Well – I’m back everyone!
Did you miss me? Rachel gave me a lovely holiday in July – of which more later, of course!
First of all, do take a look at THIS dress – it’s from my new, most favourite designer at Frock; Rene Derhy, whom Rachel and I discovered in Paris. We were a bit too late for the summer collection, but it’s been worth the wait for the Fall. Check out this frock and also this gorgeous silk skirt – of which more later – and this is only the first delivery of the season!!
That last skirt is really scrumptious – the eagle-eyed amongst you (and as Frock – lovers, I know you all are) will see that not only is it literally SMOTHERED in detailing, rosettes and sequins, but it is made of a beautiful devore fabric. This is created using a technique which makes a pretty pattern in soft velvet on top of the silk chiffon; completely divine. Apparently they use acid (although it’s totally, totally safe) to burn away the fabric to reveal the design.
Oh and did you see this dress in the Frock sale?? I can’t believe that’s sooo cheap!
Anyway, enough chit chat, more about my fab holiday!! The DB and I had plans to motor through Devon and Cornwall, although it was a bit scary because the weather was so grim! Lucky I had MY TRUSTY TRENCHCOAT with me, and was able to take a good selection of Frock goodies with me. As a perk of the job, Rachel had given me a sample of this fantastic frock to try out which has just come into store. Now I’ve been told I’m not allowed to bore you with ALL my escapades on holiday, (at least not all in one go) but I have to say the nicest thing about hooking up with Miles at the Eden Project was the fact that they have a temperate climate – so much for holidaying in the UK, this was the hottest I was all summer!
Where else in Britain can you hang out in a Greek Olive Grove, explore the Rainforest or recline and enjoy a picnic on the South African prairie? I can only say that I didn’t see the signs asking us to ‘keep off the rare grasses’ - and the nice security guard saw the funny side once I’d given him a glass of champers!!!!!
It was so splendid to stay in a lovely old mansion in Cornwall as well, although WHY Daphne du Maurier didn’t have that ancient well moved AWAY from the kitchen steps is a really like COMPLETE mystery to me. It was terrible – I’d just popped out for a look at the stars, when I put one of my heels through the grate, and the whole shoe got caught, and somehow ended up, with a terribly loud splosh at the bottom of the well – “Well, lucky for some” DB laughed, presumably alluding to the fact that it’d be one less thing for him to carry - although thank God Rachel still had THEM in stock – and she was able to jiffy bag over a new pair on recorded delivery, and all was well again, so to speak!
On one of the sunniest days we had (!) we went to a dinky little beach in a cove – it was just like a Smugglers Nook in Mallory Towers! I half expected to find some treasure or contraband hidden in a cave somewhere! Instead, I found at the bottom of the boot under my third ancillary shoe suitcase, that DB had secretly invested in a kite-surfing kit! A massive kite and a harness, and a rather fetching wetsuit!! I had to laugh as he struggled over the dunes with all the ‘kit’ as he called it – I carried the picnic and glasses, and as the wind caught my new frock, it made me think how glad I was to be wearing my bathers underneath, which was just in case the urge came to plunge into the briny depths!
Now there must have been a really freak storm a-brewing, as I went over to help DB, who unsurprisingly enough couldn’t manage to strap himself in properly to his wetsuit. Before I knew where I was, the wind whipped up and we were both carried about half a mile across the beach! It was a real thrill – we were a metre or more up in the sky, and my hair flew out behind us!!!!! Now, very unlike cowardly-custard me, I HAD to have another go – although I never made it as far as that first time! DB ended up getting very very wet – the wind and the waves never seemed to be in sync!! But a jolly laugh anyway!
I did however (whisper) break two nails, so was forced to stop – and it has prevented me from helping Rachel and the rest of the Frock team from unpackacking much of the Autumn collection that has just arrived! I really don’t want to make matters worse…she’s been great though, so I’ve been helping by making lots of phone calls - and typing this with one finger!! More next time – and an especially huge MWAH to everybody here this month!!!