Monday, 1 February 2016 / harry potter, london, outfit, travel
Harry Potter Studio Tour, London
The young audience of today have One Direction. For kids coming of age in the swinging sixties, it was The Beatles. Back when my grandparents were but wee nippers, the hysteria-inducing, scream-generating sensation weakening the knees of girls worldwide was Frank Sinatra. Every era has that one band the youth lose their minds over, which got me thinking. What would it be for my generation, the teens of the 2000s? The likes of Busted and Mcfly come close, but the frenzy that followed wasn't quite feverish enough. Then I realised, my era's defining pop culture phenomenon wasn't musical at all. For us, it was Harry Potter.
I can't think of another time in which literature dominated over pop music. That's pretty special. People of all ages love Harry Potter (there are kids going on nine who weren't even born when Deathly Hallows was published), but I feel like children around my age got it the best. The kids old enough to have seen - and remember seeing - Philosopher's Stone when it hit the cinemas back in 2001, but young enough to be utterly wonderstruck by it. Imagine seeing quidditch for the first time on the big screen as a seven year old! Imagine being the coolest cat in year six because your mom got you a copy of Order of the Phoenix on release night! Imagine fights breaking out between eight-year-olds in the library because one beat the other to the last copy of a 900-page book.
Getting to the point, Harry Potter still means a lot to me, all these years later. Kind of like how your Dad still gets excited when Ferris Bueller's Day Off plays on TV, I suppose. If thirteen-year-old me had realised her future self would get to chill in the Gryffindor boys' bedrooms, pose at platform 9 3/4 and swig butterbeer in the very studios that the spells were cast in... I can't believe it took me this long to get to the Warner Bros Studio Tour! I even made it to the Orlando theme park - 4,000 miles away! - before I ended up at Leavesden.
We were taken to a screening room to watch a short film about Pottermania before the screen rose to reveal huge ornate doors, which obviously got everyone excited because we all knew what was behind them. Nonetheless, there was an audible gasp when they parted, and the Great Hall came into sight, all decked up for the holidays. It looked exactly like it did in the movies. The tables were laid out for the feast, and little witches circled the tops of the Christmas trees.
Sadly, the ceiling was a regular studio roof and nothing like the night sky. The house points hour glasses were on display behind the teachers, and of course, Gryffindor were in the lead ;)
I loved seeing all the costumes and wigs and makeup. All the girls were absolutely tiny, especially Katie Leung! My favourite costume was Luna's from the Slug Club Christmas party. I remember it being described in the book as 'spangly' and like a Christmas tree, and thinking it sounded fantastic.
Doesn't the Gryffindor common room just look like home? I tried to kind of recreate my own mini version in my dressing room a while back with some souvenirs, Halloween decorations, and a threadbare maroon and gold antique-y armchair I spotted in the charity shop. But someone bought it literally seconds before I could and, not going to lie, I'm still fuming.
"By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many."
Dumbledore's office was the most gorgeous set I've ever seen, and I've seen a fair few. If only we were allowed closer to gaze upon all of his dreamy belongings. Cabinets lined with curios, huge tomes (actually telephone books covered in leather), brass telescopes, silver instruments, globes, and sneakoscopes, and of course, the Sorting Hat decorated the circular office to fine effect. The filmmakers said that steampunk was a strong influence.
If only my office looked like this! In fact, I'd settle for living quarters that looked like this.
I was taken aback by how many elements of the movies I'd mistakenly credited to CGI. The crew built a fully-functional entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, though it was operated by good old-fashioned science and not parseltongue. Didn't stop me trying, though, as you can see here!
The potions classroom was cool. Occasionally cauldrons would stir by magic and emit acid-green fumes. Is it weird that I was mentally taking notes for future any future kitchens I may have? I really liked the jars of strange ingredients along the walls. Herbs and plants are very interesting to me, I like reading about them in a medicinal or culinary context (in fact, I've had my eye on this Cosmic Drifters Herbology skirt for a while).
I'd heard the model of Hogwarts castle was a stand out of the tour, but I wasn't prepared for how breathtaking it truly is. To make things even more magical, a man got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend in front of it, when the light changed to indicate night time had fallen over Hogwarts. What a man! Future spouse, take note.
If you're heading to the tour, I'd recommend spending a fiver on a handheld digital guide. Usually a waste of money (in most places), this one was incredibly informative with hundreds of exclusive videos and interviews with cast and crew about everything from schooling the young actors - both in the ways of the film industry and academically - right down to the fabrics used for the Hogwarts curtains. I consider myself a thoroughly researched diehard fan, yet there was so much information and detail I'd not heard before.
