Fifty Shades of the Collective Unconscious

Apparently some docs have warned that  we are to expect a surge in births next year due to the fervour with which women across the country  have embraced the BDSM sex  highlighted in this book, which is now outselling the Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter series ... fifty to 1.

I am finding it hard to imagine an entire generation born out of BDSM-style sex... perhaps, they will be better equipped to deal with the apocalypse, who knows.

Da Vinci Code
I wonder what this reveals about the current  collective unconscious of our society...  When the da vinci code was hot property.. we were all looking for meaning in our spiritual lives, questioning government motives and flirting with conspiracy theories (although the conspiracy heads knew about this theory back in the day when Holy Blood/Holy Grail came out in the 90's). For some people, this was the first conspiracy theory they had ever been exposed to.. so they avidly turned the pages and signed up for the da vinci themed walks and deciphered the codes in the books, whilst the Vatican went on damage control.
Harry Potter Trilogy
Then, it was all about enchanting children's books... and nice things,..this was before the economic crash, fukoshima, london riots, ect ect took root. This was also the time a be-speckled  Madonna wore a floral dress to read out her children book, Nigella's finger licking intervals in between baking muffins was the sexiest thing on TV and the term yummy mummy took root.

But now the yummy mummy has gone bad.....bored with trying to be perfect, keep a husband from straying, children from going out rioting, and bosses from complaining.... she is claiming back some "me time"
Now... that its all about fifty this and fifty that... it probably means that we are broke, disillusioned and kinkier than ever...  women who have never been tempted  or exposed to the world of BDSM... are taking it up like never before.. expect a surge in Coco de Mer Salon Classes in Midori Bondage technique... the rope section at  B+Q could become the de facto sex store for the middle classes (cotton or hemp ropes are the best)

Anyway....  here is the PRESS RELEASE relating to the film... fresh from my source..... there has been all this talk of who will be playing Grey.... but I have been informed that it is ridiculous to speculate on the talent until a producer  and director are assigned to a project...... I still think it should be Eric from True Blood.

The author went for focus features because they know how to pull together  a team that can translate steamy sex scenes onto screen in an arty and sensitive manner, whils still maintaining the raunch factor..... (lust, caution ect..)
MICHAEL DE LUCA AND DANA BRUNETTI TO PRODUCE UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND FOCUS FEATURES’ FILM ADAPTATION OF THE #1 BESTSELLING BOOK “FIFTY SHADES OF GREY”
Universal Pictures and Focus Features today announced that veteran producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti will produce Fifty Shades of Grey.  De Luca and Brunetti will produce the film based on E L James’ #1 Bestselling book alongside James.  The announcement was made by Universal Pictures Co-Chairman, Donna Langley and Focus Features’ Chief Executive Officer, James Schamus.
In March, Universal Pictures and Focus Features announced the acquisition of rights to the entire Fifty Shades Trilogy with Focus Features marketing and distributing the first film in partnership with Universal.  To date, Vintage Books has sold 31 million e-book and print copies of the trilogy in English-language markets worldwide.  In the U.S. alone, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has sold over 20 million copies in e-book and print making it one of the fastest selling book series ever.
“At its core, Fifty Shades of Grey is a complex love story, requiring a delicate and sophisticated hand to bring it to the big screen,” said Langley.  “Mike and Dana’s credits more than exemplify what we need in creative partners and we’re glad to have them as part of our team.”

“Michael De Luca is a dream producer, whose combination of vision, taste and fearlessness is the perfect match for Fifty Shades of Grey,” said Schamus.

As an award-winning producer, De Luca has made his mark on some of the most critically-acclaimed films of the last few years including 2011’s Best Picture nominee Moneyball starring Brad Pitt as Oakland A’s former general manager, Billy Beane.  Brunetti and De Luca served together as producers with Scott Rudin and Cean Chaffin on The Social Network which earned critical accolades, including an Academy Award® nomination for Best Picture.  Brunetti and De Luca are collaborating with Scott Rudin on the upcoming Tom Hanks’ film Captain Phillips, the true story of a cargo ship captain held hostage by Somali pirates and rescued by Navy SEALs.  Other film credits for De Luca include I Am Sam, Blow, Magnolia, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Wag the Dog, American History X and Boogie Nights.  Additional film credits for Brunetti include Casino Jack, 21, Fanboys, Beyond The Sea and Safe.

