Darling Buds

Fashion, Art and Music Show

– May 4th 2012 -

(Sabine Gruchet, Martin Purdy and Kate Blackett)

WOW – what an amazing time we all had at the Shooting Star Chase, Children’s Hospice Charity fashion show in Richmond Surrey.  It was certainly a night to remember with so much going on and so much crazy fun that it will be hard for me to sum it all up in one little blog.

(Heidi Grant in luscious lemon)

But as you know my dear blog readers,  I am a bit of a waffler when it comes to writing about events – so let me bore you with all sorts of behind the scenes gossip about what really went on! The official side of proceedings I will leave for my news page!  Let me give you an insight into backstage with some behind the scenes snaps.

( Maddy Havell – I can't help but wonder what she was looking at?)

To start with, the whole event was a real undertaking to organise. As those of you who have been part of a charity event will know, it takes hours and hours of work,
 co-ordinating with vast numbers of people who are all doing different aspects of work to pull it together.

( Emma Nash and Lucy Moore )

The last week before an event is always so crazy that one goes into another world with minimal hours of sleep being had. In fact, when I came too the following morning after the show and realized that the real world was still going on, I discovered that Boris Johnson had been voted back in as mayor, (when and how did that happen?)  that I had lost approx 2 kilos in weight – from merely forgetting to eat and there were over four hundred emails sitting in my inbox waiting to be answered. It was all a bit of a surprise!

(Carolyn Holmes)

You see chaos reigns for days before a big fashion show. You know what it is like girls – imagine you are going to an important event, you have to work out what dress you are going to wear, what shoes and handbag go with it, not to mention jewellery and other accessories. Times that by forty five and you will understand what we were up against.  Forty-Five outfits to work out and co-ordinate and have ready for ten models. It is no small task.

(Danielle Evans, Olivia Campbell, Carolyn Holmes and Krissy Lee)

We had nearly finalised all the forty five outfits and a spanner was thrown into our work!

Picture this -

It is the day before the show – Thursday the 3rd of May -

5pm in the afternoon.

There are three of us in the studio, tired and exhausted from working solidly for two days sorting out all these outfits. On the floor are literally dozens of hats and fascinators, shoes, boxes of jewellery, and bags. Racks of clothes have been set up around the room to hang each model's outfits and forty five stacks of accessories are laid out ready to go.

There is nowhere to walk, nowhere to move, nowhere to sit. The studio looks like a bombsite.

Then out of the blue the doorbell to the studio rings. We look at each other in horror, who on earth would be arriving now. I opened the door to find a cheery faced young lady standing there who announced she has come to buy a dress.  I think shock must have registered all over my face. What now I think – oh no surely not!!

She sallied forth with great determination, she knew it was late, but she urgently needed an outfit for a wedding this Sunday. With lists in hands and armfuls of clothes we somehow made a little track through the mess to the racks and showed her our range of dresses, many of which were featuring in the show.

An hour and a half later after trying on a great many outfits a very delighted customer left with a dress, fascinator and vintage jewellery – that were all going to be worn by model number 5 in our ‘wedding’ scene at the fashion show.

(Lucy Moore)

Our customer was as happy as anything that we had the whole look completely on hand that she could buy in one go. We however, fell into an exhausted heap in a small space on the floor, unable to gather up the energy or mental creativity required to work out a replacement set for the poor model who had now lost her entire wedding outfit for the show.

  (If you read this dear lady – we loved having you here and know you would have looked fabulous at the wedding. We hope you will come again, when the studio is not such a mess and we are not so tired!)

( Mellissa Laycey)

By Friday evening everyone involved was running on adrenalin. We arrived at the London Welsh Rugby club with enough boxes and bags to fill a small truck – for not only were there clothes, there were boxes of props, not to mention boxes of champagne glasses, champagne and food for all the models, make-up artists and hairstylists, dressers and other staff.  The make up artists and hairstylists arrived similarly armed, as did the menswear people. It is a huge undertaking. And did I mention bringing a bicycle?

(Kate Blackett opening the show with my old bicycle)

In a lovely big spacious room with views out over the rugby fields and Kew Gardens the final preparations took place. Ten beautiful models had their hair teased, crimped, curled and pinned. Faces were carefully made up – eyelashes glued on and lipstick applied.  The results were gorgeous and relative peace reigned. That was until the boys arrived – Two big rugby players and one very cute professional model.

( Triple trouble arrived ! – Martin Purdy, Clifton, Edd Thrower)

How can three male models cause such havoc- very easily let me tell you! With monstrous egos and quick wit, the place rapidly fell into chaos, with lots of giggling, flirting and cheeky banter.

(Olivia Campbell)

Having once upon a time been into writing and directing plays, I had decided that a straight forward fashion show walking up and down the catwalk was not really going to suffice, so had rather optimistically written a far more complex catwalk scenario with acting and groups of models all interacting together.

The girls were fine, the boys however were another matter, particularly the villianous Edd Thrower – the handsome fullback who took it upon himself to give me as much grief as he possibly could! He quickly turned me into another role I once had – that of an old battleaxe teacher in a boys’ school and he a naughty teenager. 

The rehearsals turned into a battle of wits – rugby player versus fashion designer determined to have a show that was polished, professional and up to standard. Did it happen? – well yes, to a certain degree, for with only an hour to practise – and a naughty boy to cope with things sure could have been better, but we got there in the end.

(Interviewing the vivacious Marie Truelove from Truelove Lingerie, between one of the catwalk scenes!)

Four Fabulous themed scenes were presented to the audience.

 Casual wear – ‘ A picnic in the sun’.

Event wear – ‘ A day at the races’

Wedding wear -  ‘ A beautiful Wedding’

Evening Wear – 'Hollywood Awards Night'

Interspersed with the four ranges of clothes from Carolyn de la Drapiere were swimwear and lingerie scenes from Truelove Lingerie and the amazing Shelle Luscombe sang a selection of songs also wearing some of my clothes. It was all simply marvelous!

(Shelle – our fabulous singer having her hair done by Jayne)

After the final scene I raced backstage to find out what state everything was in. It is always my great concern, for often there are piles of clothes dumped everywhere with bits of jewellery scattered about the room. To keep everything together and not lose anything is a major undertaking as the changes between outfits are often down to minutes.

Great hilarity abounded, with relief spilling over that we had pulled the show off. The boys were strutting about as proud as punch with their first ever fashion show, the girls were all in a state of giggles with tales of mishaps of what they did and didn't wear and the champagne flowed.

One model was incredibly tiddly however, and had apparently been very difficult to dress and undress – she'd over imbibed on the wine early in the evening – which I have to say gave her far more courage than was necessary when it came to flaunting herself in lingerie on the catwalk – giving the host of photographers on hand far more than they had ever hoped for when it came to getting a sensational shot!

(And no, I am not putting it in my blog!)

(Backstage after the show with a few of the models) 

 I will leave the more formal news for the News section – where I shall tell you about the worthwhile charity we raised a good sum of money for and the two mayors who were in attendance. There will also be fabulous photos from the catwalk.  Keep an eye out in the next few days for it to appear!

