Coming home for Christmas

Merry Christmas!
Where are you spending this Christmas holiday? I have to admit I’m a stickler for staying at home for the festive celebrations, as joining the queues on motorways or at the check-in desk of an airport simply doesn’t appeal. This is also the time of year when baggage handling staff can suddenly decide to go on strike, when railway timetables seem to become irrelevant and and cars curiously fail to start. Thankfully, most of my family and friends live close to home.







One of my favourite films to watch at Christmas (in fact any time) is Planes, Trains and Automobiles. The film is set two days before Thanksgiving and stars Steve Martin as marketing consultant Neal Page, who literally bumps into shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith, played by the late great John Candy - on a trip to Chicago, that is beset by severe winter weather conditions - causing delays, detours and many comically disastrous scenarios.



I bet you’ve exchanged stories with friends about your travels over the years: about times when you’ve been at the mercy of unpredictable circumstances, means of transport, or perhaps just an unusually circuitous-route-taking Sat-Nav device? I remember getting a train back home to London from a trip to Cornwall one Friday afternoon. The train was due to arrive at 7.00 pm at Paddington Station, but due to a series of strangely quirky events – including a herd of cows on the line outside Bristol – I actually arrived back at around midnight. The whole experience was made a lot worse by the fact that half the train, including the buffet car, was uncoupled from the rest of the train and left behind soon after the start of the journey – leaving passengers without food or drink for the duration.


Of course, many people also like to fly away (usually to warmer climes) for a Winter break in the sun. According to Guy Debord, the ‘where’ and ‘why’ you travel in your life, are reflected in your own personal ‘psychogeographie’. French fashion designer, Karim Bonnet, has used this concept as the inspiration for an iconic collection of clothing under his Impasse de la Defense label, available in the UK exclusively at ShopCurious.

I’m not sure if the eclectic mix of arrows, signposts and maps featured on some of the designs would help you to find your way anywhere, but they look really stylish and cool. What’s more, graffiti-style designs are going to be big for the coming season – and these are more original than most.





Have you had any curious or crazy journeys home for Christmas? Do let us know …it might even be rather insightful if you want to learn more about your own unique psychogeography.

Do you?

Curious Christmas clothing

More on the perils of Christmas dressing – of trying to look festive and keep warm at the same time, whilst still maintaining a modicum of style. We faced this problem last weekend at London's Belgravia Christmas Sunday, where we spent the day outside Waitrose in sub-zero temperatures, with freezing feet.





The Snow Queen and her Snow Queen in Waiting (left) seemed perfectly happy – I guess they are used to being out in the cold. Curiously, the Snow Queen bore more than a passing resemblance to fellow Belgravia boutique owner and fashion designer, Maria Grachvogel – don’t you think? A juggling Swampy-on-rollerblades (right) was also present to entertain us in eco-friendly style and there was delicious hot Pimms to bring feeling to our fingers and colour to our cold, damp noses.





Later in the week at the British Council, I encountered an eclectic mix of arguably more stylish clothing. I loved Hughie’s boldly patterned coat (right) - I think he said it was made of sack-cloth, a fabric that could become popular during the recession. It reminded me of Karim Bonnet's iconic hand painted tartan number for Impasse de la Defense (left), which is available in the UK exclusively from ShopCurious.




Others, like the fittingly flirtatious events and celebrity photographer Deanne (right), stuck to traditional Christmas red – this outfit looks very cosy too. I was very tempted to wear one of Impasse de la Defense’s stunning and original hand painted designs: this curiously alternative long purple dress (left) with a smidgen of red, for instance...though it's not ideal for cold weather, unless you’re wearing thermal underwear, or happen to find yourself in a public library, a maternity ward, or anywhere else (probably Government funded) where they seem to conspicuously ignore fuel costs.




Then I had the novel idea of adapting this intriguingly designed Impasse de la Defense shirt. The beautifully handmade vintage style crocheted lace collar is long enough to hitch up either side of your ears and will definitely keep them warm.







Not only does this put Widow Twanky to shame, but it's also the perfect foil if you’re being followed by the paparazzi …

Anyway, if you happen to see or be seen wearing any curious or noteworthy clothing this Christmas, just send your photos to info@ShopCurious.com and we’ll show the most original shots on our ShopCurious blog.

