I wonder what Burberry will make of the Norwegian artist who has painted the exterior of his house, which used to be a public toilet, in the brand’s signature Haymarket check?
Artist Jens Werner, 33, has covered his entire house in the famous beige, black and red tartan design. Jens Werner lives in Larvik, and he said the painting took several weeks and cost thousands of pounds.
Jens said he thought it would be ‘a fun idea’ to repaint his house, which he has owned for six years.

Burberry is over 150 years old, and is worn by lots of celebrities including Alexa Chung and Agyness Deyn.
The Burberry brand was commissioned by the War Office to adapt coats for officers which would be suitable for the conditions of contemporary warfare. When the war ended the macs became popular with civilians.
Burberry’s signature print, the Haymarket check, became incredibly popular in the 1990’s with football fans and then the chav generation took a liking for the design, and millions of cheap imitations were sold at markets across Britain.
Daniella Westbrook, an actress on the BBC 1 soap EastEnders, is often blamed for the chav love affair with Burberry after she was papped whilst out with her daughter, both of them were dressed head-to-toe in Burberry tartan, even the pushchair was in the matching design.
Burberry fought hard to rid itself of its association, with ‘Chavs’ and U.S. businesswoman Rose Marie Bravo transformed the brand’s image after joining the company in 1998. She set about Burberry’s renaissance using Kate Moss, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Watson to star in its advertising campaigns.

I’m not sure Rose Marie Bravo has completely managed to rid Burberry of its Chav associations, as the Haymarket check is still pretty common.
I definitely wouldn’t wear it, or any other piece of Burberry clothing for that matter, which is a shame as I do like some of their stuff, especially their coats, but I still associate Burberry with the word chav!

When I first saw the photos of Jens Werner’s Burberry check painted house I thought it was a photoshop project - maybe it is!

Posted on Zeutgeist

Life in France

It’s a chocolatey affair! A fashion show where all the designs are made using chocolate.

Posted on ZEITGEIST

RICHARDS REALM

Lauren McCarthy has designed a Happiness Hat.
The rather unflattering naff looking Happiness Hat was created by Lauren McCarthy to help train people in ‘Improved Social Interacting’!
The Happiness Hat, sounds like a sweet name doesn’t it? In reality it’s anything but sweet.
The Happiness Hat uses a bend sensor which is attached to the cheek to measure the size of the wearers smile, it then sends the information to an Arduino micro-controller. If the Arduino controller detects that the hat wearer is not wearing a large enough smile, it sends a signal to a servo motor on the back of the hat which drives a metal spike into your head!

Is the Happiness Hat a good idea? Or is it seriously barmy? Do we really want people smiling at us all the time just because they are wearing the Happiness Hat? Their smiles won’t be genuine, they will be false, based on the fear of receiving a sharp pain to their skull!

When I first read about Lauren McCarthy’s Happiness Hat, I thought it was a joke - actually I’m still not sure it’s real!
I am not the smiliest person, I have a naturally miserable face, but I don’t think I’ll be wearing the Happiness Hat, I think the mere thought of not having a spike driven in to my head is more than enough to put a smile on my face.

Posted on ZEITGEIST

The Wine Connoisseur

Alexander McQueen wowed the crowd at his show in Paris France by sending models down the catwalk wearing these amazing 12-inch high shoe/boots.

The models carefully made their way along the catwalk in the crystal studded footwear.
Apparently the 12-inch platform shoes were part of a collection inspired by Charles Darwin’s The Origin Of The Species.

To complete the look the models hair was twisted into horns, and they wore minidresses decorated with various different coloured skins. The frilly hemlines resembled feathers, and bold fabrics were printed to resemble amphibian-like breastplates.

Alexander McQueen’s set then morphed into a prehistoric underwater scene.
The mood was heightened by the models’ shaved eyebrows and they had gills painted on to their temples.
The shimmering studs and crystal-embellished designs reflected against the models’ glossy skin, while elliptical, serpentine jackets contrasted the intricately detailed prints.

Alexander McQueen’s catwalk show was to be aired live to an audience of 6 million last night, but the website on which it was due to be shown, crashed thanks to Lady GaGa.
Lady GaGa provided the music for the show, and apparently she tweeted that her new single, Bad Romance, would be premiered at the show, and told fans the name of the website which then caused it to crash!