No more fashion shows for me for a few months. I am afraid to say it takes some time to recover after such an event. We are now having to concentrate on the huge pile of orders we have for outfits for Ascot, weddings and summer balls. The summer is alive with activity and with it comes the need for glorious dresses…so back to work for us!

Thanks to all the models, makeup artists and hairstylists,dressers,and all my other assistants for giving your time to raise money for this worthwhile cause.

A big thank-you also to Gavin Chapman and Dave Jackson for these fabulous photos.

(And no amount of kisses from Mr Edd Thrower will get him back into my good books!!!)

The Mystery of Liz Jones.

There was great excitement in the Carolyn de la Drapiere studio – the inimitable Liz Jones was coming to visit and take a look at our new collection. The date and time had been set through a series of emails and the preparations began! Previous appointments and plans for the day were altered and changed as the afternoon was set aside for this most exciting of visits.

Now as you know girls, Liz Jones is renowned as a fashion expert, a popular columnist and a very opinionated writer, so it with some trepidation that we readied ourselves for her visit. It was an honour for us to have our clothes viewed by a woman who frequents every fashion show in the world, who knows most major designers personally and who is herself a model of perfect fashion sense. It was refreshing that someone within the realms of 'normal' sizes was taking fashion for more curvaceous women seriously. We were therefore all determined to make her visit enjoyable, as well as gain some valuable feedback from such an expert in the field.

The day drew nearer and the preparations became more intense, ridiculous really, but I am sure you know what it is like when a special guest is expected. The showroom and workroom were both spring cleaned from top to bottom – not that they really needed it, the winter flower pots on the window sills were replaced with new spring bulbs, the windows were polished twice as much as usual to gleam in the morning sun and the carpets were given an ultra deep clean.

Knowing Liz loves animals as much as I do but guessing her dogs were probably groomed to perfection on a daily basis, my dog Buttons, who is always at work with me, was given a thorough scrubbing with my best shampoo, and was brushed to within an inch of her life! So resplendent was she, that no less than a first at Crufts would have sufficed for her state of immaculateness!

It was as if Her Majesty the Queen herself was coming to visit. And of course, being the hostess that I am, we availed ourselves of the finest selection of organic teas and coffees, not to mention dried fruits and nibbles that we knew Liz could eat, as we had been told she had very particular dietary requirements and only ate organic. Every conceivable option had therefore been considered.

The day arrived beautiful and sunny. My staff looked the very picture of respectability, all beautifully dressed with not a hair out of place. Gone were the jeans and casual tops you will usually find us toiling away in – hard at work, but in their place were pretty dresses and smart shoes, hair was styled and the lipstick was on. We were all ready to meet Liz.

The hour of the appointment came and went, another hour passed, and another and yet another. The day ended and not a word from our visitor! Had she fallen ill? Had she had an accident? Had a more exciting offer for the afternoon come along? Had she forgotten? Or did she just decide we were not worth the effort after all ?

We may never ever know, for we never heard from her again, despite sending her a polite email the next day, enquiring as to whether she was in fact okay or what had indeed happened? Not a note of explanation nor of apology, just a complete 'no show' .

Now girls, those of you who know me well, know I am fairly easy going and don't get ruffled easily. And being in business one has to have a thick skin and be tough enough to handle the knocks and setbacks that come our way on a regular basis. A complete lack of manners, however, is one thing I never cease to be flabbergasted by.

It was therefore with great amusement that a few weeks ago I saw Liz Jones splashed across the front page of the ' Daily Mail' asking the question ' Is Liz Jones turning into Kate Middleton? And I had to laugh. Somehow I think not. The very respectable Kate I am sure would be far too polite and well mannered not to email or phone regarding a change of plan or to indeed send a note of apology.

So girls, once again, I am left with the feeling that those of us, who like cleverly cut designs that fall beautifully over a curvaceous body, and who like 'unpopular' sleeves in our dresses, and who always like our hemlines below our knees are once again looked upon as the outcasts of the fashion world!

A well off, curvaceous business woman in her late 30's said to me rather despondently just this week, 'I have the money to spend on beautiful clothes, I enjoy fashion and want to look up to date and glamorous, but the choices available are so limited that I sometimes despair. If 47% of the female population are a size 16 and over why doesn't the fashion world take this market seriously? – Thank goodness I found you! (Which was lovely of her to add!)

It is of course a question that is asked frequently and one I cannot answer. The one thing I can say however, is that I love my job dressing women in gorgeous, fabulous clothes that make them feel confident and vibrant. I love the smiles of women who are initially shocked at seeing themselves in an amazing creation but then feel so good knowing they can go to the ball looking like a princess or indeed the wedding of their son or daughter looking like the proud mother that they are, in a outfit to shine in. It is a job full of rewards.

( A magical feathered top for a very glamorous customer who was off to a party!)

And as for our non visit from Liz? Well, we've all had a jolly good laugh about it since – the studio had it's spring clean a little sooner than planned, and Buttons smelt like roses for the rest of the week and despite the fact we are all back in our casual work clothes, we have been having luxurious morning teas with all that fine organic tea, coffee and dried fruit every day since. It matters not one jot.. for life moves on, with new people coming continuously into our lives and new exciting adventures always beckoning!

Thanks to all our customers who knew the visit was due to take place and have enquired about how it went. You now have your answer!

The Ideal Home Show

- Fashion Show -

Earls Court – London,  March 17^th and 18^th  -

The biggest home show in Britain opened its doors to thousands of people flocking in to see the latest technology for homes of the future. Lights that switch on and off with a click of the fingers, home stereo systems that start their melodic vibrations with a mere flick of the eyelids and blinds that go up and down with nothing more than a voice command. It was all happening at the Ideal Home Show.

In the midst of all these amazing contraptions of modern life was a fabulous catwalk hosting a series of fashion shows – I think perhaps it was set up for women feeling a little bored with gadgets and furturistic technology and all those other things that boys love and girls start to yawn over.

(One of my plus size models – Lucy – having her make-up done. Wearing our vibrant – 'Tip Toe Through the Tulips' – Top. Lucy is a size 18.)

Carolyn de la Drapiere was asked to participate in a series of shows over the weekend organised by Models of Diversity. A fabulous organisation that advocates models of all ages, shapes, sizes, nationalities and abilities.  We of course were representing the models who are considered plus size, and are far too big to model in the normal modelling world, but who in fact fall into the category of normal sized women. Healthy, fit size 14 and 16's. It was interesting looking around the audience of two – three hundred women, for well over half the women present were in actual fact this size and above.

(Model Mellisa – in one of our new evening dresses – 'Riveria Rendezvous'. Mellisa is size 16)

What a couple of days Ingrid, my assistant and I had, tearing about from the make-up room, to dressing room, to stage, hauling dresses on and off our gorgeous models who retained a sense of humour throughout.  Day one, Saturday, saw Ingrid and I both dressed up in good clothes and high heeled shoes, day two our feet were so sore and we were so exhausted that it was trainers and jeans with hair pulled back in complete survival mode – all glamour on our behalf gone!

