The grown-up guide to festivals: part 2

OK, I'm supposed to be getting ready to go to Brighton, right now! - so better make this a quick one. Just figuring out what to wear, and my inspirations are this gorgeous picture of Milla Jovovich in an old Emporio Armani campaign, photographed by the mega-talented Peter Lindbergh and Cecilia Chancellor rocking out in a 1993 issue of Elle magazine. That's Not My Age is probably about twenty years older than these two beautiful models, so I better tread carefully or I might end up looking like Courtney Love after a night on the ale.

Regular readers know that I occasionally dabble in a bit of rock chickery and so trying desperately hard not to look like a denim-clad cliché/ the oldest groupie in Brighton here's my outfit for the tonight's gig. OK, OK I said we were going to a festival - and we are - it's just that we're only staying one night and plan to see just one or two bands. Mr TNMA says he hates festivals because they go on too long and there are far too many people. And he's not wrong. So this is the perfect solution.



Don't you love my sequin blazer? A bargain at £50 (down from £195) in the Whistles sale, I've been trying to find the right occasion for months. During the day I'll be toning things down by throwing a military jacket over the top - love this image from Comptoir des Cotonniers, their mothers and daughters campaign is superb.



And I wish I had one of these cotton bird print scarves from Jigsaw:



That's Not My Age likes travelling light, so all I need now are a spare pair of knickers and another t-shirt. It's a toss up between this cute nautical stripe from Wildfox and a plain grey marl number from Diane von Furstenburg:




And that's all folks. Mr & Mrs TNMA have left the building!






Tee shirt photos from Matches.

The grown-up guide to festivals: part 1

Mr and Mrs That's Not My Age are off to a music festival. Fortunately, this one's not in a field, it's in a city: Brighton, and we're staying in a hotel. No tents, no wellies, no stinking toilets (at least I hope not) - just a couple of gigs and then off to bed, like proper grown-ups. The days when I could party like a rock star are well and truly behind me. Last time I went to Glastonbury really was the last time. It rained so much we aqua-planed across the motorway, skidded into the nearest town and queued for hours trying to buy some appropriate footwear. When my friend fell into a muddy ditch and spilled her pint down my welly, I knew it was time to go home.

But this weekend will be different.

We will know how to get to the venue and not have to hitch a ride with a stranger. We will not spend hours trudging through muddy battlefields, miss the band we wanted to see and end up watching any old crap (you know who you are Babyshambles). And I will not have to drink heavily in order to numb the pain of sleeping in a rickety tent. But what to wear? Don't want to look too try-hard, or mutton-y. It's guaranteed to be ten degrees cooler down on the coast, so I'll need layers but once we're in the mosh-pit things will certainly start to heat up! That's Not My Age knows that casual glamour (see below) is the way to go, but will it solve my festival fashion conundrum?

And do you have any suggestions?

Photo: Donald Christie

Home is where the art is

That's Not My Age is delighted to invite you into the lovely home of blog buddy, Semi Expat in Oz. Sarah Stubbs, 51, splits her time between an English country cottage and a modern house in Melbourne, Australia (where her husband currently works) - hence the blog name. As you can see, Sarah is an interiors expert, and has worked in retail for over 25 years. French antiques and vintage homewares are a speciality, the intercontinental home-lover enjoys trawling junk shops and flea markets and is a dab hand at furniture restoration. Vintage finds 'bought at brocantes (markets) in France at the crack of dawn,' are lovingly revitalised and sold at antique fairs around the country.

On the cottage mantlepiece, china tureens and decorative artichokes in pots are a permanent fixture, ' They're faux artichokes - I guess you'd call them fartichokes,' laughs Sarah, 'The line-up changes from season to season. I found the nest on a walk last year, lying in the middle of the lane in perfect condition, as if it had blown down from a tree.'




A rustic wooden table is accessorized with French draining plates and an ornamental dove, the combination of natural materials and charming ceramics giving the cottage a contemporary feel. When asked about the bird theme, Sarah admits, 'I hadn't really thought about it till you mentioned it, but I love bird's nests, maybe because of the life I lead - a few months in Australia and a few here in UK. Maybe I just want to settle or 'nest' in one place or the other!'



