January 13, 2014

Erik Madigan Heck x

All photos from his website. Make a cup of tea and go and indulge in cocaine for the eyes.

A pure visual feast – Erik Madigan Heck is an award winning Photographer who’s developed his own uniquely beguilingly and surprisingly tender technique, blurring the lines between photography and the painted Arts.

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In our minimalist world he’s looked to the past and found forgotten, curiously exotic textures to weave and layer into his creations.

Drawing inspiration from painters such as Matisse and Monet he revels in colour, clash and pattern with almost brutal thematic clarity.

Unconventional yet timeless with total emotional clout that hits you in the heart, I love him.

Laters, Kate x

January 12, 2014

Onesie Made Good..

Not a new clip..but if you’re struggling with any bad weather, cabin fever and young children it’s worth sharing. Besides, it was the first thing I ever saw that made me take the onesie seriously…sort of.

Enjoy..and remember – laugh. Don’t cry…..

Kate x

January 11, 2014

Winter is Coming..

I freely admit I am behind the curve on the whole Game of Thrones phenomena. Forsooth, I only devoured my first box set after New Year..but I’m learning fast. The obessesion has bitten and Season 2 is already underway – of course the joy of coming late to the party? There’s no horrible wait for next Seasons to start (yet)..they’re all lined up like the most delectable dishes at a banquet. But it’s not only the storyline, I’m also smitten by the fashions..and it’s the men’s rather than the ladies: The leather, the studding, the macho winter layering and enormous shaggy shoulders. I lust. A little bit of searching revealed that Helmut Lang’s 2012 Fall Collection was inspired by the series. And how very very appropriate it looks as the Polar Vortex attempts to do it’s worst. I’d bet good gold that that sheepskin coat above would be ready to fight beside any wolf in a storm…

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(A touch of the Katniss Everdeens? I wonder what came first?)

And then there’s Chloe Pre-fall 2014, showing that layering can be warm, furry and coloured. Might need a pair of woolly tights though..

For this night..and all nights to come..

Laters, Kate x

January 10, 2014

Edun x

Sigh…

Edun is the ethical fashion label founded by Ali Hewson and Bono in 2005. Their vision is to build long-term sustainable growth opportunities in Africa by supporting the manufacturing process and building community initiatives in the country. Danielle Sherman was named Creative Director in April 2013 and these incandescent pics are cherry-picked from her first Collection which debuted in New York Fashion Week in September.

The provocativeness is in the simplicity: Simple palette, simple patterns, simple shapes – the mixing it up is where the awesomeness happens.

J’adore and want.

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It’s fluid, it’s refreshing: Justification takes on a new dimension and skilfully skewers the message home…You don’t have to pretend not to care.

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For Spring 2014 they want 85% of the Edun Collection to be produced in Sub Saharan Africa and they’ve been travelling to Africa for more inspiration.

They truly believe they can hit the wall and make a dent. So do I, and I personally can’t wait to see what they do next..Roll on February!

Laters, Kate x

January 9, 2014

Toast Becomes her..

Sometimes it’s the little things like the cut of a waistband, a delicate brushstroke of detail that makes a pair of trousers sing with more than just noise and Toast has some of the best…and they’re having a huge Sale.

The label is known for honest clothes for both men and women that are strong and confident with a sense of self.

There’s an emphasis on masculine tailoring.

As well as a a nod to the past that smiles like a warm, buttered crumpet.

Like a sip of fine wine, there’s a magic touch of satisfaction of knowing these pieces will be timeless and won’t lose their allure: Quality not quantity, and that’s worth a great deal.

Laters, Kate x

January 8, 2014

Spring Edition x

The February edition of UK Vogue landed with a plump thud on my doormat yesterday. Such a thrill to flick through the pages and drink in the professional visuals. I always have to look through first..then I read, starting from the back, last article first. Lord knows why, it might be something to do with being left handed, but that’s the way I like it. There’s a feeling of freedom and stepping away from the norm..which is what this edition is all about…enjoy the mismatching matching, the return of colour and the championing of the midi, whether it be in skirts or trousers. Pure lush.

