Crazy Golf

Posted on 14 April, 2013 by admin

Comedy alert.
Y’all know I’m mad for sports…. Well sportswear…. Well…Lycra.
But golf?
I don’t get it. But it does really make me want a lawn. And people to carry my stuff. And a buggy…
To celebrate the end of the golf at Augusta tonight, I thought I would share these fabulous Barbie fashions from Barbie Collector.

I know my friend Tamsin and my other half will be almost as excited by this Pink on the Green range as they will be about the golf.
Unfortunately Mr F’s golf addiction is driving a wedge between us.
He has asked for outdoor lights to be put up at a golf course – for people who like swinging night clubs.
I asked him if he was wearing his golfer’s socks? The pair with a hole in one.
Meanwhile, Tamsin would be wearing wrinkled clothes if it weren’t four irons.
I’m sure they will be teed off with all my puns but I think they will be able to putt it behind them.

HB MJ

Posted on 9 April, 2013 by admin

Just a quick happy birthday to my imaginary friend, Marc Jacobs. Imaginary in the sense that I imagine we would be great friends for the following reasons…

1. I love his work. Always a good start.
2. I love NYC. (And Paris.) Handy as that is where he works.

3. I love Diet Coke!

4. I love the gym. We could work out together. What fun!

5. Because of this, we both look a million times better now than we did ten years ago.

6. I love his boyfriend’s work.

All of it!

In conclusion, we would obviously be bezzies… Restraining order aside.
And so concludes this amazing birthday post.

Zarven

Posted on 8 April, 2013 by admin

So I nipped into Liberty yesterday (the toilets are always so clean) and had a quick look round the menswear department.
Why is menswear always in the basement? Those low ceilings never make me want to buy anything. Is this a tall person thing? Wait, men are often tall. Why do we always have to crawl round someone’s cellar trying to make sartorial choices?
And then I (somehow, in the dark on my hands and knees, probably) saw this…

It’s Carven. It’s paisley. It’s fabulous.
Here it is in their look book…

Possibly the best thing in their Spring 2013 collection.
After this of course…

Woah!
But back to the shirt. It’s £150 which isn’t a million dollars but it is more than £30.
But if you only have £30 then you could buy this from Zara instead….

Is it amazeballs? Or horriballs?
Should I save up for the Carven shirt?
I’m thinking it could be worn up to 10 times this summer so it’s £15 per wear vs £3/wear for the Zara number.
Should I spend the money on gin instead?
I’ll let you decide!

Diva

Posted on 7 April, 2013 by admin

So tonight’s episode of Glee (Yes I’m still watching. Get over it) is a total Diva special so who better to celebrate with, than Stephen Burrows’ Pazette Barbie.
Well maybe you weren’t thinking of this particular doll but…

A flash of feathers, a sprinkling of sequins, and daring design elevate one stylish woman to fashion icon status. Inspired by the dazzling world of a retro showgirl, she makes a show-stopping entrance that wows any audience—from the catwalk to the stage and beyond!

Now you’re thinking Diva, right?
If the Glee can’t decide who is the ultimate diva then I’m pretty sure I don’t know how I’m gonna choose the ultimate doll diva.
What about….

She was my original Beyoncé doll. She’s super difficult to find these days on eBay but I used to think she was awesome. That icy blonde hair and that caramel skin-the doll, not me. Her official title was Diva Gone Platinum which I think is fair status of her divadom.
But top of my list. A doll I have wanted forever. For the coat alone…

It’s the official Kimora doll. Remember Kimora Lee Simmons? Remember when she was Karl’s muse? Remember when her and Tyra were bezzies? Are they still? Does she still have a reality show? She was like the original Kardashian in a way. ~~Except she was a model not a self made porn whore.~~
Anyway, what about that coat? Those boots. This doll probably influenced the BOTD aesthetic more than anyone else. Well, apart from Donatella.
The Glee ep, which of course I have already watched as I’m from the future, has lots of diva activity but my favourite moment has to be this…. Enjoy!

