If you've spotted that we've gone a bit quiet lately, it's because we're working on a brand new ShopCurious blog, which we'll be telling you more about shortly.
Meantime, I have a weekly Life of Style column over at The Dabbler, which the Curious Cognoscenti should definitely check out. This week's post covers the subjects of fashion, feminism and Vanessa Feltz - plus a review of social historian Carol Dyhouse's new book, Girl Trouble: Panic and Progess in the History of Young Women.
I feel rather sad that the London 2012 Olympics are almost over – not least because the traffic in town will start to return to normal. It seems to have been remarkably light for the duration of the games, at least in the west of the capital.
But if you haven’t quite had your fill of sport this year, ShopCurious recommends another exhibition at The Design Museum:
Designed to Win runs until 18th November and is all about speed, power and performance. You’ll see everything from Formula 1 cars to designer training shoes,
starting blocks, racing bikes and paralympic kit – including wheelchairs
and running blades.
I won’t be too sad to say goodbye to these curious fellows - though I’m not sure who’s scarier in this photograph...
I haven’t watched any of the Paralympic Games yet, but I hear we’re winning lots of medals. On the night of the opening ceremony, I was out at an event launching something entirely different – the new BuyMyWardrobepre-loved luxury designer fashion website.
I stayed long enough to hear owner, Kai's speech about the "luxe recycling revolution," and to do a little bit of networking.
I met the lovely shoe blogger Sabrina Johnson of Sabrina Suggests and bumped into Stella of Stella’s Wardrobe (check out the cute new illustrations on her blog).
In honour of our paralympic athletes, I thought I’d wear my Union Jack dress, teamed up with a recycled vintage bag from ShopCurious. I wasn’t the only one dressed patriotically: A curiously charming kilt-wearing milliner insisted on having his photograph taken with me.
Then I dashed home to catch the remainder of the Paralympics opening ceremony. Read my review (including views on the Paralympic uniforms) in today’s post at The Dabbler.
A slightly longer than expected break from blogging to spend time with my ailing father, who sadly died a couple of weeks ago…
Anyway, it’s good to be back. You may wish to check out our latest Curious Trends posts.
And if you want to know what Prince Harry has in common with the Boy Scouts, take a look at my post today over at The Dabbler.
Talking of Scouts, we’ve some curiously collectable Scout memorabilia at ShopCurious, including vintage books that will come in handy if you’re organizing your own alternative Olympic Games – or are already suffering from games nostalgia.
So, the Diamond Jubilee weekend is upon us. My curious
triffid-like plant has suddenly sprouted a flower, which is standing to attention to honour the occasion.
Nothing new for us Brits, but (as noted in today's post at the Dabbler) everyone is talking about the weather.
It’s set to turn rather nasty on Sunday, just in time for the River
Pageant on the Thames. Such a shame as I’m having a bit of a party. In
fact I spent all day yesterday putting up bunting and shopping for my
1950s themed lunch/tea.
Rather than spend ages preparing the sauce for
my Coronation chicken, I discovered a ready-made version by Sussex Valley, which I shall embellish to 'make it my own'…This will leave more time to get ready. I’m looking forward to wearing my specially designed Diamond Jubilee dress (of which more later).
I was also thinking that this curiously kitsch and collectable Swarovski crystal studded British bulldog bag from ShopCurious might be rather cool for the occasion too. What do you think?
I had to capture this photograph of an elderly couple picnicking by the bandstand at the Chelsea Flower Show. For me, the image conveys a sense of love, loyalty, friendship, traditional values and shared memories - the sort of essence of the Diamond Jubilee.
Now cast your mind into the future. How will the scene look in 20, let alone 60 years time? Let ShopCurious know what you think.
Does anyone else have a soft spot for old gasometers? These photographs were taken in Hackney. You can read more about Empress Coaches, shown here (and featured in the film Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), at Spitalfields Life.
I didn’t see any coaches, but I did spot this curiously arty ice cream van parked in a street nearby.
Oh, and apparently, there’s a planning application to build an 18 storey block on this site… eek!
Another potential victim of developers is a little known shrine called Cross Bones, located in the shadow of The Shard. Read more about this in ShopCurious's post at The Dabbler.
And just across the road from the memorial this lovely, though rather neglected, old building (below) sits next to Borough Market. The sign says ‘goods inwards’ – which in a few years time will no doubt have been replaced by ‘luxury goods outwards’.
London is a constantly evolving curiosity. I hope it's changing for the better.
We’re having a bit of a fashion moment this weekend… In my post at The Dabbler last week, I considered the myth and madness of the catwalk fashion show. Private salon style events have recently been popping up all over the place and trends indicate that these are rapidly becoming a more exclusive alternative to the traditional designer runway presentation.
And a Fashion Fringe presentation, featuring Alice Palmer and other designers at the Corinthia Hotel, hosted by silver-tongued fashion journalist, Colin McDowell, coincidentally pictured above top (who informed me that he's hoping to start posting on his blog again soon). The event was also a showcase for two of the hotel’s most prestigious penthouses (see images in today’s post at The Dabbler).
Anyway, if you’re not off to London Fashion Weekend, here’s an alternative suggestion: Why not visit the UK’s biggest J-culture event, Hyper Japan, at Earl’s Court? There’s a Japanese street fashion show at 2.0 pm today, followed by the official World Cosplay Summit UK preliminary. I may go along out of curiosity.
I managed to smash just one – unfortunately a rather lovely, old fashioned glass ball. But Henry the hoover came to the rescue. He's very busy at this time of year, what with all the pine needles and Christmas crumbs on the floor...
Talking of which, my mother arrived with a curiously kitsch Christmas cake. Apparently, she won it at her golf club in a ‘guess the weight of the cake’ competition. 7.02 pounds in case you’re curious…
I took her to the Christmas Market at London’s Southbank. It was teeming with people and full of nasty cooking smells. I’m not quite sure what barbequed burgers and bratwurst have to do with Christmas? There were dozens of candy stalls, and a glut of gaudy snow globes.
Contemporary artists are increasingly using retro toys and recycled curiosities to make a statement, like Joe Black, whose work is shown here (photographed at Scream Gallery’s stand at the Moniker Art Fair last week).
Similar plastic toy soldiers are used to convey a different message, at fraction of the price (...though admittedly the scale is not the same - and the density of soldiers used is lower) in Love Not War by Dinah Dufton (bottom right), whose work can be seen at London's Affordable Art Fair.
A staple of the jukebox, Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock probably kept quite a few teenagers out of jail in the late 1950s. Instead of making mischief, they were jiving away the hours at their local diner – or more likely at a youth club in the UK.
“The American diner has had a lasting impact on popular culture – influencing fashion, design and music – as well as our habits of eating and dining out. Diners also seem to be perennially popular with young children and teenagers…” Find out why the diner is still commanding respect from today’s youth in my latest post at The Dabbler.
Retro style is currently very popular and musical accessories are an emerging trend for the coming season.
At ShopCurious, we’ve found a curiously cool piece of jewellery that combines both trends in a fun, recycled charm necklace. Lovingly handmade by Jo Knowles-Lee, each necklace consists of a vintage domino, together with an enamelled guitar charm on a plain black chain.
If you’re curious to know what to wear to your local diner, I think this simple but stylish accessory would look perfect for a casual night out with friends.
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