Fur Coat, No Knickers

Stephen Tennant was one of the brightest of the bright young things, fascinating 1920s London with his enthusiastic partying, outfits and makeup – gold-dusted hair, lipstick and fingerwaves, anyone? He inspired (at least in part) the character of Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisted and was also the model for a Mitford character or two.

As a friend of most of London’s arts and literary society and a lover of all things beautiful, it’s no surprise that when Stephen retired to an arts and crafts cottage in Wiltshire he dedicated the remainder of his days in to making it as fabulous as possible. Stephen set to work recreating his beloved south of France in this little corner of England, inspired by the imaginary landscape of his never-to-be-finished novel: Lascar: A Story of the Maritime Boulevards.

According to descriptions, “Twenty two tons of silver sand were spread on the lush English lawns to evoke his Marseilles dream, Chinese fan palms planted, and tropical birds and lizards let loose in the grounds. In the winter, they took refuge in the house, accompanying Stephen as he turned the bath taps on his collection of shells, since they looked better that way.”

An exciting new exhibition opening on 7 May at the Viktor Wynd Fine Art gallery in London sets to recreate these surroundings in the first show dedicated to Stephen’s artwork since 1976.

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Find out everything you could ever need to know at the gallery website…

And just when you thought it couldn’t get better, check out the Hendrick’s Lectures accompanying the show… If only I wasn’t going to Barcelona mid-May – the DJ Taylor one will be FANTASTIC.  Book tickets and find out more here!

12th May 2011
Selina Hastings on Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh

24th May 2011
Max Egremont on Sigfried Sassoon

25th May 2011
DJ Taylor on Bright Young Things

1st June 2011
Hugo Vickers on Cecil Beaton – Malice in Wonderland

9th June 2011
Carol Mavor on Boyishness

12th June 2011
An Evening of Story Telling with Giles Abbott

15th June 2011
Wilde, Coward and Tennant – Three Decadent Lives with Philip Hoare

All pics come from the Viktor Wynd Fine Art site!

I can’t remember if I mentioned that I recently added to my massive hat collection (as in hats that are massive, not that the collection is). Every summer I try and outdo the previous year, but I think I might struggle to top this one. Blame it on Prada – giant hats are more accessible than ever this season.

This cotton number is from Primark and cost £2!! It’s wired too, which is perfect because it means I can fold it up in my suitcase – and also means I can tilt the rim (snigger) up or down depending on how much like Jackie Collins I feel like being.

There’s nothing I like more than over-priced homewares, but I don’t think I can justify£138.60 on this Covelli Tennant cushion no matter how much I like it. It’s made from a vintage silk scarf which in theory sounds like it should be easy to replicate but who am I kidding? This is another ‘ooh I could make one of those’ projects that will never, ever materialise.

Buy it here!

I’m obsessed with both of these pink blazers from Zara, but there’s always that fear that you’ll look like Danny John Jules.  What a conundrum.

PS Dying with lols in advance at the idea of people unfamiliar with Red Dwarf thinking that’s a serious music video. I spent a satisfying train journey yesterday seeing what DJJ and Chris Barrie were up these days. Ah.

Should I maybe start some kind of regular featured called ‘Am I tripping or…”‘

Topshop Underwater Fantasy Print Shirt, £55

Please enjoy this small gift to the world:

Vans x APC = match made in heaven.

Such a no brainer.

I’ve let all this talk of ugly summer shoes get to me – it’s all about a simple canvas chukka boot or a pink canvas trimmed authentic. Dreamy.

APC’s founder Jean Touitou says: “In a world of over-designed shoes, these styles provide quietness and dignity.”

And who doesn’t want that?

Available at APC now.

Just another ‘R’-emblazoned varsity jacket, tracked down for me by that Twin o’ mine.

The only thing stopping me pressing ‘checkout’ on this bamf is the fact that the R stands for Rodarte and unfortunately that means it costs $410. If you have more money  than sense you can pick me one up too at Colette.

When do you know that you’ve lost your shopping mojo? When you start admiring clunky geography teacher espadrilles? I mean, I’ve always been firmly in the ugly shoe camp when it comes to footwear, but are these Topshop treats acceptable? Is the countdown to H&M x Swedish Hasbeen messing with my ugly shoe mojo? All I know is that I want to wear these shoes every day this summer – I’ll take both the heeled and flat options, please.

Blissful BBC theme tunes:

Is there a CD of all these?

Has anyone written on a thesis on the uplifting merits of these?

The Archers is really only in there because my mum is addicted (true fact, she’s in the Archers Addicts) and just the opening bars of Barwick Green takes me to 7pm at home, happy and comfortable.

Zzzzz…. the problem with all these impending bank holidays is all the work you’ve got to do beforehand.

Yesterday was a total sartorial disaster. The vintage sun dress I chose to debut fell apart in the middle of my office and my sandals cut my feet to ribbons so I was paddling around in blood most of the day. The shoes are my own fault – they do that every summer and I always forget. They are now in the bin. The dress however… No idea. It fits like a dream and appeared to be in A+ condition when I picked it up in Sheffield last week, but yesterday morning as I sat innocently at my desk, the zip decided to do that thing where it opens down the middle and refuses to do up. Ho hum. Sitting in the office with my bra and pants on display is one thing, but it was my boyfriend’s birthday yesterday too and there was a family dinner on the cards.

Being an overenthusiastic Brit, I didn’t even have a cardigan or jacket with me at work. Had to run down the high street clutching my dress together with one hand, praying that the emergency safety pins which I keep in my bag at all times would hold it together. First stop Primark to buy the world’s cheapest cardigan just to cover myself up – there’s nothing I hate more than spending money on things I’ll never wear again but whatevs, it saved my modesty.

There aren’t many shops that I’d usually shop in round here because I’m so anal about clothes, but Debenhams saved the day with the lemon-print dress above. Obv fruit is the print of choice this season and this dress does lemons in a suitably zesty way – the print feels vintage-y enough not to just look like a catwalk rip-off and it fits perfectly. Was secretly hoping I might hate it and have to return it but no – I love it. Crisis averted – except for my shoes, which continued to cripple me all night and have left bloody incisions where my heels used to be. Oh well, can’t have it all.

Fun fact! When I bought this dress the assistant said: “You’ll look like a right lemon in that.” Debenhams HQ – if there’s any way I can identify her, can you please give her a bonus?

By the way, the above pineapple-print dress is also on my hitlist. It’s from Oliver Bonas – although this picture is from the Guardian, who say it will be on sale 26 April.

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