Kingdom Of Style

Let's run away and join the circus...

On a Sunday night, with another working week looming, this always seems like a wonderful idea. I have always harboured the notion to run away and join the circus...

But maybe you are afraid of heights, don't like clowns, don't suit sequins. In that case I suggest we run away to a different circus. This one to be precise -

Ross and Graham, two dear friends of The Kingdom will be doing a live set.

Sunday Circus say -
"This month we welcome SOLAB, a Glasgow-based production duo who emerged a little over 3 years ago. Working with analogue and digital keyboards, fed into a modern production environment, the duo have been hard at work honing their sounds and are ready to bring us there own live set fresh from the studio. They will be taking the stage around 4pm this month so get down early and don't miss out.
As usual there will be a free drink on entry until 6pm and this time as the summer is arriving we will be putting on a barbeque from the start... This Bank Holiday circus is set to be one of the best.. see you all sunday! "

I say-
"See you on the dancefloor"

Queen Marie

If you would like to hear them, just click here

Stella McCartney scared my bear!

When I told my Final Home bear that Queen Michelle had put up a post about the people who made him, he was keen to take a little look...

He said, while he was on, he was going to nip over to Nordstrom
to take a little look at the Bunny , Stella M had made for LeSportSac. Someone had said, it looked just like him! I left him to it and went to put the kettle on. I was in the kitchen, when I heard a horrible thud. I ran into the living room, and there he was out cold on the floor...

After he came round, I gave him a nice cup of sugary hot tea and asked him what had happened.

He whimpered and pointed a shaky paw at the screen - "Make it go away, it's a monster, it's nothing like me!" I glanced at the screen and let out a gasp - "you're not wrong there little friend".

Shame on you Stella, for scaring my bear!!!

Queen Marie

By my side...

At the present time, my bedroom is basically a room with a bed in it. I have been looking for bedside tables on and off for months. Now I am perfectly aware how absurd it is to be so fussy over a piece of furniture that I will see for about five minutes a day! But the heart wants what the heart wants and what the heart wants is something charming, whimsical but practical!
Now this would be no problem if I had money to burn but at the present time, I do not. The options within my price range were all little boxes of horror. Cheap, nasty and guaranteed to give this Queen nightmares. I had just about given up hope until Sweetpea and Willow arrived to shine a light in the darkness.
Behold

The Nordic Grey Nightstand £125

The Cream French Dainty Bedside Table £120
(I love the word 'dainty')

And perhaps my most favourite of all - The Nordic Grey Table £125
(because it looks like a little grey octopus!!!)

Problem solved I think...

Queen Marie

If I were thinking about new thrones...

If I were thinking about new thrones for the palace these stunning Aero Stools would be pretty near the top of the list.
Inspired by a mirror image on a still lake, the stool brings together the smooth hardness of Pau Ferro, an FSC certified Brazilian wood, with the comfort of a cream coloured cushion. At £895 each, they are expensive but surely the comfort of your Queens is worth every penny!

You can find them at the inspirational One Eco Home
Queen Marie

Bite Me...

Both the Count and I agree, we would say 'fangs a lot' for this little number...

This is the 'Kiss of Death' necklace from the witty and wonderful Made by White
It costs Aus $55 and for some reason makes me laugh out loud.
Loving it lots.

Queen Marie

Wishing and Hoping...

Today I wish I lived in Australia.
Sydney to be exact.
If I did, I would be heading for the Hope Street Market.
It looks wonderful beyond words!

As does this poster! I would happily hang it on the Palace walls any day.
We encourage anyone in that part of the world to consider yourself appointed a Royal Ambassador to the Kingdom and to attend Hope Street in our stead and report back to us what glories you found there!

Queen Marie

Let's start with a Birthday song...

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday dear Michelle
Happy Birthday to You
xxx

Join Joe Cool and I, in wishing the Coolest Queen in this or any other Kingdom, a very very happy birthday!

Many Happy Returns
With much love
Queen Marie
x

Final Home Jeeves!

The japanese label Final Home has been a firm favourite with both your Queens for a great many years. Between us we have a super collection of clothing, accessories and toys mostly bought well over 10 years ago.

Last night I dug out one of my favourite Final Home bags which I found to be ideal to keep my new Nikon D40 camera in. Oh if that bag could talk, the tales it would tell! It has accompanied me on many a great adventure over the years.

The concept of Final Home began with a nylon coat. The idea of the coat is "a cloth which can be adapted according to need". The coat was created and called Final Home. It is basically a coat with many compartments which close with zips. If you were in a survival situation the coat's compartments can be filled with newspapers to keep you warm, or medical supplies.

