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.

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!

Art and Life

 

A seasonally warm evening for the private view of Dulwich Picture Gallery’s latest exhibition: Art and Life 1920-1931, celebrating the work of Ben and Winifred Nicholson, together with contemporaries, Christopher Wood, Alfred Wallis and potter, William Staite Murray. At the forefront of the Modern British Movement, Ben and Winifred Nicholson painted some of their most memorable works during this period. This exhibition, curated by their grandson, Jovan Nicholson, provides a rare opportunity to see both artists’ views of the same landscapes, seascapes, still lifes and portraits, together with significant works by their friends and contemporaries. To suit the balmy evening, I wore a silky favourite by Betty Jackson, worn last summer in 'Betty Jackson (again)', together with my gold Mare sandals. Beads and cuff are both vintage, from the '30s. The straw hat and basket-woven bucket bag suit the season.

Chinoiserie - on a bench

Chinoiserie - in the shade. Dressed in embroidered silk and fringes the colour of toffee, dusky pink pearls at my neck, and a trio of bangles at my wrist. Both the bangles and ring are from Jessica Walker, Dulwich Village. The silver Angel Jackson bag matches the similarly distressed shoes (from the '30s) which were bought in Stockholm, Sweden.

http://www.angeljackson.com/
http://www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/angel-jackson/items.aspx?gclid=CJy2ouK2tLgCFcLHtAodDngAqg&oby=5&cur=GBP&bfdqbt=angel%20jackson&campaign=Designer%20Names%20UK#ps=1&pv=60&oby=5
http://jessicawalkerjewellery.co.uk/

For more chic chinoiserie visit: http://chinoiseriechic.blogspot.co.uk/