Bye bye....

Max and Madame have had the best two years at Shop at Maison Bertaux...mostly because of you lot!!!! So this is a little tribute to the good times. Please stay in touch you can chat to us both on Facebook and http://www.maxkarie.com/ and http://www.madamesays.com/ are our websites so feel free to check them out.

The combination of cakes, frocks, you and us was such a blast.......


Love love love, Max and Madame xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We have a winner!!!

Lovely Nina is the winner of our competition to photograph yourself/have someone photograph you, in one of this season's pieces purchased at Shop at Maison Bertaux!!!!

Well done Nina! Your Madame A Trois trio is boxed and ready for you to pick up and we'll throw in a cake of your choice to pop on your cake plate! - a drink's too wet without one after all! - Thanks for your entries, we'll do this again I reckon, it's very difficult to choose, but for now Nina will be showing off her Sonia by Sonia Rykiel top on our home page!



Apparantly this is her at "work"!

Madame xx

Thank Goodness....

....some of the girls were available on Saturday, including Sarah of course with her proper camera! We cracked off a few new pictures for the website, revelling in the sunshine and even partaking in the odd ice-cold glass of wine and even a creamy slither of chocolate gateau!

Of course Lisa is our Saturday girl so there was no escaping for her! She can carry off almost anything, legs that go on forever and pneumatic body, she's our Saturday Babe and here she is in a couple of A.P.C. pieces:

I love this one in the madras playsuit, she looks like Soho's Daryl Hannah!

And this one has become one of my favourite Maison B pictures, she looks so great in the A.P.C. crochet dress and amongst all the clutter...

Caz had her first experience of the mayhem that is a whistlestop photoshoot at Maison B, in her favourite A.P.C. cheesecloth dress. You tend to relax after we've all cackled at the duds, especially when Sarah helpfully zooms in on a fugly facial expression or boss-eyed moment, and she looks more than fantastic!

Emma's energy levels were a wee bit low when she arrived but a teacupful of nuclear orange nectar later and she was raring to go!

We sat her behind the till out of respect for her tiny hangover and she worked it like a pro in the A.P.C. tiny check shirt:


This photo I think sums up best the lunacy of the day though!"

Keep laughing when I look at it, a couple of nutters! Well done Sarah!

Madame xx

And Sonia....

So also here's some of the hot tops from Sonia....

I posted the dress version of this but the top is soooo lovely...even with jeans, and I never really wear jeans, but I would with this!

Oversize polka dot tee here is great, a nod to the eighties....

How come Sonia do stripes every summer but we never get bored of them? Also comes in pink and red...



And a twist on a t shirt is always good. You can't really go wrong in my book with stripes and polka dots....or cherries.....or broderie anglaise......or crepe de chine.....

Oh, and the stripes with a heart also comes in a tank. Jolie, non?

Madame x

For future presentation....

I haven't finished editing my movie but I decided to do a trailer and finish it over the weekend.....! What a week! Obey asked me to art direct a shoot of their spring/summer 08 womenswear with my "girls" which we did on Tuesday and then I got to take a peek at the work in progress of Shepard Fairey's Nineteeneightyfouria show at the Truman Brewery AND I went to the preview last night...the gallery space is IMMENSE, the show is AMAZING and there's not many artists who could make such a dramatic impression on a place of that scale. Seriously people, you have got to go to this show...i'll tell you more later but i'm just about to run out of the door to go to the official opening...as I said, here's a preview:


madame x

Countdown.....

Can't believe it's almost November already!!! And yes, Guy Fawkes night is exciting - especially since I plan to go to Lewes near Brighton with my sister because they know how to burn an effigy there!! In fact, as you can see from these pictures, in my family we've already started the Halloween celebrations, my friend Laurence threw a voodoo Halloween party on Sunday which was fantastic!!





But I digress....the OTHER reason to get excited is Shepard Fairey's exhibition at the Truman Brewery starting 2nd November which you have GOT to go to!!!

