Kingdom Of Style

A new dream to sell...

 Is there a  woman alive who can resist the power of the little blue box?

The thrill of pulling that pristine white ribbon and the anticipation of what you will find in there.

Oh blessed little box, how we love you so...

When a brand has such an emotive pull, it is almost certain that it will be possessed of unique  and powerful brand values and attributes. Tiffany & Co  have been selling dreams since the 1850'when the established their first silver studio.

Now they have a new dream to sell.

A dream of a different colour

In celebration of their 175th anniversary, Tiffany introduces RUBEDO™ metal, a new Tiffany metal that "captures the rose luminescence of a sunrise" The new Tiffany 1837 collection boasts RUBEDO™ metal and sterling silver inscribed with the signature of Charles Lewis Tiffany,  the founder of Tiffany & Co

 RUBEDO  glows like gold but is malleable like silver. Made from a secret alloy, this new precious metal, captures the flattering soft tones of gold yet is lightweight and polishes up to a smooth lustre. Costing less than gold but more than silver, Rubedo opens up a whole new world of possibilties...

  Tiffany 1837™ ultra wide cuff in RUBEDO™ metal £5,800

 

 

 

Tiffany 1837 Padlock Necklace £ 505.00

 

 Tiffany 1837™ interlocking circles pendant in RUBEDO™ metal, ultra large £1,025

 

 

 

 Tiffany 1837™ interlocking circles necklace in RUBEDO™ metal and silver.£6,500

 

 

 

·(If you had a lottery win at the weekend you can call this number for Stockist details: 008002000 )

 To me, Rubedo, seems to share the warmth and charm of my favourite precious metal -Victorian Rose Gold. Rose  Gold always seems softer, gentler and more refined than yellow gold.

So what about the origon of the name, where did that come from?

In the medieval philosophy of alchemy, Rubedo was the title of the very highest achievement, when matter and spirit fused to create something of rare beauty

 Alchemy indeed...

Much as I adore this new precious addition, I confess that I have a bit of a problem with the name.

I cant say Rubedo without thinking of Rapido...

Presented by a smirking, Antoine de Caunes (above) complete with his exaggerated French accent, it ran on BBC from 1987 -1992. Rapido was highly influential, setting the tone for music/culture shows for the following decade.

Now if you will excuse me. I've got lots of dreaming to do...

 Queen Marie

Sweeping Statement

If you were to take a look in my wardrobe, you'd be confronted with, among other things, quite an unhealthy amount of floor length skirts, most of which are sheer.

My maxi skirt love affair begin in earnest when I was a teenager. I'd been a somewhat tomboyish heavy metal kid, mostly found in tight black jeans when, at 17 years old, me and my cheating assed boyfriend broke up. Amidst my rather dramatic teenage heartache, in between exclaiming I'd never be happy with another boy EVER again and utterly hating him, I decided the best way to get over him was to reinvent myself. Now, whilst I had nothing else to thank him for, I do kind of owe my discovery of the wonderful world of sweeping skirts to that teenage boy. My little heart may have been crushed by his continued indiscretions, but when a girl suddenly discovers she can make quite the entrance in massive, floor length skirts, well turns out she can sweep that man right out of her hair!

Reinvention in times of trouble has always been my defense against the world, but at 17 to go from years living in jeans, to suddenly finding pleasure in such a demure, feminine item of clothing, felt like a bit of an epiphany.

That love affair has stayed with me, and I do feel that the floor grazing skirt is visually very impactful.

I discovered this version on ASOS which had shorts attached to the inside. Absolutely perfect for summer, since I hate bearing my legs, but this saves the world from seeing them meanwhile I get the benefits of getting the air about my legs.

At the weekend, however, a stroll in the park in it turned out not to be a good idea. It was bloody freezing!

It would have been nice digging out this Primark jacket, which I still really love, and the Tristan Blair leopard shoes, had it been nice and warm.

It seems no-one has told the weather it's May! Honestly, we were so cold we cut our stroll short and scuttled home for some hot tea. Poor show.

Queen Michelle

sunshine after the rain...

 From Drought Warnings to Flood Warnings in the space of a week.

It's been British weather at it's finest!

But for once, the South of England seem to be getting the brunt of the rain and the flooding...

But in an attempt to take everyone's minds off the soggy horror, the lovely girls at me and zena have decided to have a Flash Flood Sale.

For just 3 hours tomorrow, you have the chance to get 30% off everything. That will surely shine a little ray of sunshine into our jewelry boxes...

 

 

Flash Flood Sale

30% off entire website

6pm -9pm

Offer ends 30/4/12

Just enter the code rainrainrain at checkout to receive discount

It's no secret how much I love me and zena. It never fails to cheer me up.

