THE BIG MAC: Catgut at The Notting Hill Arts Club- History shall be kind to those that write it…

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Last night I went to see my buddy playing at The Notting Hill Arts Club. What a treat. Catgut is the finest alternative stealth pop act in London. A group of strapping young men playing with cool class, subtle beats and expert glockenspiel skills to boot. Catgut set the crowd alight, we were in the front row screaming and hollering inappropriately like Mel from Flight Of The Concords. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a rock ‘n’ roller at heart and I’m pretty naff when it comes to describing music or knowing what genre something is but I thoroughly enjoy listening to Catgut, turns out it’s the perfect soundtrack for designing dresses to and has not stopped playing in our studio this week.

To hear a demo and get more info about Catgut visit the website: www.littlecatgut.com

I simply had to throw in the obligatory toilet mirror shot, happy Wednesday folks.

Stay Groovy

xx

THE BIG MAC: Sneak peak at the NEW Juicy Couture Spring 2012 Collection- Glamour always, luxury forever.

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So it’s no secret that I heart L.A. and you know how I love Juicy Couture, well I was so excited when I was contacted by the lovely girls at Juicy to have a sneak peek at the all NEW Spring Collection! (AMAZING)

Juicy Couture was created by two fashion obsessed friends way back in 1997 born out of their love for all things bright and glamorous . Now, when I mention Juicy Couture I’m sure most of you will immediately think of their iconic velour tracksuit. Juicy are most famous for transcending the tracksuit into a luxury casual item, donned by celebs, jet setters and divas Worldwide. If a velour tracksuit is not your bag you shouldn’t dismiss Juicy Couture as a shopping destination.

I am a huge lover of the Juicy Couture range, every time I go to shop the Juicy Couture collection whether it’s the concession in Harrods or their store on New Bond street I am always blown away by their beautiful colourful knitwear, woven blouses and cute prints. I admire the way they mix simple feminine neutrals with bold, fun, bright colours meaning each piece creates a colourful, confident statement that can be mixed in with your existing wardrobe adding a flash of glamour everyday. The camel & yellow cardigan (above) looks ideal, oh and the striped nautical style blazer, Schwing!

Shot in Beverly Hills the NEW Spring Collection Photo shoot celebrates Juicy’s Los Angeles Heritage. Industry renowned fashion photographers Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shot the Juicy Spring campaign featuring top model Anna S, the campaign portrays the confident, fun, glamorous attitude of the Juicy Lifestyle. The campaign was styled by Melanie Ward, with makeup by Tom Pecheux and hair styling by Duffy. Great job guys, High five!

North America is home to over 100 Juicy Couture and Juicy Couture Outlet stores. You can also shop Juicy Couture in select department stores, online at JuicyCouture.com and in over 60 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Viva La Juicy!

THE BIG MAC: Walking on Hampstead Heath- Listen to the wind…

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We went walking up on Hampstead Heath yesterday, it was pretty windy and brisk but clear and lovely all the same. Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering 320 hectares. The heath is one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate with views of St. Pauls, The London Eye and the ‘Gherkin’. The Heath is rambling and hilly with picturesque ponds, ancient woodlands and a lido. The air was fresh, a bunch of us had a full English Breakfast then walked on the Heath to see some of the best views in London. I wore my new boots from Jones The Bootmakers but should have probably worn wellies as it got quiet muddy underfoot. oops. As you can see the wind complimented my hair just nicely giving me some serious added volume.

Great Times.

x

THE BIG MAC: Packing & stacking. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

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So I packed all of my belongings into boxes, sold loads on Ebay, gave tons to charity, streamlined my existence the best I could in preparation for our forthcoming adventure. Sometimes I enjoy the silliest things in life, the smallest most insignaficant things make me the happiest. I arranged  for 15×15 ft of storage facility in Peckham (yeah that’s where Del & Rodney are from) for 6months which included a free collection service. My lovely storage facility man showed up on time, was highly efficient and managed to fit all my things in the smallest space. I loved driving up front in the van and the trolleys in the storage facility place. I could not recommend the service highly enough, the staff were super friendly the storage was very clean and colourful. I loved the bright yellow walls when I propped my bike against them.

If you ever happen to need storage in London I would recommend Henfield storage great times!

x

THE BIG MAC: Antonio Marras Pre Fall Collection- There’s no contradiction in being both ridiculous and magnificent.

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Every so often a catwalk show comes along and encapsulates exactly where my mind is at stylistically. Antonio Marras’ jilted granny style floral fancies would be sure to rock any church coffee morning. I love the use of floral prints mixed together, the headscarves, the little doggie, that strong jade green and blush pink. This is exactly what I’m talkin’ about. Nicknamed ‘the Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie’ at work I’m partial to a good headscarf and floral twin set. I can’t help but compare the models to Cindy Sherman, maybe it’s the wig? This is by far my favourite Pre Fall Catwalk so far.

Happy Thursday.

x

THE BIG MAC: Planning our journey across Canada- Adventure is always worthwhile…

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As I mentioned briefly yesterday I am planning a pretty HUGE adventure, starting with a month in France then off to Canada then the mighty U.S of A.

I will be jetting off from London to Toronto at the beginning of April (after my retreat to Limoges in rural France). I have never been on an adventure as huge as the one I am currently planning so I’m doing my best to map the route as thoroughly as possible. I will be travelling with my excellent sister Theresa (AKA Our Terry) and together I’m certain we can achieve anything!

I have been researching Canada inbetween working and moving house and have been completely blown away by the size of the place and it’s high grade talent. Canada is responsible for some of my favourite famous faces, film and music talent, in particular Michael Cera, Leonard Cohen and Anvil the Heavy Metal Band (famous for tracks such as Thumb Hang) Scott Pilgrim Vs The World was set in Toronto and Juno was filmed in Vancouver. A couple of other inspiring Canadian offerings: Michael J. Fox, Mike Myers, Jason Priestley, Keanu Reeves, Justin Bieber, Jim Carrey oh and let’s not forget the classic hit T.V show Due South (remember that?).

There are a number of things I really want to do whilst I’m out there, the first of which is to see Niagara Falls. After seeing a film at the IMAX cinema in Bradford about Niagara Falls at the age of 9 I’ve always wanted to see Niagra Falls in real life. Call it serendipity or whatever but Billy Connellys’ latest series  ’Journey to the edge of the World’ couldn’t have been timed any better. If you haven’t tuned in to Billy’s latest series you’re missing a treat. Having tackled Route 66 through the U.S of A in his first series Billy is now making his way to some of Canada’s most far out villages, whale watching, meeting some incredible individuals and listening to the most unusual Inuit throat music.

Once we’ve explored Toronto and seen Niagara Falls we will make our way across land on the Famous Canadian Rockies Sleeper Train, a 4 day journey which  takes you through some of Canada’s most spectacular mountainous scenery. The train will drop us in Vancouver from there we will head to a small, remote village named Tofino and stay there for a month, whale watching, surfing, hiking and exploring some of Canada’s natural wonders.

Right must dash, I’m boxing up the rest of my things for storage, thought I’d share with you a couple of my favourite vintage travel themed headscarves (a headscarf is always essential for any real explorer).

xx

THE BIG MAC: Travel preparations- Live simply, colourfully & practically…

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I have always been somewhat envious of those people that can live in a space with the minimal amount of belongings. I admire people that have found their capsule wardrobe and each item goes with the other, so no matter what you throw on it’s always going to look great.

If I see a white space I have to fill it with colour, if I see a shelf I have to put stuff on it and I am yet to work out any set formula for my wardrobe. When I walk around the galleries in London I often feel saddened by the amount of white space or if I’m in a Gallery I wonder why everyone feels as if they have to be quiet, they should stick some (well chosen) music on and paint the walls in the colours of the rainbow. I digress.

As you know I’m planning a fairly substantial travel adventure this year, so have been forced to streamline. I am doing my very best to simplify my existence. Hence my rambling about art galleries and their abundant space. This weekend I bought myself some boxes and said to myself ‘if it doesn’t fit in here then it’s got to go’, so I have my boxes neatly stacked waiting for the removal man to pick them up and put them in storage, this Friday!

However, my biggest dilemma I am facing right now is what to pack? I’ll be working in London until the end of February so need to have my usual, moderately presentable, suitably impractical, city wardrobe. Then I’m heading to rural France so will be needing outfits suitable for the outdoors…and after that to CANADA (YES IT’S OFFICIALLY BOOKED)! so need to be warm and waterproof. Oh boy.

Everyone I have spoken to have advised me to travel light and be practical, neither of which am I accustomed to. I find myself faced with the challenge of being practical without looking like a total train-spotter. Watch this space.

I will be aiming to blog everyday to keep you up to date on all my exciting adventures as they unfold. In the words of David Bowie,

‘ I don’t know where I’m going from here but I promise it wont be boring’

Above: JCrew Lookbook pic, Inspirational quotes by Amanda Catherine Designs, Stripe Dress at Topshop

 

THE BIG MAC: My Detox Diet Exclusive reader offer- Life is beautiful…

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Some of you may remember my Detox experience from way back before the obligatory Christmas indulgence. For those just joining us: I visited the all NEW Iyashi Infrared Domes at My Diet Detox Centre in London to find out why it’s the latest craze to be hitting the detox market globally. The Iyashi black carbon Dome gradually heats up the body by emitting vibrations of infra-red rays that are in line with the bodies naturally produced infra-red. The Iyashi Dome ensures a weight loss of up to 600 calories per half at hour.

The heat penetrates up to 40mm under the skin which is purifying, deep cleansing and reduces cellulite removing toxins from inside your body fat instead of just releasing water which is what a sauna does. Your heart rate increases because your matabolism increases. Your body feels like you’ve run a mini marathon! Basically you lay there and sweat it out and leave feeling refreshed and ready to take on the World.


Now I said it before and  I’ll say it again, I’m not one to condone fad diets and believe in a healthy and balanced approach to just about everything. However when I was contacted to try out the domes I figured I’d go in there with an open mind. I was pleasently suprised and have decided to give it another go. As I mentioned I’ll be running a marathon this year so will be doing my upmost to stay healthy. I’ll be all nuts and seeds dahrling, nuts and seeds! and thought I’d kick start my training and healthy eating plan with another trip to the Iyashi Domes.

The Big Mac Blog readers can benefit from the  2 sessions for the price of 1! The usual price for 1 session is £110 but you can get 2sessions for just £55.

Simply contact My Diet Detox Centre and quote ‘the big mac blog’ to benefit from the discounted price.

Stay Happy & Healthy Folks!

ADDRESS: My Diet Detox Centre, Ground Floor of the Alara Health Food Shop, 58-60 Marchmont Street, London, WC1N 1AB, Tel: 0208 858 877.

THE BIG MAC: New Marshall Headphones- Put another dime in the jukebox baby…

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I saw a girl on the tube the other afternoon and she was wearing the new Marshall Major headphones, now I’m not usually one to have complete accessories envy but….she looked boss. As soon as I got home I googled to see how much they cost and where I could get myself a pair. My i-phone 3 headphones broke the other day so I’ve been wearing some pretty bizarre sports headphones that make me look as if I’m an extra in Star Wars (not exactly the look I’m going for)

According to Marshall ‘Besides being straight up dazzling, The Major is a solid workhorse with great stamina, designed with non-stop, all-day listening’ Perfect for Me. The New Marshall Major Headphones are available at Amazon for £75. I was lucky enough to be visited by the Fairy Hob Mother before Christmas so had some Amazon Vouchers, I used them to buy the headphones and couldn’t be happier.

Have a rockin’ weekend.

xx

THE BIG MAC: 2012 Chocolate Filofax- Fail to plan, plan to fail…

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If you’ve been in close proximity to me in the last few days you’ll know I’ve just bough myself a NEW 2012 diary in the shape of a Chocolate Brown Leather Filofax. I am so excited about it. I feel like I’m progressing up the organisational ladder. Now, that is not to say that I was previously without diary (heck no!) I used to be a Moleskin girl (and still rate Moleskin very highly) but figured it was time to make an investment.

A couple of people I’ve spoken to about my Filofax have laughed and called me ‘retro’ but have eaten their words when they marvelled at the soft, mottled quality, chocolate brown leather dreaminess. I’m so excited to write all my plans in there for 2012 (of which there are many).

I’m working near Canary Wharf today and thought I’d share the beautiful view of the River Thames I have from the office. Fear not, I’m dressed appropriately to be located near the water wearing my 1960′s amazing duck print dress.

Thank you all for the kind messages regarding my French Resolution Post. I will be blogging away so you can share in all the exciting adventures.

p.s I hope you like the new look! I’m so pleased with it.

xx

Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not…

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Clearly I’m still mourning Monday nights huddled around the telly watching the epic HBO series of Game Of Thrones (AKA G.O.T- I abrev everything, I’m so busy & important). I should probably mention at this point that it’s my birthday tomorrow >YES< and have been getting increasingly more and more excited (more to follow RE: Birthday Obvs)

G.O.T is an American Medieval fantasy T.V series with a predominatanley British cast (mostly gruff Northern men with great Sheffield accents including the Sean Bean= PHWOAR) based on best selling author George R. R. Martin’s ‘A Song Of Ice & Fire’ series of seven novels, the first in the series is titled ‘Game Of Thrones’. If you find the words ‘medieval’ and ‘fantasy’ instantly repellent (as I did) and have flashbacks of smelly boys from High School gathering around to play War hammer & World Of Warcraft (for the record these said boys are often late bloomers, the one’s you have to look out for if you know what I’m saying) you will be in for a surprise. I’ve never been the medieval fantasy sort but this series is way more than dragons and warlords. Give it a chance and you’ll be gripped……lust, betrayal, revenge, family, loyalty, power, insest, murder, highly sexed imps, back stabbing and real bad guys, Game Of Thrones has it all.

The incredible costumes are by Michele Clapton, together with production designer Gemma Jackson, Clapton decided that the characters’ costumes should reflect the distinct cultures based on their environment and lifestyle. “So often fantasy film costumes are just too thin,” Clapton complains. “They don’t resonate with the society they’re supposed to be living in. They don’t look real. I wanted people to believe in these characters and their dramas and to smell their costumes.” Key design point Folks- Keep it real.

Another challenge Clapton faced was creating a fantasy world that didn’t focus on a particular country or time period. So Clapton drew her inspiration from Mongols, the Inuit, Scots, Vikings, Bedouins, Native American Indians, etc. Making each garment took a week, but breaking them down to look authentic on high-definition took two weeks of steps.

“You dye it and completely trash it, and then you have to age it, and then you trash it again and repair it. If you try to do, in a short time, what might have happened to a garment in 10 years of living, it won’t work. You can’t just stick a couple of patches on it and spray it with dirt because that’s exactly what it would look like.”

Clapton is pure talent, I loved the costumes and would defo rock some of the looks myself..I thought I’d pin point a few of my absolute favourites so if you too feel like reliving the G.O.T dream everyday you can!

So it’s official, I’m a dweeb, as if you didn’t guess already.

(From the top! Lady Stark: 1. Vintage fur stole 2. Loose blouson blouse 3. Red Stone Ring 4. Chiffon Midi Skirt 5. Gold Sandal Kalisi: 1. Drape Dress 2. Live Hair colour 3. Feather Earrings 4. Fluster Jewel thong Sandals Arya Stark: 1. Oversized Jersey Top 2. Tapered Trouser 3. Cable Knit Jumper 4. Gladiator Sandal)

I don’t make plans and I don’t make breakfast…

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So I’ve been away for a couple of days and there’s so much to catch up on! I’m happy to announce that Banana Republic and Mad Men are partnering a third time to launch a capsule collection inspired by the show’s wardrobe. Costumer Janie Bryant and Banana Republic Creative Director Simon Kneen collaborated to design the 65-piece collection, which includes clothes and accessories for both men and women. The line will be featured in the chain’s F/W 11 advertising campaign and will be available in stores mid-August. Price points will be consistent with Banana Republic’s usual pricing. Personally I favour the menswear over the ladies, because I like my frocks old…but there are a couple of undeniable beauties, the red dress above and also the trench coat, buying new also means a greater size offering, they’d be great for a glamorous option for work!

(All Images courtesy of Banana Republic)

Luxury is the wolf at my door…

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Well you know how I'm partial to a bit of luxury right? my daily aim is to create a universe that any bright young thing would approve of, focusing my thoughts on luxury, musing, draping myself over any chaise lounge that happens to fall in my way.

Hand in hand beside me on my quest for a more luxurious universe is Cocosa the amazing invitation-only fashion destination offering its members exclusive access to an array of private sales. Cocosa launched in October 2008 offering its members access to an unrivalled selection of luxury brands and behind-the-scenes access to the kind of prices that only fashion insiders have previously enjoyed.

The seriously talented Cocosa buying hand pick uber tempting mens & ladies clothing and accessories from the likes of Vivienne Westwood, John Smedley, Tom Ford Sunglasses, Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld, Jonathan Saunders, Nicole Farhi, Matthew Williamson, Vera Wang. We are talking serious treat time. I love treats. Err and it's my birthday in less than 2weeks.

I’ve been lucky enough to be a member of Cocosa for a wee while now and would be hard pushed to name any other place where you could pick up an Aquascutum quilted jacket for £99 or classic Aquascutum trench for £190 >this is serious< we are talking investment purchases here. I almost feel guilty giving away such information. Each sale event runs for a limited time only so you have to be quick!

Don’t say I never give you anything, The Big Mac Blog readers can get an exclusive £10 off their first order over £50. Click this link to register.
Simply enter the promotional code ‘luxurystyle’ at the checkout to redeem the offer!

Feel the joy, feel the happiness, luxuriate.

AWOOGA!

The Big Mac

Cocosa
Bauer Media
register on Cocosa
£10 off

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Viral video by ebuzzing

Last year I went fishing with Salvador Dali. He was using a dotted line.

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Just wanted to throw these dreamers into the mix. I know my  buddy The Glediator will appreciate these devine tights from Les Queues De Sardines available HERE! Imagine cycling around in these, you’ll stop traffic. All styles are screen printed by hand in limited quantities so catch them whilst they’re fresh. I love the ideas of wearing these graphic style, somewhat unconventional abstract tights with a really pretty vintage dress. Argh I’m bursting with inspiration, my head may implode.x

You got eyes, but have you got vision?..

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I had the joy of being invited to the launch of the all NEW Retro London Eyewear Range. A bunch of beaut peeps sheltered from the summer rain at a super trendy bar in London’s Hoxton Square to marvel at the fabulous selection of frames from Retro London. The first range launched by London Retro boasts an array of classic vintage inspired frames for dudes about town. The frames have been designed to reflect London’s eclectic style and iconic references with nods to the likes of Jon Lennon, Buddy Holly and David Hockney.

You can see Twin & moi having a wail of a time wearing some of our favourites frames. I loved the cats eye ‘Queens’ frames with the diamante detailing but fear my heads to round to pull them off! My frame of choice, that I felt most comfortable wearing was the ‘Soho’ style (as modelled by Moi in the photobooth with the Darling Jo from Vintage Brighton Blog) they make me feel a bit like a cross between a shexy secretary and Chris Evans. There are 10 different styles in the collection: 9 suitable for men and 7 for women.

