Tea Time in Wonderland

Posts Tagged ‘shopping’

A few ideas to treat your mum…

- Stop @ Selfridge’s to personnalize a card or a cupcake on Friday…

- Let her choose a gift @ this craft festival…

- Wouldn’t a floral exhibition @ Hampton Court be a royal occasion?

- Or a Mrs Dalloway walk?

- Take her to Ham House – mums go free on Sunday!

A few alternative idea…

- Don’t miss St Patrick’s parade!

- Raining? Try a in-house picnic with Courvoisier…

- Collect pop-ups. The latest one is a Parisian shop taking a pause @ Liberty

- A touch of Hollywood, maybe?

- More photos @ Somerset House. Free. Including some Irving Penn (when you would have to pay to see some @ The National Portrait gallery)

You’ll find me @ this extraordinary steam fair which promises wonderful rides… Finger-crossing for sunshine! And also strolling at Selfridge’s (craving sushis) through their new Beatrix Potter exhibition.

Selfridge’s surfs on the new Tim Burton’s marketing wave and redesigns its wonder room.. or its wonder boutique, really.

Not very big, but a cute range of Alice themed items (if you cannot go to London, try the online Alice shop) as well as a yummy mad hatter tea party range of jewellry. You’ll find anything there from T shirts to crochetted cakes… Swarovsky also launched a new range of charme like jewels for the release.

My favourite items remain these crazy glass covers – really what I would expect in Wonderland:

Gaze at the extraordinary hats created by Colleen Atwood – you already know her work through Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, Chicago…:

Will you resist Tom Binn’s necklaces?

Don’t forget the exterior window shops -  Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter’s costume and crazy tables…

Another Alice pop-up to try…

Alice fan? Why not plan a day @ Antony in Cornwall? The gardens were used for Tim Burton’s movie!

Wonder room – Alice Pop-Up
Selfridge’s
400 Oxford St
London W1A 1AB

Until March 21, 2010

Ah, Jermyn Street, just behind Fortnum and Mason. I often take visiting friends there – it seems to belong to another time with old stules window shops, wooden counters… This is where gentlemen came to buy their shirts or have their suits made, choose a cane, shoes, perfume, shirt collar stiffeners, any accessory. I remain fascinated by the shelves covered with shaving brushes…

Had you ever notices this statue? Meet George Bryan Brummel, renamed Beau Brummel. Initiator of dandyism under the Regency. At  16, he inherits a fortune from his father, he completes his studies at our famous Eton… with the Prince of Wales, with whom he becomes friend.

At the time, male fashion is… very bright, heavily loaded with lace, accessories. Until now, France had led the dance for clothes, style, even fabric. Since the French Revolution than Napoleonic wars, it would be badly judged to support a country that jests with their leaders…

Enters Beau. He first decides to give up the wig and the excess of powder. In high circles, he is quickly noticed for his wit… and his extreme elegance. Each detail has been though of, calculated. He claims to need 5 hours to get dressed, advices champagne to polish boots… He will completely modify the British fashion: giving up knee breeches for pantaloons, using a jacket with no waist line, bringing attention to neckwear, and shows affection for dark colours… The first step to our modern suit!

His style is a sober yet elaborate and minutely prepared. He always is perfectly shaved, perfumed, his linen freshly starched… The very first dandy…

Sadly, his game debts increase teribly and he will need to exile to France to escape prison. He sure should have negotiated dividends from Jermyn Street taylors which he elped making a fortune!

Jermyn Street
London SW1Y

Valentine’s week-end!

- How about a very poetic walk?

- To be followed by an excellent hot chocolate…

- Maybe a classical music concerts, candlelit?

- Alternatively, you can try the cinema screening on the National Theatre roof -  bring your blankets, champagne and picnic!

It’s also the Chinese New year – a roaring Tiger year! The official celebrations ave been postponed to next week – love marketing obliging – but you still can…

- Go to the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday. At noon, 14h00 and 16h00 there will be traditional dances, martial art and Chinese legends storytelling…

- or rush to the Museum of London Dockland Museum to taste some lovely tea, see a few screenings and enjoy the paper cutting workshops…

What about kids?

- Take them to the Wetland center to pet farm animals…

- or to the Horniman Museum for the Myths and Monster exhibition!

A few more options:

- Star Trek fans, be on the Millenium Bridge Saturday at 13.00 – preferably with your costume on!

- Pack some bargain at the market…

- Go and marvel at Judi Dench in a Midsummer’s night dream…

- Enjoy winter sports @ Trafalgar -  the Vancouver opening ceremony will be projected on a giant screen, vitual video games proposed and there will even be a giant ice sculpture of the olympic rings…

- Rediscover the fab Imperial Museum of War and enjoy their Ministry of food exhibition – extraordinary war posters like the famous Dig for Victory

- Stop at Lulu Guinness’ pop up shop in Carnaby street and be a fashion victim

Pssst! Don’t forget Shrove Tuesday next week -  head for the famous Spitafield pancake race!

Love fair!

- Gasp in amazement at the Wildlife photographs @ the Natural History Museum. This takes place every year and is a real marvel.

- Learn about forgery in art @ the V&A…

- Get to know the designer stars of the future…

- Into kinetic and robotic? The Kinetica art fair is for you….

- Don’t forget Valentine’s day is coming up! Find a vintage treasure @ this jumble and pearl sale or at this glassblown objects sale… Even more finds at this love fair!