“I am thrilled that Mike has joined Team Fifty,” said E L James.  “He brings a passion for and in-depth understanding of the characters and story, and a wealth of experience in making quality films.”

“Dana and I are both grateful and honored to be invited to join this team,” said De Luca. “We deeply respect and admire the kinds of films Donna, James and Jeb have been responsible for and are very excited to be joining Erika in a collaboration to bring her vision of this once in a lifetime, provocative and resonant love story to the screen.”
“Fifty Shades of Grey” follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele.  Subsequent novels in the series, “Fifty Shades Darker” (September 2011) and “Fifty Shades Freed” (January 2012) explore the couple’s deepening relationship.

Back in Business

Things I have come to realise:

- Writing a letter to someone is thrilling
- It is easy to stop looking after one self when there is too much work pressure and too many deadlines
- Always check your bank balance, every 3 days at least
-  Hiring an accountant to do your tax return is the best decision ever
- Buying clothes in the similar colour, tone, especially when on holiday or on business, assures that you look pulled together
- Mr Unavailables know how to steal a girl's heart
- Weiring beige and caramel makes you look more chic
- People always notice other people's hands and nails - so a manicure goes a long way
- Always have a contract  when doing business as people will ALWAYS try to screw you over
- Having casual sex does not mean you are in a relationship

Q Awards

Yesterday, yours truly was at the Q Awards....  an industry music event full of record weasels, iconic bands, living legends, hangers on (oh yes, you know who you are) and "people in the industry."

Walking down the red carpet was not as daunting as expected, although I did set off some flashes... they were probably testing their flash.

So, now for the gossip:
1. Sioux Sioux was THE star of the show....... she rocked that leather catsuit like nobody else, looked amazing, and created the biggest stur when she went out for a cigarette. It made my day to be moments away from her.. I love the BANSHEES. She spent the afternoon tied to the hip of Pam Hogg and disappearing together to the press room.

They looked hot ... both at half a decade old, they were the coolest and most sincere and more rock n roll then the whole room put together.

2. Ed Sheeran - won breakthrough artist and was much feted after. I hang out with one his mates at the after show party. He is ginger in real life.

3. U2 and Bono look exactly as you think they look

4. Jess J looked good in the flesh - bumped into her adjusting her outfit in the ladies.

5. Tiny Tempah is er.. tiny

6. Muse should have won the best act in the world - not coldplay. Chris Martin was annoyingly confident.

7.No,I did not get to shag Anthony Kiedis from Chilli Peppers

MYSTERY GIRL:
There was one girl sitting at the table next to me, who looked FANTASTIC. She was blond, wore a fabulous black dress, teamed with costume jewellery, spiked louboutins ect ect ... she looked really good

Party of the Year

Julian Assange's 40th Birthday Party, was quite an experience. Yes, London Girl was there..... mingling and bidding at the auction, back in the summer.

Highlight of the party included seeing Vivienne Westwood's let-them-cupcakes attitude to catering. Dressed in gorgeous post-apocalyptic flowiness, she proceeded to eat wikileaks -logo bearing cup cake after cup cake, whilst the rest of party tried hard to listen to the speeches and not look at her.

Very hard-- she was sitting alone at one point, just devouring, cup cake after cup cake with the kind of insouciance only she could carry off.   In a jodowsky-style graphic novel, Vivienne would be the Queen of The Damned and Righteous.

But what about Julian, I hear you say...... he is not what you would expect. Softly spoken and surprisingly timid. A tall and discretely imposing figure, he greeted guests under a tree, wearing a beige linen suit.

I liked him and his team.  He is surrounded by great people.

Although good old Bianca was there, and Jemima hair Khan, the highlight was hanging out with the anonymous hacking crew and the frontline activists... naming no names now....

