Nobby does Noel Fielding.....

Upstairs in the gallery Tania is continuing the Noel Fielding theme with an exhibition of photographs by Nobby Clark took at the opening of the show of Noel's paintings in December. This is my favourite pinky hued shot of Noel lurking by the miniature cakes....

......and at the opening of Nobby's show the other night Emma, Max and I managed to neck quite a few nibble-sized eclairs, tarts and croissants, in fact we seated ourselves rather near a huge plateful, well to be fair you couldn't get away from a plateful, big groaning platters full of the best of Maison Bertaux's treats, I think I prefer them tiny because it means you get to try two...three....four......five.... or maybe six if you're Max, with ease. Max was popping cakes while doing an uncanny Leee John impersonation as Imagination wafted out of the speakers. I was expecting the Rolling Stones or Razorlight to be the soundtrack to the show but was much better pleased with the best of Imagination!

The show runs for the next two months, grab yourself a creamy confection and a cuppa tea and have a butchers....

Madame x

The Measure of a Madame....

Proud I was to be brushing up against the likes of Nick Knight, Claudia Schiffer, Giles Deacon and Jimmy Choo in my cardigan at the launch of The Measure by Louise Clarke on Thursday night.... As I might have mentioned (and might again.....), I was one of the contributers to a cracking book which explores the influence of London as a creative hotbed and dream destination from the point of view of many different voices from the world of fashion. I've been dipping into it and LOVING it! Here I am with editor Louise Clarke who's first book this is and who has become a great friend since she first walked into Maison B about a year ago to ask me if I'd be interested in writing something (would Eva Herzigova wear a push-up bra?!), and Alex...

And here's Paul Gorman who's written a fantastic Soho history for his contribution with Nigel Waymouth of Granny Takes a Trip fame and John Pearse the tailor who of course features in Paul's piece and still has a shop on Meard St from which he kits out your Dennis Hoppers and Mick Jaggers to this day....

The eats and drinks were deeeeelicous, here's Max with a mini mushroom risotto and champagne...

What clever friends I've got, Tania's been working hard getting the Noel Fielding show together for the 13th December upstairs in the Maison Bertaux gallery....mostly it's a breeze but you can see there are stressful moments for all of us...

Check out my flickr for the rest of Sarah Lee's pictures, so hilarious, of Tania and me involved in some mis-en-scene which looks like we're involved in some sort of lesson.....and I'm not taking instruction properly!!
And Stevie Stewart's always doing something amazing but this costume for the Michael Clark Stravinsky project which was based on an Yves Saint Laurent wedding dress rendered me speechless....

Good to see you taking advantage of Madame's festive offer, hope to see you all over the next few weeks.....can't wait for Maison Bertaux to start baking mince pies!!!!

Madame x

Quentin Crisp envy...

Oh look what my friend Paul Frecker bought at Bonham's the other day! Only Quentin Crisp's ACTUAL typewriter!!!! The very one he wrote The Naked Civil Servant on!!! Now you can call me an old fag hag if you want but i was tres tres jealous!!!

There's even a note from Mr Quentin Crisp, stately homo himself!!!

Lots has happened since I last wrote to you...Paris was great, APC ROCKED! Emma and I even made one of our fabulous movies to record the events of the day.... APC, underwear and rose - what more could you wish for in a day trip!

More from me soon, I'm djing with Emma at a Blondes vs Brunettes night on Friday- better make sure my roots are up to scratch! More Babitz news soon and of course we're busy busy busy with the sale, still lots of bargains to be had before the winter stock hits the rails! If you get a chance, have a gander at the exhibition upstairs in the tearoom, it's Matthew Buckham's show-within-a-show "10 Heroes", here's Tania giving good eek on top of some of the paintings....

Get yourself some art and a frock for goodness sake!!!

Meanwhile, re-read "The Naked Civil Servant"......madame xxxx

The Art Blog....

What an exciting day for madame!

There was a spring in my step this morning on my way to work as I was DYING to see my new Obey installation in the dressing room!!!!! As my bad luck would have it I was over in the office with Emma doing those pesky VAT returns when Simon from Obey turned up to surprise me with his paste bucket, Andre the Giant and wallpaper!!!! (I know his tricks, he figured I'd be on his case with my camera, documenting his progress every step of the way - AND HE'D BE RIGHT!!! He's a bit like me, i.e.camera-shy!)

Here's just a detail, but the best thing about it is that it's on the inside of the dressing room door so is a treat for those who enter there to try on the delights we have on offer! I thought we needed a figure in there, just for scale you understand, never let it be said that I'm self-obsessed!

Cos clearly I'm NOT, just wanted you to see how thrilled I am - A big thankyou to Obey!!!!!

Talking of art, has it escaped your notice that there's art history being made next door upstairs at Maison Bertaux??!! Matthew Buckham's show has only been open since 28th March but what a HIT!!!
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/blogon/emerging_artist_of_the_week/Tania has transformed into art agent extraordinaire, whisking the great and good of the acting and art-worlds around the upstairs tearoom, only to leave a coffee and pastry later proud owners of a painting from art's next big thing! Sorry to name-drop but you know Turner prizewinner Jeremy Deller? Well he bought this one:

Bernard Hill and Duncan Roy (director of the remake of Dorian Grey) have bought and I saw Ralph Fiennes having a butchers yesterday, whether it was at the art or the other goodies on offer I'm not sure....!!

Teach Your Children is my favourite.
How wonderful, not only is Maison Bertaux now a boutique, it's an art gallery as well!
(Enquiries re Matthew's work to Tania Wade 07985 395079)

So you can feed your mind, your tummy and your insatiable shopping habit all under one roof!!! Doesn't get much better than that does it? See you soon friends,

madame xxx