Meet Architectural Historian Barbie!

A new colleague arrived for her first day in the office today and has been assigned the desk next to me. Having been there a couple of hours, she said to me, "I can't help but notice you have a Barbie on your desk".

"Oh, that's Architect Barbie," I responded, and passed her over.

This made me realise that I never got around to introducing her to my readers. So, without further ado, meet Architect Barbie!

Isn't she amazing! She has a hard hat and drawing roll with blueprints. And awesome glasses. I'm not sure how well her high-heeled boots and skirt would go down on a work site though...

I read about her in the architectural press ages ago, when she was released. When I graduated from my Building Conservation course last year, my mum and I thought this would be a highly appropriate gift. I took her into work to show her off and my workmates insisted she stayed. So now she lives at my desk.

We did discuss how we might transform her into Architectural Historian Barbie with a few additional props and some wee changes to her outfit, but haven't got very far yet. She has a mini version of English Heritage's "Conservation Principles" now but she definitely needs more work. I want to get her some tweed, that's for sure. All architectural historians should own some tweed. And we thought we could age some of her drawings to look like they've come out of archives. Rip them up a bit, take them for a dip in some tea to yellow them up. (Did you ever used to do that as a kid? I used to burn the edges to make pirate maps...)

I would ask for your suggestions on how to make her look like more of historian but I think it's a bit of a niche corner of geekery! Well, if she does gain some tweed or a crumbling ruin to reside in, I will keep you posted anyway.

Do you have any quirky things you keep at your desk or workplace? After five years, my desk is littered with bits and bobs. I could almost devote a post to it...

Regent Street Windows

Today I went for a stroll down Regent Street to have a look at the RIBA (ie Royal Institute of British Architects) window dressing project. This involved 10 architecture practices creating the window displays for 10 shops along the street.

To be honest, I was rather disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing the "Free State of Soho" at Banana Republic but then I was just bamboozled by it, and couldn't really read the message in their creation. Besides which, it didn't actually include any clothes in the display, which is going off on a tangent if you ask me!

And then, when I attempted to take photos of some of the vaguely more interesting ones, it proved more difficult than I anticipated. Reflections and what not...

Gant's display of convex mirrors and silver birch
by Marks Barfield Architects

Aquascutum's display by HUT
(but it was more the bright yellow trench coat and
the pattern on the dress that I was interested in)

Ferrari's display by Duggan Morris Architects
(where the reflection getting in the way actually had
a kind of interesting and surreal effect...)

BUT, all was not lost, for some other window displays outside the scope of the project caught my eye and seemed to be much more interesting than the architects' ones. We could say that's a sign that architects today are unimaginative and/or don't know how to translate their ideas. But it's probably kinder and actually more true to say that we should let the window dressers do their jobs and architects do theirs.

Anyway, here are some of the other displays I enjoyed:

Gentlemen mannequins do tea at Charles Tyrwhitt

More gentlemen mannequins

Charles Tyrwhitt says old class

Mango clocks and crates

More of Mango's display

Zara's rubber ducky/sailor theme

Brooks Brothers' tailoring bits and bobs

More suit-candy from Brooks Brothers

Loved some of the fabric patterns and colours at Hobbs - kind of reminded me of something you'd find on a Horrockses dress (though I'm sorry they're kind of hard to see with all the reflection in the photo).

Hobbs' Horrockses-inspired prints

No longer on Regent Street, there were still treats to be found...

The cake display at Bea's of Bloomsbury on Theobald's Road

A shoe shop somewhere in Covent Garden,
though unfortunately I forgot to note down the name!

Anonymous Covent Garden shoe shop again

Check out the pastel pink and aqua shoes inside the
shop - wow.

Of course, I gawped at the windows of all these shops and enjoyed their displays but then returned to my vintage ways. Being so close to the Soho branch of Beyond Retro, I just had to pop in, and couldn't resist walking out with a few finds.

Beyond Retro dress, skirt and shorts.
Brighter in real life, but the lighting in my flat is low!

Synthesis

So, I guess I ought to explain just what this "love letter" is all about?

Basically, it's bringing together my greatest loves, the things which inspire and drive me more than anything - vintage style and historic architecture, and it's all being broadcast out from London, which seems to excel at both of the above. Occasionally there will be tangents or very tenuous links to the overall theme but history - in fashion and architecture - is very much the main idea. There might be museums, events, music, etc, but it will all come back to the blog's (and my) raison d'etre. And occasionally letters will be sent from other towns or the country or abroad, when I get the chance to take a holiday or day trip.

So, whether you love history or clothes or vintage or buildings, and whether you live in London or love visiting or dream of doing so, do drop by from time to time and follow along. There'll be pictures and thoughts and stories and fun facts and recommended events. It's gonna be good!

Love,

Lisa Marie x