I've been banging on about Fairey and Obey on this blog for quite some time now. You probably know his work but didn't realise who was behind it. You've probably seen Andre the Giant all over the world in sticker form or on billboards or on t shirts and wondered who made them or what they meant....or some of the more thought provoking layered pieces that look like peeling Soviet revolutionary posters. You may have even bought a "Make Art Not War" t shirt from this very shop just because you liked the sentiment and thought nothing more of it.....now is the time to brush up on your Fairey! Here's a little clip of the artist talking about his work:

Anyway, his first solo show in London is a date for the diary...there's so much more to tell so check the blog for regular updates on the Obey phenomenan!

Madame x

Blog withdrawal....

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Holly Woodlawn hit the town!!! Still can't get over my luck at meeting her, and today I learned from a link Superduck sent that they'll be laying Candy Darling's ashes to rest this weekend in a special ceremony in america....aaah, love those superstars! Sold my Viva book at Frieze today ('cos I've got 2), or rather Nathaniel did....what's going on in my life? It's like Warhol's doing a tapdance on my grave or something!!

If you're wondering what I've been up to, well...the following video which I've JUST finished, documents Max and my last trip to Paris at the weekend. We went to look at Summer 08 APC which was of course awesome, not least the silver and gold dresses, which have that nautical take that APC have got so down...how do they do that? Anyway, almost as exciting was the new bicycle borrowing system they have installed on the streets of Paris. F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.!!!!! OMG, we spent the whole day riding around and took in EVERYTHING! I see Boris tootling by Maison Bertaux on his bike quite often and next time I'm going to collar him and tell him he'd be well on his way to making me a happy citizen if he would champion the same thing in London! It's perfect for people with no space to keep a bike, it's CHEAP, it's FUN and it's HEALTHY!!!! I'll stop before I start sounding like a commercia!

On to my movie then,.......



I was thrilled to find that we were doing our appointment with Hughes who I LOVE! He usually manages the shop but came in specially for us, so merci beaucoup Hughes! The summer stuff is so great, you can see that I favoured the metallic theme, but also there's some incredible colours which are surprising from APC, simple shirts in schiaperelli pink, yellow cheesecloth, knitted dresses in bright blue edged with red....you're gonna love love love!!!

madame x

Fashion and Food

I have to say that my photos of night-time shenanigans are getting pretty good, ever since Sarah showed me that slow syncro trick on my camera! These photos from the Eley Kishimoto fashion week party where Max and I were djing wouldn't look out of place gracing a Steven Saban article on hot night-life and beautiful people! I used to love his column in Details, my favourite was one illustrated by a fantastic picture of Halston with a disco light glinting in his sunglasses....oooh or the one with Margaux and Mariel Hemingway leaving a club, Margaux baring one breast as her spaghetti-strap fell down....




It was so great to have Katrina back in London...gotta catch up with her properly this week...

Me Emma, Jasmine and Sarah went out for amazing Tapas in Mornington Crescent on Saturday night and laughed and laughed and laughed.....and laughed!!


Until my nose caught on fire...

The restaurant is called El Parador and doesn't look anything special from the outside but the food is diviiiiiiiiine!!! The vegetable dishes were my favourites, artichokes, spicey patates, aubergine and potato patties and the hot bean and garlic mush to start was delicious!!!

Anyway, if you've had a rough week, tapas with the girls is the best antidote to the blues....I recommend!!

Yes, I'm wearing the new APC polka dot dress in these pics, have you seen the new delivery yet? No? Where have you been???

madame x

APC Grrrrrrrrls...

Put the right bunch of mates on a rooftop with their favourite A.P.C. outfits from this autumn/winter and this is what you get!!!! London at magic hour with a few Maison Bertaux cherry cakes for sustenance! Pick your favourite outfit and come and have a mince in front of the mirror yourself!



There's more to come....let's call this episode 1......and let's marvel at Lektrogirl's editing skills - she's getting tooooo good!!!

madame xxx

From Rubbish to Miu Miu...

There's always good things to balance the dreary realities....being creative in some way always leaves me on a high, whether it's rehearsing with the Babitz's, or in the case of yesterday, doing an improvised shoot inspired by APC for our website which I did with Sarah Lee, who's a wonderful photographer but also such fun to be around, and Alex who, if you've seen the blog in any detail is one of my best mates and possessor of the fiercest cheekbones and is a gorgeous all-round looker!! So we were trying to evoke french films, blurring the boundaries between cakes and understated parisien streetwear!!! As Sarah flicked through the pictures she took on the digital screen on the back of her camera - and now as i have the hot little cd burning a hole in my handbag - I realised we'd done something really special, with the best of Maison Bertaux and Shop all in a lovely little vignette...I'm not sure if that's the right word but i'm leaving it in there.... Anyway I took a coupld of snaps while we were at it which are a bit crap but thought i'd share!