I take my hat off to all of the models. I doubt I’d even be able to stand up in these shoes/boots, let alone walk in them.
I know these Alexander McQueen shoe/boots were not made for walking, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see a silly, desperate for some more news headlines, celebrity wearing these monster clod-hoppers!
The shoes are fabulous though, I quite like the patterns, and saying the collection was inspired by Charles Darwin’s The Origin Of The Species is genius on the part of Alexander McQueen - very clever marketing!

Posted on Zeitgeist

Life in France

Monica Vinader sterling silver bracelet with hand woven red plaited cord. The bracelet has a designer-stamped charm which enables you to pull and fasten the bracelet to your wrist.
€67.50

I love it! I want it!

The Wine Connoisseur

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania ribbed square grey cardigan. This cardigan is made from a wool blend with an oversized cowl neckline, concealed button detail, matching tie belt at the waistline, full length sleeves with a slight flare on the cuffs, and an asymmetric hemline.
25% Alpaca, 25% wool, 50% acrylic.
£370

I like this cardigan, and as I’m always cold I’m sure it would keep me nice and snug, it’s just a shame it’s 50% acrylic - Yuk!
Nothing is perfect.

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE

Vivienne Westwood diamante skull Pendant. This piece is available in imitation rhodium and gold plated. The skull is encrusted in Swarovski crystals.
Chain Length ~ 45cm
Dimensions ~ 2.6cm x 3cm
£95 ~ $153.90

I like most things with skulls in the design, and I love this necklace. I’d like it more if it was made using sterling silver, or white gold, or platinum - but it’s still pretty cool!
My hubby has some Vivienne Westwood skull cufflinks the same as this necklace, maybe I should nick one of them and make it into a necklace?

Life in France

Servane Gaxotte ‘Mouse’ Doll Pendant with dress.
Doll pendant with a mouse shaped head. This pendant is gold on a gold coloured chain. The doll has a blue Swarovski encrusted chest, and is wearing a black tutu. The doll pendant is holding a miniature doll charm in its right hand. The chain has a trigger clasp fastening. The drop of the pendant is 43cm.
£350

Servane Gaxotte Doll Pendant with Gingham dress.
A silver coloured doll pendant with female head. The doll has a white swarovski encrusted chest and is wearing a blue and white gingham skirt. The doll pendant is holding a miniature white heart shaped locket with bow detail in its right hand. The chain has a trigger clasp fastening. The drop of the pendant is 43cm.
£330

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I really like these Servane Gaxotte doll pendants. I’m not sure which one I like the most.
I like the mouse head one because it’s amusing and I like that it’s holding a miniature doll charm, but I prefer the silver colour of the female head pendant.
I’m very fussy! What I’d really like is a mix of the two pendants; silver coloured metal with an animal head, but not a mouse, maybe a dog, and holding a miniature doll - that would be perfect.
I had a gold charm similar to this many years ago when I was at college. I wonder where it is now? Maybe I’ll dig it out and butcher it into something new!

Life in France

Alexander McQueen Red Tank with Skull Print.
Red tank/vest with black and white skull print. This 100% cotton top is sleeveless, it has a round neck, with a herringbone print skull on the front. The hemline falls to the hips.
£135

I don’t know why, but I love anything with skulls on.
Alexander McQueen loves skulls too. I love this t-shirt.

The Wine Connoisseur

Louise Fairburn, 38, a shepherdess got married in a wedding dress that was made entirely from the wool of one of her sheep.

Louise designed the dress made from the fleece of a rare Lincoln Longwool sheep called Olivia.
The groom Ian, 42, wore a woollen waistcoat.
Louise, of Market Rasen, Lincs, said, “I’m sheep-crackers. I want to prove wool is not just something for knitting bobble hats.”
Sheep breeder Ian, who first saw the dress as Louise walked down the aisle, said, “I took one look at her, my lip curled like a young sheep’s does and I started blubbering.”

Brings a new meaning to the term close-knit.
Louise looked beautiful, her dress is lovely and pretty unique too.
Congratulations to Louise and Ian.

The Wine Connoisseur