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!!
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!
Summer is always a season of colour, but today I'm sticking to the shadows, and limiting myself to a monochrome palette (apart from the dashing citrus fur clutch! A gorgeous present by Ostrich 2 Love. Thanks Diane x). I love shadows; they conceal and reveal. For the shade, I combined the urban with a touch of Victorian gothic. The former is instantly provided by trainers and sunnies: my go-sprightly along any city pavement classic Adidas Gazelle trainers and my super-black Thierry Lasry glasses. And the long, black silhouette, for a long(ish) shadow: a dramatic floor-length Dolce & Gabbana spiderweb piece over a vintage M&S slip. Costume jewellery packs a punch with a large cross of faux-pearls purchased in Whitby, a popular venue for a Gothic weekend! And the backdrop: the most arresting and arguably the biggest piece of street-art in Dulwich, (and all of two years old) Conor Harrington's bare-knuckle fighters, which featured in my blog 'Dulwich Festival 2014' post.
‘Fashion is an expression of the times. Elegance is something else again.’ Horst, 1984
The V&A's current exhibition on Horst: Photographer of Style encapsulates a life's work behind the lens, from that corset for Mainbocher to a Persepolis bull, and brings together unforgettable portraits and images of high style and glamour. Horst created more than 90 front covers for Vogue from the '30s to '60s. Notably that 1939 photograph for Vogue of the Detolle corset for Mainbocher informed Madonna's music video, Vogue, in the '90s. Horst P. Horst established himself as one of Vogue's photographers of choice in the '40s, so what better way to be inspired by the German-born virtuoso than wear my own impeccable dress from that era - an original Fashion Preferred, Styled by Jack Liebman. Who he? For my trip to the V&A, my classic black taffeta dress with velvet cuffs and collar stood the test of time on the steps in south Kensington, passing by the Christmas Tree 'Ceremony' by Gareth Pugh in the main entrance hall as well as a stroll through the classic sculpture gallery, keeping company with Diana the Huntress and Helen of Troy. My 'Feather in my Cap' hat was jaunty enough and my cane-handled velvet bag too. The Russell & Bromley grosgrain platforms from the '70s are a failsafe: glamorous and funky. And the tights, by Jonathan Aston, add a bit of jazz! The homage to Horst ends this weekend so pile on the glamour and take a stroll through these timeless images.
