It's the season... for popping out to parties. Going for totally different looks, whether it's a tie-dye loose silk top, from Paraphernalia, and a pair of vintage Jaeger pants, partied up by vintage yellow earrings, silver jewellery and my only sporran! Or enjoying a few shades of grey in a silk Stills top and chiffon floor-length skirt by Lynn Lugo, and my daughter's flirty waistcoast by River Island. Jewellery is piled on for drama: chain necklace, pearl ring, silver bangles, studded leather bracelet and trusty Angel Jackson bag. The latter is starting to look magnificently wasted... but not this party animal!
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!
... from Somerset House, a major arts and cultural centre with riverside views. Nothing like a good stroll across the cobblestones of Fountain Court, after all, these boots (by Ras) are, surprisingly, made for walking. Even though it's almost springtime, the weather still requires lots of layers, starting with a pair of red leather skinnies, you may have seen in 'Double leather' and 'Artists' Open House'. I'm not one for DoT (Dress-over-Trousers), but here I'm wearing a checked one by Betty Jackson, recently worn in 'Let's all be Friends!'. Yet more layers with a Nicole Farhi cardigan, and a Joseph tweed crombie-style coat. Gucci sunnies and a charming tweed bag always brighten my day!
Grey with a chance of sunshine was this morning's forecast... which meant grey upon grey layering of wool and a pair of vintage sunglasses. Even the trees are grey... a small but perfect cluster of Betula pendula (silver birch). The dress with the quirkiest, extra-set of sleeves, tied afront, is by Dolce & Gabbana; a cardi by Nicole Farhi; a frock-style coat by Marni; and yet another coat: a mid-century vintage one from the cathedral city of Canterbury. The double-bobbled faux-fur bag by British-brand, Dents, brings a different hue and the Menorcan-based Mascaró leather boots, from Stella C, cry out metallic! The weather folk got it almost right today... did I?
My old vintage fur, from the '40s, keeps going strong, especially around Mayfair. On this occasion worn with a pair of low-key palazzo-style pants from Topshop, an Oriental-print silk bag and some old leather boots. The cornelian and silver pendants, and cuff, add a little exoticism: out of Afghanistan and purchased a long while back on Islington Green, from a shop called Rau.
