Category: Fashion
The Creme de la Creme..
I often wonder if winning the lottery would actually make my life better. It’s a moot point. However I do know it would make my walls so much more fantastic. I apologies for the next pictures..they are pure avarice and excitement and are (cough) ridiculously expensive (a pot of paint and a bit elbow grease won’t rock it with these babies) but they are sublime, aspirational and quite frankly give me giddy butterflies.
These hand painted chinoiserie wallpapers are from the company de Gournay. And looking at them you feel it is the timeless work of centuries of work from old master crafts men passing their craft down from generation to generation. In fact the Company was founded in 1986 by Claud Cecil Gurney. After searching for artisans to restore the antique wallpaper in his own home he discovered the traditional art was on the verge of disappearing. He made it his mission to resurrect it. And I for one am so thankful that he did.
To give you an idea..the paper is so expensive you can have it steamed off if you move… and re-used in your next millionaire mansion!
Laters, Kate x
Black is the new white..
Despite the prospect of summer round the corner I am surprisingly gripped with the idea of turning our front sitting room into a cocoon of darkness..slate grey, deep navy..something with gravitas. I love the way it makes other colours pop but still wants to hug you close..then the next room, the kitchen a complete contrast: white n wood n marble with floor tiles from the previous post..
(Photos courtesy of http://www.Elledecor.com)
A girls gotta dream.
Laters, Kate x
Thing of Beauty 3
Looking at a beautiful floor lets me breathe..it’s like visual porn for the mind’s eye. The best are not glossy, gossip columns but tell a story, wearing their battle scars with pride and an undeniable polishing of age. My ultimate joys are marbled mosaic floors as found in St Pauls Cathedral, the Victorian tessellated floors like those found here in the UK and possibly my favourites: Encaustic cement floor tiles from places such as Cuba, France and Italy..the artisanal flair, patterns and colours are literally chocolate for my soul. I can understand if people find them ‘too seventies’ or too dominant…..but come into my world…see if I can change your mind..
And a true font of knowledge and know-how is an amazing website called Villa Lagoon Tiles based in the States where all the pictures on this post came from. They collect pictures and information and best of all, make these tiles. Go loose yourself in their website..the options and designs are both endless and fascinating..I was lucky enough to order tiles from them for our bathrooms..but I still head back whenever I need a creative fix to see what new ideas they have come up with.They can copy old tiles or you can choose from their classics range..the following are from their Cuban heritage section. I literally die.
Or they have modern options..
I’m feeling the need for renovation coming on..
Laters, Kate x
Chaos and Couture..
Like ducks in a firing range the great and the good stepped out last night for the Met Gala Ball to celebrate the opening of Punk: Chaos to Couture Exhibition. What joy! there was no place to hide – you either nailed it, failed it..or demonstrated you never really had it…I swear with that title it was always going to be the perfect blood sport…let the games commence..
The New York Magazine cover that never was. Shame.
Biggest surprise of the night?
Anne Hathaway in Valentino! Blonde and rocking it.
Could easily have done a ‘Gwyneth’..but so doesn’t.
Must’ve changed her stylist hey.
(Photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Is this really Kylie? Was that really Anne Hathaway? What’s happened??
Except poor Moschino.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Katie Perry not known for her sartorial elegance gets a huge smacker on the lips for this fabulous choice. Dolce and Gabbana. Sigh. Loved their whole collection. Accessorised perfectly.
(photo courtesy of justjared.com)
Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs. Cool simple hot elegance.
This was always going to be up her street.
If I was being really picky..shocking coloured hair would’ve taken it stratospheric.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Cara Delevingue in Burberry. So right.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Sienna Miller in Burberry. Makes it look easy.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Coco Rocha. Breaking every rule and SMOKING!
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Aubrey Plaza dressed by Vogue, Marios Schwab dress. Like it – but want to make sure she hasn’t dropped something down her front in beautiful symmetry.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Alexa Chung in Erdem. Cool and sophisticated. Love the neck. Proud the Brit girls so understood the brief.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Anja Rubik in a red leather Anthony Vaccarello dress. How good?
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
SJP. Because she can.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
The best clutch of the night. As held by Mirranda Kerr.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Best eyeliner. As sported by Emily Blunt.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Added this one in just to demonstrate the boring.
Maggie Gyllenhaal wearing Calvin Klein. Why?
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Oops!This must be irony. Anna Wintour wearing Channel Couture and daughter Bee Shaffer.
Could it be down hill from this point?
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Uma Thurman. The Oscars were in February? And even then.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Kim car-crash Kardashian.
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Madonna in Ginvenchy? Or did Hilary Devine from Dragons Den sneak in whilst backs were turned?
(photo courtesy of http://www.justjared.com)
Laters, Kate x
The Art of a fine print..