- Or arrange to tour London in a mini-Cooper!

- Fancy a walk and some fresh air? Why not discover the Jewish quarters? Or an Indian food walk?

- Enjoy a day @ Kew Gardens -  as lovely in winter as in summer – and get some exotism in the conservatory presenting collections of colourful orchids and tropical flowers…

- Have teenagers dreaming of making movies? Take them to the BFI Future Film Festival!

- Have a look at the possible sculptures for the Spittafield Market and vote for your favourite…

- Try a restaurant with a difference – dinner and circus show!

You’ll find me wandering through the Russian festival, having a lovely Chelsea Chai @ Yumchaa and enjoying French electro music with Anne B’s concert (thanks to Le Petit Journal). How about you?

Oh, and if you have the time, go and check out this giant ice cube in front of the Tate next week. 3 days only!

Snow, icy rain, a ray of sunshine? Just get a hazelnut hot chocolate at the nearest Starbucks and off you go!

- Play the culture card with the latest Van Gogh exhibition…

- Knit yourself a scraf while enjoying a lovely cup of tea…

- dream of a long gone Covent Garden…

- try an afternoon tea – new style…

- Hunt for art deco @ the decorative antique fair…

- Take a garden fan to the potato fair!

- Get your 70ies outfit for the projection of Mamma Mia on a giant screen @ the O2…

- Toast the famous Scottish poet Burns…

- sprinkle with some alternative art…

You’ll find me @ the Underground restaurant Friday evening for curious experiences… What are your plans?

Oh, feeling so lazy these days. But come on, plenty to do!

- Admire extraodinary ice sculptures @ Canary Wharf Friday and Saturday…

- Enjoy the V&A newly openedMedieval and Renaissance galleries. You think you’ll just walk through them and end up staying an hour!

- Redecorate your house thanks to the London art Fair…

- Learn about 200 years of North-American rituals and traditions @ the British Museum…

- See something new @ the Saatchi Gallery: Richard Wilson’s new structural art work, 20:50…

- Turn slow movement into art…

- Take the kids to the mime festival…

- try the new pie and mash restaurant in Covent Garden…

- Find a colourful way back home, at nightfall, through Jubilee Park…

- and sleep @ the Natural History Museum! £45 for 5 children 8-11 and 3 adults. A night visit, torch litof the galleries, a film projections, talks about insects… Ideal for adventurers!

You’ll find me instead… cocooning in front of a roaring chimney fire with a mug of cocoa in Cheshire. How about you?

Do you know, I first learnt English with Elton John’s songs. Candle in the wind was the first. I keep a sure tenderness for the singer. I was lucky enough to hear him play at a private concert in Paris years ago. You can never forget that charisma.

Of course, one thinks of his hits then straight away of his costumes and colourful clothes. Well, here’s your chance to see those close – Elton’s having a clearout and is selling eveything, profits going to his AIDS foundation. David Furnish helped and provided a range. But you can’t help but wonder: how many dressing rooms does Elton actually has in his house?

Hundreds of shoes, belts, shirts! perfect condition – have they even been worn?

Ideal if you want to bag a bargain – luxury shirsts at £45.  Plenty of Elton style – fancy designs – but also a nice more classical range. Have a look at the coats too!

Flowers Cellar
4-6 Russell Street,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2E 7BN

Open till December 20, 2009 – 11.00-19.00
Free if you do not have any bag. If so, £1 donation for the cloakroom.

Celine had intrigued me with this out-of-the-ordinary shop window, made of used teabags to create various tones and colours. Well targeted isn’t it?

I found it on my way to the Marmite pop-up shop. Do step in and enjoy the Alice au pays des merveilles meets Tim Burton atmosphere. From the vegetal wall to the snuggled walls via the china mosaic skirt… this is not a shop, more an art gallery, a lifestyle, an experience, a walk in the wildest dream…

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Sorry? Oh, yeah, it does also sell clothes, furniture, house items. Unfortunately, most of them are really bad for your bank account. However they do boost your spirits!

Anthropologie
158 Regent St
London W1B 5SW

Si Burlington Arcade ne semble pas, au premier coup d’oeil, etre passee a l’heure de Noel, c’est qu’il faut considerer la gallerie dans ses details…
If Burlington Arcade may not seem festive at first sight, check again, it is all into small details…

A moins que vous ne preferiez les trucs en plume?
Unless you prefer a gift hunting approach?

Chez Ted Baker, les festivites s’annoncent cocasses…
Ted Baker much prefers a humorous xmas…

Les petits et grands enfants prefereront Winter Wonderland dans Hyde Park. De jour, simple fete foraine, un peu factice, mais ideale pour les petits. De nuit, la magie surgit, elle brille de mille feux…
There’s something for everyone, though @ Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  By day, it does look a bit tacky, a giant fairground, ideal when you have kids. But by night, oh, how magical!

Inutile de resister, la grande roue vous tend les bras… Vous apercevrez l’autre roue de Londres, the Big Eye et Westminster. £7.45 la place, mais largement le temps de remplir vos yeux d’etoiles…
Don’t even think of resisting, how could you not go on the big wheel? You’ll even see the London Eye and Westminster from up there. Not cheap @ £7.45/person, but well enough time to fill your eyes or camera with pretty lights…

Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park
London

Jusqu’au 03 janvier 2010
Until january 03. 2010