Kingdom Of Style

stairway to heaven...

 

It is no secret how much we love TK Maxx here in The Kingdom.

No better way to spend a weekend morning than prowling around the rails. But if you live in the Edinburgh area, then you are in a for a happier weekend than most.

TK Maxx Edinburgh stores have undergone a makeover. The stores in TK Maxx stores in Straiton, Craigleith and the Meadowbank in Edinburgh have been transformed. The new stores will be bigger and brighter complete with gorgeous new light and décor and upgraded fitting rooms amongst other things.

The doors open at 9am on Saturday 1st October and the first 500 customers through the doors will be treated to a £10 gift card to spend in the store. The new look stores are -

Straiton - Unit 1, Straiton Retail Park, Loanhead EH20 9PW 

Meadow Bank- Unit 4/5, Meadowbank Retail Park EH7 5TS 

Craigleith - The Quarry, 32 South Groathill Avenue, EH4 2LN

Happy Bargain Hunting...

 

Last week, also saw something very exciting drop throughThe Kingdom letterbox...

VIP = VEP*                           *Very Excited Person

As well as rushing all over Europe and the United Kingdom,the lovely Helen Gunter took the time, to drop some VIP Discount Cards into the post for Queen Michelle and I.  We had no idea they were arriving and I actually squealed out loud when I opened the envelope.

I of course, ran stright out to my local branch and bought some super duper new pom pom hats and snuggly snoods!

Thank you Helen.

You have us very happy and our bank managers very anxious!!!!

Queen Marie and Queen Michelle

xx

the colour of friendship

Last week a small brown box popped through my letterbox and inside was huge yellow silk rose clasp.

Nothing makes up happier here in  The Kingdom than popping things on top of out head or in our hair.

And how could I fail to have a big smile on my face, with such a lovely flower, the colour of sunshine in my hair.

There was no note or card inside, so whoever send it, Thank You Kindly xxx

 

 

I have written often about the Secret Language of Flowers. I am such a sucker for High Victoriana.

Yellow Roses indicate joy, gladness, true friendship and were sent to say - "I Care" 

When an admirer wished to indicate he wanted more than friendship, perhaps take things to another level then he would sent yellow blooms tipped with red tips . These were sent to say " I'm falling in love with you..."

While an orange or coral rose was sent to say - "I want you in my life"

Who knew flowers could say so much...

 

Queen Marie

x

 

The Quest For Quist

Apologies for very tardy posting today but I was on unexpected posting duties since Queen Marie was having internet issues today. Squeezing a post in during lunch and, as in tonight, straight after ballet class when I'm tired and hungry is my excuse for shit posts! So please forgive me.

If, like me, you're still loving all manner of gothy cross adornments then Etsy seller Lena Quist is most definitely for you. I just never get bored of the cross motif. After having such an aversion to it when the Queen Mum passed, I have gone the way she did which is bordeline obsessive. Well, perhaps not that, but I'm certainly very found of them. I find the shape graphically pleasing. It's solid, confident and slightly aggressive.

I always feel that there is a way to soften the gothiness of such pieces - how, I'm not entirely sure, but I do know it can be done. Obviously Lena has gone the purest route and styled it as one might expect, but I'd like to take this provocative symbol and soften it, girlify it you will. That's not to say I'm not really happy going with the gothic flow - because I most certainly am.

Lena also represents how incredibly professional Etsy sellers are getting in presenting their work. As a matter of interest, if you look at her earlier pieces  you can see real growth in both her work and how she choses to present that work. I always find that really encouraging for some reason.

And metallic jeans? Yes, just yes.

And, to be quite base about it, I really want to prance around with nothing but crosses covering my nips. In the privacy of my own home of course. You hope.

Queen Michelle

About Boticca

I love websites that are absolutely jammed packed with stuff. Sites that you could lose yourself for hours just looking through pages and pages of STUFF.

I was emailed about a site called Boticca which stocks many independent accessory designers. We are all au fait with Etsy and shops of that ilk, which present a fantastic choice for customers, so it's always a pleasure for another kid on the e-tail block to appear.

The site itself isn't much to look at, in all honesty, and perhaps the design even slightly takes away from the fact it stocks some truly talented creatives from jewellery designers to bags and headgear. But take the time to delve in and you'll see such a vast array of styles on offer, especially their jewellery. I have made a huge mental shopping list for rings alone!

Something for everyone!