Nothing more so than my bunny rings. This little guy has been through the wars but he is still shiny and golden and his little emerald eyes still gleam.

The sale won't be announced until the morning but like the cheeky monkeys we are, we're giving you the heads up tonight, to give you the chance to have a right good prowl in advance...

Queen Marie

x

Your third eye...

Watching Grimes on Jools Holland the other night, you wouldn't have needed your third eye to realise you were seeing and hearing something very very special.

 I actually had goosebumps listening to her perform "Genesis"

 

 Watching her, I couldn't help but think, that she was like a funked up,trippier ( if that's even possible) young version of Elizabeth Fraser.  But with added lasers!!!

Fraser was the 'vocalist'with The Cocteau Twins. Signed to 4AD in '82, the alternative Scottish band were known for innovative instrumentation - distorted guitars, tape loops, echo boxes and 808 rhythms combined with atmospheric and non-lyrical vocals.

 The first time I heard Fraser, I couldn't really grasp what I was listening too.

She was like nothing I had ever heard before. Captivating yet at times barely decipherable,her voice swooped and echoed  in my head, not just with words but with 'subjective sounds and textures of verbalized emotions'. 

  

So it is only fitting that Grimes is now signed to 4AD who have released her latest album Visions

Grimes is the inventive work of Claire Boucher.  Boucher is a Canadian-born artist, musician, and music video director. At only 24,she is ridiculously prolific and talented for one so young...

Claire describes her work as, “the only means through which I can be fully expressive. It is both an ethereal escape from, and a violent embrace of, my experience. The creative process is a quest for the ultimate sensual, mystical and cathartic experience and the vehicle for my psychic purging. Visions was conceived in a period of self-imposed cloistering during which time I did not see daylight.”

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Queen Marie

 

Personal Touches

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you will have already seen the stunning ring I was sent from Reid Peppard, and her continually evolving label, RP/Encore.

This girl always manages to create such understated yet powerful pieces, such as the ring she sent me, the Carrot Spike ring. It's delicate silver band feels weightless on my finger, and the smoky quartz spike verges on lethal. The fact that it's quartz, which is possibly my favourite crystal, makes this creation even more delightful.

I cannot write about Reid without mentioning her packaging.

It never fails to astound me, her attention to detail and delivery of the personal touch within her packaging. The wax seal, which seals the little hand written note to me, feels much too special to actually break, so I have literally been trying to read the contents by lifting corners and trying to see underneath! The seal theme is continued on top of the leather embossed box. The whole experience of opening an RP/Encore parcel feels very special.

It's this kind of touch which really elevates a brand from being good to being amazing. It's entirely fitting for the packaging to be as considered as the beauty that lies inside.

Queen Michelle

He could have done himself a damage...

Standing in the pouring rain in Belfast several years ago, I saw a man wearing the tightest trousers I had ever seen.

And believe me, in my day, I've seen some tight trousers...

Until oor Frances reminded me in a recent post, I had forgottten that I used to have this very poster of David Lee Roth in my teenage bedroom.  I was also unaware of the history of this poster. - When Van Halen’s Women And Children First was released on March 26th, 1980, a three-foot black and white poster of David Lee Roth, bound to a chain-link fence, was included in the first million pressings. The photograph was taken by famed fashion photographer Helmut Newton. It was used for shock value. Many fans are unaware of the story behind this very rare, classic poster.In 1979, when Van Halen would take breaks during their “World Vacation” tour, Roth would head right for Studio 54, where he would sometimes spot Helmut Newton there. When it came time to do the third Van Halen record, he told the band that Newton should shoot a picture for the album.  

But I digress, back to the tight trousers in the rain...

They belonged to Jack White of  The Raconteurs who was onstage playing as part of the underated Tennants Vital festival.

My friend Joanne was laughing and pointing but I scarcely knew where to look. Jack's breeks were positviely gynecological

I was truly afeared the boy would do himself biological damage...

I love Jack White. Always have.

I love him in the way I love Johnny Depp. Love them for the fact that they seem like Tim Burton characters come to life. Slightly left  field and almost a bit out of time. Bless them.

Jack has a new solo album out callled Blunderbuss.

And now now I am the one in danger of doing myself biological damage.

Damage from dancing myself dizzy.

Since I heard the track I'm Shakin' a couple of days, I have been listening to it almost on a constant loop.

It's a cover of the Little Willie John track from 1965.

When ya touch my hand

An' talk sweet talk

I got a knockin' in my knees

And a wobble in my walk

 I'm tremblin'

And I'm shakin' 

 

Hell yeah I'm shakin'.

Play it loud and you will be too!!!

 

Queen Marie

x

Transparent Generation

How happy it makes me watching small brands and labels go from strength to strength before your very eyes. Most prominently it's been Black Milk, who are taking over the world one pair of leggings at a time. Miista are becoming more well known with every passing collection, and it seems like New York based label SGC NYC are also set for a bit of world domination.

