The House that Annie Built

“If you are creative, every moment is potentially creative and you can never walk away from that.”

A brickwork façade greets visitors to the Annie Lennox exhibit at the V&A, with an impression of the woman herself beckoning from behind a window. The husky tones of Lennox’s lyrics resound outside and in and revolving images of suburbia and fish play across the four interior walls.

A video interview of Lennox plays on the first wall as she talks about her inspirations and experiences, while the back wall displays an homage to the music icon’s diverse costume history, from the 1983 beige suit with leopard-print accessories, worn in the music video for Right by Your Side in which Eurythmics recreated a live performance, to the 1999 Union Jack suit worn by the band to the Brit Awards ceremony at which they received the Outstanding Contribution to British Music award. Costumes and performance have long been a method via which Lennox has explored issues of “gender and identity, reality and illusion”, and this exhibit is an enchanting glimpse into this innovative British mind.

Mini portals along the next wall offer glimpses into various moments of Lennox’s career, including her 1983 appearance on the cover of The Face magazine and a t-shirt and album cover for Lennox and Dave Stewart’s original formation The Tourists in the early 1980s, before Eurythmics was established. Lennox’s writing desk is at the heart of the exhibit encased in a model house. Sheets of scribbled notes, lyrics and ideas for music videos and concerts are on display, which Lennox describes as her “paper trail of ideas”.

An extension of the main room features an array of beautiful photographs, a couple co-starring Lennox’s bandmate Stewart, while a series of music videos plays on the facing wall, including my personal favourite: Little Bird.

Numerous awards and accolades pertaining to both Lennox’s musical career, as well as her campaigning efforts are housed in glass cabinets along the last wall, reminding you as you leave, of the spectacular impact Lennox has made on the world. The legendary career that Annie Lennox built comes together in one visual and sensory celebration at London’s V&A, on view until 26 February 2012.

I heart London

Love will triumph

 

It’s all quiet. The fires have died, the pillagers brought to justice, the fear quelled. Debris and tears remain in the wake of destruction. Lives have been lost, homes and businesses destroyed and families torn apart; but no matter how bad the effects of these past days, they will not break our soul. Communities come together to repair the damage, and protect their own, and in the aftermath, hope blossoms. A lone couple appears on the early morning horizon, gazing out across their city, wrapped in the protective cocoon of romance.

In the heart of the British capital, an uneasy calm fills the air as Londoners band together against those who sought to destroy its spirit. Inequality, poverty and racial prejudice may be at the core of this trauma but aren’t those who participated in terrorising Britain just proving their oppressors right? Class wars linger on, the message has been sent and now we await the verdict from the seat of power.

The bad are silenced, the good are united and for now, London Bridge is still standing.

London Town is Burning

Fire, Fire!

The events of the past few days call to mind that famous opening stanza from Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If’:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.

As mindless thugs help themselves to the contents of London retail stores, barge their way into people’s homes in the dead of night invoking fear and anger, and terrorise people and authority figures alike; the best any of us can do is keep a view of the undoubted resolution to this madness.

As we stay glued to our television and computer screens, watching buildings burn to the ground, people being stripped of their worldly possessions, businesses and trust, and chaos run amok through the streets; we must not allow ourselves to lose faith in the wider humanity or the world at large.

As those in a position of “power” do their best to get a handle on the spiralling situation, both on the streets and on the stock markets; we must believe in their ability to extract us from this dilemma.

And as blatant disregard and violence spread like wildfire throughout England, we must stay positive and not resort to hatred, as hatred loves company and will only further fuel the fires that are burning in our capital.

It is easy to become immersed in the crisis, the fear, the hysteria that accompanies such a nationwide situation as the London riots but instead of paying attention to those at the head and helm of this anti-authority/opportunistic spree, the best thing to do is to ignore. Refrain from rubbernecking, eyes wide with shock as masked thieves casually remove wide-screen televisions from Comet, or trolley-loads of food from supermarkets; and instead get on with our own lives.

