Kingdom Of Style

Pray for the bag of Sister Wolf...

Some of you may not know Sister Wolf of Godammit.com, a situation we should remedy this very day.
Sister Wolf is mad, she's godamm mad. She's acerbic, witty, outspoken and as for the language! I hope she doesn't kiss her mother and her kid with that mouth. She is also a must read. When she posted about her handbag the other day, I felt her pain while laughing out loud.
She said -

'Some Bitch Sat On My Handbag'

I went to a dinner party and someone’s sister-in-law sat on my Vivienne Westwood handbag. I believe I have post traumatic stress disorder due to this event, and I’d like to sue her fat ass to kingdom come. There’s a photo of the bag somewhere here if you want to better understand the Horror.

Meanwhile, I’m resorting to my big Paul Smith bag from January 2007, and everyone will think I’m a dope who just jumped on the Yellow Bandwagon. Hmph, as if. I’ve even started wearing my yellow shoes just to show that I’m not afraid to match my accessories. Sister Wolf makes her own rules, Godammit.

Please take a moment to pray for my injured bag, may she fully recover her former glory, amen.

"Hey Sister Wolf! How are you feeling today? I brought you some flowers"
"*Snarling* Yeah so I see"
"Don't you think it's time you got up out of bed? You can use my basket as a bag if you would like"
"Your basket, your motherf**kin' wicker basket, have you lost your mind, I'm in mourning for a Westwood bag"
"It was only an offer, Sister Wolf"
"Oh Bite Me Queen Marie..."

Poor Sister Wolf, we pray for you and for your handbag.
AMEN

Queen Marie

It's Sunday, let's spread the love...

Lets start with a belated Happy Birthday for Enc of Observation Mode

We hope you had a wonderful day and send you a dress and a ducati ...

Camilla and Marc Nylon Dress

A shiny red Ducati for some birthday speed

Queen Marie and Queen Michelle
xx

Too sweet to be wholesome...

My gran used to say this, when someone seemed to good to be true.
It keeps springing into my head this week as I come across article after article about Mark Ronson.
Now before anyone goes all 'phil' on me, this is just a personal impression. I'm not saying anything about his musical talent or production skillls, I'm being totally superficial and talking about the way he looks!
To put it bluntly, Mr Ronson gives me the creeps...

I think it's his mouth.

*squirm*

Queen Marie

Flower Power...

Trust Marni to make a cuff so wonderful that I want to swoon!

Oh I wish they could be mine...

Queen Marie

The Royal Gardens - Part One

One of the things that most attracted me to my current Palace was the fact that the garden was a big patch of nothing. This blank slate would allow me to create whatever I liked.
In previous gardens I have had Zen Zones, Enchantment Zones, Ninja Zones - complete with bamboo and teeenage mutant ninja turtles.
Bad weather and almost constant rain for what seems like the last nine months meant that I have created nothing. That was until yesterday!
Yesterday I created 'A Grotto Corner' - inspired by one of my favourite films, The Song of Bernadette

The Song of Bernadette, starrring Jennifer Jones, opened in late December of 1943 and was an immediate critical and commercial success.
In 1858, a French peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous had an experience that forever changed her life and the town of Lourdes where she lived. While gathering firewood with her sister and a friend, she saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in a grotto. She claimed that the "beautiful lady" asked her to return to the grotto every day for fifteen days. Bernadette's story caused a sensation with the townspeople, who were divided in their opinions on whether or not Bernadette was telling the truth. She soon had a large number of people following her on her daily journey, some out of curiosity and others who firmly believed that they were  witnessing a miracle.  Bernadette's credibility was increased when her "lady" instructed her to dig in the ground with her hands which resulted in the discovery of an underground spring. The water was soon found to have healing powers and the grotto at Lourdes became a haven for the sick and  afflicted from all over the world.

Before-
I gathered all my bits together - pebbles, Gingko Tree, Holly, Ivy, Our Lady Statue, Poppy, primroses to name a few and got started. I make gardens, they way I design parties and outfits - I just make it up as I go along!

After-
Holy Moley! I got me a grotto...

Next stop - Japan...

Queen Marie

Totally precious...

Now while I wouldn't say no to a ring made with precious stones ( i.e. diamond, ruby, emerald), my heart really belongs to semi-precious gemstones! Aquamarine, Citrine, Prasiolite, Yellow Quartz, Russian Diopside, Blue Topaz, to name just a few - yum yum yum.
A few weeks ago,Olive pointed me in the direction of Lapisette which is a wonderful site where you can basically build a gemstone ring just the way you like it. I know the stones there have been cut and polished but somehow they seem so delicious, organic and wholesome.