US Adventure.... London Girl style

Venice Beach. ... bitches

A couple of weeks ago I went on a crazy party tour to LA, Vegas and New York.I packed the wrong camera cable so was unable to update my 2.4 readers of my mis-adventures, so it will all have to be in retrospect. December is USA month here on London Girl

Stay tuned for the chronicles... it was the best time of my life.

Here is a taster.....

My hotel room in Santa Monica

Andy Irons surfs onto the other side

Andy Irons  - the Hawaiian pro-surfer and three times world champion -has been found DEAD IN DALLAS. Cannot believe it - that is mental!!!! Such a great shame, such an amazing surfer

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner said the cause of death is pending due to completion of lab tests, which could take several weeks.

Andy took the SURFING  world by storm.  He will be remembered as the one guy in the world who could regularly beat Kelly Slater and his surfing in waves of consequence will live on forever. Just this year, Andy was one of five surfers to appear in surf movie, High Five. His part was last (given to the best performing surfer) and perfectly displayed his legendary backside tube riding skills and man-sized hacks

Andy was  the most competitive big-wave surfer of his generation. Surfing was in his DNA. His uncle Rick was a legendary figure in the sport in the 60s and his father, Phil, a surfer too. The fact that Andy's younger brother Bruce also took up the sport probably fuelled his competitive drive. "All he wants to do is win. It's why he exists. It's all he thinks about. Winning heats, winning contests, surf, surf, surf, heat, heat, heat, win, win, win," is how Bruce described his brother at the height of his career
He is survived by his wife, Lyndie(pictured below in a photo shoot together), who is expecting their first child in December.
Andy Irons, surfer, born 24 July 1978; died 2 November 2010
RESPECT

London Guy #1

London Girl Interviews are back...... today I  asked a London Guy to answer the following questions:

What do you think of girls who fuck on the first night?

Depends of the girl - I don;t cling on to old fashioned notions, as far as I am concerned, it all comes down to the situation and the chemistry. But I guess the bottom line is that if the sex is good, it probably would not matter.

What is the first thing you notice about a girl?

Her walk is the first thing I notice, as well as her  posture.

How long do you consciously leave until you call back?

Depends on how long I have been conscious

What is the most unappealing fashion trend at the moment?

I really don't like those over-furry boots and women that  dress as if  they were conceived on the set of a Duran Duran video

What fashion style do you consider timeless and classy?

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's

If you saw a women wearing stockings underneath her skirt, would you think she was slutty or classy?

Classy -- with a right tinge of slut. Slutty and classy can come from the same tree for me.

What do you think has changed in London Girls over the past five years?

I am liking the fact that girls aren't afraid to be girls anymore. I  am liking the genders finding themselves again, there was a period where women where trying to be men, and men where metrosexual

What's the worst type of driver in London? Who is your nightmare on the road?

Drivers that have no idea what is going on around them 

What is your current pet hate in London supermarkets?

People who can't control their trolleys or their children and are so oblivious to what is going on around them.

Film of the Week: Octopussy

You know how everyone has a favourite Bond film, well mine is Octopussy. It showcases Roger Moore at  his debonair, witty best, the bond girls are to die for -  and the whole thing is played out against an exotic Indian backdrop with some Eastern Europe intrigue thrown in.

It features not one but two Swedish bond girls - Kristina Wayborn (who plays Magda)  and Maud Adams - my favourite Bond Girl and the only one to feature in two bond films - who takes up the titular role of Octopussy - the glamorous  business woman and gem smuggler.

She certainly caught Bond's crown jewels.

Kristina's character Magda  (pictured left) demonstrates a surprising agility and acumen for martial arts in an era predating the big female action heroines of the box office. And who can forget her  balcony exit scene, when she ties her sari to the balcony banister and performs an exquisite rolling back on tissue move, showcasing her incredible legs and bikini-clad body as her gold stilletoed feet touch ground, sari fully unravelled.

Whilst Magda knows how to make one hello of an  exit, Octopussy makes an unforgettable entrance: Clad in a white silk kimono with an octopus embroidered on the back, her glossy red fingertips feeding her numerous exotic fish tanks.... we cannot see  her face,  but can already image how beautiful and glamorous she is from her hands and kimono. As the ringleader of an all-feminine circus, the illusive Octopussy trains her girls to do more than perform in the big top.

