School's Out

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>> Last week when I went to see the exhibition of Central Saint Martins, students were filing out, laden with garment bags, portfolios and boxes.  School lockers were empty and open and nearby bins were flooded with unwanted crap.  It was the last day of school and like the sad nearly-thirty person that I am, I found myself yearning for that feeling of breaking up for the summer and that sense of relief when yet another academic year comes to a close and you can switch off for two months or so.  At our school, we got to experience a relaxed build up to that momentous last day as we basically dawdled about doing not much work for two weeks and teachers put on films in class to kill time (Amadeus and The Piano were the films of choice…).  I'm digressing and reminiscing.  

I haven't had a school's out moment in years and haven't really had a chance to take a proper no-emails, no-blogging longer-than-a-week summer break since… well, since the blog began.  I'll be trying to make amends though with my upcoming trip to Los Angeles and Portland in July, which no doubt you'll hear more about when I start banging on about it here to fish for shopping/eating/doing tips.  Until then, I've got my own summer uniform of sorts, which sort of harks back to the puff-sleeved, round-collared checkered dresses most British girls wear at primary school during the summer months.  Remember Julien David's "Les Enfants Gates" (the spoiled child) S/S 12 collection?  I ordered a few pieces and belatedly received them in time for UK's rubbish washout summer when short sleeves are still somewhat questionable.  Similar pieces from the collection are currently well on their way to the sale rail on Far Fetch, Matches Fashion and the like, but the childish French scrawl in beginner's cursive writing and toy print made up of David's memories of playing with objects like a Buckingham Palace guard, a dinosaur, a rubber duck and a Mickey Mouse glove will long be relevant past the summer months.  I've yet to feel the joys of running around carefree and bare-legged in a crino-lined egg-shaped skirt (David's version is becoming something of a signature shape for him) and a broderie anglaise Peter Pan collared blouse so the timing is ace.  

Coupled with the summer school vibes of the Julien David's ensemble is my very first Olympia Le-Tan accessory – THAT Barney Bubbles designed cover for The Damned on a 7inch record box bag.  It was a delightful surprise in the mail that also came with the longest postcard written by Ms. Le-Tan herself, explaining the ins and outs of what makes an Olympia Le-Tan clutch/bag cost the price it warrants.  There will be a follow-up investigation to this when I head off to Paris next week for couture shows.  Suffice to say though, having carried around this beaut of a record bag around, I'm feeling its worth already with every touch and every click of the brass clasp, as satisfying as the sound my Rainbow Brite lunchbox used to make.  God, I really need to snap out of it.  Peter Pan syndrome isn't really becoming on me.  

Other scholastic accoutrements include a beautiful pale blue mesh lace tie by Marwood London.  Steve doesn't really wear ties so his hang forlornly in the wardrobe.  Took me a while to get back in the school tie swing of things though.  After all the last thing you want is a knot that resembles that of a cheesy estate agent's.  On the feet are a pair of Milan-based brand L'F Unisex tongue-less slip on brogues from the new S/S 13 collection for the forever-child who doesn't want to fiddle around with shoelaces.  Not that I'm troubled by tying shoelaces or anything but it IS super handy to just slip on a pair of brogues with swift ease when you need to leg it down the fire exit stairs to catch the postman.  

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33 comments

  2. Oh that t-rex and sneakers shirt. Somehow i thought you were going to wear this with a pair of running shoes, but this one looks cool! 🙂

  7. You and Man Repeller are sporting today similar outfits. Both of you look wonderful and inspiring.
    Mysmallwardrobe.com

  10. Cool mix of prints. You didn’t follow any “rules” and that’s why the outfit turned out well.
    School was, unfortunately, a long time for me. But I do reminiscence the feeling of welcoming summer time.

  16. I love your outfit. The shoes are SO cool! and so is the bag.. and the skirt.. and the top.. and the tie! As The Fashann Monster said, Cute prints overload! 🙂

  24. This is so cute….lovely! Dressing up for school is itself so cute. I too would love to wear this outfit as school uniform, wish it would have been our school uniform! Loved it!

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