Stream of Conscious

Posted on 6 April, 2013 by admin

So I was walking down Oxford Street super early on Wednesday morning, (no, not a walk of shame, actually) and I saw the most amazing thing in the window at H&M.
Gone were the slightly too green items from the Conscious Collection and all the leafy pictures of Vanessa Paradis looking all Titania Queen of the fairies in fashion’s most fabulous forest….

And in their place, something much more fashion.
I’m all for “more sustainable fashion” using better cottons and being all conscious and stuff but throw me a ball gown any day.
And that’s what the window did.
Omg an H&M ball gown!

And holy consciousness, doll lovers. It’s part of the Conscious Collection!
The second tranche of the 2013 Conscious Collection is all fancy. Remember when we all read that Michelle Williams (not #poormichelle) was wearing H&M to the BAFTAs last year? And somebody else was wearing something else by H&M at this year’s Oscars? And we laughed because we thought it was a stylist playing tricks on the journalists. Well it was all true. H&M have made some really dazzling pieces. Showstoppers!

All totes gorgeous, right?
Right!
And there’s stuff for the boys too.
So obviously I just started banging on the glass until they let me in.
But when I got inside, what did I see?

Which is all well and good because Barbie loved that little sparkly military number…

Adorbs!
But where was the pretty floaty number?
So I tried menswear. Maybe they hid it.

Nope. Great jacket though. And a bargain, probably because it’s made of moss or something. Not my colour, alas,but perfect for Mr F. I decided to make him buy it at the weekend. (Which is now.
And he did.)
But nothing red carpet worthy.
So I went outside and looked at these beautiful pieces in the window. And then I saw the sign. “Available in this store…. From Thursday.” Which was a right bloomin’ swizz as my mum would say.
So I came home. Well actually I went to my meeting-which was why I was in town so early- then I went to Primarni and bought some awesome tops I will share with you later but then I went home.
And got the look book for the collection.
And fell in love with this…

Which I would never wear.
But I know a doll who would….

But then I actually fell in love with this….

Combien de chic?
This was in the window.
I’ve seen it.
It looks expensive.
It’s not.
I would get married in it.
I won’t.
But I might have to buy it. And wear it to someone else’s wedding. Which is handy as I do have three coming up. Three! But is it too much like my Lanvin?

Phew!
Obviously totally different and absolutely justifiable!
But wait…
What is this?

This, my friends is on the hit list.
This is coming to a wedding near you.
This is…
Well okay I need to try it on but I can’t see why it wouldn’t look fanf*ckingtastic. Can you?
I will obviously let you know how I get on.

Dot to Dot

Posted on 4 April, 2013 by admin

So I finally took myself to the Lichtenstein retrospective at Tate Modern.
I’ve always been a big fan.
There is a self portrait I did (somewhere) in my mum’s house from when I was 16 that I did in a Lichtenstein style. Benday dots. Stripes. The lot. If I find it on my next trip I will take a pic. It probably looks like this…

Can you tell I got me a Lichtenstein/popart app on my iPad?
I’ve always liked a bit of Roy. It’s the comic book queen inside me I guess, so I was super excited about this exhibition.
So?
So it’s great. I really liked it. But I would. I’m a fan.
There were a lot of rather obvious stage whispers of “one trick pony” and let’s face it, he had a style and he stuck to it. And when he didn’t it was *official art criticism term* a bag of poo. So if you don’t like the comic book look then you will be disappointed because, erm that’s what he did. And he did it brilliantly.
No, it’s not as varied as Warhol exhibitions I’ve been to. But he wasn’t Warhol. It’s like going to a Monet show and asking for less water lilies.
I loved the self referential pieces. And the bedroom (with the water lilies as it happens.)
I can’t say I was blown away. A lot of what I saw I had seen before. The stuff I hadn’t seen I didn’t wish to see.
But if you like him. And you wanna see loads of his work. Then dur. This retrospective is for you.
If you’re not sure then you should go along.
A note on the curation. Room 4 is really important. Room 3 leads directly into Room 5. You have to go out of your way to go into Room 4-the most important and most impressive room in the entire show. I got to the exit and had to ask, erm where is the Jeff painting? And the machine gun comic strip?

