A faux French evening full of debauchery

Last night was the Yes we Can-Can evening and my first visit to one of the New Sheridan Clubs functions. I had SUCH a great time, the people are absolutely wonderful and friendly and I talked to so many! There was araffle for the members and I was holding a ticket for the Curate, of course I was the very first winner, so I guess it means I have a lucky touch! There were parlor games and even an arrogant and very sexy french stand up comedian..

It was held at The Punch Tavern on Fleet Street and it is a very gorgeous setting! Mirrored walls, painted glass, warm lights and a lit fireplace too.

It was decorated with French flags and onions everywhere!

There was a french themed menu too and of course lots of special cocktails and absinth.

On the right, the two chairmen are being honoured with a big giant pink cake (it had a special name) and it tasted very yummy!!

Me with two of the lovely chaps..

As ususal I apologise for the horrible picture quality when I attempt to take an outfit picture, but here I am! Black and white striped chiffon blouse with puff sleeves, black pencil skirt with leather piping. Seamed stockings and my new favourite shoes! Dark purple suede t-bar shoes that makes me teeter on my toes!

I had such a great and very late evening, made it home with lots of ballons, so my bedroom are now filled with red, white and blue balloons!


xoxo

Darhling

Art Deco calling cards

I wanted to repost this, I simply love my simple calling cards from zazzle.co.uk. You find the business card template you wish then the design of it and add whatever lines and info you want on the card and move it around according to your taste!

Front

Back

xoxo

Darhling

Book : The New Look; The Dior Revolution

I just recieved my copy of The Dior Revolution by Nigel Cawthorne and I love it! It is filled cover to cover with amazing photographs and stories from Hollywood, war-time and of course the history of Dior - The man and the business.

"Christian Dior was arguably the most important fashion designer of the twentieth century. One of a handful of designers who dominated 20th century fashion along with Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret & Yves Saint Laurent. His career was launched in 1947 with his very first collection, in which he introduced the “New Look“. Featuring rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and very full skirt, the New Look celebrated ultra-femininity and opulence. After years of military and civilian uniforms, sartorial restrictions and shortages, Dior offered not merely a new look but a new outlook. While the House of Dior is still a thriving business today, Dior’s untimely death in 1957 left the fashion world without a great dictator of style. Christian Dior designed under his own name for only a decade, but his influence will be felt for many years to come." - Black Cat Books

My favoroutie parts are where it is described how the dresses were made, how special Dior undergarmets were required to give the Dior shape.

"Your own shoulders plus padded hips" - Vogue

What the book will be most helpful for is to be an inspiration for my own Dior style. I cannot afford or even find genuine vintage pieces, but I can sew and style clothes to give the appearance of a Dior model.


xoxo
Dior Darhling

Norman Parkinson at Somerset House

The amazing fashion photographer, Norman Parkinson, was an icon in his field. He took some of the most beautiful and classic pictures especially in the 40s and 50s. Somerset House are having an exhibition with some of his photographs and it is completely free. 

Until 31 January 2010

Terrace Rooms, free admission

An exhibition to celebrate the publication of Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour

One of the great pioneers of fashion photography and a decisive influence on subsequent generations of fashion photographers, Norman Parkinson is famous for redefining glamour in fashion as something far more spontaneous and modern than it had ever been before him.

A lavish portrait of his long career from the 1930s through the 1980s, Louise Baring's Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour was published by Rizzoli in October 2009. To celebrate the publication of the book, a selection of portraits from the Norman Parkinson archive are on display at Somerset House. 

Opening Times
Open daily - 10.00-18.00

xxx

Darhling

Oh no!

I fear all my old blog posts are gone.. eek. About 150 posts are vanished.. I do hope I recover them or at least get my arse in gear and start redoing them (hmm, maybe not) or start posting a bunch of new posts ASAP.

Frustrated Darhling

Darhling to work for ERA magazine

I am very proud to announce that I will be working with the talented people of ERA magazine. Not only will I make contributions to the magazine - so far I might be doing cultural pieces - but I will also be the art worker and later on, develop and design the website. I am truly excited about this!!

Here is the manifest

There’s a growing audience of enthusiastic, passionate, trend-setting people who want to celebrate the style, experiences and pleasures of the past. In clothes, placesto visit and events to attend, their quest is for quality, authentic and enjoyable experiences.

ERA magazine is here to meet their needs, present the opportunities to new participants and profile the venues, sources and activities that embody the values of celebrating the best of the past. From Tudor palaces through Georgian spas and Victorian museums and galleries to Art-Deco balls and 50’s seaside memorabilia.

