December 9, 2013

Urban Adventure Part 2 x

So the second part of the Urban Adventure? Kaori and I went to the Paul Smith Exhibition at the Design Museum..

I love Paul Smith. I love his ability to see beauty in the ordinary and his understanding of what makes objects desirable.

It’s why he’s such a voracious collector, happily sucking on the marrow of life.

He knows the beauty of detail, whether it’s the unexpected lining of a jacket or the ribbon running on the inside of this covetable retro inspired cycling shirt.

Or the colour of a button.

But he never gets stressed by the obsession. He embraces it..

From the clutter everything is impeccably crafted and he always remains the epitomy of cool.

How cool is that?

A kaliedoscopic gathering of ideas that suggests why always look to the future?

When we have a wealth of unexplored inspiration at our fingertips..

I couldn’t agree more.

Laters, Kate x

December 8, 2013

Just for Jackie! x

A virtual visit to my local!…The Lavish Habit in Balham – part of my slavish habit of the week to kick back a frothy cappuccino and crucify a croissant…their toasted coconut bread with maple syrup is honestly to die for…and not only good food – sit on a chair, like it? buy it! What could be better?

Laters, Kate x

December 7, 2013

Once Upon a Christmas…

(Cameras are banned so Pictures secretly smuggled from Time Out)

It was a tough call and no easy task..but rest assured, we rose to the challenge..and YES, Christmas is saved for another year! Whooooo hooooooooooo! You can thank us personally later..

What do you mean you have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about?

You know nothing about Cinderella’s troubles in Pantoland??

What can I say? Except The Husband and I spent last night roaming all areas of Covent Garden (and I mean all areas: Sprinkler cupboards, shops, the bowels..) trying to make sure you’d all have a damn good knees up these coming festivities…It’s not often I get to run through a crowded pub and drink honey tea with a Grayson Perry look-a-like holding my hand, but for you..I did.

This was highly secret work..I can’t say much more…all I can tell you is it started by knocking on a very specific Georgian black door somewhere in Covent Garden..and then the adventure begins…

(Tickets from here)

Probably one of the most bizarre nights of my life..It was a bit like falling down a rabbit hole and arriving in a real Harry Potter world with the unexpected round every corner..(and half the fun was watching tourists eyes popping out as you had conversations with yet another whacky character)…But it was absolutely bloody brilliant and a genuine 24 carrot Christmas treat!

Laters, Kate x

December 6, 2013

An Urban Adventure..

Yesterday I met up with the lovely Kaori from Twist and Turn for a Mystery Tour around London.. We started in the atmospheric Borough Market. A foodie and visual delight, particularly at Christmas..

Then we headed towards London Bridge and the Thames, past the Shard – Kaori thinks the Shard looks just like Sauron’s Tower from Lord of the Rings. She’s not wrong!..it looks almost unreal next to the traditional Georgian houses.

Just passed London Bridge is the Peter Layton Glassblowing Studio and Gallery. A warm (particularly given the freezing wind) and wonderful place where you can watch the artists at work as well as buy their work. (Go this week and there’s mince pies and mulled cider as well!) When the kids can be trusted I will be buying one of their exquisite baubles, they look like suspended bubbles of glimmering oil…covetable.

Their work ranges from Huge installations to delicate pieces of jewellery, including an artist specialising in sea glass.

They also offer hands-on experience days to have a go yourself.

Check the website for more details.

We did more..we headed on to the Design Museum..but I’ll leave that for another day!

Laters, Kate x

December 5, 2013

Temptation..

I fail. I’m happy to hold up my hands and admit defeat..I know I’m meant to be buying presents for other people..but please tell that to the little bits of gorgeousness that keep falling into my lap crying Buy me! Buy me!..like these earrings..

They’ve been on my lust list since forever (OK. I lie, but I did have a photo of them squirrelled away) and then – like everything else I’ve always wanted – I trip over them just when I’m at my most stretched (bah humbug)…but HOW could I resist? They’re such a subtle, fun take on the eponymous ear cuff…I love how the back of the earring has been used to make the letters appear suspended..clever, clever, clever..

And then there was this little pair that caught my eye at the same time..wouldn’t it be fun to wear the ‘love’ in one ear and the ‘kiss’ in the other? Wouldn’t it?!

(Does it help if I say they both came to £7.00 with postage? www.sirenlondon.com – I recommend a check out)

But just imagine them in gold..with a diamond…sigh.

But if that was the case..there’s no way they’d be on their way to me now…gotta be grateful for small mercies..even naughty ones…

Laters, Kate x

December 4, 2013

A Bright Shining Star..

Tzaporah Salamon hits the wall and drives straight through it, exuding a ferocious energy and defying you to suggest that ‘old’ is a bad word – to be old is to have had the time to amass a life-times wardrobe put together with wisdom and experience. A true visionary in her ability to salvage and re-invent, she dresses like she does for the sake of her soul.

And I love her. Yes, it’s five minutes of your life..but you won’t regret it.

Promise.

Laters, Kate x

December 3, 2013

Xmas Decs..

