Kingdom Of Style

Oh come on! Cupcake week?

Every week it seems there is another 'week'

National No Smoking Week, Take your Dog to Work Week, you name it, there seems to be week about it . Bunch of arse!  But at last, here is a week, I can get behind!

Tomorrow sees the start of the first Cupcake Week in the UK...

I love love love cupcakes. I think it is because each and everyone looks so precious and special. Each little cake looks like a celebration, a little party with icing on top. Yum Yum Yum.

Lucky for me (hopefully) just last week the Grande Empress Gillian bought a new cupcake recipe book. Here's hoping she sees this post.

Yours in cupcakey anticipation

Queen Marie

x

Cupcake image from tooaskew.com

DANGER! DANGER! High Voltage...

It's a shocking situation.

Positively hair raising.

They're all at it - Jenny Packham, Prada,  Mulberry

They can't say I didn't warn them.  I was quite clear. 

"Girls! do not stick your fingers in the socket"

Did they listen?

Did they hell...

Don't say I didn't warn you.

No one wants to buy clothes from The Hair Bear Bunch...

Queen Marie

x

Under the Umbra spell...

Umbra make clever enchanting things for every palace.

Things like this...

The Mixalabra Candle Holder £210 which would turn any occasion into a fairytale...

Or this the Cassetta Mirror £295.00 complete with recycled cassettes dipped in chrome...

As my niece Princess Laura would say - "much coolness"

Queen Marie

Cute as a cactus...

Can a cactus be cute?

It can be if it's a darling little velvet cape that reminds me of a cactus...

This is a 1980's velvet cape by Patty Shelabarger ($175) with a shocking pink lining.

It is brought to you by the charming Shrimpton Couture which is packed full of delicious things.

But please Cherie, cover up the bare bottom of your mannequins. It's just not seemly for a lady to have her rear end on show to the whole world...

Thank you.

Queen Marie

x

Prints charming...

Much as I loved all of my lovely birthday presents, there was one thing that captivated me most of all -

the wrapping paper used by Grande Empress Gillian...

A metallic blue and green floral pattern, I smiled the minute I saw it.

It made me think of a dress I remember my gran wearing when I was young. It was heavy cotton sateen with a pattern just like this. All of a sudden I was struck with an overwhelming longing to have something in my wardrobe with this pattern...

So please rack your brains people. If you have spotted a pattern like this anywhere on the old interweb or even in the back of your closet, please let me know.

You would make an old Queen very happy.

I thank you.

Queen Marie

x

These boots are made for snoozing...

This bird can run very fast...

This bird can't...

One is an emu. One is wearing emus!

A couple of weeks ago the lovely Adam from Fitness Footwear dropped us an email and asked if we would like to review some Emu boots. Living in a very cold palace, with very cold toes, I said yes please. Fitness Footwear is a small family company selling sports and outdoor shoes based in Hertfordshire. They are a friendly bunch, and horribly active, so they can give you real advice and help. Sadly I only walk as far as the biscuit tin but I know I could call on them if I ever planned to walk any further than that.

Now as for my boots...

I went for tall,black, sheepskin. I don't think my feet have ever felt so cozy. Ever. 

But while they feel amazing, looking down, I think my feet look kind of lazy. Having said that I can be a lazy Queen so maybe it is a match made in heaven.

If you want warm toes too, then just take a look here

Queen Marie

Duvet Couture...

You can forget Demi Couture, I would rather take Duvet Couture...

Divine, decadent, delicious duvets...

I am of course talking about the Moncler Gamme Rouge collection. Garments deigned by Giambattista Valli for the Italian owned outerwear label Moncler. He describes them as 'a balance between high-tech and high-fashion'. I would agree, but something else is also high. The prices. You can expect to pay upwards of $3000 for the more ornate pieces...

You can find them at Dover Street Market

As well as being rich, you should also be svelte, or else you run the risk of looking like you really are wrapped up in duvet...

Queen Marie

x

I Was Lost But Then You Found Me

Uber branding agency, View, last year created a publication called Lost+Found the back copies of which I received through the post today.

The agency itself, based in London, seem to have used Lost+Found almost like a piece of research, studying trends, shifts in business, the exploration of the power of iconography. But on a base level it's graphic designer porn - stunning typography, great use of newspaper substrate and format, black and white with beautifully curated images which all stimulate the senses in many ways.

Looking through Lost+Found is almost like seeing someone's subconscienceness on paper - little random snippets of thoughts and meanderings. It feels personal, like a fanzine you might create about your favourite band.

The designer behind the magazine, David Arnott, is indeed a talented chap as he has not been tempted to tread to0 far into either ultra minimalist or head exploding maximalist territories, clearly preferring to keep a sense of balance and do both to a subtle degree.

There is a blog which acompanies the publication too. The newest magazine is currently underway I believe and I can't wait to receive it.

Queen Michelle

Turn That Frown Into A Shirt

Absolutely loving this 'unhappy' tee from Bitching & Junkfood. Heavens knows we're miserable now...

Feeling foxy?

Not normally into hooded tops (I used to live in a Thrasher one when I was 12 along with white Nike high tops and, eh, black leggings. Oh dear), but I could make an exception for this short sleeved one.

Queen Michelle

Basilio And Balaclavas

A certain Ms Smart emailed today sensing my doubts about my career and gave me so much encouragement about the future I felt immediately inspired to start thinking about ways of creatively branching out. So, as is the case when I want inspiration, I start trawling online for images which I find interesting, funny, weird, sexy, odd, whatever  - anything that kick starts the old brain.

I came upon a great site called Life Lounge and in there I discovered photographer Basilio Silva. I find his images, though typically 'fashion' at times, lighthearted, fun and a bit like Terry Richardson but with less visible eye bags! (I find Richardsons work is just a bit too raw at times).

The girls in balaclavas made me laugh for some reason. I think they're great!

This is pretty much how I feel most days!

I like simple photography like this. It's quite honest in a way, but there is still a gloss there that makes it fun to look at. I mean come on, a girl skateboarding in a balaclava? That's a funny thought! Hmmm, wonder if I should try wearing a balaclava when I wear my roller boots? Might try my own photo hommage!

Queen Michelle