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Thursday 8 July 2010

Turnips and Hermes

Below, crowded Kings Cross train station last week. Lovely B was about to take the train back to Newcastle. Kings Cross is not a nice station, especially now compared to St Pancras which has been greatly tarted up since Eurostar has moved there. But renovation work is underway in Kings Cross too. I was greatly amused by Elf and Safety announcements reminding us that cycling, skateboarding and rollerblading were not permitted in the station. So easy to forget and attempt a triple halfpipe on top of all those people. Bye Bye Lovely B! I felt quite folorn, but pulled myself together. I am a grown up, independent woman of today! A lady spoke to me as I was leaving the Kings Cross loos. I had noticed she had been glancing in my direction. I was looking quite smart that day: posh frock on and no obvious foodstuffs on my face. I prepared myself to accept the anticipated compliment graciously. "Excuse me" whispered the lady, "I think you've got your dress tucked up at the back". Oh god, a skirt in knickers situation. Lovely B, come back, I can't last 5 minutes without you, see what happens!



After this unsettling incident I took the bus to Selfridges. I had an idea of buying Mr Blighty some posh decaff coffee. This sign caught my eye. When did turnips become upmarket enough to be sold in Selfridges foodhall? Is there a whole department for them? No sign of any today, maybe not turnip season. Shades of Blackadder's downtrodden stooge, Baldrick, whose dream was to have his very own turnip one day.


Gosh, Baldrick's gone blonde!



No luck with the coffee but I noticed they stock Australian healthfood.


And that stuff Aussies are supposed to put in their sandwiches.

Good grief, has the world gone mad? £16 for tea? Miller Harris are better know for perfumes, maybe you drink half and then splash the rest over yourself??


After the heady atmosphere of the turnip department, I needed to get more down to earth, so I went to the Hermes shop inside Selfridges. I channelled the lovely MaiTai and tried to look nonchalant, as though I pop into Hermes all the time. The sales assistant was not fooled. He asked me to stop taking pictures - ha, too late mate! I ended up telling him all about MaiTai's blog, as otherwise I thought he might call Security and they would work me over in the basement. Worked like a dream, he was very interested and I wrote down her name for him. I think it is very important Hermes know what a fabulous brand ambassadress MaiTai is - before I discovered her blog, I never even knew I wanted a Hermes scarf, now I am getting myself noticed as a security threat in their store!

Below, sumptuousness of their bangles. Drool!



Tiger, tiger etc


Slobber!



The deliciousness of the scarves - dribble!


Below, I think these are called Twillys, MaiTai, help, need your expertise!



No shopping post would be complete without some nail porn. Selfridges stock OPI, good to know!
I considered buying Lincoln after Dark, FF has it. But there is also Lincoln after Midnight - maybe FF has this? It all got too much, plus more expensive in Selfridges than in my humble beauty wholesalers!



Below, very smart OPI set up but I am rather worried by the girl on the right, she seems to be pouring nail varnish over her body, very sloppy technique! The Nail Polish Hoarder would not approve!



Below, view of Selfridges from the balcony of M&S cafe, never knew the balcony was there before.


In M&S I bought Mr Blighty some clothes, since my coffee search had been fruitless and I felt guilty about spending money on everyone except him. Mr B used to be very designer, Armani suits and ties, Ralph Lauren, but Since Children he has scaled back, bless him, and hardly ever buys clothes. Most of this did not pass the Mr Blighty test of not looking sissy but surprisingly he likes the flowery shirt. Yes, Mr Blighty, don't be afraid to get in touch with your inner flower child!


And that is quite enough shopping for the time being! It was tough, all the eating, drinking, and shopping that Lovely B and I did. But I kept focused, kept going, there were hard times, gruelling times, testing and challenging, I had to dig deep. But it was worth it, Lovely B gave me an award. So proud!


34 comments:

  1. Drooling all over my keyboard, dear Blighty. Love the fabulous snaps you took, looking at inventory pics is such a happy treat! The enamels are divine, and the scarves so pretty. You got the Twillys right, I can sense you are getting hooked, lol! Love the M&S floral shirt of your DH, and your Oxford street pics remind me how much I miss London, despite elf and safety!

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  2. hi blighty,

    slipping into hermes so you can get back down to earth. this makes perfect sense to me.

    also, i even know who mai tai is. this is all making perfect sense to me. and it's scaring me at the same time. what have i become?

    ~janet

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  3. I am drooling over the shops there. My daughter and I stopped in the Hermes shop whilst in New York in April. We headed for the scarves and were impressed. The shop is so high end there were no price tags on anything! A salesperson swanned over and told us the scarves started around $300 USD. I think she could tell we were rif raff as she herded us out the door quite quickly!

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  4. Hermes is the shizz. I love walking past their beautifully decorated windows and drooling over all the beautiful pieces. Lincoln Park after Midnight is far superior to the after dark version. It was a wonderful metallic sparkle through it and is very of the moment... And I love Lovely B's award - very apt!

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  5. The nice ladies in Hermes let me photograph stuff when I forked out $550 for a scarf in January! They even let me be snapped in their $3300 fox fur Hermes hat!!!! This is such a funny post. I don't have Lincoln Park after Midnight- should I???? Give my best to the Elves at Elf and Safety x

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  6. Am feeling very left out as I've never enjoyed the thrill of walking into a Hermes store.
    So what do I need to remember....don't take photos, don't dribble (dead giveaway) don't dress like riff raff but do mention MaiTai!
    xx

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  7. Oh Blighty, the knicker mishap...it is very unfortunate!
    Lucky that kind woman stopped you so you could rearrange.

    Going into Hermes and "coming down to earth"...LOL!