Being labelled ‘benefit-funded terrorism’, those involved in the fray are seeking to right the wrongs they believe have been inflicted upon them for years. Violence may not be the answer of those with another way out, but it is evidently in play at present and like the fires which their anger has ignited, it will burn out. I just hope there is some good left in its wake.

Scenes in London

I like the way you serve…

Murray Love...

Strawberries and cream, grass stains and Rafael Nadal (sorry, Andy Murray) – yes, it’s that’s fabulous time of year again. The time for pulling consecutive sickies to stay home and watch the top seeds serving up a sport-tastic treat on the BBC to the tune of Sue Barker’s customary curatorship; the time for reaffirming your patriotism in the blind hope that a British player might actually make it to the final; the time for kicking back with a pitcher of Pimms and watching the time-honoured summer tradition, Wimbledon.

And this year, to go with your usual refreshments, innovative bakery completelycakes.co.uk have a mouth-watering range of delights to see you through those nail-biting weeks. From tennis rackets to tennis whites, however you envision your sporty sweets the team at Completely Cakes will serve it up on a gleaming platter!!

Here are their top ten tips for surviving Wimbledon:

–    Schedule time off work for those all-important matches you don’t want to  miss

–    Install Adobe Flash Player to get the most out of BBC iPlayer

–    Accept that Murray, and any other British hopeful, will probably just scrape the quarters

–    Stock up on sun-cream if planning a trip to Murray Mount/Henman Hill

–    Similarly, stock up on Pimms and yummy treats to enhance your viewing pleasure

–     Purchase a TV Times to keep up to date with match schedules

–     Read up on the competition on the official Wimbledon site (www.wimbledon.com)

–     Download the Wimbledon iPhone App to get the best of the event on the go

–     Free up space on your TV recordings library – just in case you’re worried about missing any of the action

–     Sink your teeth into a delicious cake/cupcake instead of your nails as you watch Murray fight it out for that all-important victory!!

To sample their tennis-inspired range, visit www.completelycakes.co.uk, and place your order now!! They are also taking orders on graduation goodies and of course treats for Father’s Day this Saturday 19 June…

Follow them at twitter/@completelycakes
Like them on facebook at facebook.com/completelycakes

Gradu-EAT!!

Daddy’s Girl

...because he's worth it!

The time for honouring our parents always springs at the start of the year, while New Year’s resolutions and good intentions are still somewhat present in our ever-harried minds. Case in point, Father’s Day approaching with quickening pace on 19 June and for all of you who feel your Daddy is worthy of some appreciation, why not find out what Heather, owner of blooming London cake company CompletelyCakes.co.uk, has in store…

1)      What does Father’s Day mean to you?

Father’s day for me is a great opportunity to show my father that I care and appreciate all he does for me. Since we are all so busy with our everyday lives, it’s great to be able to take some time out and remember those important to us.

2)      What ideas have you had for celebrating this day in true baking style?

At Completely Cakes, we like to come up with something new and original for every season and event. Since cupcakes, and especially novelty cupcakes, have become so popular, our Father’s Day cupcake range this year features gorgeous ‘shirt and tie’ cupcakes, alongside other hobbies and more traditional ‘Happy Father’s Day’ cupcakes.

3)      You offer personal and bespoke designs across your ranges – can you give us some idea of the requests you’ve had in advance of Father’s Day?

People often tend to be stuck for new ideas for times such as Mothers and Father’s Day, when they really want to come up with something special. We find that a lot of inspiration comes from seeing our unique designs on our website. In view of this, we always aim to have new and exciting ideas on our website well in advance of every season/event to keep our customers inspired!

4)      What’s the most bizarre request you’ve received so far?

I would have to say that the most bizarre request we have had so far was from someone wanting to order a ‘saucy’ cake, carved to exact specifications…….!!

5)      How will you be treating your Daddy this year?