For when you feel a little 'Smallville', this pyrite ring would look like a little meteor on your hand ($105)

Some sunshine on your finger with this yellow quartz number ($105)

Twice as lovely, light and dark amythest ($125)

Queen Marie

Some girls will, some girls won't...

It all depends how bad the girl wants the shoes!

Chris from Lochers reminded me that our 'foul mouthed friends' had just launched their spring/summer range.
Go look and laugh...

Queen Marie

Happy Birthday M'Lady

The Kingdom would like to take the chance to wish the AMAZING Winona, AKA Lady W here in the Kingdom, from the AMAZING Daddy Likey, a HAPPY VERY BIRTHDAY!!!! She is having a 1982 Prom themed partay. We wish we could attend since both your Queens are old enough to remember Safety Dance the first time around, therefore we could be on hand to recount tales of the 80's to all the lovely young things who were merely kitten sized back in 1982.

Happy Birthday Lady W!

The Queens

MAC Minxes

As many of you will know, I own alot of makeup. I take great pleasure in the colours, the smells and the textures. Whilst I don't actually wear alot of makeup, the lure of those little pots of paint are often too hard to resist. Generally speaking though, all the makeup I own, I own because I really wanted it, and for that second managed to pretend to myself that my very oily skin wouldn't make a dog's dinner of that black eyeshadow within an hour of it being slicked across my lids. Of course it always does and the pot of powder is never used again.

The one thing I do wear religiously, and have done since I was 16, is liquid eyeliner. I love it. That line of ink on my upper eyelids never fails to make me makeup happy. However, having such oily skin usually means that it doesn't last too long on me either, so for over 17 years I've been searching for one that lasts. And I found it. Thanks to young Lady Selina over at Flyer Saucer.

The intrepid teenager discovered the amazing lasting powers of Mac's Liquidlast Liner. This was both a blessing and a curse.

Whilst most makeup counters are manned by overly foundationed women who are both sweet and terrifying simultaneously, I can fend off their calls to purchase like Batfink using my shield of steel. I grab what I'm after, never look into their eyes, and generally leave the shop having bought only what I wanted. However, the MAC counter at Frasers in Buchanan Street is an altogether different beast. You see the problem is that the girls there always look amazing. Yes, they are covered in a thick film of makeup, but somehow theirs looks right. Their smokey shadow in tones of grey or navy, their smooth skin and perfectly coiffured hair renders my shield of steel completely useless against them. I go in fully intending only to purchase one thing, in this case a liquid liner, and somehow they always manage to talk me into coming away with stuff I neither need nor wear! The minxes! They show me little pots of stuff and before I know it I've left the shop with a jar of teal gloop and a promise that it'll look fabulous on me. I don't remember agreeing to buy it, I don't even remember talking about it. It's as if they somehow put a spell on me and before I know what's happening my card's in the machine and I'm saying "Yes, my name's on the database. Look under 'gullible', it'll be there". This is why I own tons of MAC makeup.

In all fairness, whilst the teal gloop will sit with all the other pots of unworn gloop, the liquid eyeliner is completely amazing. When they say it lasts they're not joking - I can't get the damn stuff off! I've tried exfoliating, baby oil, soap and water and eyemakeup remover, yet a good 30% is still on my eye. Of course, I am too scared to go back to the MAC counter to buy their eye makeup remover since I will no doubt come away with another armful of useless makeup.

Queen Michelle

More Tasty Swedes

As if we need more convincing of the talents of Scandinavian designers I will heap some appreciation onto the fabulous Swedish born, Shanghai based designer Paula Hagerskans.

It's got the magical masculine edge which I am always, without fail, completely drawn to. She, of course, has the fundamental understanding that whilst many women prefer a slightly more subversive approach to style, in so much as they are happy to play with masculine cuts, they still want to feel feminine on some level, therefore her work has large doses of silky fabric and body flattering draping.

Queen Michelle

White's Alright

The strappy Topshop shoes came and they are magnificent. More eye candy than practical it must be said, since they aren't particularly comfortable and the white nubuck will get filthy within minutes outside. However, never for letting practicalities get in the way of a good shoe, I am thrilled with them none the less.

They have already sparked several outfit ideas and will be more versatile than one might imagine at first glance.

On a side note, I got an email from Underground telling me the white winkle pickers I ordered are out of stock in my size. This is the second time I have tried to order from that shop and on both instances I received the same email - I'm beginning to wonder if the shop exists at all! I shall attempt to have my poor old ones repaired however and make sure I create my own version of my rogue-ish uncle Billy's look.

Queen Michelle

She Who Bids Wins

Whilst some people are real lucky on eBay, I suck at it. I am always way too cautious in my bidding, and the only vaguely savvy thing I do is bid at the last moment where possible. It's easier all round for me to just stay away from it altogether, since the sense of crushing defeat I experience when I loose an auction by £1 is beyond hideous.