The frames are named after areas in London, Soho, Shoreditch, Kings and Carnaby, and each pair is priced at £99. This includes single vision lenses and a bespoke brown leather-look case which is fierce. Even better, all frames can be tinted to create sunglasses. Kapow!

Have a looksie you’ll love em.

x

Brothers, sisters, can’t you see? The future’s owned by you and me.

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I’ve been having a ridiculous amount of fun this week! Seriously, you would not believe, I have been SO spoilt. Sunday night we saw Pulp & Grace Jones play at the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park (thanks Terry it was the BEST) I cannot begin to describe how incredible they were. Grace Jones Hula hooped all the way through ‘Slave to the rhythm’, changed into different Phillip Tracey hats for every song. Jarvis rocked our World singing most of the classics from Different Class, the energy in the crowd was unreal we all knew the words and sang as loud as we could, they closed with Common People= ANTHEM.

Yesterday as I may have mentioned (ha) was my actual birthday! the fabulous Emma baked me a cake! Twin showered me with gifts (including some serious bling, show above) Vinnie stitched her ruddy heart out and created what can only be described as ‘THE FINEST COSMETIC BAG IN THE UNIVERSE’ It has my face all over it (the fabric was printed by Spoon Flower), it’s not that I’m an ego-maniac, it’s just, well, err, erm, actually yeah I like my cosmetic bag to match my face? I LOVE IT.

We headed down to an amazing event hosted by London Retro in Shoreditch (pics to follow) SO uber cool, then off to The Diner for birthday treats washed down with burger, shake (peanut butter & banana) and fries. Thank you so much everybody for the delightful gifts and card making perfection by Flaps.

I’m heading to Berlin in the morning, must pack!

I love you all.

x

It was the best of times, it was the wurst of times…

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I just got back from the BEST trip to Berlin to celebrate my birthday!! It was my first time in Berlin and it was ridiculously inspiring, I could live there in a heartbeat, the people were lovely and very accommodating (despite my Yorkshire take on the German language). I’ve started work on a little page devoted to all the fabulous vintage stores/ amazing places I visited so will give you a heads up when that is live. We stayed on Simon-Dach Strasse in Friedrichsain a very bohemian and chillaxed area, I was sans make-up for 5days (haha hence the sunglasses!) as we buzzed around on our little hired bikes taking in the sights and sampling a variety of local foods from the various neighbourhoods.

I thought I’d share a couple of snaps from the many hundreds that I took.

Enjoy.

x

Enjoy yourself it’s later than you think…

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Sometimes after a busy week running around like a maniac I like to sink back into my chair, stick on some Anita O’Day and look at images of small things (mainly ridiculously cute animals) achieving the brain activity of a marshmallow. These images are via my latest obsession LIFE magazine & Google collaboration, as I mentioned earlier. Ahhh weekend time to RELAX.

Enjoy yourselves.

x

Away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations…

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I’m SO excited! I did any interview today with one of my all time favourite bloggers!! Sweden based illustrator, blogger, style inspiration Johanna Orst. I’ve been ‘following’ Johannas blog for a couple of years now and she’s been such a huge inspiration. Johanna’s boyfriend Hendrick is always photographing her style and vintage finds (you can see Johanna’s photostream here), admittedly buying most of her favourite vintage online I asked Johanna about her favourite places to buy vintage gems, her style and inspirations.
1. Which are your top 5 go-to places for vintage buys online?
The top one is definitely Etsy. The best place for finding vintage online and just so fun to browse around. I occasionally use Ebay and the Swedish equivalent Tradera, but the browsing experience is just nowhere near as good as on Etsy, and I don’t find good stuff as often there. I also prefer the fixed prices on Etsy to auctions. That’s pretty much it for actual vintage, but to make it five I’ll add my two favourite places for vintage reproduction underwear, What Katie Did and Secrets in Lace.
2. What was your most recent vintage purchase?
My most recent vintage purchase was three Film Review books from 1946, 1951 and 1953. I found them at a street flea market in Brighton. Clothing-wise my latest purchase was a great mexican inspired 40s or 50s two piece playsuit (pictures coming soon on my blog!) from Etsy.
3. What inspired you to start your blog?
I started my blog on Livejournal as a teen and in the beginning it was sort of like a boring journal and a place where I communicated with friends. Later I started using it mostly to show new art and photos or other “news” and eventually moved it to my own site. Lately I’ve started to show more stuff, like sharing my huge collection of vintage magazines and pictures of movie stars.
4. Who is your style icon?
I’m inspired by every bombshell and glamour girl from Jean Harlow to the super models of the 90s, but I guess it’s obvious that Marilyn Monroe has had the greatest influence on my style.
5.You are a very talented illustrator, what inspires your work the most?
Thank you! This is a very hard question to answer because it just everything. A mix of everything that has caught my interest up until the present. Some more direct inspirations for many of my pictures are folklore, fairytales and mythology, and pulp magazine covers.
I LOVE Johanna’s style! I hope you get chance to check out her work and fabulous BLOG.
(All pictures are via Johanna’s blog)

I never met a bike that I didn’t want to ride…

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Wear your prettiest frock, straddle your bike ‘n’ let the good times roll. In case you hadn’t guessed I’m planning a little bicycle ride and praying for good weather! I have yet to decide the exact location but will no doubt be taking advantage on one of Londons many beautiful parks. The exact location and meet up point chosen will be announced nearer to the event date. If you don’t own a bike you could try to borrow one of your generous friends or hire one from one of Londons local bicycle hire shops or jump on a Boris Bike. I hope you can all make it.

They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast!..

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London’s swingin’ right now, with a whole tidal wave of ‘vintage’ (pre 90′s) inspired fashion, events, bands, hair parlours poppin’ up all over the place. For an ol’ fashioned gal like me it’s SO much fun, I’ve been buying 2nd hand clobber since I was about 15 and love to dress up and be inspired by the clothing, music and style from various decades (mainly 50′s! as you may have already guessed).

I’ve been lusting after a ticket to The Vintage at The Southbank Event for a few weeks now. I first saw the event advertised when I went to see my mate John Cooper-Clarke & Madness at the Southbank Centre the other week. It looks seriously amazing, the festival will be held over 3 days where the Royal festival Hall will turn into one huge dressing up box.

Wayne Hemingway & Family are responsible for bringing you Vintage at the Southbank Festival following the storming success (of their previously organised festival) Vintage at Goodwood last year. What you can expect from Vintage at The Southbank: Seven decades of British fashion will be shown in a delightfully cool runway show, decade-specific hair (make mine a Hayworth) and make-up parlours, hands-on-creative workshops (Horrockses no less, will be showing you how to stitch your own frock from your own bedsheets….they ain’t seen my bed sheets!) and the Vintage Marketplace, which assembles over 200 of the finest purveyors of vintage clothes and accessories as well as renowned brands from the past and present from Horrockses to everyone’s favourite vintage inspired brand Cath Kidston. A toe tappin’, tail waggin’ soundtrack will get the party rockin’ with eight decade-specific nightclubs, enjoy over 70 live performances, boogie along to the tunes of 150 DJs whilst sampling the food and cocktails of various decades….(the food part could be interesting, will it be all pineapple & cheese on sticks & war rations, I wonder?)

Argh, I’m excited and I haven’t even got a ticket (yet), If you’re lucky enough to be going be sure to dress the part as the Best in Show Parades will be awarding all those who quite simply look fabulous.

 

Oh boy it sounds like a sensory treat.

For further info on upcoming Vintage Events in London don’t forget to visit my The Big Mac’s London Vintage Page!

So show a little inspiration, show a little spark, show the World what’s in your heart…

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I know I’ve been off the radar a little this week, I’ve been working like a frog and was partying at BAFTA last night Dahrling, but here’s a real treat to spice up my/ your mid-week OW! There are a few blogs that have inspired me to continue with mine, the ones I look to daily for inspiration, one of my these blogs is kissesandcrossstitches a blog that features whimsical fashion & photography and never fails to have a beautiful inspiring image or two that I have to print out and use on a moodboard or oggle at over a cup o’ tea. I had the privilege to quiz the fabulous lady responsible for my daily inspirations!
Fashion & Photography blogger Lavelle this is your life! >dun, dun, dun, dramatic drum roll<…
Your blog kissesandcrossstitches has gained an international following from lovers of photography and fashion alike.
What inspired you to start your blog?

I started my blog two-and-a-half years ago, after spending a year obsessing over fashion blogs. I had all of my favourites bookmarked on my internet browser and my hard-drive was completely full to the brim of images that had inspired me. I decided to have a go at my own blog – choosing the name from a lyric in a Kills’ song that I loved at the time. At first, my blog mainly focused on inspirational images and looking back on it was probably more suited to Tumblr. Over the years, I have been inspired by the blogs that I read to include more fashion-related posts, a lot more writing and my own personal photographs.

2. What is the weirdest/ most exciting thing that has happened to you because of your blog?

I’m struggling to think of anything ‘weird’! The most exciting thing is easy to pin-point however: last Christmas I was invited to a Mulberry press event to promote the launch of their new store in Manchester. These sort of invites don’t happen very often being a Manchester blogger, with most of the goings-on in the fashion world being down in London. I was treated to a swanky lunch and a sparkly Mulberry pressie and spent the evening sipping cocktails, gorging on canapes and playing in the photo booth at the launch event.

3. Name your top 5 fave blogs?

That’s too hard! Ok, i’ll try ….
Niotillfem, Hannah and Landon, Discotheque Confusion, Fieldguided, Capture the Castle, Miss Moss, Ringo have a Banana ….. that’s 7 but I can’t narrow it down any further! They are all wonderful reads and have all inspired me in different ways.

4. As well as being busy with kisses and cross stitches you are now blogging for exclusive brand retailer Flannels! how did this come about?

I quit my job last September on a bit of a whim, to start an internship in the Marketing department at Flannels. After working in the department and temping in customer services for 4 months, I was offered my dream job: getting paid to blog! My official job role is ‘Ecommerce Assistant’ and covers many other tasks besides managing and writing the blog – however, the blog is definately the best part of my job and I am enjoying watching it flourish!

5. How has blogging changed your life?

Ha! I could say something mega cheesy here but it’s too cringe! It has led to me securing a job that I love. It means that I spend a hell of a lot of a time online – both at home and at work. It means that I have been inspired to pick up a camera more myself and to get back into writing – something that I have always wanted to do, and something that I loved when I was younger. I have met a lot of people in the blogosphere who continue to inspire me and hopefully my blog will continue to evolve.

Thanks Lavelle! such an inspiration.

xx

If ya not dancing ya dead Daddio…

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So I’m late to mention it but, Prada Resort 2012 Collection makes me smile every time I look at it, and my views are averaging at around 5 per day for the past 3days…(smiling frenzy) Sherbet dreams, inspiring palette, cute knits worn around the shoulders, pleated midi skirts, fluro piping flashes & pastel stilettos. what more do you want me to say?x

The best is yet to be…

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Happy 30th Birthday Giovanna!

We had such a fabulous surprise lunchen party this weekend with the finest buffet known to man, here are the highlights in no particular order: lemon & honey chicken, cinnamon bread, home-made goats cheese & asparagus quiche and some special little things I’m told are called beef crusteenies?! Oh boy what a treat.

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

xx

Every winding street in Mayfair falls beneath the spell…

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Inspired by IFB’s ‘Love your neighbourhood’ Project  I thought I’d take a couple of snaps on my walk this lazy Sunday afternoon. As you can see I’ve developed a serious skill for elevation, that’s some serious altitude man. I’ve been lucky enough to live in the heart of London for a little while now and love to walk in the park near my house. I love the colour, the flowers and the beautiful fountains & lakes. The best time to stroll through the park is in the early evening when the sun is setting and the hoards of tourists have retreated, you can just sit and stare at the water and clear your mind or concoct your plan for World domination (Pinky & The Brain style)!

Soon we’ll be without the moon, humming a different tune…

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The miu miu resort 2012 collection needs little blurb, what is there to say? gingham 50′s style dresses, bright coral, bows, gingham stilettos, lace and cute cardigans, how tremendously delightful. I’ll have one of everything perrrlease. A kick of inspiration for a Tuesday evening. LOVE x

Just like me they long to be close to you…

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As a child I remember there always being a pot of NIVEA on my Mum’s dressing table. I remember the smell, the timeless blue pot and simple white logo and I have continued the tradition, the lovely smell reminds me of my little ol’ Mummy. It is with great joy that I announce the celebration of NIVEA’S 100th birthday! yes that’s right, 100th! and to mark the momentous occasion NIVEA have launched a campaign to celebrate closeness in modern Britain.

Nivea commissioned research by psychologist Professor Geoff Beattie to investigate ‘closeness’ in our fast pace modern World. Beattie’sresults proved very interesting, showing that having close relationships can help us stay healthy. According to Beattie ’close social contact helps lower blood pressure and overall risk of heart disease, one study found women without a strong social and emotional support network were nine times more likely to be diagnosed with a malignant breast tumour during routine screening. Loneliness and social isolation are major risk factors for conditions ranging from depression and anxiety to Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Beattie’s findings are fascinating. The debate continues as to whether our modern way of living is making us closer or driving us apart. I just checked and I have 396 Facebook friends, but does that count? We’re living in a unprecedented era with a surge of social media sites encouraging us to stay connected, network and become easily entwined with each others online personas. I believe that Globally we are becoming closer but that change is afoot. The way in which we communicate is changing. Our approach to connecting with each other is shifting. I find the internet great for making new friends andbusiness contacts on a global scale with sites like Twitter, Facebook & Linked in. I also really love the fact I am able to share in my friends lives on a daily basis even though some of them have relocated to places as far away as New York, Korea and L.A, I can still see their photos, read their ramblings and chat for free on Skype (with video!). Rather than shy away from this shift like some kind of Luddite, I open up my arms and embrace the change with the level-headed caution of a realist. Strike a healthy balance, as with anything in life!

If you’d like to join the debate you can and demonstrate how close you are to a loved one be it your Mum, Dad, friend family, who ever the lucky person(s) is by taking part in NIVEA’s A Million Moments of Closeness – upload photos of you with your best friend, sibling, partner, parent or child at facebook.com/niveauk, or look out for road shows, throughout the UK, where you can jump into a photo booth and have your picture instantly uploaded. Whether you share your photos on Facebook or at the roadshow, you’re in with the chance to win – every day, Professor Beattie will choose a picture of the day, and the winner will receive one of 100 prizes worth £100.

And join in our debate about closeness in 21st century Britain. Is friendship the best anti-depressant going? Can a text ever be as rewarding as a face-to-face chat? Is physical proximity essential for true closeness – or can a long-distance relationship work? Have your say on these and other questions in the Feel Closer debate at facebook.com/niveauk – and let’s value our closeness.

The Big Mac

xx


Geoff Beattie
closer than ever
Feel Closer
million moments of closeness

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I may be bad but I’m certainly good at it….

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I can almost hear the sigh of relief from my sister, Mother and housemates when they read that I’m officially ‘having a clear out’, yes it’s true! My floordrobe is ballooning out of control so the time has come. You will be able to have the chance to buy some of my fabulousness. I’m sad to let go of some of my beauties but I gotta streamline to ‘normal person’ wardrobe proportions. Hope you find chance to visit my ebay store, I will be listing loads more during the next few days/ weeks.

Happy Shopping!

The Big Mac

(http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/the_big_mac_shop)

xx

Good golly Miss Molly…

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So it’s not that I’m shopping online for vintage clothing (because I’m streamlining remember) it’s just that I’m seeking ‘inspiration’ for this weekends Vintage at The Southbank Festival and stumbled across these babes on Etsy. 1950′s watercolour print skirts in pastel colours you say? err yes please.

The good, the mad and the lovely…

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I had the best day out with Twin today!

We were lucky enough to get tickets for Vintage at The Southbank Festival and headed down there in style. I was photographed three times by tourists on the tube ride down to the Southbank which kicked the day off nicely. We arrived and entered to the swingin’ sound of The Bombshellettes a group of gals that really knew how to jive. We ventured through the building, all 6 floors of fun looking at clothes, eating complimentary ice cream (bonus), watching the dance class and drinking cocktails. On the top floor we stood and looked over the river Thames and shook our tail feather to some classic 70′s tunes. In the basement was a museum dedictaed to the 50′s and loads of educational history stuff, I was too high on sugar to learn anything by this point so just posed in the trad 50′s interior (as you can see)

I think we must have been the only people to be unable to find the vintage market place and old style fairground….must have had brain freeze from all the Hagen Dazs or we’re just a bit slow? The market place was incredible with huge stalls from Cath Kidston to Horrockses and loads of indie stall holders with great vintage gear, hook a duck stands, an old helter skelter, an abundance of candy floss which we couldn’t resist.. so wrong yet so incredibly right, like eating delicious sweet dissolvable roof insulation. I bought an amazing pink hand knitted jumper and got far too excited. The sun was beaming and the Southbank was lively. Pink jumper in hand thinking the day couldn’t get any better then we headed inside for the British Airways runway show with models sporting the uniforms from the 1930′s to present day from the never before displayed British Airways archives. To top the day of all days off we headed to the Royal Festival Hall to see some real class live music, the final act we saw before heading home was Adam Ant, complete with leather trousers, eyeliner and the moves so hot he could make a girl melt he sang his classic Stand & Deliver and his favourite Marc Bolan track ‘Get it on’ . SWOON. He’s still got it. What a day.

Thanks Twin.

xx

I’d see the summer garden in rainbow clouds…

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So amongst my lovely, very sweet emails from last week was one from fellow Blogger Emily. I’ve been embarking on a couple of collaborative projects this week with more to follow on my shenanigans later, the first is a blog swop with Emily. How it works, simple, Emily writes a blog and posts it on my blog and vice versa. Here is a run down of Emily’s top ten loves of the summer:

10. The amazing weather! We are having a real British summer.

9. City Breaks- I am a real city geek and there is nothing better than walking round in the evenings with not care in the world. Be sure to take some comfy shoes for the road.

8. Summery Photography- Grab a camera and take photos in a field/park/garden of your choice.

7. Fresh Fruit- Strawberries are always a summer staple. Mix them up in a fruit salad and pour over Greek yogurt.

6.  Lip tints- I am a complete convert for these. For the very daring, there are deep berry reds, and for the more timid, pinky subtle shades.

5.  Ladies light Converse- I love these so much that I have already worn a pair out from over wearing. They look so much nicer than the original boot cut ones and come in an array of summery colours, hooray!

4. Burberry Summer Perfume- I really needed a new scent this summer. This is so light you can wear it in the day or at night.

3. Frappacinos- A guilty pleasure, but something that tastes so good! I am heading down to Starbucks right now to get one.