I always struggle for something to buy my own father, as he has had plenty of ‘Best Father’ mugs and socks over the years! This year, instead of this, my sisters and I will be taking him out for a lovely Father’s Day lunch, which we are all really looking forward to. He will also be receiving some of our new ‘Shirt and Tie’ cupcakes!

6)      Looking ahead, what treats will you be serving up next…?

There is always something new and exciting coming up at Completely Cakes. The next main event is Wimbledon, so stay tuned for our tennis-themed range!

Love Cupcakes

If you would like to order a bakelicious treat for your Dad this Father’s Day, you can place your order with Heather at www.completelycakes.co.uk and discover what other delicious surprises she has to offer.

Follow her on Twitter at @completelycakes or join the facebook group facebook.com/completelycakes.

A Royal Love Story

With this Kiss, I thee Wed

Union Jacks a flutter on every awning, excitement was building as the day edged near,
The audience set for April 29, the bride and groom each filled with pre-wedding fear.
William preparing to shoulder the duty of taking his love into the monarchical way,
Kate praying desperately that the maker of her dress would stay secret until the special day.
TV, radio, press and publication reported of nothing else but the royal event,
As people flooded in from every corner of the earth to set up camp in an assortment of tents.
Hoping to glimpse the royal duo in the flesh, the carriage, the page-boys and the Queen,
Outside Westminster Abbey, Clarence House and the Palace, the rest of us glued to our screens.
First came the guests from little known to Posh and Becks,
Then the royals, foreign dignitaries and leaders of religious sects.
Buses escorted royal cousins, aunts and such, as tradition moved into present tense,
But vintage cars carried the leading stars through the roads, finally quelling the crowds’ suspense.
In military regalia came the charming Prince and dashing little bro,
Followed by MOB Carole Middleton, with handsome son James in tow.
Then Charles and Camilla and of course Prince Phil and his lemon yellow-clad Queen,
Were driven to the Abbey to the delight of all as the crowds cheered loudly and screamed.
Next came the undoubted star of the show, all eyes were peeled and keen,
As Princess Kate finally revealed, her wedding gown was McQueen!
The Twitterati were frantic, the crowds went wild, Prince Harry stole a cheeky look,
And Kate, she glided up that royal red carpet, doing everything by the book.
Preceded by “her royal hotness” sister Pippa and an array of boys and girls,
On the arm of her father, Kate sashayed up that aisle, in lace and chocolate brown curls.
So in love, to the sound of hymns and in front of 2,000 guests,
Britains’ sweethearts pledged their vows, to love, honour and cherish.
Smiling and laughing they emerged man and wife to London’s rapturous applause,
Mounting their horse and carriage to Buckingham Palace the sun shone down with full force.
Then onto the balcony to seal their union with that all-important kiss,
The first was tentative but following the fly-pass the second was a unanimous hit.
So our young Prince has married his Kate as the world looked on with pride,
Because with everything else going on in the world, it’s nice to have a reason to smile!

The Honeymooners Return

Well, we’re back – sooooooo tired, the jet lag is properly killing me – going to bed really early and waking up at stupid o’clock unable to fall back asleep. Got back on Sunday evening, went straight to sleep at 8pm – no dinner, woke up at 4am Monday morning and went to sleep at 6pm, woke at 3am this morning just in time to go back to work… hmmm.

