Hot, Tanned and Oven-Ready

Notes from Italy. I'm sorry you missed me so much, but family holidays first! As I tell you of the last few days, I find myself in the local hairdresser on the Lido, Venice (in 36 degree heat. What's the point in spending good money when my hair will most likely drop to straight. I'm just going for clean!) Mummy’s on the other hand will probably (and does) look amazing!

You know I packed well (for absolutely every eventuality), which is just as well because Mummy's case was left in London! But what do you know - the hotel has very good shops. So fast forward 36 hours later - normal service resumed!

And after one evening of drinks, peanuts, olives, bread, the most wonderful butter known to man and dessert, we're back on the straight and narrow. That’s what we're hoping for! 

They say tomorrow will be 40 degrees - how on Earth to cope with that?! (I hope the hotel have paid their electricity bill…) You'd laugh - I'm sat with my hair in rollers under a hood hairdryer. This place is just out of the ‘50s! When it's 36 degrees outside, how hot is it under a hood hairdryer? I think at this moment it must be at least 60 - I think I'll melt! This better be worth it!

Is it fantasy or pure optimism that propelled the intrepid traveller (my mother) to bring with her shoes that, with the best will in the world, only fit in Leeds in sub-zero temperatures, and her feet aren't swollen to the 40 degree heat of Venice? Obviously they will not be worn (you think?) and she's complaining about the 22 pairs that I've bought with!! (70% were worn...) 

Can't decide if buying swimwear is only to be done on holiday, as it’s only worn then and with holiday mirrors I seem to look less like a beached whale and more like a blonde goddess (that’s where a full-body spray tan comes into it’s own). OK, we can all fantasise!

I'm reading the Style magazine (from the Sunday Times). They have a feature on swimwear and diamonds! What caught my eye is the swimwear. As you know I've just returned from Venice and so as not to waste my time, I studied the swimwear around the pool. I can tell you with great confidence that what we are sold in London and what you can buy in Italy are poles apart. The Italian (or should I say European) offerings are better. Their colours are prettier, their shapes are more flattering and they look somehow better all the time. And I for one am not going to make the mistake of looking “English" round the pool. A fake tan is much better than going cold turkey (pale grey/white skin).

I already buy La Perla swimwear but I know that I'm going to take a lot more notice of Debra when I buy, regarding colours and shapes. I've just thought of the best way to shop for swimwear - if someone invented glasses which placed you in the beach or pool environment, so we could really see how we looked.

A small aside. All my Pilates must be working (why?) A lovely lady called Sue, who I sat next to by the pool, said (with no hint of irony) “What a great body you have!" I looked around and honestly asked if she meant me and she said “Yes." So there you have it - a compliment to my Pilates teachers and this morning (it being Sunday, I'd usually be hotfooting it to 9:30 Zumba - I'm not! I'm Pilatesing instead.) Just need to get my legs tanned as they're paler than before my holiday!

You may remember the top that I missed in Paris? White, cotton and beautiful for all of 30€. Well in our hotel there were 3 boutiques and, Dear Friends, I visited all of them. In the largest I found a white cotton top made in Greece (that's my contribution to the Greek economy) and I'm loving it. I have never had anything like it but it's bell-sleeved, off the shoulder, Russian peasant-style and so feminine that my brother-in-law (who in 23 years has never made a comment on my appearance) said at lunch, “What a lovely top!" How much he liked it and how pretty it was. So there you have it - a huge success and will probably wear it all the time now, so you'll all get to see it.

Happy Shopping

F   XX

You wondered what Pilates does for my body...

Situation Vacant: Sherpas required

Years ago, I remember being in Harvey Nichols and trying on a Lanvin black dress, which in itself was very nice but I thought it was a bit too “intelligent" in style. No, it couldn't work a laptop or understand the "Greek Problem" but after years as a Dolce Girl this seemed to me the antithesis of my dressing, so back it went on the rail. Not until this week have I come across this sentence again. On describing the Dior Couture Show on Monday, Seema from Dior's head office described the collection as "intellectual fashion." Not (I hasten to add) that it makes you look clever, but that it makes you think and want to go and look at art - pictures in galleries. Whilst watching the show I could see the art influences and where it was coming from and this, for me, was very heartwarming. You’re asking, "how can a fashion show be heartwarming? Well it showed to a very well-trained eye, beauty from the past. A softness in approach to women, and it followed my thought, which for me is always a plus. It evoked an era when women looked like women, not men, and still very much had the Dior signature. And just to add, I want to go to the National Gallery. An early advocate of this soft dressing was Andy Murray’s wife Kim Sears wedding dress, which came in for some criticism on her big day, but which I applauded for its softness in style and presence!