The film has lots of little quirky segments - like the  scene where Bond disembarks a boat at Udaipur and is   greeted by an operative  masquerading  as a snake charmer who starts whistling the James Bond theme to get his attention - an uncharacteristically existential moment for a Bond film.

When Bond arrives at his hotel, walking past the swimming pool in a crisp beige suit, he attracts more than one admiring glance from the stiletto-wearing bikini clad pool-dwellers.  Ah, for the good old days where broads used to hang around pools in one piece swimsuits and stilettos.That hotel by the way, the Monsoon Palace,  really does exist, and my friend who spent her honeymoon there, said that they are still milking the film's legacy .. including by constantly playing the theme song.

Now I love market scenes in films,  and these don't disappoint: The bicyclist seen passing in the middle of a swordfight during the tuk tuk chase sequence was in fact a bystander who passed through the shot, oblivious to the filming; his intrusion was captured by two cameras and left in the final film as an unscheduled stunt.

The plot centres around a FFaberge egg  and how many women Bond can bed in under two hours - The Fabergé egg in the film is real.

Yesterday, it was announced that Bond's  Aston  Martin went at auction  for £2.6 million pounds.

Inked Up: Jodie Marsh

Now that I got Sky finally installed, I can catch up on all kinds of tattoo reality shows such as

Miami Ink - the original tattoo show, which  led to several spin-offs, including the shows LA Ink and London Ink and soon to be aired Rio Ink.

Skin pimping never looked so good!

The formula is the same: Each episode features  a number of customers along with their back stories (most of which are sob stories) and motivations for choosing their tattoos.

The show made Kat Von D a popular star and landed her the LA Ink spin off, which she now headlines, after a falling out with Ami James from Miami Ink (pictured above).

Her recently released book High Voltage Tattoo, compiling her artworks and tattoos,  reached #6 on The New York Times Best Seller list. The book traces Von D's career as an artist, from early childhood influences to recent work, along with examples of inspirations, information about the show and her shop, sketches, and personal tattoos

"Kat is an Argentinian love goddess with a lion heart as big as California who rocks the tallest platforms, the best leather outfits, big red lips like a Latin movie star from the 50's, and a laugh that gives you smiles inside.  everyone asks me--is Kat really that fun to be around?   the answer is yes...from Oklahoma to Montreal, Kat is my favorite person to hang out with.  Kat is the best friend a girl could have.  Kat es mi familia."                                         

The girl rocks... which now brings me to the subject I was trying to get to: Jodie Marsh.
Has anyone watched her new reality show last night, titled "Jodie Marsh: Tattoo Apprentice"

Yes, the belt for bras wearing glamour model and professional enemy of equally self-deluded Jordan, has given up the glamour work for a shot at becoming a tattoo artist. For all you US readers, Jodie is like our version of Daisy de la Hoya crossed with some Tila Tequilla.

The show starts off with shots of her in her house blabbing on about where she wants to be in life and how much she loves the tattoo world and tattooed people.

 Marsh has over 70 tattoos – from her first, the word 'cheekie' tattooed on her bum, to an exact copy of the stilettos she wore as a lap dancer at Stringfellows. Classy. Even worse,  she once lost a bet and had Bizarre magazine readers chose a tattoo for her - a devil tail winding out of her butt crack. Very classy.

Anyway, the lady is of course free to do as she pleases with her life, but it really annoyed me that she thought she could bypass the proper path to becoming a tattoo apprentice by refusing to do any cleaning - a cornerstone of any apprentice's experience.

You see, the tattoo world has rules, really strict ones.. rules that cannot be bent because you know so and so or you have done this or that. For starters, to become an apprentice, you need to impress an artist with a shit hot portfolio of drawings. Once you have been taken on board, you will basically need to get your head down and do whatever your tattoo teacher tells you .. its tough, it will break you, but those are the rules.

