March 8, 2013

The Three Monkeys.

This post is dedicated to all the ~~piss heads~~ lovely mummies of 10 – you know who you are…in fact, the day has been long: My fingers feel like sausages and my eyelids have lead weights…but I’ll be honest – it’s probably my throat that has taken the biggest pounding…

Did you know that Balham, the great gateway to the south, has it’s very own karaoke bar? Nor did we till last night…welcome to the Three Monkeys – a fab little bar with it’s own basement (another bonus I can assure you) karaoke room complete with costume props – and the added delight of the most delectable, quaffable cocktails I have had the pleasure of ~~downing~~ sipping in a long, long time…

The owner had to wrestle the microphones from their grasps to get them to leave…

March 8, 2013

Beachy Head

A few more momentos from our sojourn to the South Coast. You can’t tell from the photos, but the weather was killing us slowly – strong winds from the arctic – I have never experienced frozen left nostril before. And never hope to again…

Comb-over trees!

We read that in one year 10 people got blown off the edge in gusts of winds. We almost added to the total…taking this picture..

The husband grew.

Trying to stand upright after only a cup of tea..

Thumbs up for WW2 Swedish tank commanders coat.

Laters, Kate x

March 5, 2013

What would I have chosen for the Oscars….?

It is true, I was so disappointed by the beautiful and the burnt-out’s offerings at the Oscars (see previous post way down there somewhere). I just got the feeling that everyone was trying so hard that those who were actually wearing the clothes – their personalities/likes/dislikes – became secondary to what everyone else wanted them to be.. all the vibrancy, differences and extremes were lost in translation and distilled into something weak, insipid and general.

But one can’t throw stones unless one is prepared to build a green house…so I present the following as a collection of gorgeousness that I would have happily died and gone to heaven in…first up is some vintage – because they knew how to dress for events then:

Vera Wang Green silk Deco style gown – An utter goddess dress, dripping with sensuality and movement like Aphrodite from the – well, forest! Pure lush decadence.

Christian Dior – showing how simple can be effective – check out the buttons up the side. Ethereal simplicity.

Alexander Mcqueen violet gown – despotic tyranny – imagine on a red head…knock-out.

Emelio Pucci silk chiffon gown with golden chain trim – exquisite, you can feel the edges tenderly catching in the breeze.

Vintage Halson. A grecian beauty. Easy to dess up with a shit-hot cuff bracelet and awsome vintage jewellery – see below.

Something a bit different: Pauline trigere Starlet Gown with gold lame piping and bow..sculptural walking art. Anna wants to wear this one – should I let her?!

A Bill Blass black blouson gown with lace sleeves because you don’t always have to have tight fitting dresses. Honest.

Roberto Cavalli draped gown oozing with salaciousness like melted chocolate on a hot day..

Alexander Mcqueen for Louche elegance.

Or maybe something short in this 50s Saks Fifth Avenue Keyhole illusion (the back is a large open circle) Net floral party dress with a pair of vertiginous heels?

A 70s Radley – effortless cool with lyrical lines. Love, love, love.

Ossie Clark because he knew how to design for women, because he is an icon of mine and because he could do print as well. Mesmerising. Check out those sleeves. Delish.

For modern:

Zac Posen pre-fall 2013, courtesy of style.com…a apocalyptic dress of drama and warfare. be brave and flaunt it.

Or modern simplicity in this 2013 pre-fall Stella McCartney. it works.

Or 2 queens from Alexander McQueen – the Ice Queen with glacial wonder from pre-fall 2013 courtesy of style.com

Or the evil queen…vampirical and alluring. (courtesy of style.com)

And then I found these Elie Saab dresses…pre-fall 2013, courtesy of style.com – where were they? deceptively simple and gracious on the eye. Edible..

And this Elie Saab.. a great pop of colour..

And this one…

And this one…A final stunning Elie Saab to take your breath away.

All set off with some vintage bling:

Any chances next year will be better?

There are times when I wish I could grow wings..

laters, Kate x

March 4, 2013

Oh. My. Lust.

Sometimes pictures speak louder than words…which has to be a good thing as drool is stopping me from forming recognisable sounds let alone intelligent sentences…

Mary Janes have grown up – sheer class by Manolo Blahnik. Sigh.