(Ingrid – my fabulous assistant with Lucy and Emily)

Not that I should have bothered on the Saturday, for the dress I wore, the new tiger print wrap-over dress soon found its way onto a model who was supposed to be dressed by another designer but had not fitted the clothes. A call went out that the model had nothing to wear. Eyes turned to me…did I have a spare dress? Only the one I was wearing.  So within seconds, I was left standing in only a bra, pair of tights and boots wondering what on earth I was going to do, whilst the stunning 6ft model strutted about in my dress looking far better in it than I ever would!  Poor old me, ended up wearing my coat for the rest of the day feeling like a bit of a twit!

(Model – Sonnia in my leopard print dress. Sonnia is a size 14 )

Despite my lack of dress and somewhat dodgy attire, I sneaked out into the audience to watch the shows and managed to snap a few pics!

The lovely Emily who is a complete inspiration. Having recovered from a horrendous accident, and given only a tiny chance of ever walking again has beaten the odds to be back on her feet – modelling and in fact horse riding and training again!

(Emily Carenza with a very seductive pose! Emily is a size 14)

The very beautiful and shy Lucy who has just started her modelling career by winning “Miss Anne Summers 2012”  She looked absolutely amazing in one of my new summer evening dresses with its tripled flounced collar, twisted feature on the bustline and full ruffle skirt underneath. Made out of the most sumptuous sea green silk it is divine.

(Lucy Moore – Looking Gorgeous in one of our new evening dresses – " A Twist In Time ")

The stunning Mellisa Laycy who is always so calm throughout the mayhem and tensions of a fashion show – her ability to stay out of the politics and keep a level head is commendable – and believe me, the politics, tensions, and carry on is something you wouldn't believe until experienced, and something I still can't get my head around! One day, when I am an old dear, I will write that book that is always on the verge of spilling out, and I will put it all in – what a laugh it will be!  Mellisa would be one of the heroines, unscathed by the turbulence around her, beautiful and serene.

( Mellissa in the fabulous purple evening dress – Layers of silk dupion and shot organza give the magnificent collar an air of complete opulence.)

I must not finish my blog about the show without telling you about the male models – tall, gorgeous and oh so vain!  Talk about girls taking forever to get ready, these boys took just as long to have their hair spiked, straightened, gelled, sprayed and then spiked again….and as for the make-up! The full works was applied let me tell you. Caked on with eye liner, mascara, blush, lipstick – they were certainly not going to miss out on looking the part. ( I even noticed one handsome fellow having powder applied to his chest to enhance the 6 pack effect!) End result from all the pampering?  Pretty dashing specimens from a distance, but I must admit I would much prefer a man who was happy being a simple caveman and content in his own skin, than layered in so many products!!

The feedback we’ve had from the show has been marvellous. Women always love seeing real women modelling clothes and looking fabulous. Gives us mere mortals that never have been a size zero, nor ever will be, a real boost.

**********

I am often reminded of the fragility of life from talking to my customers who come into the studio for clothes and who chat about their life and events they have experienced. This week a lovely and very remarkable lady came to the studio for a ball gown. The ball was in honour of her very young, fit, healthy daughter who had unexpectactly passed away due to a cardiac arrest. The fundraising ball the family had organised for the charity that creates awareness for the syndrome C.R.Y was inspirational and I would like to wish them all the very, very best at the event – in their endeavours to raise awareness and in keeping their young daughter's memory alive. Hearing what she had been through was heartwrenching.

  It makes me want to say once again – Seize the day girls, forget about all the lumps and bumps and make the most of what you have and who you are – enjoy life – for it is very precious and passes by so rapidly! 

(Emily and Mellisa – Looking Fab!)

 All the stunning official photos of the fashion show will be on our news page in the next few days – keep an eye out!

The Funniest Photoshoot

Ever!

If only I could tell you all about the hilarious goings on with the photoshoot we did with the London Welsh Rugby team. It was completely comical with all sorts of shenanigans and naughty quips and more laughter than you could possibly imagine.

(poses in the locker room!)

However girls, some things I overheard are better left to the imagination, for I am sure I was not meant to hear half of what I heard when it came to those cheeky boys who posed with such composure when Kate, our gorgeous model was in their presence. It was enough to make my ears burn!!

Our gorgeous model Kate was tickled whilst trying to look serious and then with a one, two three, she was thrown into the air!!

The day was freezing cold, drizzly and wet, with quite a wind. Kate had to pretend it was the middle of summer as she posed in soft, silk dresses making the whole effect look 'hot'.  It always makes me laugh when people make comments about the glamour of photoshoots, for they are completely the opposite – especially this one! Imagine being a model, having to change behind a blanket on the edge of a muddy rugby field and emerge looking ultra gorgeous in a summery dress, when the temperature is freezing! The rest of us with frozen hands trying to dress and undress her quickly- changing her complete outfit – underwear, overwear, jewellery and make-up. The whole procedure was difficult, but with lots of shivering and good humour we giggled our way through many changes.

(Kate trying to keep warm between shots – blowing kisses to me I should add – not the boys!)

Needless to say it was lots of fun and we all had a great time capturing some fabulous photos. Check out the ' News ' page on our website for all the pics.

'You Tube' clip of the shoot will be coming soon…so check back in another couple of days!

Clothes in Clerkenwell,

Handbags in Hammersmith,

Treasures in Chelsea,

Vintage Vanity !!

Ladies, as you know I love Vintage…. Vintage dresses, bags, shoes, hats, gloves, lace, buckles, haberdashery and above all – jewellery.

For some reason, I like things that have had a long fascinating history and that have been worn and loved before. They may have seen aspects of life that I will never know about, eras that are now only portrayed in films or read about in books, or they may have been shut in a cupboard long forgotten, overjoyed to now be let loose on a new generation of admirers. These days many new items, be it furniture, clothes or accessories seem to have a somewhat mass produced feel to them – churned out in a hurried fashion, unless of course you are willing to pay a fortune! So the ‘old’ with its more detailed finishings, and careful construction I find very appealing.

And so it is that on the odd Sunday afternoon, when the urge hits for a good old rummage (more difficult in the winter time, as I have to tear myself away from dozing in front of the open fire,) you will find me browsing around in a Vintage Fair in some part of London, often deep in thought as the inspirational ideas come thick and fast, but always enjoying that elusive hunt for a fabulous brooch, or necklace, piece of lace or roll of ribbon that can be used on some amazing design. (Latest great find was an ancient bottle of assorted black covered buttons of all shapes, sizes and fabrics that had been cut off men’s coats – you’ll be surprised where they may turn up – sewn onto some new design!)

Who goes to vintage fairs you are wondering? Let me tell you!!

Lots of young trendy girls go, who, wanting to look different and quirky will pick up the most amazing dresses and accessories and put them together in a way that only the young can do and get away with. I am convinced that vintage fairs are every teenage girl’s dream – so much originality to be had and so many of them searching through the clothes and jewellery.

Celebrities and A list stars are a plenty – also wanting to find some amazing, distinctly different dress for the next event they are attending. I would love to divulge who I have seen rummaging, along with their stylist, for their next red carpet dress but a secret it shall remain!

