I first went to London when I was 15. During that trip, I bleached my bangs blonde and got my left ear pierced for a second time. When I arrived home, my mother was very upset about these things. Good thing I didn’t tell her that I smooched a 20-something guy during the whole flight to England from New York. What?! I told him I was 18! What was he supposed to do, card me? He and I stayed in touch for quite a while after that. In fact, he’s the one who gave me the guitar-pick earring from this post. If you’re reading this, Steve who went to school in Connecticut, do you still love The Fixx?
Anyway, I’ve been to London many times since that first visit and I don’t feel the need to go to the obvious places like the British Museum, the Tate and Westminster Abbey every time I’m here. Today I wanted to do something completely different, so, continuing last night’s body parts theme, MrB and I went to a gallery that was showing nude photos of Madonna from 1979. We checked out the photos, left, walked a block, turned around and marched back in so MrB could buy us a nude Madonna in honor of our eighth wedding anniversary on July 22. I think we’re going to hang her in our bedroom. Here I am outside the gallery. We considered buying the print I’m posing with but decided on another one. You’ll have to wait till it arrives in New York to see it.
It's art, dammit!
After Madonna, we went to the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, which has everything from 14th century art to Van Gogh to Manet’s famous A Bar at the Folies-Bergere. I studied art history when I attended Columbia University back in the day, so I might have made a brilliant remark to MrB about Georges Seurat‘s Pointillistic style. Or, I might have said, “I love that polka-dotty stuff. I want to cuddle it.” But you’ll never know for sure, will you?
"Young Woman Powdering Herself" by Seurat
Later, we had dinner with our friends Al Radley and Caroline Carr of Ossie Clark fame. Al asked us if we liked fish and when we said yes, he took us to a place named Fish! (The exclamation point is part of the name.) We strolled near the Thames before and after. Al loves to be by the water.
Al, WendyB and Caroline. Sandy the poodle was camera-shy.
Tonight I found out that Caroline was the designer for the Radley line for 35 years. I’m guessing this dress and this dress are her work. Caroline also worked on the Ossie Clark for Radley line. Coincidentally, as we walked along after dinner, we came upon an outdoor exhibit of fashion students’ interpretations of the Yeoman Warders State uniform. A student from the Royal College of Art participated, so there was a sign listing the names of important college alumni … and above that, there was this sex-ay photo of alum Ossie. He seems to turn up everywhere.
Ossie Clark was a handsome dude.
I had one more artistic moment in front of a mural before Al took us back to the hotel by the scenic route, which is our tradition. Some people might say we were lost, but we prefer to say that we had a wonderful tour of London in good company. Sure, we might see some of the same intersections over and over again, but as writer Milan Kundera said: “Happiness is the longing for repetition.”
In the Shad Thames area.
Meanwhile, back in New York, the first ever Francis sample sale is underway. Click here to get the details and see some of my gorgeous friends in their Francis clothes!
It looks like your having a great time and I am glad there was no rain in sight.
A nude Madonna exhibition and you bought one? Coolio, it will be fun to see which one you bought.
I knew of Ossie Clark before I read your blog but reading your blog makes me feel like I really KNOW him. hahahaha!
Excellent!! Nude Madonna art is v.cool. Can not wait to see the one you bought!!
It is fun to stroll around and get lost with friends! I have never heard that quote before, but love it: “Happiness is the longing for repetition.” Perfect.
Interesting art! I love your jeans
Sounds like an awesome day!!!
Wow, you had an arty farty fishy day. Fantastic.
BOYFRIEND JEANS! xoxo
You tell the best stories.
I want to see the picture now. I’m sure it’ll look great in the bedroom. LOL
What a great post! I love that Madonna photo and cannot wait to see the one you went with.
It looks like you’re having a wonderful time… enjoy the rest of your stay 🙂
Well, happy anniversary girl!
London is pretty damn cool. I nearly married an Englishman once that had a great flat in Holland Park. Unfortunately he was too kinky even for me.
haha your trip at 15 is hilariously awesome, you have always been a woman with gumption, I love it! 🙂
Wow! I’m sooo jealous but on second thought Thanks to you I get to enjoy London too, via way of your fab adventures!
That last picture mural would make a gorgeous print. Are you listening Christian?;-)
Hope you are having as much fun as it looks like you are.
