Kingdom Of Style

Ears or a Tail- what would you choose?

Answered the door to Queen Michelle last night and she looked a bit confused by my cat ears.   
These ears are perfect, they are the little black dress of ears, in fact they are the dogs bollocks of ears...
Why have you got them on she wondered, to which I replied because I want too and I think I really suit them.  Havn't you ever wanted ears or a tail I asked.  She said she thought maybe a tail would be cool and then she asked if she could try on my ears.
And as surely as night follows day, she was love, love, loving the ears.
I used to wear them out to the club quite often but you would not believe how forward people are.  These ear botherers come up and just start touching your ears without permission or invitation.  When you tell them to stop, they can be really bolshy.
I am wearing my ears right now, and would urge you to try a pair today.
If you are a bit hesitant, Halloween is the perfect excuse and cover story...

Halloween is almost here, get ready to...

avert your eyes as you will see some pretty traumatising sights in the next few days.
The absolute worst will be when you are beset by an outbreak of Bunny Girls.  Not fluffy cute bunnies or even groovy manga bunnies but straightforward tacky playboy bunnies.
Regardless of size, weight, age or weather there are no end of deranged women pouring themselves into tight skimpy little outfits with cheap ears.  Despite the fact most of them look more like Hugh Hefner than Playmate of the Month, they strut down streets and in the club go to the toilet every 5 minutes, just to let boys check out their cute 'tails' 
NO NO NO, you silly slappers you are not sexy, just sad, now go home this minute and think of something else.
Tonight I am going old school - I am going to be a pumpkin.  In my usual contrary fashion I usually go as something only about two or three people recognise, last year I was Emily Strange.  Pearls before swine I tell you...

Wonderful images below from wonderful site www.deviantart.com

Send me some stripes...

and the bigger and broader the better.

Although my search for a long striped skirt continues, I think I may buy this today.
Stripes and a big bow, it can't go far wrong...

Queen Marie

It's still NAY to grey!

Good Grief some people just will not let it go and that includes those silly gooses at Grazia who once again are trying to tell us that ' Grey is Good' 
Even sillier is them saying that they are 'standing by grey' and want you to do the same.  Watch my lips kids - "AIN'T NEVER GONNA HAPPEN"
No one, not even me disputes the fact that it can suit most people but that can never compensate for the very very basic fact that people don't like it.  It is depressing and driech.  It can never ever take the place of black for a couple of very good reasons.

Black is perfect for when you are feeling good about yourself AND when you are feeling bad about yourself.                                                                               
In good times, it makes you feel together, structured and all together bulletproof.  In bad, black has the magical power of rendering you invisible.  It allows you to move through the outside world with the minimum of fuss and attention until you are feeling a bit more able to deal with things.

It's a big enough fashion world for the blacks and the greys to exist peacefully together, so long as you don't keep tryin' to tell me how good grey is!!!!!!!!!!!!

Queen Marie
( I always forget to sign my posts unlike Queen Michelle,so if a post has no signature it was doubtless the work of this muddled monarch...)

Fashion Militia

I have a thing for military style coats and jackets which I could possibly trace back to my obsession with Adam Ant when I was 8. Infact that's maybe where my interest in medieval history began too; I had a door sized poster of him dressed in a suit of armour. I wrote to Jim'll Fix It to arrange for Adam to pick me up from school dressed as a knight on a big white charger. Needless to say Jim definately did not fix it for me. All it left me with was a strange love of dome bottons...

Anyway, I think military inspired coats can give an outfit a very commanding look - they can be both smart and functional. I am always looking out for original civil war jackets in vintage shops.

The look was all over the fall runways with designers like Anna Sui taking it to whole new levels. Her look really resembles the real style worn during the 17th century.

You don't need to translate the look quite as literally of course as Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs have created two delicious winter coats with a nod to militia.

Miu Miu + Marc by Marc Jacobs

Lots of indie boys seem to be working this look too thanks to the likes of Pete Doherty and Kasabian.

So channel your inner warrior and get with the militia!

Queen Michelle

Coral Is Cool...

I do like coral - both the colour and the jewel. Like everything else in my life and my wardrobe I go through phases for it.

I love this print - it's almost like coral gone digital. I like the coat too. Pretty restrained methinks for Lacroix! ( just don't look at the bag or the shoes, bleugh...)

I'm feeling a big dress moment coming on, look out southside...

Queen Marie

Vintage: Remixed

Vintage footwear is all very well in theory, but I still feel slightly uncomfortable about wearing someone else's shoes. Clothes I don't mind, but shoes not so much. But there is something really appealing about the style of proper vintage shoes.

