That Hells Angel stalwart; the biker waistcoat, has made it's way into my wardrobe. It was inevitable really. I had one when I was 13 so there is no reason why I wouldn't have one again at 35. Last time it was genuine leather, this time it's a cheap PVC biker jacket from Primark which I have hacked the sleeves off.

It'll actually be very useful for toughening up any overly girly outfits, much like the traditional biker jacket does. And if I get mistaken for a Hells Angel, albeit a super puny one, then at least no-one will mess with me!  It's the alteration that keeps on giving!

Queen Michelle

As you may, or may not, have noticed the links on the right hand side have been reduced considerably. It was getting out of hand especially as many of the blogs were no longer in existence. To make it better for people who link from our site to other sites we will only be adding/keeping links which are updated often, so if you haven't updated in a month then I'm afraid the link won't be included. I'll will be going through the left hand side links as well and doing the same.

If I have taken your link down and you begin updating often then please drop me an email and I'll happily add it in again.

Queen Michelle

Since Queen Marie is off on holiday to Berlin early next year, I thought I would do some posts on Germany based designers between now and then. I feel an affinity with Germany in some small way since my father's side of the family was of German descend, so one day too I will venture there. Sadly, in my current financial state it won't be any time soon!

Germany seems rather good at throwing up designers who are doing something a little different and I think one label which perfectly exemplifies this is Boessert/Schorn. The brainchild of Sonia Boessert and Brigitte Schorn this label was nominated for the Karstadt New Generation Award 2008 held in Berlin.

I realise it's another of those labels which often gets tagged with the word 'unisex', which seems generally to translate to 'oversized', but I think the techniques they use and the treatment of the fabrics give the clothes a solid identity, as opposed to the 'one size fits all', ambiguous approach that I find unisex labeled designers often appear to have.

Each piece is intricately worked and the usage of natural fabrics, like cotton jersey and wool, lends the loosely draped clothes a more luxurious quality even though the shapes are decidedly unobtrusive and often crumpled and disheveled in appearance.

There shredded jersey has taken on an almost lace like appearance and I love the weaving techniques used on necklines.

They place a solid emphasis on wearable clothes but without sacrificing detail and interest.

Queen Michelle

Today I decided to be a bit shiny for the Job Centre. Opting for my PVC leggings from charity shop, Topshop shoes, All Saints skirt and biker jacket, Onno top (customised and re-draped), vintage blouse worn underneath, a vintage broach Queen Marie bought me one birthday, Marc Jacobs sunglasses (I look very tired!) and an old hand-made coin belt. I have also decided to carry my fabulous Keira Thorley clutch. Just the right size for my signing on card, and it takes getting dressed for the Job Shop to new ridiculous levels!

My coin belt was killed for me thanks to a certain Sienna Miller and I couldn't look at it again for years after. But I am taking back the coin belt. I'm owning it!

I am wearing another favourite scent, Bulgari Blu Notte, which is terrifically masculine.

And the lightening in my close this morning was gorgeous even though it is quite dull outside.

Queen Michelle

I speak for both your Queens when I say that our collective knowledge of menswear is negligible to say the least. Whilst both of us know how we would like our menfolk to dress neither spend all that much time worrying about it if they don't.

My Prince dresses the way he's always done and if he's happy and doesn't look like a homeless guys, then I;m happy. I think if he started obsessing over the latest Dior Homme tye, or crying when Hedi Slimane left I'd want give him a shake, a slap and tell him to pull himself together.  There's only room enough in this relationship for one of us to have fashion tantrums and, quite frankly, it's me. This is in part the reason we rarely feature menswear. Whenever we do it's because it's something we would wear. Selfish? Completely and utterly.

I do have a problem of getting menswear to fit me sadly, but if I could I would be all over the mens department in every shop in went in to. However much like Dior Homme, who do realise the clothes are as appealing to women as men, there are other mens' labels that cater for both without getting into the ubiquitous 'unisex' territory. One label which springs to mind of Damir Doma.

This Croation designer studied his art in Berlin and Munich before heading to Antwerp (of course!) to spend time under the guidence of Raf Simons and Dirk Schoenberger.

It doesn't take a genius to see Raf's infusion and influence. However Damir takes things off on a different tangent as his shapes and silhouettes are much softer and fluid with fabrics not often associated with menswear, such as chiffon.

The thing that appeals to me about Damir, in the context of wearing it myself, is that he likes to question how a garment can be interpreted and will quite happily turn shorts into a shawl or a t-shirt into trousers. It's almost as I he has an element of the DIY spirit in there, which I can really appreciate. He even has a video to teach people how to wear his clothes, so there is an intelligence there that means his designs and ideas shift dramatically within the realms of the reasonably tight boundaries of what's considered 'normal' or 'acceptable' menswear, especially as I can imagine men actually wearing them, or at least working elements into their existing wardrobes.

Damir says he wants his clothes to have serenity which in itself is rarely associated with the objectives of masculine dressing, but it's also what makes them deeply appealing to me as a woman.

I'm not sure if he's deliberately blurring the lines between male and female clothing, or whether he is just questioning why men have been forced down a specific route in how they dress and trying to re-route them, but whatever the reason he's doing it, it works. And it's doing it for me!

Queen Michelle

Molly's music has come on so much since she has been at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Our neighbour, Pam, is one of her tutors and has really encouraged her with her music. Pam has a fantastic instrument called a marimba - it's like a huge wooden xylophone with an amazing sound. She has let Molly have a go on it and here they are playing a little piece together - this is after an afternoon of tuition. I think she's done quite well.