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Why on earth would you want to carry an 'it' bag when you could carry something as unique and delicious as this...
This is the 'butterscotch 1910' bag, made of bakelite and silk. It's vintage darling! and a steal at £95.
Yummy...
Queen Marie
Or to be more specific Hangerine!
This is the Hangerine jacket by Nanette Lepore and I need it bad...
I want it. I need it. I got to have it.
Orange, pink, floral, beads - what's not to love?
Maybe the price tag! £302 from here
But mark my words, this beauty will be mine * evil cackle*
Queen Marie
But when I saw these Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti Mesh Sandals, I thought immediately of Queen Michelle!
Granted! showing her more shoes, won't exactly help with her 'little problem', but what the hell, it's the weekend...
You can find them at the very wonderful my-wardrobe and at £273!
Queen Marie
Charging the children £279 to look like a darts player, a la Bobby George, mmm bargain!
'The gold jersey blazer top'
(Gold jersey bleugh top is more like it)
You can find it here, who knows, you might fancy a wee game of darts later today...
Queen Marie
Today, two dear friends of the Kingdom celebrate their birthday...
Happy Birthday Danny x
Happy Birthday Domsco x
Many Happy Returns!
I have your presents wrapped and ready to rock.
With much love
Queen Marie
xx
Life is a mystery full of riddles and unanswered questions!
Queen Michelle ask each other the following question on a regular basis -
"Why is Dorothy Perkins still here?"
"Does anyone ever shop there?"
"Why is the shop always FILLED to the brim with nothing?"
Although it perplexed us, it didn't vex us in any significant way.
That was until today.
That was until I caught sight of these things...
OH. DEAR.GOD.
A parka with short sleeves. Motherfreakin' short sleeves...
I hate jackets and coats with short sleeves with a passion normally reserved for boys in v-neck t shirts or people who touch the ceiling in the sub. I HATE THEM!!!
Dottie P, you have really pissed me off. Do one! and do it now...
An enraged Queen Marie
the most perfect pretty floral little party dress you ever did see.
Princess Jennifer will be two in a couple of weeks, so before she gets as vocal and mardy as Princess Laura, I am exercising my rights as a bossy Aunt to buy whatever my heart desires.
She will be a picture in this, for all of two minutes before she covers it in chocolate and then promptly grows out of it, five minutes later...
Queen Marie
How stunning are these mesh and crystal belts from Anna Sui?
If you are super swift, you could scoop one up for the staggering price of £20. Yes really £20!!!! . Find them here
Queen Marie
Growing up, it always seemed to me, my Gran saw danger round every corner. The woman could find a cloud in every silver lining!
She was always keen to put my 'gas at a peep', if she thought I was getting too excited about something.
" Don't build it up too much hen, you might be awfy disappointed" Queen Michelle and I should have paid her more heed.
I won't bore you with the details, but we were REALLY looking forward to a BIG night last night. Sadly,the night grew smaller and smaller before our very eyes. I was home and in my freakin' bed by 2am. Bah!
Tonight is Model 500 at the Art School. I will try not to get excited but will channel Ms Streisand in Funny Girl instead and will beseech the fates to not rain on my parade...
Queen Marie
Queen Marie told me, quite seriously, I had a shoe addiction which I really needed to get under control. She claimed I had spent no less than £2000 in the last 6 months on shoes. It's good to know that dramatic exaggeration is alive and well in her palace! I, of course, corrected her Queenly error since I actually spend under £500. Please understand that I do buy alot of shoes, but I consider myself a smart shoe shopper as I rarely buy expensive shoes because I realise they will only get trashed. £500 goes a long way on the high street if you choose wisely.
In my head, I have also rationalised this expenditure away by assuring myself that it's much better than buying stupidly expensive handbags, which was my previous addiction, and one I'm pleased to report I'm completely over. So all things considered buying shoes doesn't seem quite so bad after all.
The thing about shoes is that a pair can spark a whole sartorial direction for me. A single pair can be the foundation onto which many different outfits are built.
Since the ruffles have indeed escaped me, I pacified myself by caving into these superb Topshop Unique sandals.
