Old fashioned seaside fun

I was rummaging around in a drawer the other day, when I found this funny old photograph. Like many images of the time, it comes in postcard format, and Margate is mentioned on the reverse. Judging from the age of my aunt (centre, in a curiously old fashioned bathing suit), the picture was taken in the 1930s. My grandmother (on the left), and a rather matronly looking older lady, are wearing stockings and shoes… on the beach!





Fashion codes and swimwear styles excepted, a trip to the British seaside hasn’t changed that much over the years. Simple seaside pleasures remain much the same. There are still donkey rides, deck chairs, amusement parks, ice cream vendors and buckets and spades.












In fact, retro seaside style has become fashionably cool of late. At Clerkenwell Design Week, I posed in a vintage vermillion striped all-in-one swimsuit at the Camira stand. I only did this to be rewarded with a bar of rock – another traditional seaside treat.







Our nostalgia for the cheeky seaside postcard never seems to wane either... If you’re a fan of classic British holiday fun, you’ll love Fake London’s Wish You Were Here t-shirt from ShopCurious.













Tony Husband’s characterful cartoon captures the essence of the chavish chap enjoying a soaking of sun, sea and suds. Wish you were there?

Do you?

Dressing down for toffs?

Are posh people being persecuted?

Click on this link to listen to James Delingpole and Owen Jones discussing Julian Fellowes’ assertion that posh people should be protected from unfair discrimination.

What do you think?



If you find the class debate curiously fascinating, you might like to tune into a forthcoming radio play: Money, written by top-class toff, Edward Bulwer-Lytton (inventor of the phrase 'the great unwashed').

The new BBC Radio 3 adaptation was recorded on location at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, the stately home inherited by the aristocratic playwright in 1843.




The production is Samuel West’s debut as a radio director, and stars Roger Allam, Celia Imrie and Ian McDiarmid. Described as a cross between a Victorian morality play and a Dickensenian comedy, issues raised include social climbing, political corruption and abject poverty…but there’s a touch of romance too. And the discerning dramatization is enriched by music from the Endellion String Quartet, specially recorded for the play.

Money will be broadcast on Sunday 19th June at 8 pm as part of the Radio 3 Money Season. You can also hear it for a week afterwards via the BBC iPlayer, which is just as well since the 19th is Father’s Day.



And, if you’re looking an appropriately posh gift for Papa, may I suggest this retro-style Toffs 21/17 t-shirt by Fake London from ShopCurious…

Are you?

When fashion warrants royal approval...

Sir Norman Hartnell (1901-1979) is probably the most famous royal fashion designer to date. He was responsible for the revival of the crinoline, after Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother caused a sensation wearing the new silhouette on a state visit to Paris in 1938. Of course, Hartnell also created Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress, as well as the gown for her Coronation as Queen in 1953.

The couturier's streamlined, heavily jewelled, fitted dresses became firm favourites of film stars and actresses, as well as the aristocracy. And, as it happens, Hartnell's 1938 Spring collection wouldn’t look out of place today:

With just two days to go to the Royal Wedding, you may be wondering how to accessorize your outfit for the auspicious occasion. ShopCurious has just the thing – a Fake London limited edition royal print wrap-scarf, featuring a curiously elegant illustration of a royal dress design by Norman Hartnell. The couture gown in question looks as though it may be the one Her Majesty is wearing in the photograph above, taken on a royal visit to Ghana in 1961.






Norman Hartnell received a Royal Warrant for his services as royal dressmaker from 1940 onwards…not unlike the curious warrant awarded to Fake London as suppliers and manufacturers of knitted merkins to Her Gracious Majesty the Quirk.







Anyway, herewith sending best wishes to William and Kate for their wedding day… Let me know if you’re doing something special to celebrate the event.

Will you?

Birds of a feather flock to LFW

Designers at London Fashion Week no longer seem desperate to shock. Obscurely arty fashion statements are gradually being eclipsed by timelessly wearable clothing and accessories. However, if Lady Gaga is one of your clients, I suppose it's advisable to err on the side of eccentricity - like Charlie le Mindu, who’s responsible for the curious mannequin creation gracing the alternative, On/Off show space.