I had to walk all the way back through. Against the throng. I hate being against the throng.
And it was sad because it totally changed (it totally didn’t make a blind bit of difference) the entire experience.
Here’s an image to make you feel better about the whole thing…

Balthaz-arbie

Posted on 2 April, 2013 by admin

Guess where we went for tea last night….
Nope. Not Pizza Hut.
Balthazar.
The brand new London version of the fantabulous New York brasserie.

Picture the scene.
SATC Season 1, (I’m pretty sure) enter Samantha and Carrie.
The girls try to blag their way into the restaurant and Samantha explains to the stone faced girl at the door that they are both ‘kind of somebody’. In the end, it takes Carrie to give the receptionist (apparently the most powerful woman in town) a tampon in the loo. This is all to show how exclusive the restaurant is. Or something.
So we went. Pre-theatre. Not dressed as Sex and the City characters (imagine!).
And we hadn’t booked. Which Mr F always freaks out about.
And we were seated at the bar.
Which was nice.

And it was busy.
Really busy.
No Carrie Bradshaw
No Harper Beckham who has been papped there twice since it opened last month.

(FYI this is my fave Balthazar photo of all time…)

Wait!
Zoom out…

How we laughed..

Meanwhile…
I ordered some wine which was really ~~expensive for house wine~~ delicious.
And we looked at the menu.
And it was stupidly expensive. £4.50 for a portion of chips. Well you can imagine Mr F’s reaction.
But I was going for one reason.
Well two if you count pretending I was Carrie Bradshaw.
The reason was the French onion soup (£6?).
Which looked a bit like this…

Thanks Guardian for the image. Here’s the recipe apparently.
And it was amazing. And if I’d had a sandwich beforehand and only ordered half a lager and lime then it would have been a cheap night out.
Almost.
But it is stupidly overpriced. And even though the staff are possibly the nicest in London, I can’t eat them.
What’s sad is that it could be amazing if it was the same price as Zedel which is only the other end of Soho and is my current fave dining room. You can order whatever you like in there. You know nothing is a million pounds.
Balthazar is just a brasserie. But it’s more expensive than, say, Soho House/Dean St Townhouse which feels way more of a treat.
And I didn’t like the soap. It smelt all soapy. It was Occitane. But not one of the nice smells. Just soap smell and in that Occitane way it lasted all through Act One at the theatre.
But I would go back for the soup.
Maybe.
End of review.

We Need to Talk

Posted on 1 April, 2013 by admin

Well I need to talk.
You need to listen.

You may have noticed BOTD has been a bit absent this week.
Maybe you didn’t.
Maybe only the superfans did.
Maybe they didn’t.

What’s going on? Are you okay?

Yes, fine. Don’t worry.

So… Are you suddenly so busy?

Yes and no.

What? Too busy to post every day?

Kinda.

Too busy to come up with a concept? Then design or style an outfit?
Too busy for hair and make up?
Then to find a location and shoot it?
Then too busy to write high-larious copy to go alongside?

Well to be honest, yes. A lot of time and effort (usually) goes into my posts. I’m nearly at my 1200th post. That’s a lot of dolling. And it’s come a long way from this…

And this…

But I still really love the dolls.
And I love telling you about their world. Or my world. Or Beyoncé’s world.

I thought what made BOTD different, the USP if you will, was that it was a different doll every day.
But it’s not really that. Nobody does what I do.
Who else is gonna break the news of Beyonce’s pregnancy with a doll bump?
Or report on the Arab spring with shots of Barbie in Tunis and Egypt?
Who else covers the catwalks and FRows in miniature?
That’s what makes BOTD different.
There are days I want to write a million posts and days where there ain’t nothin goin on and you end up with another “my life is so tough, here’s Barbie at the beach,” post.
I might have a great idea for a shoot but no story to go with it. I might have a great story to write up but no doll to go with it. And ultimately that’s what makes BOTD different. Without a Barbie it’s just OTD which makes no sense at all and may as well be one of countless blogs that are really just regurgitated press releases and “what’s in my GlossyBox.”
I want to talk about things. Clothes. People. Art. Stuff! Yes what I’m doing comes into it but if all I’m doing is having a biscuit then it’s not really worth writing about. Unless its a biscuit I think you need in your life/mouth.

