COLLARED

I love love love these collars by Cabinet. There are a few for sale in my shop, My Sugarland. They are great to wear over a jumper to spice things up a bit. I think they are overpriced but very beautiful, and am tempted to try and make my own (although I'm sure I couldn't do as well as this). Very tempted by the "Allure" silver sequinned collar (£224!) for sale on http://www.kabiri.co.uk/.

I have been wearing this beaded collar with blue stones a lot recently. It was made by my Granny (I'm not sure how, some special knotting technique) and I love it. Here I'm just wearing it over a grey American Apparel jumper. CW

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

Claudia and I have spent this weekend foraging for ivy and holly to create our helen glory Christmas wreaths. They will be on sale at Jensen and Ballantine from Tuesday if I manage to get them to Notting Hill with the tube strike. Each wreath is unique (if not entirely on purpose) and can be made bespoke with glitzy extras such as handmade silver plated stars, gold or red ribbon bows or gold painted leaves. FC

GIMME SOME TASSEL

 

Day of free balloons and amazing giant tassels.

Claudia - Capelet: Phillip Lim, Jeans: Cheap Monday, Scarf: Like Mary, Boots: Vintage.

Frances - Coat: Topshop, Jumper: Topshop, Jeans: Primark, Bag: Ted Baker, Shoes: Russell and Bromley.

CW

ROOM RAIDERS

Because this is where I want to spend my Friday off work. My friends tell me my room is like a vintage shop. Compliment? I'm not sure.  CW

MY FAIR LADY

As if anyone needed another reason to wear a garland, Audrey proves how chic they really can be. Although this picture was taken on her wedding day I think Hepburn would have looked lovely wearing it any day.

Buy yours at:

http://www.helengloryshop.blogspot.com/

See more iconic brides at Elle.com

FC.

JENSEN AND BALLANTINE

 


 

 Jensen and Ballantine in Notting Hill is one of my favourite shops in London, although I may be slightly biased as it is owned and run by my boyfriend's mum. The shop stocks French and Belgian antiques as well as crockery and scented candles amongst other desirables. Outside the shop is where Helen Glory has its annual Carnival pop up shop and face painting stand. Jensen and Ballantine is the first shop in London where you can purchase Helen Glory garlands and at Christmas time handmade Christmas wreaths.

FC



STRIPE TEASE

CW

BLACK BOOTIE

Because you can never have enough black ankle boots.
L-R: Vintage, Dior, Acne, Chanel, Surface to Air, Sam Edelman, Office

My three faves L-R: Dior, Acne, Chanel (okay, they're not really boots but whatever). Apparently the Acne Track boots were brought out four years ago and sold out instantly. Because of this some Swedish ladies started a petition to have them remade. The design that has come out in the last couple of weeks is a result of this petition (which received over 500 signatures) and an exact replica of the design of four years ago. I love them - they have the perfect heel height and are great for both day and night-time. CW

WRAPPED UP FOR CHRISTMAS

 

I can not wait for Christmas. Only 36 days till the joyous day (ebay tells me). That is why I have dressed myself as the human present today, if only partially by accident. I think the realistic red ribbon really adds to it. If only I had photoshop, paint will have to do until then. Next stop mince pies.

Leather Jacket - Topshop, Shirt Dress - Uniqlo, Under Dress - AA, Shoes, Converse.

FC

GO AGAIN

Yesterday I went to see the Gaugin exhibition at Tate Modern. Apparently this is the oldest work that the gallery has seen. His bold colour palette, strong outlines and flattened shapes, which were said to be a reaction against the wishy-washy impressionists that preceded him, make his paintings quite something. I don't think he always got it quite right but his paintings definitely do have a way of drawing you in (btw check out the lovely flower garland on one of the Tahitian ladies he painted - the painiting is called "What, are you Jealous?). Some of the landscapes had a really magical feel. They mostly made me want to go on holiday to relax in a hot climate, like he did in Tahiti.

