The Keeper's House

Spoilt for choice in London to celebrate another year on the planet and in the capital... and The Keeper's House has been on my wishlist since it opened a couple of years ago, so La Teen and I opted for its early evening, pre-theatre supper. The restaurant combines fine dining with fine art within the walls of the Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly. 
I decided to put on my 'alternative' tea-dress, in a lively African print in feral greens and browns, by Osika;  my patent-leather green jacket by BCBG Max Azria; and brown velvet heels by Robert Clergerie. The clutch - a Hong Kong original from the '50s - but purchased in Lewes, East Sussex, featured in my Belair posting. Vintage jewellery and a Mongolian lamb scarf, in baize green, happily complemented the interiors, created by acclaimed architect, David Chipperfield RA. Didn't realised subterranea could be so seductive!
A delicious birthday dinner... roll on another year.

Electric Prisms and Coloured Rhythms

... 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.

Chinese New Year 2015

Last weekend I took myself along to the celebrations in Chinatown, in London's West End to welcome in the Year of the Goat/Sheep. What to wear? My favourite vintage cheongsam in green, a colour which is said to promote health and harmony in Chinese culture. To keep out the chill factor, I put on my newest purchase, a Michael Kors puffer jacket, in flat-out orange, along with a home-knit scarf (thank you, Mary). More shades of orange with my vintage jewellery and woven nylon bag. And what to wear in my hair? Why, a handful of cocktail sticks, of course. And after the jam-packed festivities, I beat a hasty retreat on a Boris bike. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

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.

Dulwich beauties: part 2

A garden with focal points... from the charming Monet-style summer house and bridge with a little pond full of lily-pads, to a magnificent willow as a centre piece, and a pretty gazebo near which a local orchestral played folky tunes to a gathering audience. All in all: a stunning 2 acre garden in the heart of Dulwich, open for one afternoon this month in support of Dulwich Helpline & Southwark Churches Care*. To fit in with the exceptionally green surroundings, I'm wearing my Marimekko print dress, designed by Mika Piirainen, topped with a vintage woolly cardi, a big bright basket (from that collection I keep going on about), Thierry Lasry sunnies, Jessica Walker earrings and some knock-out Paul Smith shoes, which are surprisingly comfy.

*DHSCC provides friendship, practical help and emotional support to isolated older people in the community