Houghton Revisited...Art Returns Home

Britain's first prime minister Sir Robert Walpole sold his art collection at Houlton Hall, Norfolk to Catherine the Great in order to adorn the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.  After 200 years the works of art are back at Houlton Hall and displayed exactly in the same place as they were originally.   Some of the works have even been put back into their original 18th century frames.

It was my first visit to Houlton and it stands as one of the most finest examples of a Palladium house.  It is home to the direct descendent of Sir Robert Walpole the 7th Marquess of Cholmondelay.  The fact that we can view these works of art in the context of their original historical setting as oppose to the art gallery allowed the viewer to resonate more with both the history and context of the works.  The collection consists of paintings from the 18th century Van Dyck, Poussin, Albani, Rubens, Rembrandt, Velazquez and Murillo.  

During Stalin’s reign many works were sold off to raise funds for the Soviet state, and even after his death many remained inaccessible.  In 2010, Thierry Morel, then director of the Hermitage Foundation, the museum’s international outreach programme, discovered the plan for the original hang at Houghton secreted in the Hermitage archives. “It made me realise what an impact British taste had on the Hermitage collection,” Morel says. “I thought how fantastic it would be to recreate just one of those rooms.” His original plan, to reassemble the paintings in Houghton’s central salon, received enthusiastic support, not only from David Cholmondeley, but from the Hermitage authorities. “We soon realised that the costs and problems of reassembling one room would be so enormous we might as well do the whole thing.” The resulting exhibition has come together extraordinarily rapidly in museum terms.  

There are 75 paintings now installed at Houghton, including works not only from St Petersburg, but also from the National Gallery of Art in Washington D C, which acquired key works during the Stalin era, and from Siberia. “Extending culture to the provinces was part of the Soviet programme,” says Morel. “We found one important work, by the Italian master Carlo Maratta, hanging in a gallery in Khabarovsk, which is about as far east as you can go in Russia." 

The works fit back into Houghton so well visually it seems such a shame that in a few months they will be taken down, packed up and sent back to Russia.   I think this might just be enough of an incentive for me to go and visit The Hermitage in St. Petersburg.  

Click on the link to view info on the exhibition.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ylfw8Nfr7po

There's Beauty in Bohemique

Bohemique has graced the Moscow catwalk once again displaying its Russian style to its audience.  Now it returns again with a twist which sees black jumpers bedecked with blingy diamanté, although bling perhaps cheapens their appeal.  Quirkily hanging from each jumper, suspenders merge in at the bottom.  The stereotypical stance perhaps and juxtaposition in which Bohemique consistently plays on time and time again within their collections; lingerie versus occasion wear.  

We are quite used to seeing this new mergence of lingerie being worn on the outside, dance leotards being worn as evening wear teamed with transparent floaty maxi skirts.  Bohemique captures the very essence of all.

Bohemique which debuted its first collection in 2011 cleverly brings 

together lingerie, occasion wear and fetishistic fabrics to create desirable 

pieces. 

 

The Return of the Hair Accessory or Hair Jewellery!

Rodarte Model

This fall Rodarte had its models strutting down the catwalk with 'falling stars' in their hair.  Does this mean the hair accessory or what I prefer to call it 'hair jewellery' is back and is it here to stay? One would very much hope so. 

The Russian Kokoshnik which dates back to the 17th century is a stunning example of elaborate hair dressage. Originally worn as part of the traditional Russian dress and most famously worn by the Ballet Ruses inparticular the ballerina Anna Pavlova. 

Anna Pavlova

One could argue that we aren't very adventurous with our hair; (particularly within the English culture).  We aren't perhaps particularly adventurous when it comes to adding renowned for adding decorative elements to our mane; especially for everyday wear.  By contrast when I was in Moscow it was not unusual to see women walking the streets with diamante head pieces and flowers attached to their more often than not extremely long hair.   It is not until recently that we have started to see braids and plaits perfectly formed in all directions on the head walking down the catwalks and appearing in fashion magazines. 

Another culture which also goes that extra mile with hair jewellery are often the eastern cultures especially when it comes to celebrating weddings and special occasions.   Celebs have also been sporting their hair jewellery inparticular the likes of Kim Kardashian.  Ebay have some lovely hair pieces see http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Delicate-Kim-Kardashian-Celebrity-Fashion-Diamond-Gold-3-Way-Chain-Hair-Jewelry-/290747233719

A new and upcoming hair designer is Sophie Mc Elligott.  Her intricately handmade headbands each tell a story.  The decoration on the one below reminds me of tuti frutti's I used to eat as a child; gorgeously cute and so bright I could eat them.  Visit www.sophie-mcelligott.com for more.

Sophie McElligott headband to order



Asian bride



 

              

The Beauty and Allure of the Stately home...

