It was a big birthday party... a girlfriend's, from whose emporium I purchased this snappy little suit, in paisleys and pastels, with chic black piping. The surprise label: River Island, no less, and a High Street favourite - of my daughter's. I'm wearing the two-piece with a mint-green silk chemise, black silk D&G slingbacks, and a fantastic-plastic Miss Sixty bag, which has a Roman holiday feel to it as well as glamour with its faux-pearl handle. I've piled on more pearls with a couple of necklaces in pink and grey and my unique pink pearl cluster ring, by the equally unique Lisa E Moss. An ornately gothic transfer, from Shine Ink's Vintage range (a recent purchase from Dr Boo in East Dulwich) adds more interest to my neckline. The blacker-than-black sunnies are by Thierry Lasry. Happy Birthday Mandi x
It's the season... for popping out to parties. Going for totally different looks, whether it's a tie-dye loose silk top, from Paraphernalia, and a pair of vintage Jaeger pants, partied up by vintage yellow earrings, silver jewellery and my only sporran! Or enjoying a few shades of grey in a silk Stills top and chiffon floor-length skirt by Lynn Lugo, and my daughter's flirty waistcoast by River Island. Jewellery is piled on for drama: chain necklace, pearl ring, silver bangles, studded leather bracelet and trusty Angel Jackson bag. The latter is starting to look magnificently wasted... but not this party animal!
... are titles of works by the multi-talented Sonia Delaunay, whose career spanned much of the 20th century. She was a pioneer of paint; a mistress of the applied arts; and ace collaborator with some of the most progressive poets and choreographers of her day - and she was crazy about clothes! This first UK retrospective at Tate Modern has warranted several visits and I shall probably return for one more helping of Delaunay before the exhibition closes on August 9. On this particular visit, I opted for a charming 1920s-style silk shift, but actually a modern piece by Sarah Spencer, in washed sea-green and soft peach, colours which, I think, take their reference from the Bloomsbury Set. My daughter's glamorous gilet, by Lederer, is a jazzy miz of suede and fur, and has abstract patterns cut into it. My trusty canvas bag was bought in Cornwall and the French plimsolls are by Bensimon. A deliciously decadent string of milky-white beads, punctuated by a jade flower, and a pink quartz ring and bracelet, are by my jeweller of choice, Jessica Walker.