Designers looking for new ideas from ironically old ideas, along with inspiration and perhaps vintage haberdashery like myself. The most amazing observation I made some time ago was a world-renowned menswear designer buying dainty rolls of lace! I have always wondered what he was going to do with it?

Then there are lots and lots of women enjoying the hunt for something fun, something different and original to add to their wardrobes. Many men and women get dressed up from head to toe in their favourite ‘look’ be it the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s. It is always fun to people watch at vintage fairs!

There are perhaps 7 – 8 venues around London that hold such fairs, but here are my three favourites.

Clerkenwell…….

Held in the loveliest venue of all and my favourite – The Old Finsbury Town Hall. The stalls are varied and full of great stuff, make-up artists and hairstylists are on hand to create retro hair do’s. Smoochy old jazz sets a fabulous atmosphere and afternoon tea can be taken with lovely old-fashioned cakes and sweets all served on beautiful fine china. A real treat to attend, and one I try not to miss. Next event is on the 19^th of February.

www.clerkenwellvintagefashionfair.co.uk

Easy to get to with Farringdon and Angel stations being the closest and about a 10minute walk.

Chelsea.

Held in the Chelsea Town Hall, which is also quite magnificent, the ‘Frock Me Fair’ is also a treat to attend, for the stalls are fabulous with a wonderful selection of both men’s and women’s wear as well as plenty of accessories to tempt you! Next event on the 12^th of February.

www.frockmevintagefashion.com

Once again easy to get to – Sloane Square being the closest station and a 5-minute walk.

Hammersmith ….

The largest of all the fairs, with stallholders coming from far and near to attend; the selection of clothes and accessories is enormous. Not such an atmospheric setting, but good fun none-the–less. Always held on the second Sunday of the month.

http://www.pa-antiques.co.uk/londonvintagefashionfair.html

Closest tube Hammersmith – 5 min walk.

So should you fancy looking for that amazing pair of vintage shoes, or glorious old handbag, why not try a vintage fair – and who knows, you may catch me buying some massive roll of soft salmon pink underwear elastic that I have decided will come in handy for secretly putting inside some of my dresses! (A treasure I did in fact find some months ago and has proved most suitable in a number of our soft silk creations as it is ultra soft and feels lovely on the skin!)

If we meet, whilst both reaching for that sparkly pair of 1920's shoes at the next fair, please say hi!

And you're more than welcome to have them!

Oh and just another little tip to keep in mind. Never pay the asking price for an item at a vintage fair. The stand owners are used to people haggling and asking for lower prices and will generally give 10% off at a minimum. If you happen to love an item that they have had for some time and not been able to sell, they may give it to you for a fraction of the price, or at the end of the day they tend to drop their prices right down to get rid of stuff.

I will always ask if they will take a certain amount for an item, usually a lot lower than I think it is worth and willing to pay, so that the seller can come back with a higher price that you may be happy with, or you can say no to, then drop back down to something inbetween. The big rule is to never look too eager for item, they wont drop the price much at all. It is all a bit of a game.. but necessary to get a good price!

If you have no idea what the true cost for an item should be, ask the seller seriously what their best price is. You may be utterly surprised!

My Apologies….

I receive lots of wonderful feedback from many of my readers who send emails commenting on my blogs. However, occasionally I have received a complaint – usually because I have offended someone with something I have written. I would like to stress, that I would never intentially offend anyone – quite the opposite – my philosophy in life is to always make people feel good about themselves, never to belittle. Unfortunately though when I am writing, words sometimes come out all wrong and I don’t see the offensive side to what I have written until it is pointed out to me – and then it is already in print.

In this case, it would seem that in my last blog I have offended some ladies in Dorset – when I wrote that I did not see any 'fashion' whilst I was in Dorset over the Christmas period. I was not meaning there were no fashionable women in Dorset. In fact, I am sure the whole county is completely fashionable. I merely meant that as I was doing lots of walking through the countryside and along the coast, I only really saw women dressed in walking gear and well wrapped up against the cold! Not clothes that would be considered ‘highly fashionable’ as far as catwalk runways are concerned.

And had you seen my own mismatched walking outfit with no colour co-ordination at all, along with my old and somewhat scruffy but comfy trainers, you would well and truly know I was hardly in a state to make any comments at all about 'walking and hiking fashion'- let alone 'high fashion'!

So my sincere apologies to all the lovely ladies in Dorset.

There's Nothing like a New Year.

2012 is here….

(Fireworks over Big Ben)

I like nothing more than the start of a new year. Fireworks exploding with much gusto, Champagne corks popping, ridiculous New Year resolutions being made that will never be kept, Auld Lang Syne being sung, mainly out of tune due to a little too much drink and an overwhelming feeling of good spirits. It gives me the wonderful feeling that new opportunities, new beginnings and new adventures are all about to start. And this new year is no exception, for I feel full of energy and optimism that it is going to be a fabulous year, difficult in some ways perhaps, but jolly good in other ways !!

Maybe it was all the sea air I breathed in at Christmas time clearing out the cobwebs in my old brain, that has given me so much verve – but whatever it is I feel like bouncing into the new year with much vigour and enthusiasm, ready to face whatever comes my way with vibrance and passion. Sounds rather dangerous!

So let me tell you about all the exciting plans for Carolyn de la Drapiere this year.  Oh but before I do, I must tell you ladies, that this Christmas, I discovered Dorset. Indeed Yes !

(Weymouth harbour)

Dorset at Christmas time was lovely. Our tiny cottage by the sea with its roaring fire and old beams set the scene for a perfect English Christmas. You see, I am still thrilled to have cold Christmases after all the hot humid ones of the southern hemisphere. Cosiness with a log fire, a roast Christmas dinner that doesn't make one break into a sweat whilst cooking it, as it does in the sizzling Australian heat, Christmas lights twinkling from real Christmas trees that are beautiful and perfume the room with a delicate forest scent – divine. All goes to making Christmas a wonderful time for me.

When I was a child growing up in Australia and New Zealand, the Christmas cards at the time were somewhat ludicrously traditional English cards – depicting scenes so far removed from the reality of life as we knew it. They were the stereotypical cards of pretty little thatched roofed cottages surrounded by holly trees. Robins sat decoratively about twittering away, and then of course a light powdering of snow made the whole scene look so magical that it seemed like fairyland. As a child with a very active imagination I always thought that this was how Christmas should really be and that for some reason or another we were missing out on the real thing, what with our hot days and scorching sand at the beach, where we typically spent our Christmas day having a BBQ and swimming!

Likewise was my immense fascination with castles – only read about in story books. These amazing labyrinths of rooms and corridors, seeping with intrigue and romance fuelled my fertile mind and to this day I never tire of looking through one. So imagine my absolute delight, when rounding a corner one day last week whilst on a drive through the Dorset country side, to see a gorgeous old castle sitting majestically amongst the trees and lush green fields dotted with pristine white sheep.

(Lulworth Castle)

My childhood fantasies, of princesses locked in turrets with dashing young men bounding up on white stallions to rescue them and gallop away to some fabulous place, all came back to me!

