Two buildings I’m excited to see in Madrid… The Palacio de Cristal (based on my favourite extinct London landmark, the Crystal Palace of course!) and the Casita del Pescador.
Hope the sun comes out in England for you, but if not – pretend it’s hot and happytimes with this summer musical salute.
Over and out!
Just another quick one before I set sail for the sun… HOLIDAY READING YES OMG YES
The Viceroy’s Daughers – Anne de Courcy (aight I started that one already, I couldn’t wait)
Some Country Houses and their Owners – James Lees-Milne
The Glitter and the Gold – Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan
… and last, but not least, probably the best guilty pleasure book since my collection of everything Katie Price has ever done;
Stately Passions – Jamie Douglas-Home [PS lol wut? Amazon says new and used, £155.29 - I didn't pay that much, I think I spent a tenner]
My Wardobe has teamed up with Mawi to create an exclusive range of jewelry. Two of my favourite brands, skulls are involved, ostentation… what’s not to love? Think I’m gonna bag the ones on the left to complete my evening wear transformation. The skulls are the same as the one on my Mawi pony necklace – and speaking of which, take note that it’s not just earrings in the collaboration, there are also necklaces available. For some reason, the earrings remind me of everyone’s favourite ‘society drug addict’ Brenda Dean Paul;
Mean it in a good way! Dunno why, she just seems like a memento mori type – in her youth, anyway.
While we’re on the subject of My Wardrobe, they have just launched an exciting new online Style Surgery. Every Thursday between 3 and 4pm, there’s live chat with stylists on their Facebook page. Advice from the pros in real time – can’t be bad, eh? Just leave a comment on the page and someone will get back to you with advice and product picks. Like having a personal shopper, but from the comfort of your own desk/bed/sofa/terrace in Madrid…
…Also found this Versace purse on Etsy earlier. Am currently obsessed with searching ’80s Versace’ on eBay and Etsy and browsing page after page of gold tat. Still on the hunt for a big Medusa necklace – that has to exist, right?
I’m normally incapable of getting out of bed in the morning, but when I have a breakfast meeting I seem to leap out of bed as soon as the alarm goes, then spend two hours sitting around at home. It’s like time I wasn’t supposed to have! I have WON time back from the day. It’s essentially time travel??
I still have a glorious ten minutes until I need to think about leaving the house, ten minutes to spend considering buying these:
Vintage Versace (well, Versus) tiger stripe heels, $140, F Kellerman on Etsy
While we’re all talking about our A/W 2010 inspirations, I thought it might be timely to flag up this picture of the Supremes. Not just an inspiration for next season, this picture lives by the mirror in my bedroom to remind me to up my game at all times.
This is the look I will be recreating when I fly on Saturday – fur coat and all, even though Madrid is currently a toasty 35c.
Taco, 1983
Fred Astaire, 1946
Clark Gable, 1939
Ella Fitzgerald, 1929
Harry Richman, the original, 1929
When I was buying that dress at the weekend, the staff in the shop played the Taco version of Puttin’ On The Ritz. So obviously I went home and listened to the original. TBH, I’ll take any of the above, no complaints. I won’t accept versions by: Judy Garland, Leningrad Cowboys or Neil Diamond – ani mitzta’er Neil, ani mitzta’er.
I really hope this ASOS dress doesn’t go live and then sell out during the time I’m on holiday… Galaxy-print Dress, £45, ASOS. Due in, any day now.
My new job, that’s not new anymore, entails lots of black tie events and award shows. While I’m definitely someone who always dresses up, rather than down, I don’t own much in the way of actual proper ‘evening wear’. It’s a tough thing to get right. You don’t want to look like a Monsoon bridesmaid, but you also have to actually dress up, in something that isn’t from Topshop. This weekend I found a perfect vintage black lace Louis Vuitton-esque, ballerina-length, full-skirted, swoonsome, perfect, magical gown at Beyond Retro. I need to post a picture when I have a minute (and lose approx 1cm from my waist, so I can comfortably drink beer and eat the trademark award show three-course dinner of tomato soup, lamb, and cheesecake in it), but I’m becoming obsessed with finding event-appropriate dresses. I think this ASOS number could be dressed up quite nicely for the more ‘casual’ lot of evening events… Also known as ‘hairdresser black tie’ – affectionately, of course.
While we’re talking ASOS, let’s take a moment to appreciate the most beautiful hair I’ve seen in time. Girl on the right, you are my motivation, my guiding light, my modern day Martha Streck…
A few weeks ago, my old internet pal and fellow blogger Blair asked me for some recommendations for proper jazz. I’ve been a bit tardy in my response, but there’s good reason; I’ve been seeking the help of an expert. What my step-dad doesn’t know about jazz isn’t worth knowing, but he knows about Spotify is, ahem, slightly less.
It’s been some time coming, but here are a selection of tunes to get you in the mood for Fitzgerald, flapeprs and – well – all that jazz. Sorry I have utterly failed at YouTube today 
Dear friends who live in America,
Shortly, one of you will receive an email, requesting that you purchase one of these bracelets for me from BCBG. I went to the King’s Road shop today, but the staff attitude was so bad, I couldn’t even browse. I know, right!
Anyway, to keep things a little less predictable – because, let’s be honest, it’s pretty predictable I want one – I’m not going give any clue a) which one of you will be my saviour; or b) which one I want.
If the chosen one could send some Kraft Mac and Cheese too, that would be tops.
All the best,
Rachael
PS:
A couple of months ago a reader asked me for advice on vintage shopping in my hometown of Sheffield. I finally returned to the motherland this weekend and took the opportunity to do a bit of shopping… all in the name of research. Sorry for the shit pictures, people in Sheffield seemingly get weirded out [...]
Hi guys! This page got deleted when I moved over from my old blog but after some extraction work down at the coal face, it’s back in its rightful home. This guide is now… several years old so undoubtedly some stuff is out of date and I guess a lot of places will have closed. [...]
