Christmas? you mean it’s December? already? OMG… literally in the station.
It’s our first Christmas back in the country after a year of house building…my list should really be all about the unfinished interiors and external drainage. But where’s the ho-ho-ho in that? we all need a little fantasy and in this year where world peace and global warming are making city-breaks and snowy Christmas scenes an uncertain present, let alone future, I am raising a glass – putting my best high heel forward – stepping over the mud – and toasting Christmas. 
(As some of you know) this list is inherited, from my mother, it always begins with ‘LARGE diamond ring’ and ends with Nat Trust mug, National Trust for the uninitiated… I like to stick with tradition at this time of year. But in light of the drainage and the drained finances, maybe a little box from Annoushka??? rather than top-spot-solitaire. Any of the above would tickle my fancy, and I really rather like the ‘luck be a lady’, lucky horse-shoe pendant…
See? the nice small one of the left, hearts being a bit naff (sorry) and anchors, well they don’t really rock my boat.
Moving on…
Those high heels? there’s only one pair on my list, a Mary Jane, and only Gianvito Rossi have IT for me, all options have a chic block heel (that won’t sink in country mud, or trap you in city pavement… see totes practical?) my favourite? the leopard print (goes with EVERYTHING) with attitude. Have we talked about leopard print carpets yet…?
While we are here, on the uber-accessories side. Shall we glance at Net-a-Porter bags? the little-ickle ones? yes please.
Lanvin, Chloë, Gucci… it’s a little mantra I do. (when not looking at the drainage catalogue).
Or just forget every day and rock it with Olympia le Tan.
Dream relationship right there, Steve McQueen meets Nathalie Wood. I always want to be the lady. And as we know the Tramp’s a proper gent.
Finally and it’s a forever, the Joseph gilet, take your pick colour wise, but I like the rustic-luxe combo above: snowy-white and chestnut-roasting. It would fit in with the ‘brown paper packages, tied up with string’ kind of Christmas fantasy I have. These are a few of my favourite things.
Which would obviously tie in with with J Crew fantasy cashmere moment, shucks, I might have slipped that one in already…a ‘just in case’ present, for me, under the tree.
Thank you Jenna.
could be worn over Toast PJ’s?
possibly clutching a Toast hot water bottle?
whilst lighting a candle, my new favourite? True Grace’s, Orangery.
Curling up…with the masters
Leafing through their design books which I have saved on my Amazon wish list (for when I am not drowning in my 18th Century essays and exams). I love the crisp yet comforting design Americans so confidently serve up, Parish Hadley and Suzanne Rheinstein are two Interiors icons, both creating a modern view which celebrates a shared cultural heritage.
Suzanne’s subtitle? A style for today with things from the past. My kind of decor.
The House of Thurn and Taxis are living in the past, literally … the grandest European palace complete with enfilade and rococo ballroom all revved up with lashings of uber modern art and a few scattered Harley Davidsons. Rooms to escape into..
Jeffrey Bilhuber is the all American master who makes peerless modern interiors that you would want to live in anywhere, anytime… boldly creating the way home for a design savvy generation. If Anna Wintour says ‘Jeffrey is great at taking one’s own taste and making it better’.. who’s arguing?
Anna Spiro’s fresh Australian outlook fizzes with colour and pattern and when your living with as much rain as I am all the time, this and the Palm Springs offering look very appealing … ALL the time.
But home grown English style has it owns interiors icons who stand up across the pond just as well, none more so than Kit Kemp, whose Crosby St Hotel in NYC fizzes with an English eclecticism and casts an atmospheric charm on all who cross her lobby. I want the story.
Hmm? But could all this make me cast drainage costs aside and order up the textiles I have long been lusting after. Maybe I should stick to quiet country charms and tuck up with the mid-century master Eric Ravilious.
and say a little prayer for the Anthro lustre table ware … we could just finish/start with that little-ickle mug??
for these are a few of my favourite things, this Christmas, 2015.
And like most Mummy’s… Santa, I can explain….It’s all in ‘the list’.
image credits in descending order, without shopping link beside them:
steam train: louis vuitton fall campaign 2011
colour array of jewels: Annoushka fine jewellery
Shoes: Matches Fashion
Bags: Net A Porter
brown paper parcel: Toast
books as listed.
True Grace candle: John Lewis
Eric Ravilious: Pentreath and Hall
Dear Santa I can Explain: Top Shop