(I love the symmetry of this castle – wonderful shape, beautiful grounds – think I could live here quite easily! )

But Dorset is not all about castles and fairy tales, oh no, for it is also the home of the brilliant Thomas Hardy, an author who is known for his very realistic tales of hardship and struggle.

(Thomas Hardy – The realist)

His Characters often seem to be in the somewhat overwhelming and indeed overpowering grip of fate and are mostly viewed as tragic – struggling against their passions and social circumstances. No fairy tale endings with Hardy. Quite frankly, I have decided life is too short to read any more of him and have therefore not opened one of his somewhat depressing tomes since teaching, many years ago, 'Far from the Madding Crowd' to a class of somewhat cynical 18 year olds studying the depths of moral responsibility in relation to tragedy. All a bit much I am afraid, and I shall leave him tucked away in Dorchester where he lived and died.

(Max Gate – The home of Thomas Hardy)

Dorset I discovered has fabulous coastal scenery. And it was in the discovery of this, that I also discovered that I am not as hardy as I thought I was. Picture the scene of a lovely little coastal village with a fabulous hill set high above it, and the suggestion being made that the hill should be climbed to see the view from above !

The sun is shining, the day is mild and the idea sounds nothing short of blissful. Imagine however, ten minutes later, being half way up the hill on a particularly steep incline, the weather has turned nasty, sheets of heavy rain pelt down, a strong wind is blowing and the top seems miles away. The hill has turned into a mountain and the whole experience is no longer that much fun. Does one turn and run down, or do you soldier on with the fortitude of Sir Edmund Hilary and get to the top?

Not to be beaten by a bit of rain, heavy as it may be, or head-on winds, I sallied forth only to find myself being overtaken by hardened hikers in full wet weather gear, spiked boots and professional walking sticks! They'd obviously checked out the weather forecast first! Soaked to the skin and somewhat puffed I saw the view, the sun came out and all was jolly again – until one had to face the somewhat slippery and extremely muddy slide back down that intrepid hillside!

Oh ladies, let me tell you, I am one for luxury, but a little mud doesn't hurt on the odd occasion!!

(Lulworth Coast)

So as for the fashion in Dorset….. well, I never really saw any. Just vast amounts of walking gear on people that certainly had their kit together – though I always love checking out the different coats, scarves, gloves and hats that women put together. It was in Lyme Regis that I made the greatest fashion discovery of the week. A hat shop stuffed full of the most fabulous handmade hats imaginable. Owned by a very creative lady, Alison Tutcher, who literally whipped hats up from all sorts of old mismatched pieces of fabric and sweaters – the place was an Aladdin's cave of original pieces. How I love finding people who make completely different things from the norm. It is always inspiring and of course, being the hat lover that I am, I just had to try on lots of those fancy pieces of frippery and succumb to the odd one or two – or three!

(Lyme Regis)

(Pop Goes the Weasel – Hat Shop by the Sea)

And now to the New Year. What does it hold?

Well ladies, look out for some fantastic events coming up. I am planning a fabulous afternoon tea in May with a full jazz band and dazzling fashion show. What fun to sip Prosecco, tap one's foot to a little funky rhythm and watch as ladies strut down the catwalk in glamorous curvy clothes for the summer season. Joining us on the catwalk will be a full lingerie show by a local designer – what fun that will be seeing pretty bras, knickers and basques being sexily shown off by some gorgeous models.

And what would a fashion show be without some handsome men? A range of menswear will also be modelled by some dapper gentleman, just to give a bit of balance to the afternoon's events !

In contrast to the luxury and delicacy of sipping tea from fine china, comes the outrageous and absolutely hilarious photoshoot with the London Welsh Rugby team. Nothing like some big beefy boys and a curvaceous model to make some sparks fly!

You may wonder what on earth I am doing with a rugby team? Well dear readers, my interests are many and varied and watching rugby is another little pastime I rather enjoy…. so why not sponsor a rugby team and have some fun with a photoshoot?

And besides, we all need, as you will agree ladies, a little bit of 'rough' in our lives!

(London Welsh at Old Deer Park)

Another big photoshoot is coming up in February with the amazing Italian photographer Alessandro Capocetti. He is absolutely brilliant and will capture our summer collection beautifully. We are doing the shoot on a catwalk to enable us to video each item as well, so that you will be able to see the clothes from all angles as the model walks and turns and spins ! All very new and exciting.

The list goes on throughout the year and I shall keep you well posted of events and promotions coming up.

But to start the New Year let me introduce the brand new page on the website dedicated to the studio, with lots of new pictures, and an incredible video clip as photographed by Alessandro… the photos are soft, subtle and simply gorgeous!

Check out the tool bar along the top of the website to find the new 'studio'section.

As we have more and more women (and the odd man) coming to the studio to buy clothes and enjoying the experience, we thought it would be fun to give those of you who cannot come to visit us a better 'virtual' tour of where we are and what we all look like. So click on the link below for a full tour of our 'little hidden shop of luxury' for curvy women.

So ladies,

As I swing open the doors to the New Year, I wonder what this year will bring?

I feel like bursting forth, full of enthusiasm and with new aspirations bounce down the stairs of that lovely castle with great ebullience, ready to tackle new challenges and goals head on!

The grand doors to Lulworth Castle – How I would love to swing them open, run down the stairs singing the song that Julie Andrews sings from The sound of Music as she escapes from the Abbey….

'What will the day be like – I wonder…..?'

But I would change it to – 'What will the year be like?'

- I do wonder!

Happy New Year to all my dear readers. I hope it brings much happiness, health and goodness to each and every one of you!!

I will leave you with a couple of silly pics of me trying on hats in Alison's fab shop!!

(I really liked this Cloche design)

(And as for this look…. not too sure!!! But the hat is cute!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

xxxx

(Sunset over the Dorset coast)

Tis the Season to be Jolly……

(Christmas in London – How I love it, for there is always so much to do and the lights and decorations are so pretty!)

Well would you believe it, Christmas is here again? Without any warning it springs upon us with such force and with such a multitude of parties, events, fairs, dinners, open evenings, balls, charity events etcetera etcetera, that I for one am left gasping.

And if you love Christmas like I do, you will be making the most of the festive season and enjoying it all to the max!

(Party invitations…. what fun to be had!)

The whirlwind that Christmas stirs up though, is at times beyond belief and I for one have decided that it should be given a hurricane rating !

This Christmas is definitely a ten.

How ladies, do we ever cope? What with all the merriment:- the mulled wine and dancing, the plotting and planning of parties, the shopping and cooking of festive fare, plus having to work, how do we get through it?

(The fun of decorating the table for the big Christmas dinner!)

I wonder myself, for before Christmas I am aiming to finalise the spring collection for next year which is a mammoth job in itself, plus organise a fashion show and two photo shoots, plus see all the lovely clients who are in and out of the studio everyday. Added to that is fitting in the writing of a hundred or so Christmas cards to post before the cut off date, plus baking the traditional Christmas cake, which should have been done literally months ago, along with the brandy soaked pudding – and as for Christmas shopping and buying a myriad of gifts, then wrapping them beautifully – well now, it is all simply too much for words.

