Sonnet to Liberty

Oh how I love a bit of Liberty. That whisper soft long-staple cotton, the intricately fine floral patterns, the wonderful timelessness of those bolts of cheery fabric in every shade imaginable. Designers have always loved incorporating the iconic blooms in their offerings, and this year there’s quite the bounty of fabulous floral finds. I particularly love Levi’s denim shorts with the tiny peek of printed pockets under the hem, and am eyeing the cheerily painted wooden tray as the perfect home for perfumes and makeup. Not to mention that dream of a suitcase, which looks as if it could make even the most mundane of trips feel a little more glamorous…

What catches your eye in this garden of gorgeousness? Have a particularly favorite Liberty print? Tell me about it below!

 J. Crew Short Pajamas / Liberty Suitcase / Liberty Washbags / Sessun Dress / Levi's x Liberty Shorts / Liberty Wooden Tray / Retrosuperfuture Sunglasses / Liberty Frill Knickers /  Karla Spetic Triangle Bra.

Friday Frock - Dinner Pajamas Edition

I had most incredible paper dolls when I was little - booklets and booklets full of 1930's and 40's couture and the impeccably cataloged movie wardrobes of silver screen starlets.  Vivien Leigh, and Grace Kelly were my favorites - I had Jeanette McDonald for a while, but her head was ripped off in an unfortunate windowsill accident. Twenty years later, I still have them all somewhere in a box, well-worn and frayed and very much loved. Which all brings us, in a roundabout way, to today's frock - which is of course, no such thing. It's a dreaded jumpsuit. Which is neither shirt nor pants, so in my mind must be filed under frocks.  Before you make hasty judgments and horrified faces at the word "onesie", hear me out....

One of those aforementioned paper dolls, contained, I believe, in the "Fashions of the Forties" booklet, was a flowing, midnight blue confection with a candy pink sash. It was titled, simply,  "Dinner Pajamas". I was incredibly taken with this idea as a child - a life so glamorous and hedonistic that you would dress in an opulent form of loungewear for entertaining and cocktails. You can spot the look in some old movies - usually paired with a cigarette holder and plushly carpeted Hollywood bungalows. I dressed Vivien and Grace in the ensemble constantly, and was heartbroken to learn that I was unlikely to find a similar look for an eight year old in an early nineties shopping mall.

And so this was the first thing that sprung to my mind when I saw this stylish getup in the latest Anthropologie catalog - Dinner Pajamas! Finally! To be donned upon arrival home after work - and much more sartorially acceptable than your terry sweats. You can look fabulous while answering the door or having friends over for drinks or desert - my usual evening meal - and yet still safely play the pajama card when asked to do something on your Friday night. "I would love to come out, but I'm already in my pajamas. Sorry." Though you know you're not sorry at all. 

So not a dreaded jumpsuit at all in fact. A new way of life. To be paired with posh platforms,  chunky gold jewelry, and a languorous expression.

Friday Frock

This week's frock is such a charmer. The perfect juicy mango hue, with Grecian details that you know I can't resist.  It's fun, fresh, bright and charming, with an unusual but flattering silhouette - midi in front, maxi (and party) behind. It looks like it would swing becomingly when you walked. What more can you ask? I feel like life would take on more carnival atmosphere every time you wore this Which incidentally, is exactly where I would wear it - a gaudy country carnival, lights strung across flapping tents, an air of mystery in the air and the taste of cotton candy on the lips. 


Do you love this color as much as we do? Have you been to a carnival yet this summer? Tell us all about it below...

Friday Frock

This week's frock isn't the sort of thing I would normally wear - it falls into that rarer category of "wardrobe for the life I wish I led".  Which is a relief, since it's sold out everywhere. I love the heft and detail of the fabric, and the sophisticated, timeless silhouette with its nipped-in waist and slightly longer sleeves. Fresh little details like cheeky pockets and hidden sheer stripes add a little unexpected youthfulness. Very modern day Grace Kelly. Also appropriate for Venetian canal boat chases with James Bond, and/or major art heists. Pair with a posh pair of putty-colored pumps, a classic, structured handbag (Kelly again)  and an expensively disheveled coif.

