Those orange jeans

You can't beat a good pair of jeans, especially if they're in stand-out orange! These vintage Versace's are actually borrowed from my daughter, yet they fit wonderfully, and the colour, bright and bold, is just what this British weather needs. I'm not one for mixing casual with formal, but I was otherwise persuaded, and the grey and orange compliment each other beautifully. The blazer, by MaxMara, is part of a suit, seen in 'Suited for a Hampshire Wedding'. Accessoried with a stingray bag, from Paraphernalia, a pair of plastic heels by Vivienne Westwood for Melissa, and Dior sunnies, of course...

Bring on 2015!

January is the corridor month into a new year and how you approach it is often indicative of the year to come. It is also when one takes a brief backward look over one's shoulder at the previous year and then one looks firmly forward into the new one, ideally from the comfort of home, precisely my living room.

Last year had so many highlights: unforgettable art exhibitions such as the Matisse: Cutouts at Tate Modern which I returned to again and again, for those dazzling displays of colour and form from a master scissorhands and the ground-breaking show at the Royal Academy with Sensing Spaces bringing architecture up close, personal and to the rafters in Picadilly. Also at Tate Modern, the Paul Klee and Malevich shows were both absorbing and inspiring whilst the RA's Summer Exhibition is always a fixture in my calendar.

At the V&A, each exhibition seemed to outdo the next in the glamour stakes: from the peerless Pearls show to the Glamour of Italian Fashion and those Bulgari jewels, owned by Elizabeth Taylor, to the more recent Horst show.

In south London, I enjoy my thrice yearly trips to Battersea, with the Decorative Art Fair to make a purchase and discover what exactly is taking the interior designer's fancy at the moment, as well the two weekends in May which celebrate  Artists' Open House. On the street is certainly where I help take fashion from local boutique, Paraphernalia, from CroftFest to Croftmas. It is my only opportunity to dress up in totally different looks, without having to buy the clothes but I inevitably fall for that one piece!  My local gallery, the Dulwich Picture Gallery, always has interesting shows, notably 2014's Hockney: Printmaker and Art & Life and currently has brought Emily Carr to the capital and sparked fresh interest in one of Canda's best-loved artists. And in the shadow of Tower Bridge, the Design Museum showed off the endlessly inventive talents of Paul Smith in a memorable exhibition.

Further afield, we had a grand weekend at Knepp Castle (not as guests I might add) but helping friends with their vintage stall at The Floral Fringe; and a couple of trips to Chichester to visit a favourite, the Pallant, to see the Pauline Boty and J.D. Fergusson exhibitions. The Pallant House Gallery also re-affirms that small is not only beautiful but always fulfilling and a trip to Margate in late summer showed that the Kent seaside town has a showcase gallery in the form of the Turner Contemporary. And for all the above events and excursions, I continue to wear clothes from my wardrobe: old, new, vintage, repaired, reconstituted and reinvented, but always with aplomb. That's really the only accessory required. And a little Dior lipstick!

Belair

There's nothing quite like a bit of Georgian architecture to uplift the spirit and a lovely local example is Belair House: Bar, Dining and Social, at 1 Gallery Road, Dulwich. Putting the long and the short of it together, I opted for a long suede coat and fringed scarf for cover, and my shortest skirt by Paul Smith, with garden florals to suit the bosky surroundings. A dash of red in the Chinese-style Equipment top and favourite Dior lipstick, Dolce Vita, gave me a decent dash of tomato to complement the colours in my '50s Hong Kong clutch, bought this summer at Cliffe Antiques Centre, East Sussex. The charming vintage shoes by Joseph have a distinctly Georgian look whilst the Prada sunnies are decidedly Rococo.
Pop this in your diary: from November 2nd, Belair House will be holding a history exhibition, 'Through the Ages', including funny, happy and interesting memories from local residents.

Croftfest meets HOPfest 2014

From a statement green Dior feathered hat, to a chic vintage gold dress, and a charming little black Prada bag, Paraphernalia had it all! Last month local ladies came together to showcase fabulous looks from the south London boutique. Both Honor Oak and Crofton Park businesses, including Pat-a-Cake, Star Cafe, The White Room, Arlo and Moe and Mr Lawrence Wine Bar, joined in the day-long celebrations, which spilled out onto the street. My looks ranged from an Elspeth Gibson sleek black dress, to Marni culottes with a vintage fur. Look out for the next 'fest' on Saturday 6 December!

The only real adventure is me...

... so says the solipsist in me. For Tracey Emin, whose new show is currently at Bermondsey's White Cube, 'The Last Great Adventure Is You' brings together sculptures, gouaches, paintings, embroideries and signature neon bon-mots. All eminently... Tracey. This solo exhibition, her first in five years, runs until November 16.  Bermondsey is always good for a Sunday stroll to take in great art and... certainly some art in the knitwear, to be found at the Fashion and Textile Museum's latest exhibition, Knitwear: from Chanel to Westwood. Fine work from the likes of Biba, Ossie Clark, Comme des Garçons, Courrèges, Julien MacDonald, Sister by Sibling, Matthew Williamson and some nostalgic Fair Isle. I wore my Armani pinstripes, an asymetrical Comme des Garçons knit, Dior sunnies and a couple of scarves, in fur and Caledonian mohair. My vintage bag is chic whilst the 'Here's winking at you' '60s earrings are fun. The modern hand-made Porcelain Bling necklace (by Schneider) is a distinct one-off. My Ras boots are back out for winter!

Ring, ring at Kiosk No. 2

The K2 kiosk was Britain's first red telephone box. Designed by British architect, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the K2 was introduced in 1926, after which around 1,700 models were placed mostly in London. Now some 200 examples remain on Britain's streets and have since acquired Grade II listing status. The K2 design had one distinguishing feature: a domed roof, said to inspired by a lantern design at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Now you can find a fine example of  K2 at the aforesaid gallery. It may not be in working order but it is a charming backdrop, as is the lovely gallery garden, for a few snaps. I'm wearing a vintage dress from Mabel, Melbourne Grove in SE22; studded sandals by Ash; a pair of kiosk-red vintage sunnies by Revlon; some cowrie-shell jewellery, and a basket from my unnecessarily large collection. The lipstick, as ever, is by Dior: Dolce Vita.

N.B. Catch the last few days of the Art and Life exhibition, ending 21st September.