Oh and I forgot to mention all the other things us women do – the decorating of the house, hosting a couple of parties, all the kids activities if we have kids, organising the turkey, cleaning out the spare room for the in-laws who are coming to stay, organising the cat sitting when you go away for a few days, and doing that huge grocery shop that we all feel compelled to do a few days before the 25th of December, as if shops are going to be shut for the whole of January!

The only thing for it of course is to realize that something must give. Either that or hire a 'Christmas Assistant' who does half of it for you ! Now that would be nice – one's own Christmas Elf !

So what does one do, when they have too much to do? Well if you are like me, you ignore it all, procrastinate like crazy and sit down and write a blog about it !

I have to admit to getting rather lazy in the midst of it all. The first thing to give is the bedroom. It currently looks like a bomb site from having six nights of parties and festivities out on the trot – clothes being flung everywhere and left piled on chairs, shoes and bags stacking up in a very impressive pile, hot hair rollers, curling tongs, make up, perfume, necklaces, earrings and other jewellery bits, not to mention lingerie galore – lacy little bits and pieces peeking out from where ever they have landed as I have whipped them off and toppled into bed. Then there's all the other girlish paraphernalia scattered wildy across my old oak dressing table – which incidently I have moved with me from one country to another, so fond of it am I.

Quite frankly the room is a mess… Maybe if I was Tracey Emin I could sell it off as an 'art piece' – for it certainly says something about a busy woman's life.

(Lingerie from my favourite lingerie shop – 'Truelove' – In Barnes – Not the type of luxury to be left scattered about – But then again it is so gorgeous to look at and should not to be left tucked away in drawers either!)

Any man reading this will be horrified, as will my mother. Somehow, men manage to keep it altogether, as do mothers. Men don't attempt to multi task at Christmas time – or at any other time for that matter. And mothers seem to be able manage it all without getting in a mess….

Yes, Christmas is a bit of pressure pot for us ladies…

So here's a few cheery Christmas tips from me!

Have a few Christmas outfits lined up and ready to go, so you're not running around the house the day of the party, despairingly telling whoever will listen, which is usually only the cat or dog – that you simply have 'nothing to wear!'

Make sure you have the really “ Big Events” like the Christmas Ball sorted weeks beforehand. Have the dress hanging and ready to go – organise the entire outfit right down to shoes, accessories and stockings! (Yes, you don't want to be running around a few hours beforehand, trying to find an 8 denier pair of sheers to complete the outfit. You're bound to end up in a pair of old tights with holes somewhere or another feeling like a right lemon! )

(Glorious tights from Truelove Lingerie -Barnes)

I know lots and lots of you are well organised when it comes to your clothes for we have been madly sewing some amazing dresses over the last few months in preparation for special Christmas occasions. I hope you have all been the belle of the ball!!

If you don't have the time to don an apron, get out the mixing bowls and stir up some magical cakes, pies and puddings in the kitchen, don't feel guilty! I sure don't, for if I don't have the time to do all that baking or I simply run out of energy, I buy mine at a local Church Christmas Fair and they're always fabulous – none of us have been rushed off to hospital yet with any strange food poisoning illnesses! And just think, someone else has put a lot of time and effort into baking those scrumptious goodies, so why not feel good about supporting them – and if you're really wicked, (like one woman I know) you can just pretend you whipped them up yourself anyway! Keep your impressive baking skills for other times of the year, when things are not so manic…

(Gingerbread house made by the kids!)

Writing all those Christmas cards – Well, you can do one of two things:- stay up all night with a large glass of your favourite tipple and just get it done and hope that the last fifty are legible. Or you can do the unthinkable and send one of those email Christmas Cards that make a lot of noise as cartoon characters run across your screen. ( I personally am not fond of these, as I like the good old fashioned cards that you can sit on the mantlepiece and look at every time you wander past, knowing that at least once a year, that old school friend from thirty years ago, still remembers you exist. However, I have been known out of desperation to send those email cards – horrors! But much better than someone thinking you have forgotten them altogether!)

(Not hard to work out where I just received this card from… a land down under, where the sun is shining and it is hot- oh to be there for a little of that sunshine! My friends send me these cards to tease me…)

Decorating the house, well now, the best thing to do is to let the kids to do it. And then accept that everything may be a little higgledy piggledy and not quite how you'd have it, but it will do. Don't put the pressure on yourself to run around after they've gone to bed fixing it all up…just go to bed and have a jolly good sleep knowing they think it's fabulous.  Let's face it – Santa's not going to be overly worried if the baubles on the tree are not quite in the right place and things look slightly wonky! I have a very enthusiastic housekeeper that does mine and hey ho, the whole house looks like something between a Walt Disney film and National Lampoon's Christmas !!

Mmmmmm……..

(My amazing, energetic housekeeper Renata caught on camera making a start to the decorating!)

The turkey and groceries – well girls, this just has to be done! I somehow manage to remember to put in an order with the local butcher for one of their supposedly free range, totally organic, happy, healthy turkeys, that have had a good life on some very pretty little farm somewhere in Devon and are totally unaware of what their destiny will be until the last second! And the groceries – well a midnight shop at Sainsburys is the key of course, when no-one else is about and the only people you have to do battle with is the shelf stackers who have the aisles full of boxes, making it impossible to get around. At least they are not in terrible moods and suffering hangovers from the office party that afternoon!

(MMMmmmm… what a turkey-  not sure mine have ever looked as good as this one!)

And what of your partner / husband / boyfriend through all this fuss? The aim of course, is to get him through the whole thing as unflustered as possible! My Advice – don't expect anything major as far as contributions are concerned, unless they are as enthusiastic about Christmas as you are. Men on the whole just don't get it at all. They enjoy the end result, they just don't see the need for the tension it brings, and quite frankly I totally agree. There's no need for us to be perfectionists when it comes to Christmas – relax, enjoy it, and laugh your way through a festive time!

(A happy chappy!)

So get out those party frocks, the impossibly high heels you've had languishing in the back of the cupboard and head off to the next festive fun filled event knowing that there are never going to be any Oscars given out for the 'Perfect Christmas Organiser / House Decorator / Christmas Card Writer / Turkey Cooker '. Your family and friends would much rather remember you for the fun you had and your infectious laugh, than your grumpy old frown when things didn't quite go to plan!

Have a fabulous, fun filled Christmas all my dear readers and catch up in the New Year!!

xxxxx

p.s…. I'm off to clean up the mess in the bedroom which will make my husband very happy!: )

Postscript added some days later…..

p.s.s……Got out of the big bedroom clean up by an evening visit to 'Winter Wonderland' in Hyde Park  -  Much more fun !!

( The view across the Serpentine- so pretty on a clear moonlit night!)

But you will be relieved to know that it has now been done and I am starting the new week off with a spotless bedroom! All ready for another mess to brew!!