But…

…we had a fantastic time – after horrific travel/snow ordeal we arrived in Wellington and went back to my Dad’s lush Martinborough farmhouse complete with horses, cows and sheep where we read, ate, walked, cycled, motorbiked through vineyards, met friends, watched Australian movie: ‘Danny Deckchair’ and generally relaxed, took day trips to Mount Bruce (bird sanctuary – saw real life Kiwi birds) and Lee spilled boiling coffee on me (hmm), Cape Palliser (climbed a million steps to the lighthouse – very happy with self though not with unflattering pictures of progress), Masterton (tried to manipulate Lee and Dad into buying me a ring for $270 NZ – unsuccessful); Xmas Day in the sunshine – ate lovely salmon prepared by Dad (yum); spent day and night in Wellington – much fun, explored the botanical gardens (got sunburnt), watched ‘Little Fockers’, visited Te Papa – national museum and met up with friends for dinner; NYE was chilled at Dad’s friends with BBQ; then got the ferry to the south island where we got a water taxi to a batch in the Marlborough Sounds for three nights – mis-advertised: no TV or DVD player so first day (rainy) spent writing though Lee, Dad and stepmum not much to do but read, go for wet walk and play cards, but managed to borrow landlady’s laptop to watch Anne Heche and Harrison Ford rough it in ‘Six Days Seven Nights’ – very apt, beautiful second day, so Lee and I took rowing boat out – Lee rowing and went too far, started panicking, me laughing hysterically (not helping) but eventually took an oar and paddled us back to “safety”, beds bloody uncomfortable, last night couldn’t sleep eventually gave up and went to the lounge to read our books; back to Picton to collect automatic hire car (first time driving automatic and wipers and indicators on different sides to my car at home so some interesting attempts at indicating – and some pissed off NZ drivers) –  road-tripped around the south island, stayed in Kaikoura (Dusky Lodge), Lake Tekapo (beautiful, right on the lake), stayed two nights in queenstown – Lee did a bungy (I did one last time), I did mad karaoke, we rode the cable car, I broke the camera playing mini-golf and scored a birdie, we played excessive games of pool, then up to Franz Joseph (very tiring drive) but managed to walk for about 2 hours to the glacier in the rain – very worth it though hostel that night was freezing, damp and positioned between two toilets so got no sleep and fled at 7am to Nelson where we stayed with stepmum’s parents and had homemade curry and watched Nanny McPhee before retiring at 8.30pm; scenic route to Picton the following morning for mini-flight to Wellington, day spent with dad and stepmum (lunch then up to Mt Vic) and then flight to Auckland – upgraded to room with private bathroom after Lee mentioned it was our honeymoon; to airport next day for flight to Seoul (v.long and inflight entertainment kept cutting out so had to keep restarting and fast-forwarding the same movie a million times), arrived with no coats in minus 15 weather and snowy – Lee in t-shirt and jeans, me in flip-flops (brrrr) lovely 5* star hotel (didn’t want to leave), Sunday flight to London (boo) arrive: dark and raining (boo hoo) – completely jet-lagged… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Standby Me

Listening to Michael Buble’s ‘I’ll be Home for Christmas’ I had never been more depressed. Hubby and I were supposed to be far far away from home for Christmas but at 10.30 am on Saturday 18 December, the snow started.

Here is our story:

Saturday 18 December/10.30am/10 hours to departure from LHR for AKL
In a meeting with our mortgage broker when the snow begins to fall… and settle.

Midday
We leave our mortgage broker and set out on the slush and snow-filled roads. The 15 minute journey ends up taking two and a half hours as two buses get stuck on a hill in Kenton.At 1.30pm I am starting to get nervous about whether we’ll get home in time to leave for the airport. We need to be there for 5pm for our 8pm departure to Auckland, NZ via Seoul, Korea. Hubby keeps phoning the airline who assure him the flight is in the air and scheduled to land at LHR. Thanks to some clever GPS navigation and careful driving down some side roads we get home.

3pm
The snow has stopped and we’re getting our things together. The roads are icy and the airline advise us to wait for their say-so before heading out to the airport.

4pm
Hubby receives the go-ahead from Korean Air to leave so with two Sainsburys bags tied around my new boots we trek down the treacherous road lugging our cases behind us. A train arrives shortly after and we appear to be on our way.

5pm
Arrive at Baker Street – change for Jubilee Line to Green Park – change again for Piccadilly Line to Heathrow Terminal 4. Front of train says LHR T4, & 123 but once aboard the driver announces we will be terminating at Hounslow Central and all passengers for LHR should alight at Hounslow East and cross over the road for the bus 111.

