It's all in the geometry

Caught the last weekend of the Royal Academy of Arts' interesting show, Radical Geometry, highlighting the dynamic work of a host of 20th century South American artists, as they challenged convention to create new geometric abstract art. Part of the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Collection, the exhibition was all lines, forms and shapes, rather like my backdrop: the glass/steel staircase in the RA's Sackler Wing, built by Foster + Partners in 1991. By way of contrast, my look was all frills and furbelows in a fine silk duo: a top from By Malene Birger and a Miu Miu skirt from that swish Milanese store, 10 Corso Como, and a soft dove-grey pashmina, slung across my shoulders. My snake T-bars are by Ash and the silver leather shoulder bag by Angel Jackson just keeps on looking better with age!

Super-long, super-short

Pale Rider meets Sherlock and bumps into Withnail... on the way. Not! I'm no cowboy/sleuth/resting actor, but I do have a penchant for this floor-skimming vintage leather coat, worn here with a pair of knee-high boots. The super-long coat tallies up with a super-short, thigh-hugging mini from Paul Smith. The 'how does your garden grow?' skirt dates from a few years ago, but for me, is always in full bloom. A faithful cream wool sweater by Chanel never disappoints, and on this occasion, neither does the backdrop, which nods to the tropical... even in these northern climes.

'Clapham meets Jamaica'

A room with a view: welcome to Wayne's world. An afternoon visit to a modestly-sized but effusive garden in south London, in support of the National Gardens Scheme. Its owner, Wayne Amiel, describes his five year-old plot as 'Clapham meets Jamaica', where bamboo sits beside buddleia and bumps into banana on the way! I'm here in my suitably tropical two-piece from By Malene Birger, Cornish canvas bag and Castañer wedges.

http://www.ngs.org.uk/

http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/gardenfinder/garden.aspx?id=25042

http://www.turretgrove.com/

http://www.bymalenebirger.com/

http://www.castaner.com/sgishop/

A summer's lunch

A shady green arbour for a delicious lunch in good company... in a cool cotton two-piece from By Malene Birger, bought in a cooler summer from The Dulwich Trader. A straw hat - for more shade - and minimal jewellery and one of my favourite summer shoe brands, Castañer. The Ray-Ban sunglasses have their own story: they were part of a 'goodie bag' on Virgin Atlantic's press launch trip to Los Angeles.

http://www.bymalenebirger.com/

http://www.rigbyandmac.com/locations/the_dulwich_trader

http://www.castaner.com/sgishop/

http://www.ray-ban.com/uk

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en.html

Post-Tate

After dinner, a short walk on Bankside for drinks at citizenM hotel, with a brief diverting stop on a stack of red chairs! The best chair of the evening was to be found in the hotel lobby: La Chaise, designed by Charles & Ray Eames in 1948. The name is apparently a playful reference to the sculptor Gaston Lachaise whose 'Floating Figure' inspired the chair, exclusively produced by Vitra since 1991. 
CitizenM is a new group of international hotels, now in Amsterdam, Glasgow and London, and plans to open in Paris, New York and Rotterdam. Visit the website for more details.

http://www.citizenm.com/
http://eamesdesigns.com/catalog-entry/la-chaise/
http://www.vitra.com/en-gb/living/?c=GB
http://www.vitra.com/en-gb/product/la-chaise?subfam.id=37544

Tate date

Waiting for my Tate date at the river entrance to Tate Modern at the weekend. It turned out to be a colourful evening - even on the plate! I'm wearing my favourite Max Mara dress, with a vintage bolero of swansdown, an oversized patent clutch (a laptop case!), a pair of Russell & Bromley platforms, Gucci sunglasses and vintage jewellery. Tate Modern's restaurant -  with one of the best views in town, on level 6 - has a positively mouth-watering menu, and wines to match. My outfit complemented the fabulous Yayoi Kusama's distinctively dotty mural! The gallery held an extensive exhibition of the octogenarian Japanese artist's work last year.

http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/eat-drink-and-shop/level-6-restaurant
http://www.maxmara.com/it/Pagina-Iniziale
http://www.russellandbromley.co.uk/
http://www.gucci.com/uk/home
http://www.yayoi-kusama.jp/e/information/index.html
http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/yayoi-kusama