Saturday on Savile Row

Today was VERY exciting.. I was visitng Huntsman, long considered London’s finest (certainly most expensive)  in the bespoke garment avenue that is the legendary Savile Row. I’ve decided that it may just be interesting to interview the houses and fine garment tailors in our fair city on their women’s wear offerings. I may not be able to afford them all just yet dear reader, but I certainly want to be prepared when I can! Stay tuned for the article on Huntsman, coming shortly..

I wish we were in San Fransisco

It’s not often that I find myself wishing I was elsewhere. Today, courtesy of non other than a Mister Gary Fisher, I found out about the wonderful and quirky Bike Basket Pie Lady  What a great idea! I love pie, doesn’t everyone? 

savoury apple and walnut... wow

 When was the last time you baked? I would hate to chalk baking up to another lovely thing that my grandmother took time to do that has somehow gotten lost. A homemade pie is a luxury. Do i really want to settle for less? Not really, life is too short. 

These last few weeks I have been revisiting another facet of my grandmother’s world. Sewing. I can get obsessive, I admit.. I spent a month researching the best sewing machines on the market. I found what I wanted and stalked it relentlessly on Ebay. I lost four of them to snipers. In the end, I got what I was looking for from a sewing shop  a few miles down the road: A Bernina 830 from 1970s. Let me tell you, they really got it right when they made that machine! I read all the reviews and can confirm that they are the Rolls Royce of machines. She may not look much to some, but then I think if its lasted this long I ain’t gonna be able to break her. (Buy quality and take care of it and it will take care of you.) 

Bernina 830 - 1970s

The ultimate in showing off one’s tweed is back..

The original ride that spawn copy cat events around the world is back, April 10 2010. Ladies and gents I give you the Tweed Run, London. I can’t even tell you how this event changed my way of thinking.. come if you can. Registraton is 27 February. Space is limited to 400 and given the attendance last year – I suspect it will be filled early! There is even a prize for Most Dashing Dame!  I hear tell that last year’s winner is set to defend… is there anyone out there to out do the lovely Gweyn? (the girl with daisies in her basket! if you go on the gallery)

For more  click here: http://tweedrun.com/?p=151

in the spirit of 1930

Bicycles had become the ultimate female fashion accessory by the 1930s. Even then, women were under pressure to maintain trim figures, but rather than advertising agencies promoting slimming aids, they rec0mmended cycling!

Cycling was percribed as the key to a womans appeal (er, health too)

Like LiteBrite for your clothes

LEDs have been popping into clothing for about 4 years now (to my knowledge). In the beginning it was all a wee bit scary with batteries needing changing and on and off buttons but like all things this too has changed. I met the folk from Lost Values at the cycle show and loved what they were doing with reflective yarn.

Now readily available I am truly hoping more folk start using it as an alternative to those yukky builders bibs cyclists have been subjected to for so long!

http://www.fashioningtech.com/profiles/blogs/reflective-fashion-for-the

Cool ways to keep warm..

My Grandmother used to tell me we lose 90% of our body heat through our heads. My mother told me the same thing and no doubt someone in your life has told you the same. I have no idea if it’s fact of a big porky pie but here’s some options that’ll keep everyone who ever uttered those words quiet!

The J Crew Wool Tweed Newsboy

Eugenia Kim Houndstooth with Earflap

www.hatattack.com

A lesson in Layering for warmth

With winter’s chilly breath on the doorstep, most of us will be looking to add layers. Layering is a great technique for staying toasty on nippy nights; although it does take practice if you want to avoid looking too much of a sausage. The best way to limit your layers but still stay warm are with natural materials. One of my favorites is Silk and another is wool. A good base in either and your off to a fab start to staying warm and still looking svelte.

Silk chemises run the gamut in price from just under £20 to well over £100, and it very much reflected in the quality. The price is quite high for genuine 100% silk – Germany have a much stricter guide line on what can be called 100% silk so their products tend to be better quality for money.

The same can be said for wool. Not all wools are equal. A savvy shopper to know her merino from her Shetland. Plus it’s hella cool to know if what you are getting is the real deal, what’s worth the extra dosh and what isn’t going to wear well.

