Marie Antoinette costume talk

Today I went to the Wallace Collection to see the Marie Antoinette costume talk. Last month, I was very happy listening to Madame de Pompadour sharing her life and fashion tips, so this time I was eager to see what Marie-Antoinette has to offer. 

I am huge fan of the Queen of France. Of course she made some mistakes, but how could she not, being taken away from her family to a foreign country where she didn't know anybody and being barely 14. The talk was interesting, even though I already knew most of the things. Unfortunately it was very short - too short for my likening and that was the biggest disappointment. 

Afterwards, I wasn't keen on going shopping on Oxford Street on Friday afternoon  - it's literally madness out there. I decided to read a book in the sun. It's supposed to be the most controversial book of the year (to say the least) and tells a story of a girl being in love with the paedophile - Tiger, Tiger: A Memoir by Margaux Fragoso.

Madame de Pompadour - costume talk

I have no idea how I'm going to go clubbing tomorrow and before travel to Kent and meet AW's baby boy. My feet HURT. I went for the PT session in the morning, came back, took a shower and went to The Wallace Collection. My feet hurt when I stepped outside the door, going to the tube. So now, they're like numb. 

I wanted to cycle to The Wallace Collection, but of course the weather in London is so unpredictable that it was sunny and warm, when I took my winter jacket, scarf, gloves and... umbrella! It is just confirmation of the rule that when I take umbrella with me, it almost never rains. 

At The Wallace Collection I've spent almost an hour taking part in a costumed talk about Madame de Pompadour's life as mistress to the King of France and as  a great patroness of the arts. The lady was dressed in a beautiful dress, had a full make-up on and even her hair was styled! It was really great and I'm so happy that I went to see it. Some of the things I already knew from the Tour we went together with the Boyfriend on Sunday, but most of them were totally new. I checked out a bookstore at the museum, but sadly there was nothing on Madame de Pompadour, only Marie-Antoinette. 

unfortunately picture made from the museum's booklet

Later, I went all the way down from Bond Street to Tottenham Court Road - all the way down the Oxford Street. I stopped at Body Shop to buy little gift for AW, Boyfriend bought another gifts for her husband and son. Feels weird saying that she has a son. I ate a small lunch at the nice little park, right next to the WarnerBross London office. 

that's where I had lunch...

...sitting on this bench

Then I decided to go to Foyles and Blackwells (two nearby bookstores) and search something about Madame de Pompadour - all in all, it was her day today. But even though I've checked the websites before, there was nothing. Again, only about Marie-Antoinette and not even the books I've read about on Amazon (I'm addicted to the Amazon reviews). 

Besides, my cupcake bag was so heavy, that I already felt like a camel. Going back home from the tube was one of the longest walks of my life. Now, I only want to go to sleep.

What to wear: Halloween Edition

Every day is a never-ending saga of What to wear (My wardrobe is full and I STILL have nothing to wear!). There is only week and a half before a special edition of this programme: What to wear: Halloween Edition. This is serious. Dom-dom reminded me yesterday that we didn't discuss any possibilities! This year, like usually, we're going to be dressed up and clubbing somewhere in central London. Apparently, there is this girl which is organising a party and our Group Elite is coming. I need to think fast and make decisions even faster. I do NOT want it to be like last year.

Last year I was so busy with my studies that I put off buying my costume for the last minute. It was a very bad decision and I regretted it dearly. I was constantly on the telephone/texting/BBM with Dom-dom, AM, Monx and AB about which outfit to choose and what is SHE wearing. In the end I've chosen to dress up as a Marie Antoinette. Sexy one. I mean barely-there dress, white stockings with blue ribbons and extreme silver heels. And what did I get? Certainly nothing like that.

Me and Boyfriend decided to venture to the biggest and most-well-stocked costume shop in London. They say that it has 6 floors for crying out loud! I was so excited! So off we went, on a Saturday afternoon. My dreams were crushed and reality hit me when we were standing in the queue OUTSIDE of the shop for about 40 minutes. Inside was even worse, cramped like sardines in a tin I was beginning to feel like this is a fight for survival. Of course my natural instincts of preservation and finding a good piece of prêt-à-porter kicked in and I delegated Boyfriend to his floor to find something* for himself. I didn't have time for it!

When I finally got to the last floor (stairs and the place is tiny) - because OF COURSE ladies' costumes must be in some "dark" corner - I've found out that EVERYTHING from my prospective list of Items To Buy When There Is No Marie Antoinette Costume is sold out! After spending painful 2 hours trying to get attention of sales people I gave up and chose a fairy outfit** with last minute addition of sparkly wings. A far, far, FAR cry from my FABBEST choice.

Still, we did have an amazing night, but for the whole year now all I can think about how amazing I would will look in the costume I wanted. And now I've visited the website and some of them are already out of stock on the website! No way. On Tuesday I'm going there and I'm not leaving without a fight.

* He also had a bit of a problem, because some costumes were sold out, but in the end he settled for Robin Hood. He was not impressed.

** I panicked and it was a safe choice. No-one can try the items on, because it is one-of-a-kind-very-expensive-and-child-labour-stuff-from-China. Packed in a sealed plastic bag. Apparently if you have spare £70, you can become an owner of these amazing pièces de résistance.