6.45pm
Amid a stop-and-start journey the train again stops between Boston Manor and Osterley – the driver announces we will be held there for at least 10 minutes. Checking the LHR site it appears our flight has been delayed to 9.20pm. I am beginning to lose hope of it leaving at all. Another driver comes over the tannoy to say there are no flights operating out of LHR.

7.30pm
Arrive at Hounslow East – trudge downstairs and across slushy road to bus stop (along with hundreds of others all hoping to get to the airport). Hear of more cancellations out of LHR. Police manning the station are incredibly insensitive telling us to go enjoy London for a few more days… A bus arrives but will only take passengers without luggage.

7.45pm
Announcement that trains are now running through to LHR. Scramble back upstairs and get on train.

8.20pm
Arrive LHR T4 – chaos. People everywhere. Locate Korean Air kiosk and accost woman about to leave. Barely any airport staff anywhere. Woman indicates man with list and we leave names and contacts to be contacted by the airline once information comes through. No flights. Our flight grounded in Brussels as cannot land at LHR. Possible flight following evening.

8.45pm
Hubby suggests we go back home. Can hardly face it after mammoth four hour trek here in the first place. Have not eaten or drunk since 3pm. Finally relent and return to tube.

9pm
On train but is terminating at Northfields (could this night get any worse – tis a freaking joke). Cross over platform and get another train – complete journey in furious stupor. 11pm – Walk back up the road this time without Sainsburys bags.

Sunday 19 Dec/8am
Wake and ring airline – no positive news. Two options – go on waiting list for first available flight or rebook for Christmas Day. Opt for waiting list. Spend the day in a state of surreal limbo: crying, watching the news, calling Korean Air for updates and trying to stay busy.

5.30pm
Mobile rings – is Korean Air (first time they have rung me) – flight is now in Madrid – they are hoping to get the flight into LHR tomorrow and operate yesterday’s flight or else they will get another aircraft. First bit of positive news have heard all weekend. Told to call at 9am the following morning.

Monday 20 Dec/6am
Wake up – check Twitter for updates – seems northern runway at LHR is clear and limited flights will be arriving and departing. Go back to sleep, too early to ring airline.

8am
Woken by mobile ringing – is airline! There will be a flight from LHR at 4pm. Jump out of bed and get ready. Book taxi for 11am as taxi company insist it will only take 4o minutes.

11am
Taxi to LHR T4 – 40 minutes as predicted. Airport is chaotic – more people than Saturday night plus foil blankets.

Midday
Check-in – struggle through crowds to get to correct zone and join queue. Befriend Kiwi couple and wait for 3 hours to check in. Refuse to call anyone as do not believe it will happen yet. While in queue realise our connecting flight from Seoul to Auckland is not guaranteed. Earliest bookable flight is 29 December. Hubby gets us on standby list for earliest connecting flight.

3.30pm
Checked in – have boarding pass in hand and bags are on their way to the aeroplane. Go through security to Duty Free  – can’t quite believe it. Not much time to boarding so grab food and run to gate. Flight due to depart at 4pm though not looking likely as masses of people still in queue.

4.30pm
Waiting at gate – announcement that flight delayed by an hour and a half.

5.10pm
Flight begins boarding – an hour later we taxi down the runway and everyone applauds as we take off. (10 hours to Seoul)

Tuesday 21 Dec/1pm (local time – Seoul)
At baggage carousel rejoin Kiwi couple – tell them that I will get the bags while hubby runs up to standby desk to get on list. Suggest they do the same so me and the girl remain at the carousel and the boys go running. Guy beats hubby to desk and they get 1 and 2 on list while we are 3 and 4. Details of who will get on flight to be released at 4pm.

4.30pm
Two couples with children granted priority on flight and Kiwi couple also given seats – flight full. Spend next couple of hours in limbo – vague information – no concrete estimate of next feasible flight option. Phone Dad and tell him unlikely to be getting on a flight before tomorrow – will call then to update on situation.