We met a few friends while we were hanging out, leaving lipstick stains of coffee-cups and tucking into eclairs photogenically, Jenny from Rubbish was having a meeting with an extraordinary chap called Guy who makes REFLECTIVE tweed plus fours and such, as you can see when i used my flash to full effect! Isn't that a revolutionary idea? If you're a bicycle-riding dandy I strongly recommend you check out dashingtweeds.co.uk as i'm SURE no-ones else is exploiting this field!!

Today, while the drains were working my nerves and barclaycard started my day off on the wrong side, I realised there's nothing like a bit of good female banter to lift your spirits. First my good friend Pokkers made me laugh a lot and then two

lovely ladies Bev 'n' Stef made the day brighter still with scurrilous talk on all sorts of people, a mutual love of "gofugyourself.com" which is HILARIOUS and Bev happened to have on those incredible pewter/silver miu miu space age stilettos and looked incredibly space-secretary which is a look to go for for spring i think.

Stef was rocking a Silas '98 smock top which i have to say is very APC this season, it was the collection that Max and I christened "skateboarding princesses", because they had all these pretty pleated, smocked dresses and shirts in masculine shirting fabrics and ripstop...those were the days. Good to see it on an outing and proof that Silas will never date....R.I.P. boo hoo!!!
madame x
p.s. one more for the shooooeeees!!!!!

The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion

Paul Gorman is a London writer who has recently released his revised edition of The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion. The first version had Pippa and James Dearlove from their old band Shopgirl on the front cover. As part of London Fashion Week, Paul Gorman held a talk, Q&A, book signing at Borders on Oxford Street talking specifically about the history of Soho in his book.

Pippa and Max talked about the new shop and the reason why they started in Soho 11 years ago. Max really defended his corner about the struggle of independent business at the moment with the globalistion of culture and the fact that any city you go to, on the main street now will be all the same shops - H&M, Starbucks, Zara and a gang of mobile phone shops. OR guerilla stores set up with the backing of large businesses as a way to tap into "urban culture." Later on I learnt Max had never been to Belgium - he was trying to pour himself a Duvel beer and ended up with just a glass of foam. I'm gonna take him to Brussels one day.

There was another guy there whose background is that trained on Saville Row but in his fathers tailoring business on the floor above the Spanish Tapas Bar on Old Compton Street as it is now, they made the first new suits for The Beatles, without the lapel and the round neck. As worn in this video for Love Me Do. Paul Gorman said that this record went to number 18 in the UK charts, but I have to say that I checked the Guinness World Records Hit Singles 14th Edition which says that Love Me Do actually reached position 17 and sat there for 18 weeks. I only had to check cause I really hate The Beatles and couldn't remember the name of the song to look for a film clip. This guy, who's name I can't remember busted out a GANG of mega celebrities names that he and his father made the suits for. But they were all celebs I don't really like so I can't remember. Sorry for being a loser. :(

What I did remember was Mark Powell, world famous tailor to the stars, dropped he had been working with Usher for his latest video with the 30's inspired suits. I always like Usher even though he is a bit smooth and he looks great in this video here which we now all know was down to Mark Powell.

Paul Gorman's book The Look: Aventures in Rock and Pop Fashion is a great read - it covers all kinds of weird and amazing stuff. Next time you are in your local book shop you should check it out. And even better - BUY IT!! [Or even order it straight from amazon.com]

xx Emma

Videos and Secrets

Well I told you that there would be some video from the party and here it is! This is the first night I have had a chance to check out what Chris O.C. recorded on my DV camera. Chris only managed to record 5 minutes worth at the beginning of the party. I guess the bottle of Whiskey he hid under the turntables along with the fact he was lovin' the party may have had something to do with forgetting later on...
This is just from the first half of the party that took place at the official opening in the new room next door to Maison Bertaux and of course Shop At Maison Bertaux underneath. Michelle from Maison Bertaux served champagne and little strawberry and fruit tartlets la famille de Maison Bertaux had prepared earlier that day.

