ROAM for the holidays

Please excuse my delay in posting this journal entry. 

Many of you have let me know

that I've  been slacking off...

but nice to know I 've been missed

Though the yuletide  is behind us it's not too early to consider

THE GIFT OF TRAVEL

for 2013

 London is always a Dickens Christmas

So festive when decked out in holiday lights

HARROD'S

ONLY IF YOU CAN STAND THE CROWDS

but the food halls alone are worth it

Traditional British meat pies

Yule logs

and famous macaroons from LADUREE

They make the  perfect house gift if you are fortunate 

to garner an invitation to a local holiday party 

They also travel well to bring home

Even the street signs are dressed for the holiday season

City Bikes can be a good way to get around London

 Walking is 

- equally risky- 

 Remember to look LEFT when crossing the street

and always look UP 

Design inspiration is everywhere

Take in all the architectural styles and character of the city

A row of spectacular townhouses on Pelham Crescent

A fantastic British publication

gains  entry into unique homes in England 

and around the world

Tea Stops for the Cabbies 

Tradition lives comfortably

 ... with the avant garde

Window shopping provides design inspiration

Catch a glimpse of the beautiful Kate

even if only on the 'Tellie'

Skating rinks dot the city
like this one  at Somerset House

The 

COURTAULD COLLECTION
one of the finest small art museums in the world
is housed at Somerset House

Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works

THE BAR AT THE FOLIES BERGERE

Seen this gal on a few calendars and gift cards ???

 Manet's great and LAST painting
Meet the barmaid 

She is in good company 

with Van Gogh

 SELF PORTRAIT

So many great works all displayed in an intimate uncrowded environment

QUEEN  VICTORIA

The queen commissioned this very personal painting as a private birthday gift

for her beloved Prince Consort, Albert.

This is no way the prim Victoria we have come to know, 

and it's clear she intended this for Albert's eyes only

Look at the portrait  and see it was not a Hollywood stretch

to cast the beautiful Emily Blount as the young Victoria

YOUNG VICTORIA

Starring Emily Blount and Rupert Friend

2009

The film explores the early love story of the royal couple.

Produced by former "royalty" Sarah Ferguson, I can only hope

that she finds the funding to do a sequel- there is so much more to their love story

Young Victoria was written by Julian Fellowes

of Downton Abbey fame

Since life imitates art

expect to see  these classy fashions revived  for 2013

and plan to add a bit of the Edwardian countryside look

to your wardrobe 

SHOOTING COAT & MUFF

For the real deal you can shop at one of the many hunting shops in London

Costume influence in fashion is not always a good thing

ERROL FLYNN
as
ROBIN HOOD
1938

A modern day Robin Hood in Meggings

Not sure this look is going to take the world by storm...

Let's just say he is no Rudolf Nureyev

So speaking of costumes...

I made my regular pilgrimage to

The Victoria and Albert Museum 

aka 

The V& A

The largest museum of Decorative Arts and Design in the world

THE HOLLYWOOD COSTUME EXHIBIT

running  through January 2013 

was superbly curated

From Marilyn's famous dress...

MARILYN

 in

The Seven Year Itch

to the leather jacket and brimmed hat that 

'made' Harrison Ford 

INDIANA JONES

to the famous magic slippers

Judy Garland's

ticket home in

The Wizard of OZ

Travel is a visual feast

 

I pick up much of my design inspiration from my travels 

which provide me with new resources and  new ideas

But where ever you may roam....

Click your heels and say the magic words

"There's no place like home."

"Be it ever so humble 

there's no place like home "

Happy Trails 

Rela