This is not my most practical of purchases for sure; they have a dangerously thin stiletto and they are white, neither of which are plus points in a shoe for me, yet when I saw them I already planned a multitude of outfits with them playing the starring role. Of course, as is usually the case with these things, my outfits are often made up of things I don't actually own, but I shan't be deterred. The stirrings are there, and it's the stirrings that are the most exciting part as ideas form and collate around my head, which leads to fun and frantic thrifting trips to try and fulfil the idea for much cheapness (that's much cheapness in the good sense, not the bad sense).
You see for me, the humble shoe can re-invent old clothes and give them a completely different slant. Therefore for £85 many items in my wardrobe, which have perhaps been languishing unworn for some time, are now at the forefront of my head, ready for their re-appearance into mainstream closet circulation.
So really, when you break it down - for £85 I'm actually getting a whole new wardrobe! Bargain!
Queen Michelle
When I was at the Exhibition at London Fashion Week, just as I was heading out I was stopped in my tracks by some seriously shiny jewellery.
Queen Marie and I are both prone to statement jewellery. With me it's the general size - big is always better - and with her it's jewels and general shininess. So when I saw these incredible necklaces by St Erasmus that combined both, well, suffice to say I was a wee bit startled - quite literally! These pieces are not for the wallflowers among us, with their heavily jewelled intricate designs, they are big, shining statements in block capitals.
Whilst they say they reference Africa, I personally see something much more Elizabethan. I can imagine Queen Elizabeth I wearing one of these over her heavily detailed brocade gown, with her whitened face and shock of red hair. The most obvious thing to do with pieces like this is to wear them with a plain outfit and let the jewellery speak for itself, but I'd go far down the opposite way and channel Queen Elizabeth I and combine it with as many ornate fabrics as I could get my paws on.
Very fit for these Queens methinks.
Queen Michelle
Marks & Spencer is one of those shops that's a bit like Tiffany's in Breakfast at Tiffany's - nothing bad can happen to you in M&S. It's the glamourous mum of shops. Queen Marie and I love a right good rifle about because with M&S, even though you are unlikely to come out with armfuls of bargains or, more often than not, anything at all, it's so filled with nice wee grannies it's a very pleasant experience all round.
I nipped in today to buy the Prince some Aberdeen Angus sirloin steak for his tea and I popped into the shoe department on my way out. My, my, lookey here! The Limited Collection shoes are a bit special! We have studded gladiator sandals, some bright pink Chloe-esque ones and gorgeous platform gladiators.
The Limited Collection started off being really promising, with some pretty fashion forward gems to be had, then gradually it seemed to kowtow to the average M&S customer and became somewhat 'safe'.
Could these shoes hail the return of the Limited Collection as being the unexpected fashion jewel in the M&S crown? Possibly, but even if it isn't the shoes are really well priced, ranging from £19.50 - £25. I personally am eyeing up the pink ones - very Chloe and very mid-height!
Queen Michelle
Sometimes my big love for designers comes a little late. My belated love this time is directed at London based designer Maaike Mekking. It was only yesterday I remembered to heap some love her way when I'd dug out a pair of her PVC skinnies. I was feeling the need to wear layers of black and texture (it only lasted til lunch time when I remembered the sweaty legs one can suffer from when wearing PVC trews!) and these trousers are utterly perfect in terms of fit - high waisted with front and back pockets, which elevates them from simply being leggings.
Many of you will be familiar with the Joy Division referenced She's Lost Control collection, but with her A/W 08/9 collection Mekking she has created a slightly more grown up look whilst still incorporating the unique twists she's becoming known for. Referencing the famous sad clown Pierrot and the art of Beardsley, we are treated to layers of ruffles heaped on blouses and dresses like whipped cream, inky black prints against white fabric, lots of monochrome with playful details which lends the whole collection a timeless appeal.
The beauty of Mekking is the range of prices for the pieces - you can spend £500 on a fabulous, couture technique laden dress, or £40 for a t-shirt. Mekking makes her work reachable to all. I only wish I'd managed to snaffle one of her She's Lost Control tanks!
Queen Michelle
Hurrah! At long last the new TwoSee website has been launched. Filled to the brim with stock from hard-to-find labels like Jean Pierre Braganza, Emilio de la Morena, Burfitt and JW Anderson to name but a few.
I have nothing but fantastic things to say about this shop, since experiencing it for the first time when I went to London in February - I must have tried on every damn thing in store! Not only have they a shiny new site, they also have a shiny new shop, located near Liberty, so it's much easier to find (well, for those prone to getting lost, like me!).