By far the darkest set was this staging of the meeting at Malfoy Manor, in which Charity Burbage is suspended over the table and finally murdered. You can see Nagini waiting to devour her corpse. It was genuinely quite scary to see. The featureless dark-faced models were creepy in a horror movie way.
I'd heard the model of Hogwarts castle was a stand out of the tour, but I wasn't prepared for how breathtaking it truly is. To make things even more magical, a man got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend in front of it, when the light changed to indicate night time had fallen over Hogwarts. What a man! Future spouse, take note.
I thought this was cool. It's the hallway of the Leaky Cauldron. It was built for the Prisoner of Azkaban, and uses a 'forced perspective' to appear much larger on film than it actually is. In reality, it was only around 10-12 feet long!
I think the Burrow set was my absolute favourite. It was just so homely. I'd love to recreate it and live there myself! Everything was cluttered and threadbare, and the self-cleaning kitchen that so impressed Harry back in the Chamber of Secrets worked its magic (heh) on me. A scarf self-knitted, knives chopped carrots, and the washing up did itself. If only! The walls of the set were constructed at a slight angle to add to the impoverished, ramshackle appearance of the Weasley family home.
New to the tour last year was the Hogwarts Express. I wasn't that fussed about going in to have a look, to be honest, because I'd already 'ridden' it in Florida. I'm glad I did, though, because each compartment was arranged to recall a pivotal scene from each film/book. I have to admit, I teared up a little when I peered into compartment one and saw Ron and Harry meeting for the first time.
If you're heading to the tour, I'd recommend spending a fiver on a handheld digital guide. Usually a waste of money (in most places), this one was incredibly informative with hundreds of exclusive videos and interviews with cast and crew about everything from schooling the young actors - both in the ways of the film industry and academically - right down to the fabrics used for the Hogwarts curtains. I consider myself a thoroughly researched diehard fan, yet there was so much information and detail I'd not heard before.
To be honest, even if I wasn't particularly into Harry Potter, I'd come here for the design inspiration alone. You should have seen the beautiful drapes on the beds in the Gryffindor dorms up close. They were a heavy maroon velvet with a gold celestial print. They were neither antique nor designed for the film - they were sourced in a local shop (look, Warner Bros, you're going to need to name names). And then you've got the patchwork quilts, intricate medieval tapestries, oil paintings, decorative antiques, and strange silverware.
These are examples of the fine work of MinaLima, the graphic designers, did for the series. Their quirky, Victorian-inspired designs so perfectly suit the Wizarding World.
The props and models were ace. Everything was incredibly realistic, and I liked the way they were set out resembled an artist's studio.
I wish my studio looked like this! Those are mandrakes at the top.
Why should you pull a sickie and hop on a train to Watford right now, and join the mahoosive queue in front of Leavesden Studios? I'll tell you why.
Because who doesn't want to take a selfie in the Mirror of Erised?
...hop on the Knight Bus?
...sneak into Umbridge's office?
... cross through Platform 9 3/4?
... free Dobby?
... or pay respect to the Potters at Godric's Hollow?
(This isn't an ad, I promise. I'm just a nerd.)
October... the most transitional of months. Home to Halloween, Samhain, whatever you choose to call it, and the beginning of cold, cold, cold. We begin to contemplate the blustery winter, and the new year and what it may bring. We switch out our camisoles for acrylic sweaters and fleece-lined tights. The leaves are dying, falling, and leaving their bare trees behind like skeletal hands, but we think it's beautiful. I love this time of year. It's just that little bit... spookier.
After spending the year trying to grasp onto, prolong, or reclaim our youth and vitality, we proceed to take a month to indulge in all that is lost or is to become lost. Celebrate death and the macabre, decorate our homes with pseudo souvenirs of all we deem unredeemable. Purge the unholy.
We take down our comfortable fairy lights and family photos, and replace them with gauzy cobwebs and witch hats and severed hands.We strip ourselves of our polished identities, our manners, our fear of offending. No longer aiming to please, we aim to terrify. What a strange holiday this is.
Wren.
dress: missguided
necklace: topshop
Thursday, 15 October 2015 / random anecdotes, spooky
Thunder and Lightning
My mom finds the staring rude, but it merely piques my curiosity. Why is my house such a spectacle? I'm beginning to fear something strange and notorious has happened here. Is my house a well-known murder house? My psychic friend tells me she gets 'vibes' here. It seems unlikely - in such a small English city - that we wouldn't know about it. Or are we the victims? Did my whole family die here in suspicious circumstances, and our house is now famously haunted? That, too, seems unlikely.
