This is a story of tesselation, triangles and tails (of the wild and fossil kind). As it’s nearly Christmas, I’ve lots of goodies to be bestowing on you – I know, I’m in a generous mood! I hope you have a vat of steaming, mulled wine, or a hot chocolate, or any beverage of your choice to keep you fortified on our journey.
Now did I have you at tesselation? Don’t worry, we’ll be getting onto that shortly but patience my friend! Let’s first muse upon the outerwear before digging deeper into the innerwear.
I bought this coat probably about 15 years ago. Back then, I was living in North London and on my way to and from the station every day, I’d walk past a small boutique. One week, this coat was in the window and I’d press my nose up against said window, lusting after the colour, lusting after the texture, lusting after the style.
I mean, look at that collar, for goodness sake!
Each day, small voice of reason would say; ‘You don’t need, you can’t afford another coat. Move along.’
By the end of the week though, I abandoned small voice of reason in a desolate car park in an unidentified area, and went in the shop. As soon as the coat was on, I knew I’d be leaving with it! Sometimes, heart needs to win over head; even though it was true, I didn’t NEED another coat, and at the time, I certainly couldn’t AFFORD another coat.
I wear this coat on high days and holidays, rather than everyday. I impersonate a snail on work days with my backpack strapped to my back and for those days, I have a workhorse of a navy blue, puffa coat to keep me warm.
Right, enough of this posing, we’ve an exhibition to get to! Come along now.
Let’s go for a stroll down the road, to one of my favourite buildings in London. No dawdling, crocodile file please, hold hands.
I give you The Natural History Museum. Doesn’t it have the magnificent look of a Cathedral?
Except it’s a Cathedral to learning and exploring, collecting and curating.
Why are we here? I was taking Tall Brown Fox to the 51st Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. It’s become something of a birthday tradition for him. He’s an ‘almost, but not quite, Christmas baby’, meaning his birthday can often get lost in a mound of tinsel and mince pies.
To make his birthday memorable, we both took the day off work on Friday to celebrate his day early.
I just love all that brickwork – in some ways, it’s an example of tesselation!
The building was cleaned a few years back and the colours of the brickwork are revealed in all their original glory. It’s wonderful how a building that is 134 years old, is now very on-trend. The blue bricks match one of the two colours chosen by Pantone to be Colour of the Year 2016! How cool is that?!?
If you’re still sitting there thinking what the heck is tesselation, I thought you were going to explain. Well, here goes. Do have a sip of your mulled wine or hot chocolate. It’s probably cooled down enough by now.
Of course, if you’re a Maths boffin, you’ll know what tesselation is. It’s using the same geometric shape, in a repeated pattern, covering the whole of a flat surface. My silk shirt is an example of tesselation. Then we have the triangles of my necklace which isn’t technically tesselation but they tie in with the geometric pattern of my shirt, so I’m following a theme here!
Apologies for the fuzziness of some of the photos. The photographer said the lighting inside the museum wasn’t conducive to photographs. I would fire him but he’s on a lifetime contract.
Since I started this sartorial journey of the Seasonal Skinny Style Challenge, I’d been itching to wear this shirt, as I knew it’d be perfect with the Winter Seasonal Skinny but I’d saved it for this special occasion.
As the shirt is slightly on the sheer side, I popped a black cami on underneath allowing me to keep the shirt open. Most people wear shirts buttoned from the bottom up but I inverted the buttoning and buttoned from the top. It’s most artsy-fartsy. We are at an exhibition after all!
Told you this story involved tails of the fossil kind. Quite mind boggling and beautiful.
Someone said there was a big feck off fossil around here somewhere.
Can’t say I can find it.
Anyway, moving from fossils back to threads.
A few close ups for you, showing in crisper detail the gorgeous pattern of the shirt and accompanying bling. The shirt has a 3D feel, which sold it to me. Reminds me of the graphic works that the Dutch artist, Escher was famous for.