2.  Harry Potter 7, part 2- I know I should be too old for this, but the world wide excitement for this is infectious.

1. Summer soundtrack- Summer would not be summer without a soundtrack. Music I have on my ipod at the moment: Robyn, Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Lykke Li.

I hope you enjoyed Emily’s post, I’ll also be featured on Emily’s blog so you can read my guest post there.

x

The future for me is already a thing of the past…

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I went for a little jaunt into the park on my bicycle this evening. I thought I’d take the opportunity to don my new hand knitted fluro pink sweater that I purchased at The Southbank Vintage Festival, goes well with my bike wouldn’t you say? this week has mostly involved me listening to Adam Ant non stop, re-reading Bob Dylans Chronicles and receiving some lovely emails, thank you! more on email gossip to follow… Happy Wednesday. x

Happy are those who are willing to dream dreams…

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I’m happy to announce that The Big Mac Blog is now listed on The Vintage Guide to Londons website! you can also find out about loads of other exciting blogs, websites, events for vintage lovers living or visiting London. If you haven’t done already you really should take a look at their site. To celebrate I thought I’d share some beautiful Picturegoer magazine covers, I have a couple of editions of the magazine now, the graphics, fonts, images and use of black & white mixed with flashes of sharp colour is perfect.

Thank you for reading.

x

Days went by, I walked around dressed in a disguise…

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Remember me telling you about the photoshoot my buddies and I did the other rainy Saturday in London? to show off our latest collection and create some divine images? well I just received some more beauties from the fabulous Jo Bongard so thought I’d share the love. Hope you like Love it. x

(Hair, Make up & Styling by Moi, modelled by the beautiful Emma Thomas, All clothing by CPI)

The second hand is racing, what time is it?

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So I mentioned earlier in the week that I’d received some lovely emails, well one of those emails was from Judy’s Vintage. As a recent addition to The Big Mac readership it would only be fair to give the guys at Judy’s Vintage a shout out and tell you a little about their upcoming events and previous triumphs! The team at Judy’s have been responsible for organising the fabulous Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair (now holding the title of Britain’s biggest vintage fair 30 cities + 6 festivals), curators of Vintage at Goodwood/ Vintage at the Southbank. To share in the gossip and pictures from Judy’s ongoing events have a butchers at the delectable Kieren’s Affordable Vintage Fair Blog  I’ve pencilled in a couple of events to attend, so excited, so I can no doubt acquire some more choice knitwear, eat some cake and document the whole affair, Awooga.

For more details of London vintage events, parties, wonderfulness don’t forget to check out The Big Mac’s LONDON Vintage Page including the London dates for Judy’s Vintage Fair.

 

Great times.

Ridicule is nothing to be scared of…

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Now then I’m no music expert or critic nor am I one to get carried away…actually I have been known to get a little carried away sometimes, but I’ve never been one to get fanatical (o.k Terry yes there was that one time I chased Paul Nicholls through Halifax town centre) but last Sunday I watched Adam Ant play two songs at The Southbank Vintage Festival and have been somewhat plagued by Ant mania ever since. For those of you unfortunate enough to have not heard of Adam Ant well, Adam Ant is best known for hits like Stand & Deliver, Goody two shoes and Prince Charming from way back in the 80′s. I had heard of Adam Ant prior to last Sunday but hadn’t fully appreciated his astounding talent or had the pleasure to see him play live.

So since I came down with a case of the ol’ Ant fever I have watched all the YouTube videos I can find of previous live performances, interviews (why do interviewers always ask the same questions?) music videos and television appearences, Oh and booked tickets for the gig that I went to last night. Obvs. I headed down to a pretty swanky venue (you can always tell the quality of an establishment by the hand wash and toilet paper and this place was Molten Brown all the way, you know what I’m saying?) under Chelsea football stadium with my mate Cozza and boy were we in for a treat.

Dressing for pleasure & Krakatoa from Ants record label the Blueblack Hussar warmed up the punters…there was a real mixed bag of people from the die hard Ant music fans, the folks that have cleaned up there act become parents and respectable pillars of the community but have the twinkle of ‘I remember the barb fuelled London punk days’ in their eyes, then folks my age keepin’ the dream alive. Clad in his legendary Dandy get up Ant took to the stage. I should mention at this point that this was one of Adam Ants ‘comeback’ gigs, one of his first for about 15 years, after his speedy rise to fame in the 80′s, being worked to the bone by his record label and suffering from bipolar Ant had a breakdown so has been taking time away from the spotlight to get better. Last night was seriously hot, like he’d never been away. I can’t even describe how good it was, not fully but I’ll try. Some people just have the moves, he worked it like a pro, going from full regimental regalia to topless in a matter of songs. I heard some ladies in the loos weeping saying they had ‘loved him back then and still love him now and will never get to touch him’ this was powerful stuff man, the real deal, is this what I have to look forward to? I even attempted to grab his sweaty t-shirt when he threw it into the crowd, ha, I mean what exactly was I going to do with it? (FYI-It got stuffed into a ladies handbag in a really self-satisfied stealth fashion) Adam Ant and his band (The good the Mad and the lovely) played all the classic hits, some new stuff, two T-Rex covers and nailed em all. If you get the chance to see him live you should definatley go.

I can’t stop watching this particular live performance

O.K I’m going to go and calm down now.

x

A woman can laugh and cry in three seconds and it’s not weird…

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The latest in my mini series of ‘interviews with creative professionals’ is with a lady very dear to me, a lady (I can call her a that now she’s officially reaching womanhood) celebrating 30 years of a colourful and inspirational life today.

I first met Natalie Sharp (otherwise known as Flaps to the sisterhood) many years back on a cold rainy night in Manchester she was asleep and I danced around the bed (with a belly full of shandy) singing the theme tune of FunHouse the 90′s kids T.V show with iconic mullet laden host Pat Sharpe. I’d heard of Nat Sharp as she was making waves in the Manchester music scene at the time with her band The Bottomfeeders.

Since our first encounter Natalie Sharpe has been a constant source of inspiration for me. The thing about Sharpey is she just got it, she has a booming Cumbrian voice that could fill a room and make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, she has been working as a creative make up artist and face painter in recent years and performing music as The Lone Taxidermist. What a gal!

I took this golden opportunity to catch up with Natalie and get the latest gossip from such a  beautiful, inspiring, wonderful and exciting character.

What projects have you been working on recently?

Lots and lots. in-between jobs and festivals I have been working with a great photographer and friend Jennifer Pattison on a series called in front of the moon, imagine that the moon is the only source of light and you only use black or white on the skin. So far the results are very organic, warped and well moony? Also working with Christopher Pearson he works in after effects, visuals and animation, im convinced  hes a bit of a genius. Not sure how much im allowed to say at this stage but the results will be mind blowing! also working with photographer Carl Bigmore for the Lone Taxidermist visuals again we want to work with natural light but create something suitably surreal and beautiful.

2. What inspired you to become a make up artist/ facepainter

I started face painting when I was 15, I used to go down my local market with a couple of paints and mams kitchen stool and copied from a book. I remember coming home to an angry mother because I took the stool, I showed her the £15 I made and she realised I was on to something. we then went to all the local carnivals and set up guerilla style as the pitch fee was too expensive. I ended up having to buy the book off the library as it was so destroyed by paint. The make up came much later. I studied fashion at Middlesex so have always had a toe dipped in. A friend of a friend needed a make up artist for a look book and I was reccomended. I had to learn technique very quickly so i immersed myself in you tube tutorials and late night reading. I came across a make up artist called Alex Box whos treatment of make up is entirely different to that of most. Shes an emotive artist with a background in art whos not concerned with trends or the latest product, I related to her completely.

3. Who’s the most exciting/ memorable person you ever painted?

it has to be Tom and Pete of the new art club. they are a couple of comedians that incorporate dance into their work. I was asked to fladulate paint over their semi naked bodies jackson Pollock style The whole day i was in pain from laughing so hard.

4. If you could offload any pearls of wisdom for aspiring make up artists reading this what would you say?

I would say create your own path and keep it personal. the industry is flooded with a lot of artists doing the same thing. Smokey eye, winged eyeliner. To the point that it has become severely dull. We were always told at Uni to disconnect ourselves from the end result. Go off in to your own world and become inspired by the things around you and not what you see on some style barometer.

5. There seems to be an increase in the use of face paint/ body art being used on runway shows, fashion shoots and within the popluar music scene from the likes of Lady Gaga, Vivienne Westwood’s runway show to name a few, why do you think this is?

I think if one brand that is considered important does it others will copy,  theres a constant need for new ways to present things. Using it intrinsically so its in harmony with the brand is great, Again Alex Box for Vivienne Westwood and the catchy music video by we have band really understand. But I dont agree with body/ face paint just to get press and for the sake of it.

6. Career wise where do you see yourself in 10 years?

That question sort of scares me. I am not entirely sure. Perhaps I should have a masterplan but I dont. Id like to have a house somewhere, Berlin would be great.

Be sure to take a look at Natalie’s creative genius at her blog Mask Off

Happy 30th Birthday Flaps

Love you

x

(Pics above- The Guillemots at Secret Garden Party painted by Natalie Sharp, Natalie Sharp, Fyfe Dangfield at Secret Garden Party painted by Natalie Sharp)

Where is the shepherd for these lost lambs?…

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As the rest of London are immersed in the dreadful riots I took a little stroll with Darcy the dog. Helen let me hold Darcy’s lead and walk her through the park on this warm London Tuesday afternoon. I wore my vintage plaid skirt and cornflower blue peter pan collar blouse from Topshop, Oh and I’m SO happy with my London Retro Sunglasses, they arrived on Friday, I opted for the Soho style, in the words of Tony the Tiger they’re GreAT!

Peace out.

Bicycle races are coming your way so forget all your duties oh yeah!..

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I hope you’re all as excited as I am about The Big Mac Bike ride this Saturday at 3pm! We will be meeting in a park somewhere in central London and cycling around like wild maniacs throughout the afternoon. Inspired by these incredible pictures of Eartha Kitt I may don a pair of shorts (weather permitting!) x

Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday Today i-is…

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Friday, Friday gotta get down on Friday… I’m heading to the great Nat Sharpe’s Tron themed parteh tonight WOOP (pics to follow obvs) I thought I’d get you in the mood for a divine weekend with these original 1970′s prints by K. Chin available on Etsy HERE Oh the joy they bring. I love them and there are so many more to be seen. Feel the LOVe. x

Video game warriors escaping game grid…

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As promised I thought I’d share a couple of choice pics from last nights Tron party. We celebrated Flaps’s 30th in style…(I’m the one in white!) my body aches from throwing down so many shapes errr and did I neglect to mention the incredible buffet? scotch eggs, popcorn, coconut macaroons, all my favourites. Yes please. What a night. AMAZE

Come gather round people wherever you roam….

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I’ve teamed up with Jo from Vintage Brighton to undertake The Thrift Exchange 3 month Challenge…The fabulous Jaharn & Sophia masterminded the challenge: Two bloggers team up and decide a theme each month, buying each other a thrift item(s) to fit the brief with a budget of £10ish ($15), which may not seem like a challenge but believe me £10 in London doesn’t go very far.

Month 1 our theme of choice= Ice Cream Sorbet, slurp…the budget= £10

Jo smashed the brief finding the amazing peachy sorbet skirt and matching beads with a splash of jelly bean happiness thrown in for good measure. I LOVE the skirt and beads so much I wore them for my bike ride this weekend and ate the Jelly Beans to keep me energy fuelled for maximum performance. Oh and don’t you just love the bike themed postcard? (it’s all about the attention to detail)

You will have to wait and see wether I fulfilled the brief when Jo announces that she has officially received my secret parcel! I’ll keep you posted on next months brief, any ideas on what it could be?

Nothing is true, everything is permitted….

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Somewhere in between the Tron mayhem and bicycle ride I squeezed in a trip to the British Film Institue this weekend to see the 1970′s film titled Performance starring James Fox, Mick Jagger and Anita Pallenberg. Great flick, a violent and psychotic East London gangster needs a place to lie low after killing a man. He finds the perfect cover in the form of guest house in 1970′s (not so glamorous) Notting Hill run by the mysterious Mr. Turner (Mick Jagger), a one-time rock superstar. Jagger poisons (feeds him some serious psychedelics) the gangster to make him tell the truth about what he’s really doing there. I loved this film. One of the funniest lines is when the gangster says to a 20 something Mick Jagger ‘You’re a comical little geezer. You’ll look funny when you’re fifty.’ true dat. Well worth a watch, defo suited being shown on the big screen. x

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” (Albert Einstein)

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ARGHHHHH for anyone that knows me you will be aware of my Hobbs NW3 obsession. Hobbs NW3 really do have one of the best ranges on the high-street (in my humble opinion)….so it’s with uncontainable delight (imagine my uncontrollable facial expression) that I’m offering you the chance to WIN this beautifully tasteful N.W. 3 mini nutmeg shoulder bag, worth £110. Sneak a bit of sleek Seventies’ style into you’re a/w wardrobe by entering the following competition….

Describe the outfit you would wear the NW3 Mini Nutmeg shoulder bag with? (any pictures submitted may score you browning points) the winner shall be picked exactly 1 week from NOW!

To enter post your answer below OR email thebigmacblog@gmail.com

 To inspire your outfit choice Jo-ann Fortune, editor of www.vintagebrighton.com, picks her favourite vintage-inspired styles from the 2012 resort collections:

Jason Wu

With dark shades and messy beach up-dos, Jason Wu’s models enviably embody the super-cool vibe of his Puerto Rican-inspired resort collection. The prim tweed jackets and fit-and-flare skirts and dresses channel classic Chanel, epitomising Rivierachic, while the pleated print skirt and Fifties-style bowling shirt with yellow piping would make a delicious Diner outfit. And as for the Art Deco printed sun dresses – you’d have no choice but to move abroad so you could wear them every month of the year.


Stella McCartney

Stella loves the Seventies with a fashion passion, so it’s little surprise that her resort collection continues the themes she’s worked with for the past few seasons. Blazers and light women’s coats in this year’s hottest colours – canary yellow, marigold and cobalt blue – as well as classic camel, monochrome and charcoal are teamed with cute Peter Pan collars, stripes and business-time trousers for striking style. The collection also boasts graphic prints worthy of a night out at Studio 54, and the back of any female member of the Jagger clan.


Tory Burch

With a geek chic take on Seventies style, Tory Burch’s quirky resort range looks like it’s come straight from the wardrobe department of an uber-cool American indie movie – high praise indeed.  A mix ‘n’ match approach sees fussy feminine ruffle details paired with androgynous oversized cardigans, prep-school shorts and A-line skirts. And the fun sunset colour palette is brought into the everyday with checked and patterned pieces your granddad would be proud of. This look demands a make-up-free face – pops would want it that way.


YSL

YSL’s Forties-fabulous sailor-style silk shirt, worn with high-waisted anchor print shorts, is possibly my favourite outfit of all the resort collections. The sleek up-do and slick of red lipstick make it a picture-perfect repro look, and while other styles from the collection mix up the era influences a bit more, they really do pick from the cream of the crop. The poppy print tea dress has a slice of the Sixties in its swing, and the anchor-detail full skirt bandeau dress and bowling bag are fantastically Fifties.  And as always with YSL’s holiday collections, the handbags and women’s shoes are to fly for…

I hope you’re feeling inspired.

Goodluck.

xx

Image credits: AP Press Association Images

She used to look good to me but now I find her, simply irresistible…

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I LOVE the Bernie Dexter Clothing range.  Nailing that 1950′s silhouette each style is so feminine and fun. I would wear every single piece in the range in particular the above three styles…ideal for everyday wear, with bare legs in summer and as the temperature drops stick on some tights and a cardigan, easy. The poppy print reminds me of YSL’s resort 2012 range. LOVE LOVE LOVE.x

Can’t take me anywhere, you can’t take me anywhere….

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I’ve been listening to the Libertines today, thought I’d mix it up a bit from my usual doowop + rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack. Here’s a couple of i-phone snaps (hence the grainy goodness) I thought I’d share…things making me smile today: coral nails+ coral sweater= WINNING, Yellow notepad joy, Pantone perfect Ruby & Millie  nail varnish, I always wondered why pantone don’t start there own line of nail varnish & tights that would be ideal…in fact I might email them now. I love emailing companies with ideas like everyone’s favourite vintage inspired brand Cath Kidston about the bicycle pannier bags and lined bicycle baskets, they would really complete my look. Also Pashley + Liberty’s can you imagine if they teamed up? ooOOF Liberty print Pashley that would be SERIOUS.

p.s those are designer bags under my eyes!

Happy Friday.x

There’s more to see than can ever be seen…

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I can always rely on my Twin to give me the heads up on a range that I’m going squeal at uncontrolably, thanks Twin. I’ve been marvelling over Japanese brand Fellisimo’s amazing Disney collection since I was alerted to it on Friday night, seriously it’s the next level. Just look at that cardigan with Winnie the Pooh elbow patches OOOoof and the lookbook images are incredible it’s like tasteful British heritage mixed with subtle flashes of Disney magic modelled by a girl devouring a chocolate eclair, what more could you want? MOST EXCELLENT

Like a wind in the desert, like a moon on the sea, sunshine on a rainy day…

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We had a comedy day out yesterday to Southend-on-sea, upon arrival the weather was Les Misarables, we sat on a bench huddled under the umbrella staring out to sea contemplating our decision to visit the British seaside….then low and behold the clouds parted and the heavens shone down on us with all their might and it turned out to be a cracking day! We feasted on butterscotch ice cream and cups of tea (not recommended for those with sensitive teeth), layed on the sandy beach basking in the glorious sunshine, paddled in the Thames Estuary and stroled along the promenade. It was a lovely day, we got the train from Liverpool Street, London for a mere £10 return.

Public Service Announcement: The Competition is now closed!

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Thank you! for all your creative comments & emails! The entries have now been passed over to an impartial adjudicator to make the final decision and the ALMIGHTY Hobbs handbag will be winging it’s way to one of you lucky ladies very soon! Woo hoo I’m so excited.

The winner shall be announced this evening GMT .x

AND THE WINNER IS…….

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Well, well as I mentioned this morning the competition entries to WIN the beautiful Hobbs Nutmeg shoulder bag worth £110 were sent off to an impartial adjudicator to be judged.

Judging the competition was a longstanding Fashion Industry Professional with a history in buying and sales for various successful high-street retailers. The judge (Who I refer to simply as ‘The Beast’ firstly because of her surname, secondly because she is a seriously cut throat fashion guru and wishes to remain anonymous!) cast her eye over the comments and email entries and here is her verdict:

In 3rd place was an email entry from ‘The Glediator’ with her relaxed, wintery ensemble, showing great creative flair creating such a fabulous mood board (as shown above).

A close second was Suzy Suze. The Beast loved that she borrowed her dear Mum’s polka dot dress and felt this would team really well with the Hobbs Nutmeg bag.