(From Horsefall & Wright)

What sort of style is your Christmas tree? Monochrome? Minimal white? Decadent perhaps? I’d say mine is definitely ‘eclectic’ where anything goes – Christmas isn’t something I can contain with a single theme..I like my decorations to be treasures collected over the years which are a joy to see again, carefully unwrapping them from their tissue slumber. For me Christmas is sparkly wonder that sings a siren call to my inner magpie..I’m virtually powerless to resist..but I do try and limit my decoration purchase to one special one each year. And this delicate bauble of happiness in honour of our dog Molly (nice excuse) is this year choice of delight..but there’s a delicious range of tantalising gorgeousness…

(Now..how could I let this cute beauty slip through my fingers??!..Molly needs a friend!)

Laters, Kate x

December 2, 2013

Move Over Darling..

( From Down that little Lane)

I’m hosting Christmas this year so I’m hands to the grindstone already planning ahead (all the veggies are going to be cooked this week and as a new, radical never-done-in-this-house-before decision – frozen in large throwaway aluminium tins – probably not ecologically sound but hey, I can assure you, mentally it’s a winner.)

But equally as important as the prospective banquet is preparing for the inevitable – that a large portion of Christmas will be spent in PJs in full view of visiting rellies.

(From Poplin)

And this is where the crux of the problem lies for me…I’m a big boobed girl and given the time I’ve been on the planet, I still haven’t found any chic nightwear that ticks both the elegant and the support boxes AND can ‘carry’ me through to loungewear/chats over the toaster with whoever happens to be in the kitchen/carol singers at the door/heading up a chimney..without having to wear a bra.

Despite the average UK size being 36D the sad fact is that Fashion (with a capital ‘F’) has ignored boobs for decades. From a ridiculous lack of anything over a cupsize D (how did women manage?) things have improved in the last ten years and more and more companies are appearing specifically catering for larger boobs in underwear and swimwear…and not surprisingly merchandise has been flying off the shelves.

Figleaves has a ridiculously great bra and swimwear DD+ section (although I’d still like to see them photographed on a truly wonderful, voluptuous model. Is it too much to ask?) And it’s refreshing to see they have a separate nightwear section BUT the majority of what is on offer is based on CLOTHES SIZE rather than BRA SIZE which is about as much use as a chocolate teapot when you’re large in front with a small back.

The closest to the holy grail: the Lepel Georgina satin Cami with matching pajamas from Figleaves..but why only red? I don’t like red nightwear..where’s the soft shell pink? baby blue? or buttermilk cream??

I thought Bravissimo would be my knight in shining armour with their specifically bra sized nightwear…

But cotton elastane? In floral purple? How’s that ever going to satisfy my inner Marilyn? So can we please get up to speed with sleepwear? Pretty please? (with emphasis on the pretty?) I don’t want to be the forgotten whale stranded on the beach of t-shirted non-elegance with my girls still getting lost under my armpits.

I want lush, sleek, lace, silk, soft muted pastel colours, satin, silk, ribbons, bows, frills, teddies, negligees, robes, frou frou and iconic boudoir beauty. It can be done….

Just like a capsule day wardrobe I want mix ‘n’ match options…

The foundation stone of everything would be a supportive camisole..and if it could do up at the front, all the better.

..teamed with a wanton pair of French knickers..

..Then loose, vintage style Matching Pj’s (preferably with monogram and piping)..

..and a short throw to balance things out and offer a bit of modesty when needed (I have no wish to to give the postman a heart attack)..

Surely this can’t be too much to lust for and should really be available on the High Street?…

The simple truth is if we want curves to be celebrated isn’t it about time we gave them a few more optimal eye-popping options in the bedroom?

Laters, Kate x

November 30, 2013

Tis the season…

You know it’s Christmas…

1. When a mince pie becomes an acceptable meal substitute..and egg nog equals a portion of protein.

2. When the inbox sends out it’s own SOS due to spam overload.

3. When you go out to buy a party dress and come back with a fire engine.

4. When you search for your heels and find them in the dressing up.

5 When you find yourself multi-ing the multi-tasking..writing the shopping list on the toilet whilst texting the plumber.

6. When the kids suddenly start acting nice.

7. And as a result they fool you into taking them Christmas shopping and just when your impression of an suppressed, repressed, depressed packing mule has reached it’s limits someone always needs a wee.

8. When the list of things to take to school is representative of an expedition to climb Everest..white plimsoles, black plimsoles, red trousers, red top with tinsel, baked bean tin, bottle of wine, raffle tickets, jar of sweets, tray of cupcakes, nativity dvd return form, another tray of cupcakes, cards for the entire class…winning lottery ticket?

9. When you get undressed at night and you find multiple smiling Father Christmas stickers attached to your bum.

10. When you point out a cloud that looks like a snowman with a funny hat. To a stranger.

11. When the dvd player stops working because there’s a snow globe inside it.

12. When sorting out the laundry is classed as ‘me time’.

13. When you realise sewing on tinsel to a red top is a nightmare and the red is actually your blood.

14. When you tell yourself that a hangover with children is just not worth it. Again.

15. When you realise a trip to the hairdressers is a spa day.

16. When you realise that amaretto with mulled wine should be classed as an A1 drug.

17. When you walk round the supermarket singing carols. Loudly. And out of tune.

Laters, Kate x

November 29, 2013

Party! Party!

Shrug and dress by Marc Jacobs

What I ~~want~~ need in my wardrobe tonight..turning the language of Christmas into glorious visual bauble of deliciousness. Perfect for a night on the tiles, Christmas day…quite frankly any day. Now…how much is left in the overdraft?!

Laters, Kate x