It’s Coming…
Are you ready? Tick Tock… one never is right, even us Virgos struggle at Christmas. Once again the lists are everywhere and I contemplating house décor in a limited time-poor, slightly frazzled way. After Conran at Christmas, why bother?
Think I might just move in, Surely my Sorrels could cope with those snow levels and join the party. I love this, maybe it’s a childhood of ‘Walking in the Air’, a childhood which also included Mummy’s Christmas List, an annual attempt to steer Dad in the right direction for her present, destined to annual failure, until I came of age and could keep him out of deep snow. Every year top spot …. ‘a large diamond ring’ … you know the one, right on target.
& every year a ‘National Trust’ mug to finish. So for all Mum’s out there, here comes mine… because as we know the best family traditions get handed down through the generations. Ho ho ho.
THE JEWELS…. there’s a lot of beautiful things out there. I am very taken with wunderkammer jeweller Bibi Van Der Velden :
This cloud piece is carved from 40,000 year old woolly mammoth tusk discovered under the permafrost in Siberia, inlaid with 18ct gold and precious stones, the collection also features pre-historic and mythic animals . 
Chinoiserie dragon claw ring….
They are whimsical, beautiful and enchanted… Dolce meets Valentino via Siberia, future heirlooms, Bibi’s CV and track record mark her out as one to watch and if possible, collect, Net a Porter facilitates.
and Annoushka delivers from lucky amulets to these ‘frost’ earrings:
Baby It’s cold out there, and as all girl’s know, the most heart-warming presents come in small boxes … What about the boxes to keep jewellery in? decorative statements in themselves, Ercalano‘s modern marquetry pieces are my favourite, Barneys stock them which is basically a US ‘Royal Warrant’. Big Tick.
From Bond St Smythson to Penhaligons, to High St Anthropologie and Accessorise there are lovely options and I am still fantasising about a vintage leather one lined in emerald velvet I saw at Delphi Antiques.
Jewellery fantasies aside, let’s get practical… I love the country and now we’re moving back my daughter keeps reminding me: Mummy, no more black! remember… country. Well those nice people at Browns Fashion know that it rains a lot in the West Country and have the perfect label: Frauenschuh… I kid you not. She’s from Klosters, Austria and makes the chicest Alpine meets Valley-life outerwear:
From the parka with a choice of hoods to ‘knock-Moncler-dead’ ski-wear she’s seriously good. To complete the look…I want to make like Kate (and my Dad) with Le Chameau leather lined boots… I’d never buy them for myself, but I’d love them once I got them, non?
Kate on Coolspotter.com
Having the woodland-curio crush that I do – let’s get back to fantasy land. I loved Valentino and Dolce et Gabbana’s fairytale collections this winter… remember the D and G campaign?
that dress….
In a final style-seal of approval, their Christmas tree at Claridges distinctly improves Euro relations and is a W1 place of pilgrimage, I made the trip.
In a more realistic world should we just talk shoes and scarves? shoes are basically sold out … but here’s dreaming of size 38.5.
Or Valentino’s ‘Rome’ menagerie scarf still caged in Liberty’s scarf department.
Which brings me to animals, what’s your favourite? I love anything feline, whippet or owlish.
Jonathon Adler has a great line in retro owls which would look right at home with my parliament*.
John Derian’s hip découpage is on a lot of lists, I am rather taken with our British Bridie Hall, ‘half’ of cult store Pentreath and Hall, which has pepped up Trad-Brit style no end.
These chic trays and plates are great layered up, teasing you to reveal the full design beneath. While there … why not pick up a cushion, their collaboration with Brit charity Fine Cell Work has produced covetable modern geometric designs in colour palettes which lead you into new decorative adventures:
Once comfortable it would be nice to relax (after Christmas) with one of the beautiful design books which have arrived, I am agog for craftsmanship and it’s doesn’t get better than ‘Master Artisans’ and ‘Haute Couture’.
Thames and Hudson’s new honorary tomes.
Anything from Assouline’s new Piccadily store would make my heart flutter, their books are beautiful and the store is top of my London Shop’s List.
Can’t get there? shall we do Penguin Classics, their new hard cover editions are a collection waiting to happen and worthy of any library aspirations, perfect for daydreams of tea by the fire.
Light the candles and …. we’re there. I love Dyptique , their scent Do Son and their candles Ibaes and Figues are my scent-classics, and now they have created faceted covers which keep your burning experience beautiful to the bottom of the glass.
Once lit… time for cake? I love baking with the kids, that Mary Berry. These LSA cake stands elevate the final product.
Can’t face baking, shall we just have an Olympia le Tan chocolate breakout…via Selfridges. Yes please.
So then it’s time for THE MUG. I have quite a collection forming of Wedgewood, maybe it’s time to own up to the Astier lust and just start, and a mug’s a very good place to begin.
So if your stuck for your loved one remember these things: CASHMERE*, SCENT* and NET A PORTER*. Little boxes equal great happiness.
cashmere: from Uniglo, to Jigsaw, Pringle to M and S. Cashmere’s best.
scent: Dyptique all the way or that nice lady in Liberty, who seems to rack up more sales than ANY other staff member.
Net-a-Porter. Just add .Com. Can’t go wrong.
Right I’m off to find a tree and the kids, let’s get ready J.
Photo Credits as per designers and retailers listed unless stated otherwise below:
Selfridges ‘Destination Christmas’ and ‘Conran’ photos by me.
Georgian Target rings from Delphi Antiques.
D and G shoes on Net a Porter.
*parliament is the collective noun for owls.
Penguin Classics via blogger Southern Blue Stocking.
Charity at Christmas:
Christmas is tough for a lot of people, choose your charity. From ‘Women’s Refuge‘ to ‘Macmillan Nurses‘ or ‘Help for Heroes‘ the list is long.