Will you?

Paris party people

I took a whirlwind trip to Paris for the end of Fashion Week. It was even shorter than I’d planned due to problems with the Eurostar and endless taxi queues. I did find time to squeeze in the odd party, though.

Here’s top mover and shaker (hence two photos!) of the French fashion fair scene, Xavier Clergerie, who hosted a ‘premiere classe’ bash. I love the way he looks so stylishly French. And the arty vintage silk scarf looks totally fabulous.

I noticed that quite a few of the men in Paris were wearing rather distinctive silk scarves – like the wonderfully charming New York based singer, Faze, pictured left. The multi- talented Mike Sylla of Baifall Dream, who made the most delicious mint tea for us, was also sporting his own trendy scarf.

I hope they all know that we’ve got a wide selection of vintage silk scarves for sale at ShopCurious, as well as quirky vintage ties and curiously English recycled vintage silk cravats.

There were lots of party people I didn’t know, but they all looked to be having a great time – and in some cases they were really letting their hair down (or shaking it up as the case may be). Do let me know if you can identify any of those pictured here, including the flag-wearing Brit … and apologies if you were caught unawares.

I later bumped into this curiously dressed chap in black designer PVC. Perfect attire for Friday 3^rd October - la nuit noire peut-etre?

And I finally met up again with the elusive M. Bonnet, pictured here in his workshop the morning after the night before (hence the uber-cool dark glasses). He kindly informed me, as I snapped merrily away, that I had become like the Japanese - some of whom, I have to admit, do seem to have bizarrely obsessive relationships with their cameras, especially when it comes to fashion.

But I was just soooo curious to see all the fascinating stuff in the hub of creativity that is his studio. It reminded me of one giant art installation with unusual hidden treasures like this unique, neigh(!) iconic sculpture... I think Crazy Horse might be an appropriate title?

Do you?

French style

At ShopCurious, we've created a little enclave of French fancies to delight you, as we transport you in style on our alternative Silk Route. Le style francais is often talked about in relation to furniture, food and fashion. Where better to start than with a vintage silk scarf depicting the world famous city of fashion and romance itself, and les ponts de Paris: bridges to time honoured passion, style, art and culture...






Of course, you might also be interested in an earlier history of Paris, where the ideals of liberte, egalite and fraternite first emerged during the Age of the Enlightenment. We've also got an original limited edition Hermes silk scarf commemorating the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution in 1989.




For more recent evidence of the art of fashion from the French capital, take a look at these wonderfully elegant silk dresses by Madame a Paris for autumn/winter 2008: Simple, chic, sophisticated, curiously French and newly available from our eclectic online emporium.


In a city where fashion and art vie for premiere position, how appropriate that the elusive French designer, Monsieur Bonnet ,should have combined the two in this fitting Eiffel Tower dress (below left). How stylish! We're veering off the Silk Route a bit with this cotton number and, likewise, with this amazing hand painted, carved acacia wood sculpture of the great French monument by Timmy Woods (below right) - which is in fact a handbag that originates from Beverly Hills and was worn by Carrie in the Sex and the City film. It's currently available in the UK exclusively at ShopCurious.


Our journey to Paris has almost come to an end and I'm feeling in need of a little rest before our next adventure, so I don't think I'll be sampling the delights of Parisien nightlife. I'll be off to bed now, but I'm already looking forward to the next stage of our travels...
Are you?

The art of fashion

This season has showcased a hot new trend in the form of wearable art - most notably evident in collections by Dolce & Gabbana and Prada.




Did you know that almost a decade ago a young Frenchman by the name of Karim Bonnet set up a street art inspired label called Impasse de la Defense? I went to one of the label's first fashion shows back in 1999 and was totally wowed.

We've a few of his stunningly original hand painted vintage pieces available at ShopCurious. There are a couple of wonderfully feminine Marilyn style dresses with fabulous swishy skirts.

Then there's the artst's impression of the Eiffel Tower - writ large on a dress, a couple of stylish micro-mini shift dresses and an extravagant tiered paint-splashed skirt.


I noticed that there was an Impasse de la Defense fashion show this year and have tried to track down the arty yet elusive M. Bonnet, but to no avail. Does anyone out there have his contact details?
Do you?