Category: Fashion
Coachella 2014
Coachella: A place for people to unshowily declare themselves.
To turn up and have fun like a wild drive through the night whilst still standing in a circle of friends.
To sing, play, dance and listen and put a distance from the real world. Just for a little bit.
Personally, it’s the Coachella Art Studios that would have my name on them – the craft themes this year are: Paper, re-cycled materials, fashion, camp improvement (!) and a banter booth!
You can make a head wrap, get stuck into clay and even draw stranger portraits – love this: Sit down on opposite sides of an artists easel with a stranger and draw each other – get to know the other person through the process by using provided interview questions to break the ice..or just chat! The result is a portrait each and a new friend..result!
The Afterlife is a place to go to give birth to new objects from old…a broken inner bicycle tube? It becomes a wallet. Plastic bags? material! I’d never leave..
For the first time ever there’s even a Quiltchella..a communal quilt in the making..they need you Kerry and Nikki!
(All photos by Annie powers from Style.com)
The next Festival is 18-20 April…only in my dreams will I be there….But one day, when the kids have flown the nest and I’m in my dotage I’m going to dress up in flowing purple robes and a mighty turban and laugh and dance and do it all till the sun rises again…Promise.
Laters, Kate x
Espadrille Competition!
Calling all fashionista’s (particularly those with a young child within) for our inaugural Pimp Your Kicks Design Competition! this is your chance to play, glue, dye, make..bake! accessorise and bling-o-rize a classic pair of espadrilles into a thing of beauty worthy of a street style photo shot (See here for more inspiration – seriously – the only limit is your imagination!)
The details:
- Sign up below and send a photo of your finished shoes to contactkatebentley@gmail.com by midnight gmt on Friday 23 May
- The winner will be announced on Monday 26 May with pictures of all the entries (can’t wait!)
- You can enter as many pairs as you wish..and high heeled espadrilles also accepted.
- There will be an external judge and a little prize for the winner..
I’m off to scout the internet for the cheapest pair of espadrilles I can find…and if I can find children’s sizes Bella and Charlie will be entering too!!
Laters, Kate x
Summer Dresses..
The White romance embroidered maxi dress
Nothing quite beats the ease of a summer dress..it is the ultimate capsule wardrobe – throw it on and you’re out the door. I found these gorgeous wonders on the Free People website thanks to the Blog Katewears..Thank you Kate! I know I’ll be losing hours of my life sighing over all their offerings..how rather, very wonderful!
(Virginia/Holzfeder – Close to your ideal?..was thinking of you..)
I’m thinking if I bought just one tiny little itty bitty dress….I could justify it by spending my whole holiday wafting in it?? Would make packing very easy…
Laters, Kate x
Jackie? Are you there??! x
Leaving on our adventure..not sure how Bella managed to take this pic, but I love the way the shadow looks like a man with a big nose…
Charlie is our fashionisto today..he’s insisted on wearing his top back-to-front..
To match his blue nail varnish (Yep, a fashion statement rather than hyperthermia..)
First part of the journey is by train. The kids are tickled pink by the window of this platform cafe…made on purpose or did someone get bored?!
Fuel stop at Brockley (re-named broccoli by Bella..)
They’re not impressed by my blue egg brunch, but honestly it’s Delicious!
There’s a serendipitous magazine on the table….reminding us we’re here on a mission from New York (Click for the NY link and the complete story!)..we have to find Jackie’s book ‘Silk for the Feed Dog’ before anyone else does..she’s literally sent it from across the Atlantic..
Except – so near yet so far..there’s no effing internet on my phone so now we don’t have a map. Tip to self: Always carry a paper back-up…and we’re on a deadline for the magic to happen..
We jump on a bus..it’s the scenic route but at least I can remember the way from Lewisham (we’re travelling two sides of a very large triangle)..the question is..will we make it in time??
There it is!! London’s smallest library…
Is it there? Are we too late?
YES!! SUCCESSSSSSSSSSSS!
All the way from New York!! Utterly totes amazing!!! So thrilled it’s there and there is such a things as magic in the world..
And the kids are thrilled to swap and find books of their own too..
Time to go home for a nice cup of tea and a good read..except I have two children to entertain…
but hey!..they have books too! Result!
Laters, a very happy, Kate x
(Quick link back to the NY part of the story!)
Linking to NY! x
I know..cryptic eh? But New York is five hours behind…. And we have a little adventure to go on before the magic happens!
Laters, (At say..2.00?!) Kate x
La Vita e Bella..
Spring has really sprung in London..you can almost leave the house without a coat… it means all I want to do is pour myself into summer…
It doesn’t help that the Dolce & Gabbana Spring Summer advertising campaign has cherry picked everything my heart is yearning for…
The effervescence of the simple life – the joy of cooking with fresh ingredients, the passion of creating, the aroma of flowers and fruit ripening in the sun, blue skies and al fresco suppers in the garden…the extra long brown legs don’t help either (where I can find them and how much do they cost?!) all sharpened up with a hint of Mafia.
There’s a haunting beauty that’s still grounded in the past, capturing a time when there was time to roam and relax into natural rhythms..
There’s still laughter and fun..the fluidity of life rushing on the slow side with everything in broad strokes.
I want to hold it like a snow globe and treasure it forever..
Laters, Kate x
I spy…
(Penelope Chilvers)
Espadrilles! Perfect to wear with the new trouser length, their artisanal chic shouts style-without-even-trying.
(Dolce and Gabbana)
In the Season of ugly shoes, the espadrille walks in the shadow of the Birk, never quite leading the way…but always there.
(Fendi)
But from it’s humble position on sea-side kiosks and dusty holiday shops, it’s now been elevated to celestial heights and given the full make-over.
(Stella McCartney)
I can’t help but think – if what’s special about them is they’re colours and added bits….surely they make the ideal canvas for a DIY project?
(Tory Burch)
Cheap as chips to buy, easy to accessorise – no great financial risk if it all goes tits up – the only real limit is your daring and imagination with the end result equalling a stunning, original piece of your summer wardrobe…
(Missioni Mare)
Makes me think – shall we have a DIY Espadrille Competition????
Laters, Kate x
Introducing the kids to Anarchy..
On Saturday we headed into Trafalgar Square to witness the Flash Mob International Pillow Fight. Even the street performers were prepared…
It was a rather delicious event..the Police weren’t happy. Boris had done his best to call the whole thing off…but to take action against a pillow fight? It would be like aligning with Putin…
Have I shrunk?
The power is strong with this one..
Charlie telling Darth Vadar he loves him..
We then headed up to Oxford Street and couldn’t help notice the speed of the Jeremy Scott rip-offs…
Our destination?….a Victorian men’s toilet..
Now converted into a supercool cafe called ‘The Attendant’ complete with table-urinals and handwarmers.
At the exit was a writing wall..
So Bella added Graffiti to the days lessons of life…
Laters, Kate x
Every Now and Then x
These are the random pics that never make it into posts, but really should..
(All pictures sourced from Tumblr)
Laters, Kate x
Penelope Chilvers x
Penelope Chilvers is an independent shoe shop based in Notting Hill offering some seriously lovely kicks to swoon over..
Founded in 2005 from the front room of her house, Penelope Chilvers, the driving force and Designer, passionately supports dying crafts and traditional methods for manufacturing in the twenty first Century. She believes this is the beating heart of the Brand and what keeps it authentic..
Her shoes are always impeccably crafted – she endeavours to source each and every component in a design which is then crafted by hand..the result is the addition of that intrinsic quality that’s impossible to fake: Love.
Each shoe is designed to walk into your life. And stay there.
Quietly rocking inspiration.
Me likey..
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 