Suzy wrote: ‘I think it would go with everything and love that its patent. Would very much go with my navy blue polka dot vintage dress from Jigsaw (stolen from mummy dearest!) with my busted but still gorgeous brown leather Carvela ankle boots. I’d wear it with the long strap for when I’m feeling relaxed or take it off and have it hanging from my wrist for a more coy look!!!’

Finally after a long and tough decision making process deliberating over each ensemeble entry The Beast committed to her final decision.

Drum roll please……..

THE WINNER IS CHRISSIE BECK!

Chrissie wrote: ‘Ooooh so many options! For daytime I think I’d go for something smart casual like a floaty white blouse with Levi skinny dark blue jeans and black pumps, and then evening I’d go with this little number I’ve been perving on from ASOS http://tiny.cc/riysx and strappy chunky heels. Teaming both with a Burberry tan mac! WIN!’

The Beasts official statement: ‘Firstly I love that Chrissie has given a day & night look, both outfits are very understandable, easy outfits. I believe Hobbs would love the chosen outfits as they would look great with the Nutmeg Bag, I love the mac so obvious, so simple and stylish. I also love the idea of the pumps worn with skinny jeans and floaty white blouse, this would be such a great day outfit choice for so many women and the ASOS dress for the night ensemble is very pretty too. Chrissie’s comment was lovely not overly ‘fashiony’, just a clear description of two very classic, effortless and chic outfits.’ WIN.

Thank you so much for all of you who entered. I love my readers, you’re all winners to me. A great deal of thanks to Jo for the allowing me to host such a generous and lovely competition with such a beautiful bag, I love Hobbs. Last but not least thank you to The Beast for donating time from her extremely hectic schedule to judge the competition.

Congratulations Chrissie the bag will be winging it’s way to you very soon, I hope to see pictures of you modelling it!!

Love

The Big Mac.

x

We are the infinite field of unfolding possibilities. The creative force.

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Enjoying chorizo and coleslaw indulgence and feeling inspired by these cuties from Asian iCandy Store. Those of you I see everyday will be happy to hear I’m re-reading The Secret and seem to find myself looking at Oprah’s website on a daily basis, so shall no doubt be inflicting you with an abundance of positivity, feeling like anything is possible!

Happy Thursday.

x

Blog Swop: Plains to Glam

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Hi! im Jena from FashionDIY101, fashion stylist/designer wannabe & a die hard vintage fan. I was very excited when my good friend here Christine from  The Big Mac invited me for some blog swopping & this is my first time so, im freaking out,lol. Kidding. For my guest post I’ve decided to do a fun & very easy DIY project. I searched my closet hoping to find a plain shirt that fits best on my title. :) ) here it goes.
THINGS YOU NEED
TIME DURATION: 2-3 hours
the first thing you need to do:
1. Cut the hemline of the shirt with your desired length.
2. Cut in the middle & remove the sleeves.
3. Fold both of the fabric on the chest area 1-.5inches and sew the buttons.
1.     And you’re done with the top. Now.. lets add some fun!:)) i’d like to put some shoulder pads and some fringe. You can create different designs that you want & If you like my preferred design. These are the steps.
a.     Fold & sew all the side of the shoulder pad shape fabric 5 inches (choose a fabric that is not too soft or too hard)
b.     Attach & sew the fringe above the cloth
c.      Attach the shoulder pads on the shoulder area of the top
d. Add the details you want, for me i chose to add some buttons.. then.. viola!

It doesn’t look bad huh? Better than just a plain shirt. You can always mix and match designs that best captures your preferred style. Thanks every one! Hope you like it! :) ) Questions are both entertained here on The Big Mac & in FashionDIY101.
–Jena from FashionDIY101
p.s I just want to take this opportunity to say thank  you to Christine for making this blog swopping possible.

Show me what you working with…

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Inspired by Mick Jagger in Performance I thought I’d throw together a 60′s style bohemian ensemble for this years Notting Hill Carnival. I wore a fabulous fur bobble trim shawl that I picked up in India, a £3 African mumu I scored in a charity shop in Manchester and Carvella Desert Boots, Oh and All Saints sunglasses. We hung out at our friends place on Portobello Road yesterday, ate serious amounts of jerk chicken and samba’d through the street in true carnival style.

Toe tappin’, finger clickin’, hardcore, cool…

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What a fantastic bank holiday weekend. We enjoyed the carnival on family day then on Monday we took a trip to Harrods which meant me screaming like a maniac on the Christmas floor, yes a whole floor of Christmas decorations and large teddy bears, sparkle and glitter and gingerbread men everywhere, I LOVE Christmas. Fuelled by Pre- Christmas joy we then meandered over to Holland Park to The Belvedere for a Marco Pierre White indulgent feast of true delights. Here’s a few lil’ pics I took in Holland Park pre feast. The Belvedere is my new favourite place if you go on a Sunday or Bank holiday Monday (as we did) you can eat a 3 course mouth watering array of Heaven for only £27.50 and listen to the exceedingly talented piano player tinkle the ivories with some classic tunes (including Abba and Elton John). Quote of the day ‘the only thing ruining this food is the salt from my tears’ we actually wept the cheesecake tasted so good.

I devoured: Goats cheese tart, red onion marmalade, Balsamic dressing

Followed by: Duck Confit, Pork & Puy Lentils, Saute Potato & Tarragon Jus

Topped off by: Vanilla & gingerbread cheesecake, blueberry compote

Seasoned by: tears of joy

I opted to wear a Stella McCartney silk wrap dress, Uniqlo mini cable cardigan and my beloved fur stole that I picked up in L.A for $30! Seriously fabulous. What a day, thanks to Helena for being such exquisite company.

AWOOGA.

x

Now sparkle like a splash of water in sunlight…

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Do you ever discover something amazing that everybody else seemed to know about and feel like you’ve been living in the dark? when Glediator and I took a stroll through London this weekend we walked past Butler & Wilson and I started screaming…Glediator’s all like ‘yeah have you never been in there?’ I mean did nobody think to mention it? Seriously it’s an Aladdins cave of sparkly treasures of all kinds. If you’re like me and have never heard of Butler & Wilson have a look the stores is incredible and you can buy online. My favourites are the beauties above: Crystal Owl Head Bangle , Multi butterfly & Cat pendant, Crystal Koala Broach, Multi Skull Couture Clutch bag WOW! WOW! WOW!

 

It’s, It’s the Ballroom Blitz Vintage Department Store…

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The Blitz Vintage Department Store- 55-59 Hanbury Street (off Brick Lane). London. E1 5JP

I was invited to a super exciting store opening party last night, the all NEW vintage Blitz department store opened it’s doors to a flock of vintage lovers, celebs (highlight= Martin Kemp PURE GOLD, still got it, BELIEVE), avid bloggers and press dudes.

The Blitz Department store is full of very well-selected goodies. Upstairs is a very reasonably priced book section with delightfully comfy chairs ideal for reading and reclining. I bought the Mozipedia for £10 and Louis Theroux book for a mere £4 so I’m rather excited about reading those. High Five Me. There was a corner of sparkly, vintage beaded + sequin dresses (my magpie tendencies kicked in full force) where the fabulous Lady Luck DJ’d some classic vinyls. I loved the selection of luggage, furniture and vintage fabrics upstairs too, oh and I rummaged through a basket full of scarves ( I bought x2 headscarves 2 for £5! they are incredible, amazing prints…pics to follow obvs).

Downstairs was a huge range of ladies wear mainly 60′s- 80′s prices were around £16-£30 for dresses, £20 skirts, cracking printed tees (including a baby blue Wham T-shirt & baby pink Take That T-shirt, Ideal) about £10-£15, slammin’ selection of shoes & bags £45 approx……there was also a massive menswear section with some fabulous knitwear, jackets and accessories.

The merchandising inside the Blitz Department store was beautiful, somebody had gone to some serious effort to roll up all the sleeves on each jacket, I really appreciated that, that dude must have graduated from the school of Abercrombie & Fitch, I love that, it’s all about the details.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself (Thanks Jo!) If you’re in London and love vintage I would defiantly recommend Blitz, great store, excellent range, good prices, fantastic interior and cool vibes. Do it. x

I yield to temptation with Twenty-Seven Names….

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How perfectly charming! Incredible photo shoot and super cute collection from Australian brand ‘twenty-seven names’. I’ve always loved the idea of having clothes that matched your home & interior this shoot appeals to that particular desire. Twenty-Seven Names started back in 2006 by two friends and has gained a reputable following. You can see behind the scenes pics from their collection party on ‘Katherine is Awesome’ Recommended of course by the fabulous Elsie.

Happy Mondays.

x

Baby you can drive a car, yes you’re going to be a star and baby I love you.x

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I’m happy too announce: I passed my driving test today! (more about that & dream classic cars later)

To celebrate I headed over to Notting Hill to eat sushi with my fam. We went to ‘Eat Tokyo’ a small and perfectly formed sushi joint, great prices, amazing food. I opted for the Teryaki Bento box which was HUGE and only £12 (See top pic) and veg Gyoza and edamame beans washed down with green tea….the rather ominous looking creature above was named the ‘Tokyo Dragon’ which my brother ordered and it tasted amazing. Thank you everyone for your continual support throughout my ‘learning to drive’ journey.

(Special thanks to Jess Davey for the best congratulations message I’ve received so far, I decided to use it for this blog title, you da man)

Eat Tokyo: 18 Hillgate Street, Notting Hill, London, W8 7SR

 

Don’t stop never give up hold your head high and reach for the top…

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So it’s definitely an understatement to say ‘I’m obsessed with Ulyana Sergeenko’ Fall 2011 collection‘ The lovely Lavelle gave me the heads up the other day and I cannot stop looking at these pictures. I love them. Look at those shoes, look at the use of vintage inspired floral prints and elongated skirts and headscarves, Oh boy.

Feeling some major league love right now.

Thanks Lavelle

x

Et moi, et moi, et moi….

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As Summer turns to Autumn in London you will mostly find me strolling around Green Park listening to Jacques Dutronc wearing my red cable knit jumper and tweed blazer over a floral dress and little black brogues……that is when i’m not hibernating, eating colossal homemade burgers, loosing a tooth (true story) and reading Issue 4 of Pigeons & Peacocks magazine (that just so happened to feature a very in-depth article of Northernisms a subject I just so happen to know a great deal about)

p.s Happy to announce that Marks & Spencer have started stocking mince pies! YES.

xx

Starry, starry night paint your palette blue and grey…

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I spent a very exciting Friday evening lusting over and trying on dresses from the incredible range at Palette vintage boutique. As I mentioned over on The Big Mac’s  ‘London Vintage’ Page the fabulous Marco has recently launched the online Palette vintage store where you can buy loads of great pieces from the range, with new items being added all the time be sure to have a browse.

Palette is just set slightly off Upper Street in Islington, London on the delectable Canonbury Lane. With a well selected range of contemporary and classic, vintage design from homeware to apparel there is plenty to feast your eyes on. Palette houses pieces from some iconic designers Jean Miur, Dior, Givenchy, Lilli Ann to name but a few. Prices vary depending on designer, era, etc. I would say for the quality of each piece Palette was reasonably priced. I’ve become obsessed with a particular Givenchy necklace which is a steal at only £185, there was also some incredible 60′s floral broaches in-store in real popping brights that I loved for only £18 (well worth it) The store has a very relaxing atmosphere with Marco happy to help and impart some of his expert knowledge on the history of the designers, I certainly learned a thing or two! I was inspired to research a couple of designers that Marco and I had been discussing Ceil Chapman, Lilli Ann and Dorothy O’Hara so no doubt I’ll be banging on about their incredible work in the very near future.

If you’re looking for a special frock, divine piece of jewellery, choice handbag, classic footwear or a gift for a loved one and love good design then Palette is the place for you.

(Palette- 21 Canonbury Lane, Islington, London, N1 2AS, United Kingdom, +44 (0) 20 7288 7428: Nearest Tube: Angel)

I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful. (Marilyn Monroe)

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Since my jaunt to Palette vintage boutique this weekend I’ve been busy shooting some lovely images with the magnificent Jo Bongard and Christianne Beck, we embarked on a fabulous ‘ Hollywood Glamour’ inspired photo shoot on Saturday (pictures coming soon obvs)

Enough about that though, I’ve also been getting some serious thrills from researching the incredible work of Ceil Chapman…I mean really this woman knew her way around a piece of fabric. With the skills of an engineer Ceil Chapman fashioned frocks that extenuate all the best bits of a lady and in such beautiful prints too!

Ceil Chapman was known for being Hollywood’s go-to gal for a cocktail dress or knock out frock and famous for being Marilyn Monroes favourite designer. Chapman also designed Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding dress when she married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton. Chapman was among those who succeeded in adapting Christian Dior’s “New Look” for relatively affordable cocktail wear targeted toward the American ready-to-wear market. Chapman worked at 530 Seventh Avenue in New York’s garment district during the 1950s. Some of Chapmans designs are now housed in the collection at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art…what I wouldn’t do to own one (or o.k more than one ideally) of those beauties., ut-oh I think I found my next must-have purchase piece….

(Images + info courtesy of: Memphis Vintage,  Fashion 1st dibs, My Vintage Vogue , Vintage Fashion Guild)

Whatever your mind can conceive, it can achieve…

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Argh! so you know I promised the pictures from Saturday’s shoot? well here’s a sneak preview!! We had such a great day. The amazing Christianne Beck supplied organisation and much-needed sustenance, the incredibly talented Jo Bongard photographed me against the backdrop of The Pavillion Hotel.

In the top picture you can see me wearing my own vintage fur stole, vintage Givenchy necklace and Ceil Chapman dress from Palette. Further pictures I am seen wearing my own vintage baby blue 50′s dress and Christian Louboutin sparkly shoes courtesy of Gia over at Decadent Green.

We were inspired by Old Hollywood Glamour taking references from silver screen stars like Rita Hayworth, Marlene Detrich & Gloria Grahame. I found it quite difficult to contain my smiling face, sultry or pouty facial expressions don’t come naturally to me….I could barely even manage a half smile without cracking into full laughter. Jo was so patient with me, helping to position my uncontrollable hair (as I have no idea what it’s doing most of the time) we had so much fun.

There will be more images coming soon! SO excited!!

Photography: Jo Bongard, Styling+Make Up+ Modelling: Christine “The Big Mac” Macaulay)

“I stand corrected” said the girl in the orthapedic shoe…

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I know I should probably be lusting over some incredible Jimmy Choos or the latest Louboutins but after a recent trip to the chiropodist I can’t stop looking at bespoke (mildly orthapedic) footwear. I hurt my foot some years ago wearing some 1940′s stillettous (that officially needed reheeling) and indulging in one too many shandys, I managed to slip and sprain my foot. After a couple of years of wearing high-street footwear I found the injury had gotten progressivly worse, so, I took the adult step (uh-huh) and went to the chiropodist. I spent a good hour being advised against the high-street staples I’d grown accostomed to, with ballet pumps being the number one offender. Ballet pumps provide zero support for the foot and inevitably end up permanantly damaging the foot. I was also advised that the perfect heel is 1″ and that a shoe that encases the top of the foot and fastens up means that the foot does not move around avoiding an unbalanced foot tread when walking.

With the increase of fast fashion retailers more often than ever young (budget consious) consumers are opting for cheaply made fashionable footwear with styles like ballet pumps, Ugg-esque boots, desert boots and slip on loafers becoming some of the best selling styles. Unfortunately the longterm effect of todays mass produced best sellers are yet to be discovered.

My Mother always advised me against ‘cheap shoes’ and from now on I think I will be listening more intently. I’m happy to say that my chiropodist informed me that with the correct support from some good shoes my foot issue will not be long-term. I am now dead set on buying myself some custom made, bespoke shoes and thought I’d share a few of my current shortlist.

The bespoke shoes are of course a more expensive option but they last a long time, remember, a shoe worth wearing is worth repairing!

Yours increasingly practical,

The Big Mac

(1,2,3,4 from Special Footwear, 5&6 James Taylor)

Home, our feet may leave but our hearts shall not…

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I escaped to the North of England for the weekend aka the Motherland, it was divine to see my family & friends. We had such a great day on Saturday eating delicious pea & ham soup, bread & butter pudding with currants and cherries, walked through the deer park at the great Dunham Massey. Dunham Massey is the fabulous Georgian dream home in Cheshire, complete with huge Arga cooker, winter garden, vegtable patch, chickens, deers and exquisite interiors. What a treat. x

Thrift exchange: Oh what a life of luxury to live like an apeman…

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Remember me telling you I have teamed up with Jo from Vintage Brighton to undertake The Thrift Exchange 3 month Challenge…well I’m a terror because I shipped my package off late this month so Jo will be late receiving her treats >sorry Jo< Here is the second instalment from my side! For our second challenge we decided on an animal theme and boy did Jo nail this one, is there anything more exciting than receiving an animal themed parcel of greatness?

Month 2 our theme of choice= Animal…Parrot top: £5 ebay, Cat Pictures:50p each charity shop (AMAZING!), Doggy necklace: homemade, Soap: £1 gift shop.

Thanks Jo, I love my presents.x

For those that missed my previous Thrift exchange post here’s a brief re-cap on what it’s all about: The fabulous Jaharn & Sophia masterminded the challenge: Two bloggers team up and decide a theme each month, buying each other a thrift item(s) to fit the brief with a budget of £10ish ($15)

The kettles on, summers gone, another day….

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I had such an inspiring weekend in the North of England hanging out with family and enjoying the joys of home….British Sunday roast dinner, hanging with Mr Tibbs the Fat Cat and drinking cups of tea in the garden.

I also managed to get some reading done on the train journey and was inspired to create a page to share some of the great books I’ve been reading recently so I’ll be sure to keep you posted when that goes live!

Happy Tuesday. x

It’s a nice day to start again…

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I get some lovely emails that really make me smile. Thank you. This week I received an email from Max over at Pocket Change Blog asking me if I’d like to be interviewed about fashion trends, blogging, my style icons and everything in between, so naturally I accepted. Pocket change have some pretty great articles on beauty tips, fashion and all kinds of fun. I did my best to answer the questions fired at me as honestly as I could. To read the expose click HERE! whilst I’m on the subject of exposes I thought I’d share one of the many photos from the blooper reel from the photoshoot the other week…as I mentioned I’m yet to master a pouty or sultry facial expression, I spend most of my time trying to control my manic grin…this picture was taken when I was crying with laughter attempting to manoeuver myself around the bed wearing an excessive number of tule underskirts.

Pocket full of rainbows and head in the clouds….

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I love this time of year, the leaves are turning brown, conkers are falling, the retail World is in full Fall throttle, it’s the perfect time to buy choice Fall wardrobe essentials & make your Christmas cake, yet the Fashion Capitals are busy marvelling at the latest Spring/ Summer runway shows. I thought I’d share my favourite five shows so far….in no particular order:

From the top: Spring/ Summer 2012 favourites so far…

Clements Ribeyro- Liberty style floral prints, pastel coloured stripes, lace pencil skirt, superb. ”It’s kind of a journey through our house,” Clements said backstage. “There’s toile de Jouy. We have lots of botanical pressed things, lots of plants, lace curtains.”

