Floral tea

It’s all about the packaging isn’t it … and at Waitrose this evening I bought into these beautifully boxed Twinings floral black teas.

Best kept secrets

Recently I’ve been corresponding by email with the fascinating Miss Sue Flay, who is on a mission to bring the cult of the tea party back to the good people of Cambridgeshire. But these are not just any old tea parties. They are set in secret locations so you need to be prepared for some spontaneity … you may even need to travel into the countryside for an al fresco feast of cup cakes and scones. Guests will eat and drink from vintage cups and plates, and listen to anything from opera to Bowie. It all sounds intriguing and a little decadent … and decadent is good!

How about indulging that little bit further and wearing a quirky Trash Chic outfit from our vintage and retro collection?

http://thesecludedteapartyshhh.blogspot.com/

Apple pie perfect

Well this wasn’t quite the scene in my kitchen the other day, but I love the photo (courtesy of  Minneapolis Star Tribune; Minnesota Historical Society Photograph Collection).  I was preparing the evening meal and I got to thinking that it would be mighty nice to have some kind of dessert. Now THIS is the joy of living in a village. Kindly neighbours leave surplus fruit and veg outside their front gates: sometimes asking for a donation towards the church roof or similar, but often with a friendly note saying ‘Free. Please help yourself’.

So within a short distance of my house I was able to get juicy apples from the Old Vicarage (thanks Estelle), some plums sitting on a wall by the Gothic Cottage which I think Rebecca may have left, and some pears on the village green (from the tree in the Methodist Church garden). Back in the kitchen I rustled up some crumble and Hey Presto! that’s a lovely treat for the boys.

Cambridge summer

Decided to have an impromptu end of season sale for Trash Chic this weekend. Friend and Trash Chic Devotee Georgina came along to help and ended up modelling some of the items.  So, here we are, lapping up the sun between the showers in Eversden in our VERY ON TREND flowing maxi frocks.

Stepping out in style

What a find! A fantastic pair of D&G espadrilles. My heart sings when I come across something as beautiful as this. It makes up for all the time I spend with my nose in the mud.

Exciting new venture

At Trash Chic, we love what we do. We adore clothes. We’re committed to recycling, reusing and rehoming our fabulous range of clothing, accessories, aprons, cushions and bookmarks. We also get very excited by the creative endeavours of others, too. Which is why we’re about to launch a brand new venture: MADE IN CAMBRIDGE. In fact, the venture is so new, the ink is barely dry on our splash page! If you’re curious and want to know more, then follow the progress of MADE IN CAMBRIDGE by regularly checking https://twitter.com/madeincambridge  and http://www.made-in-cambridge.co.uk.  Oh, and do let us have your thoughts.

July jewels

The planets were beautifully aligned, in a fashion sense, when it came to producing these four July babies.

First off, Oscar de la Renta. His frocks were simply gorgeous and many women, including Jackie O, looked stunning in them. Jackie O’s style has been highly influential over the years, as has Mick Jagger’s. Recall, for instance, his sheer white tunic which he wore over trousers at the famed Hyde Park Concert in July 1969. And Kate Bush was every bit an icon in the 80s with her constant reinvention of bohemian femininity. No trash here, gals, just an abundance of chic!

Quizzing you: answers

Did you have a go at our quick quiz on June 24? Well, here are the answers.
 
1. A sumptuous silk pleated dress (‘whole’ in one — geddit?) from Pringle (famous for its golfwear). Magical and floaty. Definitely no handicap!

2. A black and white striped V-neck button-through MEXX (me XX) cardigan (as in Earl of). Worth more than a kiss but probably less than a battle.

3. Silk, glossy shiny smooth silk, and a bit more silk on these heavenly Opera wide-legged pants specifically designed to throw on over swimwear. This glorious fabric is the very antithesis of the little grub worms that produce it!

Anyone get 3 out of 3? You did? You sure know your clothes!

Embracing steampunk

We love the steampunk fashion; combining the past with the future. Watch and listen to Abney Park … and enjoy.

Quizzing you

Ok, ok, so we haven’t blogged for a while. But that doesn’t mean we’ve been sitting around contemplating our diamante navels. Try this quick quiz to see if you can guess the item and/or the designer. Check back in a couple of days to see if you were right!

1. It’s a ‘whole’ in one, but you definitely wouldn’t play golf in it.

2 The earl blows me XX for this garment.

3 These special worms provide exquisite beach cover.