Flights of fancy by Giuseppe Zanotti. Quite frankly edible.

Everyday joy by Longchamp. Supermarket shopping could really feel this good?

Sultry butt-kicking ankle straps by Etro. You know you want them.

Combat fighting grace by Belstaff. Aggressively delicious, no chocolate necessary.

By Tods – The optical illusion double whamy – a heel you can walk in AND thinner legs

Laters, kate x

March 2, 2013

We Won!!!!

Surprise, joy and jubilation! Last night was our annual, infamous school quiz…a small bubble in the context of the world, but a special night for us…160 people, twenty tables of eight, each with a theme.

And what a difference from last year: Last year was our first year and we were as green as a mermaid’s tail..we had nary an inkling of the extent people would go to, the competitiveness, the style…if I said Henry the eighth with wives (including man dressed as a wife) complete with suckling pig, it might become clearer…we also came second from last in the actual quiz..the wooden spoon would’ve been more impressive…sigh.

This year we decided to turn on the glam – there really was only one option…Downton Abbey…First stop was ‘Angels’ in Shaftsbury Avenue – fancy dress shop and costumier – where we spent a very silly afternoon rummaging through their racks…and then before we knew it the big night was upon us..

The ~~girls~~ Ladies

~~The Blokes~~ ~~Their Highnesses~~ The MenThe gorgeous Lady Su

Below stairs tickled us to bits!

Me with an unruly headband – even managed to trap it in a car door…

I can’t tell you how strange it is to have the parents taking over the school hall, all dressed to the nines and…with alcohol! We even had Bella’s teacher handing out shots!
Our beautiful table complete with crystal glasses and decanters…very civilised.

The beautiful Lady Mandy…

Lord and Lady of the Manor

Some of the competition with a particularly fetching bearded lady!

Check out the shoes!

There were cavemen, disco divas, horses, Alice in wonderland and much much more..

Where’s Wally?

So did we win the quiz?

You must be joking!

We won BEST DRESSED!

After that, fuelled by our success the night rapidly descended into depravity.. I have a strange memory of eating a bug from the ‘I’m a Celebrity get me out of here’ table…and asking the caretaker to be my head gardener…

So now the planning starts for next year…I’m thinking Mafia and their molls complete with horses head?….can’t wait!

Laters, Kate xxx

March 1, 2013

Style Edit: Flares

I think I may be moving inspirationally backwards when searching for a point of brilliance in the hunt for my spring/summer wardrobe…the siren voice of the 70s is singing my name…I feel I know want..but whether I can find it will be something else entirely…

The truth is I am in love with wide trousers – the long triangle of silhouette making everything waist-wise look minuscule then set off with a small contrasting jacket..and those big sunnies…and a casual, but quietly expensive slung bag..sigh.

I am drawn to the proper flare/bell bottoms – and this is the perfect summer picture of desire – the way her trousers are deliciously skimming-the-ground-long and completely covering her shoes – which are probably a pair of wonderful Longchamp wedges subtly adding to height and length. Who can’t love that?

The summer would be so effortless – peasant blouses and louche, artistic tops…

GetAttachment-120.aspx

It’s a good job that the louche, artistic top is a bit of a MasonBentley speciality…the final samples are being made as I type and proper photos will follow at some point…but to give you a taster, here is Anna modelling some of our new designs…

Gorgeous eh?

xxx

February 27, 2013

The Oscars…

‘Whoever said money couldn’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to shop’ said the infamous Bo Derek.

And what ‘shopping’ those Oscar A-listers must have had – imagine it – the great and the untouchables of the fashion world tripping over themselves to strew offerings at their dainty feet: Ripe, fat cherries of fantastical exquisiteness, gorgeousness and desirability paraded before them like the most delicious selection ever tasted from Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Objects of such absolute beauty that just seeing them would make us mere mortals weep with emotion and combust with desire.

So how come so many of them got it wrong? And why was it so damn boring? Was it all just a process they went through, to get it ‘right’ whilst pretending not to care? The ultimate in princess moments, other than your wedding day, utterly lost on them? I didn’t want to write about the Oscars…but it has me in it’s grasp, my heart is quietly bleeding and knives are being prepared…

Prime suspect no. 1 – Jennifer Lawrence in Dior and Calvin Klein, photo by Getty Images.