Those rules did not suit the pampered miss marsh who walked out of her first apprenticeship. She then bagged herself some training time at a local tattoo parlour run by some blokes who have a cast of her breasts hanging on the wall. Looking like a tattooed version of Jordan, she pranced around the place with her nipples  permanently pocking out of her top, whilst obsessing about becoming a  tattoo artist and tattooing her dad.

When she finally got to hit needle to skin, namely on her dad, the effect was just awful. It took her four hours to complete what effectively looked like a picture frame. In the real world, there would have been no way she would have been allowed to touch ink to skin.

Seriously, don't give up the day job, love

Battle for Information & Body Counts: WikiLeaks Conference

As  I type this, the eagerly anticipated WikiLeaks press conference in  London's Embankment is set to start. Interestingly, the press officer gave the broadcast exclusive to Sky News. I was supposed to be at the conference this morning, but could not make it as preparing to go to a wedding... so here I am watching the live stream on Sky News. 

Prior to the conference starting and to  fill  time, Sky  wheeled an Amnesty spokesperson out, obviously someone who has had some good media training as he used the interview to plug an AI report about torture in Iraq and not really answer questions relating to the leaks.

US IS UP IN ARMS

So  what is all the fuss about... since 3am this morning, there have been 15,000 stories on the leak on google. A very stern looking Hilary Clinton addressed the nation accusing WikiLeaks of putting people's lives at risk and US and Iraqi national security at risk. But whose "security" is she actually talking about? Hasn't this word been mis-used enough.

This kind of statement is totemic to the kind of political hypocrisy we have been brainwashed into accepting as the "usual rhetoric." 

Hilary and her lot are very upset by the leaks.. History is not being written by the winners, because of a Swedish man who set up a website  called WikiLeaks  in 2006. Nothing beats FACTS, and data when it comes to taking on a Government which continues to feign ignorance of the devestating impact their lies, greed and actions  have had on innocent civilians for nearly a decade.

According to PEW research, Obama approval ratings and support for the war decreased dramatically in the US, when the Afghanistan war log was released... so these FACTS yield incredible power... I won't be surprised if Julian gets bumped off soon. He has already been slandered with a rape charge, but it seems that that wont keep him down.

Prior to the invasion, the US administration used Amnesty International country reports on Iraq  (Much to AI's chagrin) to highlight Saddam's sadistic regime - characterised by systematic torture of detainees.  The coalition forces failed to establish a torture-free country, instead they helped  set a new torture era in Iraq.

The human rights community has known for a long time that torture has not ceased in Iraq and that the US army and US mercenaries, as well as the British have either facilitated torture, sanctioned it or carried it out in the name of " security".

So now, the conference has started:

400,000 classified documents  which shed light on actions of US army in Iraq.

After an intro from the centre for investigative journalism, WikiLeakes founder said the following:

"This disclosure is about the truth ... the first casualty of war is the truth. ..in our release of our four thousand details... we hope to correct some of the attack on the truth which occurred before, during and after the war officialy concluded. In that materials, deaths are recorded – including 66,000 civilians. "

"A collaboration was established with print media, the bureau for  investigative journalism,, the Iraq Body Count, SVT, Al Jazeera, Channel 4, BBC radio and Le Monde"  he forgot to mention SKY, however, which might explain why they stopped the live broadcast about 30 minutes through.

Iraq Body Count said: "We have only scratched  the surface....THESE logs 15,000 previously unreported civilian deaths... equivalent to 5 9/11s.... the new deaths are concentrated in small incidents, happening all over Iraq. at checkpoints, drive by shootings, in homes.... small but relentless tragedies of the war. More than 150,000 have been killed in total, 80 % are civilians... these logs turn numbers into human beings."

"We have found a huge number of names of the deaths...  we have found 100 new names of civilian deaths. The Iraq war log lists all these names, nearly four years later."

Now comes the News analysis.... Sky are not impressed.

The US government states  that they have not had enough time to review the logs to put together a response.

The Times, Sky are all asking questions now.