Erdem- shut up you’re ruining my life, can it get any better than this show? seriously…I LOVE it. Timeless shapes and exquisit cool blue floral prints. Erdem Moralioglu cited Françoise Sagan’s melancholic Bonjour Tristesse 1954 novel (the story of Seventeen-year-old Cécile and her summer in a villa on the French Riviera with her father and his mistress) as his inspiration…..the light blue florals, lace and delicate styling remind me of wedgewood pottery. Simply beautiful.

Alice + Olivia- Pastel coloured stripes, mint green, pale pink, baby blue, peg leg pastel trousers and blazers. Beaut.

Prada- ”Sweetness.” Miuccia Prada’s summation of her new collection, I’d have said “Fan-freakin-tastic” more like. Have you seen those pleated dresses, the one in lemon yellow and mint green? pastel pleated midi skirts, mini race car prints and lace jackets, erm yes please Miuccia, don’t mind if I do.

Betsey Johnson- Burlesque inspired, lingerie-inspired looks, sheer, corset lacing, hot pants, typical Betsey skintight greatness, I love the sheer raincoat and rib dress.

Forever Fabulous.

x

Joyeux anniversaire Mummy bear…

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What a weekend, it was my lovely Mummys birthday so we had a great family celebration. We headed down to Nicole Fahris’ eatery the 202 Cafe at Westbourne Grove. Cafe 202 was an ideal setting for us to get together with it’s quiet and relaxed atmosphere. I opted for the nachos for starter followed by the goats cheese and fig salad both of which were incredible, the lovely staff at Cafe 202 even let us eat our own cake! (which is key when choosing a perfect birthday venue) The chocolate cake was made by the Buttercup Cake Shop We embarked on a lil bit o’ culture too visiting The Handel House Museum learning about the great composer and seeing where he used to live, I also learned that Jimmy Hendrix used to live in the house next door (not at the same time obvs). Handel House was £6 entry and you were able to walk around, if you’re unfamiliar with Handel but watch the Champions league he’s the one that wrote the high pitched theme tune that everybody always sings along to ‘thhheeee chhhhaaaammmmpppiiiooOOOOnnnnsssss’ (you know the one).

On Saturday evening we went to watch Tinker, tailor, soilder, spy, which was incredible, I was a big fan of the original series and loved that they stuck to the classic, slow moving, British style, a classic spy film. We had such a lovely time, we were lucky enough to have great weather on Sunday and rode down to St. James Park on our bikes for breakfast, apple & cinnamon muffin, oh yeah.

Happy Birthday Mum.x

Who’s dwelling in the caves of your mind?….

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Wow it’s been a real busy ol’ week. I’ve been  racing around getting excited booking flights for a pending trip to NYC with The Glediator (couldn’t be more excited) confirming the dungeon booking for my Halloween Party, working on print design ideas with the fabulous Jess Williams and squeezing in some light reading. I’ve been making a conscious effort to read more and thought I’d share in some of the books I’ve enjoyed. I’ve created a Page for fellow book lovers and shall no doubt be adding to this list as my journey continues…. if you have any books you love and would like to share as ever I’d LOVE to hear from you. I hope you find time to visit the all NEW Big Mac Books Page! xx

Ever fancied being a writer but never quite got around to getting your idea down on paper? you should embark on the nanowrimo Challenge to write the first draft in the month of November! Who knows perhaps I’ll rise to the challenge hmmmmm……..

Sunny days make me feel fine…

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Sunshine all around in London today, bike rides, Oysters, cheese and olives, Ideal. We went for a bike ride through Hyde Park onto Portobello Market then headed over to the Portobello Gold (one of my favourites) The Portobello Gold is a cracking little pub with a restaurant in the back, the restaurant is full of plants and has some little birds in a cage, Oh and the food is amazing. Fabulous. x

the new, the wham, the bam, the new noir, fabulous darling…

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I’m excited to announce the launch of a new, fabulous website that helps you to find exciting things to see and do in London, ladies & gentlemen I give you …..The Darling Collective!

The Darling Collective lists local one-off business’ in London with everything from Chocolate ecstasy tours, Burlesque classes, food intolerance testing there’s sure to be something that catches your eye. Charlie contacted me last week and I was so excited to see the site, I love to hear about individual business’, so inspiring. I really want do the Life Drawing course only £153 at The Independent Art School, it’s been too long, I loved life drawing at Art College or I could defo see myself embarking on one of the creative courses out in the South of France. The Darling Collective site is very clear and easy to navigate teamed with lovely pictures and fantastic content you really must have a browse. It’s fabulous darling. x

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

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Oooooohhhh I’m SO excited! It’s official I’m going to NEW YORK CITY! I cannot wait. I’m heading out to New York just in time for Hallows Eve and the finest Halloween Parade the World has ever seen. Oh boy, I’ll be joined by some of my greatest buddies and have the golden opportunity to catch up with my lovely homegirl Sofie (and finally meet Wolf & Raisin) I could not be anymore excited. We are planning to see St. Vincent play,  if you can recommend any places/ events/ vintage shops or pretty much anything amazing I should do when I’m in NYC I’d love to hear from you. xx

(Pics from TOP: Audrey Hepburn in Times Square, College Girls in NYC in 1929 (pure style),  Woman walkind down 5th Avenue, Diner in NYC  courtesy of LIFE Magazine)

Pumpkins scream in the dead of night…

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I had a lovely lady compliment my shoes on the tube today which made me smile, for the record she was wearing the most amazing duck border print 50′s dress so I let her know how amazing I thought it was (sadly she bought it in New Zealand so no chance of cloning her style!), I was wearing my brown leather shoes I bought in Berlin.

Today my attention has been somewhat focused on my pending Horror Film Themed Halloween Dungeon Party as discussions and ideas bounce around, I need to make up my mind and start creating my costume eek…..thinking about Edward scissor hands hmmm? I tend to avoid horror films because they make me have bad dreams (yes I am that soft) and therefore have a slight disadvantage during the brainstorming process, in fact the scariest film I’ve seen is probably Ghost busters (Pah I’m such a pansy). Not only do I need a costume for the Dungeon party, the day after the Dungeon Party I’m flying off to New York City (WOOP!) for Halloween Part Deux!  Any costume suggestions will be very much appreciated! xx

(Pics from TOP: Vintage Halloween photography, Lilian Wells, Unknown, Grace Bradley 1933, Bride Of Frankenstein)

READY FOR YOUR CLOSE-UP? Strike a Pose….

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I shall be attending the Glamour Party at The National Portrait Gallery tonight to thrash out topics such as ‘is gender an illusion?’ have a stab at the vintage drawing class and waltz around the grand gallery with my homie Nat Sharpe. Great Times. p.s I’ll let you know if Gender is an illusion, or not.

xx

It’s got me trickin’ and it’s got me treatin’!

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So it’s not that I’m obsessed with Halloween but it’s defiantly one of my favourite times of year, can you tell? You may be thinking the temporary NEW look is somewhat premature but hey if it’s o.k for Marks & Spencer’s to be in full Halloween swing then it’s alright for Me, so I thought I’d give you all a little treat, I hope you like it. I hope you’re feeling in the festive mood. I spent this weekend thrashing out some ideas at The Late Shift on Friday at The National Portrait Gallery, you can read the full report and see a few pics on The Big Mac London Vintage Page. finally got my camera fixed (Yes Mum & Dad I did, at last) and started some initial preparations for Christmas (more on this to follow). I spent a wonderful Sunday at Twins house rocking out to the B52′s on vinyl, eating leek & blue cheese pizza and learning so much about pickling goods and making chutney. Twin also recommended I go to this shop in Williamsburg when I’m over in New York so I can bag myself some Day Of The Dead Mexican goodness. What a fantastic day. Thanks Twin & Sloweboat. x

 

Dream a little dream of Me…

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Errrr mid afternoon inspirational hit, I love Philadelphia native Lauren Moffat. Fabulous collection

At the age of only 24, Moffatt left her job as a graphic designer and moved to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. In October of 2000, she and her business partner, Rob Pepin launched their first vintage-chic women’s ready-to-wear collection. Moffatt sewed several hundred pieces at home on her 31-foot sailboat docked on New York’s Hudson River to create their first two seasons. NYC boutique Hedra Prue was the first of many trend-setting boutiques to buy the collection. Lauren Moffatt has been named “Designer-to-Watch” by both WWD and Vogue.

 

What a dream! x

I believe in miracles….

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It’s been a busy little week so far. Last night I ventured underneath London, learned the history of the term ‘on the ball’ and drank earl Grey tea with a clear view of the river Thames. Sadly I forgot to take my camera (like a complete nitwit) We embarked on The Brunel Thames Tunnel walk. Meeting at Bermondsey Tube station we paid our £8 to the very eloquent tour guide and headed to the bank of the River Thames, we were shown a whole array of historical points of interest and watched the sunset over Tower Bridge. We also managed to see the bridge go up to let a ship sail through, which is the first time I’ve seen that happen! We headed down the River and saw where pirates used to be executed, the ol’ stomping ground of Samuel Pepys and headed for the Brunel Museum. Once at the Brunel Museum we were escorted through a small tunnel, underground, we crawled through on our hands and knees into the clearing of the Brunel tunnel…which was one of the first successful and most efficient ways of getting goods from one side of the river to the other, seriously revolutionary for its time, constructed 70 years before Tower Bridge. Once safely in the vast hole underground we were given an extensive history on the adventures of the Brunel family and how the tunnel came about. I loved the tour, the guide was super informative and clearly very passionate about the history behind London today. I’m thinking I may just go on The Oscar Wilde walk at 11am on Saturday, gotta love Wilde, sure that one will be fun! Nerd fest ahoy. (Promise to remember my camera next time)

FYI- The term ‘on the ball’ was apparently coined by Sailors that needed a way to tell the time from a distance when arriving into London (before everybody had wrist watches and smart phones) they invented an ingenious time piece that had a ball on top and as the sun hit a certain point the ball lowered. There is still said ‘ingenious timepiece’ to be found a Greenwich, very interesting.

As the days get colder and shorter I seem to find myself taking photos of food all the more often. What’s new you ask? well above is my new speciality, the most recent addition to my somewhat limited culinary repertoire Homemade Apple Sauce, the recipe for which will be coming on my all new ‘FESTIVE’ Page….currently under construction. A page to share all kinds of Christmassy loveliness. Oh and I had my first hot Chocolate of the season today (for Hot Chocolate fans you may have got the subtle lyric bomb in the title of this post) Ahhhhh enjoy. x

Sugar and spice and all things nice…..

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I had a whole array off discussions today the ‘what would you spend 100million pound lottery winfall on?’ convo lastest a good few hours. Another great conversation I had was with Helen after being seen with white marks all over my blouse, I explained that it was Talc and was faced with a confused expression and gasp of ‘nobody uses Talc anymore!’ Alas I am here to shine some light on the powdery truth that is my favourite beauty product. I thought I’d also share a few other of my current favourite beauty products. Here’s my top 5:

1. Estee lauder Beautiful Powder- The AMAZING Talc that I use all the time, the smell is incredible, like beautiful granny perfume. I could not recommend this anymore. Thanks Twin for introducing this produuct into my life. (it’s £37 but my tub has lasted a year at least and I dropped it a couple of times and had the nicest smelling bedroom carpet, upmarket shake & vac at its best)

2. Yardley Lavender hand cream- The best hand cream with the most relaxing scent of lavender. Yardley are a truly traditional British brand. I use the Yardley Lavender hand cream and often the Lavender body wash, both of which always make me feel relaxed. I keep it on my desk at work and it always perks up my day. The hand cream is only £3.99, well worth it.

3. Jo Malone- Lime Basil & Mandarin Body Wash- can you tell I’ve almost used it all?! This was a lovely gift (Thanks Jon & Gia), I also got the candle to match. The smell is citrus heaven. Jo Malone have the best scents, seriously if you haven’t tried the Pomegranate perfume you should make the effort to swing by the Jo Malone shop just  for a sniff of that alone. I  haven’t bought the perfume (yet) but ‘The Beast’ (as mentioned in my previous post) wears this scent and I get ridiculously jealous everytime I smell it, so if anyone is looking for Christmas present ideas this would be the perfect present for me. (Lime Basil & Mandarin Body Wash £38, Candle in same scent £38)

4. Neals Yard Rose & Almond Night cream- Simply the best. It makes your skin so ridiculously soft and smell so good before you go to sleep. Neals Yard remedies are all natural and therefore better than putting a whole bunch of chemicals on your face. A regular tube goes a long way as you only need a very small amount every night. (£19.90)

5. Benefit Champagne ‘Hello Flawless’ Powder foundation-  It’s the first time I’ve tried a Benefit product and I’m very impressed…the packaging alone is enough to make you want to buy everything in the shop. I’m more than happy with the perfect even coverage and it comes with a nifty mirror and brush inside the compact, ooo err Hello Flawless! (Yours for a mere $34 also available on the U.K highstreet) x

I thought I’d throw in a picture of the vintage hairdressing mirror I’ve been using for my daily beauty regime, Twin I know you love this mirror. It has the Julysia logo at the top and a great dark wood frame. Fabulous.x

Don’t dream it, be it…

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I  decided to indulge myself today, for a change pah. We strolled down to Richoux one of my favourites little tea rooms on Mount Street (dangerously close to Marc Jacobs) for a spot of afternoon tea. Richoux has been going since 1909 and is truly Victorian with its divine, ornate interior. After our carb loading session suitably fuelled by caffeine we proceeded to make our way to the World famous Dover Street Market. On our way over we spotted everybody’s favourite T.V chef Nigella Lawson eating out at Scotts. You know the food must be good if Nigella is eating there! Dover Street Market was rammed with Comme Des Garcons classics. I found myself being drawn to Celine’s tweed & leopard print, Alaia Paris animal print seemless dresses (like the one above) I made one discretionary purchase, that just so happened to be the sparkliest pair of shoes in the store. My sparkly shoes are very comfy with a good rubber sole made by Anniel Italiano  I am in full New York City wardrobe preparation lockdown and figured these would be ideal for flying, they’re flat and I can loosen them when my old lady feet swell up, gross sorry, but my feet do tend to expand after long haul flights. I once had a very embarrassing work trip where I made the mistake of wearing slip on ankle boots and when I reached Tokyo I couldn’t get my feet into my boots….not cool.

On the subject of New York I thought I’d throw in a clip from Party Monster, so New York, so fabulous, If you haven’t seen it you should. I love it. Enjoy.

Happy Sunday

x

Sweets for my sweets, sugar for my honey…

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Sometimes I’m inspired to create a lovely homemade treat, domestic Godess I hear you say? sure I am! I thought I’d share my very quick and simple recipe for homemade Peanut Butter cookies:

What you need:

  • 8 tbsp plain flour
  • 2 tbsp caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
  • 1 free-range egg yolk
  • 50g/1¾oz butter, softened
  • icing sugar, for dustingWhat to do:
  1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
  2. Place the flour, sugar, peanut butter, egg yolk and butter into a large bowl and mix together until combined to a smooth dough.
  3. With lightly floured hands, break off evenly sized pieces of the dough and roll into walnut sized balls.
  4. Place the dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with silicon paper or baking parchment if you don’t have any silicon paper just use tin foil and gently press each ball with the back of a fork to flatten slightly.
  5. Place in the oven and bake for ten minutes, or until just turning golden-brown. Mine got slightly burnt haha but still tasted amazing!
  6. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool for ten minutes.
  7. To serve, place on a serving plate and dust with icing sugar.

Hope you like! They are so simple and quick to make so you can create your very own impressive treat in a matter of minutes. x

I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist…

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Now you know I’m always so excited when I get emails from you guys. I received a great email from Lily over at betty.co.uk that really made me laugh. Lily is working on a new television programme that features hoarders, collectors, shopaholics and is looking for people who would like to get involved! Now when I read the email and saw the question ‘are you living with a hoarder?’ I thought my housemates will probably all qualify ha, I’m such a hoarder. I love to shop. I hoard vintage clothes, I figure as a designer it’s my job to be surrounded by inspiration….if you were a DJ nobody would complain if you had a lot of records, right? or a writer with tons of books? that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

If you’re like me but you’re feeling bummed out by your excess hoarding and feel it’s just like  time to totally de-clutter and fancy a home make over or if you are living with a hoarder or an obsessive collector with a really amazing collection that you’d like to share Lily would love to hear from you.

Simply email: hoarders@betty.co.uk

OR Call: 0207 290 0660

It’s always cathartic to have a clear out or so my Mother says anyways

Love

The Big Mac

x

(Amazing Clueless Gif’s courtesy of LikeTotallyCluless)

The stars are ageless, aren’t they?…

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When my buddy Natalie told me I simply must watch Sunset Boulevard I didn’t take the advise lightly. I believe by now Natalie has my taste on lockdown, I wasn’t disappointed. WOW I have a new favourite film. So the film Sunset Boulevard has been around since 1950 and this is the first time I’ve watched it and I thought it was incredible. Visually magnificent, impeccable styling, hilariously funny and also kinda tragic. The film stars William Holden as an unsuccessful, well struggling screenwriter, Gloria Swanson as a faded silent movie star who draws him into her ostentatious, secluded world. Norma Desmond (Swanson) is SO incredibly well dressed, I mean an absolute style icon, she has her chauffer drive her around Hollywood in her 1920′s motor lined with leopard print complete with gold phone in the back for calling the driver up front, she holds her cigarette in a weird little finger holder and has a creepy glare in her eye. I love her. What a gal! If you get chance to watch this film you should. Sunset Boulevard was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won three. It is ‘widely accepted as a classic’  eerrrrr I should say so! xx

Boys and girls of every age wouldn’t you like to see something strange?

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You know I’m always partial to a bit of seasonal fun, doesn’t matter which season really. It’s officially 6 days until our Halloween Dungeon Party, 7 days until I fly to NYC and 8 days until the Misfits Halloween gig. I’m far too excited. We’re all huddled around watching V For Vendetta (fantastic film, if you have the opportunity to watch it you simply must) and carving our pumpkins. I this time of year. Halloween is a great excuse to dress up and bonfire night is well on it’s way….Here’s a little step by step on how to carve your own beautifully scary pumpkin decoration:

1. Buy a pumpkin from the local green grocer

2. Cut a circle out of the top of the pumpkin to create the lift off lid.

3. Carve out the insides of the pumpkin and save them so you can use them to make soup or pumpkin pie or other delicious pumpkin treats.

4. Cut out a design into the pumpkin, you can choose a traditional scary face or you can carve something personal into the pumpkin. I did both, a scary face on the back and ‘The Big Mac’ on the back.