   MERRY CHRISTMAS

xxxxx

Fashion Show Fun

What a fabulous, fun filled night we had at the Models of Diversity, Curves in Couture fashion Show. It was a night of high drama with plenty of tension, loads of stress, nerves galore on behalf of most of the people involved, but there was also much giggling and laughter by the models backstage as they whipped clothes on and off in the tiniest of spaces, lots of chatter and good humour between the designers as we sat and waited for the show to start, and hopefully lots of enjoyment on behalf of the audience who clapped and cheered their way through a fantastic show.

So what was it all about?

The show was organised by the very inspirational Angel Sinclair who founded and runs a non profit organisation called “Models of Diversity”. The group advocates diversity amongst models in terms of race, age, size, shape, abilities etc. In conjunction with the Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone, and the British Fashion Council the show was put together to change the face of fashion and modelling.

(One of the celebrities in attendance, the curvaceous American Model Velvet D'Amour )

I have to say I was rather excited to be asked to take part and to dress a group of models for the show. Having some of the best known and most beautiful plus size models from all over the world was utterly amazing. And being asked to make a show stopping piece for one of the top American models, Lizzie Miller, was really thrilling. You may remember Lizzie appeared in all our English newspapers last year as the model who dared to pose naked with an unairbrushed photo of herself showing a roll of tummy fat. The world gasped – how did she dare have the courage to do it? Lizzie is stunningly beautiful and showed the world what it is like to be a woman proud of who you are and what you are – and to get on with life as you are!

(Lizzie in one of my pieces at the fashion show)

I had great fun designing a soft slinky and very sexy opulent red silk dress for her that showed her curves off to perfection. Cut cleverly on the bias to drape perfectly over her hips, the dress flowed seductively as she walked.

Simple yet elegant.

The back did up with a delicate row of 50 tiny little covered buttons, with small tucks over her bottom to accentuate her great shape. The dress suited her perfectly, and as she walked down the catwalk magnificently I could not have been more proud of her or the dress!! ( I should add that I only met her the day before the show, so it was all slightly nervewracking to know whether or not it would fit her well, and whether it would indeed suit her!)

Lizzie in " The Red Dress! "

All the models were great fun. There is always much hilarity amongst piles of women getting ready for an event and a fashion show is no different. Unfortunately I have very few pics of backstage as it was all too manic to take many. But there was tonnes of gossip flying about, panic as shoes and pieces of jewellery were lost and then found, vast amounts of preening of course and pushing and heaving to look into an inadequate number of mirrors.

(The hairdressing headquarters – in a very squashy corridor !)

When you have over 20 of the most stunning girls together in one room there is bound to be an air of competition amongst them.. checking each other out and looking at what clothes each other is wearing. Pamela Stephenson made the comment whilst presenting the show, that she had not been in a room with so many magnificent sets of breasts, ever before – which I have to say is quite true as they were certainly everywhere one turned!!!! And for that matter there seemed to be a never ending amount of long fabulous legs about also, all very enviable I have to say, for us mere mortals!!

(Backstage – Models – Lizzie,Chloe,Melissa and Toccara)

The photos of myself with the gorgeous Lizzie and Phillipa walking down the catwalk have not ceased to make me giggle for I was gripping onto them ever so tightly. You see I had this terrible fear of toppling over, for I had been regaled with their tales of 'soft spots'to watch out for on the catwalk, not to mention slippery patches! To soften the fear, I had the soles of my shoes 'hairsprayed' to make them a little more sticky! Still, I hung unto them for dear life!

( I also laugh at my shortness, for even with 4 inch heels taking me to around 5'10 I still look like a dwarf! )

I was lucky to have a fabulous team of supporters however to cheer me along! My Dad being my number one fan!!!

(Though I did get a number of reports that my Dad was caught chatting up all the gorgeous models and celebrities out the back!)

( Dad and Me !)

Jodie, my totally and utterly amazing assistant, was on hand and worked tirelessly out the back getting the models dressed in the most awkward of circumstances. She was literally squeezed into a corridor no wider than a metre where she expertly and delicately had to slip their dresses on and off. How Jodie managed to maintain any sense of organisation in such a space was beyond me! But she did it remarkably well and the girls came out onto the catwalk looking resplendent.

( Model- Danielle with Jodie, me and model Phillipa – Backstage afterwards )

Also part of my fabulous team present were Darina and Ingrid who made the magnificent red dress and my super duper assistant Renata with whom I would not survive without !

( Darina, Ingrid and Renata )

It was fabulous to chat with the other designers – The lovely Anna Scholz, seen here with Constance Williams who is wearing one of my one off dresses.

 (Anna Scholz and Constance Williams)

And the gorgeous Jill Alexander who was great to chat with also and have a laugh with. We couldn't help commenting on the fact that the three of us were all blonde curvaceous babes!!

( Jill Alexander – designer from California )

A fab after party wrapped the night up with a much needed drink – lots of dancing and more pics of the models…only this time they were taking the photos of themselves and each other!!! Have to say it did make me laugh, for I would have thought that by then they would have had enough of flashing bulbs!!

(Models being mad )

All great fun. A big thank you to all who made it happen!

( And the show ends!)

For all the pics please check out the home page of the website and the newspage.

Oh for the love of Tango!

Well girls…. I think I have found another 'gap' in the market!

There is simply no where to buy dresses to tango in.

Or as I have been told by many of my customers – to jive in, waltz in, or for that matter do the salsa in!

Maybe it is time I got to and put my creative juices into good use and designed some sexy little frocks that we can all spend many a happy night whirling around dance floors in. A real challenge I must say for many different dynamics come into play – like skirts that allow plenty of leg movement, but are still somewhat modest.

(A high leg kick in the tango)

But why specifically the tango?

Well, I will tell you another of my secret passions -

The Traditional Argentine Tango.

How I love learning it, tough as it is, and how I enjoy trying to get my feet around all those complex moves. The more I learn, the harder it seems to get, for the complexity is never ending.

Let me tell you a little more.

Years ago, on a very hot, sultry evening whilst in Buenos Aires, myself and my partner wandered past an old hall in San Telmo and happened to notice a small group of people learning the tango, sneaking in we sat and watched and I became inspired.

The scene was so reminiscent of the 1920's that it has stayed firmly in my mind. Five couples twirling around the floor to the traditional and sensual tango music played on a very dodgy gramophone player that kept jumping and missing segments of the songs. An incredibly wobbly, wooden fan moved lethargically around overhead, creating very little breeze, but perhaps psychologically helping to stave off the sweat. And to complete the picture, a skinny black cat sat on the sidelines watching and every now and again would nonchalantly meander through the dancers to the other side of the room – obviously wanting a better view of the dancing! I vowed one day to learn it myself… not because of the cat – I hasten to add – but for the intensity and passion that the dance evokes.

But as things go, one forgets and life gets busy, until last year when a friend happened to mention wanting to learn it. The desire came back and the search for suitable classes began.

And so it is, that every Monday evening, come rain, hail or shine, I venture into an old hall situated in the basement of a very unsuspecting building in West London for a good few solid hours of tango tuition. The atmosphere way down under the ground has the feel of an old London bomb shelter, with a somewhat musty, stale smell. No noise from the outside world invades. No fresh air seems to get down there either, nor for that matter mobile connection. With old cracked mirrors lining one wall and a slightly wonky wooden floor we really are cut off from the outside world. Argentina it is not… underground London it is.

