Live by the Lake - Give Away

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all well.  I am rather excited about this post as it involves an amazing giveaway for you all.  Before I went on my vacation I was contacted by the people behind Live by the Lake who asked me whether I would like for my readers to win a pair of tickets to an outdoor showing of Singin' in the Rain?  Well of course I would!

Live by the Lake is a series of summer concerts set in sumptuous surroundings at Kenwood House.  The showing sounds pretty fabulous - the movie will be shown on an open-air big screen accompanied with the score performed live by The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra!  That's amazing in itself.  You will be able to bring along your own picnic to enjoy or you can even pre-order one from them ready for the evening.

Here are the details for entering...

• You have to be a follower of mine :)
• Unfortunately I have to make this give-away a UK only entrant as the showing is based in London.  If you do not live in London, please make sure you are able to make your own way to and from the venue for the showing on the day.
• You can enter by leaving me a comment below that you are entering.
• You can enter a 2nd time by posting about this competition and linking me on either your Twitter or Instagram with @dressingparlour 
• There will only be one winner chosen at random.
• The prize - 1 pair of tickets to the show on 30th Aug 2013. No alternatives will be given.
• Enter the competition by Monday 12th Aug 2013 23:59 GMT.
• The winner will be announced later on in that week.

If you want to find out more about the various shows or even to pick up some tickets, these are the links to follow -  Facebook: facebook.com/LiveByTheLake | Twitter: @LiveByTheLake | Website: Live by the Lake

Good luck and I will pick the winner after the competition closes.  I look forward to picking a happy winner out of the hat :D 

Take care,

Alison xxx

My Long Weekend

I'm sure you are all aware what a big day Friday was for the Nation.  Well, for me it was rather uneventful.  I had originally planned to either go to Hyde Park with my friend to join the crowds in celebration or one of the few street parties happening in and around London.  However I decided I would watch the proceedings in the comfort of my own home and give the crowds a miss.  I could always head out later anyhow.  But that went out the window too.  So I ended up having a nice rest day in, which isn't a bad thing but in comparison to all that was happening it seemed rather Zzzzz.

Saturday I had plans!  Secret Cinema followed by a night out.

The secret about Secret Cinema is that you really are just guessing what film you will be shown right up to the minute it is on the big screen.  This may not always be the case depending on what film is being shown I guess but this particular time I was clueless.  This was obviously due to the fact that when the film was shown I realised that I had not even heard of it before.

Here are a few snaps of the setting they had put together to create the atmosphere.  Don't worry, I won't tell which film was shown as I wouldn't want to a spoil sport.  It's still playing for the rest of the month!  Can you guess which film it is?

The Dance Bar

The Cinema Room

The evening consisted of a drink at The Breakfast Club and then dancing at The Big Ten Inch! at The Book Club.  We moved on to locate a rockabilly club on Hackney Road but well, lets not talk about what we actually found. Hmmm.  So we decided to just grab some food and head on home for the evening.  Actually we didn't even get to bed until 4am with all the chatting!

Today we got up at noon :)
I had some errands to run and then I headed over to Vivien of Holloway for their 25% off store sale!  I hadn't planned on visiting the sale as I was trying to be good.  It was very tempting of course and when Malin ask me to pick something up for her to bring over to Sweden when I visit in August, I just couldn't refuse.  How could I?!

I picked this up for Malin but the Pencil Dress version

For Moi?  I tried really really hard to be good but something just caught my eye and I could not leave it behind.  No way.

Do you recognise this sweet little bag?  I must have went on and on about them and now I own one!!  How excited was I to be able to buy it at 25% off.  I was already planning on purchasing one of these darling Lucite Handbags from Miss L Fire this month after I was paid but was not expecting this lucky surprise!  It was even harder to just buy the one.  Luckily they didn't have the Prom Date in clear otherwise it may well have tipped me over the edge.  You will see me carrying my new pride and joy that is the Jitterbug this summer :D

I would highly recommend heading over for the last day of the VoH sale tomorrow (BH Monday) if you can spare a moment.  It's well worth it!

Well, that was my Long Weekend and am working tomorrow.  How was yours and what did you all get up to? xx

The Art of Swan

I had some lovely plans with my friends on the Sunday gone which involved a visit to la cinema and a dinner in the evening.  I do love The Curzon Cinemas for their choice of showings, events and Q&As.  We had decided on The Kings Speech as I had already seen the wonderful Black Swan.  I have to say I was not at all disappointed!  It was captured beautifully, the main actors were fantastic, it was witty which was unexpected and heart warming in the right places.  Although my posts subject may not be directed at The Kings Speech, I would highly recommend it!

Stepping back to the Saturday...  Upon purchasing our cinema tickets online I noticed a piece of artwork on the site displaying the cover of their current issue of the Curzon Magazine.  It was a cover dedicated to Black Swan and it had really caught my eye.  I made sure I would pick up a copy on my visit on Sunday.  I was even more curious to find out where this work of art had originated from.  It was work that I had not encountered in London used to promote Black Swan.

Back on the Curzon site I went.  It would seem the Curzon Soho are currently holding an exclusive exhibition with behind the scenes photography and art work inspired by Black Swan for the month of January.  Now this I must pop along to tomorrow before it finishes.  There was also a competition - Become the Black Swan.  Sadly you will have missed it if you are reading this as the winner is being announced today.  What fun it would have been!

Some more digging reveals... La Boca the design agency based in Portobello, London are behind this splendid artwork!  And to my delight the work that originally caught my eye is in fact one of a set of four designs.  All of which are as captivating as the next I hope you will agree.

They really speak to me and ignite the feeling and atmosphere I felt when I was watching the film.  The use of red, black and cream evokes the darkness of Nina becoming the black swan but also the delicate and fragile state of ones mind.  They have a very Art Deco feel which I enjoy so much.  I am hoping to pick up a postcard on my visit to the exhibition.  If all else fails, I have the option to purchase some non-postcard merchandise on the official site of Black Swan.  I do fancy the black tote if anyone is asking :p

Here is to hoping all film posters are as inspiring as this!
Alison x