I'm not sure I can post the video from the "secret" after party at Soho House anywhere online! I'm going to have to show it to Max and Pippa first cause it is pretty mental. A brief description: First Max, Pippa and Paul B. Davis played a ping pong DJ set. Then Nervous Stephen [of red bearded fame] played a weirdo set of carousel music, square dancing and old English pub songs. Everyone in Soho House went insane and were dancing to bongo and brass bands like they all didn't have to get up early the next day [I for one had to get up at 7am to be at London Fashion Week at the Natural History Museum... but that is another story.] It was like everyone was getting more and more revved up - like wind up toys all about to burst a spring. Then the staff at Soho House had a word with Mark Eley and asked us to leave. Mark made a big declaration, "We've been kicked out from our own party for having too much fun!! Come on!! We're all going to Trisha's!!!" And so they all did. [FYI - Trisha's is the basement bar "somewhere in Soho". Or maybe it should be called a drinking den? I don't know - but it is a fabulous place. Pippa had her last birthday party there.] I did not go to Trisha's and nor did Pippa but we sent each other a text along the lines of "I'm SO tired" and something about champagne.

That's enough from me. I got to get up for work tomorrow.

x Emma

Open Sesame!!

This isn't going to be a long post - I'm too tired to write more than a few lines. I just wanted to write that last night's opening party for Shop At Maison Bertaux was a BLAST!!! There were so many people we ran out of glasses, but then it didn't matter cause then we ran out of drinks. It was a fabulous street party out on Greek Street with the throng of guests that came for the opening, the Coach and Horses drinkers and the Somalian mini cab drivers. Phew!! All the work was totally worth it! Pictures and video from the Shop and the after party at Soho House to be posted soon and I'm sure Pippa will have a lot to write from her first day as shopgirl in Shop at Maison Bertaux.

xx Emma

P.S. I had to get up at 7am this morning. Urgh.

Champagne and Eclairs - Here I Come!!!

I just got a phone call from Max. He is in Soho at our new Shop at Maison Bertaux with one of the builders finishing up for the opening day tomorrow. He must be as nervous as I am anticipating the launch cause he just rang to tell me what records to play at the party tomorrow night.



On the way home the other night I visited the Shop at Maison B and couldn’t believe the transformation when I stop and think how the shop looked last time I visited it! Paul Long and his boys have been working non-stop!!




Everybody has been working so hard to get this shop open. Pippa has been on the phone ordering building materials, getting phone lines connected and searching for new staff. Mark at Eley Kishimoto has had his team in Brixton delivering wood and wallpaper and printing the cake boxes we will use for packaging. The doily logo for Shop at Maison Bertaux was also designed especially by Wak. Michelle at Maison Bertaux, the famous Soho Patisserie, is still serving her customers with all of us running under her skirts. Every time I see Max he is covered in sawdust or plaster… Who said working in fashion was a glamorous life?!



In the last week, I have been working furiously on the Shop at Maison Bertaux website and booking in all the stock from Eley Kishimoto that was delivered – so many fantastic things. I always get a bit excited when there is new stock! And new boy, Chris, he has been covering our other shop The World According To… on Brewer Street, listening to either The Pogues or Morrissey at any available opportunity. Chris is from the REAL O.C. in the USA and is totally covered in tattoos.



Check out the wallpaper and printed wood we are using - all from Eley Kishimoto!


So the party is tomorrow night! Monday 18th September from 6pm to 9pm with cakes and champagne. Nicky and Louise from Village Press who do all our press, came into The World According To… on Friday and picked up some Eley Kishimoto frocks to wear to the party. Louise picked up a vintage Stag and Roses print dress that made her look like she was out of Virgin Suicides and Nicky left with a orange and yellow floral silk number that looked fab with her A.P.C. shoes. Speaking of A.P.C. – the girls freaked when they realised that we were also carrying the full A.P.C. range and not just the jeans. We even have some of the exclusive piece that the A.P.C. store is not selling. Louise couldn’t resist one of the red checked smock dresses.
All that is left for me to do now is pick my records and decide what I am going to wear to the party!!! I’m super super excited!!!

xx Emma