As I write this, an article in The Times has caught my eye. The article is about Cos (the fashion retailer in Regent Street) - all the fashion editors go there! (Of course they do, darling). I've been to this store and never bought anything (save a long-sleeved white T). I don't want to look like a Swedish architect even though, you remember, I might have Swedish roots. It has no softness, no apparent beauty, no romance. Who am I kidding - I can be Lady Guinevere any day. Just got to get the hair right!

Never mind all that. Today is packing day! Yes, I'm off on my summer vacation with the intrepid Mrs Shiffer (my mother, I only hope I can keep up. But that's another story!)

Packing... Where to begin? That, in a nutshell, is the problem. I'm only happy if I'm shlepping everything (Sherpas required). Unfortunately we're going steerage and only have 23 kilos each (my mistake!). For my mother - no problem. For me - don’t get me started. I only hope my scales (which I never use) are correct or I'll be flying without wings!

Will be reporting back on my return in two weeks. ’Til then, keep warm, keep dry and always remember to smile!

Happy Shopping 

F  XX

Steerage: I told Mummy to take her phone with her. If you can spot her, please let me know where she is!

"Stepford" Right This Way!

On the hottest day of the year I was invited to a Gala dinner at the Dorchester. I wore a long summer silk flowered dress with flat thong sandals. The usually brilliant air conditioning in the Dorchester ballroom was on the blink… Who knows? Maybe the Sultan of Brunei didn't pay the last electricity bill? Anyhow, my feet are so swollen! I can't begin to think what would have happened in high strappy shoes. I wonder how long it will take for them to go down? Hopefully, when I wake tomorrow (that's provided I can sleep in this heat?).

Yes, feet are back to normal and the 36-hour Heatwave is over now - we're back to British summer.

Rain, Sun and Cloud. What happened last night hasn't happened in ages. For some reason I was unable to decide what to wear today to a charity ladies lunch. Tried on numerous combinations of clothes - some I liked, some not. The problem is the lunch is in two places so shoes are an issue. But have decided that any walking, whatever the weather or length of trousers, will be done in flats. Still, what to wear? Must say I found some great looks but my favourite includes my jeans and a Dior open crochet coat and pale-pink high heels. But jeans to this lunch!? I think not. Anyhow, about four looks are on the holding rail. I'll just have to see how I feel...

Lunch dressing is fraught with problems?! To discuss… In the end I wore a red sleeveless Dior dress and orange/red high suede shoes (which I walked very happily in - so no flats were harmed in the making of this blog), a beige silk rain coat and a huge smile (because I'd managed to get dressed). You could tell that most had made an effort (some too much but back to that later). One women who wore a pair of beautifully fitted palazzo (blue, black & white) pants and a black blouse looked great. Otherwise I'd say that trousers seemed wrong. As did Black Dressing. It's not a Stepford Wife-thing but dresses seem the best choice and Super Cool. A very well-executed example was the drinks reception last night at Christies for the Old Masters. A very English aristocratic affair. Men in lightweight pale grey or blue suits and women in lovely floral summer cocktail dresses. Thank goodness I had changed into something more suitable (my red Dior is quite a statement… too much for the “English” methinks).

Back to lunch. I have spoken before about Nouveau Riche dressing, and the havoc it can wreak. Point in question - one women was there with the summer look from one Top (read: very, very expensive) designer (no, I'm not saying which) and so much jewellery on, that I really expected a bodyguard to be hovering nearby!
Note To Self: must put my diamonds away (sometimes!) Need new earrings - any ideas? A couple wore dress and jackets! Who knew that that old thing had been resurrected? And they weren't Mother Of The Bride Peach or Lilac! Lunch was fun, except the speaker was severely disappointing. Note To Self Again - always ask the speakers to be in conversation, or you lose the ability to have any control.

Dior Couture show - Lady Guinevere meets Dutch Old Master meets Me! How amazing would that be? This show surpassed itself on every level. But thank goodness that I had a charity lunch to go to and not the couture show as they had a glass roof and the temperature in the Rodin Museum reached 38C! No wonder the Gathered Great and Good we’re fanning themselves for dear life! To be able to buy Dior Couture. How many kidneys do I have? How many do I need? And how much are they worth?

What to wear today? Raining and warm... Great combination - classic British Summer dressing.

Happy Shopping


F  XX 

Methinks this is Love!