So what happens now?
Another suitcase in another hall?
Where am I going to…?

Well I want to make every post count. Less filler. More fabulousness.
Why dilute? Why have seven posts for the sake of having one a day when I know you guys might only check in two or three times a week. Better to have 4 or 5 amazing posts, right? If you’re worried about missing out you can always subscribe (there’s a box at the top of the page) I won’t sell your email addresses or stalk you. I’ll just make sure you get an email each time there’s a new post. Not so scary!

As ever I love your feedback. Keep those tweets coming. Drop me a message. Facebook me. YouTube me. Tell a friend. Tell your gran. Tell Beyoncé.

God this is a boring post. Sounds like one long excuse for not writing all week.

Barbie of the Day is still dedicated to the ultimate style icon.

It’s a journey. Are you coming with me?

Easter Feast

Posted on 31 March, 2013 by admin

I’m alive!

BOTD has risen!

Oh wait, did he rise on the Sunday or on Easter Monday? Surely not on a Bank Holiday? During Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on a wet Monday afternoon? I bet there were no trains back into town from behind that rock.
Maybe if Jesus had turned the water to gin and the loaves into chocolate eggs he wouldnt have found himself on that cross in the first place.

Apols, as the kids say, for the radio silence this week. All will be revealed. It usually is.
In the meantime, here’s hoping you are having a very happy Easter weekend. Xx

The Airport is My Runway

Posted on 24 March, 2013 by admin

Again?

Yes again. I’m trop jetset, I know. But it’s back to ~~Broadway~~ Blighty.
Look out London!
Just when you thought it was safe to come out from hiding…..

Are you loving this ~~Quality Street~~ Burberry metallic number? Too glitzy for Nice airport Terminal 2?

Minnie-malism

Posted on 22 March, 2013 by admin

I love Disneyland Paris. When I lived in Paris I went… Quite a bit. Seriously, considering I didn’t work there I was there a lot. I went the year it opened with my mum for my tenth birthday.
Tomorrow is the park’s 20th anniversary (meaning I must have a big birthday coming up soon too) and to celebrate, the most fabulously fashionable Minnie Mouse and the rest of the Disney team are hosting a fashion parade. a Disney fashion parade. OMG! With celebrities? Yes! With celebrities.
Following the success of her collaboration at Barneys last Christmas, Minnie has once again opted to work with Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz.

How cool?
Trop cool!
Check it out.

Leopard Loving (part 24)

Posted on 21 March, 2013 by admin

Well obviously we love leopard print at BOTD.
It screams classy.
Now did you listen to Desert Island Discs on Sunday?
It was leopard loving Julie Goodyear of Coronation Street fame. Her character Bet Lynch was possibly the biggest leopard fan of all time, except maybe for Jackie Collins.

I could literally google image her all day.
This one is a really memorable fashion moment (and Corrie moment) from my ~~childhood~~ life.
When she left the Rovers in that taxi in these earrings….

Birdcage earrings!
How amazing?
Beyond amazing. I want to do a post dedicated to birdcage earrings. It will happen. Next week. On a slow news day maybe.
They live on in my fashion memory!
Anyway….
Her Desert Island Discs is totally bonkers. At moments moving but mainly bonkers. Kirsty Young clearly falls in love with her. It is brilliant and of course available to listen to now on BBC iPlayer and possibly on their podcast. (People keep telling me that D.I.D isn’t on iPlayer but the rules changed over a year ago and there is now a huge archive of all of them. 70 years worth!)
Oh and it’s also repeated tomorrow at 9am on BBC Radio 4.
And it works in France… On this link at least… Though only on a proper computer. Not a pad or pod. Because then it doesn’t work abroad. Does that link work in the USA too? If you could let me know. Thanks…
Enjoy!