sweet, flashing the flesh and dealing with aplomb with this meaty dish..
Like Karen Walker’s previous campaigns, it’s humourous, cheeky and rather wonderful, with just the perfect combination of wit and gristle.
The glasses aren’t bad either…
Laters, Kate x
Pretty in Pink x
Spotted: Fabulous piece of walking art on Rita Ora.
Tracked down: To House of Holland SS15
Dreaming: Of tropical paradises, sun, sea and..sand.
Thinking: Are they crochet flowers? And could I do this??
Laters, Kate x
Happy New Year! xxx
From a very wet, stormy start to the year…
To the post-apocalyptic Christmas cake, complete with reindeer excrement, polar bear poo and a melting snowman…what would Grandma think?
Here’s to a fabulous 2015!
Laters, Kate x
The Magic starts here..
The Elf-on-the-shelf has been a stroke of genius to the spirit of Christmas in this house – so much so we had to find him a female companion (mind out of the gutter please….) so Bella had her own elf too (At eight she’s on the cusp of not believing) – their presence has been totally embraced with homemade presents and letters regularly being left for them (generally saying the other has been up to no good!). The other tradition that underlines the children’s belief is their annual message from PNP Santa..it’s a beautiful dose of pure nostalgia – there’s a choice of a free message – which really works if you have young children or only one so you don’t get a repeat..or pay £2.99 for a longer message, more photos and a choice of story..this year, for the first time, I upgraded..it was so worth it, particularly as there was an option for the Elf to get a special mention..how perfectly magical? There’s no denying their power now!
The basic concept is that Santa speaks individually to your child and looks at photos of them through the year in their special book..then they find out whether they’re on the good list…or the naughty list..with the option of behaving better before the big day…it’s very, very, clever and utterly seductive. And it’s not just limited to children..there’s an adults version too with true mirth in hearing this Santa mutter ‘I hear you regularly fart in bed’ and other such gems..
I’ve uploaded Bella and Charlie’s messages to Facebook if you want to see the quality of the messages for yourself, and just for posterity, I videoed their reactions this year:
…Once you have laughed and once you have loved this Christmas..the rest is just background noise..
Laters, Kate x
Twinkle Tinsel x
How did it happen? Christmas is a traditional time of green, ivy, berries and candy sticks….yet when I look at this tinsel monstrosity from the 70’s..and my heart sings!
Oh fickle fashion..when will I understand?
Laters, Kate x
Christmas Spirit..
The lead up to Christmas is gathering momentum like a shaken, very expensive bottle of vintage champagne ready to explode everywhere, with no-one actually getting to taste a drop. So starts the month of spending, drinking and ironic hair extensions: There’s so much emphasis on the extravagance of Christmas – the more you spend does equal the more you love don’t you know? – that the real joy of Christmas is suffocated like a candle without oxygen. There have been years when I’ve literally sobbed into my mulled wine on Christmas Eve as I’m still working my way through the pile of effing presents that still need to be wrapped…and missing out on all the bits I truly love – the making, the baking and the creating…I’m not religious, but I find my peace in austerity and gentleness away from the whining notion of entitlement and endlessly wanting it all..
So this year I’ve kept it simple..Bella’s stocking is everything to do with sewing with vintage bits I’ve collected from Ebay. Charlie’s is an Art box equivalent with paints, plasticine and the odd robot. The kids broke up from school yesterday, and I’ve managed to get everything done and out the way – the proverbial decks have been cleared (well..almost..cards not quite in the post yet..) but it’s been a long, hard term: The kids are on their knees, so am I..but now we can shut the shutters, close the door and concentrate on lazy days with moments of madness and doing all the things that make Christmas special for us…These lights made from photocopies and ordinary glass tumblers are up there at the top of the list…
I can’t wait!
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 