I have the Final Home concept coat and I have worn it constantly for almost 12 years. It's the one thing in my wardrobe I could never part with. The coat came in 3 colours: orange to remind one of one's existence, khaki to blend in with the forest and black to blend in with the city.

The thing I have always loved about Final Home is that they just make clothes for people. Neither male nor female, just people. It's very utilitarian and has that Japanese 'clean' aesthetic but with little details like zips in unusual places.

I always come back to the outerwear though. You just can't get better than a Final Home jacket for adding a streetwear edge to your outfit.

Queen Michelle

A Dip Into Some Sherbit

Fiamma Poltock and Katie Walsh, the duo behind London based label Poltock & Walsh, have worked their clever magic on me.

It was their S/S08 collection that was the final nail in the coffin for me - after visiting the site a zillion times I have finally decided that amidst all my dark decadence a little light must shine. A little light by way of a sherbet coloured ruffled something, anything, would do nicely. 

Their A/W 08/09 is a jewel coloured bag of gems for sure. Lots of amazing colour blocking going on, but for some reason I keep coming back to the sweetness of their Spring Summer collection. I really think it's the ruffles that sealed the deal for me.

Of course, I am under no illusion that Poltock & Walsh will be within my fiscal reach any time soon, but that's not really the point. The point is that absorbing beauty in many different forms is all collateral in the DIY idea bank and the DIY idea bank wants a ruffle deposit!

Ruffles, good ruffles, are actually quite hard to make, especially since I don't want wee polite ruffles, I want big, over-the-top, in-your-face ruffles that shout rather than whisper. I want the ruffle equivalent of Beth Ditto and Poltock & Walsh surely deliver it.

Queen Michelle

Kitchen DJ

This post is pretty much just relevant to, uh, me. OK, maybe not just me, but also any other DJ's out there who read this blog. Are there any?

Unless you are blessed with a generously spaced home, as opposed to a small flat, then finding a place to store your decks, records and assorted music gear is a bit of a nightmare to be honest. As much as I love the beauty of a Technics 1210 it doesn't exactly blend into most homes' decor. In our flat we have had to make do with putting the decks and mixer on top of a table in the corner of the kitchen. Yes, the kitchen.

We do have a particularly large kitchen, but still it's not exactly ideal. My Prince has been trying to find the time to make a stand for the decks from scaffolding, which he plans to polish up and make all shiny and new looking, but so far the scaffolding still sits propped up again a wall awaiting it's revival.

All my woes would disappear however if I was to have this stunning DJ pod nestling in the corner, providing a stylish home for my gear.

It's designed by Reynold Rodriguez, who is a master at integrating wood and wood veneer into many of his stunning creations. The smooth, rounded curves give the pod a retro feel yet maintains a startling modernity which allows it to blend into many a stylish home. Clearly it's too nice to languish in the kitchen, it would simply have to be displayed in the living room and I'd happily move out my sofa to make room.

Queen Michelle

The Talented Mr Tetsill

Scotland is currently thriving with exciting design talent right now. Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Deryck Walker, Aimee McWilliams - all have received critical acclaim for their outstanding work and all hailed from this very country. Whilst I feel it's a shame they must decant to London to truly be recognised for their work, it's still good to know we have the talent to send Southwards in the first place. And until such times as we can get it together to not represent Scotland in such an embarassingly parochial way, as shown by the PR for Glasgow Fashion Week, then at least we know they are in the safe, and professional, hands of London Fashion Week to kick start their careers.

Another Scot set to make huge waves is Jamie Bruski Tetsill. Jamie received a first class BA Honours degree from Glasgow School of Art before heading to Central St Martins to graduate with an MA in Fashion. He was one of the exhibitors at London Fashion Week in February and is set to show again in September. I must admit I didn't see his collection at the exhibition, but then I didn't see much since I was a sweaty, sore footed mess by the time I even got to the venue, and all I wanted was a bloody cup of tea and to take my shoes off.

I sort of wince a little when Scottish designers use tartan or plaid as it's so mind numbingly obvious, however when I saw Jamie's usage of tartan I had a little chuckle to myself. He seems to have taken the humble kilt as inspiration and reworked it into jackets and coats, complete with oversized buckle fastening. It's fun and youthful and isn't taking itself too seriously. He has teamed it with oxblood leather skirts and the effect is a bit more punk than See You Jimmy!

Jamie's Central Saint Martin graduate collection however is a joy to look at.

I love the unusual mix of textures and how he plays with the female silhouette with exaggerated hips on skirts and dresses. We also see lambswool being used to amazing effect as he utilises it to embellish skirts, dresses and jackets. This lends the very feminine collection a more tailored edge and gives it enough of a quirk to really stand out. They grey jacket is perhaps the standout piece for me.