One of the previous occupants was a doctor, and what is now my kitchen was once his surgery. Incidentally, the kitchen is the place most people feel 'uncomfortable' in my house. Doesn't that sound like the basis for a trashy horror movie? The rational part of my mind argues that these spectators may be former patients, and their interest is more along the lines of 'hey, remember when we used to see the doctor here as kids?' But a long time has passed since then, and my gut tells me most of them are far too young to have ever been treated here. I sort of hope I never find out...
Sunday, 20 September 2015 / outfit
September When It Comes
Still, I suppose, it grants me the opportunity to see Wolverhampton in autumn. I can follow the railway-turned-nature reserve and count the burnt orange leaves, and see the silver birch in front of my house change colour.
The dying embers of Summer granted us the nicest day in a long while. The feel of the sun on your skin is one of life's simple joys. Unlike a lot of bloggers, I'm not an Autumn person. I don't really like to be restricted by layers and coats and itchy jumpers. I loathe oppressive grey skies and the constant rain. My central heating hasn't worked in several years, and I walk everywhere, so I anticipate the death of summer with great hesitancy.
The dying embers of Summer granted us the nicest day in a long while. The feel of the sun on your skin is one of life's simple joys. Unlike a lot of bloggers, I'm not an Autumn person. I don't really like to be restricted by layers and coats and itchy jumpers. I loathe oppressive grey skies and the constant rain. My central heating hasn't worked in several years, and I walk everywhere, so I anticipate the death of summer with great hesitancy.
top - mom's (Primark)
skirt - charity shop
shawl - charity shop
boots - charity shop (originally Topshop)
hat - Zara
Saturday, 4 July 2015 / nature, outfit
Listen to a babbling brook and hear a song
One of the best things about living in Wolverhampton is that it straddles the city and the beautiful countryside. If I walk fifteen minutes in one direction, I'm in urban heaven. Ten minutes in the other direction, I'm in the heart of rural Shropshire.
The heatwave madness of Wednesday calmed to an ideal 26 degrees, so I decided to spend the day reading in the cemetery. I find them so peaceful - a perfect place to enjoy a good book. I decided to do some exploring instead, and walked along the abandoned railway.
The railway was once used for goods trains, but closed down in the mid-sixties. The railway path itself is lovely, but if you're ever in Wolverhampton, I recommend you use it as a guideline only. If you wander off-path, you'll find yourself taking in brooks, canals, wildflowers, fields, nature reserves, and woodland.
Backpack essentials:
- Snacks (almonds, walnuts, strawberries, banana oat cakes)
- Water
- Book
- Journal
- Pen
- Camera
- Sunglasses
- Sunglasses
It was nice to take out my earphones and enjoy the sounds of mother nature. Reeds of grass rustling in the wind. Insects calling to each other. The babbling of the brook.
I love the muted lavender/pink colour of this dress, and it's so light and airy. It's a recent charity shop find. I can't recommend charity shopping enough. Here's why:
1. It's light on your pocket.
2. You're helping out a charity.
3. It's much better for the environment, for two reasons
a) It reduces waste going to landfill.
b) It reduces the demand for fast fashion.
4. By buying leather secondhand, you're not funding this cruel industry.
5. You can (and will) discover quirky things you'd never find in a mainstream shop.
Couldn't you just imagine fairies sleeping in these?
Couldn't you just imagine fairies sleeping in these?
Living on a narrowboat has always been a dream of mine. There are quite a few along the canal. Wouldn't it be lovely to float all the time? I'd also love to live in a motorhome. I did quite a bit of travelling around in my step-grandad's last summer, which was lovely.
Once I'd gotten home and eaten a delicious vegan dinner, I sat outside for a while and finally started reading that book! But the second my bare feet touched the grass, I found myself running and twirling like a crazy person.
There's just something nice about feeling the grass beneath your feet, isn't there? And I much prefer this style of photograph to a stationary posed one - if only because I'm so bad at it! I like just being in my element and seeing what happens.
details:
dress - charity shop
kimono - gift (old)
sandals - monsoon (old)
title lyric: In a World of my Own - Kathryn Beaumont
dress - charity shop
kimono - gift (old)
sandals - monsoon (old)
title lyric: In a World of my Own - Kathryn Beaumont
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