Sorry, got confused….

I thought the mutated with ‘Gone with the Wind’ look was condemned to history a long, long time ago. For very good reason. I think of the modern woman and wonder why anyone would want to wear anything so restricting? – how does she actually sit or move?…interesting point…with…difficulty…..

Her second dress was not much better (photo by Getty Images)

Too low on the boobs, terrible colour reminiscent of bad eighties…and what does it do to her shape? reflects it back…as a pear! She was the leading lady of the night…just close your eyes for a second and imagine the choice she had…then times that thought by a thousand…

Another one with choice – Salma Hayek in Alexander McQueen.

photo Getty Images.

Her husband owns the fashion houses for Gawds sake. And she owns one of the most stunning pair of bazoomers in the business…where are they? Instead of deciding which dress to wear I swear she spent the time trying on different heads…

Amanda Seigfried in Alexander Mcqueen, photos Getty images

Maybe swapping with Amanda?…Terrible cut, dishwater colour – why grey? silver glitters..grey is white socks after 10 washes…

Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta, photo Getty Images.

I rest my case. In my dreams I see a beautiful, graceful swan…a SWAN not a CYGNET ON SPEED…. And strapless – i’m not great with strapless…shoulders come forward to stop wardrobe malfunctions and the balance is not good with all the volume down below..And I’ll whisper this very quietly…how does she go to the loo? Does someone help her?…Are they paid?

Reese Witherspoon in Louis Vuitton, photo Getty Images

Strong colour, interesting optical illusion on the waist with the black – which does make her waist look tiny – but conversely runs the risk of matronly hips. You decide. Beautiful, film-star hair…my gripe? I’m not a fan of material that sits rather than flows..and I don’t like the straight cut across the boobs..

Brandi Glanville, photo by Getty Images...couldn’t find the name of the designer. Apparently they’re in hiding, although rumour has it that Brandi had a hand it designing it herself.. hands don’t spring to mind..an extreme version of why strapless should be avoided. Forever.

Kirsten Stewart wearing Reem Acra, photos by Getty Images.

Sigh. It is a car-crash non? Who was it that said ‘Dress shabily and they remember the dress, dress impeccably and they remember the woman’…

Jennifer Aniston wearing Valentino, photos by Getty Images.

Strong colour – but BORING – too much bustle not enough hustle…

Anne Hathaway in Prada, photos by Getty Images.

It wasn’t just the nipples.. the high neck… and the way the dress hung – it was also the fact that the staggeringly expensive necklace she was wearing kept fighting with the neckline of the dress…did you see a photo of the back?

Fight, fight, fight. Besides…I still haven’t forgiven Hathaway for crucifying the part of Emma in the film One Day…

So were there any winners?…you may be surprised…

Sally Field in Valentino, photo Getty Images.

Aged 66 and rocking it on the red. It’s the rouching on the bodice, the sheer arms, the delicate ruffles on the skirt, its the lightness of material in a colour with impact and volume that moves: as she moves it responds. Just Beautiful.

Halle berry in Versace, photo Getty Images.

It’s the very precise, clever beading. The illusion of a deep cleavage without fear of exposure – it’s tantalising not overt. It’s the curving on the waist, the strong but balanced shoulders projecting the perfect hourglass figure. It is classy and fabulous.

Melissa McCarthy in David meister and Adele in Jenny Packham,

photos by Lucas Jackman/Reuters

In the la la land of skiinnies and minis these two ladies impressed. I think Melissa’s dress could have done with a bit of a tweak – possible slightly more rouching on the waist to avoid the creases – maybe better underwear? but I love the concept – even happy with the darker grey. If anything, it was her hair that let her down – just too bouffant. Adele I love because she is herself – I am reminded of Orson Welles..’style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.’ I even preferred the Burberry shorter dress she wore to perform in – really like her Burberry choices, and not just on oscar night..lucky girl. And her hair down? GORGEOUS.

Naomi Watts wearing armani Privi, photo by Lucan Jackson, Reuters Original.

Knock-out. Simple. Elegant. Beautiful. Flattering. interesting. Different- and look…hey! she can walk!

