Welcome to Dulwich, MadC!

Here's a new addition to the street art of Dulwich - by MadC - to be found at the crossroads where pub meets library, and bank meets florists, at the top end of Lordship Lane. The recently-finished mural prompted closer inspection (and a photo opportunity). I'm wearing my favourite new combats, authentically Desert Storm indeed with their own NATO number (and a bargain to boot from Frank the Stylist), together with a leather Banana Republic jacket and a shaggy waistcoat from Sugar. The snakeskin boots are by Pura López whilst the sunnies, in the same style zone as Iris Apfel, are French by Francois Pinton, from south London's Paraphernalia. My turquoise jewellery is from Jessica Walker.
The new piece of street art replaces another called Tea with a Bee, created as part of Baroque the Streets, a collaboration between Dulwich Festival and Street Art London. It, along with a number of other works, put Dulwich firmly on the map for street art, back in May 2013. MadC's work also appeared then, most notably in The Street Art House, formerly at 265 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich.

Lila's Champagne Night

Jewels, jewels everywhere and all covetable with a capital C! That was Lila's first champagne night last week and the Dulwich store pulled out all the stops for its growing number of fans with its finest pieces on show from a double-digit carat aquamarine ring whose colour you simply wanted to dive into, to an elegant diamond-dazzling Georgian pendant. An apple-green enamel and diamond ring by Kutchinsky, a family firm dating back to the 1890s, was mouth-watering. Glitz and glamour comes to the Lane!

London brick

I love London brick... particularly on Edwardian houses where rich earthy terracottas prevail. Even stormy grey weather does not cool this colour, nor indeed any of my clothes which layer tobaccos and tans with darkest chocolates and a flash of orange (lipstick by Dior). Newly-purchased Ralph Lauren suede shirt complements my tan suede, Western-influenced Jigsaw skirt as does my tweed jacket from Olsen. A dash of Mongolian lamb to keep me warm, chunky wedge boots by Ash and my new favourite African woven bag bought at a local charity shop, pour more earthy tones into the picture. Backdrop upon London brick is a recent street-art piece, off Lordship Lane. It also featured in May's 'Tea with a bee' when freshly-painted as part of Dulwich Street Art festival.

From parlous state to concrete showpiece

London's oldest concrete domestic structure was part of the Open House London weekend event, celebrating architecture, people and place. To be found at 549 Lordship Lane, this innovative building was home, albeit briefly, for its pioneering creator, Charles Drake, who created a standardised method of forming concrete walls using timber shuttering. A ruined shell for nearly 30 years, this unique house has been rejuvenated by the efforts of co-ordinator, Heritage of London Trust (HOLTOP). Conservation architects, The Regeneration Practice, have helped bring it back to life in the form of rescued coving, original paint colours, a gothic iron bell pull and clay ridge tiles, as well as creating five new flats which will be sold by Hexagon Housing Association. The queue for this Grade II listed building, dating back to 1873, was a worthwhile wait. My rose-gold Jonathan Kelsey heels were surprisingly comfortable - as was my Joseph cardigan, jumper and trousers. My shaggy scarf is by Tait & Style, sunglasses by Gucci, and bag by Italian label, Kontessa.
  
http://www.londonopenhouse.org/
http://www.heritageoflondon.com/
https://twitter.com/JonathanKelsey
http://www.joseph-fashion.com/en/ecomuk/page/home
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/taitandstyle 
http://www.gucci.com/uk/home

It's a wrap!

In the plainest white dress - complemented by buckets of colour, both with my accessories and the entire backdrop! Jewellery is beaded and vintage, sunglasses are by Roberto Cavalli, bag is from a Linda Barker sale a few years ago, and the marvellous multi-coloured pointed shoes are by Red or Dead. And the colourful location is The Street Art House, which is still standing at 265 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich.

http://www.robertocavalli.com/
http://www.reallylindabarker.co.uk/
http://www.schuh.co.uk/womens/red-or-dead/
http://www.dulwichfestival.co.uk/streetart