• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Californians at Home
  • Home & Decor
    • Our California Remodel
    • Shop My Home
    • Lake Tahoe Cabin Style
    • Books I Adore
  • My California Closet

Northern California Style

Northern California Style

  • Home
  • About
  • Californians at Home
  • Home & Decor
    • Our California Remodel
    • Shop My Home
    • Lake Tahoe Cabin Style
    • Books I Adore
  • My California Closet
  • Shop My Home
    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

The V&A

England- The V&A

August 1, 2013 By kimwheeler No Comments

Before we left England I had one more thing on my to do list and that was The Victoria & Albert Museum. 

The V&A as it’s called, is lovely inside and out. It calls itself the world’s greatest museum of art and design.

The fashion area was of course first on my list and it did not disappoint. I left my guys for a while and enjoyed this.

Authentic frocks from the Austen period.

Sorry these photos are not so clear. Picture were being snapped all over which surprised me. I had my Iphone and so took a few as well. I do wish I could have shared the detail on these and the extraordinary fabrics. You just have to see them close up. People really were so much tinier in the past!

Some of the jewelry from these earlier periods was quite modern looking and fabulous. The antique chair, top hat and gloves all from this time as well.

The 1920s dresses were made of the most opulent velvets and silks. If I could just have this dress and fan… Love!

The wonderful thing about this exhibit is that they have authentic accessories to go along with each outfit. The real fans, necklaces, bags and shoes make it even more fun to see.

The lace on this wedding veil was beyond beautiful.

Tennis anyone? Knits were coming in style and look warm, but were moveable!

The precursor to today’s modern bathing suits were also made of sweater material. No quick drying there and don’t even think about supporting those cups!

Christian Dior’s New look from the 1950s is so feminine. These photos don’t show the lush fabric and it’s gorgeous drape.

This lovely evening gown was Balmain from the 1950s.

Givenchy from 1964. Can’t you just see Audrey Hepburn wearing this? The color was a vibrant red-orange that I wish photographed better !

These Roger Vivier pumps were shown with the Givenchy.

More 1960s. I believe the orange dress is Courreges. So would love to see more of those. The print dress is Pucci.

This 1980s display I could have sworn this sweater dress was Comme de Garcons, but I’m not for sure..

A view of where they are making casts of original antiquities from around the globe.

A wonderful stair structure.

The Asian art area is quite large and impressive.

Cameos (be still my heart!) were another favorite section and they have a fabulous collection through the ages.

This is the wrought iron area and though that sounds boring it was anything but. The gates, lamp posts and more from 1700s and even before were really something. Pretty and again it was the details!
The floors all over the museum are mosaics.
Even the orange juice stand was some form of art! My son loved this contraption.
One of the main reasons I wanted to come here was for the David Bowie Is exhibit. Tickets were sold out online, but supposedly they had 400 or more on each day. That didn’t really work out even though we were there at opening, the line to get the tickets was over 1 hour wait time and we still wouldn’t see the exhibit until very late in the day. . .Much later. I had to forget about it. 🙁
Yeah right.
So I had to sneak a peek into the Bowie exhibition and got to see the famous suit from his 1973 tour. That was about it.. What a suit!
Still I loved the V&A and I agree there is something there for everyone.

Londoners are so fortunate to have this space. The admission to the V&A and all the London museums is free and many take their lap tops and work here and relax in the outdoor spaces. It’s a very pleasant and unstuffy place to hang out in the middle of the busy city. Kids can play in the shallow pool (it’s not red just reflecting the buildings) and the wonderful cafe is connected to this so you can get a very gourmet lunch or tea and bring it outside.

The building itself is marvelous.

The day we were there they even had a big screen with Wimbledon on outside which was exciting.

The V&A cafe is special as expected. Look at the ceilings and walls and lights! Not even able to capture the colorfulness here.

Say no more! Two of my favorite word in the English language. Just another reason to adore the U.K.!

This was just a smattering of all there is to see at the V&A. I hope to go back again one day and get to even more of the galleries and all their treasures.

Upcoming we make our way to Belgium, Holland and Germany!

Thanks for reading!

Kim

Filed Under: European family travel, family travel, London, The V&A

Primary Sidebar

Featured Posts

Fun Kitchen Styling Tips!

Asian Noodles & Other Main Dish Salads

Signature Style- Fall Edit & New Season Wishlist

Remodeling – The Social Front Patio

Loving Rattan and Serena & Lily

My Favorite Sheets, Duvets & More- Refreshing Your Bed

Get My Posts by Email!

