"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!