Happy Halloweening Folks. x

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can’t do…

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Well well, It’s not often you’ll squeeze a moodboard out of Me but I thought I’d better gather my inspirations for my trip to New York City this Sunday! In preparation I’m reading Rules Of Civility by Amor Towles recommended to Me by Twin which is proving to be a delightful read. I’ll give you the full scoop on the Big Mac Books Page when I’m done. I often find it very difficult to pack for long haul trips as I have some kind of dual personality disorder, what I’m trying to say is I dress like a different person everyday and find it super challenging to pack a ‘capsule’ wardrobe. As we are to be embarking on a whole variety of activities during our trip it’s even more challenging, I need to organise a Halloween costume, comfortable shoes and pack items that can actually be worn together! You can see my inspiration above.

I’m so excited to be travelling with some of my most enchanting friends including Savile Rows finest  Paul Austin, The Glediator and The Ormenator, what a team. I’ve narrowed down some key items that I need to pack…

1. Fur Stole, 2. Fluffy Sweater, 3. Velvet Pyjama pants (not actual pyjamas), 4. Dark Red Nails (not actually being packed) 5. Rita Hayworth Make-up

The Big Mac Blog will be undergoing a little makeover of it’s own on my return so I thought I’d throw in one of the fabulous pictures from the shoot.

I’m in a New York state of mind.

xx

I wanna be a part of it, did I say that already?

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As if by Magic up pops a cracking exhibition at Museum of the city New York that I simply must see! The Cecil Beaton exhibition opened in New York today and will be showing from October 25th – February 20th, 2012, open 7 days a week from 10am – 6pm; 1220 5th Avenue at 103rd Street.

Cecil Beaton: The New York years. Beaton was a highly sought after photographer known for his surrealistic re-imaginations of aristocratic women and famous personalities. The exhibition will display some of hs finest work from 1920′s- right through to the swinging sixties. Beaton captured some serious movers and shakers of the past for both commercial [his work was regularly seen on the pages of American Vogue] and for love of creating an image. Photographs of some real knock outs can be seen ranging from Picasso to Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Greta Garbo- with whom he had a drawn out affair and many others.

Sounds like one for me!

x

(From the TOP: Official book cover, 2. Greta Garbo, circa 1930s, 3. Marilyn Monroe, circa 1956, 4. Audrey Hepburn in a Beaton-designed costume, 1964, 5. Greta Garbo, circa 1946, Pictures courtesy of stylesight.com)

I left my home for a job in the fruit trees…

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I feel so grateful to be surrounded by such positive friends and family that have always encouraged me to work at what I love even though sometimes the ride can be a little bumpy. There is nothing more inspiring to see a person turning their passion into a career. When I had the honour of reviewing a seriously awesome book titled Gig Posters Volume 2 by Clay Hayes I was desperate to know more behind such a lovingly put together publication.
Clay Hayes is the founder of GigPosters.com a website dedicated to sharing gig posters and artwork by some incredible designers and Author of two successful books. I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Clay and finding out more about his passions, aspirations and plans for the future.
1. What inspired you to start www.gigposters.com
I played in band for around 10 years, and collected all of the posters and flyers from our gigs. I created the site as a hobby to share my posters and see what other people had out there. I had no idea what was out there until the site started booming and it really opened my eyes as to what was out there.
2. Have you been to many of the gigs that you collect the posters from?
I wish! There are currently 134,000 posters on the site, and I’ve probably been to a couple hundred gigs in my life. So many amazing bands and shows out there represented by incredible posters.
3. Your first book was very well received what sets the second book apart?
101 new designers showcasing 700 amazing posters.
4. In your expert opinion what makes a good gig poster?
I would say the combination of text and imagery, capturing the essence of the band and their music. Sometimes this can be simple, sometimes complex, but if it fits the band, captures the attention and brings people to the show, it has done it’s job.
5. What is next for you? another book? an exhibition? World domination?
Haha! I would love to do a volume 3 and keep it going. With over 10,000 designers on my site, there is no end in sight. I also just released a 2012 calendar, and there should be a special GigPosters.com 10th anniversary art print series coming out real soon.
To read my full review of Clay’s book click HERE. If you’re into music, graphics, art, design or looking for a piece of inexpensive art to hang on your apartment wall then be sure to head over to Clays website or grab yourself a copy of his new book!
(Above are just three of the fantastic designs available, I picked these three because I thought they were spiffing designs, great colours, simply lovely and would find a place in my pad anytime)

If your friends are there then everything’s all right…

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A busy weekend ahead! Firstly, this evening is Katie’s hen party (or for our lovely Americans readers thinking what the heck is a hen party well, it’s the English version of a bachelorette party). A bunch of us are getting together at our friend Katie’s house. My lovely, kind and generous darling sister the Big T & the gang have organised a whole World of fun that I am very much looking forward to. I cannot give much away at this stage as Katie may be reading this post and she knows nothing of the surprises in store for her. Hohoho. I love surprise fun argh I am so excited. I shall not reveal too much but just share with you a couple of beautiful inspirational images to get your imagination going…more lovely photographs from this evening to follow I promise.x

It was a graveyard smash…

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The last and sadly final Thrift exchange post is here, ahhh what adventures I have had scouring the thrift shops of London hunting for a bargain. It has been a challenge but we made it!

For those of you that have just joined us, the Thrift exchange is a challenge where two bloggers team up and have to select a theme and a budget of £10, each month you have to find a gift from a thrift store that sits within the theme and budget…are you following? I teamed up with the nifty thrifty Jo at vintagebrighton.com. I have really enjoyed receiving my themed package every month, it’s like Christmas came three months in a row. I have to admit I found the animal themed month the most  difficult, believe it or not. I searched high and low on Brick Lane for a lovely animal item(that wasn’t a generic leopard print blouse) for less than a tenner. I also got hit round the head by a tramp with a bunch of flowers (true story, don’t ask)

This month was our Halloween theme, I love Halloween in-case you didn’t realise. In my parcel this month I received some black nail varnish that takes me right back to my gothic teenhood! (excuse my milky white finger toes) and a pretty super fabulous Beetle juice esque jacket, ha! Jo is very good at this, I hope she likes what I found for her….x

See the previous marvels here:

Month 1= Ice cream sorbet theme

Month 2= Animal theme

I like your new piglet suit….

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Wow! what an evening. Happy engagement Katie! It was a pink themed surprise array of happiness….Thereaa created the best pink themed buffet,  I was my first chocolate fondue and it was unbelievable. Here’s a few snaps from the party. I simply must dash to get ready for the dungeon party oooooo!

Sun arise early in the morning….

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I appear to be having a weekend of the most epic proportions! yesterday I woke up pretty early (for a Saturday) and hurried my way along to my diet detox centre and tried out one of the Iyashi Domes which left me feeling pretty incredible! I was shown to my dome and explained everything about how it works, what the benefits are, who should use it and why it’s the latest craze to be hitting the detox market globally. The Iyashi black carbon Dome gradually heats up the body by emitting vibrations of infra-red rays that are in line with the bodies naturally produced infra-red. I drank half a glass of water then jumped in. Your head remains uncovered as demonstrated by me! and the rest of your body is cocooned in the dome where you sweat out all those toxins Yeah. The Iyashi Dome ensures a weight loss of up to 600 calories per half at hour. The heat penetrates up to 40mm under the skin which is purifying, deep cleansing and reduces cellulite. It is recommended for use around twice weekly for those on a  steady weight loss programme teamed with a sensible diet of course. The dome is also recommended for ladies after pregnancy as it firms the skin and helps you skin retract back to its normal loveliness. For those on a detox or looking for sensible weight loss solutions take a peek at  mydietdetox.co.uk they can recommend the dome and also deliver food to your door every day as part of a full nutritional service. I found the dome leaving me feeling pretty refreshed, I have definitely never sweated so much in my entire life (seriously) it was also very relaxing and didn’t find it to be too hot or uncomfortable in any way. I entered in to the dome a sceptic but I have to say I would definitely go again.

This is Halloween…

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So you know how I mentioned I was having a Horror themed Dungeon Halloween Party well……It was AMAZING!!!! Argh everybody looked incredible. Everybody went to town on the costumes which made me soooo happy, I love a well dressed do. Oh boy I can’t quite explain how much fun it was. I think everybody was concerned about me throughout the night as I was dressed as the Tim Burton Queen Of Hearts and had drawn my eyebrows on half way up my forehead creating a bizarre expression, ha, everybody kept asking if I was o.k and saying I look worried, haha, the power of make up. I thought I’d share with you some of the excellent costumes. I’m typing this and kind of feeling like I should be packing my suitcase as I’m leaving for NYC in about an hour > insert more uncontainable excitement<

Thanks to everyone that came to party with us, you all looked unbelievably scary. Thanks to Patricia for being so tolerent with our raucusness and allowing us to enjoy the Dungeon in all it’s magnificant glory.

x

 

It is so nice when you can sit with someone and not have to talk….

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New York City baby! We are here. We arrived late Sunday night and headed straight for pancakes. Today was our lazy day although we managed to cover quite a bit of ground. Our apartment is AMAZING. We have a little white dog living next door called Phoebe, we’re a few doors down from a jazz bar and mingled in between plenty of thrift stores. I will be taking pics and notes of all the great thrift stores we venture into for the upcoming all NEW Big Mac Blog New York City Vintage guide COMING SOON. There’s even a lovely little desk in our apartment that I will be attempting to keep up with my Nanowrimo word count. For breakfast we headed to the all famous Katz Deli where Harry met Sally and feasted on a pastrami sandwich and pickles (errrrrmazing) There’s still some snow on the ground from Saturdays snow storm but the weathers crisp, cold and sunny, perfect conditions for the Halloween Parade tonight! I have been inflating our props for this evening Halloween Part II where we shall be basing our costumes on the Flintstones and rocking out to The Misfits at BBKings. After our meat feast we went shopping and enjoyed a drink in Yaffa Cafe (they have the BEST interior) then headed home for an afternoon power nap. Ahhh now to prepare for this evening! Flintstones meet the Flintstones.  p.s I’m far too excited. xx

Flintstones meet the Flintstones they’re a modern stone age family…

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WOW words cannot really describe last night. Holy potatoes. It was unreal. We headed to BB Kings Blues Club near Times Square and all it’s bright lights and enormity. We watched Juicehead then the Misfits came on stage and well let’s just say my ears are still ringing. It was loud and seriously heavy the moshpit was insane with crowd surfers, I nearly hit the deck at one point. One crowd surfer actually knocked over the mic stand over and broke it and the gig came to a halt that was pretty dramatic. New York turned out in some incredible costumes after the gig we headed to the East Village to The Mercury lounge a great little bar with some cracking bands and watched The Dearloves who I thought were pretty bloomin’ marvellous.  We threw down some mean shapes onto that dancefloor and met some hilarious people and flexed our faux American accents. Seriously amazing. x

 

I remember you well from the Chelsea Hotel…

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New York City. A day of plentiful adventures. Brunch at The Cupping Room, new socks from Anthropologie, walking along the highline (a disused railway line now a green oasis with great views of the river) Cocktails and a couple of games of pool at The Maritime Hotel (laughing at memories from my last barefoot visit there with Johnny Knoxville & Twin!) followed by a quiet night in with Zoe Deschanel. Hilarious bliss. x

Waiting on a friend…

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Another fantabulous day courtesy of New York City. We started local have breakfast at Freemans (recommended by Scarlett Johanson) I managed to take three pictures before being told not to use my camera inside this ‘low key’ establishment. Freemans is excellent. Tucked away down Freeman Allley, just off Rivington street between Chrystie & Bowery in the Lower East Side Freemans serves up A-Grade food and has enough taxidermy to fill some kind of dead zoo. I ordered the Devils on horseback (Prunes stuffed with cheese & wrapped in bacon) which were ridiculously good, followed by the scrambled eggs on toast with sausage. I know, I know, I like to eat alright! Wow the food was divine.

We walked off our breakfast and headed to St Marks Place to recreate the Rolling Stones Waiting on a friend video, Oh and where they shot the Led Zepplin Physical Graffiti Album cover, top dweebs, love it. I managed to squeeze in a bit of choice vintage shopping (more on that in my upcoming New York Vintage Guide Page) on the way to Central Park. There was a snow storm here on Saturday and 1000 trees were knocked down in Central Park so there was a huge clean up operation which meant no horses (boo hiss). We Strolled around the park and sat outside at The Boathouse for a drink, such fabulous scenery.

I was so happy this evening as I got to reunite with my homegirl Sofie who recently got her dream job designing the bags for Michael Kors (I could not be more proud) we gorged on a Korean BBQ at NYC’s top Korean restaurant Miss Korea having a full gossip download.

AMAZE!

xx

No sleep til Brooklyn…

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WOah maaan. Today we started out in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We went to the late Heath Ledgers Cafe Five Leaves (18 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222) it was super delicious. We were sat on the table next to Alexa Chung which made us feel pretty Vogue. I accidentally ordered the Devils on horseback (again) really, really nice and the muesli with spiced pear, pumpkin seeds and poached sugar plums which was also pretty darn incredible. I couldn’t recommend this place enough. It’s also near loads of great vintage stores.

After consuming our body weight in coffee and laughing at all kinds of stuff (including The Ormenators Muji Dog Pen) we went shopping. I bought a woolen grey pencil skirt from The Salvation Army for $5 which I’m well impressed with (pictures & shopping guide to follow, as promised). I had my nails done at a ghetto nail salon and headed home. In our  apartment I tried on The Ormenators black bob wig that she wore for Halloween and I looked like somebody else. It was like an outer body experience, I didn’t recognise my own reflection, I felt like some kind of Katy Perry, Pulp Fiction wild woman. Apologies to everyone that I scared when I updated my Facebook Profile saying ‘I had my hair cut and dyed today. I now have a black bob cut!’ it was a jape, a mere ruse, I was pretty astounded by the number of texts exclaiming and demanding an explanation haha (sorry gang)

Ginger hair and fur intact we went to our local diner for some fuel before heading to see Slow Club play at The Mercury Lounge. Slow Club are a Folk-rock duo from Sheffield and they went down a storm, great gig. With the East Village at our finger tips we frequented pretty much every single bar there was going, played some pool and danced like maniacs. xx

Hey baby, check out the gun show goin’ on over here. BOOM, BANG! Firepower!

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A day of hysterical laughter. I think I may have developed a six-pack from laughing so hard. As I mentioned last night we partied all over the East Village into the early hours which meant today started off on a tender note. We sloped off to our local diner and got our fix of fruit or for some, huge plates of meat. I had the fresh fruit granola, yoghurt parfait which was incredible.

After breakfast we frequented a couple of stores around the village and I purchased a new tee with a burger on the front of it. Hope you like! We then proceeded to get a taxi uptown to The Natural History Museum which was fairly quiet as we only got there at about 5pm which on the plus side meant we got in for free (top tip), however it only gave us about an hour or so to look around. Ha, I think that was enough time for us, we saw all the greats, the dinosaurs, the underwater beasts, the orangutans, the antelopes and of course the gift shop. We were scared of getting locked in because they were closing as we left and had all seen ‘Night at the Museum‘ with Ben Stiller so were convinced that all the creatures would come alive at night.

I bought my first red Starbucks cup of the season, I got pretty excited and had an Eggnog Latte. WOOP. This evening we went for an amazing Mexican at Benny’s Burittos and I wore my new (as mentioned previously) grey woollen skirt. It’s getting pretty cold here today and the wind has really picked up so we are wrapping up in our furs (obvs) The food at Benny’s was ideal and the atmosphere was very relaxed. I ate the Nachos and had the homemade Lemonade which was also perfect, filling & delicious. xx

Elegance is not a dispensable luxury but a factor that decides between success and failure..

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We stayed in the most fantastic mansion house in Williamsburg, Brooklyn last night. We discovered Doug & Jessicas mansion house on airbnb.com

If you’re not fimiliar with airbnb.com it’s an online service that matches people seeking vacation rentals and other short-term accommodations with those with rooms to rent, generally private parties that are not professional hoteliers. The site was founded in August 2008 by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia. In July 2011, the company had over 100,000 listings in 16,000 cities and 186 countries. Listings include private rooms, entire apartments, castles, boats, manors, tree houses, tipis, igloos, private islands and other properties. Some seriously amazing homes shared all over the World.

Our room was painted the most incredible Peacock colour furnished with beautiful vintage pieces and great artwork. Doug & Jessica had some amazing original glass encased pieces by Swoon. Swoon is a street artist originally from Daytona Beach, Florida. Swoon now lives in New York City specializing in life-size wheat paste prints and paper cutouts of figures. I loved them, great rough drawing style.

Jessica and Doug were so lovely and considerate. We were greeted on arrival and helped with our super heavy luggage and being nosey we asked to look around the house. Jessica gave us a tour of the house which was so beautiful. I adored the grand dark wood original staircase. In the morning we were treated to a delicious seasonal, organic. very autumnal breakfast which was incredible. If you’re planning a trip to New York and looking for a reasonably priced, clean, stylish, peaceful and truly unique place to stay (conveniently near to the Brooklyn Flea market and über cool Williamsburg) I would highly recommend staying at Doug & Jessica’s, true elegant glamour! xx

A Friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature….

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I left my heart someplace in Brooklyn. I fell in love with Williamsburg. If you are ever over in NYC you simply have to spend some time hanging out in Williamsburg. We headed out to the Brooklyn Flea Market early on Saturday which was exactly how I like to start my weekends! (Top tips to follow- New York Vintage Guide COMING SOON) after purchasing a couple of choice items (err check out Nico’s amazing NEW, well vintage red coat= hubba hubba) we headed over to General Greene for breakfast. A busy little cafe full of true Brooklynites, creatives, beardy men and ‘yummy’ mummies oh and a fair splattering of small dogs to squeal over too. Having consumed egg on toast with some kind of incredible sausage I treated myself to a pedicure and to get my hair done. Hopefully you can see from the picture above that my hair has NEVER looked so shiny! it’s like a wig. Feeling suitably glossy I went and met my buddies in Ontario (Williamsburg 559 Grand St.Brooklyn, NY 11211) a small but perfectly formed Canada themed dive bar ideal for playing airhockey and hanging out. A few ginger ales later we headed to my homegirl Sof’s AMAZING apartment complete with little Raisin & Wolf the singing pooches and the delightful Jason Scott Goodman. It was so incredibly fabulous to hang out and finally meet the little doggies and admire the plough and Empire state building from Sofie’s humongo roof terrace and swing in the hammock!

Miss you guys.xx

NYC Ya later…

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So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye, I’m officially back in London and just had to share the last few of my NYC photos. We saw this little Wolf guy hanging out in Brooklyn and swooned for at least 20 minutes over him and his lovely smile. Oh and I still can’t get over how sleek and shiny my hair is. Pure Autumn. x

Winners find ways…losers find excuses..

