Suburbia

On a recent trip down to London, despite the snow I made it, and through involuntary choices I ended up at the London Transport Museum (I had been favouring the RCA masters graduate collection at the V&A, Norman Parkinson at Somerset House or Foale and Tuffin at the Museum of Fashion and Textiles). However I enjoyed it thoroughly, the museum provides an interesting and clear picture of how London formed and grew in relation to transport, a history of London is given covering social and cultural aspects and I particularly enjoyed the graphic design element, with promotional posters starting form the Victorian times, very inspiring. Design students must have a look. Then there was the exhibition Suburbia in the museum, which looks at the British suburban lifestyle, it looked at transport, architecture, gardens and this affulent lifestyle. The only thing I was left craving was the element of interior design and fashion, I really would have enjoyed that, hearing the tales of a 1920's/30's housewife.

However, for all those in London (my northern base stops me) on the 23rd Febuary, Emmanualle Dirix, Fashion Historian, gives a talk on the style of Suburbia. Covering new suburban interiors and the changing role of the housewife in the 1920's/30's, it promises to be quite a unique lecture.

This capsule of past London followed by afternoon tea in the Landmark Winter Gardens, provided a charming day in London, and even sprinkled with snow!

I had to buy this idealistic print of Golders Green!

The Landmark Winter Gardens