Kingdom Of Style

A truly superior rear...

Unlike Queen Michelle and lots of others, I never notice models.
I look at the clothes, the light, the composition but oddly I never take any notice of the model.
I would be hard pressed to identify one if she came up to me and bit me on the leg. Strangely I don't even think of them as real life girls. As a result I never compare myself to them. But today I came across an image so striking that the model could be a different species from me and most people I know.
It will come as no surprise that it was in the new Nico (I shall pass it to Queen Michelle directly and she can share the joy with you)
The spread is called 'chega de saudade' (no idea what that means) and was photographed by Autumn Sonnichsen.

Long story short - this is the best backside that I believe I have ever seen...

One day it's all aprons, the next day it's all arse.
Just another weekend in The Kingdom...

Queen Marie

You big baby...

This is the 'Showtime Poltrona Armchair' designed by Jaime Hayon for BD Barcelona...

Costing £504 you can get it from Leigh Harmer
It is being hailed as 'an iconic piece' illustrating the influence of Gaudi and Dali on the designers work.
But if I walked into someones house (especially a guy) and he had this chair, I would be slightly unsettled.

I wouldn't think - "hey you have great taste!"
I would think - "hey boy you got issues!"

Your chair looks like a big pram. A silver cross pram to be precise.

Showtime?
More like bedtime!

Queen Marie

Cool cool copper...

If there is one man who knows how to make copper cool it is Tom Dixon!
I love Tom Dixon and I especially love his lights.

This is the copper shade pendant.
The most shiny and lovely thing you could ever have hanging from your ceiling.

They say they look fabulous when hung in a group like an installation, but at £190 for one shade, you would need very big pockets to create this look.
Me, I would be happy with just one to gaze at!

Looking at the colour and the shape earlier, I had the nagging feeling it reminded me of something...

DANG! as enc would say...

Your bowl headed Queen Marie

Oh no! Owens is at it again...

Why must that man tempt us so, especially on the Sabbath Day!

Leather Sleeved Jacket £950

You would think you couldn't have elegant and edgy in one jacket, yet here it is...

If money was no object, I would wear this belt underneath when I was wearing the jacket opened.
But even if the Treasurey was filled to overflowing with gold, I still don't think I could bring myself to part with £410!!!

Giambattista Valli Rhinestone Bow Belt

Get behind me temptation...

Queen Marie

Adorable aprons and precious pinnys...

Obviously you need an apron at a coffee morning.
I have a weakness for aprons especially vintage ones. Yes I am well aware of the irony! As all who know me, know tea and toast is all I ever make in a kitchen.
Like my weakness for patchwork and pinafore dresses, I shall blame my weakness on my love of Little House on the Prairie...

Ma, Mary or Half-Pint would be well pleased to wear this little number...

You can find it at the delicious Bon Bon Atelier for $54

For more aprons than you could shake a stick at, why not visit rick rack. I want everything on this site.
But I would settle for this selection...

This last one is made of polished cotton, which is both strange and super. I want a skirt like this.

Right ! I have to run. I have some scones to stick in the oven.

Queen Marie

Too cute to cover with cakes...

These darling plates by Pop Ink are almost too cute to cover with cakes.
Either that or you could just eat all of the cakes quickly.
Methinks you know which option I would take!
CHOMP...

'Love Sick' dreaming of the perfect boy...

'Diamond Ring' obviously the perfect boy would pick the perfect ring...

'Fashion Plate' on second thoughts, I think I'd rather have cake than a boy...

At only $16, I would buy all three from here

Queen Marie

Tea or Coffee Miss?

I drink tea.
Lots of tea.
Endless cups of tea.
Truth to tell I make much more tea, than I drink! At work every day, I make a cup, put it down, the phone goes, someone asks me a question and by the time I go to take a drink it has gone cold. There is nothing more bluergh than taking a mouthful of cold tea.
But it looks like there could be a solution, thanks to D and B at Up to you Toronto
This clever mug goes white when it is filled with delicious hotness and black when it goes cold cold

Now even I couldn't drink this much tea!

This is the plant cup by Gitta Gschwendtner for the wonderful Thorston Van Elten. It may seem a tad expensive at £175 but I would buy this in a heartbeat. I love love love it and I want one!

Queen Marie

Looks like time...

to embrace the inner pensioner!

It may be time for the first Kingdom of Style Coffee Morning! Oooh I used to love coffee mornings, endless cups of tea and homebaking -yum yum yum

First up is this Mirror Clock by Fusion which is both. Clever.
You can find it at the very lovely and very tempting Leigh Harmer

Queen Marie

The Function Of Form

What happens when take add a former designer at Imitation of Christ, a former art director at Helmut Lang and an....ex-model restaurateur together? New York based design collective Form.