 

What kind of adventures would you get up to in this fabulous dress? 

 

Lazy Links

Today is a bit too hot to sunbathe, so here we are - sprawled out under over-worked ceiling fans, eating popsicle after popsicle, and generally making a sticky, grape-colored mess of the keyboard. If your Monday is looking as lazy as ours, how about a little wander around some of the things that caught our eye this week?


Cleanse your palate after this week's Venetian excess with some light-filled, clean interiors From Scandinavia with Love. Makes us want to buy a cheerily painted summer house and eat lots of herring.


A list of the best secret British beaches. Chilly, pebbly heaven.


An ode to the style icon that is Clair Huxtable. Say what you like - the woman could wear the hell out of a chunky sweater.


We have finally discovered the cure for dry, peeling lips. It involves tupelo honey and corn grits, and it's very difficult not to just eat the stuff straight out of the tub.


Some genius has built a library in a vineyard. They're our kind of crazy.


This sweater isn't just criminally fabulous, it's also coronation-appropriate. Now we just need the weather to cool off a bit so we can wear it.


Are we the only ones to think this whole Coachella cruise thing sounds like a really terrible idea? Like scores of drunk girls overboard bad? Though the thought of fruity drinks at the ship's bar with Jarvis Cocker almost saves it. We feel he'd be a pina colada man.


The house of Yves Saint Laurent is changing the brand's title to Saint Laurent Paris. This is too idiotic for us to care to comment on. 


Those sneaky minxes over at Domestic Sluttery have started a pudding club. It's chocolate month apparently. We would like to join a club where other people make us lovely puddings and then drop them off at our door without wanting to come in and chat. 


Did you know there's a Jane Austen festival held in Kentucky every year? Everyone dresses up, has tea, and we can only assume does some serious matchmaking and/or verbal sparring. Oh and there's gentlemen's DUELS. We're in.


Have you entered our absolutely fabulous giveaway yet? Why on earth not?


We have absolute swathes of scent, skincare and makeup reviews on the way again - let us know if there's anything you'd particularly love to see, or if you have any burning beauty questions you're dying to ask. Leave a comment, or write us at theblossomshed@gmail.com - we adore getting mail....

image via Pinterest

Friday Frock

Oh those ancient Greeks. Say what you like, they knew how to drape. There's nothing I love more than this goddess-style cut - particularly when it's executed as beautifully as on this week's frock. Why do we bother with shifts and maxis, wraps and sheaths, when there's the option of looking like you've just sprung, resplendent and immortal, from the sea's pale, aqua foam? Also suitable for summer wedding's, rooftop cocktails and other mere mortal events.

Pair with metallic accessories, luminous skin and a messily braided updo, and try to avoid launching a thousand ships while at the bar.

Lazy Links

Goodness that was a hot spell. The only cool place in the house was the tiny bathroom, which is so small and dark that the air conditioning was almost effective. Surely I can't be the only person who spent their weekend reading while sitting on the ground next to a toilet?


Anyway, it's crisp and cool again now, so let's get back into the swing of things with a leisurely wander round some lovely little stories and items that caught our eye this week...


Margherita Missoni got hitched in the most DIVINE dress. By Giambattista Valli. Snap. 


Lets take a stroll through the 25 most beautiful public libraries in the world. The one in Alexandria looks like the perfect setting for a Young Adult adventure novel concerning time-travel and intrigue. Magical ancient texts should figure heavily. 


And our love affair with embellished shorts continues...


Go Fug Yourself takes us through the best of Ascot crackpottery, and it's fabulous. You know we can't resist a wacky hat.


These rooms from above are strangely fascinating, and for some reason make us want to pull out our old dollhouse again and start arranging the tiny furniture...