A Guide To Wool

Woolens

Woolen cloth has a fairly fuzzy, nap-like surface and does not develop a shine or patina with wear. Woolen cloth is always made from woolen yarn but does not have to be 100 percent wool in content. It is usually dyed and holds a crease well. Woolens are fairly weak because the fibers do not all lay in the same direction. Woolens do, however, provide exceptional warmth due to their density and ability to trap air. Woolen fabrics are excellent for seasonal sport coats ad top coats.

Worsteds

Worsteds include such fabrics as plain-weave worsteds, gabardines, dress goods, crepes, serges and tropical-weight worsteds or wools. Worsted cloth is often yarn-dyed as opposed to piece-dyed. Termed a “clear surface” material, worsted cloth usually needs little or no finishing. Favored in the past for summer wear, worsteds are now popular all-year-round fabrics used in the finest suits, sport coats and trousers.

Merino Wool

Literally, the finest wool in the world, shorn from pure-bred Merino sheep. Superbly silky and soft with a fiber diameter usually 24 microns or less. Merino wools from Botany Bay and Port Phillip Bay, Australia, are considered the best of the best wools in the world.

Charles pedigree guarantees the farm 14.0 mircorn fibers.. we all know what that means!

Super 100′s

Refers to the thickness (or “fine-ness”) of the fibers as they are sheared directly from the sheep: Super 100′s yarn must be under 18 microns in thickness.

Super 100

Refers to merino qualities of certain wool fabrics that do not fall under the Super 100′s classification because the yarn is slightly thicker than 18 microns.

Super 120′s

This term does not refers to the fibers of the wool, which are sheared form the neck and shoulders of the sheep only (usually Tasmanian sheep) and which must be under 16 microns thick. The shoulder wool from sheep bred on the Island of Tasmania (off the coast of Australia) is merino quality and is used exclusively for Super 120′s, Super 100′s and Super 90′s cloth.

Shetland Wool

Strictly used, the term applies only to the soft, raised fabrics woven from the wool of sheep from the Shetland Highlands in Scotland. The Shetland sheep produce a wool “undergrowth” found beneath long, fine, lustrous fibers. The wool is actually pulled out by hand, instead of being shorn.

British Bicyclists and Tweed

Not so long ago it was fashionable to dress up for a cycle ride out; I miss those days. Tweed was a most practical fabric for cycling.

 

I am loving the Jackets and socks…

It’s not a new thing.. but it’s a winter thing

The best thing about Tweed is that it’s warm and breathable meaning it’s perfect for nippy weather!  I for one love the idea that I can don a Tweed jacket, compimenting my outfit rather than hiding under some bulky parka . . .  keeping your figure is important afterall!

In my ever expanding quest for the perfect Tweed for today, I step back.. not too far, just to 2007 for today to see what was on the catwalk just a few years ago, and found this..

It's growing on me..

Rodarte is a brand of clothing and accessories founded by Kate and Laura Mulleavy. The Mulleavy sisters are U.C. Berkeley graduates from Pasadena, California and have received a number of industry awards since the line’s inception in 2005.The sisters have also collaborated with Gap, and most recently Target, on limited edition pieces. After their initial collection of just 10 pieces, the Mulleavys appeared on the cover of Women’s Wear Daily and had a meeting with US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. The company also had the early support of retailers Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom. Rodarte has been seen on many celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Keira Knightle, and Dita von Teese. At the 81st Academy Awards both Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman were dressed in Rodarte.

Well, I have to admit I think its the gloves that do it for me.

This stuff looks So LUSH..

I have alwaysloved the fingerless glove.. but I would really rather get them them ones pictured below, from the fine folks at Marmalade Cashmere.

 

Jimmy Choo is at it too..

Available only at Browns, Dublin. Shame, that!

The Breidin (€825)riding boot is one of two new designs made in collaboration with Donegal tweed that are only on sale in Dublin. (Image courtesy of Jimmy Choo) While we love it because it’s Tweed, we think Jimmy may have missed the mark. People love Jimmy because it’s edgy and sexy and totally hip. Now, not to disrespect our Tweed Brethern  because we certainly love them, but why go for iconic classic when he could have gone with something a wee bit more now, say like Dashing Tweed’s fine range out of London. Having said that we love the limited edition and can’t think of a nicer way to get the word out about the awesomeness of Tweed than to have it showcased with our favourite shoes in Ireland’s sexiest retailer.

PS. Thanks Laura for the heads up on this – sorry it took so long to get it up!