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So, straight back onto English soil to a fabulously inspiring evening. My Dad’s art college buddy Jon has opened a super cool Pop-Up Shop! Usually available online somethingorother.co.uk has opened it’s doors at the trendy Exmouth Market, London for three weeks only to give you the chance to swing by and bag yourself (or a loved one) something special in the run up to Christmas. There are loads of great bits that would look amazing in the home or commercial spaces. I loved the pinball coffee table and large wall mounted wooden letters. All the pieces are created using recycled or unloved items then injected with a dose of imagination resulting in some cracking unique furniture, artwork and lighting. somethingorother.co.uk also accept commissions and bespoke requests so if you have something in mind or an old possession that you think would look amazing as a lamp or chair, get in touch. I found the prices really affordable for the level of workmanship involved in each piece. Get down there or check out the website for more beauties:  somethingorother.co.uk

I thought I’d share a picture of my Dad’s shoes too, pretty rad, hope you like!

somethingorother.co.uk POP UP SHOP can be found at: 18 Exmouth Market, London, EC1

xx

Fried chicken just tend to make you feel better about life…

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On the flight from New York to London I managed to watch The Help. The Help is a film based on the 2009 novel by American author Kathryn Stockett. A heart-warming and hilarious story of an aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960′s who decides to write a book detailing the African-American maid’s point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis. I laughed and cried, it’s a beautifully wrtten and acted film with the most desirable costumes. The colours and attention to detail is fabulous. Think MadMen era in the South, for costume designer Sharen Davis, that meant hyper-feminine dresses in Easter egg shades, with bold floral prints, modest necklines and full skirts nipped at the waist. Err Yes Please.

“This is probably the most color I’ve ever used in my life,” said Davis, whose credits include “Dreamgirls” and “Ray.” “And it’s the first time I have not used a color palette for a film. Each of the women had her own story, her own home and her own color palette.”

Davis built 50 costumes from scratch using vintage fabrics (the rest were sourced from costume rental shops and vintage stores).  The job was challenging because the film, which opens Wednesday, was shot in Greenwood, Miss., where resources were nil. “The only store is a Walmart. There wasn’t even a Starbucks or a Target,” she said. “I had to fly a lot of people back to L.A. for fittings on the weekends.”

I loved the story and the costumes really enhanced each scene, Sharen Davies did an amazing job! a visual spectacular and great social commentary with some scenes confronting the shocking attitudes of the time and also somehow managing to turn these into pure comedy. If you get chance to watch The Help you should, I strongly recommend it.

xx

Interview Quotes courtesy of L.A Times

Every cloud has a silver lining….

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My friends are always telling me how cool my parents are. I try to hang out with them whenever I can. We do all kinds of stuff like go to gigs, eat nice food, watch films, listen to music, talk about clothes it would seem we share quite a few of the same interests. I started to thinking about all the older people I know and reckon they’re infinitely cooler than I am (or is that just my age speaking?)

I think something special happens as you get older, it seems you become a little less concerned about what other people think and gain in self confidence. With sights like Advanced Style (Ari Seth Cohen’s Blog dedicated to photographing cool old people in Manhattan) it would seem we have a lot to learn from old folk in both attitude and style. I thought I’d delve into the ‘Grey Market’ and see what’s happenin’….

With improved healthcare, better nutrition, higher living standards life expectancy has increased. The Global population of over 65′s has risen from 5.9% in 1980 to 8.0% in Jan 2011 (Euromonitor, Sept 11) According to Shigeo Morioka of the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance, if the birth rate in Japan remains as it is now, by 2050, people over 60 will make up over 30 % of the population. Which means a whole load of old geezers. Over 65′s often have a relativly large disposable income (especially in developed countries) which I’m certain means more brands will be directing their product focus more to over 65′s than ever before. (Good news eh Dad?)

Now some of the younger readers will be imaging a population of beige wearing, coach trip dawdling old giffers, however….lengthened life expectancy has seen an increased desire for the aging population to continue interests and lifestyles previously associated with younger generations. There’s a whole bunch of blogs written by old people. (I keep trying to get my Mum to start one!) such as V.O.G Very Old Grandmother, the OGs, (Original Grandparents) and Retire in Style have a huge cult following of young and old readers.

I know I’ve mentioned before but one of my all time style icons is Fashion & Textiles Designer Iris Apfel who at the age of 90 launched her own range of jewelry for the Home Style Network in America. She’s a babe.

The future is all about the ageless attitude, hangin’ out with the old folks, embracing difference and learning a thing or two along the way.

xx

(Interesting sites to ref: blog.euromonitor.com, www.ilc-alliance.org, pewinterest.org, boomers.typepad.com, www.bls.gov- images via Advanced Style Blog)

Autumn days, when the grass is jewelled…

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London is in full Autumn swing. I went walking in the park today to gather leaves for my autumn table, we are preparing for a Thanksgiving Dinner at our house and will be decorating the table in all kinds of seasonal greatness. I LOVE the festive season and thought I’d share some of my favourite treats and ongoing preperations HERE at The Big Mac FESTIVE PAGE!

Happy Autumn

xx

 

 

Open up your eyes, then you’ll realize…

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I get so excited when I discover a clothing line that I LOVE. My latest favourite is a super cute Japanese brand ‘Everlasting Sprout’,  Designer Keith Muramatsu has been showing in Tokyo for a couple of seasons now. I love Japan. The above are from the latest  ‘Everlasting Sprout’ SS’12 runway show, I love the large-scale spots, classic navy blue & white shirt dress, pleated skirts, striped socks with shoes, sweet little cardigans and of course the ginger wigs. I remember when I went to visit my sister in South Korea and watched Annie the musical at the Theatre in Seoul the little Korean actress that played Annie had a wig very similar, AMAZING. Beaut. xx

Baby it’s cold outside…

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I’m officially excited. It’s freezing outside and we have decided to head to the Lake District for the holidays. Yes Folks it is definitely that time of year again. I love the holiday season, getting together with my family, eating delicious seasonal foods, wrapping up in amazing knitwear, donning choice skiwear pieces and rolling around in the snow a la Mariah Carey.
If you haven’t started to consider your winter wardrobe then I’m about to save you from serious chilliness and a whole World of winter faux pas! Inspired by my two all time favourite Christmas pop classics (that I usually play on a loop as soon as it hits 1st December! I’m not sure I should be admitting this) I thought I’d throw some seasonal inspiration your way.
As some of you will already know, I’m a sucker for quality especially when it comes to knitwear & outerwear. TKMaxx is the numero uno place to visit for amazing quality outerwear & knitwear at realistic prices. They have a serious array of fine quality skiwear too for those of you heading to the slopes this fall.
Look 1: Think George Michael in the Wham days huddled up with his buddies in the ski lodge in the ‘Last Christmas’ video, what a style icon. Love it. 1. Suzanne Bettley Grey Faux Fur Snood 2. Antoni & Alison Red Padded winter Coat 3. HYRA Black Soft Shell Ski Pants 4. Fairisyle Angora sweater by Ronit Zilkha 5. Suzy Smith Brown Leather Gloves Limited items available at TK Maxx online!
Look 2: Mariah Carey totally rocked the Mrs Claus ski chic look in the ‘All I want for Christmas video’ I aspire to this every winter when it snows, I love the contrast of red and white. 1. Roxy Ladies Ski Trouser 2. Betsey Johnson Cream padded winter coat 3. Gharani Strok Fairisle Reindeer Cardigan 4.KHOMBU White Fleece lined snow boot 5. Johnstones Of Elgin Cashmere Scarf set Limited items available at TK Maxx online!
Some of the Cashmere scarf and hat sets would make the perfect gift for somebody this Christmas and they’re only £29.99! I love the tartan one above.
Happy Winter my lovelies!
The Big Mac
xx

Just like schoolgirls blinded by rose coloured dreams….

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I had the absolute joy of going to the Rhythm Riot Rockabilly Festival in Rye, England this weekend. I love the countryside, team that with rock ‘n’ roll, doo wop, impromptu swimming, great cheese, beautiful friends, vintage clothes, classic cars and pure comedy and you’ve got yourself a winning combination. Sigh, sweet memories of Rye. Now, where do I start? We bunked up with some of Hollywood’s finest (love you guys) learnt about new fangled make up techniques, laughed hysterically, walked into a bush, swam in our underwear, caught a cold, mastered our first dance steps, loved, rocked, screamed, strolled on the beach, ate naff hotdogs, spent loads of 2p’s, rode on a vintage bus and slept a minimal amount in our suspiciously lumpy bunk beds. There were some incredible bands playing…personal highlights included: JD McPherson, The Bobbettes and the band that really stole the whole festival for me (and I’m not just saying this because they’re my pals) Lil Mo & The Dynaflos really ripped it up! with a whole bunch of NEW original songs written by the great Cliff Quan, seamless dance moves, over -the-head-backwards guitar playing by the beautiful Eitaro, hilariously charismatic stage presence, Jack’s fierce drumming, Martine on bass, Takow (I’m not sure if that’s spelt right) on Sax and vocals by Marc, Cliff, Dave & Lil’ Mo these guys really showed that Ballroom who was boss! Doo Wop at its BEST They came and they conquered. If you haven’t listened to the Lil’ Mo & The Dynaflos before, you simply MUST. Rhythm Riot was a blast, Pontins Holiday Camp and the ancient town of Rye was engulfed by some exquisitely dressed rock ‘n’ rollers all in their 40′s, 50′s, rockabilly glory. The classic car show was impressive even the original 60′s Bat Mobile made an appearance. The Festival site is right next to the sea and sandy beach where we walked and saw the sunset. A fantastic time was had by all, such a friendly and divine, colourful crowd. I’m fully partied out and managed to get myself a beauty of a cold….note to self: Don’t swim in a cold swimming pool in November in your underwear.
Thank you to everybody that made it such a wonderful experience.
Great Times!
xx

Counting stars when it gets dark, every little thing I do reminds me of you…

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I thought I’d share a few lovely pictures from a brisk walk around London. I’m feeling pretty fragile this week with a perpetual sniffle and sore throat making me even more monotone than usual. The afore-mentioned darling of Hollywood Thea saw some of the sights and experienced the fantastically mysterious Gordons Wine bar that’s in a secret little cellar and serves great food & wine. My darling friend Miss Pybis swung by to bring me an abundance of Neal’s Yard remedies to make me better.

So happy to have such lovely friends.

xx

(Pics as follows: St James Park, Goose in St. James Park, Royal Guard, The Savoy Hotel, Pink Orchids at The Savoy Hotel, Toile de jour wallpaper The Savoy Hotel, The London Eye, Thea at Gordons Wine Bar, Pork Pie at Gordons Wine Bar, Big Ben, Fortnum & Mason Christmas Tree, Miss Pybis lovely new camera, Miss Pybis great socks)

The heart that gives thanks is a happy one…

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Happy thanksgiving to all my loved ones across the pond! In your honour I got together with a couple of my darling friends Christianne, Paulo, Natalie, Terry & Jack to raise a glass and indulge in a feast fit for Obhama himself. I collected some autumn leaves and twigs from Green Park to create a seasonal array of flowers for the centre of the table. Each guest had their own lovely little name setting and thanksgiving theme conversation starter, we ate to the soundtrack of the Puppini Sisters singing Star Spangled banner and a whole bunch of other old time classics. Laughter and conversation flowed, a whole plethora of topics were covered from aspirations, to The Secret (obvs), embarrassing childhood stories and toasting what we were all thankful for. The evening ended in us all singing along to Beyonce’s rendition of Star Spangled Banner and crying with laughter.

I threw together the menu based loosely on seasonal autumn ingredients mixed with traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

Here’s a little peek at what we ate!:

Autumn Pear Salad:

Simply toss the following into a huge bowl and you’re onto a winner!

  • x3 Pears cut into small cubes
  • Rocket
  • Soft Blue cheese (go with your fave)
  • Walnuts
  • A sprinkling of fresh cranberries

Honey & Mustard Salad Dressing: Mix together and toss on your Pear salad.

  • Olive oil (the amount will vary depending on the amount of salad you need to cover, I made a small glass dish)
  • Splash of malt vinegar
  • Table spoon of mustard
  • Pinch of table salt
  • Pinch of black Pepper
Honey Roasted Parsnips: Apply the honey, pepper, salt & Olive Oil to the parsnips, then roast for 2omins, this is a seriously incredible side dish. In hindsight I should have made twice as many!
  • 3 large parsnips, trimmed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp blossom honey
  • salt, and freshly ground black pepper

Pan fried Venison Steak delivered by Farmer Choice (Amazingly succulent) with mixed berry sauce:

  • Heat the oil in a frying pan, cook the venison for 5 mins, then turn over and cook for 3-5 mins more, depending on how rare you like it and the thickness of the meat (cook for 5-6 mins on each side for well done). Lift the meat from the pan and set aside to rest.
  • Add the balsamic vinegar to the pan, then pour in the stock, cranberry jelly and garlic. Stir over quite a high heat to blend everything together, then add the raspberries and blueberries carry on cooking until they soften. Serve.
Whole White Free Range Turkey from Warwickshire! delivered to our home in Mayfair by Farmers Choice:
I set the turkey to brine 24hrs before we ate to retain the moisture and infuse the meat with a subtle flavour. Turkey can sometimes taste a little dry so I would strongly recommend brining your bird for the tastiest results. Here’s what I used to brine our turkey. (Our bird was 3.5kg)
  • roughly 28 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups coarse salt
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon black or brown mustard seeds
  • 1 fresh whole turkey, patted dry, neck and giblets reserved for stock, liver reserved for stuffing
How to brine:
  • One day before roasting turkey, bring the water, the salt, bay leaves, and spices to a simmer, stirring until salt has dissolved. Let cool for 5 minutes
  • To minimize cleanup, line a container (I used a large plastic bowl, but at Christmas we used the bath once because our bird was so big!! so choose something to suit your bird) with a large brining or oven-roasting bag. Place turkey in bag. Add the water, and the other ingredients. Tie bag; if turkey is not submerged, weight it with a plate. Refrigerate for 24 hours, flipping turkey once.
  • Remove turkey from brine one hour before you’re ready to roast it, and pat it dry inside and out. Let stand for up to 1 hour before roasting.
Desert: Homemade Apple& Pecan Pie & Vanilla Ice Cream made by excellent sister Terry (This was incredible, thanks Terry)- Sorry about the lack of pictures, by this point I was well under way with eating my own body weight in pie and laughing at my own jokes!

I would like to say a HUGE special thanks to farmerschoice.co.uk for the delicious meat. Jason was very helpful in advising on the best times to have the meat delivered.

Farmer’s Choice Free Range Ltd is a small, friendly company, dedicated to providing top quality free-range meat. Farmers Choice service was highly personable, flexible with super efficient delivery and seriously amazing quality meat. If you’re a bit of a novice (like me) or a dab hand in the ol’ kitchen I would definitely recommend Farmers Choice they offer simple advice and a choice of over 600 cuts ranging in all sizes and catering for all needs . Get in there quick to arrange your turkey for Christmas!

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Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind…

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Hi Gang! thank you for your concern over my lack of blog posts for the last couple of days. I’ve been dying to keep you up to date with my whereabouts and exciting daily discoveries, however I have been experiencing some technical trouble…..ut-oh I hear you cry!

Now, for those of you that know me if I was to say ‘I’m having trouble with my memory’ you would probably not be surprised. It would appear that the Big Mac has memory troubles in the physical and the virtual. I’ve only gone and exceeded the memory limit for the ol’ wordpress account (eek) which in layman’s terms means ‘I’ve been bloggin too hard man’

Since thanksgiving I’ve been doing a whole load of relaxing, reading my Loius Theroux book ‘The Call of The Weird‘ and working hard in between.. Oh and I’m super excited to be heading to The Cointreau Prive, the Dita Von Teese speak easy tonight in London’s Pigalle Club, pictures to follow of course.

I thought I’d share with you the beautiful new JCREW Fall lookbook which I just adore. JCREW always have the best colours and I never fail to see something that I must buy everytime i’m over in the states. I mean seriously look at that red & white plaid coat. Schwing.

To soften the blow of my technical troubles I had the pleasure of being visited by the Fairy Hobmother. The Fairy Hobmother browses the internet bringing joy and happiness to the world’s bloggers by providing treats for great, hard work in the blogosphere. I am happy to say I have been granted with a delightful bunch of Amazon vouchers that I shall be putting towards some camera + lighting equipment! (photoshoot central here I come) Thanks Fairy Hobmother! 

Sadly I’ve been deleting posts in order to bring you this message. I think it may be time for an upgrade…

Love

The Big Mac

xx

 

Public Service Announcement: The Big Mac Makeover

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So as promised here is a peek at the Dita Von Teese Speak easy. The interiors were styled to reflect Dita’s L.A home. We showed up pretty early after our dinner before the party really kicked off. We had a seriously fantastic dinner at one of our local restaurants Prezzo which with a taste London card is 50% off mid week! The Goats cheese & Beetroot Salad blows my tiny mind.

Now, as I have mentioned in my previous post I am experiencing some problems with my blog memory so I am in fact planning a pretty major league overhaul/ extreme make over which will involve me sitting down and concentrating (woah man!) I’m heading to Manchester this weekend for a mini city break to see my lovely buddies (Lavelle, Glediator & Co) to shoot some excellent pics! so shall make a start on the overhaul when I get a wee minute.

Big Love + excitement

xx

Once upon a time not too long ago….

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Howdy peeps! Since my last post I’ve been whizzing around like a maniac. I visited Manchester for a wee city break, heading straight to the Christmas Market and my favourite vintage shop Retro Rehab. Manchester was super cold and rainy though I was warmed on the inside by a pre-Christmas gift from the amazing Glediator (she clearly knows me too well!) Glediator & the delightful Rosie teamed up to create a floral vintage dinner plate with my face on it, yes that is me as a child with a perfectly spherical head. I LOVE IT!

These past couple of days have been pretty insane. I’ve been crazy busy with work and I’m moving house!! Oh and The Big Mac Blog was bursting at the seams (as I mentioned earlier) with a lack of memory and not allowing me to upload. With all this crazy business I’ve decided to hold on the extreme make over and simply upgrade my WordPress memory limit, I’ve been bouncing a few ideas around for the new look, though it may be a New Year unveiling at this rate! if you have any ideas for the Big Mac’s new look I’d love to hear from you….

So, in between all my work and moving I’ve been squeezing in some major league festive fun. My sister held a lovely Christmas buffet for our closest friends with homemade treats, an abundance of Paxton & Whitfield cheese and crafty corner where we made our own Christmas cards. I’ll have some excellent book reviews for you soon including the excellent Louis Theroux ‘call of the weird’

Keep warm folks.

The Big Mac

xx

It’s the most wonderful time of the year….

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Last week was super busy for me with work and home life, moving house, designing an entire range meant a couple of sleepless nights and feeling like my head was about to implode. Thankfully I had been invited to my glorious friends Joey & Tilda’s Mulled Disco House-warming extravaganza this weekend in the beautiful Oxford.
Having never visited Oxford before my only reference point was watching endless episodes of Inspector Morse as a child. We got the Oxford Tube (which is actually a coach not a tube, interesting choice of branding) from Victoria Coach station early on Saturday. The coach ticket only cost £14 return booked in advance at megabus.com. I would strongly recommend for anybody to visit Oxford, steeped in history and with a true air of Britishness we had a lovely walk around and marvelled at the cobbled streets and indoor market and finally found a little place to grab a bite to eat at the Jericho Cafe, relaxed vibes, great food, Bob Dylan soundtrack.
Big Thankyou to Tilda & Joey for putting on such a crackin’ festive buffet (highlights included: home-made sausage rolls, incredible homemade quiche, roast chesnuts) and throwing such a wonderful party. We danced all night, slept slightly, then listened to my Dad’s radio show early on Sunday morning. What a hilariously excellent weekend. Just what the doctor ordered.
One Love
The Big Mac
xx

I’m just a lucky so and so….

