1960s Paris

Beautiful candid shots from Les Halles in Paris in 1962, by Harpers Bazaar and Vogue photographer, Tom Palumbo eased a full-on day this week, thanks to Helen of the divine Sweet Olive Press.

Christmas shopping...

Yet to make any actual 'sale' sales ourselves (20%offbothshopsNOEL09inmessagetosellerforrefundpleasethankyou) here are some pieces that have caught our eyes over the past few days... and all of them are pre-Christmas bargains.

We've been following Silversmithy on Twitter for a while, and as suckers for anything chunky, hammered and silver, this ring, $70, was a top pick in her ktsilver shop, with free shipping until December 1st.


A rather fabulous notebook from Mrseliotbooks has already been safely ordered for a lucky list-maker this Christmas. We love these beautiful patchwork graph notebooks too, just $9 with super reasonable shipping and great service.


If this delicate dragonfly wing ring is not under the Christmas tree come December 25th, it will certainly have to be a present for self in the New Year. And we don't even have to choose between the ring, earrings and pendant - by Jessedanger, it comes with free shipping if you buy another item. A very reasonable $35.


Wings, twigs and feathers remind this city girl of home and this hand-pierced feather necklace by Samantharose is a reminder of wide open spaces, with free shipping.


Finally, the party season is upon us and to really turn heads you need elegant accessories, like our knight in shining armour vintage mesh bag, from the 1920s. A very special piece, take 20% off for a vintage bargain at $62.40.

Sale time!

Christmas is coming, seasonal gift buying panic is rising. Why not go a little vintage this year? Whether it's a Christmas gift with a difference or a present to yourself, take a look at our vintage clothes, accessories and homewares. And if you're searching for something special, there is still time for us to source it for you...

Take 20% off all items - including the Sale rail - in the pink milk vintage shop, until December 12th - just use the code NOEL09 in the message to sender and we will refund the difference. And if handmade is top of your Christmas list, you can also use the code on everything in the pink milk shop too.... Feel free to share the code and spread some pre-Christmas love!

Our last shipping dates for Christmas are:
Europe: 12th December
US and Rest of the World: 7th December

Crafty, birdy, twigs-in-vase

Dinner with friends, a designer housemate, some beautifully dressed curly willow twigs in a turquoise vase, dressed with tiny birds, ribbons, gemstones and pompoms. My friend in the background having a cigarette out of the window.

If you're in the UK...

Visit the Affordable Vintage Fair for me. It's currently heading northwards, I would absolutely love to be at the Northumbria University Student Union on November 29 for reworked fashion from local designers and vintage goodies from all around, but sadly I'll be here instead...

Lafayette Maison Christmas windows

This year's Noel Gourmand Christmas retail theme at Galeries Lafayette, means Christmas windows that are good enough to eat, starting off with Liberty print cake and a silk chocolate log, studded with pearls...


... with a café au lait with a sausage of Liberty print whipped cream...


...a pièce montée of scrumptious silk macaroons...


...silken pineapple, draped with pearls...


...and silk and ostrich feather turkey, to be carved with the family silver.

More here (in French), including the fashion windows.

David Lynch windows, Galeries Lafayette

His films may not be for everyone, but David Lynch designed some striking Autumn windows for Galeries in September/October. Rather incongruous next to Chanel's permanent vitrines at the end of the row.

Mad Men Kate

A bit like a cross between a less-frustrated Betsy and a more colourful Peggy, with a bit of Joan thrown in. And a beehive. She would probably use a Houbigant powder compact, which she keeps in her Bakelite clutch.

More magazine-hunting, St Ouen

1960s Vogue and L'Officiel

Reflets de Paris - fashion, fiction, news and patterns
14 January, 1960

Reflets de Paris

23 June 1960

Reflets de Paris
11 September 1958

Reflets de Paris
12 November 1959

Paris Match, 1957 & 1961, from street market, rue St-Isaure, Paris 18

Peacock feather and snakeskin finds

I know Kaang has had plenty of exposure on the etsy homepage recently, but this peacock hairclip has wedding-day fabulous written all over it. As do the fuschia and snowy white headbands and the pale mushroom bleached peacock eye clip....