What on earth, you are wondering, would inspire anyone to venture into such a situation?

The first time I traversed those bleak cement stairs way down into that basement, I did wonder myself. But when emerging some hours later like a damp rat from a sewer into the late evening air, and gasping for some 'freshness', I knew why. The tango is addictive.

London is alive with Traditional Tango Venues, and once one gets good enough to venture out of the classroom and into the dance halls that pepper London, the real tango dancing begins, as does the fun.

Or as in my case, the pain.

For as the saying goes – Pride Comes Before A Fall – as I rightly found out!

Last Friday night I ventured, with many of my tango class mates, to Negracha – a fabulous venue for Tango lovers.

Thinking I was doing rather well dancing my way around the crowded room with my very capable partner, I somehow scraped the thin heel of one of my shoes across my other ankle whilst attempting a tricky crossover move. Thinking nothing of it I kept dancing for a good few songs, before tiring and collapsing at one of the little candle lit tables that edge the dance floor.

On sitting down, I had a strange sensation of dampness running down my foot and into my shoe. Looking down, I discovered I had slashed my ankle badly from one side to the other with the sharp heel from the other shoe, causing a deep cut that did not look like it was ever going to stop bleeding.

Very, very uncool to sustain such an injury..for only an amateur would do such an ungainly thing!!!

And how utterly embarrassing.

So as the clock struck 1am, I did a Cinderella disappearance into the darkness of the night hoping no-one would see my cut ankle as I fled!

And yes, I did take both my dance shoes with me – one was not left on the stairs for Prince Charming to come and find me!!

( the killer heels!)

I recently read a fabulous article by Pamela Stephenson, who wowed the judges and the public last year on Strictly Come Dancing. So enamoured of the Argentine Tango was she, that earlier this year she went to Argentina for lessons with some old masters in the art. Speaking of the tango, Pamela stated that when dancing it well, it was the equivalent to seeing through a window into the soul of your partner, for the very movements and steps are so heartfelt and raw, and so close is one to their partner, that their innermost feelings are felt transferring through into your body.

Sounds truly fabulous.

Though I have an awfully long way to go before I can make such sentiments. I hate to disappoint but all I am feeling this morning is lots of aches and pains from last night's exertions, attempting to perfect the many twists and turns that make up so much of the dance. (Without slashing ones ankle in the process!)

Not quite the romantic notion one has of the tango… but I will get there one day I hope!!

But enough waffling ladies – it is time I thought of designing some slinky little dance frocks that we are all so desperately needing. As mentioned earlier, I know so many of you are enthusiasts of many forms of dancing and have mentioned to me the need to find dresses to move with the groove in!

Keep those shoes twirling and whirling and any ideas for dresses will be greatly appreciated!

( My favourite dance shoes -slinky red satin!)

A little tango music to end with ….

(Click on the link below)

Argentine Tango

And an example of traditional Milonga dancing…

(click on the link below)

Tradional Milonga Dance

A Photoshoot….

with a twist of drama!

 Kate, Maddy and Krissy – our three glamorous models

What do you get when you have a country hotel, three beautiful models, a photographer and camera crew, a make up artist, hair stylist, dressers and me?

Well, you get a mystery of course !

A mystery of the most intriguing proportions.

Last week we, as in all of the above, embarked on an adventure that turned out to be far more exciting – or not as the case may be – than any of us bargained for.

In high spirits we set off for our winter photo shoot at a gorgeous country hotel in the middle of the Kent country side. Little did we know that we were landing in a slightly   'Fawlty Towers' like establishment with a butler named Manual (though ours was tall and thin), a barman named Enzo, who promptly fell in love with Kate – our new blonde model, plus an assortment of strange guests and odd characters lurking around the library and drawing room and the mysterious circumstances of a death that brought our photo shoot to a halt. Curtains were drawn, police circulated and an eerie silence fell upon the place.

A mystery had enveloped us!

Shut in a boardroom that we had set up as our 'dressing room' and 'make-up head quarters' we wondered what was going on around us.

Left in our chaotic room piled full of clothes, shoes, accessories, make-up and hair equipment, we could only ponder and guess at the drama unfolding within the hotel.

Mmmmm………

I will leave you with the mystery!!

(Though rumours were rife that an eighty five year old man on his honeymoon had collapsed with excitement !)

The photo shoot was a great success and the pictures are gorgeous! Thanks to all the fabulous team.

Kerry our brilliant photographer snapped on the old wooden bridge surrounded by water lillies. It was such a beautiful location!

Here is a little sneak preview of some of the new season's dresses and outfits and an introduction to our three fabulous models.

Krissy

The gorgeous Krissy who is always so graceful and elegant… her serenity and poise is second to none. Her cool, calm manner keeps us all composed and on track – well most of the time!

Krissy in a Royal Blue Kimono top.

Krissy looking gorgeous in one of our new jackets.

The funny, crazy Krissy mucking about !

And the long process of hair and make up!

Madeleine

The beautiful Madeleine attributes her fabulous legs to her mother's genes. So thanks Brenda for giving Maddy her legs!

Maddy's mad sense of humour had us laughing continuously and her desire to get married is an ongoing saga that has kept us intrigued for three photoshoots now…. Really, we all think it is time her darling fireman proposed !

Maddy in the regal ruby Kimono top.

And in luscious royal blue….

Maddy and Lorraine having a laugh – which was usually all the time!!

Kate

And the stunning Kate – with the two adorable dimples. Kate joined us for the first time and looked amazing in everything we put on her.

Kate and her cheeky dimples.

In Emerald green with our new luxurious velvet skirt.

Kate with her serious look – in the blue embroidered swing jacket.

With three fiesty women all dressed up having to be serious for hours on end in front of a camera,  and their bossy designer running around trying to make sure they are posing to advantage and that the location is perfect for each outfit, fits of giggles and hilarity rapidly became the hallmark of the days. There was continuous laughter – our photoshoots are always great fun.

This is really what most of the shoot is like – no-one can keep a straight face!

The jokes start – usually with Madeleine…...

Yes, she really is poking out her tongue at the photographer!

And it goes from bad to worse….. pulling faces, tongues out, stupid smiles…it's a wonder we got anything serious out of these girls!

And then the hysterics take over…and literally none of them can be serious any longer……

I have to add a photo here of the barman, who needed the aid of a box so vertically challenged was he, to raise his eye level above that of Kate's chest. All those longing looks he was giving her had us in stitches…..

And ladies – just so that you know it is not all glamour and that you too can look like this – here is a before shot!

Kate, Krissy, Jodie and Maddy… indulging in lunch! – Yes, our models eat !

I will leave you with my favourite photograph from the entire photoshoot.

Madeleine in our sumptuous black lace dress covered with tiny sequins – simply divine !

The full winter range of clothes will be available on line soon…….

Keep an eye out for the most mouthwatering collection yet !