Find Me on Facebook

Northern California Style

Archives

Categories

Footer

Don’t Forget to Follow!

Blogger, writer and explorer sharing about my native California, and parts farther afield. Join me here where I chat about things to love in the worlds of design, fashion, home, travel and culture.

Currently Pinning

  • valentines ideas collage
  • Heart shaped cookie cutter and boxes of cookies.
  • Heart shaped cookie being decorated.
  • Valentine Cookie post collage.
  • Valentine's Day Roll Cookies with Decorative Icing
  • Valentine cookie bark is the easiest, prettiest heart day treat you'll ever make!
  • valentine cookie bark l sheri silver
  • valentine cookie bark l sheri silver
  • How to Create a Collected Valentine Tablescape
  • Cindy Hattersley Valentine Tablescape
  • Valentine Table Scape Cindy Hattersley 2-23
  • carved taper candle and flowers in glass vases
Today, on the blog, some Valentine fun. 💗I’m Today, on the blog, some Valentine fun. 💗I’m joining a group of talented women and we all have some Valentine ideas for you. My blog is about an easy Valentine or Galentine‘s dinner you can recreate. I tried to make this super simple because the whole point is gathering with your people and having a good time. 

I did make ahead dishes and used pink items already in my home for the table. I added primroses from the hardware store for extra prettiness and for take home favors. 💕

Stop on by the blog to get all the details. 
@northerncalstyle link in my bio.
And don’t forget to go to these lovely blogs:

@most_lovely_things 
@cindyhattersley 
@classiccasualhome 
@makemineaspritzer 
@sherisilver

#valentines #valentinestablescape #valentinesdinner #galentinesparty
Styling idea of the week…February dressing inspi Styling idea of the week…February dressing inspiration from Princess Diana.. Try a puffer vest or jacket paired with ruffles or florals and a skirt. A pretty transitional look with a romantic February vibe. 💗 Maybe you already have these items in the closet? See what you can create!

This pic is from the fun account, @lostinvintagefashion which is a wonderful rabbit hole to drop into should you need some sartorial inspiration.

Happy first of February friends!

#winterdressing #stylingideas #princessdianastyle #puffervest
The weekend post is up with chat about the trendin The weekend post is up with chat about the trending colors for 2023 in home decor and fashion.. Did you love the 80’s? If so this is perhaps a more sophisticated version with sherbet tones and bits of magenta, greens and navy.  Here I added a bit of these Easter tones to the coffee table with a grass cloth box, one of my books and a candle. I think the best way to update things is to add touches to the home and closet that appeal to you and mix them in with neutrals.. 
What do you think of these colors? I think they’re fun. Some clothing pieces bring me back to my Esprit loving days. It could be fun to add a shirt, shoe or bag in these tones and I selected a handful to consider..

Also on the blog, a few good white jeans, skin cleansers you may need and more! 

Stop on by our blogs- links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns
 Happy Sunday!

#color2023 #springcolors #trending #serenaandlily #coffeetablestyling
A January PSA- get in your closet and get those wh A January PSA- get in your closet and get those white jeans out! I found mine at the bottom of my closet today in a basket and thought -yes! I love the look of a classic white jean, paired with a chunky sweater or turtleneck in black, beige, tan, creams-  neutral colors always look fantastic. Today it was warm enough that I could go sockless and wear my Madewell loafers with them and a little jacket I have from Anthro. Get your white jeans out. it will give your winter wardrobe have a little kick. White jeans can be worn all year and they even look great with winter boots and coats. 

This is also a great time to look at your white Jean inventory. 🤍If you don’t have a pair that’s comfortable and straight leg, in a thicker material…this might be a good time to look. I’ll share some on the weekend blog as well.

if you missed our LIVE this morning, you can watch it on Juliet’s @makemineaspritzer Instagram and I’ll link to it on my stories ! Thank you everyone for tuning in in for the fun questions and comments. We love doing this with you all weekly! Let us know in comments if there are any other topics you want to hear about. Today we talked trending colors, exercise classes .. finding art and pillows and more..

#whitejeanseason #januaryclosetremix #winterwardrobehacks
I love the sunshine in the morning streaming throu I love the sunshine in the morning streaming through the kitchen.. My baby daffodils are blooming to make it even happier. This is one of my favorite things about the new year, the bulbs and daffodils and California poppies that hint spring it on the way.💛 If you don’t have a few blooms in the kitchen, maybe you can add a few?

Hope your having a beautiful week!

