Exotic Dressed Beauty - Gene Tierney.

Gene Tierney, a woman I gazed at awe in whilst watching her old movies as I grew up. Her grace, beauty, those eyes, her hair, those shoes, her makeup, those dresses, hats, jewels - she was grace personified. It wasn't so much her presence on screen as what she wore on screen that captivated me. Oh those clothes......(whistles loudly)....beautiful.

Laura 1944.

Funnily enough the films that I admire Gene Tierney in don't contain Tyrone Power. She has a most magical presence in the film The Ghost and Mrs Muir, 1947 which was the first film I ever saw her in. It is my favourite Gene Tierney film for her acting and the script. Not one for beautiful dresses or elaborate costumes, it is a film to nourish the soul. Tierney plays a young widow who moves into a lonely old house on a cliff, by the sea called Gull Cottage, which is haunted by a handsome young sea captain called Daniel, and with whom she falls in love. This is the house I desire to build, I love it so. I have watched and cried at this film easily over a thousand times. It touches my soul deeper than I can ever possibly explain.

Having watched her in the films where she starred alongside Tyrone Power, her appeal lessened and she seemed thin and insipid along side his charms, but that may of course be an immense personal preference on my part.........er hem...(coughs).
I didn't warm to her as an actress in any other film until I saw her in Laura, 1944. Where she played alongside Cliffton Webb, he of Mr Belvadere fame. It is a murder mystery as Tierney's character is the victim, and we the audience are asked to unravel the plot through her letters, friends and personal diaries, along with the policeman investigating her death - who soon becomes obsessed with the deceased character.

My favourite red Tierney dress.

Born in 1920, American actress Tierney died in 1991 aged 70 of emphysema. She suffered from mental health issues after the birth of her first born child and was treated with electric Shock therapy, something that she later claimed took large portions of her memory away. Married twice, her first husband whom she married in 1941 and divorced in 1952, was the noted fashion designer Oleg Cassini, who for several years designed exclusively for his movie star wife. He was assistant costume designer to the legendary Edith Head in the 1930's and later in the 1960's became the favourite designer for the classic American first lady Jackie Kennedy, JFK's wife.
Oleg and Tierney had two daughters together. During her first pregnancy in 1943 Tierney contracted Rubella (German measles) from a brief autograph signing of a fan meet and greet at a movie studio held event. Her daughter was born with severe disabilities due to the illness and had to be intitutionalized. All her daughter's medical bills and life long care were paid for by Tierney's good friend billionaire Howard Hughes.

I love this red dress that Tierney wears in this late 1940's photo shoot, no doubt designed and created by her loving husband Oleg Cassini. It is beautiful. Especially with the lilac sash. It's one I hope to recreate for myself one day very soon. I have a huge stash of old movie clips and photos and hoardes of dress sketches I wish to sew, but it's that old enemy time. Until then I shall just keep collecting and drooling......looking for similar at the Vintage Fairs.
This look on the right with the black and whole striped gloves and head band/turban/wrap are what I am on the lookout for at the moment. It is on my list - all except for the pink corsage flower as the finishing touch, for me I think it should be scarlet red. I love EVERYTHING about this photo apart from that pale pink flower. Her hair, lips, coat - just that flower lets it all down. It is a small bug bear, but there we have it.
I ask you, what woman couldn't fail to look timeless, elegant and absolutely stunning with a genius like Cassini exclusively designer for her?!


Tierney and her designer husband Oleg Cassini.



After their divorce Oleg went onto become engaged to Grace Kelly. He was obviously a man who had an eye for style and beauty, not just on the clothes rail but off as well. He even went on to design and produce a fashion doll named after Gene and his second daughter, Tina. Something that is quite sort after by collectors I am told, although I never had one as a child - I think the doll looks suspiciously like his ex-wife Gene, but then maybe it is more than likely to be modelled on their daughter. It's a shame she didn't end up rivaling Sindy or Barbie for their titles, along with Mary Quant's Daisy doll.