And here’s a final example of a mini tesselation – the laces creating a pattern in my shoes. A happy, yet random co-incidence that it’s also the third time they’ve been featured on the blog!
I wore them in an Autumn Seasonal Skinny post – Kaleidoscope and then with my thrifted patterned trousers.
Before we went to see the photographs of the finalists and winners of the competition – here I am near the hanging poster for the exhibition – we soaked up the atmosphere of the great entrance of the Museum.
That really translates as – I did some more posing! No apologies for this. It would’ve been rude to not take advantage of the serious upgrade of locale, from my normal ones of garden and carport!
When you have a dinosaur as your backdrop, you work it, dammit! It’s also quite helpful in giving you a sense of scale!
Pocket rocket me
Big bad ass dino
Kick ass architecture of the glorious, grandiose, Romanesque kind.
Not a strand of Christmas paper chains, just part of dino’s tail!
Told you this story involved tails of the wildlife kind.
He’s a big fella. I thought I married a big fella at 6’4″, but this one takes the prize.
I love that the chap on the right and I, are looking at big bad ass dino at exactly the same time!
Look at the width of the femur and the length of the tibia and fibula bones below it! The dinosaur’s that is, not mine.
The bones are almost as long as I am!
Seasonal Skinny from Dorothy Perkins Petite
Faux Fur Astrakhan Coat (old from an indie boutique). Here’s a Black Fuax Fur Astrakhan Coat
Monsoon Black Cami (old from e-bay)
Joy The Store Silk Geometric Shirt SS15
Joy The Store Fringe Bag
Oval & Rectangle Bracelet (from the Emporium of I Forget). Here’s a Red Stretch Bracelet from Accessorize.
New Look Silver Necklace. Here’s a geometric Silver Necklace
TKMaxx Beret. Here’s a Green Wool Beret
Topshop Shoes SS15 – sold out These Office Pointed Ghillies are currently in the sale
Looking earnest, stylish, knowing and academic after the exhibition, clutching my newly purchased desk diary, featuring some of the outstanding photos from the competition.
Or possibly I’m pondering what I’ll have for lunch.
It never lasts long, before I start to giggle! There goes my fashionista credentials.
I’ll be back later this week with another blog post, so do pop back. I won’t leave you bereft over Christmas; just in case you need a break from the endless repeats of every Christmas themed movie there’s ever been.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year runs until 10th April 2016 at the NHM, before going on tour around the country and features over 100 truly extra-ordinary, beautiful and thought provoking images.
Linking with Visible Monday / Creative Blog Hop / Style Nudge / Garay Treasures / Confident Twosday / High Latitude Style / Turning Heads Tuesday / #iwillwearwhatilike / Fresh Fashion Forum /
I learned a lot today! Tessellation is my new favorite word. You look terrific, and thanks for sharing,
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
It's a great word, isn't it? I have to admit I learned it from Tall Brown Fox. I was thinking of a name for this post and he immediately suggested Tessalation Celebration and I had to get him to explain what he meant!
Thanks for your lovely compliment, Patti.
I love tesselations and patterns of all kinds.
Looks like stunning architecture!
And those gigantic bones!!
Amazing. And Happy Birthday to the Silver Fox 🙂
Jazzy Jack
Yay, a fan of tesselations! I love patterns too. Thank you Jazzy, Tall Brown Fox enjoyed his birthday outfit!
I really enjoyed your tour around The Natural History Museum , a place I have only ever viewed on T.V. and what a stylish guide you are in your patterned shirt, skinnies , those great shoes and beret. I can see why that coat had to come home, it is not only stunning but has stood the test of time.
Thank you Jill, for your lovely compliments. I've never regretted buying that coat and I'm so glad I did!
Great tour Jacqueline!! I can see why you had to have that coat—it is divine—I'm afraid I would wear it much more just to show it off!! What I really love is you look so hip and fresh! The shoes are quite lovely—a little heel yet walkable—truly a gem! And don't you love a great day exploring your city's interesting gems? Merry Christmas! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
You've made my day Jodie, saying I look so hip and fresh – thank you! The shoes have proved to be a wonderful buy – they are so comfortable and when you're on your feet so much as you are walking around museums and exhibitions, you need comfort but these are also so stylish.