#kitchensun #californialife #januaryincalifornia
I love this of Liz Taylor at her first wedding to I love this of Liz Taylor at her first wedding to Richard Burton in 1965. She’s wearing a empire, knee length dress and orange blossoms in her hair, which must have smelled heavenly. I want yellow in my closet this spring!

This is the center of my spring vision board! 💛 Link to all Elizabeth’s wedding dresses on the weekend post -and a few yellow things I added to the house if you missed it! 

#yellow #yellowaesthetic #liztaylor #thebrideworeyellow #springfashion #spring2023 #vogue
Sunday beach trip… We made it to Santa Cruz to c Sunday beach trip… We made it to Santa Cruz to check out the coast after these rough last weeks. Aptos looks pretty good and poor Seacliff is terribly battered. So sad to see what people have lost. My heart goes out to them.

We had the beach to ourselves and the weather was winter perfect. ☀️Cold and sunny. We had a picnic of sandwiches from Zoccolis deli and took in the sun and sea air while watching surfers and birds.

This song just seemed to fit -and relatable as I could not sleep last night! No idea why. Isn’t it maddening? 

Hope you get a chance to take a winter beach walk.. They are the best. 

#santacruz #aptos #california #northerncalifornia #winterbeachwalks #seacliff #norcal #seascapebeach
Happy Sunday! The weekend post is up and I’m sha Happy Sunday! The weekend post is up and I’m sharing a few good ideas for a dining room refresh, pops of yellow, my favorite winter skin care essentials right now, a beautiful and unique San Francisco house in @archdigest, online yoga, and the story behind a historic San Francisco home I came upon last week.. Head to the blog for all the deets! 

I hope its a wonderful weekend.☀️

Don’t forget to visit Juliet and Elizabeth blogs ..links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns

#northerncalifornia #weekendpost #yellow #diningroomdecor #bernardmaybeck #sanfranciscohomes #architecturaldigest #potterybarn #serenaandlily #californiastyle
Our dear friend Contessa @contessa_and_her_pig has Our dear friend Contessa @contessa_and_her_pig has been seriously sick and fortunately is back home now, but still struggling with pneumonia. If anyone wants to send her a snail mail note please dm me and I will share her address. She loves unique cards and pretty postcards you’ve saved from travel, so she would be thrilled to get a little note!

It seems like just yesterday we were in her gorgeous yard taking photos for my Californians at Home series. It’s still one of my favorite photo shoots and if you want to read it again -or missed it I will link to it in my bio today. She’s one of a kind, so let’s get her well soon and bolster her spirits!!💛💛

#californiacontessa #californiansathome
I have to share a snippet of just some of the wisd I have to share a snippet of just some of the wisdom that was Martin Luther King. He will always be one of my biggest heroes and ten years ago I wrote a small post highlighting some of his very meaningful words and quotes that we could all use as a life guide. Link to the post in my bio and more on my stories. 

Do you know he is the only American to have a holiday for him that hasn’t been a president? He also had a low approval rating when he died. That has changed. Now people around the world use his teachings of living in peace and the fight for justice as a model we can strive for. I find his words so very needed in a world that is polarized more than ever. ❤️

#mlkday #mlkquotes #whatareyoudoingforothers
It’s still raining here! In an effort to use som It’s still raining here! In an effort to use some beautiful citrus and boost morale, I made these chocolate chips with a California twist. They have orange and walnuts -and for fun I added macadamias from my Hawaii trip and coconut flakes. I also switched out brown sugar for moscavado which is less refined and had more depth and flavor. So far response has been thumbs up from the home crew! 
The recipe and all the weekend fun- along with some cozy coats for this weather, and a recap of our SF meander are on the weekend blog. Juliet and Elizabeth also have great ideas this weekend.. links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns 
Have a great weekend !

#californiacookie #californialiving #californiachocolatechipcookie #weekendpost #chocolateandorange
Just a little peek at some of the homes in San Fra Just a little peek at some of the homes in San Francisco’s Laurel Heights and a little walk through the Presidio to the Lyon Street Steps. We had an unbelievably beautiful day after so much rain and darkness. I highly recommend walking through this neighborhood, through The Presidio and grabbing lunch and checking out the lovely shops like the new Emily Joubert! The views are amazing all the way to the Golden Gate, and I am in love with all the beautiful homes of San Francisco. ❤️

#sanfranciscolove #presidioheights #lyonstreetsteps #sanfranciscowalks #housesofsf #visitcalifornia #ourgoldenstate #sanfranciscomansions #citybythebay #prettycity

Copyright © 2023 · Northern California Style· Blog Design by Little Blue Deer