The ERA audience seek out the best in vintage clothes, hair and make-up re-creation, the chance to dine or dance as if it were yesteryear, see films and theatre performances that embody and celebrate period performances and locations, or simply take tea with style and panache. In short ERA presents the pleasures of the past where they are to be found in the present.

I can't wait to tell you much more about this amazing magazine!

xxx

Darhling

Yes we Can-Can

I am going-going!!

Yes we Can-Can!!

The New Sheridan Club invites you and your chums to its Winter Party.

Come and relive the giddy splendour of the Moulin Rouge of Toulouse-Lautrec, an absinthe- and Champagne-fuelled orgy of high kicks and low moral standards.

We’ll have musical delights from chanteuse Mademoiselle Maria and some Gallic accordion noodling, French-themed food, plus the usual tomfool games with highly desirable prizes. Try your hand at Pin the Legs Back On the Frog or the sinister Onion Battle. (We’re also working on a game that involves blockading a port and preventing free trade at all costs.) There will be prizes for the best costumes, the most pretentious philosophical observation and perhaps a spot prize for the first person to surrender to something or someone.

Our famous Grand Raffle will be in evidence, of course, with prizes including absinthe, oil paints and an easel, a beret, garlic, cheese and snails, a model of the Eiffel Tower, a set of boules, Asterix comics, French-flavoured books, CDs and DVDs, plus a white flag and a packet of Gaulloises.

Admission is £5 to non-Members of the New Sheridan Club—but free toMembers, including anyone who joins on the night (Membership is from £5 to £15 a year). Entry to the raffle is free but open to Members only (again including anyone who joins on the night).

It takes place on Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 PM. Look for more info here.

xoxo

Darhling

Parisian Chic

Ahh Paris.. Just the name conjure up the most amazing images of fashionable ladies strolling by the Eiffel Tower or on their way to a secret rendez-vous. When I think of the Parisian Look, I think of super cinched in pencil dresses, luxurious silks, silk scarves to protect hair from raindrops or to conceil a lovebite on the neck, veiled hats, furs, long gloves, the perfect heels and most importantly - a look that could kill. Femme-fatales sums it up.

Here is a link to hilariously fantastic guide to be Parisian Chic on 10 easy steps from the Guardian.

It can be all black, nothing looks more chic than a tailored black dress, black stockings, black shoes and black coat, a black bag and black shades - with the pop of red lips!

It can also be medium - darker tones. As shown below, mix dark taupes, chocolates, every kind of coffee colour too. But don't go too light, stick to the darker colours!

Here is a little collecction of pictures that - for me - signifies the Parisian Look:

Galliano for Dior - Vintage Barbie Perfection!

Galliano for Dior - Suspenderbelt shoes.

Wardrobe on a budget :

Dogtooth skirt with ruffles from Tesco.

J Lo shoes

Mink coloured satin blouse

Skirt with piping details from Arrogant Cat.

Leopard coat.

Black clutch from Reiss

All from ASOS.com

Handbags : Small, only to carry around the essentials (lipstick, powder, credit card and lethal weapon). Dark colours like black and navy always work in matte leather for example. Clutches or small totes are perfect. My two favorite Parisienne handbags is the Chanel Timeless clutch in black caviar leather and the Lady Dior Cannage bag in black leather. Climbing around the Eiffel Tower is optional.

Scarves : Classic patterns, nothing too psychedelic. Look up Hermés for inspiration, my favorite is the Kelly Caleché vintage scarf. It comes in a wide range of color combinations, but you can never o wrong if yo match the color family of your outfit with perhaps one brighter colour.

Make-Up : Perfected matte skin, slightly sculpted cheeks, eyeliner, matte red lips! This sounds like the regular 'vintage' makeup, but keep it more matte and more sculpted.

Lipsticks in Russian Red or Ruby Woo, both from MAC.

Eyeliner, professional eyeliner from Rimmel. Wing it!

Shimmery white eyeshadow in Blanc Diaphane from Bourjois. Availible with limited editions images from Paris from ASOS.com.

Use on eyelid, in corner of eye and in the crease. Do not go all the way up to browbone, but keep the intensity on the lid, making it less obvious in the crease. Do follow out over the wing of the eyeliner (over the wing, not on top of the wing).

Sculpt your cheeks with blush in Sienne from Bourjois. I do mean sculpt.

Perfect red nailpolish, I recommend two coats. This is my current favorite! Rose Escarpin from Bourjois. Either go for the short and natural nail style or my current favorite style : very sharp and pointy!

 Now I need to go back to Paris.. How can I show a Parisian Outfit while posing in London?!

xoxoxo

Darhling