Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

London, Day 3: de Castelbajac and Zang Toi

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Today I planned to go see some Henry teh 8 artifacts at the British Library. When I told MrB about this, he said, “I wanted to go shopping.” Guess what I said:

  • “I insist on seeing Henry teh 8 artifacts.”
  • “Okay, I will go shopping!”

I’m no fool, so off we went to Conduit Street, because MrB had a particular desire to go to the Vivienne Westwood store. Nothing there worked for me, but we discovered the Jean-Charles de Castelbajac store nearby and had great fun. I’m not a Disney fan but I loved trying on the Mickey Mouse shoes.

de Castelbajac Mickey Mouse shoes

de Castelbajac Mickey Mouse shoes

We bought two things at the store but you can’t see them till I wear them. That’s the rule. In the meantime, you can enjoy a picture of a sequined dress that I took through the window.

I was tempted to try this on.

I was tempted to try this on.

In the evening, we went to meet our jet-setting designer friend Zang Toi, who was in town for an exhibit of Christopher Bissell‘s photography. I wore a teeny Zang Toi mini. Zang wore a skirt too. This is one of the few times that my skirt has been shorter than his.

Outside the Wellington Club

Outside the Wellington Club

Christopher Bissell was so nice and obligingly posed with me and Zang’s gorgeous friend Karen. Karen was the reason we were all invited in the first place. Thanks, Karen!

WendyB, Christopher Bissell, and Karen

WendyB, Christopher Bissell, and Karen

One thing I really enjoyed about the Wellington Club was the skull-shaped mirrored disco ball.

Disco skull.

Damien Hirst disco skull.

Pink-haired designer Zandra Rhodes was said to be on her way when we left, but we couldn’t wait around for her because after Zang has half a Bellini he needs to be tucked into bed ASAP. But the hot gossip was that when the party was first planned, Michael Jackson was supposed to be the mega-surprise guest. He certainly would have been a bigger surprise if he turned up tonight, no? That would have been a thriller. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t have had the right Castelbajac dress on for the occasion.

UPDATED TO ADD: In case you didn’t see gorgeous Karen’s report about the disco skull and other things in the comment section, here they are: “That was a Damien Hurst skull. There was that crazy Hurst wallpaper there at 4000 pounds/sq meter and a few paintings, too. Some of Christopher’s models showed up after you left and James Cosmo and UK shock jock James Whale gave a speech. There’s a lovely shot of the pink-haired Zandra on CB’s site, and I think the photos of her sold last night, too.”

UPDATED AGAIN TO ADD: Karen and friends report that Damien Hirst himself was there all night and we managed to NOT meet him. Could be worse. It’s not like seeing Hamlet in the theater and failing to realize Jude Law was the star of the show or something!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. ms. b, u look sexy as hell in the teeny zang toi skirt! can’t wait to see what u got in london. i’m sure they’re all super fab!

  3. The skull reminds me of Damian Hurst’s piece! Have linked your previous blog (on Madonna photo) to my latest entry for a saucy parallel. . .

  7. Mickey shoes? Hilarious

    I love you and Zang. You guys take the best pictures and he wears the best skirts. =D

    I wanna see what you got!!

  11. The Jean-Charles de Castelbajac store looks like so much fun! Love the shoes and that ridiculously sparkly mini!

  12. OMG! You look solely FABULOUS! I luv the JC de Castelbajac soles,why I posted them on my blog not long ago. I say this was one captivating post and to end it with that skull is amazingly electrifying!

  13. Those Mickey Mouse shoes! Your legs in that mini! The skull disco ball! The MJ reference at the end! Ah…there are too many things to heart about this post.

  14. Hi there-You look gorgeous in the Zang Toi mini and its great how you’re seeing and doing so much in London in such a short space of time!! See ya tomorrow!

  16. hi wendy. thanks for coming last night. it’s so fun to see you, paul and zang in london! that was a damien hurst skull. there was that crazy hurst wallpaper there at 4000 pounds/sq meter and a few paintings, too. some of christopher’s models showed up after you left and james cosmo and UK shock jock james whale gave a speech. there’s a lovely shot of the pink haired Zandra on CB’s site, and I think the photos of her sold last night, too. http://www.chrisbissell.co.uk/

  17. Oooh real quick have to say my word being cadbury, makes me want to go take a bite of my carmel cadbury bar…yumm-O

    I love that little skirt you are wearing, very meeeooowrr. I am actually going to London tommorow, I freelance with a trips and tours place here in Belgium and we are heading off to London tommorow. I am uber excited since it is my 2nd time there and it is just a small day trip. I will not be doing anything crazy fantastic like yourself, but will enjoy it none the less. Thanks for sharing.

  18. well, this post is full of eye-candy! love those shoes and sequinned dress and your skirt (roaw!), and skull shaped disco ball (!!!) – that is truly awe inspiring, hehe

  20. Hey Wendy! I hope all is well!
    The Mickey shoes are just gorgeous! 😀 They made me smile! The details are so funny!
    And OMG to the skirt picture! Great to see a guy in a skirt, too! YAY to the long legs and to the shorter skirt, lady! The Disco Skull reminds me of Damien Hirst’s infamous and most expensive “For the love of God” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Love_of_God
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend, dear!

  21. Did you see that adorable starlet Emma Watson wore an Ossie Clark dress to the U.K. Harry Potter premiere? Saw it on eonline and it made me think of you.

  22. Christina, I love it when people say they see Ossie Clark and think of me! I couldn’t have a better association, in my mind. I did see her dress and it was a beautiful one!

  23. Hey Wendy,

    Love the Mickey Mouse shoes. Very cute. And you totally rocked the mini. You looked fabulous. 🙂

  25. You have great gams! You do the mini justice. It will probably be ditto for the Francis shorts you’ve got.

  29. looks like a fantastic event and i love that disco skull ball, too! but my fave pic was that mickey mouse shoe!! so adorable 😀

  30. What a day and night!

    I love reading about all your adventures: the shopping, the party, the minis, the skull, etc.

    It’s the next best thing to being there.

  32. The Mickey Mouse shoes are hilarious. What would Mark Jacobs think?

    I HEART the Damien Hirst disco ball. The original piece was called “For the love of god” and went for 125 million.

  34. Hi Wendy. So, I found out today that Damien Hirst was there all night! We missed him. I wish Chris had introduced us. xxx see you in nyc soon. we’ll go out with ZT.

  37. Why have I not been in this shop? It is awesome! Altho’ I am a little pissed about your no-showing-till-wearing rule. I bet your purchases are totally fabulous!

    Ah, and not sure if you are being sarcastic w/ Mr B’s shopping enthuisasm. If you are, well then it really is a match made in heaven isn’t it? 😉

    And last but certainly not least, those LEGS!!! You should live in miniskirts Wendy xx

  38. PS you have linked to London day four, but you don’t seem to have posted the post you have linked to? Now of course I am terribly curious to read this post!

  39. Wow, Damien Hirst has it good, success, fortune, and fame but without the face recognition! He can easily go to the grocery store in sweats and no makeup.
    I love it that Mr. B. had to drag you out shopping.

  40. Pretty Face, day 4 is live now! I was bored while waiting for pictures to load, so I did the link here to keep busy.