Having a snakeskin moment, and I love the grain on this wallet, from toottootsie.


This has been in our heart list for a while, dirtystory's classic peacock cuff, a gorgeous print for a wearable piece.


You can't do peacock prints without a nod in the direction of Liberty of London and this beautiful Hera Tana Lawn silk-lined clutch by redrubyrose, which takes me back to my haberdashery days...


Finally, work this stunning 1930s recycled snakeskin cuff by English Relics, with black cigarette pants, ballet flats and red, red lips. Featuring an antique buckle, this makes for a striking piece.

snakeskin and sun showers

A busy, dreary few weeks, brightened by some lovely weekends at the races, lovely dinners, lovely cocktails... After lunch in the Marais yesterday with friends from London during which an unusually obliging waitress helped us make a sunshade/come shower cover out of a spare tablecloth for our friend's baby, I found this snakeskin vintage clutch/shoulder bag which I love... one to keep for me, as I sell too many things that I love. So there, hands off. Also delighted to find the new branch of Cos, which, along with the new and massive Uniqlo at Opéra will make for a marvellous new season shopping trip next pay day. For it is tax season in France, oh yes, we are all poor. The red Uniqlo cashmere sweater and navy Cos jumper dress for the will have to wait another day.

Another find, was the lilac wine floral scarf, just listed...

Anyway. For ages now I have been hearting peacocky things and while it's too late on a Sunday night to post about all the gorgeous peacock themes items I have found - however beautifully they would go with my new snakeskin bag - that will be coming soon.

Bikram yoga

40 minutes into a 90-minute yoga session in a room heated to 42 degrees, long ago sweated out any toxins or indeed fluid left in me... "Allez Katharine... pull from down your elbows!" ... my hands keep slipping, wringing as they are... head up, drops fly... "Reach for your toes"... blood pounding, head spinning, deaf in one ear... sodden trousers stuck to the legs so far from my head... trousers? what was I thinking, the woman next to me is in a swimming costume. I don't remember it being quite this tough.

Bikram Yoga, Paris Grands Boulevards or Marais

Tomatoes from our neighbour's allotment ready to roast. The fruity, herby tang of the last days of summer.

At the rue Cambon...

Another beautiful treasury from pink milk Sarah who has been pretty good at catching them these past few weeks! Le look parisien par excellence, ma coco... Love it.

Walking into the sun

Café au lait in the sunshine with a fresh-from-the-kiosque copy of French Grazia which launched this morning, followed by vintage-hunting and sunshine wandering round my quartier.

Plenty of secret moments in my favourite places while D has been away.

Old ladies outside the hairdresser, rue Lamarck.

This little china ring dish is already available on pink milk vintage.

Glass pot found in the same brocante... this stays with me.

Sunny summer days

Bring me Sunshine vintage lemon top... cool down in pastel shades... up the poolside glam factor with your Carrie-style pearls.

Hot summer days are a little cooler in Paris, which means I'm running faster for La Parisienne race in a few weeks (*sponsor me for the Lymphoma Association*) and sleeping more at night. Over in Crete it is still blazing, which means plenty of pool time for pink milk Sarah and some lovely light for vintage photo shoots. Some super finds for your wardrobe coming from Chania over the past few days...

In the Garden vintage red dress... Japanese-inspired blossom print for drifting round the market... but hands off the parasol!

Lost on a Greek Island vintage skirt... long and A-line, for nautical eighties style... set it off with sharp navy and red, our current favourite colour combination.

The Arc de Triomphe on a very hot day

I have worked around the Champs Elysées and Arc de triomphe for five years and went up for the first time yesterday, with Houria. It was blazingly hot, the people moved around very slowly on the ground.

The office. Looks a bit like a prison from there...

Do not desecrate the walls of a national monument

Inside the arche

Ave de la Grande Armée towards La Défense

The Champs Elysées, Louvre in the distance