My wardrobe diaries: Part one

I certainly made the most of the January sales this year, but this dress was one item I didn’t mind forking out full price for (£45, www.topshop.com). While you might think it’s a tricky colour to wear it’s actually surprisingly versatile. An extension of the pumpkin hues we saw on the Autumn/winter catwalks, but with all the elegance of classic camel. The statement black zip at the back and the ruched in waist gives it that 20-something girl-about-town edginess.

 

I’ve worn this throughout January for everything from work meetings, to nights out with the girls and teamed with pillar box-red nails (try Ciaté Paint Pots in Mistress, £9, www.ciate.co.uk), chunky black jewellery and dark grey tights. I’m also a little bit in love with my Russian Bond Girl-style hat (£20, Topshop), which has kept me cosy on the chilly morning commute, and my soft-as-butter leather jacket (£135, http://www.mintvelvet.co.uk/). I adore the waterfall frill detail which gives rock chick a feminine touch.

A slightly more spontaneous buy were some bright red cropped jeans (£25.99, www.zara.com). With the risk of taking the ‘festive’ look a little too far last month, and putting up with the resulting Santa jokes, I’ve popped these away until it warms up a bit. I think I’ll get I’ll get a lot of wear out of these in the Spring. For a nautical-come preppy look I’ll sport with my navy blazer and brown brogues, or dress down with my lumberjack shirt (£30, http://www.joythestore.com/).

Back to blog

I’ve taken a bit of time out from posting recently, but with a new fashion season practically upon us I’ll be sharing all the latest additions to my personal wardrobe and my style tips about how to wear them, in a new series of posts...My wardrobe diaries. Read on for the first installment.

Vintage Twee

Out of a lifelong dream to become an artist, Joanne Linder decided to set up Vintage Twee - a range of handcrafted, vintage-inspired table decor for tea parties and weddings. “My aim is to provide a unique and lovely dining experience,” explains Joanne. Her Alice in Wonderland themed 'Eat Me' party picks look oh-so-cute atop an iced cupcake, and Joanne suggests filling her tea pot favour boxes with Dolly Mixtures.

 

 

She also has a range of English afternoon tea recipe cards for scrumptious sandwiches, classic high tea, and cakes. The tea bag holders are another of Joanne’s sweet ideas! “Everything I make is hand-crafted and inspired by my British heritage and my love for tea and classic romance,” says Joanne.

And her adorable wedding favours range from her classic music sheet rose cones and 'pillow talk' favour boxes to these retro mini popcorn holders.

Now Joanne is busy working on a Halloween table range including gothic spell books with spooky party recipes. Joanne’s pieces are custom-made to order so she’s happy to accommodate specific requests. Visit her website to find a link to her Etsy shop: http://www.vintagetwee.com/

Summer: nailed

Now that the weather’s finally hotting up it’s time to embrace the new colour trends that say ‘summer 2010.’ These three delicious nail varnish shades are taking me through the season in style...

Minted by Revlon Ok so it’s not Chanel in Jade, but hey, at least you won’t have to go on a waiting list to get your mitts on a single, coveted bottle, or risk becoming the unsuspecting victim of handbag hurling in the aisles of Selfridges. This shade says cool, green seas, peppermint creams and pistachio gelato. It’s pure go-with-anything good fun and top of the fashion pops.

Beanie by No7. On paper it’s murky and pretty grungy, but in practice, it simply oozes sophistication. Silky praline and iced latte in a bottle – good enough to eat.

     

Totally Tropical by Revlon Bursting with the freshness of ripe papaya fruit and exotic hibiscus, this shade is a perfect partner to nude, feminine dresses and tops in airy silk. For maximum impact wear with a bold-print maxi dress.

Additional images: http://ladies-with-bottle.blogspot.com, www.myrecipes.com, www.rootsofhawaii.com

Simple curiosities

I recently discovered the illustrator Ros Shiers. Her subject matter varies from curious finds, to stories of her experiences and patterns inspired by the natural world. This Alice print (£39, ros-shiers.com) particularly caught my eye:

The charm is in the eye-strainingly intricate detail, which means every time you look at her work you see something new. The regular, linear arrangement of the items in the space, and the pure simplicity of black lines on white set off the quaint vintage-edge, giving a modern, minimalist feel. These monogrammed mugs (Anthropologie, £6 each) are equally covetable; black patterns on crisp white, yet dainty china.

And I couldn’t resist this lace cake stand (www.roostliving.com, £92), for the same reasons...The design plays with our expectations. It’s clean and simple, yet wonderfully wonky.

Finally I just had to show you these - Salt and pepper shakers with TV heads?! (www.roostliving.com, £38) Bizarre yet strangely elegant and a bit cheeky. I can just imagine them performing a secret dance across the dinner table when no-one’s looking...OK, maybe that’s just me!

Once upon a time...

...seven princesses lived in an enchanted palace. Their secrets and histories have been magically brought to life in the rooms of Kensington Palace’s State Apartments by theatre company WILDWORKS. Follow the clues as you explore the tales of the real princesses who the palace was once home to. The whisperings of servants long-gone will guide you through tales of love, hate, surprise, sadness and jealously, which have been depicted through theatre, art and film.

The room of Royal Sorrows is Queen Mary II’s bedchamber, Aminaka Wilmont has created a dress of tears, which hangs in this room symbolising, through the tradition of collecting tears, the sadness that neither she nor her sister Anne were able to have children.

 

Queen Victoria’s bedroom is where the young princess went to sleep one night and woke up as Queen. Designer William Tempest’s origami ‘Dress for dreaming of freedom’ plays on the trick of the eye effect as it merges into the background, and evokes the feelings of independence and power Victoria felt at the time.

In the Kings Drawing Room Echo Morgan’s cabinet of curiosities draws on the passions of Queen Mary III and Caroline of Ansbach to collect exotic objects. Every draw, door and compartment can be opened to reveal intriguing historical pieces. Equally fascinating is Echo's 'Dress of the world,’ made from paper and printed maps.

In the council chamber you’ll find the dresses of Princess Diana and Princess Margaret encased in glass, themed around the dancing - a passion shared by both.

The piece de resistance though can be found in the final room – the Queen’s Gallery, where silhouettes of princesses and their princes dance around the shadowy, ethereal ballroom.

The exhibition is on until January 2012 and there will be themed events and activities running throughout.

21 May, 18 June, 16 July and 20 August – see the Enchanted Palace by night (last entry 8pm)

3-6 June – create your own cabinet of curiosities (5-13 year olds)

3-4 July – The Big Dance workshops and free dance classes

Visit http://www.hrp.org.uk/

Caged beauty

Birdcages conjure up images of lavish Victorian lifestyles, when people kept exotic birds with colourful plumage in elaborately designed enclosures. It brings out a conflicting desire in us to both keep and protect the beautiful creatures entrapped within, and set them free. Perhaps it is this intrigue which explains the emerging trend for these pretty and delicate structures; from vintage trinkets to more modern designs in fashion and home ware, we’re seeing birdcages everywhere. Here’s my pick of the prettiest...

For you:

Necklace www.natashabailie.com, £25

Umbrella, http://www.luluguinness.com/ £28

Handbag, http://www.handbagsandgladrags.co.uk/ £403.59

For your home:

Mirrors, http://www.anangelatmytable.com/ £115

From a selection at www.lollipoppottery.com

Wall stickers, http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/ from £35