I don’t know about everybody else but it has been a steep learning curve for me getting to grips with all things IT..setting up websites, tarting up pictures – many has been the time when I have had the computer open in front of me with my Ipad balanced precariously on a knee trying to copy the instructions from one to the other…and then there’s all the different bits of social media that are meant to be linked in..and I’ve some how done all that…but it doesn’t mean I’m an expert in any of them, in fact it has taken me a while to work out exactly what each one represents.
The one I have got to grips with (slowly – it all takes such time!) is Pinterest.. but I love jumping in and flicking through the images..from crafts to interiors to shoes to clothes. It’s like having the best thought triggers possible at my fingers. We’ve started a few boards and at the start, I didn’t know what they would really be, but now I see they’re an online scrapbook…for us, Pinterest shows the source of all our inspiration…
The following pictures are in our ‘print’ board..I was interested to pull some visual references together as a designer who has designed prints for Givenchy (!) has said they are keen to design some prints for us…I feel a frisson..
1960s Lanvin dress.
Late 1970s Leonard Silk jersey dress.
1970s Pauline Trigere 3 piece set.
1980s silk chiffon James Galanos Gown.
1960s Donald brooks cord and net dress.
1971 Malcolm Star Caspian Silk Dress.
1950s Jaques Tiffeau silk dress.
1970s Domitvalli caftan.
1970s Hand painted silk skirt and shawl.
1960s Emilio Pucci caped top and trousers.
Pastel print Malcolm Star maxi dress.
1960s gold brocade evening maxi coat.
1940s Claudia Young silk Dragon dress.
1970s Mac Tac jersey print dress.
1970s coral and turquoise Maurice jersey dress.
1970s Leonard silk jersey dress.
1970s metallic silk Geoffrey Beene skirt and top.
1960s silk metallic Mollie Parnis gown.
1960s Bessi silk flowers and grape dress.
1960’s silk chiffon Pucci skirt and top.
(all pictures courtesy of http://www.firstdibs.com which would be my first port of call if I ever won the lottery)
Now if I could just work out how Twitter works…
Laters, Kate x
The Sunshine Award
To the lovely Cailyn at Ethereal Dreams for our Sunshine Award! What I appreciate about these awards is the unexpected..you never know where the questions will lead. And then the list of Blogs to pass on the award? Another revelation setting their questions and seeing how they answer them…
My 10 questions from Cali:
1. What’s the best advice you received?
I’m not sure it qualifies as advice, but I did have a wonderful Grandmother who was always quoting old-fashioned proverbs..one of my favourites was ‘If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.’ I still love the sentiment, the words and the whole rhythm..like horses trotting.
2. What are you thinking about?
How to answer this question? But seriously – I am a fully fledged signed up member of the daydreaming club. As a child I had a whole imaginary world I could disappear into..nothing much has changed. I knew my husband knew me far to well when he spotted the look..he say’s i’ve gone to dappy land…and there tends to be a pre-face of ‘oh no’. But I do believe in order to achieve something you have to dream it first..
3. If you had to choose an animal that best represents you, what would it be? And Why?
A chameleon..I can change to suit my environment..I like to put people at ease. Then a Dormouse because the idea of hibernating when the weather is bad is very appealing. With the tail of a Bird of Paradise (male! – they’re prettier) because I like to strut my stuff and make my house look pretty!
4. What is important for you in life, love or money?
I genuinely believe what they say – that money doesn’t buy you happiness. It doesn’t make you a better person just because you have it, in fact I think it isolates you. Most of the intelligent wealthy people I have read about either give chunks away or end up planting trees..because it’s that connection with nature that creates a real sense of self. I do think that money makes life easier, but I am sure a lack of it makes a person more creative. In comparison love is just the best free drug in the world!
5. What is your nickname?
My lovely Grandmother called me ‘Katie-Koo’..The Husband calls me trouble..
6. What do you find the most interesting about the opposite sex?
Their dangly bits?! I find it fascinating that we are the same species yet entirely different. I don’t know if it’s a man thing, but my other half is the kindest, loveliest man you could meet – in all aspects, except one…when I am ill he runs a mile. Once I spent 12 hours in our bedroom without so much as a glass of water…he says he wants to give me peace so I can get better (man would go in cave) whilst I want to know he cares and shows concern. After 12 years of marriage, if I fear a bug coming on I’ve learnt to stockpile…
7. What is one thing you would change about yourself and why?
I would have a breast reduction so I could wear all the styles I love without having to edit. I particularly want to be able to wear sexy 1940s style sleepwear without fear of my boobs brushing my knees. The selection of sleepwear for curves is abysmal..and don’t tell me Bravissimo…I don’t want sports wear..I want elegance, mystery, silk and lace..