A Model Recommends is giving away a luxurious NEOM Organics gift set. If you haven't experienced the indulgence that is NEOM bath oils and candles, remedy that immediately by entering.


Because lime and rum-drenched sponge topped with minty frosting always deserves a mention- Domestic Sluttery’s Mojito Cake.


How beautiful are these portraits of Senior Dogs Across America? And is there anything more loving and dignified than the graying face of an old dog? We think not.


Our new favorite read is the lovely blog Swedish Love Affair - especially the brilliant post outlining the complex mindgames of going on a date, Scandinavian-style:)


Remember to follow along this month, as we've got bushels of gorgey products, skincare and scents to discuss, daring dresses, summer style and basically, lots of lovely little things. Also a FABULOUS giveaway to say thank you for sticking around while the Blossom Shed went bunburying for absolutely ages.


photo via pinterest

Friday Frock - Coachella Edition

Now that we've got our Coachella beauty must-haves sorted out, let's move onto a festival edition of this week's Friday Frock. Except of course it's not really a frock, is it? You'll definitely need a pair of denim shorts underneath that, unless you're about 5 ft and short waisted, so let's call it a tunic. Moniker aside, I think it's perfect - casual and flowy, but the beautifully intricate beadwork adds a bit of glamour as the day turns into night. I always wholeheartedly suggest always wearing shorts/skorts/massive frilly knickers to any outdoor music event you attend, due to my last, rather memorable encounter with the main stage at Coachella.

In brief, it involved the beginning of The Killers' show, where the close proximity to Brandon Flowers and/or a sudden onset of acute anemia and dehydration caused me to suddenly drop like a stone as the curtain raised. I particularly like to hear about how I was hauled over the stage barricades, limp, unconcious and twitching, by my sister's superhuman sibling survival instincts and crowd-parting death stare. I'm sure she was hoping the divine Mr Flowers would notice her in the crowd that night, but seeing her hike up her miniskirt and launch over the metal fencing, polka dot knickers in full HD glory on the jumbotrons, was probably not what she had in mind. I just thank god I was wearing shorts, and wasn't trampled to death by hipsters.

So wear something underneath, okay? And if you have a good concert story, share it and make me feel a little less ridiculous. Or if you're in Indio this weekend, tell us what you're wearing and how it's going. And for goodness sakes drink plenty of water.

Friday Frock

You're probably thinking this week's frock is pleasant but boring, aren't you? I did too. Until.......

BAM. I go crazy for anything with back cutouts. They're second only to pockets on my frock rating system. And suddenly everything about this dress is just gorgeous. The buttton sides. The cross-over layers. The pleated details. The intricate jaquard fabric with a bit of heft and weight to it. I'm in love. Doesn't it just shout "evening stroll through a sunbaked Italian hill town"? Sashaying down cobbled streets as the setting sun turns everything golden? Perhaps a pale green cone of pistachio gelato in one hand and a pair of vintage 1950s sunglasses dangling in the other?

Yes, I need this dress. You probably do too. And of course now you're craving gelato, so I'm sorry.

Friday Frock

Yes, this week's frock is a shapeless shift dress. I'm nothing if not consistent. But I can't help what I like, and I most definitely like this. In fact, everything about it, from the gorgeous chartreuse shade to the soft, textured tweed, is my idea of spring frock perfection. I even love the handy pockets - perfect for stashing a petal pink lippy and some small, fortifying snacks. I suggest you stick with the spring theme and go with jelly beans.

Lazy Links

Spring has sprung! Suddenly and rather violently - it's in the 70's, and that means flip flops, and showing toes that have been hidden for six months. Quite scary really. But we're not complaining - it's warm, sunny, and the world is about to be sprinkled profusely with daffodils - basically anti-depressants in flower form. We LOVE them. So take a wander through these lovely links, and then for goodness sake's go outside and enjoy the weather. And the daffodils.

