StreetCoffee Bermondsey

Hartnell to Amies: Couture By Royal Appointment @ The Fashion and Textiles Museum

The Fashion and Textile Museum know how to put on a good exhibition. I managed to catch this one -  Hartnell to Amies: Couture By Royal Appointment -  just before it finished. And wow was it worth it. It was a comprehensive celebration of Norman Hartnell Hardy Amies and Frederick Fox's life and work and how they impacted the world of fashion. The clothes speak for themselves, but it was the details that really made it for me, including gorgeous fashion illustrations and the most exquisite embellished swatches, including examples from the Queens wedding dress. To see these designs up close was just magical.

Hardy Amies, 1940 - A prince of Wales check fine woollen suit

Hardy Amies, circa 1962 - a abstract printed navy silk ensemble

Norman Hartnell circa 1957 - a black and white printed, silk three piece suit

Norman Hartnell, circa 1946 - An embroidered pale bronze satin evening dressNorman Hartnell circa 1945 - and embroidered black silk velvet evening coat

Norman Hartnell circa 1952 - chartreuse beaded evening dress

Hardy Amies, circa 1952 - a layered grey chiffon evening dress with delicate bead and sequin embroidery

Norman Hartnell, 1953 - an embroidered sky blue and white silk faille evening dress with matching coat

Norman Hartnell, 1956 - Satin organza wedding dress, with silver corded lace bodice and appliqués. Created for Lady Anne Coke.

Hardy Amies, 1981 - a cream silk taffeta wedding dress, with long sleeve and a draped bustle

Hardy Amies, circa 1960 - a dark red and black printed glazed man-made satin cocktail dress

Norman Hartnell, circa 1962 - a black lace cocktail dress with full skirt and velvet bows

Hardy Amies, circa 1952 - a copper coloured strapless cocktail dress with a wide full pleated skirt

Norman Hartnell, circa 1966 - a brown silk satin, white and crystal bead, geometrically embroidered short evening dress

Hardy Amies, circa 1988 - an off white William Morris patterned evening dress

Hats created by Frederick Fox

Frederick Fox, 1977

Hardy Amies, circa 1980 - a pink chiffon and net embroidered cocktail dress

Norman Hartnell, 1950s - a selection of costume jewellery

Norman Hartnell, 1929 - an embroidered silk satin wedding dress, inspired by Boticelli's paintings in the National Gallery. Worn by Miss Oonagh Guinness

Norman Hartnell, 1957 - two examples of embroidery panels for dresses worn by the Queen on state visits.

Norman Hartnell, 1961 - further examples of embroidery panels fro dresses worn by the Queen

Norman Hartnell - Embroidery samples from the Queen's wedding dress

Hardy Amies illustrations

abandoned bread!

Now, The Garrison has its quirks, but i am pretty sure this lonely baguette was not part of the decor...You can just imagine the couple it belongs to saying; 

''Where shall we put our beautiful baguette?''

''I know, why don't we put it on the radiator?!"

''Oh, you're so clever darling! That fits perfectly! But let's not forget it!''

Or something along those lines...

I kept thinking that any minute, a distressed looking couple would come running through the door, crying, ''My Bread, My Bread!'' Alas, no such outburst took place. I wonder how long it took them to notice that they'd left it behind. Begging the question, how far, is too far, to turn back for bread?

I like to think that this Baguette ended up in a good home...

The Garrison Pt2

Bizarrely, whilst writing The Garrison pt1, i started to get the strangest case of deja vu. I could have sworn that i'd never been there before, but after seeing their website and trawling through my photo archive, I came across these...

Upon further brain digging, it transpired that i'd actually been a couple of years ago, for a private function. Either the place looked different back then, or someone put a bag over my head as they led me downstairs... i'll go with the latter. Far more exciting!

The room downstairs can be hired for private functions, but also hosts a Sunday Cinema Club. Imagine filling your belly with scrumptious food, a few cheeky glasses of red, then wandering downstairs to bags a comfy seat and settle in for a good movie. What Sundays are made for!

The Sunday Cinema sessions are every, erm, Sunday, @ 7pm AND it's free to diners!