An Interactive Guide to my Week...

I’ve had an amazing week, full of new and fascinating things. I thought I’d share some of these wonderful things with you, dear readers.

First and foremost, I went to see the breathtaking Alvin Ailey dance company. I have, really, no words for what I saw. It was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever had sitting in a theatre.

I also discovered the hilarious comedy Modern Family – absolutely the funniest thing on TV. I also had my annual screening of You’ve Got Mail, my favourite movie to watch in the autumn. Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks, New York and book stores – an unbeatable combination!

I have also fallen in love with the poems of Alfred, Lord Tennyson and, to a lesser extent, Robert Browning. If you’re interested in psychotic, sexually depraved, phenomenal poetry, I highly recommend Tennyson’s Lucretius!

In the blogosphere, I discovered the a-mazing Letters of Note. Brilliant, hilarious and fascinating – especially learning about Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table.

I also insist that you all immediately buy Benjamin Francis Leftwich’s EP, ‘A Million Miles Out’ which was released on iTunes today. In fact, here’s a little playlist for your on this fine Sunday:

Atlas Hands – Benjamin Francis Leftwich

What I Wouldn’t Do – A Fine Frenzy

The General Specific – Band of Horses

Billionaire – Travie McCoy (feat. Bruno Mars)

Eyes – Rogue Wave

Mine – Taylor Swift

Not Big – Lily Allen

Beethovens 5^th as Salsa

I also visited the Kate Spade Pop-Up Store in Covent Garden and bought this amazing, exclusive ‘London Calling’ bangle

I also went to a hilarious production of Hay Fever by Noel Coward, in aid of Jo’s Trust, which is the charity that my father established after my mother’s death (read my thoughts here).

I managed to finally see the Impressionist Gardens exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery on the closing weekend – it was packed, which was a shame, but there were some really breathtaking Kimts and Van Goghs in the ‘After Impressionism’ rooms.

Goodness, what a week! Full of laughter, movement, art, dance, poetry, shopping, music and joy! I hope you are all finding life as astonishing, varied and beautiful as I am… Happy Weekend!

Powerful Stone

Fashion is art. But it’s rare that the two are so closely related. Cupid and Psyche by Antonio Canova sits in the Louvre, and when I saw it there, in the marble flesh, I got chills. It was one of those encounters with art that brings tears to your eyes. I think we forget how powerful art can be. I love the parallel between this photo and the great and beautiful sculpture.

Fashion gone Rogue, C&P 1 and 2

Body Inc.

I am fascinated by tattoos. I get voyeuristic about those I spot on shop assistants, or classmates. It’s always intriguing when someone decides to commit to something on their body. When I decided that I wanted one of my own, I couldn’t ignore the feeling. It was like a compulsion. There was an article in Vogue (March 2009), which voiced the same feelings – once you have it in mind, there’s no escaping it.

I love my tattoo, and I love looking at other peoples. The stories behind them are always intriguing… What we choose to put on our bodies says a lot about us. I saw this one on Jayde from The Hills (um, the Playmate!) and I thought it was a ridiculous oxymoron to have 'respect' tattooed on her bikini line!

But then I also saw this of a father's two little girls names - sweet!

I don't often like bigger tattoos, preferring the smaller, more intimate option. However, this I just love for the busted cage - the birds fly away are stunning.

Source: Jayde, daughters, birds

I love models with tattoos, too. I don’t like my models as blank canvases! It gives life to the ‘living mannequin’ look!

Lily Donaldson appears (aptly) on the cover of the aforementioned Vogue, with a tattoo of her mother and sisters names in her own (very cool) handwriting.

Freja Beha Erichsen’s tattoos are now more famous than her gorgeous face! She has many, including one reading ‘redemption’ on her inner arm. The girl in the chair before I got my tattoo also got ‘redemption’, which considering she looked about 16 years old was puzzling – needing redemption already? A little alarming…

'this world tonight is mine'

'Float'

Does the idea of getting a tattoo on the neck give anyone else the heeby-geebies?

'This too shall pass'

I really like Nicole Trunfio’s little coat hanger – what a cool nod to her career!

Tattoos to me are an opportunity to express something in words or images… I never understood why people would choose to scar themselves, until I felt the urge myself. There’s no sense in a tattoo for the sake of a tattoo unless there’s some aesthetic value in it – but I certainly enjoy them, and love the stories they tell…

Hidden Art

I spent some time interning at Sotheby's, and I was therefore in a position to see art which passes between seller and buyer, going from private collection to private collection.

This was the principle piece of the Scandinavian sale in May 2008, it's is one of the most charming painting and I felt lucky to have crossed paths with it. So, I'm sharing it with you.

Dancing Shoes, Helene Schjerfbeck

Picture from Sotheby's

Ode to Autumn

I love autumn. It might be my favourite season. Weather here tends to be bright blue skies and the leaves are all turning to burned gold and copper. Plus the cold starts to creep in, which appeals to my inner-dormouse, making it acceptable to hibernate under piles of blankets, and cozying up to share warmth! There's something romantic about autumn, that the other seasons lack. Something about mittens and pink noses and Ella Fitzgerald which warm the soul, despite the crisp, cold winds.

Keats likes it, too!

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying dayAnd touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing, and now with treble soft

The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

~ John Keats, 'Ode to Autumn

My penchant for this particular time of year might also be why 'Autumn Effects at Argenteuil' is one of my favourite paintings...

'Autumn Effects at Argenteuil', Claude Monet. Courtauld, London.