Meantime, at Somerset House yesterday, I shared a bird-watching hut with the British Fashion Council’s lovely Marits Roberts. We did a bit of twitching together, admiring Orla Kiely’s charming showcase, complete with trees, taxidermy and books on British birds. Marits - who by the way, has the most beautiful voice - kindly informed me that the Turtle Dove has recently been seen in the UK, for the first time in years.










































I spotted quite few avian inspired accessories at the exhibition, along with the influence of other native animals, like the fox - as featured on the Mulberrry sponsored canvas bag - and the squirrel (this is beginning to sound like the name of a pub).

There were also plenty of friendly faces, like Desiree Mejer of Fake London, whose uniquely English designs are available at ShopCurious.

What I didn’t find were freaky fashions, or the media circus I’d expected... But you can read more about those sort of things in today's post on my weekly style column over at The Dabbler.

Will you?

Retro maps and dashing old dogs

You’ve probably noticed that psychogeography’s in fashion, but did I mention the psychogeography inspired designs by Fake London at ShopCurious? This really comfortable and easy to wear apron style dress, for instance, features a fabulous print of an antiquarian map and the English rose (and there's a scarf in the same fabric too).














Also just in are some new super-soft cashmere cardigans for men, featuring Fake’s trademark Union Jack logo. This cardie definitely qualifies as a timeless modern classic and is a great investment, as it’ll keep you warm for years to come. Something to consider for Fashion's Night In next Monday...



Talking of menswear, I recently produced some of my own DIY design men’s waistcoats, with suede at the front and vintage silk on the reverse side. One of these is made using retro tourist silk scarf fabric featuring a map of Italy. The simple waistcoat style, updated using upcycled offcuts of exotic fabric, looks flattering on everyone from cool young dudes to dashing old dogs.







Which reminds me of the typically quirky Fake London video, showing a British-looking dog getting up to all sorts of curious mischief. Come to think of it a book on the psychogeogaphy of dogs is rather a novel idea. A sort of four legged tour of trees and lamp posts… Might be rather amusing, don’t you think?

Do you?

The curious art of modern shopping

Funny how our style of shopping changes over time. A curious trend I’ve noticed is that markets are becoming much posher of late. This has a lot to do with creative types selling artworks, retro and crafts based products from stalls and pop-up shops in edgy locations.

In my column over at The Dabbler this week I also talk about the commoditization of art – now everyone seems to want a piece of it.

You might like to get yours for free by immersing yourself in Ai Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds installation in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern - except now you can only look and not touch. The piece has many symbolic meanings, including the overwhelming importance of 'health and safety'. The 15 million porcelain replica Sunflower seeds are supposed to remind visitors of the famines under Mao Tse-tung. But, above all else, they resemble a bed of human ashes.

Alternatively, and also full of symbolic meaning, is this Fake Modern t-shirt by Fake London, currently available at ShopCurious.

By the way, I’d love to hear about any enjoyable arty things you’ve seen or done lately. Do let me know if you’ve any recommendations.

Will you?

Cravat heroes

Fake London is a hero of quirky British fashion. Check out Fake's curiously witty scarf designs at ShopCurious. These can be worn in a variety of ways, one of the most popular for this season being cravat style.

If you're curious to learn more about cravats and heroes, then you'll enjoy today's retro-progressive post over at The Dabbler.

And, talking of heroes, don’t forget to tune in at 2.30 pm today to BBC Radio 4's Saturday Play to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Written by Sony award-winning dramatist, Mike Walker, and produced and directed by the lovely Amber Barnfather, Spitfire! is inspired by real people and events - and features specially recorded sounds of the only Spitfire from the Battle of Britain that’s still flying.

The play traces RJ Mitchell’s design from creation to legend, along with the fortunes of two young pilots who join a frontline Spitfire squadron just as the Battle of Britain begins.

I'll certainly be listening in.

Will you?