Laters, Kate x

January 7, 2014

An Epiphany.. x

Yesterday, the 6th of January was Epiphany – the Christian feast celebrating the wise men meeting baby Jesus, but also informally recognised as the date by which (certainly in Europe) all Christmas decorations have to be down. Which really seems a far better date to make New Year Resolutions – far away from hangovers, chaos and tinsel – and when there’s a general sense of cleansing and moving on. There’s been time to think about what really matters and mull over plans. For instance, I’m taking on this idea..a thought jar..a place for one captivating thought or quote a day which can be put away for a rainy moment…it’s by my computer now.

Charlie and I have also started on our Epiphany Tablecloth..an idea adapted from the lovely Kerry from Love Those Hands at Home (who also sells vintage linen at her etsy shop)…she re-blogged a special story about a family Christmas cloth, with little messages embroidered on every year by members of the family, of love, of happiness, of major events. I recognise my limitations and before Christmas is too much..but now? I want to reminisce about Christmas and year gone by, and I so appreciate these treasures created out of nothing but time and love till they have a magical, talismanic quality created by and just for the family.

Each family member writes their name and something on the cloth with pencil (We want it to be special so we’re using a vintage irish linen tablecloth) then it’s simply embroidered. The original cloth was made with red and green embroidery thread for alternate odd and even years…we’ve gone for white and creams, just to be a bit different., to be able to use it at different times of the year…and keep people looking closer..

There was another post that hit a chord.. Rachel Olsen wrote on the Huffington post about not having a list of resolutions that will inevitably get broken, but rather have a single word that encapsulates the whole year. I’ve thought about what my word would be..fitter? tighter? creative?

But the one I’m going to go with is ‘Zone’. If I can zone my mind to all the things I really want to do…then they’ll all happen.

Well..that’s the plan!

Laters, Zoning already…Kate x

January 6, 2014

Belting up..

The Emma belt by Thomas Pink

In the ebb and flow of life, the Belt seems to have all but disappeared. A bit like hats. I first saw this one in the window of a shop when Christmas shopping and it stopped me in my tracks. I managed to restrain the desire of buying there and then (just) in the hope it would be in the Sale – and it was, reduced from £49.00 to £29.00 which really is a paltry sum for such a peacock piece – You certainly can’t wear it with your hands folded in your lap.

I want to wear it with a loose silk shirt dress in a dark navy blue. But it’ll work with most staples, taking them on multiple journeys (such a win win).

Pieces like this are so important: Mixing opposites, crafting wrong combinations to create something right..they shouldn’t be ignored.

So I say long live the belt!

Laters, Kate x

January 5, 2014

Rain, Rain Go Away..

It’s dismal in London with driving rain, strong winds and the knowledge that we’re no longer in the land of fairy lights, pine cones and endless glitter. So I thought what better time than the New Year ~~to break the diet~~ ~~fall off the wagon~~ ~~get even more depressed~~ ~~give me a facelift~~ to give the Blog a facelift?

I’m liking the new size of pictures..Means you can now see the clouds reflecting in this one.

And this tree.

This is our new pond on the Common. Has the ducks mighty confused.
The weather means the sky has been turning all sorts of colours.
At least we’ve all been safe at home, snuggled up – next week it’s back to the daily grind and the school run…weather please, please improve otherwise I’ll be investing in a fisherman’s sou’wester. And a boat.

Roll on spring…

Laters, Kate x

January 4, 2014

Olivia Palermo, Really? x

(Photo by Johannes Huebl/instagram)

So the lovely Olivia Palermo is to become a Missus?…One can only wonder what the wedding will be like…I’ve rather fallen for these pictures from Vogue Tumblr of Caitlin Brown’s and Lee Schwartz’s bohemian wedding taken by Cass Bird…I think they’ll be a shared sense of DNA…but who knows!