There’s a serendipity when things that aren’t perfect just are.
Like an unexpected marriage of colour, nostalgia and manipulation.
But then would you expect any more from Karen Walker?
(I want this bow necklace. Like now…)
The Queen of witchy powers, always willing to throw magic into the mix. And cackle with glee at the results..
Laters, Kate x
There are days when nothing goes to plan…that’s when you need to sit back and respect the awesomeness that is OK Go…timeless, fantastic and guaranteed to make you look at the gym in a whole new way…
Laters, Kate x
J.Crew is a gentle melodic voice over a Spanish guitar in a bar in Shoreditch, singing of relaxed yet crisp cottons, urban slides and pretending not to care..
In many respects they’re hitting it out of the ball-park…
But something’s not quite right, even when my heart skips a beat looking at this top.
There’s almost a computer generated skill to the precision of desire: The perfect angle of slouch, the accuracy of the turn-ups, the atomic glow of the whites..
Maybe it’s the Jean Paul Gaultier effect – I went with the irrepressible Julie from Vintageattitude on Tuesday to see his Exhibition at the Barbican and oh! how we revelled and laughed in the joy and the humour!
Now I want to throw a Banksy graffiti at this pristine grey marl sweat, fray the edges of the linen and in a pointed bra, Vogue away from the Stepford set..
But I still want this skirt…
Laters, Kate x
(one side – flowery with geometric)
Beautiful bed linen lifts me away from the world and gives my soul one more colour. My most favourite, treasured set came from my Grandmother and I used to sleep in it as a child when we stayed at her beautiful thatched cottage in the country. Now, even though it is faded and getting worn away, Charlie sleeps in it which is an utter joy because it represents a living link to the past.
(The other side geometric)
But part of the love is not only the nostalgic memories and how soft the sheets are, but the design is just so edible and clever: The pillows, the duvet – even the fitted sheet and the sheet – have the choice of 2 contrasting patterns, one on each side: one flowery, one geometric. What’s always amazed me is that the sheets are one printed piece of fabric yet when you look you never see the other pattern coming through, even now when they’re decades old. And the two sides compliment and work together so fantastically allowing endless combinations and configurations. I’ve never found anything like them…until recently.
A Company – The Secret Linen store – has just started offering sheets and duvets that are reversible. And there’s more..
They’ve used a single off-white warp throughout making every piece feel as though it’s from the same family, so even though each design can have a totally different look, it can all be mix and matched together to create you’re own aesthetic.
And they send out free samples so you can see what you’re getting and check colours..
Also the prices..they’re aiming for great designs and GREAT prices…from £30 for a double duvet? I likey.
But possibly most exciting of all for me (see previous post) THERE’S A SIZE LABEL WOVEN INSIDE!!
Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!! At LAST!!!
Maybe I can finally retire my beloved set before it falls to shreds…….and turn it into a quilt so it can continue giving joy and memories for generations to come.
Anyone know a good quilt maker??!
Laters, Kate x
Taka Naka like to play with the eye and revel in experimenting with the unexpected. Basking in rich sources of inspiration subtle it’s not, capturing shifts in every mood..at the same time and layering them up like a rich mouth watering pavlova.
Their signature are impressive in-house prints based on paintings or photography. For AW14 they’ve taken it a step further taking the world of interiors: prints from Carpets, wallpaper, tiles and porcelain as their point of inspiration. As well as – and appropriately given the exhibition going on in London at the moment – the wonderful work of Matisse. 
The aim is an exotic clashing effect, beautifully constructed with print on print.
There’s a true fascination about how it all weaves together..helped by the incredible sets of these photos..
The Designers, identical twins Tamara and Natash Surguladze, say that by working together their designs reflect their contrasts..and yet still reveal the dual nature of the brand. 
That print on the bomber jacket..so evocative..
So Matisse..
The Collection is a new twist on relaxed dressing within luxurious symbols.
Instead of searching for a point of rest, like a Bird of Paradise, the Collection sings it’s shimmering little heart out in perfect harmony..
Laters, Kate x
Update on Espadrille Competition: Due to various requests I’ve extended the deadline – Photos of creations to be submitted by Friday 23 May, winner announced Monday 26 May!
Mine have arrived – I ordered a white and a navy pair. the white were a bit grey and disappointing – like six month old sports socks – so I took the plunge and sat them upside down in a bowl of bleach..worked perfectly! They are now a glow in the dark white. In fact, if the above pictures float your boat, then check out ‘Bleach fashion’ on Pintrest – has some incredible offerings like how to make a bleach pen by leaving a yellow felt tip pen soaking in bleach for a day…….just think of the possibilities!
This pair were made with the a basic potato print!
Or there’s always the humble permanent marker…
Taking these YouKhanga shoes as inspiration, the options are deliciously infinite…
Laters, Kate x
(All pictures Pintrest)
It always feels odd to be looking at AW when the pinchpoint decisions for Summer seem so much more pressing. On the flip side I still have my Winter clothes still hanging in my closet making it much clearer to see leaps of faiths, gaps, necessities, worn-outs and Objects of Desire..
The category that Isa Arfen falls straight into.
Graciously engaging it’s like cashmere from the street.