8. Do you have any regrets? If so, what are they?
I won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at 11 to study the violin and from then on it was assumed that’s what I would do – it was an obvious talent so why wouldn’t I? I studied full time at 17..I never visited a University or explored other options..no-one said is this what you want to do for the rest of your life, do you realise what the life of a musician entails? Unsocial hours, terrible pay, and very little natural creativity?..you are a very small cog in a big wheel where the most important thing is that your bow goes in the same direction as everyone else’s? I wasn’t a very good cog..I was the one at the back running the sweep stake on when the rehearsal would end. It’s not that I don’t love music..I just found it very restrictive. I look back now and I regret doing my A levels in one year. Those two years in sixth form as so vital for development and maybe if I’d stayed I would have taken a different path, visited the universities, art schools and smelt the air of discovery. I still got an A in Art – the picture I produced was taken round the country to illustrate the quality of an A grade…I adored the exam because I had eight hours to focus solely on painting..but I didn’t have the sense to rebel in a productive way and there was no adult who could really ‘see me’ and say Kate, have you really thought about what you’re doing?..it’s something I say to all young people I meet and something I very much hope to install in my children..be the best that you can be in the thing that you want to be the best at..the rest will follow.
9. What inspires you?
Everything and anything. I’ll be watching a dramatic thriller with the husband – there’s a man walking into a room with an axe-weilding murderer ready to leap hiding behind the door..and I’ll prod The Husband and say ‘Nice wallpaper’…
10. What would a utopian society be to you?
In my ideal society men would have babies too. I consider myself to be a modern feminist – I want equality. But I don’t see it happening until maternity leave is genuinely and fundamentally shared between the sexes. I know there is a new law is being brought in to say fathers can take it if they want to – but there won’t be actual equality until they do and it’s not going to happen over night. We have a better chance to change them biologically to join us..Besides I actually think it would solve many of the worlds problems if they did have babies. Can you imagine?!
And now I have to come up with 10 questions:
1. Who is your style icon and why?
2. What are you wearing right now?
3. Where was your best holiday?
4. And your worst?
5. Did you learn much at school?
6. Could you predict your life?
7. What was the first album you bought?
8. Could you ever live in another country?
9. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
10. If you could have any person to be your mentor who would you choose?
And my 10 blogs to pass on this award too are:
1. Le Cape Town Journal – because of your photos and style. I want to be there. With you.
2. Fashion Assist – For her passion for fashion.
3. Vintage Attitude – For her fabulousness with vintage and always picking shops I love.
4. Judith at Wee Story Book – for her skill and joy.
5. Renne Writes Now – for her carefully chosen words of wisdom.
6. Arnold and Bird – Because I love what Joanne does.
7. Lavenderloafers – For enthusiasm, desire and a gorgeous pair of trousers.
8. Fashion Mayann – For always choosing the clothes I love.
9. According to Coco – for recognisable angst and great writing.
10 Girls on the High Street – for happiness and enthusiasm and loving Balham!
The Rules:
Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog
Link to the person who nominated you
Answer 10 questions about yourself
Nominate 10 bloggers
Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs letting them know they
have been nominated
CONGRATULATIONS! And I hope you will pass the baton on!
Laters, Kate x
Blogging…
The gorgeous Anna on her way to a christening.
In Bath! With the lovely Flo and husband Harry.
And now a little (I lie) rant because I’m a bit confused..y’see I thought blogs were a collection of posts much like magazine articles, with good visuals, a story and writing to match? But when I take a stroll through the Freshly Pressed fashion posts I’m seeing post after post of pictures by the same blog. I click through to the Blog..and that’s all it is. A post is a picture. No context, no words carefully crafted, no content. The roughly nine posts it spews out each time, each hour? All completely random..different people, different subjects, different languages…morning, noon and night..same thing, same blog – ‘Artwall Blog’..and the same caption..Please like my blog…but I don’t. I don’t like it. I don’t like posts reduced to their lowest common denominator, published as a quick flash in the pan, then move onto the next bright bauble of attraction. I don’t like them swamping out all the singly posting blogs by multiple times multiple postings like a rampant weed on speed, sucking away the oxygen and draining the light. I am tired of the quick idea, the quick buck and jumping on the band wagon to mow through thought, craft and attention as if they were ghosts.
The conclusion I’ve come to – it isn’t a blog it’s an Instagram drain-away. So why doesn’t it stay on Instagram? It seems to me this is a micro view of what is wrong with much of the world and I wish it would stop. Instead I fear it will spawn more insipid beasts to dilute, destroy and unify the unique individuality out there.
Laters, Kate x
Trending..