Founder Jerry Tam, worked for Imitation of Christ after he graduated and went on to form is own label in 2006. The label has gone from strength to strength since then. he was later joined by Kelly Andrews, ex Helmut Lang and Eric Wener the ex-model.

Clean, creative and modern is perhaps the best adjectives to describe this label's work. I think of it as Park Avenue Princess with an edge. Lantern shaped dresses in taffeta, draped dresses and tunics in silk charmeuse, dandy-esque tweeds and hooded frocks all very light, breezy and modern.

The beauty of pieces like is is the ease with which they can be dressed to look very minimal but similarly they are ideal for layering over more laid-back items. Not basics exactly, but more of a creative canvas upon which to add other interesting adornments. I am really into the chalk bubble shaped strapless dress. Layered over a sheer white tshirt this dress would look amazing. Yum!

Queen Michelle

Rebel Against The Inner Pensioner!

In the words of Queen Marie last night.

That's what we attempted to do last night by going to see Switch play at the Sub (who's records I own pretty much all of). Naturally the inner pensioner in us wanted us to stay home on a Thursday night, safely tucked up in bed by 11pm, but noooooo, we decided to rebel and be all rock 'n' roll and go out to play and dance til late.

Long story short - we did go out, our ears were deeply offended by the noise masquerading as music and we were home by 2am. I however didn't go to sleep. So basically what I'm telling you is that I've been up pretty much all night and I'm good for nothing therefore expect either no posts today, or complete drivel. Log in at your peril.

Queen 'I really am a pensioner' Michelle

Benefits Of Fringe

For some time now, I have been lusting after a black fringed skirt. It has led me to buying lots of fringing to sew onto anything that isn't fast enough to escape me and my needle!

Seeing an Ann D black fringed skirt in an editorial in 10 has made it even worse, especially since I can't find one for love nor money. However in order to appease myself I made use of some black fringing I had by turning it into a necklace.

Simple, cheap and will hopefully satisfy my fringe needs until such time as I come across the perfect fringed skirt.

Queen Michelle

Scutt For Topshop

How many times do think we have had to type "Topshop" in a sentence with "collaborate"? Lots I suspect and I'm about to do it again.

Danielle Scutt is to create a capsule collection for, yup you guessed it, Topshop. Her powerhouse of a SS08 collection, which seemed to be a myriad of looks aimed at the super fierce femmes out there, was exceptionally well received - an impressive accolade since it was her first show outwith Fashion East.

There is no denying that Topshop has really bagged a winner though as alot of latest collection is pretty much Topshop ready. Floaty prints, indigo denim, sweet florals and a pretty swingy trench coat - all ripe for the picking. Of course, I suspect many a fashion lover will be hoping she channels a bit of her bondaged glamazon looks from the SS08 collection, which are slightly more directional.

Whenever this collection is set to launch, I suspect it will be to great expectation and applaud. I, for one, can't wait.

Queen Michelle

God Dammit!!!!

This is an approximation of how I look and sound right now - having had fashion related annoyances all week resulting in me squealing GODDAMMIT! in a Cartman worthy mini tantrum. First my white winkle pickers order gets cancelled, then my Chelsea Rebelle trews don't fit, then today I rip the pocket off my favourite blazer! It may not exactly be life changing stuff I'm talking about here, but Godammit I wanted the shoes and the trousers!!!

However on a cheerier note, my (hopefully) fabby new camera arrived today.

My little £60 job no longer wants to play at blogging, so I went all out and bought a pretty decent one. This will mean that all Irina comparisons will finally be put an end because whilst my old camera was temperamental at best, it did a good job at taking quite flattering pictures. This baby will take no prisoners, which means all my lines, pores and non Irina-esque flaws will be brought to you in all their glory. You lucky, lucky people! But, it also means that colour should hopefully be much more accurate and I will be able to take pictures without the flash having to be on all the time.

Queen Michelle

More Aussie Love

Shame on me but until I actually began writing this blog I truly hadn't realised the vast quantity of talented Australian designers there are out there. I have written about a fair few on here and have been exposed to lots more via magazine's like the amazing Oyster. And of course some, like Kirrily Johnston, you just stumble upon whilst looking for something else. That's how I found the label. I was hunting for a leather dress and she had one in her Autumn/Winter 07 collection, which is how I discovered this delightful treasure.

The main reason I am so drawn to this label is that each collection always feels youthful and fresh yet sophisticated and grown up. Most of the clothes seem designed for wafting around in on hot days, like today as it happens, without having to sacrifice modesty and style in order to prevent you from ending up a hot, sweaty mess. All plus points in my book.

Naturally I'm drawn to the harem style pants but what I would seriously consider making room for are the striped leggings. I reckon these little monochrome numbers could do terribly well in my wardrobe for elevating some of my more sedate items.