Observations both historical (those gold boots!) and contemporary.
Sharp lines with volume yet precision cut.
There will be much smiling this Autumn!
Laters, Kate x
Time is the universal equaliser the world over and remains the one thing that money can’t buy. It’s an arbitrary beast – running slow at Doctor’s appointments, running away on holidays and moments of wonder. Which means despite it being a mathematical unit it has a hidden, nebulous, time warp quality and, given half the chance, it is a thief.
I was originally a Professional Violinist but the one thing I truly hated was practising – repetitive, robotic and boring. I soon learnt that if I practised intelligently I considerably reduce the monotony – and it’s this discipline I’ve taken into my day to day life: Cut down the grisly bits to the least time possible and use the time left over to breathe.
The truth is generally we start the day with a list of things we need to accomplish, we start working through it and before we know it the day is gone and the list has barely been dented. The next day more stuff piles up and we’re permanently lugging around a constant burden of responsibility and expectation that never ends.
So I have 2 Golden Rules and a System – (it’s not Rocket Science, it won’t work for everyone, but it works for me.)
The Golden Rules:
1. ‘Things’ take less time than you think.
2. The ‘Things’ should never dictate time it takes to do them.
The System:
1. Write down a list of EVERYTHING. Then write a list of what you need to get done this week, prioritise for the day if needs be, but then divide the rest of the list over the rest of the week: The moral of the story is long lists never, ever work – divide and conquer and you stand a chance.
2. Give each job 15 minutes – and it is here in the objectivity of technology where the truth lies – SET AN ALARM (honest to God the time remains constant) (I use my phone) for 15 minutes. When it goes off, move onto the next job, re-set the alarm and start again…in the great scheme of things it’s a pee in the ocean: The accumulative effect packs a punch.
3. Need to tidy the house? Set the alarm for 5 minutes or 10 minutes for each room – you’ll be amazed at how much you can get done. The rest of the time is now YOURS.
It also works to create boundaries for the Creative side too – My great love is that absolute joy-zone where’s no effort and you’re transported away from the world. Given the chance I’d be permanently on my happy-dappy planet – except nothing practical would ever get done and my house and all those contained within it would fall to rack and ruin. By using an alarm and setting a limit (30 minutes – 45 minutes?) I give myself permission to ignore everything else for that period of time and just be. I can safely zone out. And come back home again.
What it does mean is that jobs don’t necessarily get finished (although you’d be surprised how much does – there’s an automatic sense of focus that comes from dictating a specific period of time) – but take my light, the patio, the shirt..not finished..but, given time, they will be..and now I’m controlling them instead of them controlling me..and bit by bit you find great riches in those small steps..It’s about both squeezing the most from everything..and taking that time to smell the roses..
Laters, Kate x
The moment I clapped eyes on this Dries Van Noten shirt it sang my song. I loved it’s bold stance that still seamlessly fitted with it’s gold baroque inspired partner.
Initially I thought the design was printed – but no, it’s all embroidered aka creole style, which in my view makes it a little slice of heaven. At £590 I can understand and appreciate it’s steep price and in my minds eye I can already see it walking through my wardrobe marrying all kinds of jeans, skirts and culottes with absolute aplomb, until I fear at the school gates instead of ‘Bella’s-Mum’ or Charlie’s-Mum’ I’d be known as ‘Shirt-Girl’. I cross my fingers tightly it’ll be in the Summer Sales with a wonderful, purse-happy reduction. Until then there’s another route and I’ve been compelled to try and make a patterned shirt of my own. I found an old cream number ripe and ready for the re-cycling bin to experiment on (it’s not cotton but a sort of modern chiffon) and with a bog standard black permanent marker pen and embroidery ring I set to work..
It’s incredibly therapeutic – there’s no right or wrong, you just do…and it organically grows..it’s not finished yet, but i’ll post a pic of it when it is.
I realise it seems as if I don’t stop – and the truth is I probably don’t. But a lot of the work I do as a mum is ‘invisible’ – expected and to a certain extent, taken for granted. By making time for my ‘projects’ I see something tangible created in front of my eyes…and the joy of that is worth it’s weight in gold – I sincerely believe it’s food for the soul. One of these days I’ll write a post about how I manage my time (I do have a system – I have to) …I just need to find the time to write it…!
Laters, Kate x
We’ve been soaking up the joys of Hampshire spending a delightful Easter with relatives, eating and drinking far too much with lovely people we haven’t seen for a long time which is what life should be about. On the last day we dragged ourselves away from the festivities to meet up with good friends to ‘Go Ape’ in the New Forest trees…
Aged between 4 and 7 our kids were impressively fearless…
Tackling high-wire tracks with gusto that had many adults swaying with pure terror..
The end reward was a huge zip line..(Charlie was NOT convinced it was a wise idea the first time round – he was persuaded by the staff to give it a go..loved it – and went back for more!)
Sometimes you only realise how high they all were when you see the little things down below..
(Photo by Filip)
(This photo by Filip)
Serious fun for all the family!
Except with every Yin there’s alway a Yan…like returning home to the joys of sorting the holiday laundry and getting everything ready for back-to-school ..this is what my Barometer of Life looks like today…
Pay back…
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 