Jamie is sure to go far and I will watching with great excitement as he takes the fashion world by storm.

Queen Michelle

Oodles Of Pudel

I think we can all agree on my penchant for clothes which are a bit sombre, a teeny bit goth infused even. I simply cannot escape it. I occasionally fight it by playing with pink or frolicking in florals, but dark generally wins the day.

For all these reasons, and my undying love for Rick Owens, I simply love Swedish label Pudel, designed by Lina Österman. I am very excited that they finally have an online shop where I can at last buy their wares.

The SS08 collection, which is up at the moment, is a quite Owens-esque but without the terrifying prices. Strappy jersey tops, an incredible knitted jacket (although it looks like a cardigan to me) and some fabulous unisex pieces. So if your boy is into that type of clothing make him buy it, you then steal it from him and it costs you nothing. Result all round, eh?

Queen Michelle

Lucy And Bart Make Art

When we speak of other creative mediums influencing the work of designers, the outcome is usually very definitely clothing but with clear hints to the inspiration behind it, be it architecture or sculpture for example. But what happens when art is influenced by other mediums such as fashion? The outcome can't ever be certain.

Lucy McRae and Bart Hess have collaborated on a project called LucyandBart where they explore their "fascination with genetic manipulation and beauty expression". They say their work is not conscientiously influenced by fashion, architecture or performance, but is more "instinctual". Whatever they set out to do, be it unconscious or not, the results are all at once fascinating and unnerving.

Using materials like paper, cardboard, tights, balloons and even bubbles, they manipulate the body so it mutates into some strange and disturbing, other worldly creature.

I would absolutely love to see Lucy and Bart's work used in another context - to dress shop windows. I can imagine the exploding paper being used on top of mannequins wearing magnificent frocks in the window of Selfridges or such like.

Queen Michelle

Call Of The Cheyenne

I am desperately trying to cut down on my shoe purchases but of course all I can think about is shoes.

I have been in love with Tashkent by Cheyenne for a few seasons now.

Her strangely alluring designs balance between being completely ugly and completely interesting. I, flying the flag for all things ugly, say it's the ugliness that makes them so interesting, as with life in my opinion. Those things which make you wonder if they are exquisite or hideous are the things that I find most compelling. Sometimes blindingly beautiful can be ever so dull. I think my whole life would be complete if I had the black wedges. Nope, no exaggeration here!

On a side note, I always wanted to be called Cheyenne. Such a pretty name.

Queen Michelle

Sunshine On A Sunny Day

Carrying on from yesterdays look at the light and breeziness of Lonely Hearts Club, I give to you Sunshine & Shadow.

This label really does a grand job at presenting quirky, wearable separates again using fabrics like loose jersey and cool cotton. Almost sportswear inspired, Sunshine & Shadow pieces seems ideally suited for gently layering, since they are reasonably simple yet have the added details of tribal prints (although I'm reminded of Keith Haring), little studs and bright flashes of colour, which is just enough to make them stand out.

Queen Michelle

When Your Heart Is Lonely

As both your Queens have already mentioned over the course of this blog, we don't much get along with the summer heat. Queen Marie ends up bright red and I end up with skin you could fry eggs on. It ain't pretty. But more importantly these high temperature mess with our wardrobes no end.

I don't mind baring limbs under the cover of a club at night or in work, but when it comes to stepping outside well, that's another matter all together. The sunlight virtually bounces off my uber pale skin blinding everyone in the vicinity. In order to try and maintain my dignity, and limit the amount of public blindness, I tend to cover up with the lightest jersey vests and dresses which I can wear under a very light jacket. If I simply cannot get away with jeans then I'll wear some over the knee socks and just have the tops of thighs bare - a case of damage limitation. For both me and an unsuspecting public.

So labels which have a very lo-fi approach are a god-send to me during these summer days. Having written before about New Zealand label Lonely Hearts Club, I am once again looking to their cute creations for a helping hand during these hot days.

Little light dresses that can be layered over slips or jeans, cheeky, loose vests for when I'm DJing during hot nights and slouchy shorts for summer days spent thrifting. Lonely Hearts' approach is so simple yet utterly effective. Lovely!

Queen Michelle

Bolero Belle

My first real triumphant eBay score came in the form of this puff sleeved vintage bolero. Oh how I love it's huge, exaggerated, scrunchy sounding shoulders. Whilst it cannot fit under a jacket, I make do by taking it in a bag and wearing it once I reach my destination. It looks best when worn with other items which similarly play with shape or volume in some form.

It feels like I'm wearing giant black flowers on my shoulders. Twas money well spent for that alone methinks!

Queen Michelle