Wee Birdy

Top tea sets: English Eccentrics

'More Tea Vicar?' extra large teapot, £32, from the V&A Shop.

'Not For All The Tea In China' jar, £20, and 'Storm in a Teacup' cup and saucer, £10, from the V&A shop.

'I'm a little teapot' small teapot, £20, from the V&A Shop.

The award-winning English Eccentrics ceramics range by UK-based Big Tomato Company features a tea set with wit and smart-arsed slogans. Naturally, I love them. For the best prices around, head to the V&A shop.

The V&A Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tel. 020 7942 2966

Nearest tube: South Kensington

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

French label Bon-Ton loves Liberty for Little Girls...

BonTon Liberty print top, US$55, from Estella NYC.

BonTon Liberty print top, US$55, from Estella NYC.

BonTon Liberty print top, US$55, from Estella NYC.

Read about my visit to BonTon in Paris.
BonTon is also stocked at Petit Aime in Notting Hill...

Petit Aime
34 Ledbury Road
London W11 2AB
Tel. 020 7221 3123

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Summer fete, London-style

Ahhh, a village fete in high summer – a perfectly quaint English tradition that sounds right up my alley, especially when the V&A’s in charge.

Last year's fete in the V&A's John Madejski Garden

I’m still kicking myself about missing out last year, so tomorrow night you’ll find me at the Late Night Village Fete, playing hoopla at Tatty Devine’s booth in a bid to win a limited-edition ring, getting into a scratch-off for art prizes at Rob Ryan’s stall, and lining up at Lady Luck Rules OK for a bespoke wooden rosette brooch.

Moustache necklace £23, by Tatty Devine.

There’s an impressive line-up of other creative games and stalls by leading as well as up-and-coming designers in Britain, and kooky events like helium karaoke (uh, that's heli-oke), “The Beard Tent” (compete for the largest and most object-filled beard) and “Anarchy in an English Country Garden” (winning topiary trimmers score bondage-style wellies). See you there amongst the bunting … and the beards.

Friday Late Village Fete
Friday 25 July, 6.30pm-10pm
Saturday 26 July, 10am-5.45pm
The V&A Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tel. 020 7942 2966

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Baby Love: The Supremes

I’m a big fan of sixties girl bands and Northern Soul, so I was quite looking forward to seeing the V&A Museum’s latest exhibition, The Story of The Supremes. Despite the fact the museum has been criticised for “dumbing down” its exhibitions with populist inclusions like the Kylie retrospective, I was excited by the prospect of seeing a collection of the group’s iconic costumes and learning a bit more about the history of Motown.

Image source: V&A

So when I headed over to the museum on Sunday and reached the first showcase in the exhibition, it’s fair to say I was surprised and disappointed when blaring techno music started playing from the fashion show next door. It basically drowned out The Supremes and various video exhibits featuring recorded speeches by Martin Luther King. Not exactly what I was expecting for the opening weekend of a music-led exhibition, which documents the rise of African American music in sixties America (ie. Motown actually being HEARD by the predominant mainstream white audience).

Image source: V&A

Initial disappointment aside, the exhibition was, of course, a hit, with a fantastic line-up of some of The Supremes’ most spectacular glittery, bugle-bead encrusted costumes. I particularly loved their earlier creations like the fitted shantung silk shifts and the tiered ruffled chiffon dresses. These frocks were designed to MOVE and accentuate their trademark shimmies and shakes.

Some other costume highlights:

And a couple of picks from the V&A shop:

Supremes Badge Pack, £2.50, from the V&A shop.

Love Child t-shirt, £18, from the V&A shop.

The Story of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection
(until October 19)
The V&A Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tel. 020 7942 2966

Feathers at Ralph Lauren A/W 2008

Just catching up on the last of the New York a/w shows at style.com (I know, I know, I'm way behind) and spied
some of the fabulous feathered hats and brooches at Ralph Lauren.

If you like the look, head to London's ribbon and haberdashery emporium, VV Rouleaux, which stocks a fabulous selection of all sorts of feathers and materials to make your own brooch or head piece.

But if that's all too hands-on, seek out their own range of stunning feathered brooches from £12. On a recent visit I picked up a bold black feathered number, just like the ones pinned to the lapels in the Ralph Lauren show.

VV Rouleaux
www.vvrouleaux.com
102 Marylebone Lane
London W1U 2QD
Tel. 020 7224 5179

54 Sloane Square
Cliveden Place
London SW1W 8AX
Tel. 020 7730 3125

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Ralph Lauren photos courtesy of style.com