COS Grandad-Collar Shirt in White | Levi’s (vintage) 501 Jeans | PB 0110 AB 1 in Natural Leather* | Hanishken Raffia Slipper Shoes | Ace & Tate Heather Sunglasses in Latte* | Cate & Nelson No. 165 Watch* | Merci Maman Personalised Flat Bangle in Gold* | Matthew Calvin Thin Meteorite Ring in Gold* | 88&Cloudless Joy Mini-Star Necklace in Solid 9ct Gold*
There’s not much in my wardrobe that beats a really good white shirt for effortless style but I know from experience that finding a good one isn’t always that straightforward. COS has been my first port of call for a couple of years now. Each season you can rely on them to make a few classic styles, as well as offering something a bit more edgy. For the summer I think a classic white grandad-collar shirt is a good option. I’ve found the longer length of this one works well with my bump. I’ve also gone up a size from my usual, which means it also fits my ever expanding chest. As I quite like an oversized style anyway I’ll still be wearing it long after the bump, as long as I can get away with wearing white (something tells me I won’t). It’s made from a nice crisp cotton poplin which I’ve found looks best if I iron it whilst it’s still damp. The curved hem is a classic detail which makes it more versatile to wear, allowing you to wear it tucked in or tied, as well as untucked, like I have.
Whilst I was away in Croatia I received an exciting invitation, COS and The Gentlewoman were getting together for an architectural tour of London entitled Glimpses of The Future, and they had invited me to go with them. Years ago I had considered studying architecture but in the end chose design and art direction; I’ve never lost my interest in architecture though. (On a side note: For those of you that are leaving school and still don’t know what you want to do, don’t worry, give it time and go experience as much as you can.)
We were lucky to have the very knowledgeable, lecturer, Joe Kerr as our guide for the day. He led us around London on an old 1965 Routemaster bus, divulging the history of some of the capital’s most iconic housing projects. All were conceived by architects that were looking to create a better future and living experience for its inhabitants, hence the title of the tour, Glimpses of The Future.
The Boundary Estate, Boundary Street, London E2
Architect(s): London County Council Architects Completed: 1900
A collection of 23 housing blocks built in the Arts & Crafts style. It was designed to replace one of the worst slums in London (one in four children died before their first birthday) but sadly most of those displaced by the earliest social housing scheme didn’t get to live there, as it was considered too good for them and that they would lack the motivation to work living in such wonderful surroundings. William Morris, a forerunner in the Arts & Crafts movement, believed that beauty should be accessible to all. In the end only ten of the slum’s over five and a half thousand tenants were housed in The Boundary Estate. It was built to accommodate 5,524 people in 1,069 tenements, each with two or three bedrooms. In the centre of the estate is Arnold Circus, a large mound formed from the earth leftover from excavating the foundations for the site. On it sits a beautiful Japanese-inspired bandstand. Many of the buildings (including the bandstand) are Grade II listed.
Bevin Court, Cruikshank St, London WC1
Architect(s): Berthold Lubetkin Completed: 1954
Moving towards Modernism (my favourite era for architecture) we stopped to take a look at Bevin Court, built post-war on the bomb site of Holford Square. Originally it was proposed to call the building Lenin Court after the revolutionary who had lived in a building on the site from 1902-3, while in exile from Russia. There was already a memorial (designed by Lubetkin) on the site which was to be incorporated into the build but British Fascists repeatedly vandalised it. With the Cold War, Britain’s relations with Russia waned and it was decided by Finsbury Council that the memorial was not appropriate and suggested a change of name. The memorial was buried in the foundations of the staircase and the building was renamed Bevin Court after Britain’s anti-communist foreign secretary Ernest Bevin. The Constructivist communal staircase is the building’s showpiece, with each spiral upwards it offers different views of the city.
Royal College of Physicians, St. Andrews Place, London NW1
Architect(s): Sir Denys Lasdun Completed: 1964
Architect Sir Denys Lasdun (who also designed the Royal National Theatre) was asked by the Royal College of Physicians to design a new building for them that would blend in to its surroundings. It sits on the edge of Regent’s Park surrounded by the Regency architecture of John Nash, though subtle I’m not sure it exactly blends in. The Grade I listed Brutalist building is one of the more attractive of its era, with its mosaic-clad concrete boxes and curved blue engineered brick wall which conceals a peaceful medicinal garden. The influence of Le Corbusier can be seen in the way the upper level appears to float, this was made possible with some very clever engineering. Lasdun observed the way the college’s previous building was used and designed the new college to work well for its needs, then and well into the future.
Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate
Architect(s): Neave Brown, Camden Council’s Architects Department Completed: 1978
Famously known as the longest housing terrace in London, the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate in Camden is quite an unusual sight. It is made up of three parallel crescent-shaped blocks with a public park between two of the blocks. On the one side, it resembles a football stadium, deflecting the noise of the West Coast Main Line train tracks that run alongside it. From the other, it’s a quiet pedestrianised residential street. The unpainted reinforced concrete was built on-site using wooden forms, you can still see the board marks if you look closely. Each of the 520 two-storey maisonettes, built in a ziggurat format, have a private garden or balcony, meaning all that live here have some private outside space, unlike the tall tower blocks nearby.
Isokon Building, Lawn Road, NW3
Architect(s): Wells Coates Completed: 1934
Our final stop, and my favourite of the tour, was the Isokon building in Hampstead. Built for Molly and Jack Pritchard, it’s an elegant concrete block of 36 apartments; each with a living room, kitchenette, built-in storage, facilities for a bed and a place to wash. They were originally serviced flats with the option of included meals, shoe cleaning and bed making. Its inhabitants have included Bauhaus émigrés Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, and László Moholy-Nagy; architects Egon Riss and Arthur Korn; and writer Agatha Christie. It was Breuer who designed much of the bent ply Isokon Furniture collection. Moholy-Nagy designed the identity for Isokon and Riss designed the Isokon Donkey Mark I. It became quite a hub for intellectual life in North London. In 1972 the building was sold to Camden London Borough Council and gradually deteriorated until the 1990s when it was completely abandoned. In 2003 Avanti Architects were employed by Notting Hill Housing Association to sympathetically refurbish the building. It is now Grade I listed and its current inhabitants include Magnus Englund, one of the founders of Skandium.
If you are interested in taking part in The Gentlewoman events sign-up to The Gentlewoman Club. There’s a guide for the London tour we took in the latest issue of The Gentlewoman.
Mango Committed Collection Linen-Blend Midi Dress | ME+EM 2-in-1 City Bag in Khaki* | COS Leather Strap Heels in Black (old) | Ace & Tate Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black* | Mango Mixed Pieces Earrings | Merci Maman Personalised Flat Bangle in Gold* | Felice Dahl Första Ring in Gold* | Littionary 14k Tiny Yellow Gold Dot Stud Earrings | Hopscotch Small Gold Hoops
I very rarely feature fast fashion brands these days, as I know there’s a better way to do things. When I discovered Mango’s Committed Collection I wanted to show my support. Fast fashion brands are not going to be able to change their ways overnight but testing the waters with sustainable collections is a good start. And, if we support them by buying from these collections we encourage them to take bigger steps forward and change the industry for the better.
The Mango Committed Collection is manufactured in factories in Portugal, Turkey and Morocco. It’s been made with environmentally-friendly organic and recycled cotton, recycled polyester and Tencel. They’ve used environmentally-friendly inks to dye the fabrics.
“The sustainable fabrics used for this collection such as organic cotton and recycled polyester have international certificates, such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OCS (Organic Cotton Standard) or GRS (Global Recycled Standard) among others. Our Corporate Social Responsibility department has been working closely with the design team to ensure that the results meet the level of quality and sustainability planned for this collection.” Guillermo Corominas, Communications Director
COS recently released a very special collection to celebrate their tenth year – 10, a limited collection of ten pieces for women, men and children. The pattern-cutters and designers worked together to create each item with minimum waste, using the full width of the fabric, the pattern pieces of each garment have been cut so that they fit together like a puzzle. COS Creative Director Karin Gustafsson said of the collection:
“The design team took the opportunity to play and experiment in the pattern-cutting process, re-imagining the methods behind the design. The pattern-cutters and designers worked in parallel, referencing historical techniques that maximised the use of materials. As we look to the future we will continue to focus on the efficient use of fabrics and forward-thinking techniques.”
I think it’s wonderful that COS are focusing on creating minimum waste products, this has less of an impact on the environment but also helps to change the way the industry operates by showing that it is possible and encourages other brands to meet their standards. The more brands that commit to sustainable practices the better the industry will become and the less we (as consumers) will have to worry about the impact of our purchases on the people and world around us.
