Kingdom Of Style

snow white shall die...

Now I can't imagine that you smiled when you read the title of this post.

But you will smile, when you look at this print...

This is the work of the very talented  Louise Evans , who we also like to think of, as an "Appointed Crafter to The Kingdom"

It was part of a self initiated book project for her final year at Norwich University, where she graduated this year with a BA (Hons). Congratulations Louise x

But best of all, she is now selling a selection of limited edition giclee prints in her charming etsy store...

Mirror Mirror Limited Edition Print $8.00

 

It goes without saying, that despite the fact that I rapidly running out of wall space in The Palace, I bought one of each a few weeks ago and am now on the hunt for just the right gold frames...

Queen Marie

x

 
 
 

jpg, tea and me

Jean Paul Gaultier always makes me smile

He always has the most fun with fashion, even at the dizzying heights of haute couture...

Autumn/Winter 2010/11

Here in The Kingdom, one of the questions we are asked most often is " how would you define your style?" and to be honest I always kind of struggle to put it into a soundbite. But the other week , I think I came the closest yet by calling it - 'folksy fairytale'.  Imagine if Heidi met a drag Queen in a sequin factory and you are half way there.

For JPG, no folksy outfit is complete without a 'creation' on top, and more than anyone else, I think his creations best express my own style, which truth to tell, often look like I have fallen into a dressing up box. But his is no ordinary dressing up box. It is a dressing up box which is truly global and luxurious! Filled to the brim with with heart-stopping texture, colour and embellishment and adornment...

All JPG images from the incomparable style.com

Gosh Queen Marie, I hear you say!

"That hat looks just like a tea cosy..."

Strange you should say that.

For that is exactly what it is...

This is my favourite tea cosy in the whole world.

I have bought it three times so far. Once for our beloved Sister Wolf, once for The Queen Mum and again for my own palace teapot

If you want to join in the tea cosy fun, you can find it here for a mere £10. 

Considerably less than JPG Couture I would imagine!

Queen Marie

x

Telephone call for some fun...

Let's smile this Saturday.

Let's say 'sod it' to the serious stuff.

More than anything else, Queen Michelle and I always want to share, our sincere belief, that fashion and style can be fun. Ok, so not everyone is going to like what you wear or how you wear it, but life is hard enough, so why not have some fun along the way...

When I'm looking for smiles, luncacy never lets me down...

Telephone Bag £75.00

 Silver telephone bag £165.00 (complete with dial and cable)

Trailer trash hair clip £8.00

'Mother Cutters' necklace £17.50

Queen Marie

x
 
 
 
 

Leopard Legs

Thank you to everyone who emailed me about the leopard print jeans from Topshop that I ranted about being in the lookbook but not the shop.

I am forced to eat my words. Some of you were hopeful that my rant had somehow made Topshop produce the jeans, and as much as that would be immense (weilding power over what Topshop creates? Doesn't get much better!), alas it's much more plausible that I was simply being impatient and the jeans were going to be stocked at some point. I'm just no good at waiting I suppose.

The jeans actually ended up cords though, and as much as the print is fun I wonder how well they stay in shape as cord is rarely as stretchy as stretch denim. Next time I'm in Topshop I shall cop a feel.

These would be great with a Sibling sequined animal print top.

Queen Michelle

I Am A Leopard, Hear Me Roar

Belle Sauvage has created a new, unisex diffusion line called Leopard. It takes the graphic, colourful aspects of Belle Sauvage and re-interprets them into a more affordable line.

Inspite of the fact Belle Sauvage say the line is aimed at the 16-25 range (there we go with pesky demographics again!), I would happily wear the pieces and don't feel I'd look especially like I was wearing clothes that are too young for me. I fully believe that when it concerns clothes that are highly patterned or brightly coloured it's your attitude that dictates how they look and whether you are able to carry them off.

Queen Michelle

Peace For Sale

I've been listening to quite a lot of Megadeth of late. Should I be ashamed? Is it alright to like Metallica and Megadeth? OK, I have to admit that Dave Mustaine is a bit of a twat, but I saw them play in 1988, on the Peace Sells tour (I think), and they were utterly amazing live. He is an incredible guitarist.

I always aspired to have jeans as tight as Dave Mustaine. His were so tight I'm surprised he didn't do himself a damage, though it certainly could account for how he manged to reach such impressively high notes.

This is the video for Peace Sells. I don't know who the dork is being interviewed before they show the video though. Ignore him.

I really love proper old school heavy metal videos!

Queen Michelle

Elegant With An Edge

Normally I hate when charity shops try to fill their shop with clothes suitable for the season. Since it's summer that invariably means some truly shocking abominations ever created with fabric. I prefer if they just have a muddle of clothes ranging from old army parkas to flouncy frocks, regardless of season, which means I can buy brilliant jumpers in the middle of summer because I know they'll be really useful come winter.

However I must admit that in spite of my contempt for seasonal charity shopping it does sometimes come in handy. This is the case when shopping for anything sheer. They only bring out their sheer goods come summer or christmas. Strange but true.

I had been searching for a perfect sheer black shirt for ages and coming up with nothing. Lucky me, the PDSA had just the thing for £1.99.

There are few things finer than a beautifully hanging, sheer, black shirt. Wearing one always makes me feel quite elegant. Worn with some jeans and heels it's elegant with an edge I reckon - like an elegant, female, less warty, Lemmy if you will!

Queen Michelle

If You Go Down To Darkling Wood...

It may surprise a fair few of you to know I'm not really into skulls as a design for jewellery. I, of course, did go through a skull phase as a teenager but as an adult with somewhat rock/goth leanings, oddly skulls just don't feature in my jewellery collection.

It was therefore quite surprising to me that I find myself really loving the skull rings from Violet Darkling. I think it's possibly because the collection is presented as a dark fairytale, entitled Treasures of Darkling Wood, and the skulls are tiny, little animal skulls therefore not quite as morose as a human skull. Plus, some of the designs see the skulls adorned with bows.

Queen Michelle

Smiling At Shrigley

One of my favourite artists is Glasgow based David Shrigley. His work is an irreverant and witty social commentary or, often, just plain silliness which always makes me laugh. Chances are you'll have seen his work on postcards and cards if you are in the UK.

He currently has an exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery that I'd like to go and see. It's on until 26th of September.

 

I would really like this David Shrigley duver cover from Third Drawer Down.

Queen Michelle

Faking It

11 or so years ago I was really into label Fake London. They designed quirky jeans and had some pretty unique pieces within their collections.

My first pair of expensive jeans were Fake London and cost £110 back then. I couldn't bare to let them go once I'd outgrown their aesthetic so instead turned them into a skirt, which I still have but don't wear. I recall being very excited by the Fake London rosettes which decorated the shop window of Cruise. I emailed Fake London to ask if I could buy them anywhere and they actually sent me a bunch of the rosettes for free!

I had thought the label had gone but upon visiting the site today I see they have a new collection up.

It's very British and a great return to form for the label largely associated with Brit Pop, probably due to the brand's usage of a target which they put on the back of parkas etc, creating a look which was very Mod.

I can safely say I'd wear 90% of this collection of tailoring tweed, denim and military detailing.

I will say though that this looks more like a great autumn collection rather than a spring/summer one, but here the weather for each of the season is interchangeable anyway so it really doesn't matter to me in reality!

Queen Michelle