100% PVC

I love love love my new wallet (especially because it flashes my Wills and Kate commemorative Oyster) but I can't wait for the bleeding ugly silver writing to rub off.

LAZY SUNDAY

Rosa content in her new Comptoir de Cotonniers jacket and vintage auberjeans enjoying the February sun.

LOWER LIDS

Long neglected lower lids getting some attention...
I'm definitely going to try out the Givenchy half sequin look.

WELSH REFRESH

Ah hears the rattlin ay boatils in thir crates so ah goes tae the windae n pills back the curtain. It's Terry's juice lorry n ah kin hear um giein it the patter. Jist when ah think aboot shoutin oot the windae or gaun doon fir a blether, ah see thit eh's talkin tae Maggie Orr n this other lassie. That's just brutal; so ah dinnae think ah'll bother. No that ah've nowt against Maggie, she's awright, but ah hud this shutin match wi her auld man the other week.

The tosser eywis comes back pished wi ehs wife fae the boozer, n they huv a big fight in the street. It keeps muh Ma awake. Ma auld man'll no dae nowt, so ah goes tae the door n hus a word.

POWERFUL HAND DRIERS

I read i-D pretty religiously in my teens and submitted this image when they asked for contributions (through Myspace no less) on the subject of the human body... at the time I was extremely pleased with this photo, as I take a lot of pleasure making my chubby hands ripple under powerful hand driers.

For those interested, this particularly strong one is at the Troubadour. I didn't hear anything from them at the time, but found an old copy at a friend's house recently and it made me grin, mostly at how chuffed my eighteen year old self would have been.

"Bend, flex, jump, stretch and vogue, this month i-Dspacers celebrate the body beautiful."

For an earlier post about i-D *click here*

HENRIETTA MORAES

In light of the recent sale of Francis Bacon's portrait of Henrietta Moraes (left, 1963), I would strongly recommend anyone interested in the foibles of Britain's most successful post-war artists to read Moraes' self-penned book 'Henrietta'. She paints a picture at odds with the prevalent representation of late fifties/sixties London dominated by pictures of grubby children frolicking in East End terraces and leggy blondes on Carnaby Street.

As well as describing sitting for Bacon and Freud (Girl in a Blanket, 1953), Moraes evokes the world of Soho's eccentric denizens such as photographer John Deakin and the fantastically named Muriel Belcher (landlady of The Colony Room).

FROW DUO

It has long been posited that the front row is far more interesting than the show. Although the jury is undoubtedly still out on that one, I can't help but post my favourite frow duo Bill Nighy and Anna Wintour...
Above at Nicole Farhi SS12 and below Mulberry SS12.

HELENA BONHAM CARTER

I saw Helena Bonham Carter charging along outside the Ritz last week. Actually wow,

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

                             

Christopher Bailey and Yinka Shonibare seem to be on the same page...

FRESH FRESH FRESH

There is something chronically boring about just posting campaign images but in my mind these shots are worthy of an exception. I can't see how anyone wouldn't feel even the teeniest bit uplifted by them - a cheery antidote to January blues.

Fresh flowers, fresh face... so gloriously colourful, it reminds me of Josie's postcard of the Garden Isle. 

GIRLY GIRLY FLUFFY VALENTINES

           

Apparently, when it comes to love the English are characterised by a sheepish lion proffering a rose and the French by a girl with the nipples of Dita von Teese and the face of Lily Cole.
I have yet to grasp the logic of these stereotypes (Richard Lionheart?) but love the covers unreservedly.

They have inspired a sewing project involving crimp scissors, lace and a lot of gingham which I'm optimistically hoping will scream Meadham Kirchhoff SS12 at best or Grayson Perry at a (highly skilled) worst. I might even whip out the watercolours and make some Valentines cards, sorry amours. 

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE - YINKA SHONIBARE

Part of his 'Fake Death Pictures' series, Yinka Shonibare's take on Wallis's Chatterton is soon to be exhibited at New York's James Cohan Gallery. I sincerely hope this show makes its way across the Atlantic.

VALENTINO COUTURE

Stolen from @TheSTStyle
Siiiigh this is glorious.

Catholic brides,
birds on wire,
migrating Puritans,
governesses,
Ossie Clarke,
Victorian schoolmistresses... 

GREY SUEDE

ROLL ON SUMMER so it is acceptable to wear suede shoes in pale colours with a lot of flesh.

DEJA VOGUE

When I was 14 and the first Vogue/Bowie/Kate Moss cover came out I loved it so much that I spent about four days copying it complete with lightening bolt. I find it slightly odd that the publication, albeit an international version, has recycled the idea and gone so far as to use the same model.

Big credit to photoshop that despite the nine year gap Kate doesn't look a day older.

PASTIMES, SENTIMENTAL BOOTS

I bought these army boots at a military antiques shop in my first week at university and they were pretty much the most painful thing in the world.

According to the shop owner, these boots (which are now miraculously comfortable) were unworn army issue from the Seventies. Considering the way they have aged - ie only on the left boot, has me feeling either really sorry for the soldiers with one trench foot or slightly mugged off by Mr Pastimes.

The man who works at Pastimes is one of the best shopkeepers I have ever come across. Perhaps legitimately, the owner seemed to think I was a chump because I was less into regiments than trying on old shoes, commenting on how all old soldiers look like heroes and pestering him with optimistic queries about the price of antique union jacks with canon ball shaped holes.

I would definitely recommend a visit to this shop whether you're a fan of clothes, antiques or the military because it sincerely feels like stepping back in time, despite smelling suspiciously like the trench experience at the Imperial War Museum.

STREET STYLE

 Was cruising street style blog The Nyanzi Report and these images, titled 'The New York Art Dealer - Basil Street, Knightsbridge - London' really struck a chord. In my mind this is exactly how I expect art dealers (those not in the Saatchi/Jopling mould) to look - cigarette pants, statement jacket, flashes of gold and undertones of heiress. 

LAST WEEK - TONSILS

Because my last week has been overshadowed by tonsillitis I saw fit to reblog a 2010 post because I am currently obsessed with all things tonsillar.

My top tonsillitis tips are - don't google anything medical or kiss anyone, get sick when iplayer is good (ie post Christmas) and gargle aspirin because because it is the only painkiller that touches the tonsils. 

TATTS + RING

This man on the tube had great tatts and a great ring. He was also having a scintillating conversation with gingery (strawberry blonde) man holding his chin.
I really want to know who the person behind the initials is/was whose importance was deemed great enough to this diamond geezer to immortalise in a diamonte and gold ring.

BURBERRY LOLGAS

Some of the finer goods on sale in Shepherd's Bush... Yes lolgas. Yes polycotton Burberry, I want you both.

PYRAMID

Apologies I probably should have wiped my grubby paw prints off it first but I don't think they tarnish the BEST PAPERWEIGHT EVER.

OUIJA BOARD, OUIJA BOARD

Who'd have thought it? Morrissey and Julian Fellowes sharing inspiration...

SPIKE SHOES

As shoe designers seem to continue along their absurd trajectory of pain-infliction (yes Louboutin you sadist, the finger is pointing at you) I increasingly find myself identifying with my favourite Bond villain Rosa Klebb. Her poison-toed monk shoes paint her firmly as a girl not to be messed with rather than the infinitely less cool girl-crippled-in-pain look.