I love the delicate neckline of this outfit. Cupids and their hearts. It reminds me of the latest butterfly cardigans that you see around now in the Vintage and retro boutiques in Brighton. Something that would go well with high waisted slacks, a full circle skirt, pencil skirt or cropped jeans. It is cute not matter what the style of occasion you wish to dress it for, with almost a bedtime peignoir lure to it.

Yes, I am afraid it is her designer husband and his creations that fascinate me more about Gene Tierney, than Gene Tierney herself. Even though she had by some standards a tragic life and one of some hardship, I myself see her more as a stunning clothes horse for her husband's genius creations. Perhaps I am being too harsh on her, but really it is not so much Tierney I notice or watch in films, as her dresses that glide by my vigilant eyes.
Yes she is beautiful, yes she is a good actress, but her appeal is more for a male audience I think. All those fluttering eyelashes and demure smiles. No, my interest alone is her outstanding wardrobe - one that I envy with a clear passion. Would that Oleg Cassini design for me! x

Gowns galore to have a hissy fit over. One of the types of gowns Cassini is known for today is his Wedding gowns, of which he had a line out when he died in 2006. Beautiful, elegant and understated, almost echoing the ball and evening gowns of his ex wife Gene Tierney. What a muse she must have been for him, along with Grace Kelly and Jackie O.
If Tierney is wearing an outfit between 1941 and 1952 you can bet it will be have been designed by her clever husband. What better way to advertise your creations than on one of the most beautiful women in the world.

Wild Cherry Pie.

This is the dress I purchased at Fashion Temple in Brighton yesterday it's a beautiful black halterneck with red wild cherries printed on it.

                                                           
The added under black pettitcoat is one of my own. I Love this dress!! Can't wait to wear it out! x

Mummies and their cute bags.

The day has been spent in the Autumn sunshine painting rabbit hutches and revamping the chicken house. Not only has it gained a new extenstion on the bottom for the duckies and disabled elderly chickens, but also a new poop hole door and had a whole new repaint. This time in a colour called ' wooden spoon'. It's a creamy brownish white and will give the whole chicken area a nice new 'clean' feel. I just hope the ducks and chickens fully appreciate it.
After a day of working in the fresh air, my crew were pretty hungry and after a filling lasagne we popped off to Sainsbury's to get Pickle her Halloween costume - that she had seen previously and was desperately worried they would sell out of all the scary Mummy costumes in her size before the Samhain celebrations arrived. Luckily there were just a few left and she was greatly relieved to finally have it in her hands.
Whilst the gang went off in search of other treats I decided to browse the new Sainsbury's Gok Wan section that he has designed for their Autumn / Winter collection. There are just four key pieces I would buy or recommend in the whole collection. Two stunning red dresses - show pieces - one is a false wrap to the side with buttoned cuffs, the other a structured wiggle with a body con built in. Both were beautiful and would go in any wardrobe on any woman with the right accessorises and tweaking.
Then there was a lovely (sadly not real leather) black biker's jacket, perfect for that racy number with skinny jeans, killer heels and rock chick tee shirt and lastly but not least the piece I did buy myself as a little treat was this gorgeous herring boned 40's monochromatic inspired handbag.

So cute and totally matches my newest shoes.

My Ten Commandments.

Betty Grable.



Audrey Hepburn.



Are you an Audrey or a Betty? I love Audrey Hepburn's style, but I could never have her body. My figure will never, no matter how much I try and loose the weight, ever be boyish or elfish. I am sadly at best a Betty Grable kinda girl. Booty and all!

Some things in life, you just gotta accept. But your mind always seems to want what it can't have. I long to wear clothes that suit the boyish figure, and it took many years of bad buying experiences and frustrated dressing room moments to finally realize that it 'ain't ever gonna happen. EVER! No matter how much weight I lost - even at six and a half stone I was still stuck with lumpy bumpy bits!