But, as with most things, there's always an exception. This time I made it for an amazing bolero with quilted shoulder detail, from Nasty Gal Vintage.

When I saw it I instantly thought about the amazing creations of Scarlett Gowing, which is why for once I took the risk, entered a ridiculously high amount and won!

Whilst not quite as dramatic, I still think a fabulous effect could be achieved by layering it over various textures of black. Can't wait til it arrives!

Queen Michelle

I'm A Rebelle

Well, really soon hopefully.

For some time now I have been awaiting the arrival of these splendid trousers by Chelsea Rebelle, from Coco Career.

Coco Career is a superb little site, which I was directed to by a kind reader when I was hunting for a military hat some months ago. I visit the site on a regular basis now, keeping an eagle eye open for their new collections coming in.

But back to the trousers. I love high waisted styles, but most high waisted things just sit on my actual waist, when I want the waistline to extend past and go as far up as possible. Not to everyone's taste I'm sure, but I do like things to be somewhat exaggerated where possible. These trews should achieve this without looking silly since the extended torso area is broken up with detailing, in this case the buttons. For very high waisted items I think the key to it not looking ridiculously out of proportion is the detailing that happens within the vast expanse of fabric from crotch to ribs/underbust.

Because I have been anticipating their arrival for so long, and planning what I would wear them with, I am now panicking that they won't fit, since they only come in one size - tight! I must also admit, the light blue did put me off slightly, since it's not a colour I wear, nor particularly suit, but I reckon that I could get away with it if I team them with something like red or fuchsia on the top half. The other option was black patent - which for me no. Just no.

Since I am rather contrary, much to my pleasure I felt these trousers, like Paisley patterned tights, would evoke a distasteful reaction since many people just can't get on board with jeans/trousers that sit on the waist, let alone ones that go all the way to your chest! Oh well, let's see what happens when they come...

Queen Michelle

Bad Lads And Rock 'N' Roll

I have been fascinated by the style of the Teddy Boys in 50's and 60's London since seeing this photo of the Queen Mum's brother, my uncle Billy.

"A lovable rogue" she called him, my uncle Billy ended up entagled in a world of crime and was to never to be seen or heard of again. Whilst I never met my uncle Billy, his photo is always kept in my inspiration folder.

My father was also a Teddy Boy and the Queen Mum often used to recount tales of his amazing clothes - the long jacket with velvet collar, his super pointed shoes, drainpipe trousers and, of course, his quiff which was combed into a 'duck's arse' at the back.

My father was a drummer in a rock 'n' roll band when the Queen Mum met him, and still played in a band right up until I was about 5 years old. I have fond memories of going to watch him practice on a Saturday afternoon, and he even still had his Teddy Boy coat.

I think my fondness of the androgynous look really stems for these influential people in my life and the look of subcultures of the 50's and 60's.

Another image which always has me riffling the rails of charity shops for the perfect pair of men's suit trousers, are theses photo's of the notorious gangsters Ronny and Reggie Kray.

These vicious London hoodlums, were as well known for their crisp cut Savile Row suits and impeccable appearance as their dastdardly deeds. My Prince has a pair of glasses, which belonged to his father, that look exactly like these, and they look as amazing now as they did back in the 50's.

I am awaiting a new pair of white winkle pickers arriving from Underground, since the sole of my favourite pair finally gave up the ghost, leaving a gaping, Teddy Boy shaped hole in my wardrobe.

I will be looking for some slick drainpipe trousers and teaming them with my long boyfriend tuxedo jacket to evoke a little bit of the style of my Uncle Billy, my father and a little bit of London gangster thrown in for good measure.

Queen Michelle

The Way we Wore...

Not to be confused with the wonderful film The Way we Were*, I'm talking history here!

Earlier on tonight I almost dropped my tea when I read that The Glasgow Garden Festival happened 20 years ago. 20 freakin' years. Although I remember the festival fondly, what I remember most clearly is what I wore the first time I went to the festival. I remember that as clearly as if it were only last year. Everything that happens in my life is archived according to what I wore. I have lost count of the times over the years that I have had no memory about a place or event until the Grand Empress Gillian reminds me of what I had on at the time. She has an encyclopediac memory which puts mine to shame every time.
I love how clothes can help shape a special memory.
What were you wearing 20 years ago?

Queen Marie

*The Way We Were

Made in 1973, starring Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford, as the star crossed lovers. The bittersweet tale tells of Katie Morosky, an awkward, intense and intelligent jewish woman who marries Hubbell Gardiner, a carefree, handsome, talented WASP following World War 2. The story follows their life together and the role reversals that eventually force them apart. Memorable for much more than just the song it spawned, if you have not seen it, track it down today...