If you're nosy like us, you'll love the fabulous What's In My Handbag.

They have raven wallpaper over at Domestic Sluttery. Perfect for our future baroque downstairs powder room. The fantasy manor house is really starting to come together lately.

We're going to need to line up a butler soon...

A lovely video that's like a little work of art - Emily from the impeccable Into the Gloss does

her five minute makeup.

Still coveting these sunglasses. Especially since our favorite pair got sat on yesterday.

Did you see the NY pizza goat? Who are these people, and why on earth are we not friends?

Speaking of goats, if you're in London on April 7th, we must insist you attend the Oxford v Cambridge Goat Race. That's not a typo.

Did you know there's a Travelling Gin Co? For those times when you're just dying for a perfectly mixed g&t delivered by antique bike.

This is technically a romper, and therefore should be an abomination. But it's not, it's adorable and perfect and we may wear nothing else this summer.

The fabulous Beauty Mouth is now answering all of your deepest, darkest skincare questions in her Thursday Clinic - it's like your own personal, slightly cranky skin guru on speed dial.

Oh this this dress! Gorgeous and fluttery and slightly 20's - the perfect combination.

If you've never had bourbon-spiked banana bread, you need to remedy that immediately. Your house will smell like heaven for hours.

It's getting on towards skirt season, so we're over at She Said Beauty this week, showing you how to get your pins in tip top Spring shape without any horrid exercise and dieting type milarky.

And lastly, we're thrilled to be gearing up for The Blossom Shed's first giveaway in April - it's going to be fragrant and luxurious and frankly brilliant, and that's we're saying for now.....

Source: urbangardensweb.com via The Blossom Shed on Pinterest

Friday Frock

Today seemed rather timely to post this adorable kelly green printed Milly sundress, and I do love a twirly skirt - it adds that extra feminine swing and a subtle little spring in your step. What really clinches this for me though is the snug, low waist - it makes it a little more modern than the usual retro sundress, while helping out the particularly long-waisted among us - I've gotten tired of every cute summer frock's waist hitting me somewhere mid-ribcage, and I think this cut may be the perfect cure. My only change would be the belt - I'd prefer something contrasting - I'd probably like a broad, sunny yellow, but then again I think yellow is the answer to everything.

Milly dresses are consistently almost annoyingly adorable - with gorgeous retro prints and ultra-feminine shapes, there's about five from this season alone that I'm in love with. This is my number two - I'm saving my favorite for another Friday - it's even cuter. And it has pockets. Because is there anything lovelier than a full skirted frock with pockets? I really don't think there is.

So how would you wear this - with even more punchily colored accessories, or some simple neutrals and a shiny ponytail?

Skinny Love

Isn’t it refreshing how varied denim styles are at the moment? No more must-haves or required shapes, lines are releasing wide ranges of cuts for every taste, and you can find anything from high-waisted wide legs to skinny and slouchy in the shops wherever you are. Sometimes I feel like shopping has become just one long quest for the perfect pair of jeans – lots of people are still looking, and some never really do find that ideal pair – comfy, soft, flattering, versatile – it’s a tall order. When you do find them though, they’re really the pillar of a wardrobe –a great pair that you feel good in is worth its weight in gold.

My all-time most beloved style is Superfine’s Harry – they’re not easy to find, and they’re panic-inducingly pricey, but my goodness do you get what you pay for. The incredibly densely-woven denim is paper thin and soft as silk, with just the right hint of stretch. The cut is the perfect, timeless bridge between a skinny and straight leg, and the little details and handmade touches make me feel special every time I put them on – the satiney, pinstriped- fabric lined pockets, petal pink ticking inside the smooth and flat lying zipper, and a range of gorgeously subdued blues, greys and blacks with subtle, finely stitched lines.

The waist is mid to low-rise – just perfect - and they fit my body type – slim but not much waist – to perfection. From the knee to the ankle they’re slim but straight – no unflattering tapering here, thank you very much – and the length is just right whether with sandals, flats or sky-high heels.

