... as an apple and as fresh as the flowers, laid out like a
feast, on a table at the newly-opened Fresh Flower Workshop, in East Dulwich.
The former garage premises have been given a new lease of life by local
independent, The Fresh Flower Company, in nearby North Cross Road. I'm wearing
my favourite and most immaculate hand-me-down, an A-line linen coat from the
'60s with one previous careful owner, my former mother-in-law! It's the weather
for white jeans, by Grab, as well as mad-glad(iator) plastic sandals by Melissa
- both items were purchased at Forest Hill boutique, Bunka. The green and white
graphic retro-style shirt is by Ringspun Loves Rosy Cheeks; the floral brooch
and necklaces are all vintage, together with the woven raffia bag.
It doesn't necessarily have to be the most colourful or loudest piece that draws the most attention. In this case the simple lines, yet complex nature, of this white raffia skirt offers pristine perfection midst the boldness of my Paul Smith silk shirt, and the busy-butterfly vintage Dolce & Gabbana boots. Accessories range from Roberto Cavalli sunglasses and white luminescent bag, to a Florenza embellished bracelet, Georgian ring, and dazzling green earrings.
Pit stops can in themselves offer up picture opportunities, particularly if you're wearing a photogenically purple dress. This one has little provenance... a no-label, floor-length woven raffia piece, purchased at Past Caring, an old shopping haunt of mine on Essex Road, Islington. I can't even recall its price but it certainly was not expensive. All I know is I still love wearing it - most memorably one evening at a French wedding. Today it is a dress in transit - on a bus - enjoying a breakfast of coffee and a croissant, a sit-down pause, and a powder-my-nose moment. Worn with some Gucci sunglasses, a trio of vintage amethyst necklaces and a pair of earrings from Istanbul, the dress requires no further ornamentation. The shoes (worn recently) are by Pons Quintana, and the bag, by Emma Bernhardt, is in the borough of kitsch but that's fine by me!
http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/past-caring
https://plus.google.com/102326411293031965781/about?gl=uk&hl=en
http://www.gucci.com/uk/home
http://www.ponsquintana.com/en
http://london.yalwa.co.uk/ID_118851592/Emma-Bernhardt-Designs-Portobello-Road.html
