I’ve loved Gudrun Sjödén’s fashion for over a decade - it really my style. This pair of catalogues popped through in the post this week ad I can hold off buying no longer.
Striped, spotted & solid microfibre tights, from £13 per pair - Gudrun Sjödén
I am going to treat myself to a few pairs of the wonderfully colourful tights. It’s spring at the moment, but it’s still chilly enough to wear them!
AG Stevie Cords, Orange: Anthropologie - £39.95 down from £128.00
Regular readers will know of my enduring attraction to all things tangerine. I have never seen bright orange cords - I guess they could be difficult to pull of sartorially - but I LOVE them!
As we enter our 5th consecutive day of rain here in the Pennines, we think this is a very appropriate blog post.
We came across this fabulous vintage sign recently.
It’s a shop counter sign for ‘Antirain rainwear’ and dates from the late 1940s or early 50s. It has a classic look of the day - think James Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life or Trevor Howard in Brief Encounter. It’s even got a cute dog thrown in for good measure!
We uncovered a couple of trivia gems whilst looking into the company responsible for Antirain products - P.Frankenstein & Sons Ltd (yes, Frankenstein!). The first is that one of their prototype flying suits which incorporated pipes with circulating liquid were used by NASA in its trials to develop the Apollo spacesuit. The second is that they designed the amazing iconic yellow spacesuits seen in the classic film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Making waterproof macs must have been a doddle compared to spacesuits - and the company was based in Manchester, so who better to develop waterproof clothing?
Black Galway boot, Dubarry: £299
I don’t mean to be greedy, I already have a pair of these in walnut, but brown doesn’t go with everything. Sometimes one needs a versatile, practical, hardwearing, waterproof yet attractive pair of boots… in more than one colourway… and these certainly fit that bill!
eBay - £12.99
Justin’s a big fan of the 1965 film, Heroes of Telemark. In addition to it being a great (and based on a true) story, he also loves the vintage Nordic outdoor wear - all canvas, leather, wool & rope. This rucksack is just the kind of thing and he thought it was great value. I’ve been on the receiving end of some heavy hints for a Christmas present!
We featured Holland Esquire in last week’s Wednesday Wish blog post, but we just had to give them a revisit. Just look at this multi-coloured jacket lining - exquisite!
Justin hasn’t suggested many items for our weekly Wednesday Wish post, but on our recent trip to the Lake District he spotted this Holland Esquire jacket in the Jules B menswear store in Kendal.
It was one amongst a number of gorgeous jackets in a beautiful window display. The quality & detail in the finishing are superb - just look at those sleeves!
It was priced at almost £400 - slightly more than his usual charity shop jacket buys…
…but it is a wish list after all!
Zig zag patterned tights: H&M - £6.99
As the weather gets colder, (I’m sitting here typing with the woodburner chuffing away!) one of the things I look forward to is delving back into my winter wardrobe. Coloured & patterned tights are an integral part and I always buy a few pairs each year - I’ll be snapping up a few of these!
In terms of style & design, the 1970s is sometimes dismissed as being a bit naff or as the decade that taste forgot.
This is very wide of the mark - its influence being both wide ranging and long lasting.
This book, 70s Style & Design, by Dominic Lutyens & Kirsty Hislop clearly demonstrates this.
The decade was remarkable for its diversity - its range of cultures & counter cultures. It began with hippies & flower power and ended with punks & new wave!
There was a “loosened up spirit of fashion & design” during this period - a strong sense of doing your own thing, experimentation, freedom and fun.
There were trends & fashions of course, but it never descended into a bland homogenisation.
It was a very eclectic decade in terms of style & design - psychedelia & flower power spilled over from the 1960s, then there was the strong influence of Art Deco and Art Nouveau, nostalgic Victoriana, the folksy/back to nature style - and later on a harder edged industrial look.
It has been referred to as a decade of ‘the self’ - whether that be individuals looking towards & analyzing their inner self - or an outward expression through personal appearance or living & work spaces. This resulted in a real blossoming of creativity.
The book highlights the influence of various music scenes, movements such as gay rights & women’s lib, the importance of an increasing awareness of the environment, the political & economic factors prevalent at the time, the increasing & diverse student population, the new DIY ethos in both fashion & interiors, a craft renaissance - and the impact of shops such as Habitat, Mr Freedom, Biba and Granny Takes a Trip.
Divided into four chapters, From Pop to Postmodernism, Belle Epoque, Supernature and Avant Garde, the book tackles these subjects in great detail and does a remarkable job in drawing all these strands together.
The text is informative, articulate & well researched - the accompanying photographs capturing all the spirit of this fabulous decade.
The 70s isn’t a particularly well documented era in terms of style & design - this book helps redress the balance.
As well as having their own dedicated website, the authors write the Flashin’ on the 70s blog which features even more 70s (and 70s inspired) gorgeousness!
As usual, the book is available both direct from the publisher and through our H is for Home UK & US Amazon aStores
[Many thanks to Thames & Hudson for this review copy]
‘Adore’ oversized designer sunglasses: 80’s Purple - $10 US
It took YEARS of trial & error to find the right kind of sunglasses that suit the shape of my face. Much as I love the quintessential Ray-Ban Aviators, Wayfarers and those little John Lennon circular ones - they just don’t look right on me. My face needs those massive Jackie O-types that are thankfully fashionable at the moment!
These vintage-inspired ones are just the ticket and are available in a range of colours - and at only $10, I can afford to get one of each!
“Little Mermaid” green dress: Etsy - $38 US
Summer’s gone for another year so I’ll be buying this cute “Little Mermaid” emerald green dress to put away for next year! I love the contrast pussy bow and neck, sleeve & pocket trim. And it’s such a versatile piece - can be worn with contrast tights, slouchy cardie, shrug… or just on its own!
Stirrup handbag: Gucci - £5,910
I’m probably one of the most un-haute couture people you’ll ever come across, but when I saw this Gucci Stirrup handbag in a recent copy of Stylist Magazine, I had a little quiet swoon to myself. Was it its unbridled gorgeousness or its £5,910 price tag that was the cause?
Stirrup handbag: Gucci - £5,910
I’m probably one of the most un-haute couture people you’ll ever come across, but when I saw this Gucci Stirrup handbag in a recent copy of Stylist Magazine, I had a little quiet swoon to myself. Was it its unbridled gorgeousness or its £5,910 price tag that was the cause?
Cardigan in organic cotton & wool: £135; micromodal vest: £35; wool beret: £25; solid colour tights in polyamide & elastane: £15; suede shoulder bag: £69 - all from Gudrun Sjödén
I’ve been a big fan of Gudrun Sjödén’s clothes for years and this colour combo is right up my street - roll on autumn!
I have Draw Pilgrim! to thank for this week’s Wednesday Wish. She blogged recently about Bonnie & Buttermilk who sell ladies and children’s fashion on DaWanda.
Bonnie & Buttermilk is a Berlin-based design duo. They’re inspired by modern, urban and a passion for retro design. They design their own patterns & fabrics used in their collection. I love all colours & patterns they use and all the contrasting brights… totally my taste!
And the way they style their photo shoots… with vintage homewares, handbags and those contrasting tights! I just can’t decide which outfit is my fave - which one’s yours?
