Croftfest September 2015

The weather was out, and so were we, in celebration of last weekend's Croftfest in south London and all that's best in SE4. Highlighting both home-grown shops and produce in this particular part of London, Croftfest attracted families, shoppers and indeed passers-by to the day-long community street festival on Saturday, and certainly there was a buzz around Crofton Park in the September sunshine.
We were in our element: dressing up in lots of different styles and eras, courtesy of designer and vintage boutique, Paraphernalia, which celebrates its 18th year at 365 Brockley Road this month. I wore a slinky burnt-orange knit dress with divine Fendi bag and Dolce & Gabbana boots; a funky Traffic People metallic jumpsuit reminiscent of Studio 54; a chic navy ensemble; a sophisticated grey and camel outfit complete with Goyard clutch; and a glamorous vintage fur, with the best boots for strutting my stuff. What a great day and a Happy 18th to Paraphernalia! And check out the amazing street art in this neighbourhood!

Sensing Spaces: Revisited

This coming weekend is your last chance to visit Sensing Spaces: Architecture Reimagined, an exhibition emphasising our human encounter with architecture, at the Royal Academy of Arts. Experience a range of spaces through the senses of smell, sight and touch at this ground-breaking show!

Dressing for the sunshine

Even though we're only into March, the weather has been surprisingly good of late, and what better way to embrace the sun, than wear sunshine colours... and a pair of Tom Ford sunnies. My most recent purchase, from south London boutique, Paraphernalia, is the Christopher Kane psychedelically-patterned cardigan, that reminds me of being in a chemistry lab circa 1979! Another statement colour is the vivid turquoise, in the jeans by Met from the Living and Giving shop in Dulwich which opened its doors in December. It is a charity concept that was set up by Mary Portas, and developed for Save the Children, following her TV series Mary Queen of Charity Shops. To mellow down the look is an old tan bucket bag, and a pair of comfy, but quirky, Ras boots!

The Crystal Palace Market

A fine place to linger for a beer, bread and olives: The Crystal Palace Market, on Church Road, was opened earlier this year and is proving to be a great new destination, whether you're having a meal or just drinks. I'm here wearing my Tom Ford sunnies, a dress from Question Air, and an ethnic scarf, decorated with cowrie shells.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Crystal-Palace-Market/292203367556378
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/restaurants/crystal-palace-market-restaurant-info-280389.html
http://www.tomford.com/
http://www.question-air.com/

I heart Wimbledon

Yes - I do... on a stroll around one of London's picturesque villages on a fine Bank Holiday, after a marvellous lunch at the Fox & Grapes on Wimbledon Common. The restaurant, a 2011 Bib Gourmand winner, was opened by Claude Bosi and is managed by his brother, Cedric. The former relocated his celebrated Hisbiscus restaurant from Ludlow to London's Mayfair in 2007. Casual Nicole Farhi silk/cashmere top joins some slouchy Zara linens and a pair of green leather wedges by C. Doux from Stella C. To top the look are my Tom Ford sunnies, the shape of which is reminiscent of a butterfly.

http://foxandgrapeswimbledon.co.uk/
http://www.hibiscusrestaurant.co.uk/
http://www.nicolefarhi.com/
http://www.zara.com/
http://www.cdoux.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stella-C/151371178270114
http://www.tomford.com/

Photo (and lunch) with thanks to Hippy from the City
https://twitter.com/HippyfromthCity

Looks like rain...

 ... in a brown linen sack dress, by 120% Lino, which covers all weathers! Much-needed colour is contributed by my skull-print scarf - newly gifted from Mexico, specifically the beautiful town of San Miguel de Allende. Another interesting addition is a recently-purchased basket from Claire, in Sydenham's Kirkdale. More brown with the Tom Ford sunnies and the bronze woven heels by Pons Quintana. Finally, the pretty orange and gold-brushed studs are from Jessica Walker Jewellery.

http://www.120percento.com/en/

http://www.visitmexico.com/en/san-miguel-de-allende

https://www.facebook.com/kirkdalevillage

http://www.tomford.com/ 

http://www.ponsquintana.com/en

http://jessicawalkerjewellery.co.uk/