Croftfest Summer 2017

Brockley's burgeoning street art always seems to provide the best backdrop for the great range of clothes, in stock at Paraphernalia, the local designer and vintage boutique that has been a mainstay for south Londoners for almost two decades! Back in the summer - yes, that was June - the local community turned up the volume and put out the bunting for a summer Croftfest and of course, Paraphernalia and ourselves, took fashion out into Crofton Park.

Check out the eye-catching Catherine Delaney hat - perfect for striking a pose - outside the Brockley Road store, as well as the pretty white poplin, multi-tie dress by Joseph, worn by my girl. So perfect that she bought it! 

Check out the Paraphernalia Autumn/Winter looks we will be modelling at Croftfest tomorrow!!

Allen Jones RA

Cutting a dash in Mayfair lately is this distinctive orange sculpture by Allen Jones, and arresting poster girl, Kate Moss, wearing one of the Royal Academician's 'bodies'. The ever-controversial, often-debatable Mr Jones, a pioneer of Pop Art, is enjoying a major retrospective at the RA's Burlington Gardens, the grand mid-19th building by Sir James Pennethorne. Allen Jones' show has provoked further discussion as well as mixed reviews. Either way, you can't ignore him even when you set those cut-out figures against the august statues of 17th century philosophers, Sir Francis Bacon and John Locke. The latter wrote 'An Essay Concerning Human Understanding'. Indeed! 
To see the exhibition I wrapped up in Joseph knits, with a Tait & Style scarf. The bag is DKNY and the boots, by Ras, are firm favourites.

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.

Sensing Spaces: Revisited

This coming weekend is your last chance to visit Sensing Spaces: Architecture Reimagined, an exhibition emphasising our human encounter with architecture, at the Royal Academy of Arts. Experience a range of spaces through the senses of smell, sight and touch at this ground-breaking show!

'Under leaves so green a happy blossom'

... plucked from 'The Blossom' by visionary poet, William Blake. Fine weather to be outdoors. Still snug in the Joseph tweed crombie-style coat, last seen at Somerset House, in 'Heed the tweed', but this time mixed in with some animals, not to be found running around a London park! The python-print cotton skinnies are by Ralph Lauren, the snake-skin ankle-boots from Pura López, and the vintage stingray bag was a star-purchase from Brockley store, Paraphernalia. Gucci sunnies are worn in the hope of deflecting a little sunlight. 
P.S. The other animals featured (playful dog and a brace of pigeons) are alive and well - and living in south London somewhere...