Credits:
Antique French table and white china from Fontaine
Decorative bird: Indigo
Nest etching: Fiona Watson

Easy Style

So, get this. That's Not My Age has had a virtual wish granted, a Rag & Bone concession has popped up at The Shop at Bluebird. When Anthropologie opened in autumn, I dreamed of the other American brands I'd like to see over here. Behold the Power of the Blog! Now I've experienced its supernatural properties, I'll be using them more often. In fact, I'm going to start right now with electoral reform. Nick Clegg you know what you've got to do - step away from the Tories and give Gordon Brown a call. You'll find him at Number 10.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. That's Not My Age is a big fan of low-key style. Simple, uncomplicated clothes that are easy to wear and effortlessly stylish are right up my strasse. Utility chic is a current obsession - an old khaki jacket from Muji has been doing the rounds recently - and I live in jeans and grey marl t-shirts. Which is why I'm pleased to see the Rag & Bone men, David Neville and Marcus Wainwright, have rocked up on our shores. It's just a shame their clothes are a bit on the pricey side - I have a pair of trousers purchased in New York (cheaper over there/where the British duo are based), and would like to add to the collection. Make that Blog Wish number two.

That's Not My Age's trademark look is casual with a twist. I'll slip a neatly tailored jacket over the t-shirt and jeans, add a mannish shoe or trainer - heels if it's a special occasion - and er, that's it. The problem with pared-down chic is that if you're not careful, it can end up looking bland, or too boyish. Which is why it's best to liven things up with a pair of diamanté earrings, an animal print scarf or some other form of embellishment. Bella Freud calls this casual glamour. Which I like. I also like this gorgeous jacket from Isabel Marant. Pure casual glamour:



And while I'm at it, how about this lovely Margaret Howell trouser suit? Perfect for summer but I'll leave the stripy tee, thank you very much. Got plenty of those already and That's Not My Age knows that greed is not good.



The queen of casual glamour is Phoebe Philo who has transformed Céline into the grown-up label du jour. Blog Wish number three is the entire S/S 10 collection, no sorry what was that about greed? Make that a pair of camel, bum-flattering trousers:





And the good thing about easy style is that you can find it on the high street. Uniqlo, Gap, Cos and Whistles are all good for simple basics. The key is to carefully select pieces from here and there to go with what you already have. Inexpensive jersey tops work with well-cut trousers, skinny military pants with a killer jacket. Take influence from the catwalk/magazines but don't go overboard, just add certain elements to your wardrobe to keep yourself looking au courant. And on that note, I'll leave you with the Goddess of Casual Glamour, the inimitable Jane Birkin, in dungarees!




Photos
Catwalk shots: style.com
Phoebe Philo: David Simms
Jane Birkin: Harper's Bazaar

Mamy Rock: The Interview

Mamy Rock is a busy woman. The 69 year-old DJ is in the middle of a European tour and about to release her first single, Still Rocking. The snowy-haired grandmother (real name, Ruth Flowers) lives in Bristol but travels the continent playing her trademark mix of old and new sounds to a lively young audience. Fortunately, she found time for a quick chat with That's Not My Age:

TNMA: Did you go clubbing as a teenager?

MR: My teen years are in the distant past! We looked forward to the Saturday night dance , it was always a crowded affair, with energetic young people ready to jive or jitterbug or even do the quickstep or waltz. My sister and I knew all the latest songs, we spent our money on sheet music from Woolworths which cost one shilling (about five pence now).

TNMA: Do friends your own age come to see you DJ? What do they think of Mamy Rock?

MR: My friends love what I'm doing, they think as a DJ I'm just the greatest. I hope to be performing at some special venue in the UK soon so they can come and enjoy an evening dancing to my music.

TNMA: How would you describe the Mamy Rock look?

Casual with a bit of bling. My look is probably a bit OTT for many ladies of my age - I do like a satin or sequinned blouson - but it is very comfortable for prancing about in, and I love it!

TNMA: Can you give my readers some tips for stylish dressing?