This post was created in collaboration with Houseology.
I used the bank holiday weekend to do some DIY in the house; a little project I’d been planning for a while, to convert a pendant lamp into a bedside lamp. I can’t take the credit for the idea though, like most of my projects it was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest.
I’ve put together a step-by-step guide in case anyone else would like to have a go. At the end of the post there are links to everything you need.
Step 1
Thread the cable through the EU plug so that the two wires extend just beyond the casing. Loosen the two screws in the small transparent plate and thread the the ends of the wire into the little holes. Tighten the screws to hold the wires securely.
Step 2
Then, fix the plate into the case of the plug with the central screw.
Step 3
Unscrew the central screw in the UK plug and flip it open. Secure the EU plug inside the two metal clips and then re-close the plug and screw shut.
(If you don’t plan to fit a switch, skip to step 7)
Step 4
Measure a meter along the cable from the plug and using wire cutters or a Stanley knife cut the cable in two. Carefully cut through the grey outer tube of the cable on each of the newly cut ends, about 2.5cm from the end. And then, do the same to each of the revealed wires about 0.75cm from the ends.
Step 5
Remove the cover of the switch, loosen the screws at each end and thread the wires of the cable into each hole as per the photo below. Then, tighten the screws to secure them in place. Replace the cover.
Step 6
Fit the bulb (using a cloth so you don’t get any fingerprints on the glass) and test it all works. Then, remove the bulb.
Step 7
Using a spirit level to make sure the metal hook is straight, mark the two holes for the screws on the wall where you want the gym hook to go. Drill two holes (I used a No. 6 drill bit), fit the rawl plugs that come with the hook and screw the metal hook in place.
Step 8
Fit the the gym hook onto the metal hook and fix in place with the small screw, using the allen key provided.
Step 9
Wrap the cable through the gym hook a number of times and fit the bulb once more.
Muuto E27 Pendant Lamp in Grey* | Muuto Ceiling Cap Single Canopy For E27 Pendant* | COS x HAY Large Gym Hook in Natural | B&Q 1-Way Single White Switch
These gorgeous images are from the COS SS17 womenswear campaign. They were shot be photographer Zoë Ghertner (who has previously shot for Hermès) in New York’s West Chelsea art district. The clothes in their simple palette of sage and olive green, copper, denim, dark blue, white and cream, and voluminous silhouettes fit the location so well, complimenting the neutral backgrounds. The monochrome outfits, styled by Jonanthan Kaye, give each a really strong presence (he has also styled some of the cover stories for The Gentlewoman). The soft light of the early morning gives a freshness to the images and a beautiful glow to model Charlee Fraser’s luminous skin.
COS Men’s Wool & Yak Sweater in Dark Grey | Side Party Hackney Buttoned Corduroy Skirt in Grey Blue* | Comme des Garçons PLAY Stripe Long-sleeve T-shirt (always low in stock online, I got mine at Dover Street Market) | Heist The Thirty Tights in Jet Black* | Jaeger Mini Oxford Cross-Body Bucket Bag in Black* | Woman by Common Projects Original Achilles Low Trainers in White | Saint James Mariner’s Cap in Navy | Kristen Elspeth Blade Ring, Axe Ring & Spear Ring* | Sophie Wallgren Marta Bracelet in Gold* (now closed) | Timex Weekender Fairfield Watch in Khaki Green Leather*
Even though I have quite a few sweaters of my own I’m always want to borrow Dan’s. There’s something so wonderful about the feel of an oversized sweater, especially when it’s not yours. However, it’s rare that I actually do borrow his though, as his collection is a lot smaller than mine and I feel pretty bad for taking them away from him.
I spotted this charcoal grey sweater in the men’s section of COS a few weeks ago and have been living in it, ever since. It’s super soft (a mix of wool and yak), very comfortable and just the right size that it doesn’t swamp me. I’ve been able to wear it with everything.
This year I’m focused on curating my perfect wardrobe. There’s so much I need to sell or give to charity, pieces that don’t bring me joy (I’m in a Marie Kondo frame of mind) and that have lingered too long in my wardrobe. I want to open my wardrobe and have the problem of not knowing what to wear because I want to wear it all. This last year I’ve spent more money on items I want to wear until the day they fall apart, like this Comme des Garçons PLAY t-shirt (just seen) and perfect white leather trainers by Common Projects. (If you’re planning to buy the t-shirt go up a size and down at least one size for the trainers.)