    Hermes does speak to me...I have several of their scarves...costly yes undeniably true...
    The sales staff in SF and Vancouver are not at all snobby they welcome all and sundry...they let me in didn't they?

    I love that you snuck some photos...I'd never be that brave!

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  8. Blighty you've covered all bases in this post. Just about all of life's essentials are there Including: Hermes, Vegemite Tim Tams and OPI nail polish. I am off to London in 10 days to visit my daughter and I love hanging out in Selfridges whilst she works. Have you been in the cafe whatsie (FF word) on the mezzanine of Selfridges? V good food and great people watching.
    Deb my local Hermes is v friendly and even lets you try on Fox Fur Hats *waves* at Faux Fuschia.
    The staff alos know all about Mai Tai as FF and I told them all about her and they wrote down her blog details. So Mai Tai even 1000's of miles away in Australia Hermes staff are your fans as we are! Glad to hear Blighty you are spreading the word in London!
    Kate B x

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  9. Hello Blighty
    Perfect post for me to read on a wet Friday in Sydney.

    Love the Hermes photos.

    Hope Mr B is well pleased with the clothing choices.

    Have a lovely weekend.

    SSG xxx

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  10. You're right! I do not approve! She's probably making a mess and wasting a good portion of that bottle!... [Voice over an intercom] "We need a clean-up in aisle OPI"

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  11. Look, you must say tyger tyger. We American are absolutely bonkers over any Britishism whatsoever so do not WASTE your natural advantage. Tyger. Tyger. You're welcome.

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  12. Just wanted to say I absolutely love your blog, Blighty - makes me laugh every time! (and totally agree with all previous comments on this post - a spot of Hermes shopping cheers a girl up no end - I indulge myself far more often than I should!) Also, three cheers for MaiTai for helping us along the slippery slope!

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  13. A tiger! if that is not an excuse to buy a hermes-bag with complimenting scarf! in the year of the tiger which will change us like we have never been changed before and already did.
    :-)

    I encountered the H-click-clacks at cottonsocks-blog. (clickity clack)

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  14. Hello Blighty
    You make me laugh - esp the bit about the halfpipe in the crowds :)
    Love to see the tim tams!
    And regarding the skirt being tucked in - this happened to me once - a lady told me at the train station! Hehehhe
    Have a great weekend xx

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  15. Glad to see that the essentials can be found at the train station-you can never have too many tim tams!

    Best wishes for a lovely weekend,
    Natasha.

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  16. Dear Blighty
    To work turnips and Hermes into one blog post takes some kind of genius. You are to be commended.
    Only the strongest can survive a full day at Selfridges- I count myself amongst them.

    But alas, I thought Lincoln Park was the name of a band.

    xx
    Slim

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  17. Dear ladies, lovely to hear from you all, glad you liked the turnip/Hermes combo.
    Dear MaiTai, so thrilled that you commented, you are a top Hermes celeb in these parts! Hope you don't get cyberstalked by sales assistant from Selfridges - tall elegant black guy with nice scarf arrangement of his own! Mr B has been wearing his flowery number, he will be very proud when I tell him you like it!
    Janet, I know what you mean, it is worrying that I actually know the word "twilly" but MaiTai's blog is addictive!
    Kitty-cat, Miss, thanks for the lowdown on Lincoln Park, important information!
    Deb - I have adopted an upfront approach with sales people now in posh shops - I cheerfully admit I have no money and am just admiring, most of them respond well to this, as they aren't paid much themselves; it also helps to show an interest and some knowledge about the products, which I could thanks to MaiTai! of course, if they are snotty, they will be snotty, their loss!! remember Pretty Woman?

    FF - I remember your post - Hermes, afraid no more, it was brilliant, so impressed you bought a scarf, I wish when I had been earning I had invested in a Hermes scarf instead of frittering on bits and bobs (Bob a big disappointment). i thought you had Lincoln Park, oh no, i am suffering from blog confusion must be one of the Polish ladies!
    Anne-Marie - when going into Hermes also helps not to have dress tucked into knickers
    Hostess - I will be going back to your blog to look at your Hermes scarves now!
    Kate B - is it your daughtere that works as a nanny? Is she ok? hope not homesick. Have a lovely time in London. If your daughter ever needs help, get in touch with me via comments
    SSG- hope you are having a good weekend, so strange that it is hot here, most unusual.
    Polish Hoarder - love it when you comment, so in awe of your wonderful nails and colours!
    LPC - I think I just exposed my own lack of knowledge of Eng lit, I should have stuck with the Frosties Tony instead!! I do know a good limerick about a bishop though..
    Sushi - hello there, thank you for your kind comments, I love the idea of you treating yourself at Hermes
    Paula - hello there tiger!
    Carly - the skirt in knickers thing is so easily done, I once walked down an entire hospital ward in this state when visiting, I still get Christmas cards from Mr Tompkins in bed 7..
    Natasha - TimTams look delish, but are superexpensive here, so important to bring your own..

    Bxxxx

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  18. Ps the word verfication thinge was flartwar!
    I think you will find this amusing. I know I did!

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  19. Dear Blighty FF just alerted me to your reply offering help for my daughter if she ever is in need.
    Thank you so much that it a really lovely gesture and means a lot to me as a mother! You are a dear just as K told me you were not too mention hugely entertaining!
    I'm off with Mr K for 5 weeks on Monday visiting her and doing our own 'thing' with Mr K as we retrace the England of his childhood days (he thinks it will be as it was when he left 40 years ago) but I do appreciate your thoughts and wish she was a Mother's Helper to you and your boys rather the slave she is too this family.
    Kate Bx

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  20. Love the photo's of the bangles especially! Elle

    ReplyDelete
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