5.30pm
Other people have disappeared – transpires they have gone to seek out their own routes instead of waiting for the airline. Starting to really panic that may be spending the next however many days in Incheon airport. Next flight to AKL tomorrow evening (only one a day) but is currently full – no confirmation or assurances that we will be able to get on it.  Hubby is lobbying guy in baby blue suit while I am pleading with staff behind the desk. Nothing happening. Talks of trying to arrange a bigger plane for tomorrow’s flight. Hubby waiting to hear if we might be able to get on a flight to Brisbane but baby blue cannot get confirmation from HQ that we’ll be able to then get a connecting flight to AKL – all flights full.

5.45pm
Berate hubby for not going to find alternative route like other people.

6pm
Me trying to get information – nothing. Lee has disappeared – can’t get hold of him on his mobile, can’t leave bags or desk. Guy standing with my bags tells me he and his fiance have just had their 7.10pm flight to Sydney confirmed, advises me to find out if I can get us onto it also. Other people hanging around chatting – I need to be proactive.

It’s my honeymoon so I’ll cry if I want to…
6.15pm
Talking to staff – can’t take it any more – tell staff am about to pass out from the stress and start crying.  My tears seem to have sparked action – all of a sudden two women and a man are on the phone and computer and hear talks of getting me and hubby onto “full” Sydney flight with a connection to AKL – flight leaving at 7.10pm. Use airport phone to call Lee – leave panicked voicemail.

6.20pm
Lee comes running – had been booking us onto a flight to Fiji with a 24 hour stay over before going on to AKL – tell him to cancel Fiji flight because it appears we’re going to Sydney. Nerves fraught as staff hurriedly organise visas and boarding passes. Two men come to check in and wheel away our bags direct to the aircraft. Member of staff personally escorts us to the gate.

7pm
Get to gate and as we’re going through a bag check call Dad (who is asleep) and tell him we’re getting on a flight and will be in AKL at 2.20pm the next day and need him to book internal flight to Wellington.

Wednesday 22 Dec/7.02am
Arrive in Sydney!!!

7.45am
Pilot calls our names tells us to report to member of cabin crew – transported to Transfer Desk via buggy cart – at security hubby becomes target of random search – thankfully it only lasts 5 minutes. Check in – woman tells us they will feel the repercussions of the snow tomorrow when 400 passengers land hoping to get a connecting flight to AKL. Feel incredibly lucky to have gotten this far.

8.15am
And we’re through to terminal to replenish ourselves with coffee and toast.

8.30am
Down to the gate – New Zealand is in sight!!
N.B. Dad has managed to book us onto a 5pm flight to Wellington – we’re almost there, two days later than expected but we’re going to make it for Xmas!

9.15ish
Leave beautiful, hot and sunny Sydney on Quantas flight 55 and watch ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’ and part of a ‘Glee’ episode – feel empathetic with both sentiments.

2.30pm (local time NZ)
Arrive in Auckland – cannot believe we are actually in New Zealand. Telling anyone who’ll listen (guy at passport control/ girl in shop etc) about our epic journey across the world!!

3.15pm
Check in bags at Air New Zealand desk and head over to Domestic Terminal. Buy a pair of purple Billabong flip flops – feet overheating in Sheepskin boots.

4pm
Waiting for gate to open – couple of delays – praying not ours (we’ve suffered enough!)

5pm
45 minute flight to Wellington – easiest part of the journey – walk through walkway and see Dad at the end of the tunnel. We’ve arrived!!! Back to Dad’s house – get in shower – very windy outside – am soaped up and suddenly power goes. No water. Hubby has to get a bucket and rinse me down – typical!

9pm
Sitting on sofa recounting traumatic experience – fall asleep…

 

 

Chapter One

"So, why should we give you this job?"