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With my Christmas preparations well underway I headed down to the World famous Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club to celebrate the 25th Birthday of the eligable Jack Worthington. Never has a more fine evening been had. What a blast. Nestled in Londons Soho Ronnie Scotts has been hosting some of the World’s greatest Jazz musicians since 1959. The venue is intimate so best to book early. The restricted viewing seats still have a pretty great view of the stage. The centre of the room is filled with tables for dining and around the side of the room are kind of church pew type seats where you can also dine or just have a couple of Martinis (whatever tickles your fancy), the lighting was moody and drinks free flowing, am I setting the scene?

We went for the full dining experience. I had the Devonshire partridge and pork belly terrine with prune chutney and toasted bread followed by, Autumn wild mushroom wellington with roast pumpkin and sage purée and baby onions and finished the feast off nicely with an amazing chocolate fondant & vanilla ice cream. I stuck to the ginger beers but I’m advised they do a cracking Martini.

The music was spectacluar with a mix of jazz classics and the best Christmas tunes played by Ronnie’s Big Band, the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz 18-piece orchestra featuring Pete Long as band leader, and special guest 1st-call singer Peter Grant (from Leeds). Words cannot describe, these guys knew their stuff!

Sadly for you I abided by the ‘no photography’ rule but can offer you only a couple of stylish snaps of some jazz greats.

Enjoy.

xx

All dressed up and ready to go…..

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Now then, Christmas is almost upon us, with only a handful of shopping days left in the run up to the big day and Christmas parties going off in every direction its time to get in full festive swing, vintage style!

This ‘party season’ British high-street designers have taken a nostalgic style trip back in time grabbing inspiration from a whole host of well loved decades, whether high glamour is your bag or you prefer to go for the ol’ dress down wartime sweetheart look you won’t be short of choice. New Looks Autumn/ Winter range has a bunch of vintage inspired pieces that reference some of fashion best loved decades. Here’s what’s in store! :

Everyone’s favourite exuberant era: The prosperous and progressive Roaring 20s, exhilaration followed WWI, women gained the right to vote and bare their legs and everyone indulged in Prohibition-induced “secret” partying. The Art Deco movement ushered in a new aesthetic characterized by bold, stylized patterns that epitomize the forward-thinking elegance of the era. Drop waisted styles, boyish ‘flapper’ looks, flat chests and 20’s inspired headgear swamped the S/S 12 runways as exuberant 20s fashion is once again influencing the sartorial zeitgeist.

Dresses of the 1940s were truly divine: cute and feminine, grown up and ladylike. Pleated skirts, peep toe courts, faux-fur stoles, pussy-bow blouses, Peter Pan collars, polka dots, pencil skirts and of course figure framing, rather than figure hugging dresses, with emphasised waists, narrow skirts and puff or capped sleeves, the 40’s style was truly fabulous.

The ‘Mod’ look really epitomises the British high-street: Young, hip, streamlined a look that defined the optimistic early to late 60s. Loose shifts and drop-waist dresses, similar to those from the 1920s, were all the rage. Look for round-neck or turtleneck dresses, in shades of orange, mustard and red and monotones and this seasons ‘must have’ the contrast collar, pure Twiggy style.

Oh I remember it well, the 1990’s is well and truly making a fashion come back. Let’s relive the glory days! Velvet skater dresses, chokers, bindis, ripped jeans, oversized plaid shirts, Clarissa, Kurt Cobain (Swoon), Beavis & Butthead on MTV! The grunge look is ideal when you’re on a budget, layering high street pieces and thrift store finds you can’t really go wrong. Look up Patty Smith the original Queen of grunge and work from there. You are all rockstars!

All the vintage inspired pieces above are available now at New Look! x


THE BIG MAC: 1960′s Andy Warhol Dress- They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. Andy Warhol

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My Dads pal Tracey lent me a dress. It’s bloomin incredible. I’d been hearing my Dad talk about this Andy Warhol dress for sometime and was dying to see it. One of my favourite designers Jean-Charles Castelbajac did his famous Warhol tribute dress a couple of seasons back which was pretty wizard. Tracey’s dress (that I finally got my hands on! pictured above) is a 1960′s hand beaded classic Warhol Campbell soup homage. I love it. I just had to slip it on to show you guys, it’s the ideal dress for any self respecting factory girl lookin’ for her 15minutes of fame this festive season. Also take a look at my Dad’s latest work ‘Warhols’ soup on reclaimed wood, to see some more of his fabulous artwork visit www.patrickmacaulay.com & for a peek at some of Tracey’s great mosiacs swing by her website at www.traceycartledge.co.uk

Thanks for lending me the dress Tracey, It’s in safe hands.

Happy Tuesday!

Big Love The Big Mac

xx

THE BIG MAC: Christmas in London & Homemade Chutney- They know that Santa’s on his way…

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Full festive throttle ahead. I am so excited to be heading to the Lakes tomorrow to reunite with my family. All my presents are wrapped, packed and ready for the off. You can see more about my homemade chutneys on the Festive Page. I’ve been enjoying wearing my 1940′s blouse that I purchased in New York, it goes so well with my seriously vintage Laura Ashley Fairisyle tank. I’ve already eaten a ton of Quality Streets in preparation for the forthcoming festive feast. London always looks fabulous at this time of year I thought I’d share this pretty picture I took at Knightsbridge of Harrods all lit up!

Holidays are coming…..

xx

THE BIG MAC: Christmas in The Lake District- Christmas candle, Christmas tree, carol singers singing….

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I’m having the most delicious break in The Lake District…we’re truly in the wilderness, with limited phone signal and wifi it’s a real festive escape. Thank you to my lovely family for making it such a special treat and humongous feast. I received the most divine pearl & diamond necklace and some seriously fabulous gifts (feeling very lucky!) The countryside is so wonderful, we met a big friendly swan, walked until it got dark, ate a feast fit for a king, watched the Ab Fab special (obvs Dahrling) and did some hardcore relaxing. Ahhh loving the time away to relax and read. Hope you all had a lovely time, thank you all for being such wonderful, loyal readers this year!

Here’s to many more adventures to come…

Happy Christmas my lovelies.

xx

THE BIG MAC: The Beatrix Potter Experience- Tea for two and two for tea….

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A day of family, friends, high tea, scenery and the fabulous Beatrix Potter attraction! We started off at the Beatrix Potter attraction and had a light lunch in the cafe which was ideal, cheese sandwiches and tomato soup washed down with Dandelion & Burdock…waltzed around the Beatrix Potter attraction ogling and squealing with joy at the lovely miniature figures and learning about the stories and history of Beatrix Potter. Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which was inspired by and celebrated the British landscape and country life of The Lake District where she spent a great deal of her adult life.

Our afternoon followed with scrabble and high tea at The Macdonald Hotel, what a fabulous view of the Lakes! mid afternoon we indulged in our somewhat habitual afternoon nap then up and out for late  tea and cake (yes even more, well we are English!) and some real laughs with family and friends. Oh how joyous. What a wonderful time.

xx

THE BIG MAC: 2011 A brief round up- Gratitude is the best attitude, high five!

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The year is drawing to a close. 2011 has been pretty great, thankyou again to all you lovelies for following my adventures, my family & friends for encouraging me to stay fabulous (wink) I’ve learnt so much this year, realised things I never imagined, met some incredible people, made great friends and experienced some wonderful times.
A brief round up: In 2011 I lived in Mayfair, worked designing frocks in London, spent a month working in Los Angeles, spent an amazing Halloween with the Misfits in New York City, passed my driving test (still cannot believe that!), visited the inspiring Berlin, got majorly seasick in the Algarve, interviewed some of my favourite bloggers, learned to make chutney, read some fantastic books, cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner, done some cracking photoshoots, body boarded in Cornwall, strolled around the beautiful Oxford, laughed a lot and hosted some sensational parties! I am very excited about 2012.
I’m spending new years eve in Manchester, England with my homies. Whenever I visit Manchester to see family and friends I’m always hugely inspired, above are a couple of shots of the joys I’ve been experiencing. See above: Alison’s  wonderful Vanilla bundt Cake, my New Years Eve true Diva nails using the most glittery Filthy Gorgeous Silver nail varnish (highly recommended), delicious Vegatable Lasagne from Oklahoma Cafe. Ideal.
Happy New Years Eve Folks,
Here’s to another glorious year ahead.
xxx

THE BIG MAC: A year in pictures- The future comes one day at a time…

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I’m sat on the train heading from Manchester to London after spending a fun New Years Eve with my homies at Band On The Wall dancing to the legendary Mr. Scruff DJ’in what a treat. Mr Scruff hosts a monthly night playing soul, ska and funky tunes all playing in time with his iconic, stylised illustrations projected on two big screens, the countdown to New Year was phenomenal, Mr. Scruff played the instantly recognisable countdown sound used on 90′s favourite game show Countdown. AMAZING, tea and cake were available (my favourite) and the crowd were so friendly. Manchester is a great city.

To round up what has been a pretty incredible year I thought I’d compile a 12 months in pictures roundup to remind myself how lucky I am and how much I have to be thankful for, eeerrr and how much fun it’s been! o.k here goes:

January- A month of partying and inspirational trip to Paris. We hosted our New Years Mad Men themed party which was an absolute blast (the funniest party of 2011 in my humble opinion) I was also lucky enough to take a trip to Paris with my buddy Ormenator which was super inspiring. Coffee, clothes and jazz.

February- We shot our collection for our transitional lookbook and I got to work with my lovely, inspiring make – up artist friend Nat Sharpe which was a real treat. A month of hard work and also celebrating my lovely brothers birthday and visited my Dad’s new studio.

March- Oh boy! What a spectacular month. I was working out in L.A gathering inspiration, vintage shopping and working hard in our sister office in Calabasas. I also squeezed in time to visit the Cicada Club with my lovely friend the Dynaflos, do my very first Dinner Detective boat cruise and eat the best sushi ever!

April- Thank you to all of you who kindly donated money at our Tea Party in aid of the Japan Disaster. All your donations were greatfully recieved and the decorations donated by Talking Tables made for such a beautiful event.

May- A unusually hot May time in the U.K meant swimming in the lido in London’s Hyde Park, body boarding in Cornwall, the Royal Wedding, and an indulgent trip to the Algarve with the sisterhood, a highly memorable and slightly traumatic seasick filled boat ride (ha we did get our legs washed by a very tall German man though!). I loved wearing the two piece ensemble I designed too, this was my holiday favourite. A nautical themed month all round.

June- A whole month spent in London, this picture shows one of my favourite coral nail, top, lipstick combo. This photo was taken on a day of shopping, cocktails and oysters with my lovely sister. I interviewed my favourite print designer Jessica Williams and did our Spring/ Summer photoshoot in Holland Park.

July- Another amazing month, I celebrated my birthday with a trip to Berlin (I LOVE BERLINA) we had such a fantastic trip to the vibrant, creative city. I was also lucky enough to get to go to The Vintage at The Southbank Festival with my Twin. Oh and not to forget Nat Sharpe’s amazing 30th Tron themed birthday party.

August- Jack & I took at trip to Southend on Sea which was a proper British day out, ice cream, rain and glorious sunshine all in one day. I August I also saw Adam Ant live (which was a real treat) went to the Notting Hill Carnival and tried jerk chicken for the first time. and ate at my favourite restaurants in London, The Belvedere.

September-  We had such fun doing a shoot with the incredible Jo Bongard at The Pavillion Hotel, celebrated my darling Mothers birthday, I was interviewed for Pocket Change Blog, visited the beautiful Dunham Massey and fell in love with 50′s designer Ceil Chapman’s work (sigh)
October- Our incredible Halloween party in one of Londons genuine fully working Dungeons, some amazing outfits. I think all those in attendance would admit it was a very special event indeed.
November- WOW a trip to New York City with my homies The Glediator & Ormenator, watched the Misfits play on Halloween night, hung out in Brooklyn with my darling friends and had the best time EVER. November couldn’t have been any better really as I got to go to Rhythm Riot with my lovely buddies from L.A and watch the excellent Lil Mo & The Dynaflos play of and The Bobbettes! what a blast.
December- A much needed glorious weekend in Oxford, a Christmas holiday trip to the stunning Lake District, a blissful month of countryside adventures and family and friends. How lovely.
What a fantastic year!
I have so many aspirations and ambitions for 2012, so much on my ‘to do’ list. I’m so excited.
Watch this space for more fun photography, exciting style inspiration, vintage, travel and loveliness. If you would like to see more of anything in particular just drop me a mail at thebigmablog@gmail.com

THE BIG MAC: Learning to ride a motorbike- Let the wind blow back your hair….

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There are a couple of fairly major things I’ve decided to embark on this year. The first being:

I’ve decided that I am going to learn to ride a motorbike! well probably just a little scooter actually (for now anyway) I’m not sure I could pull off being a Hells Angel until I’m well weathered and got a few more stories to tell. I’m thinking more: Me, an iconic little red Vespa, suitably stripey dress and the windey streets of rural France.

After my car driving test triumph of 2011 I’m full of confidence. I sat my driving test at 17 years old, failed, then jumped back onboard at 27, I found it tough with the relentless lessons between my full- time job and other commitments, not to mention the cost. The last test I sat, the one I actually passed I kept hush- hush (the less I spoke about it the less nervous I got) until I could call everyone and tell them the amazing news! If you’re learning to drive and finding it difficult, don’t give up, believe in yourself, you can do it!

My CBT Training course is booked for February and I’ll be sure to keep you posted on how I get on.

I will be taking my basic training with Metropolis Motorcycles Training School London.

Wish me luck.

x

(Red High Gloss Helmet, Iconic Red Vespa, Gondola Dress from Shabby Apple, Obligatory Baguette)

THE BIG MAC: Running the Berlin Marathon- The miracle isn’t finishing, it’s having the courage to start…

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The second of my HUGE New Year resolutions (or should that be revelations) is the urge to help those that do so much to help others. So, I’ve decided I am running the Berlin Marathon in September to raise money for The Red Cross.

The British Red Cross have had such a busy year helping support victims, families and communities affected by the devastating natural disasters the World has seen this past year. The British Red Cross are helping those who have lost touch with relatives in the Philippines following Typhoon Washi, those devastated by earthquakes in New Zealand, Japan and Turkey. The British Red Cross also offer daily support and care for individuals, families and communities here in the U.K including care in the home for elderly and disabled, transport services for those unable to get around independently to mention just a few of their fundamental roles. I’m going to play my small part in helping them to continue their great work and support.

I can hear some of you exclaim (Mum), yes, I know it’s going to be brutally hard work to train. It won’t help that I haven’t really done any exercise to speak of since I cycled from London to Paris back in 2010, apart from the odd yoga or Pilates class or walk in the country…so let’s just say I’m far from peak fitness! If I make it to the finish line alive without doing a Paula Radcliffe I’ll be happy.

I have my plan that was sent through from the Red Cross to help me prepare.

I’ve got to raise £1000 to be able to participate. Any donations no matter how small would be so gratefully received. Emotional and psychological support will also be accepted.

You can donate online at my just giving page HERE

Nervous.

xxx

(Appropriate running themed pictures courtesy of Life magazine Archive: Google Image resource)

THE BIG MAC: The French Resolution…

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The story goes: For the past 6years I’ve been working as a Designer within the Fashion Industry, designing clothes for some of the U.K & U.S.A’s most popular high-street retailers and blogging every spare minute I could find. After University I was fortunate enough to be offered a job straight away and so freshly graduated (literally the week after) headed straight for London. Since then I have worked on a number of exciting ranges, designed dresses, knitwear, tops, prints, graphics, styled shoots, flown all over the World, laughed a lot, cried occasionally, met some of my bestest buddies, visited plenty of not so glamorous factories and despite the long hours and break neck pace I’ve loved it.

As you’ve probably guessed by now I love clothes, photoshoots, fabrics, colour, print & pattern, sequin, sparkles, fabulousness and have had so much fun working hard doing what I love. However, I am a firm believer that we don’t learn simply from experience, we also learn by reflecting on those experiences.

So, I have made the decision to take some time out for reflection (as demonstrated above) to travel, gather inspiration and to learn some new skills along the way. Firstly, I am going to spend some time in rural France, the home of idyllic scenery, nice plonk (not that I’ll be imbibing) and plenty of guys in berets with garlic round there neck or so I’m lead to believe).

I will be attempting to learn French (the proper way, without a Yorkshire accent), read a lot (great book suggestions welcome), do some drawing, listen to plenty of Jacques Dutronc, learn to ride a horse, learn about beautiful 19th century Limoges pottery, train for the looming Marathon and reflect on the past 6 years, Oh and blog a lot!

It’s always been a dream of mine to learn a second language and I LOVE to travel. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Paris with work quite a lot over the past couple of years and always managed to get by with the bare essentials language wise, some wild jesticulating and plenty of friends that are way more fluent than Me (Thanks Glediator) time for that to change.

It’s been a big decision and not one I have taken lightly, plenty of phone calls to my parents, sleepless nights, making lists of pros & cons, walking away from the comfort blanket of regular life. Sometimes I think the hardest things we do often work out to be the best things for us. I’ll be heading to France in a months time, so much to prepare! After my time in France I shall travel the World for inspiration and be sharing my exciting adventures with you.

Join Me ….

xx

THE BIG MAC: Lazy Sunday- If you see me I’ll be dreaming…

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I had my favourite Eggs Benedict yesterday at Cecconis. Cecconis is a small but perfectly formed restaurant in Mayfair just near Bond Street, great interior with dark green leather upholstery, black & white marble floors and excellent food. We had a leisurely breakfast and chatted then went for a walk through Hyde Park. I had one of those totally satisfying productive weekends at home sorting out all my things and generally being a super organised nerd.One of my favourite Christmas presents this year was a book (from the lovely Alison) which is a book of Daily teachings, described as a Day Book Of Comfort and Joy the Simple Abundance Book makes me smile everyday. If you’ve read the Secret you’ll love Simple Abundance. I keep it by my bed and look forward to reading it each day. Once I’ve finished the book (at the end of the year) I’ll add a full review to my BOOKS Page, until then I’ll leave you with a snippet from todays pearl of wisdom:

‘Be courageous. Ask yourself: what is it I truly need to make Me happy? The deeply personal answers to this vital question will be different for each of us. Trust the loving wisdom of your heart. It is only after we acknowledge our inner needs that we can harness the creative energy necessary to manifest them in our lives’

Happy Mondays.

x