So, with this in mind I was flicking through a magazine when I came across an article about someone's ten fashion commandments. Reading them made me think how each woman shoud have her own ten commandments to follow, as we're all very different in shape, size, style and fashion. Why would we all want to be lumped in as one?!
So here's mine.............

one :
Thou shalt know thy shape. 
Every woman should learn their shape and accept it. Other wise there will be tears before bed time, believe me I know! Learn your shape and learn to love it, be you - according to Trinny and Susannah there are - pear, apple, hourglass, vase, bell, coloumn, cello, brick, goblet, cornet, skittle or lollipop! Or if you go the Gok way - Juicy girl, booty babe, petite girl, sexy broad, curvy girl, bellyssimo babe or slim and sexy.
It all boils down to the same thing with three little rules. Know your shape, love it and dress for it.

two:
Thou shalt have a kick-ass wardrobe.
If I can't have my dream walk-in dance about in your underwear and swing several cats tied together sized wardrobe, I make the most of what I've got! Always look after your clothes, shoes and bags and they in turn will keep you looking fabulous for many years to come. Never, not even in the throws of mad all consuming passion disgard them carelessly across the floor to be kicked under the bed and gather dust for eons to come or the dog to pinch. Always follow the care wash labels, never store them scrumpled up in a plastic bag at the bottom of your wardrobe with piles of tat balancing on top of them.
If it's been a while - sort out your wardrobe. Start to make piles of  those clothes that just don't fit, are too worn, have never been worn and you just plain hate! Then either donate to the charity shop, use as rags or re-vamp with sicssors and a sewing machine. I tend to go through my wardrobe every year. Does it still fit, will I make it fit? Are the most important quesions I ask myself - if not it goes.
I have one outfit in my wardrobe, just the one (apart from a few fabric carrots), that doesn't fit me and that I wore many years ago. It's the ultimate fabric carrot. The Holy Grail of clothes - and one day with enough determination - I will wear it again. That is my end of fabric carrot goal.

three:
Thou shalt treat everyday as a red carpet day.
I see no point of having that fabulous expensive dress hanging in the wardrobe that you have never worn or only worn once?  Wear it NOW , I say! It will only sit there year after year and you'll be saying "Have to find somewhere to wear that 'one day'". Girlfriend, 'one day' never comes, unless you make it happen, because by the time that 'one day' has never arrived because you've either had another kiddie, gained a few lbs, lost the confidence, it's out of date or you simply haven't got the nerve and omph to be bothered any more and go for a good old stable comfortable number instead.
Simple fact - dressing up in glam clothes makes us girlies feel special, attractive and sexy! And if we feel all that and a bag of chips, we ooze those feramones that Mr hubby sniffs out! Got it, wink wink. x Otherwise, that gorgeous expensive dress will end up in the charity pile or will stay hanging lonely in the back of the wardrobe, occassionaly brought out and admired only to make us feel guilty for never having had the nerve to wear it. Mr Hubby will then constantly nag about how he/you spent a lot of money on it and he's never seen you wear it. Odds are that if you wear it out, he's more likely to buy you more because you get use out of it, rather than pay for something you'll never wear or it will ever see the light of day again. So book up that fancy meal, theatre tickets or ladies day at Goodwood and wear it!
Unfortunately I am an hour glass figure and for me that means that my shape doesn't do casual dress very well. Infact the hardest thing for me to wear is jeans and a slouchy top. Something I dearly desire to one day strutt with confidence. So I have a lot of evening dresses, that I make sure I wear as day wear!

four:
Thous shalt have style icons.
We all need style icons. People we find irresistable and drawn to. Women we admire and would love to be. It can be anyone or a whole mixed bag. Punk, chic, hip or way out there! As long as they are a sounding board for you to build your wardrobe and own style around - who cares who they are. This could take a while, I have lots of icons that I admire, for lots of different reasons.
My fashion icons are Coco Chanel :  The lady who introduced and designed the LBD (the little black dress). The main stable of any womans wardrobe. I must have about fifty LBD's all different styles, lengths, designs and eras. The little black dress desreves LBS (little black shoes), along with the LBB (you got it, little black bag).
Just hearing Coco's quotes can send a positive shiver down my spine and make me power up when flicking through my dress rail. "A girl should be two things: Classy and fabulous" C.C, or "The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you" C.C, and I love this one "In order to be irresplaceable one must always be different" C.C.