It has to be said that no other country can offer quite the charm of such a heritage as its stately home.  Namely that country is England.  There is a current feeling that we are suddenly embracing our 'English culture and heritage.'  Perhaps the opening of the London Olympics secured this or maybe it just sparked our interest once again in our heritage and our history.  Even fashion seems to have transpired down towards such periods think of 'The Duchess,' the Georgiana period or the most recent to our television screens the new series of 'Downton Abbey.'  In the heart of Nottinghamshire a beautiful little gem is to be found.  This is the ancestral home of the poet Lord Byron VI.   The house itself still maintains its beauty yet lures its visitors into its somewhat tumultuous past.  Originally a monastic house founded by Henry II a small religious community lived here.  I'm told old remains of monks are still buried deep underneath the cloisters. 

I caught up with my model Laura Campbell for a photo shoot for the day; known for her love of everything English and period and as Keira Knightley's double in, 'The Duchess.'  I asked her why she thinks Newstead Abbey is perhaps one of the last stately homes to not have lots of money poured into it; unlike that of the grandeur of the privately owned Kedleston Hall and amongst properties owned and supported by the National Trust.  Newstead Abbey stands alone continuing to limp on to withstand the test of time, along with its volunteers. 

 Laura told me,"I don't think I've ever participated in a photo shoot whereby you can truly be able to feel the soul of a place; Newstead signifies decadence."

Admittedly the walls could perhaps be in need of a lick of paint and there are a few cracks in part of the ceiling which need to be plastered; but perhaps it is this which makes it different from its rivals? Furthermore Laura stated that, "In an age where we are so security concious it was nice to be given the freedom to shoot where we wanted."  This is so true and we did feel somewhat privledged in being able to shoot here.  Aside from the various feelings one feels upon entering each room almost as if you are intruding; is it this feeling of the house decaying into a decadence which allows Newstead to adopt its uniqueness of expression? Or is that there just needs to be more monetary funds made in order to rescue Newstead? Just as one of Nwestead's previous residents remarked that, 'his expenditure far outweighed his income,' perhaps significant of his own eventual downfall; it seems that Newstead is seeing repetition once more in its own struggle and constant battle in not falling into disrepair. 

       

Model : Laura Campbell

Styling, hair, make-up and photography: Helena Carrington

Location: Newstead Abbey, Nottingham

Laura wears Zara dress, 1930's vintage gloves, Chanel necklace

Please visit http://www.newsteadabbey.org.uk/ or Tel: 0115 915 5555 for visits into the house.

Dreams of  Russian Baroque...           

Mary Katrantzou's graphic print dress £783 (right)www.marykatrantzou.com (website launching soon) epitomises the direction in which fashion needs to take.  A much more polished overall luxuriant look.  No longer are we in need of the bohemian waif like style (think Kate Moss) that was so last year darling.  I hope we start to see rich colours, succulent velvets,definite prints and trompe d'oeil jewels dripping from our fashion wardrobes in the months to come. Katrantzou has just brought her new collection out for topshop.

Take Russian Baroque into the interior of your home with sculptor Francisco Poploe's 'Carnival Fantasy Collection.'  His pieces exude a passionate drama, an intensity, a feeling of grandeur and romance.  His collection for Lladro can be found at: www.lladro.com

   



Russian Baroque Architecture



'Carnival Fantasy collection'





Fits like a glove...

The first time I stepped into my first pair of Charlotte Olympia's I knew I was converted.  Each pair of shoes comes in a beautiful cream box with Charlotte Olympia's name embossed in gold on the front.  Each pair comes with its very own dust bag and a pair of stockings in the exact same tonal colour as the shoes.  The whole experience is heavenly. 

What is our obsession with beautiful shoes? We never quite have enough pairs and continue to go back for more; just each pair is different every time, a little like our relationships.  Each pair of Olympia's shoes seems to instantly set the mood and tone.  When in a whimsical mood one might don a pair of the infamous 'kitty flats' in gorgeous colours my favourite being the red velvet ones.  For the ultimate dinner/date night 'Paloma' and 'Dolly,' take centre stage for me.  The colours in the 'Paloma' range are rich; luxurious purple, golden yellow and the ones I own emerald green.  Ever since I saw my wealthy employee who I worked for in Moscow, Russia having left a pair of emerald green stilettos alongside the chaise lounge and beaver fur coat in their palatial home; I knew I had to find out who the designer of the shoes were.  It turned out they were Charlotte Olympia.  Having researched her and found out she like me also went to The London College of Fashion I started to think back to my college days and how creative it all was, how I miss those days.

On purchasing my emerald green Paloma shoes everything in my wardrobe also suddenly seemed to become every shade of green imaginable.  I never thought green would be my colour but it now has a place in my heart and I hope it stays forever.

Visit http://www.charlotteolympia.com to see Charlotte's 2012 Fall Collection.