The BrandAlley dress designed especially for this year's flower show

BrandAlley, the online destination for  discount designer living, returns to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year and gave Ballet Pumps And Roses an inside peek of its garden of contrasts.

Inspired by city living, where space is precious, and designed by award winning gardener Paul Hervey-Brookes, the ‘BrandAlley Garden’ is designed as an extension of your home, and a stylish outdoor room where you can entertain, as well as somewhere that offers the opportunity for sanctuary and reflection.

The layout is key in Paul’s design, when viewed front on, there is a very strong visual split in the form of a sharp and angular recycled stone path, which separates and gives definition to the two sides. Paul explores the dimensions and depth of space within the garden, through different levels, texture of materials, planting and use of colour.

 

The BrandAlley Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show

On the ‘public’ side you have the showy, entertaining face with upright stone monoliths and a series of life-size, amorphous sculptures. Cut-out slits in the perimeter wall give startling glimpses to what lies within the garden. The ‘private’ side is a hidden retreat, where natural, informal planting and a sunken seating area offer a secluded respite from life’s hustle and bustle.

The use of colour within the garden is a feature within itself. The limited range of soft and on-trend shades of peach, cream and green bring the ‘private’ and ‘public’ sides together harmoniously to make it suitable for everyday living.

Paul Hervey-Brookes told Ballet Pumps And Roses, “I wanted the BrandAlley Garden to breathe high fashion and it was important for me to explore this through the choice of planting and materials used. However it was also key for me to emphasise that space is precious in city living and wanted to focus on re-inventing what is essentially an extension of the home.

“To further emphasise this, I have commissioned British sculptor Andrew Flint and instillation artist Fiona Haines to create bespoke pieces for the garden, whose work will reflect the nature of our public and private personalities.

“Andrew Flint has created four bespoke sculptures, entitled ‘Abstract Forms’, which are life size amorphous sculptures, placed within the ‘Public’ section of the garden and Fiona Haines has produced an unusual textile water feature called ‘Flow’, made from fully recycled crin and optical lenses. The water will flow over these within the garden wall on the private side of the garden.”

Shoe order is a step closer to heaven

I have been searching for a statement necklace for quite a while and finally found it from the online jewellery company Stella and Dot.
The trick I discovered to wearing such a stand out flashy accessory is to keep your outfit simple with colours that flatter the piece.
A simple t-shirt or blazer is your best bet when making a statement with your necklace.

The current denim shirt trend is to my surprise making quite the impression on my summer wardrobe.
Dressed up with a blazer and statement necklace or down like underneath this boyfriend jumper, it is a flexible and smart closet staple.

I love the colour sky blue which to me conjures up feelings of long lazy summer days.
It’s always really difficult to find anything in this shade, so when I saw this light jacket in Zara, shaped in this Audrey Hepburn shape I love, I fell for its charms instantly.
For an extra crisp effect I teamed it with white jeans and big sunnies.

*White jeans – Human Citizen
*Grey marl jumper – Isabel Marent etoile
*Glasses – Burberry
*Jacket – Zara

*Above images are from www.coxandcox.com

*Also check out this great and very reasonably priced retailer of children’s designer clothes called ‘Kiddie Wow’ – www.kiddiewow.co.uk.
For example like these selections from Ben Sherman

It’s really funny how at this time of year, I get an overwhelming urge to spruce things up a little.
Lots of other people have had the same thoughts, which made some clever person came up with a name for this itch many moons ago.
Spring cleaning, is contagious.
It must be to do with the end of a dark winter and the anticipation of a warm summer.
I use the word ‘anticipation’ carefully, as I live in London and there are no guarantees of warm anything.
Even the things I was doing are not that unique as highlighted by a little note I saw in the Sunday Times Style magazine.

After much deliberating, an old French refectory table and six Lloyd Loom chairs have become new residents in our home.
Now there is no excuse not to have more dinner parties.

It’s still cold enough in London and Paris to warrant wearing a wool coat in Spring – it’s surely a light blazer time of the year by now ?
I’ve found that accessorising with lighter colours is a good way of incorporating a little of Spring-Summer into my look, even if the freezing weather persists to interfere.

Coat – Joseph
Bag – Mulberry Alexa
Scarf – Massimo Dutti

*I also discovered this site Collectables over the weekend, when shopping for a gift for a friend.
They have a wide range of gifts including great fashion accessories from Fossil, and fab cooking utensils from Stellar Cookware

Jacket – Isabel Marant Etoile
Jeans – French Connection
Bag – Mulberry
Boots – Stuart Weizman

Because the Euro star had no luggage restrictions – I think I went a little overboard with my luggage ..

We did lots of eating and drinking in places like Carette in Place des Vosges and La Perle in the nearby Jewish District. (This was the coffee shop which witnessed designer John Galliano having a pretty memorable melt down)
It was filled to the absolute brim with interesting looking characters enjoying brunch, and its immaculate staff looked like they just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

*Top tips : Spend a lovely couple of hours sitting outside the stylish cafe Carette people watching. Located right on the beautiful charming Palace des Vosges, this eatery is crammed full of some of the city’s wealthiest and most fashionable residents.
It’s a wonderful place to go for coffee and macaroons.

Head to the Jewish quarter for great shopping and the best falafel in town.
The area is also home to vintage shops crammed full of wonderful unique gems and La Perle cafe is a must !

Here are some of my neutral accessories that I currently have in my wardrobe. I am looking forward to shedding my dark side and brightening things up this season.
Although it still feels quite wintery here in London, it’s been raining non stop for the past two days, I’ve started to slowly introduce a paler palette even if it’s just to make myself feel better.
The mid-heel is one trend I shall be looking forward to trying this season and for once I may get to wear heels without feeling the pinch.

*Raffia Bags – Topshop and Heidi Klein
*Clutch – LK Bennett and mid heel patent shoes – Stuart Weitzman
*Leopard print scarf – Massimo Dutti
*Clock notebook – Paper Chase

Make these lovely Spring offerings even more appealing by wrapping them in brown paper, and a little raffia.