Mary Quant : Wonder woman of the Sixties and inventor of the mini skirt. The woman who brought quirky fun to fashion. Black mini, black tight, flat mary jane ballet pumps and tight bob - what a style. One of my absolute favourites. Cute little flower logo, instantly recognisable as a brand. What a woman. Then there's the daisy collar mini, long sleeved dress, black tights, black boots, pale lips and big black eyes. Always a winner. So iconic. So classic. So cute. Ditzy little block dresses that get revived year after year after year.With classic quotes such as -   "A woman is as young as her knees".    

Clara Bow.

Louise Brooks & Clara Bow : Two women who have influenced me since I was a tiny dot. Long since gone, but their style and images live on to inspire. Clara Bow, she who was the inspiration for the cute, sexy little cartoon character Betty Boop. It's those big eyes. Her make up, is flawless. Tousled wavy hair, but impeccible brows, lips and liner.
She makes the headscarf look sexy. Her style is that of Mary Janes, long skirts, and a fox fur draping over her tiny shoulder. A drawling, lazy style that oozes sex appeal. It's as if she hasn't even tried or noticed. She simply is. I love her quote "Clara Bow is just what life made her, I guess".

Louise Brooks.

Lousie Brooks for her iconic images and sassy attitude. She has a smirk and raised brow that almost dares the viewer to make a snittish comment, before she'd wipe the floor with you and her dry witty comment.
The ultimate fun girl, she has cheeky gall down to a T. Flirtacious and risky, yet her image is flawless. Clean cut lines, even down to her hair. Minimal chic. I couldn't think of anyone more tres chic then her. Her best quote is "A well dressed woman, even though her purse is painfully empty, can conquer the world".

five:
Thou shalt dress to impress.
A woman should always dress for herself, but occassionally it doesn't hurt to dress to impress her man or after several years - you won't have one. It's true - all the oomph will have fizzled out and gone. Every so often wear that slinky number (with or without knickers, the daring part is up to you!). Put on heels and make up and make an effort. Even if you've been married years, the human beast still needs attraction to their mate. Get dollied up, go out together and make him remember exactly why he hunted you down and proposed in the first place.
A very wise woman called Coco once said "As long as you realize men are like children, you know everything there is to know". Meaning, they like a bit of attention every now and then. It may be very sexist of me to say so, but it's true - men like to see a bit of eye candy every now and then. It's just male nature. They can't help it bless 'em. So I make Mr happy once in a while - I just so happen to like dressing as a glamour puss every now and then. x

six:
Thous needeth choice.
Repeat after me ladies - "You can never have too many shoes, bags or coats". Variety is the spice of life so they say and how true that is when it comes to clothes and accessories. Don't get stuck in a rut. Try out as many different fashion styles as you can and rotate with glee. You don't have to be the same person everyday. I LOVE to dress in different periods of clothes. I actually feel more comfortable in them than most of those on todays market. The only problem I have is finding the clothes I desire. I have to hunt them down.
Not only do we women need choice in the outer clothes we wear, but also in the under wear department. You could have on the most gorgeous dress, but if your bra isn't up to the job of support all people will notice is your saggy bristols. Period. You have to lay a good foundation to build on, which means a wide range of bras - balconette, strapless, wonder, lacy, sports, t-shirt - they all do a different job for a different reason. Corsets and body cons are life savers - especially for that special cinched in little number. I'd rather wear a boned strapless corset, which has added scaffolding, than risk it with a small wrap around strapless bra that could ping at any moment as it tries desperately to defy the laws of gravity!

seven:
Thous shalt be worth it.
We are all worth it. That new pair of shoes, that new blusher or lipstick. It's all about honouring yourself. If you believe you are worth the attention, then you are! No one's gonna do it for us better than we can do it for ourselves. If we make the effort and give the time to us, we are the ones who benefit. I alway like to think of Mum as the hub of the home. The sun that all the planets revole around. How many times have you heard the saying - "If Mum's happy than the homes happy" or "If Mum 'aint happy, no one's happy. If Mum's happy everyone's happy". I really believe this is true, we as mother's are involved in everyone's lives, and help run the home smoothly. Our mood affects and sets the tone for the whole household, although we may not realize it. Yes, we Mum's are that important!