I had a tantalising sneak preview of the site and was quite literally foaming at the mouth. What is on the site is exactly what's in the shop, so you know that even if you can't get to the actual store, you can still have access to what's inside.
Queen Michelle
The Rock Opera seems like an unlikely inspiration for a designer's collection, yet Lie Sang Bong, whom I've talked about previously on this site, has managed to capture the strange amalgamation of styles which are present in a rock opera, in his FW08 collection. He seems to take delight in creating unusual clashes between form and function - we see theatrical three dimensional embellishments covering floaty and softly draped dresses and coats. Yet it's a collision which works to stunning effect.
The softness of the circle, a shape which is very prevalent is this collection, and embroidered floral patterns are juxtaposed with square edged finishing on tops which together creates a very angular architecture. The fabrics are luxurious and reflect his Asian culture in many ways, as I'm reminded of Emperors clothing with their exaggerated form and intricate detailing.
It seems Lie Sang Bong just gets better with each collection, and is one of those designers who plants seeds of ideas in my head of shapes and silhouettes I want to replicate (albeit in a slightly more wearable form), and at the moment, it's all about the circle.
Queen Michelle
I must apologise for the severe lack of updates yesterday and possibly today too - I am snowed under with projects and quite frankly all the fashion has been sucked right out of me!
Hopefully things shall return to normal as soon as possible.
Queen Michelle
It doesn't have to one or the other.
Queen Marie and I popped into the Clemens en August pop up shop/exhibition on Friday at the Lighthouse here in Glasgow. We were rather excited. I had quite by accident discovered they were "on tour" when I was on their site researching the label for a post, when I found the touring dates. A quick investigation led me to discover that by "tour" they mean they visit a select number of cities and set up a shop in an exhibition type space for 3 days. It's the only time you'll have to purchase Clemens en August, presumably in order to keep the label as exclusive as possible. Whilst I think the idea of such exclusivity a bit, well, wanky to be honest, clothes are clothes, and since we don't often get the chance to see such things here in Glasgow we thought we'd pop along.
We went on the last day and the place was completely devoid of any other people apart from the SA's 'curating'. Now, Queen Marie and I usually approach such things in a jolly fashion - we are not likely to quietly chin stroke and ponder the garments, we like to talk and discuss and examine with enthusiasm. It would appear the people at Clemens en August don't much care for that. A mardy German SA grudgingly came over and asked if I needed help with sizing and I cheerily said " oh no thanks, I'm fine" and began perusing once more. I came across a nice pair of trousers and wanted to try them on - after waiting 5 minutes whilst they talked among themselves, I eventually I had to pipe up and ask to try them on. I was directed to the "changing room" (read: a white bit of curtain hung on some railing) and before I even decided whether I liked them or not I'd already decided not to give them my money.
You see, the problem I have was their attitude. The simple fact is that I could have been anyone. I could have worked for a magazine, or owned a boutique. I could have been completely loaded and bought their entire stock, which was plentiful - it seemed they didn't exactly have a stampede of people wanting to buy it. Instead I got aloofness a-plenty.
Must niche mean not nice?
As for the clothes themselves, on close inspection, they were OK at best. Obviously their aim was classic with a twist, but the twists were few and far between and not enough to make the clothes really stand out. They certainly don't live up to what one might expect from a label who wants that to be so exclusive. I expected some really unique tailoring or very luxurious fabrics - there appeared to be neither.
If it's a tour you want to see I suggest your would be time better spent down your local boozer listening to the latest touring band.
Queen Michelle
Another Saturday thrifting/secondhand shopping haul. The shopping fairy was pretty generous to me it has to be said because for £45 I scooped a lovely green dress, an Isabel de Pedro waistcoat, which looks fantastic on, some still-in-the-packet printed tights, a lace trimmed satin slip and...a long leather Armani coat. Yes, you read that right. A leather Armani coat. It's made of the most gorgeous, chamois-like, buttery soft leather I have ever felt. When I first saw it I wasn't sure I'd really get wear out of it, but when I tried it on it just came alive and I had to have it.
It was also very lucky that the dress, the slip, the tights and the coat happen to make a vaguely hippy/70's vibe when worn together. I just added a hat and some high heeled oxfords for something a wee bit Ally McGraw.
And it's all topped off with a lovely big fat cold sore which also appeared on Saturday. Nice.
Queen Michelle