Charlize Theron in Dior, photo Getty Images

Stripped down sophistication – strapless – but that ‘v’ makes all the difference. She feels good – she glows. it shows.

But my favourite of the night….drum roll…

Jane Fonda in Versace, photo Getty Images

It’s the killer cut, the clever gold on the waist, it’s the silhouette..the back..adding that frizzon of ‘wow’ factor..

Bet she was the only gal there in canary neon yellow…She stood out for me like a blazing beacon on a very dark, cloudy night..Go that pensioner!

Laters, kate xxx

February 24, 2013

Style Edit: The Sweatshirt

If I am honest, with the world seemingly saturated with winter clothes and haute couture I am feeling like a fish stranded on a beach of my own indulgence. Take the travelling international circus of the Fashion Shows – Optical illusions of Christmas-like baubles – gimlet sharp and enticing…but a million miles away from my reaching hands. Or the Oscar’s…aspirational, impossible and quite frankly, on another planet.

I can’t help but feel it is time for less fantasy and a greater focus on reality…to be honest about what I want – which is not winter but spring and beyond. What I actually need is a spring clean – to turn out the bits I don’t want to tread in and invest in those that give me wings.

And where better to start than the humble sweatshirt? The perfect bridge between casual and chic, designer and otherwise, winter and sunshine…

Zoe Karstens Madame Sweat – £97 – Pricey, but I am a sucker for pink. I can see myself wearing it with a loose but short boyfriend jacket in a pinstripe with the sleeves rolled up…

Hilfiger Denim sweatshirt – £70.00 – Love the colour, love the shape – great neckline – but did, at first glance, think the 85 was in a sparkly silver – how awesome would that be? but it’s not…so a bit Boden for me….then found this one..

Pepe Jeans – £55.00 – by the label that started in the fabulous Portobello Market. Love the metallic numbers, like the swingy shorter length – great for layering in the still colder days, good colour to go from spring (real spring) into summer (white flares, sunnies and wedges). Did prefer the lower neckline on the Hilfiger though…

Asos Hearts and Bows studded sweatshirt – £29.99 – Check out those shoulders! LOVE the studwork – imagine taking off your jacket and the surprise at exposing them..love the cuff on the sleeve and the looser, silkier feel. Dress up…dress down… a great wardrobe staple..

Amplified Rolling Stones slashed neck sweat – reduced to £28.00 – Love it! Great slouch – and pockets!! Thinking lazy Sundays and everyday comfort..cut off denim shorts or white skinnies with plimpsoles…easy easy easy.

Laters, Kate

xxx

February 22, 2013

Eastbourne

The Husband and I have been away for a few days, living it up large without the children. A real treat. We headed to Eastbourne because I love being by the sea and blown along beaches. And we had a gift voucher to stay at The Grand there..

The weather was perfect; blue skies and a crisp wind.

The husband is always getting dragged to the nearest antiques warehouse (he would say ‘tat shop’) To keep him cheerful there has to be coffee and cake on tap. We struck lucky with ‘Eras of Style’ at Bexhill on Sea.

A fabulous selection of lights.

Loved the unusual square shape of this one with the glass on both sides. Seen this style as a wall light, but never as a pendant before.

Would have bought this one if it had been a pair – look at those fronds and the shadows…

Fabulous light! would brighten up any corner..

I Want this one on my desk. Now!

Loved this psycho deer – gutted it was sold. And not to me.

Spotted these 1940’s style painted scenery trees and bushes..imagine in a children’s room…

I’m a sucker for a good sign..on my laundry room door – or toilet?

Saw this for the MasonBentley office. Perfect hey.

Along with this amazing 1950s double desk..and the parquet floor please…

This would be the island unit for my kitchen, complete with shelving behind. And light.

And these shelves. Lovely.

The clown for Charlie’s room? – or the dining room? hmmmmmm….

This bath had the most enormous, lush taps I have ever seen.Love the masculine quality to these bedside tables/side tables. Clean lines, great details and beautifully made. Gorg.

Eras of Style has been converted from the original Bexhill West Station. Isn’t their food counter the best ever?

A truly great place to stop for a coffee and a cake. And a browse. I’ll be back.

xxx

February 19, 2013

My Local

The Lavish Habit in Balham – part of my slavish habit of the week as I 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?