eight:
Thous shalt totter on heels.
At least once in a while every woman, I think, should wear minimum four inch heels. It helps posture and makes your calves look fabulous! Plus they make you sashay like no-one's business. I love my heels and regularly mix them with flats throughout the week. I couldn't just wear flats, just as I couldn't just wear heels. I've got to mix them around. The highest heel I feel comfortable in is six inch, and then I have to know my route. How far have I've got to walk in these? Over what terrain - cobbles, up hill, flagstones, polished floor? These things have to be considered if I don't want to end up on my arse, with huge blisters or walking bare footed by the end of the evening - which adds another equation to the list - wearing stockings or not!?

nine:
Thou shalt have a mantra.
Every woman should have a mantra to say to herself inside her head or out loud. I believe all women should have a mantra to cling to even if it's something as simple as "Lipstick, mascara, smile".
Mine is "Less is more". Meaning I do not need a ton of make up plastered on my face, a neck full of bling and a row of knuckle duster rings on display. I am a little person, I need not swamp my frame with nik naks. Either I will wear a necklace or ear-rings, not both together, they fight for attention. A bracelet or ring - never at the same time on the same hand - my wrists, hands and fingers are simply too small to accommodate it all. There is always the old saying of  'if  in doubt, go without'!
I am the same with makeup and skin routine. I use bog standard baby wipes to cleanse and bog standard cocoa butter - all over - as a moisturiser. Head to toe. As for makeup I will never have tarted eyes and blousy lips. It's one or the other. Normally I only wear lipstick, mascara and eye liner. That's it. Once a year, maybe, maybe I will wear a foundation, maybe. The less I put on my face the fresher it feels, otherwise my skin feels like it is suffocating.

ten:
Thou shalt find a signature scent.

The secret of success here is to find a perfume that you feel describes who you are. Your personality, your out look and moods. It took me a long time of trying perfume's to find one that I fell in love with. I'm not very keen on flowery scents, infact most flower scented perfumes will make me sneeze? Nothing that smells like food please - I will be drooling all day and gain 20lbs by the end of the week.
Instead, am drawn to musks. The low base note scents that wafts to the back of your nasal pallette. Those solid smells that evaporate slowly. I only use Obsession by Calvin Klein. It is one of those perfumes that you cannot smell very strongly when you first spray, but it uses the oils and glands in your skin to give a deep rich scent about thirty minutes after application. Which is why I use so little of it and a bottle lasts me a whole year.
The musks are a much darker scent, which I feel suits me. I LOVE the smell, but I am not a light airy person who can waft about on the on the summer breeze. My tonal colouring is much darker, so a low musky scent tone seems to fit me better.

All Things Witchie.

I am starting to get excited! I am thinking about Samhain / Halloween, my favourite celebration of the whole year! The time of year when the veil is at it's thinnest. Every year the girls ask me what costume I am going as for Halloween and every year I um and ah and still end up going as a witch. I LOVE to dress as a witch! Maybe it's some odd little fetish I need therapy for?
Whatever I am happy whilst I am in my trusty witchie costume and this year my hair is that much longer. So I am on the look out for some new witchie tights, because every year I wear them to death. I just love those Witchie-poo stripes!

However Mud Boy has made a request for this year's Halloween costume. Valaria from the film Carry On Screaming, my favourite Carry On film of all.  I said I'd only wear it if he dressed as inspector Bungitin, played by Harry H. Corbett.
It would mean I'd have to practically be sewn into it and not drink a thing all evening! Before I make it though or look for a similar so I can alter, i'm going to have to think long and hard about it. I'm not sure I could walk in it yet alone sit down?

Those Red Red Lips.

It's that Autumn time of year again, that time of year for deep rich shades in all things. I start to see the leaves turn golden yellows, rich browns and russet reds and suddenly I feel the urge to blend in with Mother Nature. It's time to dig out the red and I mean red lipstick. Of course no one can wear red lippie without that added security of red lip liner and a base nude or semi nude lipstick. I prefer to wear a nude underneath both the Red topper and liner.