If you’re looking for a great pair of tights I cannot recommend Heist enough. Not only do they have the coolest branding and packaging but they are also the most comfortable tights I’ve ever worn. This is due to their unique seamless 3D knitted design and a waistband made using a luxury sportswear technique that means it doesn’t dig in or roll-up. Kudos to Heist, they really have nailed it.
Comme Des Garçons Play Long-Sleeve Stripe T-Shirt | COS Black Mohair & Wool Cardigan | Cheap Monday Thrift Destroyed Boyfriend Jeans (brand since closed) | Adidas Originals Stan Smith Trainers c/o MonShowroom* | CF Concept Tusk Necklace in Gold | Grey Fedora (found on Portobello Road) | Vintage Black Leather Belt (found on eBay)
The Comme Des Garçons Play collection is brilliant; stripe t-shirts and shirts, plain white tees, cute cardigans and jumpers, and (their collaboration with Converse) Chuck Taylor plimsolls, all embellished with the iconic Play heart. I bought my stripe t-shirt in Paris from the Comme Des Garçons Play shop in Le Marais, whilst there for Paris Fashion Week last October. It was on my wish list for ages and I’m so glad I have one of my own at last. Be warned, they come up small in size, so go one up from your usual size; I was lucky that the girls in the store warned me. I’ve kept the styling simple and casual for this look but it would look equally cool with a suit.
I’ve also broken out some new white kicks! My old Stan Smiths were starting to look a bit grubby. Ahhh, I love a fresh pair of trainers.
Pyrus Anoha Salt broderie anglais top | One Teaspoon Bandit denim shorts in Hendrix | Jil SanderWayfarer sunglasses in Havana brown | Havaianas Slim flip flop in black
Paige Grant denim shorts | Paige Sammy blouse in Alexandria
Ganni stripe bag | Panama | Hammam towel (bought in Istanbul) | Kite Martino sunglasses | Ultrasun Super Sensitive Family Formula SPF30 sunscreen | Dermalogica UltraCalming Ultra Sensitive Tint SPF30 | Happy Plugs Deluxe Edition gold earbuds | Remix Magazine
You might remember that I included Antigua in my Travel Bucket List in January, well we made it and wow, it was amazing. It’s such a beautiful island and the people there are so kind and friendly. As you might expect from a Caribbean island, the vibe is super relaxed and this hits you straightaway. I’ve even brought a little back with me, driving and walking around yesterday I realised I wasn’t in a hurry like I usually am in London; I’m not sure how long this will last but let’s see.
We spent the first couple of days partying with our friends in the lead up to their wedding and then we partied some more to celebrate. The wedding was held at The Carlisle Bay, a luxury resort with tasteful decor, lush surroundings and a gentle breeze off the sea. I was teary eyed throughout the ceremony (I’m awful for this at my friends’ weddings) but pulled myself together soon afterwards. The tipple of the night was a delicious old fashioned rum punch which helped us dance the night away, barefoot in the sand. It was a wedding I won’t forget anytime soon.
Shirley Heights the night after the wedding was worth the crazy 45 minute taxi ride across the island (be warned taxi drivers either drive very slowly or very fast along the hole-ridden roads). We were welcomed with stunning views, steel drums and the smell of the most incredible barbeque.
We stayed at the Cocobay Resort, in a beautiful setting on a small cliff overlooking the sea; surrounded by cacti, banana plants and palms. Our little waterfront cottage had everything we needed, including an outside bath, hammock and plunge pool. Pelicans flew past our balcony just a few metres away and the bright blue sea spread-out wide in front of us.
Both Dan and I are foodies (he’s a classically trained chef) so we insisted on trying a few local delicacies, conch and dumplings, both of which could be found a short walk along the beach from our resort. The conch came in the form of fritters which were served with a sweet tamarind sauce at a beach restaurant called The Nest, they were so good; they also served a mean coconut shrimp. We sampled dumplings (by special request) at Dennis Restaurant. They were served with salt fish and pickled coleslaw; I enjoyed them but wouldn’t be in a hurry to have them again. Whilst we’re talking about food, Sheer Rocks is a must, their coconut fish stew was heavenly.
All photos were taken with my new Olympus PEN E-PL7 which was given to me by Fashiolista and Olympus. I’m genuinely in love with this camera, it’s been so easy to pick up and use. If you’re a blogger, I’d recommend it.