She couldn’t understand it. One moment she’d been sitting patiently in the lobby with her portfolio, alongside all the other girls in their starched white shirts and Zara trouser suits, waiting for her name to be called. The next she appeared to be suspended in some kind of alternate reality. The room, empty and dark with high ceilings and low-hanging chandeliers looked across between the hotel ballroom in The Shining and the decorated hall of her graduation ball. The red leather couch which had moments ago been occupied by two other girls, fidgeting and nervous, was now bare. Lacey made to stand up, causing something to rustle underfoot. She looked down to find the pages of her carefully constructed portfolio fanned out in a chaotic pile on the marble floor.

She tried to peer into the blackness and called out. ‘Is anyone there?’ But all that she heard was her own voice echoing back at her from the cavernous corners of the eerie gloom.

The job she had been about to interview for was as a Junior Copywriter within one of London’s top advertising agencies. Highly competitive, ruthlessly creative and the ideal beginning to her dream career. The application process had been a nightmare. As it turned out, thinking outside the box was not as easy as the woman on the phone had made it sound. ‘Just remember, she’d said. ‘You’re idea has got to be better than all the other hundreds of applicants.’ Lacey was sure she had meant it to spur her on, but she’d hung up the phone more apprehensive than ever.

The brief she’d been set was to develop a television ad campaign for Blue Star, the up-and-coming denim brand of the tweenage generation. So she’d brainstormed and called upon the prepubescent thoughts of her youngest sister and her friends and worked it all out on a big A3 flip pad from Rymans. Convinced she’d landed on a genius idea she’d run it past her Dad’s advertising pal who’d been in the business for ten or so years, and who had encouraged her to apply in the first place. He had tweaked and critiqued in red pen and handed it back to her to polish up. She’d cried with premature defeat and had then wiped her eyes, berated her self-doubt and got on with the task at hand. Happy now with the final result, involving gymnasts wearing the jeans and performing a series of routines in them to reveal their elasticity and comfort before teaming them with the sparkly halter tops favoured by her sister’s generation to take them from day to night; Lacey had sent off her application to Wyatt and Sullivan with immense trepidation.

Hardly daring to check the post, her email or her answer machine messages, she had immersed herself in mundane chores around the house, helping her mother with washing, shopping, cleaning and cooking. Anything to distract herself from thinking about what the outcome would be. This was the first proper paying job she had applied for since leaving university. Of course she had managed to secure the required work experience, the first placement via her Dad’s advertising buddy, Phil, and afterwards, through sheer determination and initiative. She had proved herself a remarkable asset and all five placements had resulted in glowing reviews and reams of examples for her portfolio.

The call from Wyatt and Sullivan had come exactly eleven days later, not that she’d been counting, from the same woman who had filled her with doubt over her application. She’d been granted an interview and was to appear at the firm’s London office two days later. As soon as the line had disconnected, she’d emitted a scream of unadulterated joy. The nerves had soon set in however as it dawned on her that she’d only made it past round one.

Somewhere in the depths of blackness a ringing started up, muffled at first but gradually gaining momentum. Lacey shut her eyes.

Dior Illustrated: In Words

“To be inspired by Dior is to be inspired by René Gruau.” John Galliano

Ploughing through the crowds streaming along London’s Strand, she clasped his hand tightly so as not to be plied apart. They bowed their heads against the burning winds, faces frozen with cold. With the weekend train lines operating a partial service, the journey had involved a multitude of different transport options. From overground rail to London’s red buses to overcrowded tubes they had battled their way into the capital. Passing an ongoing protest outside Zimbabwe House they observed a diverse mix of people flanked by white boards with varying slogans plastered across them. People stood to one side taking an assortment of photographs and video footage, but the couple continued forward. Tailored doormen ushered fur-covered guests of the Savoy Hotel into black taxis and groups of barely dressed teenage girls flowed out of the doors of Topshop and Pizza Hut.