I first tried them on years ago in the Barney’s NY Co-Op dressing room, and fell in love immediately and permanently - they were denim perfection. The fact that Kate Moss wore the same cut and color constantly in every style mag didn’t hurt either - they looked just as good on the few other people I’ve seen wearing them as they did on her. Well maybe almost as good…

I don’t even know if Superfine is making this style anymore, I can’t seem to find a definitive answer, but if they aren't I may just give up and never wear denim again – that’s how spoiled I’ve become. Nothing else will do now. In the meantime, I troll around looking for clearance and closeout pairs in small boutiques and online shops, and have been very lucky with my finds so far – I can smugly say that I’ve never paid more than half price for them. To me they’re just as chic and stylish today as they were five years ago, and I suggest if you’re still looking for that perfect pair that you give them a try. Just don’t touch any of the pairs in 27 –there’s not that many out there, so I’m calling dibs on my size.

What is your absolute perfect pair of jeans? Do you look for a certain cut, fabric, style? Do they have to be comfy and soft or structured and sleek? Have you found them yet, or are you still looking? Tell us all about them below!

Friday Frock

First of all, let's just pretend it's Friday - wouldn't that be nice? A whole extra day of weekend, and in fairness that IS when picked out this week's frock - it's the posting it that's been rather tardy.

Onto this week's dress - well, it's probably the cheapest I will ever feature here. It's also, rather alarmingly, sold out online in the time that I've taken to write this - I optimistically assume you can still find it in stores. But it's here today because there was so much love from my readers for this gorgeous Adriatic-hued Rory Beca dress I featured last month - while I don't pretend this is anywhere in the same league, it's also under $20, so it's a cheap and cheerful way to bring a little of that color and easy shape into your summer wardrobe.

I clearly don't quite have my finger on the mainstream fashion pulse, because I had no idea that Rory Beca was doing a budget line for Forever21 - but she clearly draws on her original line for a lot of the shapes and colors, and with quite lovely results. This may not have the gorgeous length, sway and fabric as the original, but it's a brilliant cobalt blue, has cute, multiple strapping at the back and a lovely dropped back hem. I'll wear it with some chunky gold bracelets and nude wrap sandals - from the beach to a casual dinner party, it's going to get a lot of use from me this summer. As soon as I can find one in the shops that is......

How do you feel about cobalt blues? They make me think of a Greek Island, with blindingly white houses along the brilliant blue coastline, so of course I love them. They look fabulous with golds and nudes, and flattering on so many skin tones. Do you have a color that you're dying to wear when the weather warms up? Tell us about it below!

picture via Pinterest

Friday Frock

First of all, I know exactly what those of you that know me well are saying right now. "Oh no. Not ANOTHER caftan-type tunic dress. You are not Verushka you know."

Luckily I don't mind, because I love that style of dress, and I love this. It doesn't show terribly well in the pictures, but having seen it in person, the embroidery is much more beautiful and the overall effect much less nightgown-looking. It's beautiful, and just my style. I would wear it every day this Summer, and probably even into Fall with skinny jeans.

I love this sort of dress because one of my most basic goals is to live the sort of life where I never have to put on any pants. I don't mean pants in the UK sense of the word, that's just disgusting, I mean that I want my legs to be forevermore free of their denim and wool, and to be able to live in nothing but flowy, short dresses and caftans. I want to be somewhere warm and sunny all the time, where I'm barefoot every day and my legs can see the sun and feel the breeze. I want them to be unfettered by stifling fabrics, and to never know the chains of snow boots. Is this really so much to ask? A Greek Island or an Andalusian finca would probably do me quite well for these purposes, surely I can wrangle that one day. Until then I will be wearing this, barefoot, in preparation.

What do you think - do you like the flowy, airy dresses, or are you strictly team form-fitting? Let me know below! I'm signing off now before I say anything too strange - I've had to take a rather large amount of Benadryl for terrible allergies, and I have a feeling I'm going to stop making sense soon. It may have happened already. Happy Friday to you all!

