Antiques in a Cold Climate

I almost purchased a 19th century sofa, two armchairs and two chairs at an open air antiques fair in Lublin. Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. The antiques fair takes place on a monthly basis in a picturesque Old Town, which is guarded by an imposing Cracow Gate, dating from  14th-century. It was bitterly cold when we visited, - 3°C, so after strolling alongside some interesting stands, we opted for hot wine with cardamon, ginger and orange, in a nearby restaurant. I decided to leave the vintage set to another punter, as I currently don`t have enough space to host all five pieces, and didn`t want to break up this lovely collection. We have - however - had a marvellous time in this city, and the warmth of its residents more than compensated for the chilly weather.

What a beautiful Art Deco clock !

Chloé Girl?

Tonight I went to a lovely champagne reception in London`s Selfridges to celebrate an exhibition entitled Chloé  Attitudes, which was originally curated to mark the brand`s anniversary. Chloé was 60 years old last year. The exhibits – dresses and accessories from the label`s archives – were first shown last year at Paris’s Palais de Tokyo venue.  These days, the brilliance of the label`s masters, from the founder, Gaby Aghion, through Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Phoebe Philo, to its current creative director Clare Waight Keller, can be experienced in London.

Two of my favourite dresses on display - L to R: one designed by Karl Lagerfeld, and the other by Stella McCartney

I`ve heard that when the idea of this show was conceived, approximately 700 dresses, from the 50`, 60`s and 70`s were discovered – luckily for the brand - in a hardly used, unglamorous warehouse located a few miles from Paris.

I don`t consider myself to be a ` Chloé Girl` but having said that, when I am in need of a `comfortable but chic` attire, or am dressing in a hurry, I reach for a Chloé dress. I own several and like their playfulness and durability – they have lasted me for years!

With my friend Alice - she is wearing a James Lakeland dress. I am in my much-loved Chloé dress with billowing sleeves, and Anna Dello Russo for H&M necklace

 

Dinosaur at H&M

On Thursday last week, H&M opened its doors to newly refurbished flagship store, which is located in London`s Oxford Circus. I went along to check out the space and was immediately greeted by an army of mannequins, all dressed up in a rather minimalistic manner. A plus for H&M as this is one of the main trends of S/S13.

The store is now spread out over six floors and some areas are quite sophisticated; I was pleasantly surprised to see a few large, attention-grabbing silver-coloured seats, attractive low-level lighting, and.... a statue of a white horse. Why would one install this pallid stallion in here – I wondered? Are they going to start selling horse-riding gear alongside the gaudy dresses and bomber jackets?

Carl Bagge played a piano when I questioned if this designer- clad dinosaur (I am referring to moi, not the pianist!) could possibly find anything for herself in this environment.... clearly geared towards adolescent clientele. To my astonishment I discovered a pair of rather- fabulous, jungle-themed cropped trousers. They are made of silky, organic cotton blend and at £24.99 are a real steal!  I will wear them with these Vivienne Westwood heels, or stilettos or voguish mid-heel slingbacks.  

 

A New Kid on the Block

Last Friday, I witnessed the opening of a new store on London`s Regent Street - & Other Stories. It is a sister-company of a well-known brand – H&M. & Other Stories is, however, like an older, more sophisticated, wealthier and prettier sibling. It is pricier but offers `higher-end` fashion credentials.  

This stand-alone shop is housed in a former Mamas and Papas building, just off Oxford Circus, and now dazzles with exposed brick walls, industrial silver pipes and a steep staircase, which leads to shoe heaven. There are no leopard print dresses or brightly coloured t-shirts – so beloved by H&M designers - in sight. Instead, one can purchase canvas coats adorned with leather collars, retailing at £145…….   

…….and leather dresses with marble-effect on the skirt, selling at just short of £200. Unfortunately, their smallest size – 34 – was too big for me.

Slick jewellery and plain-packaged cosmetics add to the mix.

I hear that their designers range from those who used to work at Cerruti and Sonia Rykiel, and it is clear that the brand caters for fashion connoisseurs, who are after clean lines and quirky detailing.

The Wonder of Women

I love the shape and style (note the long gloves) of these Lanvin women - my luggage tags

8 March marks the Women`s Day, which has its origin- as I understand – in the socialist movement, and was particularly popular as a political and social event in the former Soviet bloc. Since its formation, the celebration has been picked up by the United Nations as a day dedicated to highlight the struggles of women worldwide.

Curating my collection of jewellery, I noticed I have accumulated a number of lovely pieces, which depict women in their finest glory; here are a couple of examples:

Key ring, which I turned into a necklace

 

 

 

Silver earrings

 

 

“Simplicité c'est beauté”

At Aubaine in South Kensington; I am wearing a blush-coloured leather t-shirt from Whistles – my current favourite – and diamond studs from Dubai

“Simplicité c'est beauté” is a philosophy behind a chain of relaxed yet sophisticated venues called Aubaine. They are located all over London and provide an excellent choice for a girly chat. A few months ago, I`ve visited their branch in Selfridges for a delicious hot chocolate and a gossip with a friend; a couple of weeks ago I ventured at lunch time into Aubaine`s cosy but `oh so busy` outlet in Mayfair and last Friday, a girlfriend and I have chatted away for a few happy hours at their South Kensington`s site in the evening – we drank a couple of bottles of surprisingly crisp, easy-going and refreshing white.  The décor combines the elegance of a Parisian salon with the relaxed ambience of a Provençal bistro – a winning recipe. The service is very attentive…I knew I discovered a gem when a friend didn`t mind me being late because, as she put it; `….they were looking after me here`.  

The edible shoe at Aubaine in Selfridges