A historical day.....  I bet lips are  quivering slightly, permanent smurk are being  wiped off.. at least for a day. ..
http://wikileaks.org/ 

WikiLeaks set to release U.S war documents

The WikiLeaks website  will be releasing what the Pentagon fears is the largest cache of secret U.S. documents in history -- hundreds of thousands of intelligence reports compiled after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

At 10:00am on Saturday 23^rd October, London time (BST),  WikiLeaks will be announcing its latest release of information along with a number of prominent organisations who have worked on the material. The content provided at the press conference will be invaluable to anyone wishing to report or comment on the subject.

The other organisations that will be discussing the importance of this information and the work they have done on it will include an important NGO, a prominent human rights legal firm and a number of media organisations.

Send me an email if you want to attend the conference ...... registration starts at 8:30am

Black Virtue: The Chilling Chilean

"Black Virtue" 1943

I fell in love with this Roberto Matta painting at the Tate Modern.

 

In the two side panels of this triptych the imagery has a mechanistic, science fiction quality. But in the centre the forms are organic, suggesting references to sexual parts. Matta was concerned with capturing the inner world of the mind. Black Virtue evokes a fluid mental landscape in an extreme combination of eroticism and violence.

 (From the display caption August 2004)

In late 1939, after the outbreak of the Second World War, Matta moved to New York, where other European Surrealists were to spend the war years. He had his first one-man show in 1940 at the Julien Levy Gallery, New York’s centre of what was then this new import of Surrealism. It was at this point that Matta became a key figure in the development of Abstract Expressionism. He became friendly with Arshile Gorky, Robert Motherwell (who worked with him in Mexico), Jackson Pollock, and William Baziotes, and encouraged them to experiment with these new automatic techniques. Had these painters not been subsequently repackaged as the New York School, Matta would be famed as a founding father of (pan-) American Abstract Expressionism.

Roberto Matta, painter, was born on November 11, 1911, in Chiloe, Santiago, Chile. He died in Civitavecchia, Italy, on November 23, 2002, aged 91.

Angelique Houtkamp: Tattoo Fantasy

Angelique is to sailor girls what artist Olivia is to pin-up models. 

Angelique Houtkamp is the Dutch  blond bombshell  of the contemporary tattoo world. She is a world famous tattoo artist, painter and purveyor of  babyskulls .. yes baby skulls!

Her body of work is  characterised by its clean simple lines which are instantly recognisable and often humorous. Through her personal take of the classic sailor dog  tattoos and Art Deco lines , Angelique has created an  uber cool illustrated universe populated by  pirate girls, sailor's sweethearts and  snake ladies, amongst other darling characters.

"Classic old school tattoo imagery mixed with mythological dreams, antropomorphed critters, nautical iconography and haunting Hollywood romance by way of Angelique's distinctive painterly magic and eye for style."

I have a few framed pics of her illustrations, you can purchase yours by clicking HERE

Angelique has already released a  number of  books, most of which have completely sold out.

BABYSKULLS SERIES

These babyskulls are made with plaster  of Paris and painted with oilpaint.They are inspired by the Hallstatt skulls, the day of the dead and the custom of adorning the bones and skulls of ancient  Saints.
The majority of these are sold. Angelique is planning to make more in the future. Commissions are possible.

" Death Before Dishonor" Babyskull, Pictured left.

ALL IMAGES TAKEN FROM http://www.salonserpent.com/Home.html NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.

Best Snake Jewellery in Town!

Whenever I visit the British Museum  -  the totemic emblem of the British Empire(map carving over candle light anyone?) - I often find myself lusting over some of the jewellery pieces from the B.C period.

The Museum is one of my favourite places  in London, it's my little urban temple... you can't help but feel insignificant and small when faced with a catalogue of what  humanity has created, worshiped and immortalised, through everyday objects, artefacts, religious carvings, and of course jewellery.

As Emily Dickinson would say "The only secret people keep, is immortality" but I guess I can share my jewellery shop secret to my 2.4 readers.

Now, I covet snake jewellery. My mum was the same, she always wore an amazing silver snake bracelet. I like my snake jewellery in gold though... which is why I need to own these fabulous snake jewellery pieces from the British Museum shop, which has some fantastic gold replicas of iconic museum pieces.