Queen Michelle

Clean And Serene

When I worked with New Zealand jewellery label Meadowlark a few years ago to create my huge cross ring, I realised that my somewhat weirdly large, beaten silver cross was slightly at odds with the other pieces in their shop. Whilst they do have leanings towards goth/rock jewellery - think lots of studs - everything is still very fine and delicate and my ring, by comparison, was designed to look worn and distressed. It looked like the jewellery equivalent of Lemmy walking into a room filled with clean cut teenagers!

However, I do admire how they take somewhat tired references, like studs, and reinvent them into something much more refined. It's the jewellery a grown up goth would wear.

Their new collection is elegant and very understated. Faceted arrows, pyramid studs, cocktail rings and bones which appear to be little bows, all rendered in clean silver - my personal favourite precious metal.

Queen Michelle

Take A Trip

I'm possibly the least glamourous you could ever meet. The thought of me in a swishy, glam frock is actually laughable. I always have a slightly dishevelled air about me, a bit like Columbo.

It's slightly absurd then that I am always really drawn to the work of New York based designer Leila Shams, whom I've featured on here many times, as her creations are out and out glam.

However, this season her collection, Acid Trip, is a really wearable kind of glamour with her trademark mini and maxi lengths and animal prints rubbing alongside injections of neon green and lace print. It's so youthful and fun and actually really embodies the designer herself.

As I said, the main aspect of this collection is the wearability. With coloured biker jackets, printed miniskirts and draped shirts, it's a simple and laid back kind of glamour even I could manage.

Queen Michelle

Times Square

A wee prowl around the local charity shops at the weekend resulted in me finding this cute, printed sheer shirt for £3.75.

It depicts Times Square and rather charmingly shows signs for shows like Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. I fell for it for that reason alone.

I decided it would look nice mixed with an additional typographical based pattern, all in monochrome. So out came the Lucette cargo trousers and a very graphic Primark black and white jacket.

Whenever I wear this Primark jacket I am always quite impressed by the quality and cut of it. The Limited collection is always worth looking at it ocassionally gives you gems like this Givenchy inspired piece.

When I do black and white I always feel wearing solid pieces is a little dull, so I always prefer to mix monochromatic patterns instead which gives the plain, colourless palette an extra dimension.

Queen Michelle

Visions Of Hell

I first featured Inbar Spector back in 2008 and immediately saw an exciting and fresh designer with massive potential.

The designer took a few seasons off and I did wonder if that would be damaging to the momemtum which was slowly gathering for the Israel born designer, especially when she was so early in her career. But I admit that the break has clearly done her well as Inbar has returned with a killer collection for SS12.

Complex silhouettes are key to her work and this collection sees her take that to a new level with incredibly intrictate ruffled dresses, golden faux leather a-plenty and the overall air of period costume influences. Whilst the collection is actually inspired by visions of nightmares and hell, derivative of the torments seen in her home country, the collection didn't wander into the obvious gothic territory and, instead, seems to have moved towards more classic leanings.

The designer normally works in monochrome but this season she injected some soft peach hues and a generous amount of gold. I admit, I'm not entirely convinced by the gold but the peaches and seafoam are a welcome foray into colour.

I am also left wondering, after this collection especially, if the designer really wants to create couture somewhere down the line in her career. She certianly has the skills to create couture and it would be very interesting to see how she could push her aesthetic even further.

I would not be entirely surprised if this wasn't hailed as one of the best collections shown at Vauxhall Fashion Scout this season.

Queen Michelle

Inside The Shoe

We usually only see the serene beauty of the ballet shoe from the outside - all pale pink satin and ribbons. But on the inside of the shoe the foot is working like a soldier, with many tiny little muscles all engaged and our toes become things of strength and power.

Queen Michelle

Belle Of the Ball

When you have followed the fortunes of a label from their beginnings, it's always incredibly rewarded to see the moment they create their best collection to date. It's tangible evidence of a culmination of hard work, honed skills and a definitive voice. One such label is Belle Sauvage.

I have loved this label for many years and to see their creative process grow and develop, resulting in their outstanding SS12 collection, is clear proof that Christian Neuman and Virginia Ferreira are on top of their game.

The  collection explores their signature digital prints in greater detail, but this season they have translated it into sweeping gowns, feminine cocktails frocks and tailoring. The mixture of high octane glamour and the playful prints Belle Sauvage have become synonymous with has resulted the label seemingly 'coming of age'. It's grown up, with the sophisticated silhouettes, yet maintains the youthful, cheeky demeanour which made me fall in love in the first place.

This season it's all about 20's movie star glamour for Belle Sauvage with floor length silks and embroidered French tulled interjecting the prints, offset with edgy harness details and leather, which they incorporate every season.

Queen Michelle