April 9, 2014

She Did It!!!

Our lovely Claire (we’ve been following her since the start) only went and won the whole damn thing!! She entered the Worth Foundation Fund..and scooped the £150,000 top prize to invest in Air & Grace plus the priceless prize of business mentors from the retail industry!!..I couldn’t be more proud, delighted – THRILLED! It seems like only yesterday we were having a drunken conversation at Gillian’s house where she was outlining her dreams…and she’s only gone and done it! It helps that she is highly talented, dedicated and driven..but goes to show what’s possible when you put your mind to it…congrats you star!

The plus side for me is I get to write about ‘Grace’ on Claire’s Blog…she’s our fictional, exceptionally stylish but rather kooky muse of the Brand, she tells the story of the shoes through her eyes…and I get to re-live my miss-spent youth all over again!

It’s really true..it’s a big world out there…but anything is possible! Sigh…

Laters, Kate x

April 8, 2014

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

April 7, 2014

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

April 5, 2014

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

April 4, 2014

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

April 3, 2014

Agnes and Lola x

This is one of my secrets. The website Agnes & Lola, originally born of a love of two things: independent fashion and the diverse cultures across the African continent.

It’s the perfect browse if you need a bit of spice.

Re-defined classics that offer a ready-to-wear alternative to the cloning of the High Street. And sensible prices too..I’ve just ordered these, reduced from £55 to £25…

I look at these, and all I can think of, even though I have never met her is my blogging friend Fashion Mayann! They just have her name on them!

Let colourful be your personality. Why should the men have all the fun? I want these trousers..

Just accessories with a smile!

Laters, Kate x

April 2, 2014

Just a Little Obsessed..

The light is underway. I took a punt on the size of lanterns without seeing them in the flesh..and as a prototype I don’t think I did too badly. Still not sure how I’m going to finally link them all together – on the one hand, when they’re loosely linked they catch the breeze and spin gently – I can imagine them above candles, moving on the warm air. But then I think the shape is better when they’re tighter together. Going to see what they look like with their scales before I made a decision.

The bottom ball is already covered..the temptation was just too great! It’s incredibly therapeutic work…

Laters, Kate x

April 1, 2014

Serendipidy..

Sometimes worlds start to collide..like today! Two of the lovely brands I’ve discovered on my Blog travels have taken their visions further: The dynamic Claire from Air & Grace has just launched her website! Yay!

Find out exactly why I think her shoes are so special..

And meet Grace..the urban, kooky, stylish muse of the Brand! You may also recognise a bit of the style of writing on the Website..Claire was here last week to crunch some words together..

And the charismatic children’s label the Fableists? They’ve just launched a Kickstarter Project…

Making it the ideal time to invest in a classic canvas Chore coat..(in my size please!!)

Or the smock dress I’ve been meaning to get..and check out that Blue chambray shirt..divine..

Buy knowing you’ve helped the people who want to get it right…it’s about great clothes for kids that are beautifully made with love, design and sustainability…which ticks every box in my book.

But at the end of the day..it’s not the buying that really matters… we can do much more: We’re all plugged into that cyber-energy that runs like a river between us and the world…send out a post, a tweet, an email – spread the word. If each one of us sent off little paper boats of information out onto the current, the result would be incredible…these are now the little people starting out with new Brands in a dog eat dog world….but with the thought and attention to detail these guys have, they really should be the Companies of the future…and they will be, with that kind of support behind them.

Sometimes it’s the little things that really matter: Let’s do it for the good guys.

Laters, Kate x

March 31, 2014

Silken Favours x

Victoria Murdoch is the independent, free-thinking spirit and designer behind the label Silken Favours, creating her own silk pieces from traditional pen & ink techniques.

Based in London and originally working everything by hand, she’s managed to combined her nostalgic sense of magic with fast, modern digital printing techniques to produce commercially priced work with that personal touch.

Humour with a delicateness to make you smile and lust.

Clever designs that speak to the heart with a shift in every mood and a requisite fair and lightness.

Sort of cute but still sly making it all so appealing..and endearing.

Silk is her canvas, but this is just the start – there’s more to come like insanely printed silk shirts. Imagine!

I can’t wait.

Laters, Kate x

March 29, 2014

There’s Something about Denim..

If there was one item that caught my eye in Fashion Week last September it was this picture from Valentino SS14..so available now. It seemed to encapsulate everything slightly different, slightly loose and rather wonderful. The dropped waist is heaven and it’s the first time I’ve considered the maxi length in a long, long time. I really thought they could be my designer purchase of the summer..

So imagine my shock when I discovered they were in fact flared trousers. I love they are probably the only item of clothing I have ever seen that discourages thigh gap…it just looks so ugly on this style (the above pic just confirms). But…would they be the ultimate sartorial choice? or would they lie forgotten in the wardrobe, too reminiscent of bad 70’s and something a clown might wear? I’m struggling..

I’m off to the South Bank now to see Alexa Chung’s talk at the Vogue Festival and feel the buzz..anyone else going??

Laters, Kate x