I collaborated with the brand when they were just relaunching, having designed a few skateboards for them, and Jason and I can sometimes be found discussing music on Facebook. He is a musical kindred spirit. But also, a fashion one.

My cross tank is a massive favourite in my wardrobe, as you can imagine, and represents the kind of elevated basics the label create so well. Super soft jersey cottons and t-shirts you just can't live without, is what they do incredibly well.

Their latest collection, which continues what the label does best, is going to be sold exclusively at another favourite of mine, I Don't Like Mondays, and through SGC NYC themselves.

They created a little video, with Bon Duke, starring the stunning Taylor Warren, who sizzles as she, um, randomly hugs walls. But if you are going to randomly hug walls, then best do it in rather lovely clothes.

These goodies will be up on I Don't Like Mondays on May 15th.

Queen Michelle

the trouble with Tara...

Ooooh that Tara Levitin.

She's a temptress!!!

Constantly coming up with things you didn't know you wanted or needed  until one her emails pops into The Kingdom inbox.

Then you can think about nothing else...

This time around it's her new hand carved earrings in bone, horn, wood, and coconut earrings at www.LeviticusJewelry.com

Queen Michelle and I were just talking about earrings at the weekend!!!!  I have not worn them for many many years since my ears went all funny. But I am so so tempted to try a pair of these. I would feel like an extra from The King and I (don't ask my why, I can't really explain it, I just would!!!!).

Swan Bone Earrings 2.5" beautifully hand carved out of bone   $30.00

These earrings fit normal pierced ears. Each earring is hand carved making it unique. These earrings are one-of-a-kind and you will be receiving the exact earrings shown in photo.

Wooden Floral Earrings   2.5" tall hand carved wooden floral earrings with silver posts.

 Filigree Swirl Bone Earrings  2.5" tall beautifully hand carved cow bone filigree earrings with silver ear posts.  

Each earring is hand carved making it unique. Bone color may vary slightly due to the fact that each piece of bone is found and may be sun bleached. No animal is harmed as a result of these being made. 

 Wooden Drop Post Earrings   1" tall hand carved wooden earrings with wooden posts. 

My ears now feel naked and unloved. Harumph.

Told you that Tara one, was trouble!!!

Queen Marie

x 

don't eat my seat...

That's not something I normally have to say to people.

But then my seats don't look like this... 

 This is the 'muffin pouffe' by  designer Matteo Bianchi

Director and Founder of Design Ltd,
Matteo Bianchi is a dynamic interior designer based in East London. Originally from Venice, Bianchi’s own style is experimental and eclectic, mixing an Italian flair for design with the London 'edge'. No one does playful furniture like the Italians!

Before we all fell in love with cupcakes, muffins were our most favourite treats. It's funny how quaint and old fashioned they seem to us now. This delicious little muffin was presented at TENT london 2011. 

Customers can have their muffins made to thier own recipe by choosing heir own 'ingredients' such as different handcrafted solid wooden bases, buttons and soft leathers which come in a range of colors. 

Most fun of all, each cupcake allows you to have a secret stash!

By removing the cushion, the Muffin Pouffe reveals hidden storage space. The perfect place to hide more muffins or even some of those dastardly cupcakes.

 

 

The muffin pouffe even boasts it's own totally delicious website.

Just click here to see more about this most sweet of seats...

Queen Marie

x

 

You pour, I'll stir...

Designer Louise Buchanan is a girl after our own hearts.

She shares our love  for the most important thing in the whole wide world - tea!!!!

 Louise makes a range of products, including bags, purses, jewellery, printed textiles that are beautiful and unusual and best of all, inspired by tea!

She uses items that you wouldn't expect to see on fashion accessories, like the sweetie purse range that has an antique mustard spoon attached to the front!  Louise set up her business in 2006 when she moved to london and started making all things tea related. Bags and purses are made from recycled leather using local processes and techniques.

In 2011 louise moved back home to Scotland to set-up her workshop here. Now you can find lots of her lovely work on the wonderful site notonthehighstreet.com

 

The Sweetie is a patent leather clutch bag with contrasting lining. It comes in patent yellow, purple, navy or red with a contrasting mustard spoon on the front. they also have a pink or blue satin lining to make you smile every time you open it will brighten up the worst of days.

It also comes as a perfect little purse to pop in your clutch

Sweetie Clutch £85         Sweetie Purse £33

 Much as I love her bags, I think my favourite things have to be these genius Tea Spout Hooks.

Ceramic Tea Pot Spout Hooks cost £16  I want to put them up everywhere in The Palace.

Time for tea?

The answer is always YES...

Queen Marie