That's where Remix Vintage Shoes comes in handy. These are modern (unworn shoes) reproduced from original designs. The shoe styles cover the era's 20's to the 60's and look totally authentic.

Queen Michelle

 

It's Friday! Feast Your Eyes...

...on this fabulous Westwood concoction.

Love, love, loving the bow and the skirt although I fear Queen Michelle may find it more 'Andy Pandy' than 'Delightful and Dandy' !!!

Queen Marie

Black and White - always right...

I love Black and White together. As plain blocks of colour, spots or stripes, I don't care, it just works for me every time.

I wear it every day. I suppose some may find it severe or mother superior like but I love the elegant simplicity of it and a little bit of 'nun' never went amiss.

Below is luxe Black and White from Yves Saint Laurent, made all the more delicious by the flash of red at her feet.

You can tell that this is for rich ladies who would never have to worry about dry cleaning bills, for otherwise I would panic about the cleaning of such a dream dress with the black and white so close together.

That I should ever have such a worry. * sigh*

Queen Marie

Scottish Style Awards 2006

As of yesterday our very own Lady Lisa was desperately trying to blag a seat to the awards show (which is happening this Friday) after her official booking had been messed up which lost her her seat.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow plays host to the most prestigious awards ceremony in the Scottish calender, celebrating all aspects of Scottish style from bars to fashion.

The categories and nominees are:

Most Stylish Male
A A Gill (Writer)
Dario Franchitti (IndyCar driver)
David Tennant (Actor)
Jim Lambie (Artist)
Steven Pressley (Footballer)

Most Stylish Female
Alison Watt (Artist)
Annie Lennox (Musician and anti-poverty campaigner)
Dawn Steele (Actress)
Niki King (Jazz singer)
Shantha Roberts (Presenter)

Most Stylish Band or Musician
Franz Ferdinand
The Fratellis
KT Tunstall
Linus Loves
Mother and the Addicts

Scottish Fashion Designer of the Year
Aimee McWilliams
Cathal McAteer for Folk
Christopher Kane
Deryck Walker
Niki Taylor for Olanic

Scottish Tastemaker of the Year
Breastfed Records (Record Label)
International Magazines (Publishers)
Malcolm Edwards (Hairdresser)
Paddy Meehan (Fashion Entrepreneur)
RM-STAR (Digital Design Agency)

Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Style
DF Concerts (Concert Promoters)
Graven Images (Designers)
Ken McCulloch (Hotelier)
Modern Institute (Gallery)
NORD (Architects and designers)

Most Stylish Venue
The Apres Club, Aberdeen
City Halls and Old Fruitmarket
Perth Concert Hall, Perth
29, Glasgow
Mansfield Traquair, Edinburgh

Most Stylish High Street Retailer
Office
River Island
Top Shop
Urban Outfitters
USC

Most Stylish Designer Retailer
Boudiche, Edinburgh
Commes Des Garcons Guerrilla Store, Glasgow
Cruise, Glasgow and Edinburgh
Fifi and Ally, Glasgow
Harvey Nichols, Edinburgh

Most Stylish Bar
Chinaski’s, Glasgow
Hudson’s Bar, Edinburgh
One Up, Glasgow
Scotts, Troon
Number 25, Dundee

Most Stylish Restaurant
Abstract, Inverness
Catch 22, Glasgow
Esperante, St Andrews
Michael Caines Restaurant, Glasgow
Santini, Edinburgh

Most Stylish Hotel
Boath House, Nairn
Dakota, Eurocentral
Rocpool Reserve, Inverness
Smith’s, Gretna Green
Tigerlily, Edinburgh

I think it's great that a country as small as Scotland gets to celebrate it's creative talent, even though the fashion aspect seems a little disappointing to be honest. I was hoping for a whole host of brand new designers but Niki Taylor and Cathal McAteer were shortlisted last year too.

Niki Taylor

Scotland isn't exactly London but even so, the city of Glasgow does nurture creativity by giving four emerging Glaswegian fashion designers (Brazen, Christopher Kane, Jennifer Lang and Olanic) the financial support to showcase their talent at London Fashion Week under the umbrella of the Glasgow: Scotland with style Design Collective. For Chrisopher at least, this certainly proved successful as he certainly achived acclaim with his very body-con collection.

Chrisopher Kane

Aimee McWilliams

It will be interesting to see who walks away with the award, but my money's on Chrisopher Kane. Let's hope Lady Lisa manages to get that ticket so she can report from the front row!

Scottish Style Award 2006

Queen Michelle