 I have the niggle that before I buy a colour I like to see the colour, especially if it's going on my skin.

I'm not one of those people who go for expensive make-up or brand names. It needs to be decent so as not turn your skin green or bring you out in a rash, but at the same time it needn't break the bank either. The brands I use the most are Rimmel or Mac.  At the moment the Kate Moss London Look by Rimmel who have a new line out called, funnily enough, 'Kate'. The lipstick of the moment is shade Red 01. It is the signature red of the Rimmel season. That glamerous chic 1940's starlet red that I oh so love. £5.49 and in Tesco's today when I popped in and got distracted by the makeup aisle, they had the offer on of - 3 for the price of 2 (cheapest free).  Which means you can get two lippies and a lip liner for the price of just two lipsticks, making the liner free. That's £3.99 saved. Kerching!

Christmas Hints.

It's that time of year again when the kids start to think of Christmas lists and Mud Boy will turn to me and whisper, "what do you want filling your stocking?" with raised eyebrows, wink wink. I say the same as every year -  "A big wad of cash, so I can go shopping, -  failing that perfume and clothes". xXx
As with every year I have to resort to leaving very small subtle clues around as to what clothes I would like for Christmas, otherwise I'll just get guitar bits. As much as I love Mud Boy and I really, really do, he is like most men - totally clueless about woman's clothing, and in all fairness why should he 'get it' - he after all doesn't wear them!
So when Christmas jogs around the corner, it's us women who have to either buy it for ourselves, wrap it and act all surprised on Christmas day or give strict instructions, via picture and location, as to exactly what it is we require from the big jolly man in a red suit. Here's my first hint of the year.............

Not too subtle, but one can't afford not to get it right!
On other Christmas news front Budge last year asked for a live giraffe and a penguin on her list, this year it's a small mouse lemur from Madagascar on her list! The others always have something normal on their lists, but not Budge. Never Budge. x

Rainbow Coats.

Even though Mud Boy tries very hard to convince me that I don't need a whole range of coats in every material, length and colour under the sun - I know that I do, and being so utterly convinced of this fact often makes us at logger heads about the simple fact of exactly how many coats a girl actually needs in her wardrobe. Mud Boy says three coats at the most. I say as many as will possibly squeeze in my wardrobe until it's time to get a much larger or even two wardrobes. I really don't think we shall ever agree on this simple fact of life.
Which means, that yes you've guessed it I am on the hunt for several new coats. I know the word several may seem rather vague, but I would like a green velvet coat - but it has to be the right shade of green (more Granny Smith apple than courgette), a burgundy coat (Mud Boy hastens to point out that I already own a red coat, yes, but red is not burgundy - there is a huge colour difference), and a mustard coat (not custard, canary or banana yellow but mustard - think Colman's). That's all I'm looking for coat wise this season. Just the three. I may only find one, but I am hunting for three. Each has to be a different style and material.
Mud Boy just rolls his eyes in his head like something from the Exorcist and carries on polishing his beloved guitar, of which I might add he has more than one of. Are they not the same I ask you? He likes guitars, I like clothes - this season it's coats to be precise. Same difference to me. x

They call her mellow yellow.

It's not a colour I would usually wear, but lately it has seen a revival from the 1940's and it goes surprisngly well with red. I am talking about the new autumn colour mustard. I haven't been able to tear my eyes away from  it. The colour seems to draw me of late like a moth to a flame. In bags, shoes, dresses and coats. It's everywhere. Mellow Yellow.
Not only do we love this song but for us as a family Donovan's 'Mellow Yellow' lyrics have a special meaning for us. I feel the Autumn seasonal colour therefore must be mustard. It will go with red, orange and brown - perhaps even some dark greens. I am getting excited just thinking about it!

A Chinosiere Day With BIG Red Lips!

I managed to power walk my way through Brighton to the Royal Pavilion, without stopping at a single shoe or clothes shop along the way! How's that for will power!!