A trend used to be something that you felt in your throat and stomach, elevating the wearer to a little invisible floating pedestal carried on a cloud of desire. These days things seem a lot more transient, celebrity/media driven..and now they call it trending…
One trend I have never got my head round is guys wearing their trousers round their thighs aping inmates in US prisons. What is that all about? I understand, nay appreciate the glimpse of a band of a mens underwear (clean, not y-fronts) but your whole bottom? Too much information..and why would anyone want to make their body longer and legs shorter to increase their ability to walk like a penguin? Darwin would not be amused.
Of course this has come back to bite me in my own proverbial as my youngest, Charlie aged 3 (birthday next week) is incapable of keeping his trousers up. In fact I was a spectator in the episode below.. I hope it comes across as to quite how much he was playing to his audience.. like a strutting peacock…
The man walking down the road is a neighbour. His eyes nearly popped out. By the time we got to his friend’s house a few more doors down they were down by his ankles. And he still didn’t pull them up!
Laters, Kate x
PS The lovely Cailyn from Ethereal Dream has nominated us for a Sunshine Blog Award – we are really honoured and will follow up with a post shortly but we wanted to say a big THANK YOU! XXX
Swedish Hasbeens x
I was aware of fashion from a very early age …rolling down my hated knee socks in primary school in longing of cute ankle ones – and lusting over those nearly not there socks with the pom-pom at the back? Sigh. And there was the utter object of my desire..navy blue clogs. I’d watch those lucky girls nonchalantly flick them off to do cartwheels on the grass..before sliding them back on and jauntily walking off with that bone dry rhythm. I knew it was wrong to be fiddling with a buckle.
Time has made a difference..and I just got me some new summer shoes…CLOGS! A long held desire has been appeased and a wrong has finally been righted..Do you know the brand Swedish Hasbeens? They have a lovely story..(although it has given me visions of Anita lighting up a four-legged beast from the desert)..
The story |
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The designs are delicious…
A clunky shoe that’s elegant..want this one.
Love this colour – they also do in canary yellow!
Want these. And some more retro style ads from their website:
I went for simplicity and a lower heel – I’ve never worn Hasbeens before and I suspect a wooden sole takes a bit of getting used to, also I was ordering off the internet…and truth be told – I’m not too good on really high heels and I want these as regular day shoes..the colour is divine…not white, but a soft, buttermilk.. they’ll go with everything..
But if they suit…and they become my best-ever-summer-shoe-purchase-since-the-arrival-of-flatforms..guess where they’ve opened their first UK shop? Only in Hanbury street in Spitalfields…I hear a siren call..
Laters, Kate x
P.S. Tip from Anna, the half-Swedish girl who knows..to wear them in (the leather is good n strong) start wearing them in the house with extra thick socks!
Vogue Festival 2013
Yesterday Anna and I slapped on the lippy, added a little MasonBentley number, clicked our heels and headed off to the Vogue Festival at the South Bank to hear the e-commerce oracle Natalie Massenet give a talk.
Loved the fact that the ad girls that I adore from Bottega Veneta were on the other side of the glass…their beauty was still illuminating..
Impressions? I have never been in such a large group of people where fashion was an over-riding obsession, it created a touchable energy I wished I could bottle. In fact it would be easy to intimidated – I know I used to worry much more about failure – and maybe it’s one of the joys of growing older that you can to stand back, observe and place feelings within context from the memory bank.
It struck me – and I have to be honest here – that there was the lack of heart stopping visions of fashion that really floated my boat. Everyone was all very very – there was neon, there was sheer, there was monochrome, there were see-through clutches..but surely if it’s been labelled a ‘trend’ you are following fashion rather than creating it?
For me great fashion has always had that element of unattainability – all precision cut, impeccably crafted, rich visual rewards with cleverness and innovation, Glamour, mystique and cool sophistication, beautifully crafted visions of perfection. But I did’t see that..instead I saw the need for celebrity spread across clothes like landing beacons for transient moments of limelight and a little bit of me wanted to grow wings and fly away.
Maybe the fashion I lust after is elitist which is why it’s been sidelined to a corner? Maybe fast fashion, bright colours and basic material is the only way? We had hoped that Anna might get ‘papped’ in our Valentina dress..I still believe that quality shines. But it was disappointing when we saw that the only outfits being noticed were the most extreme…the towering platform heels, the tiny skirts, the bling…do they really represent what women want to wear? what makes them comfortable? cool? It feels very wrong when we don’t like good any more…that we don’t hold it in esteem.
The talk was great – I would give my eye-teeth to have a two-to-one with Natalie Massenet..if you want to see it for your self all her slides are available on Instagram at @nataporter_mystorysofar. A huge amount of what she said completely resonated with us and our vision for the future. We were inspired.
Then, on the way out..’Madame..Can we take your picture?’…Only USA Vogue!
As Steve Martin said…be so good they can’t ignore you…
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 