A few years ago, I decided that we really needed to enjoy all the delights on our doorstep more as we're so lucky being close to our capital.
Merry Christmas to you to, Jodie.
What an astonishing beautiful building this is. Fantastic. And you appreciate my backgrounds and buildings haha. This is much better. When I saw the close-up of your sheer (I saw the sheerness in one of the last photos) shirt, I immediately thought of Escher too. Being Dutch I obviously know his work. Beautiful shirt and beautiful coat. Cute bag.
Have a merry Christmas dea.
Greetje
It's such a beauty, this building. But I like all types of buildings, Greetje! Especially small, quirky ones as in The Netherlands!
Vrolijke Kerstmis, Greetje.
Woww I love your colors so much… And beautiful place..
http://www.modaperestt.blogspot.com.tr/2015/12/victorias-secret-fashion-show-2015.html
Thank you, I'm glad you like the colours.
I really liked this photo session of yours, with all those fossils and dinos as the background! Interesting print of the shirt, indeed, has 3D illusion. Love the necklace, it has some tribal notes about it. And the coat? Wow, what a texture that can be felt even on photos!
It's a wonderful place for interesting photos, that's for sure! The necklace is quite tribal, isn't it? Ha, ha, I love how you can feel the coat through the screen!
Merry Christmas, Olga.
Your posts are always an absolute delight to read!! Thank you so much. I love the image of you going to work as a snail. And I love the word tasselation and its meaning – math is cool. And the feck off fossil and tibias. So fun. Such a fantastic outing, the echo in the halls alone is worth a visit.
And oh yes, that COAT! I am so glad you parked your reason in the desolate parking lot. Hahaha! I find that most of my treasured clothing pieces end up in my closet that way. Gorgeous coat!! And your other mathematical additions. Great post.
Melanie, thank you for your kind words, coming from someone who writes such witty, self deprecating and fun posts. I do really resemble a snail during the week and then I metamorphosis at the weekend to – well, – something vaguely stylish!
Glad you enjoyed the post!
You had such a great fun writing this post, didn't you? 🙂 You look wonderful! We all need such a coat, the one we don't really need and can't really afford. It feels so special to wear it. The patterns and textures are amazing here. Love your necklace and the details of your shoes. Thanks for the wonderful museum tour as well! Happy holidays!!!!!
Ha, ha, Natalia, yes I did! And it's true we do need something special to wear. Happy Holidays to you too.
Thanks for linking up to Top of the World Style. I wisch you happy holidays and a happy New Year. Cute look.
And to you too, Nicole.
My brain was definitely not built for math, but I'm so proud of myself for knowing what tesselation was before you explained it…lol! Now, let's talk about that coat. I swear you have the most stellar coat collection and this one might be the crown jewel. I love it! Everything about it is pure perfection. It's a good thing you abandoned the voice of reason in the parking garage!
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
Mine neither, but I'm impressed you knew what tesselation was – one up from me! I'm not sure I do have a stellar coat collection but thank you! But I agree that this one is a jewel though! Yes, sometimes you have to abandon small voice of reason!
I love it in the National History Museum!! Great look, I really need some shoes like yourrs 🙂
Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays
It's a fantastic place, isn't it? Happy New Year to you, Claire.
Love the photos and I have not been to the Museum! I cant go as I cant stand long and museums kill me. I love the coat, the rich color of it with the fun fringe of the bag, and the unexpected blue color of your hat!
Thanks for linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
I can imagine it would be hard and tiring for you, Jess. Hope the photos allowed you to have a wee tour! Thanks for your compliments. I hit the jackpot with the coat!
I love the turquoise beret against the chocolate brown coat! Thanks for adding your fashion flair to the My Refined Style Linkup!
Shellie
http://www.thefabjourney.com