Sounds like a great day! I was a big Madonna fan growing up and when Playboy printed those Madonna nudes in 1985, I forced my dad to go buy me a copy. My parents were more than a bit shocked, but I still have the mag 😀
BTW, every time I post, my WV is “Broad”… I’m wondering if your blog just thinks I’m a cool broad in the 1950’s sense of the word, or whether I should start slimming down my hips, when inanimate objects start throwing slurs at me 😛
I’m enjoying the trip, WendyB. Can’t wait to see which print is the present.
Hi there-I didn’t think your trip would be complete without seeing Al and Caroline, sounds like you had a fabulous time-any more pieces for the collection? The Courtauld Gallery sounds great, I think I’ll have to check this out at some point!!
OMG! What a great time Wendy B! AND I adore Ur jacket! so fantastic…
XoXO
Well you should go to the British Museum, because it is RIGHT by my house :).
I might not be able to make it on Saturday because my mum is over for the weekend, what are your plans on Friday afternoon? x
oh yes… the nude madonna pics! i remember when they came out, and the strange thing was that i wasn’t so much offended by her nakedness but by the fact she betrayed brunettes. hey, i was a kid… what else could i get upset about? i needed role models, role models!
Hello Wendy!
Enjoy your London Trip! So nice to see all your photos and read about your stay!
Beautiful Blessings to you..
I love Seurat! Can’t wait to see the Madonna pic either. xxx
Pointillism rules! Great museums and good times huh? Wow, Madonna looked ‘healthy’ back then, lol.
ps – the Fixx was still great live when I saw them with other bands 7 years ago.
Mr. B sounds like one cool catch! Happy anniversary early.
I am guessing you said “polka dotty stuff”
It is going to be a fab painting, I’m sure… Can’t wait to see it arrive in NY 🙂
Sounds like you had a wonderful second day in London. I am really jealous. I love London and must make a point of going back some day soon.
You really get around! I love all the photos of you all over town. So what if you trod the same ground repeatedly!
I’m living vicariously through you. Keep it up!
It’s so easy to imagine you as a naughty teen making out on the plane! 🙂 I also can’t wait to see which painting you chose!
You must be having a wonderful trip…enjoy!
wow madonna had quite the rack .
lol to be 15 again and smooch some 20 yearolds when it was a big deal.
been there done it … iguess we were bothquite the rebels
Ossie was a handsome dude.
sounds like a fab day.
Man I wish I were on the trip.
Your travel posts are endlessly entertaining. A trip with you would have NO dull moments, I can tell!
With your love of Ossie Clark I’m surprised you haven’t been all over this:
Emma Watson wears vintage Ossie to the Harry Potter premier:
http://tiny.cc/giL8w
madonna looks amazing in this photograph!
How cool are the Madonna pics? I can’t wait to see which one you did get.
I can’t believe I live about an hours drive from london, but haven’t seen half the things you have there! I must go more often!!
xxx
http://www.shoppinginsuffolk.blogspot.com
You’re the luckiest Wendy!
I wish I had made out in a plane with a college boy when I was 15 and now could have a nude Madonna photo hanging in my bedroom.
Congrats on the 8th Anniversary!
– P
Hi Lillian, I did see that (http://shrimptoncouture.blogspot.com/2009/07/celebrity-vintage-spot-emma-watson.html) but didn’t really feel the need to comment on it myself. I prefer to talk about my own Ossies 😉
Funny that she was wearing underwear though. Ossie never approved of undies!
Wendy, the trip sounds like so much fun! London can be lovely 🙂
Although, the photos on this new blog are even smaller than the ones on your old one. And we all want to be able to fully appreciate your gorgeousness, and the gorgeousness of dildos and suchlike. Any chance they could be a teensy bit bigger? xxx
PF, a friend is promising to give me photo posting lessons when I get home. I’ve been trying to make them bigger but even though I’m taking them at a high resolution before, they come out looking strange. So I have to see what’s going on with that.
Now this is my kind of art!
Btw, loving your shooties from last year, WB!
xoxox,
CC
What a perfect London souvenir and anniv. gift! You are having a fab time, I can tell!
oh wow, very very nice!
Pointillism reminds me of a color blindness test we take at the Doctor’s office ;D
Can’t wait to see which Madonna will be joining you in the bedroom.
London delivers everytime…wish I could be there NOW!
We should start some “obsessed with Ossie” club & do something constructive in his honor!
Oh wow, another blogger who studied art history! I love it! The Coulthauld institute has a pretty amazing art gallery…especially seeing as they’re home to Manet’s Bar at the Folies-Bergere! Can’t wait to see your buys and the print that you settled on!