Heavenly Hats

If only I had a large, devoted hat budget for my summer wardrobe plans, I could happily clean out NYC Milliner Satya Twena's entire newest collection - now that I've discovered her brilliant designs, all the floppy beach hats and straw fedoras elsewhere look a bit flat in comparison. Beautifully hand-crafted using vintage molds, all of her charming hats have a wonderfully distinct character without losing their modern wearability and easy charm.

This clearly belongs at a summer race meet, sipping lemonade from a jam jar.

This says "Go away. I'm famous, reclusive, on a French beach and possibly not wearing a top."

A pleasantly pastoral picnic, of course. Demure and charming. I hope someone brought scones.

This one's getting more firmly into costume territory, but in a wonderful sort of way. It kind of makes me picture wearing a petticoat and selling flowers in Portobello Road. There's the possibility of a jaunty musical number ensuing at any moment...

Are you a hat person? Visit the rest of the collection at the Satya Twena website, and then tell me your favorite one below!

Downton Abbey Paper Dolls

Oh. Dear. Lord.

Well that's it then. I'll never get any work done now. Excuse me, I'm off to find a color printer. I suggest you do the same.

Images via The Vulture

Friday Frock

I'm not going to lie to you. This week's Friday Frock may end up looking a bit puffy when on. It's possible - there are quite a few layers happening here, and one can only hope they all behave.

Though I don't care even if it is a touch too voluminous. Because when I see this dress, I picture sitting at a sidewalk cafe on the French Riviera, sipping limoncello under gaily colored umbrellas. I feel a Vespa ride may follow. We've switched to Italy now, but never mind, just go with it. It makes me think of yacht decks glistening on an azure harbor and pastel colored ice creams on the beach. You just need some cat's eye sunglasses - these, preferably - some leather sandals, and a bouncy ponytail. I can't be responsible for what happens next. It probably involves that Vespa and a yacht deck-hand named Marco, and possibly jewel thievery. It's that kind of dress.



Oh and it's on sale too.

(Good lord I just realized the sublime YSL sunglasses are on sale too. It's a sign. Buy them both and make for the Riviera. Let me know how it goes.)

Friday Frock

Yes, I know this is just a very large, rather nicely draped sweatshirt, and therefore does not, as such, really constitute as a frock. I also know that most of us are snowed in at the moment and therefore going to be spending most of our weekend curled up on the sofa, wearing multiple pairs of socks and consuming vast quantities of hot beverages. If ever there was a frock for just such an occasion, this would be it. You could even throw on some leggings or skinny jeans and run to the store for vital supplies (ie vast quantities of fortifying chocolate) while looking reasonably chic. It beats standing at the checkout in your garden gnome printed pajama bottoms tucked into snowboots.

My only worries? First, that it will be so comfortable and cozy that I'll never take it off, and second, that I've spent too much time in L.A. and am beginning to think loungewear is sartorially acceptable...

Friday Frock

I've given up trying to find perfect dresses for winter - I'm done with winter. As long as you can make it through January, you're into resort wear, and then everything is bright and beautiful again, popping with prints and luscious colors, bringing a little much needed sunshine into our days. So I hereby declare this season open - I'm bringing on the brights.



I first saw this Rory Beca Holiday 2011 dress on the lovely blog Cocogroove, which always has the most gorgeous pictures of new collections - the whole lookbook was just perfection, and I think there wasn't an item I didn't want to own. Oh and I'd take the house as well.

Not only is this the most clear, deep, divine shade of blue, that looks beautiful on so many skintones and was made for long, sunkissed limbs, but it also has that brilliant cut where the maxi skirt swirls and parts to reveal the mini underskirt beneath - just made for striding across the lawn of an outdoor party with a slight breeze. I'm going to start saving up the piggybank for this one - I'm smitten.