JEWELLERY: Yes Please!
In the Museum's collection is an exquisite snake bracelet, realistically rendered and detailed with scales on both it's head and tail. It was created in the Ptolemaic Kingdom, the area of Egypt ceded to Alexander's general Ptolemy after Alexander's early death.
And the best bit is that you can purchase a replica for £75 from the Museum shop.

This original gold finger ring was found in Alexandria. Snake rings were worn in Antiquity as charms, possibly for protection against the evil eye or to ensure fertility. Snakes were also associated with the healing god Asclepius who is often shown with a snake coiled around a staff. Graeco-Roman, 1st or 2nd century AD.

This replica ring will set you back £50, and coils around the finger beautifully.

This beautiful gold bracelet is a replica of an original in the Metropolitan Museum of Art given as a gift by Norbett Schimmel in 1988. The original is dated circa 300-250 BC. The Museum's Snake bracelet is reproduced from a master mould taken directly from this original bracelet. The reproduction is brass with 24k gold overlay and lightly antiqued.

With Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire in 331 BC, the lands under his control stretched from Greece and Asia Minor through Egypt and the Near East to India. As a result of this contact with cultures far and wide, Greek arts were exposed to a host of new exotic influences. After Alexander seized the Persian king Darius III's rich treasure in Babylon, vast quantities of gold passed into circulation in the Hellenistic world. With widespread disposable wealth of this magnitude, gold jewellery became more popular.

 

Babylonian Sun Disk necklace £225

This necklace was based on an original from the 16th-17th century B.C currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The original was created in Mesopotamia (late Babylonian period) and exemplifies the very finest craftsmanship in gold from the ancient Near East.

Composed of a double row of gold beads from which are suspended seven pendants, each in the form of a deity or the symbol of a deity. One of these pendants, a disk with rays emanating from a central boss, represents the sun god Shamash. The Museum's Babylonian Sun Disk necklace is crafted of 18-karat gold overlay and is based on this pendant.

Autumn Stockings

I do love the onset of autumn, it spells fitted cashmere sweaters, wiggle skirts and, of course, seamed stockings. As regular readers know, I am a total sucker for fully fashioned silk Havana-heeled seamed stockings in Black/Nude. Quite a mouthful,  I know.  Cuban heel  stockings in a nude heel and black seam,are also a preferred favourite.

• Pop socks are  the absolute devil's work
• Tights are  only  tolerable  if they come in fishnet
• Hold-ups are for amateurs ( I was already wearing them as a teenager)
• As for socks, I am proud to say that I do not own a pair, and never will.

The only thing better than putting stockings on....is taking them off, a la Catherine D' lish. I had the pleasure of seeing the burlesque legend taking hers off at a show, and it was quite something.

Anyway, here is the seasonal round up of the best places for stocking up on stockings!

What Katie Did - if your looking for authentic vintage and faux vintage styles and hard to find heel types - such as the Havana, pictured above and below. They also do great garters which really help keep the seam on the straight and narrow (even if you aren't).

 BeBaroque - produce a fabulous line of hand made  showgirl tights and occasionally pop out some stockings,  such as this tasseled Roxy Heart you can see below. Very Las Vegas, don't you think. Might get these for the hell of it.

 

Secrets in Lace - provide a good stream of classic stockings and new designs,with lots of choice. As the official sponsors of the London Burlesque Festival, they appear to be the leaders of the feather and rhinestone pack. However, for some reason, the models they use on their websites look really outdated and un-appealing.

 Dita Von Teese also has her own stocking collections available for purchase from  Secrets in Lace. I have yet  to try Dita's stocking collection, but I am sure they are near perfection. She is the world's most celebrated stockings wearer. after all .. and her used ones get snapped up by fans faster than you can sing:

You can pull all the stops out
Till they call the cops out
But If you wanna grind it
Wait till you refined it.

 

 Agent Provocateur - I like what they have done with their stockings collection. The quality of the silk stockings or the fully fashioned seamed stockings with a french point is more than adequate... in fact they would be perfect if they made them in a Cuban heel too. One of my favourite shops.

So there you have it ...... if you start going down the stocking route this autumn, there will be more than just leaves falling at your feet!