I love the exhibition in the gallery's Turbine Hall at the moment - the entire floor is coated with a thick layer of ceramic hand paited sunflower seeds. It's so rubbish that you can't walk all over them any more due to "health and safety". CW
 

CAN'T DO MY HOME WORK

My sister has a new video out to go with her band Big Deal's forthcoming single out on Records Records Records soonish. I think it is absolutely magical and almost pagan. I am loving the fire and sparklers.

www.myspace.com/wereabigdeal

FC

60s INFLUENCE

Here are the trailers to both Blow Up and Factory Girl, which for me at least make me want to watch them all over again. For our sixties day I also brought along my Edie Sedgwick book 'Edie, Girl on Fire'. There are so many beautiful photos of her throughout her twenties. In many of them she looks incredibly glamorous but to the end of it she looks tired and ravaged by drugs. FC

BLOW UP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xz1utzILj4&feature=related

FACTORY GIRL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAW0F2QY7S4

DAY IN THE SIXTIES

We spent the day as Edie and Twiggy with the help of our friend Katherine. While she did our make-up we watched Blow Up and Factory Girl which helped give us ideas. In Blow Up we saw the sixties way of taking photos and the odd contortions the models seemed to take when posing. We love the bold make-up with dark lines, strong eyes and eyebrows and nude lips. Mods tended to prefer to be doll-like in their appearance. This was a thoroughly enjoyable era to look into - I especially love the flattering baby-doll shapes and high hemlines, which suggest a childlike innocence. Frances's dress is Luella and my dress was made by my auntie Carol in the '60s. CW

ALEX BALL

On Wednesday night instead of popping off to the cinema I ventured into the cold night to Alex Ball's new show of paintings (November–December 2010, An Unspoken Arrangement: New Paintings by Alex Ball, Arts Gallery, University of the Arts, London, UK). His works are painted on small canvases or boards and are extremely detailed. He graduated from St. Martins in 2007 and won the Catlin Art Prize in 2008. The works in this new show are similar to the works shown at his graduate show and invoke feelings of the uncanny and the peculiar. Various objects are placed in stark scenes, woven together in strange compositions. Worth a visit.

http://www.alex-ball.com/   FC

ME VS TWIGGY

My friend Katherine is training to be a make-up artist, and she practised her sixties hair and make-up on me tonight. It's interesting to hear about the differences in style between the Mods and the Rockers. Here I think I have Mod make-up and Rocker hair. Rockers tended not to be so pale and had freer flowing hair. I was loving the big eyes and eyelashes and drawn on freckles - so sad to have to take it all off before bed! I really like the Kansas Couture blog, and was definitely inspired by her sixties pictures ( http://www.kansascouture.com/2010/10/twiggy.html ). She looks so good with the Edie Sedgwick hair. Looking forward to doing our take of the sixties this weekend!

CW

ART THURSDAY

 At the Cubitt Artists Curators Choice exhibition (http://cubittartists.org.uk/) at the Rochelle School.

Jacket - Topshop, Shirt - Urban Outfitters, Skirt - H & M, Shoes - Primark

Later we scooted off to a piano shop in Camden for several pieces of music played by musicians on 13 grand pianos. This conceptual art piece included one which consisted only of the pianists using the pedals in time and no keys.

FC

CUPCAKE AND VODKA DINNER - MY SUGARLAND 2ND BIRTHDAY

 

I have been lucky enough in the last month to have started work at My Sugarland, the Islington boutique founded by celebrity stylist Zoe Lem. To me the shop seems one of a kind in London - a perfect mix of designer and luxury vintage, with each piece chosen to perfection. Last night we hosted the shop's second birthday party, which was a whirlwind evening of fashion and art, including live fashion installations by the eco-brand Prophetik, and live work by the talented typewriter artist Keira Rathbone.

Naturally I brought Frances along to the event and we enjoyed the array of cupcakes (provided by Bea's of Bloomsbury) and vodka, elderflower and strawberry cocktails whilst meeting a few of our favourite bloggers, including the effortlessly cool Susie Bubble, who recently styled a window for the Regent Street branch of Cos (http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2010/10/cos-calling.html - check it out ) and the lovely Abi Marvel:  - take a look at her blog - we love her mix of commentary on fashion, food and music.

 Us with Susie Bubble

     

          Jeweller Jessica de Lotz with designer Elizabeth Lau                                                          Keira Rathbone in action

A big hit was the jeweller Jessica de Lotz whose unique and imaginative style went unchallenged. See her beautiful bird headpiece, beaded collar and thatched cottage handbag. Her impeccable style is continued through to her work - her jewellery pieces are distinguishable by the cylinder seal type stamps used and are available to personalise. I am lucky enough to own a gold bangle with a stamped clubs suit symbol which I love.

Jessica de Lotz's bird headpiece

 

CW