Pausing to run into Tesco Express on the corner to grab some lunch, the couple spied a deluge of official cars and police horses fanning out around the juncture they were intending to go down. Exiting Tesco, complete with a £2 meal deal-a-piece, they crossed the road and headed toward their destination, watching as the police vans, cars and horses attended to maintaining a vehicle-free thoroughfare.

Seeing the entrance to Somerset House up ahead, they dove inside the arched passageway and made their way slowly into the courtyard. Standing to one side, they ate their sandwiches, watching as a group of workmen milled around the ice rink that was in the process of being assembled. Pieces of wood were being sawn and lights attached to the towering Christmas tree at the entrance to the rink. The word ‘SKATE’ had been applied in large lettering to the front of Somerset House and lunch eaten they continued down the right-hand side of the rink to the main entrance.

The place to skate

A gaggle of art students huddled together on the steps and the couple navigated past them, coming out into the warmth of the reception. A sign for the exhibition stood centrally, directing them towards the Stamp staircase where they were to follow the imprint of René Gruau’s trademark signature. Like fashion breadcrumbs the black star and symbol led them further and further down into the heart of the building, through a set of glass doors and into the atrium where a line of people was queuing to purchase tickets to the exhibit. She brandished their pre-printed tickets at the woman behind the till and they were ushered through. An introduction to the exhibition provided their first port of call within the empty space of black and cream.

 

On first impression...

The montage of works was accompanied by text at the foot of a staircase which  spoke of the instantly recognisable and enduring fashion and beauty images created by Gruau throughout the 20th century and of the artist’s illustrious relationship with his great friend, Christian Dior. The couple read the full text and then turned to ascend the spiral staircase that would take them to the display proper.

On first impression, she was awed by the designs spread out before them along the narrow mezzanine of works on show. He pulled her attention back to the start, directing her to work her way round slowly, absorbing each element individually.

Flower Woman

Starting with a collection of works entitled: ‘Flower Woman’, they marvelled at Gruau’s first advertising illustrations for Diorissimo, Dior’s perfume created in 1956. The image revealed the posterior of a woman clothed in a backless elegant black sheath dress, holding a bouquet of flowers. Text accompanying the group revealed Dior explaining his floral theme: “I was drawing flower women, soft, sloping shoulders, generous busts, a slim waist and wide skirts like flower petals.” The images were beautiful, she marvelled, and he too expressed his admiration of the diversity in presentation, from simple monochrome to sinuous floral compositions.

A sneaky peek...

He enjoyed the playful and down-to-earth series for L’Homme Gruau, depicting a man’s hairy legs in a variety of poses and settings in advertisements for Dior’s Eau Savage aftershave. Gruau combined humour and near-nudity to transpose the age-old ideal of the femme fatale.

Nice legs...

From the starkly modern illustrations featured in the series for line and silhouette, to the Pop Art-style impressions within gesture and attitude; Gruau’s designs revealed a sharp eye and intuition for coming trends and a wider awareness of the changing cultural landscape.

“I always seek to reproduce what I have come across in life. I record a pose, a look or a smile. It is almost photographic.”
– René Gruau

The line of beauty

The couple wondered along taking in the extent of works on display, coming to a selection of compositions at the far end of the exhibition that showed pieces created by a handful of modern artists in the guise of Dior’s central themes. Casting their critique on each of the works, they each agreed on one which certainly paid tribute to the exquisite genius of Gruau. She was drawn to a silhouetted sculpted work of black, yellow and white plastic, which revealed the outline of a woman holding an umbrella, while he recognised Gruau’s humour from the Eau Savage adverts, in an illustration by Richard Kilroy which featured a man attempting to extricate himself from his clothes leaving him faceless with just his torso on display.

They made their way along the opposite wall, stopping to admire a set of mannequins, behind glass, encased in various designs by Dior. Listening to the thoughts of other visitors to the works, the general consensus was one of praise and inspiration for Gruau’s flair and insight. The couple made their way out of the exhibition, deeply inspired by René Gruau’s line of beauty so intrinsically captured in the motifs and designs of Christian Dior.