Lili loves a Showman

Tags

chap, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Fringe, edinburgh fringe festival, Fringe, gag reflex, Mat Ricardo, pleasance, show, Showman, suit, walker slater

This month every year, I decamp my household to the Edinburgh Fringe for a month of shows and socialising and this evening I slipped away from baby food and nappies and saw my first Fringe show, the incomparable Mr Mat Ricardo.

Produced by the rather fabulous Gag Reflex, Mat is the very embodiment of a gentleman juggler and he is, without a doubt, the best dressed chap at the Fringe. Wearing the most sick-makingly delicious tailor-made suit from Walker Slater here in (surprisingly) sunny Edinburgh, Mat looked every inch the gent, complete with rather natty pocket square. But enough of his sartorial prowess, on to his show.
I enjoyed it thoroughly, his level of skill is so high and he is completely passionate about his art. With a shot of history thrown in for good measure, the show is a whirlwind journey through some of the highest skill juggling stunts that you will see around today.
So do take the chance to see him, if you can, you won’t regret it. It is a rare treat to see so many incredible stunts in one show and all neatly tied together with Mat’s signature style.

Love Lili
x

Mat Ricardo: Showman is on from 31st to the 25th August at 18.50 in the Jack Dome, Pleasance Dome.

Lili gets shot!

Tags

clothing, Deadly is the Female, Edinburgh Fringe, edinburgh fringe festival, etsy, Fashion, jema hewitt, killer curves, milady de winter, millinery, photographer, showgirl, style, Vintage, vintage lovers, What Katie Did

This week, I was lucky enough to shoot with one of my favourite photographers, Ian Treherne. It was my first shoot back after having Rafferty and I’m still feeling a little bit curvy, so I was concerned about my double chin and lack of cheek bones – thank heavens for shading and contouring.
I needed some photos for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and also for a couple of shows I’m working on so I threw together some costumes (the ones that fit me, anyway!) and went to Ian’s fab little studio about 20 minutes from my house.
Ian shot a photo of me last year which made it onto the front cover of Level 4 Magazine, a mag for local music and other artistic what-not. I adored that picture, so he was a natural choice for me. I also wanted something which wasn’t completely ‘vintage-styled’.
I find that it takes me about 10 minutes to warm up into a shooting rhythm and Ian takes a pause roughly every seven pictures or so but we soon found our way and started to come up with some really fabulous images.
I took along a dress from Deadly Is The Female, a black ruched number which when paired with a What Katie Did Morticia corset, provided me with some killer curves. I also flung on an awesome vintage statement necklace and earrings set. I imagine the photos will have a Mafia Mama attitude to them, as I was channelling ‘Don’t F*ck With Mama la Scala’!! I think that Ian really enjoyed shooting that dress and it’s really interesting how something so simple and black can ooze sexuality.
Then we shot my fabulous purple and green hosting frock which was made for me by the incredible Jema Hewitt.

It’s thoroughly boned which makes sitting down nigh impossible as is bending, turning or even just walking. This made shooting in it quite tricky, but I do hope that we got something amazing, the colours are incredible and the style is great. I wanted something which channelled Milady de Winter from the Three Musketeers and Jema created it perfectly.

Our final pictures featured the most incredible piece of millinery – a hat with a ship a la Marie Antoinette. It’s common knowledge that I adore a tricorn and this is a spectacular example. I found it on Etsy, my gosh, that site is a treasure trove of delicious handmade allsorts! I wanted to use the hat for an image for a new show I’m working on called Siren, it’s a collection of nautically inspired music. I wanted a soft but strong image with the hat centre stage and here is a sneak peek.

I can’t wait to see the rest of the images that Ian took, especially the amazing black dress and I look forward to sharing them with you, too. So for now, this blog is to be continued…
Love Lili