MR: I wouldn't like to suggest how anyone else should dress, each one of us is different. Just dress for yourself, your style is right for you. If the young ones wish to copy my style, I consider it a compliment.

TNMA: What's on your playlist at the moment?

MR: I use a base of electro rock and house music mixed with some of my favourite older sounds (if the beat is right for moving to) like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Brenda Lee. But I also like; Elton John, James Brown, Freddie Mercury, Leona Lewis, Michael Jackson, some remixed Lady Gaga, David Guetta, Deadmau5, Lenny Kravitz, IMFAO and Daft Punk.

TNMA: What kind of music do you listen to in your spare time?

MR: I like to relax to classical music and sometimes traditional jazz too. I do appreciate a good voice, so it could be Freddie Mercury, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, or Placido Domingo.

TNMA: DJ-ing must be quite full-on, how do you relax?

MR: I enjoy walking, swimming and of course I love to dance - I have a dance tape that I use at home. I've always exercised. I did the London Marathon when I was 57 years-old!

TNMA: I have Blogger's Wrist which means I have to keep resting my right hand. Do you have any age-related problems that affect your DJ-ing?

MR: No, fortunately I am blessed with good health, otherwise it would be quite impossible to do what I do. My health is my first priority - long may it continue!

TNMA: Hear, hear!


Click here to see Mamy Rock behind the decks.

www.mamyrock.com

Bella Freud and Susie Bick

It's Bank Holiday Monday and there's a spiteful north-easterly blowing, so That's Not My Age has been dreaming of the perfect sweater (again) and getting quite excited about the autumn/winter 2010 collaboration between designer, Bella Freud, 48, and model, Susie Bick, 43. With one of Britain's most celebrated artists as a father, its no surprise Freud is the creator of super-cool jumpers:



Here's the new collection modelled by fashion friend, Susie Bick.




Bick has worked on campaigns for YSL and Versace, with photographers like Steven Meisel and David Bailey, and back in the eighties was one of Vivienne Westwood's favourite catwalk models. Along with Sarah Stockbridge - here they are having a snog:



Oh and now she's married to Nick Cave, and as far as I'm concerned you can't get cooler than that.



Mr and Mrs Bick Cave arriving at London Fashion Week, February 2010.


Hear what Bick and Bella have to say about their collaboration in this interview with ace journalist, Paul Tierney.


Susie and Bella, Bick and Nick, can you think of a more credible combination?

Photos
Bella Freud and Susie Bick: sky.com
Campaign shots: Marley Lohr
Kate Moss: vogue.co.uk
Westwood catwalk: rockpopandfashion
Nick Cave and Susie Bick: contactmusic.com

Quote of the week: Sigourney Weaver

That's Not My Age may not have seen Avatar - 3D animation is not really my thing and anyone with Cameron for a surname is not very popular in our household - but I have been to an IMAX cinema. A couple of years ago, Mr TNMA (a massive Rolling Stones fan) bought tickets to Martin Scorsese's Shine a Light, but at three rows back we were so close to the rock 'n' roll action I felt quite nauseous and had to close my eyes. The Blog Widower was not impressed. Particularly as I'd already handed back my complimentary t-shirt saying, 'Give it to someone who might wear it.'

Anyway, this week's quote is from Sigourney Weaver, 60, who plays scientist, Grace Augustine (Avatar has just been released on DVD and Blu-ray) - and no, it's not about the size of James Cameron's breasts.

'I like getting older - it's interesting. I don't think it's attractive to have a taut face with a 65-year-old's body. I find that look scary. My mother was a great beauty and never succumbed to plastic surgery. She thought it was best to grow old gracefully. I feel the same. We change ourselves by looking back and trying to stay young instead of moving forward.'

And while we're on the subject of growing old gracefully, with Exile on Main Street about to be reissued, Keith Richards, 66, talks to Rolling Stone magazine about touring, 'I don’t know how the rest of them feel about roadwork at the moment. Maybe we’ll search for a different way for the Stones to go back on the road. Maybe not the football stadiums anymore. Maybe something different. You can’t go around there in lemon yellow tights forever.'



Sigourney Weaver photo and quote: The Guardian