Queen Michelle

Another Dream Dashed!

Damn my stupid body! My Chelsea Rebelle Soldier pants finally arrived today and they don't fit! They are too baggy on the legs and too tights on the hips. I am completely devastated, however Queen Marie will delighted since she immediately exclaimed on seeing the post about them: "They look like Mikey Mouse pants!!!". Well, Mickey Mouse can have them back because they sure don't fit me.

For those who's body is perhaps a better shape than mine, they look like they'd be amazing on. They will reach right up to under the chest and the blue is a beautiful shade of cornflower. The wool is very light so they won't be too hot. I shall be returning mine and hopefully someone else will rock them.

Queen Michelle

Sweet Peaches

I have been watching Glamour's Best Dressed List 2008. I have to say that these lists always end up with me shouting at the telly. Normally it's the dullest people that rate the highest, and the 'quirkier' types are nominated merely for their effort at trying something different and rarely because they are deemed to have gotten it 'right'. Naturally I was rooting for the likes of the lovely Kirsten Dunst and goth hottie Eva Green, both of whom were, unsurprisingly, hovering at the arse end of the scale. But what really struck me was just how much I actually liked mouthy teen Peaches Geldof.

I must admit, this gobby London gal had previously made grimace everytime she opened her cake-hole in a magazine or on TV, but my opinion has done a complete u-turn and I now find her rather refreshing. She has the outspoken-ness of her father but without the preachy do-gooding which makes her seem quite naughty. She's like the posh, real live version of Vicky Pollard. Like most teens many of her opinions are not rooted in anything as mundane as life experience, they are just 100% concentrated, full flavour, base opinion. Because she feels like it. And she can. Brilliant.

The Teaches of Peaches
On Jane Austen and The Bronte sisters - "boring feminist crap". Bless!

Unlike her similarly famous teen peer, Lily Allen, who just seems to spend her time swithering between being a cocky loudmouth to whiny crybaby, Peaches seems to be well aware of her gilded upbringing and is able to laugh at herself and those around her. She basically seems like she'd be a right good laugh on a night out. Peaches is the kind of girl that would spill beer down her Chanel frock and not give a rats ass. Gotta love that.

Queen Michelle

Silence Is Golden

As with most people, many of the designers featured on this blog are fiscally out of my reach. However, I post them because, for me, they provide crucial inspiration. Kick starts onto a sartorial route I'd abandoned or temporarily lost interest in. Seeing labels and designers' work that I cannot afford, nor find, delivers to me the impetus to attempt my own DIY interpretations and embark on the challenge of recreating a mood or look for much cheaper and more personal to me.

When the wonderful Venessa sent me a link to Australian label Silence is Golden, in a 'It's So You' moment, my love of loose fitting men's trousers and stark tailoring came rushing back to the forefront of my head.

Kelvin Tam, who studied architecture at the University of New South Wales, explores and blurs the boundaries between male and female in his SS08 collection. There are undeniable nods to Marlene Dietrich with the high waisted trousers, sharp shouldered, 40's style tuxedo jackets and stunning flowing goddess gowns. The interjection of muted metallics amongst the monochrome adds a bit of a glamourous edge to this intelligent and grown up collection.

It's also interesting to me to see a former architect, gone into fashion, tackle structure and tailoring. I find that creatives, who studied in a different field originally, usually bring something unique to the table. A case in point would the amazing Emilio de la Morena, a former sculptor, who's re-interpretation of the physical form by expert manipulation of fabric, breathes new life into classic silhouettes, such as the cocoon or body conscious forms. In Kelvin Tam's case the folds and unusual volume on skirts, for example, has a very obvious parallel to that of the architect's vision which clearly still exists within him. It's this collision of creative disciplines which serves up a unique melting pot of ideas and exploration of dressing the body to both compliment and adorn.

My only complaint? The shoes. Good god those shoes are doing that lookbook no favours at all - but I'm sure I could remedy that no problem!

Queen Michelle

White Shoe Shuffle

Firstly I must begin by retracting my initial statement regarding the comfort level of these Topshop Unique shoes - after wearing them for a few days, it seems they are very comfy indeed.

1/ Jean Pierre Braganza top; vintage leather skirt; AA leggings
2/ Vintage lace top; school boy's trousers

1/ All Saints dress; Tabio tights
2/ Maaike Mekking PVC high waisted skinnies; Ann Demeulemeester vest

I have literally been throwing them on with pretty much everything and they just seem to work. I knew they'd be versatile I just didn't realise how much. And, even though I personally usually struggle to walk in stiletto's, these are easy because they aren't all that high and the wide width of the sole means balancing isn't as precarious as some stiletto shoes. A welcome surprise indeed.

Although the heels keep going in between my wooden floorboards which is not so good!

Queen Michelle