The Royal Pavilion is a former royal residence of the Prince Regent, later to become King George 1V when he was aged 49.  It was built in three campaigns, beginning in 1787, as a seaside retreat for the Prince. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic ( a British Gothic - Indian style built in India by British architect's), prevalent in India for most of the 19th century, with the most extravagant style, (and I have always loved this word! ) chinoiserie interiors ever executed in the British Isles. Chinosierie is a French term signifying 'Chinese - esque' in style. Considering that none of the designers, artists, craftsman, architect or indeed the Prince Regent himself had ever been to China. All was done from objects brought back from exotic trips to the far east.

I love the Royal Pavilion or Brighton Pavilion as I commonly know it. I love it's eye line on the horizon, I love the sheer extravagance of it and the total originality as it stands out bold as brass like a sore thumb in it's surroundings.

It was the Prince Regent who made Brighton fashionable during the Georgian period. He was a great patron of the arts and donated many collections to this country after his father's death and his death that we are most grateful for, including the British Library. King George 1V was born 12 August 1762 and died the 26th June 1830, just ten years after he was crowned King. He served as Prince Regent during his father King George 111 relapses into mental illness (maddness). People at the time called him a fat, idle and lazy King who squandered all England's money. He was characterized in all the papers as being nothing but a big fat whale. And although he was an utterly useless Monarch who led an extremely extravagant lifestyle at the expense of the country, but I can't help but  rather admire him as a man of impeccable taste. He certainly knew his stuff when it came to design be that in art, architecture or fashion. Of course he took a lot of pointers off the stylish Beau Brummell, until they fell out with Brummell uttering the  famous phrase -"Alvanley, Whose your fat friend?!" at a masquerade ball in 1813, when George 1V snubbed him.
  I even find it amusing that he hated his wife, Caroline of Brunswick - (whom his Father forced him to marry by blackmailing him and paying off his gambling debts), so much he banned her from his own coronation and claimed that "she smelt because she never washed her knickers!!" Consequently they only had one daughter, Princess Charlotte, and he continued to live with his beloved mistress, the widowed and Catholic Mrs Fitzherbert, whom he stayed with for the rest of his life.
George IV's heavy drinking and indulgent lifestyle took its toll on his health and by the late 1820s he was mostly bed bound. His taste for huge banquets and copious amounts of alcohol caused him to become obese, making him the target of ridicule on the rare occasions that he did appear in public. He suffered from gout,arteriosclerosis, dropsy and possibly it is thought porphyria (like his father - which is thought to have caused his maddness). He would spend whole days in bed and suffered spasms of breathlessness that would leave him half-asphyxiated. He died at about half-past three in the morning of 26 June 1830 at Windsor Castle; he called out "Good God, what is this?" clasped his page's hand and said "my boy, this is death."

But enough of the history behind the Palace, what about the Palace itself! Well, we decided to make use of our wonderful ARTFUND pass, so we gained entrance for FREE with free audio tour guides! One fo my favourite words when finding places of education and history. As intended the moment you walking into the Palace you get the immediate WOW factor! The whole Pavilion is sumptuous in design and feel. Everything is over the top with added bling - yet all extremely tastefully done. One thing Georgie Porgie (Yes, he of nursery rhyme fame) had was class and an eye for stylish detail. He brought everything together with his keen eye for quality and taste. 
My eldest daughter was blown away by the Banqueting Room, I think we all were. The dragons that adorned the walls, ceilings, fireplace and furniture were equisite. The Silver Dragon holding the Chandelier was the Queen of Dragons, resplendant in her shinning scales.

Sadly photograpghy wasn't allowed inside and I couldn't flaunt their rules long enough to get a good enough picture of the dragon ceiling.

Each room was just as splendid, and full of mannequins with regency costumes along the way for the exhibition 'Dress for Excess' fashion in Regency England. It is an exhibition to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Regency Act (the Parliamentary act that allowed George to act as Prince Regent and gave birth to the Regency period). The clothes were divine. Elegant, simplistic and to die for gorgeous. It was like walking into Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet's dressing rooms. I wanted to try every single one on, but had to make do just looking at them from behind a fancy gold braided rope. I will admit that I was leaning over so far at one point, there was a chance I could fall.
The music room was one of the most divinely hand painted murial walls I have ever, ever seen!! The sign before we entered said : 'Please remove stillettos before walking on the carpet' - the shag carpet was that deep!!
The bedrooms weren't as OTT as the downstairs, but the metal bamboo staircase up to them was very novel. I was fascinated by the secret passageways for the servants to disappear down and when you walked down them, they had a delicious energy all of their own.
Our youngest girl loved the kitchens and the massive range. Did you know that at his banquets the Prince Regent would have 32 courses served!! The jelly and blamange moulds ranged from tiny weeny scallop shells and castles to huge monstrous copper things that you could wear as a helmet. Another fact I learnt today was that the Prince Regent was the first to have and serve ice-cream in this country, and the first steam table with piped steam to keep dishes warm before serving. A sort of hot plate of today. He even had his bath plumbed to the sea so he could bath in sea water at the Pavilion to save him the bother of going down to the seafront. He certainly was a trend setter and fashionable mover shaker with his ideas and quirky 'must have's'.

Cherry red lips Mwahhhh!!

After a brief walk around the protected gardens we wandered into the Brighton Museum and Gallery. Home to artist Salvador Dali's famous Mae West's Lips sofa, which I couldn't wait to show the girls, as I haven't been here since I was a student many moons ago. They now even have a mini sofa to have photos taken on! As you can tell from the photo below the girls couldn't understand my bubbling excitement at the Big Red Lips sofa. I have always loved and desired this sofa and stood for a good minute in front of it demanding to have my photo taken whilst passing German visitors frowed at the mad little lady unable to contain herself took to hopping on the spot in the black and white spotty dress!

Tribal spirit costume.

We got to see one of my favourite designer's chairs - Rennie Mackintosh, trace the history of Brighton and see authentic Punch and Judy dolls and stands, travel through the world in the World Art exhibitions and see a tribal spirit costume - which absolutely fascinated me!

The upstairs fashion show through time was torturous as there were so many costumes that I would love to wear, including a Regency and Chinese inspired white dress by Zandra Rhodes, an Ozzie Clark little yellow number and a very delicate 1940's ballerina embroidered chemise - topped off with lots of period shoes, especially red ones! My embarrassed youngest did have to pull me off the glass at one - no, I will be honest here, several times today - as I plastered myself in front of certain items of clothing and the words "Must have dress" puffed out from my lips.

The Shy Pencil Skirt.

Never is this skirt shy. Anyone who has worn one knows that it can cling in all the right and in all the wrong places - showing every bump and curve of your ar**  like no other skirt cut yet. Somehow it does it in a classy way, just like when your partner subtly slides his hand across your backside on a cosy night out as you leave a classy restaurant. It is slight, yet brazenly cheeky all at the same time.
Now that my figure is starting to shrink, I am on the look out for another classic pencil skirt, as a reward for when I have got down to my goal measurements. Think 1950's secretary - hair up, glasses, red lipstick, wide necked small wing collar white blouse, wide belt, sling back or peep toe stilettos and you're there.

The skirt must be below the knee - side or back zip - small back split or even better a tiny below knee fan flare. Not fish, but full. Dark and plain in colour would be best - I'm thinking black, brown or deep plum, maybe - could have white piping or black ribbon edged bias - maybe a close bobble boucle, small tweed or tight dog tooth - maybe........ You see how particular I get - how hard it is for me to find a certain piece of vintage clothing once I get what I want in my head - and why when I find it, I just HAVE TO HAVE IT!!!!
You see what I am really doing, and it took me years to realise this, I am designing the item in my head. There is probably no skirt out there to buy like that! I can't even google a picture of the skirt I have just described that I want, past or present. It is a mish-mash in my head. One day I will have to make it.

Do I care if I look like I don't belong in this era - no, not particularly - because often I feel I already don't. I don't care about labels, for me it is the cut and fabric that counts. I never buy anything for the label, I buy it for the fit and feel. My dream would be to set up a vintage clothing shop. Although I know that realistically half the store would come home with me - but I think of all those very necessary stock shopping trips and auctions I'd just HAVE to go on! I'm getting excited, just at the very thought that it may one day be a distant possibility.