Tuesday 17 March 2009

Shabbalism or a load of old sh*$ ?

I've never been at the forefront of fashion. Oh, I've worn some nice shoes, owned a few nice frocks in my time; my taste in music is blinding but I've never been right there at the forefront of a movement...until now! For I have discovered the existence of shabbalism ...it's new, it's out there, it's cutting edge and I was bucking the trend as far back as 2004, when minimalism ruled, way before shabbalism was a bona fide, Wayne Hemingway endorsed, way of life. Shabbalism was first brought to my attention this morning, as I was reading the Saturday Guardian supplement, reading the weekend papers 3 days late is a very bad habit if one wants to be considered "current" but nonetheless...the article was by Gillian Rowe and shabbalism looks something like this . I must admit I read it with a certain incredulity as images not dis-similar to my own home leaped out from the pages: bare plaster wall...yes, wall paper half stripped, still clinging on for dear life...got that, chipped wood work...in abundance, peeling paint...yes,yes,yes!!!! I have it all, I am a trendsetter! So, here's my guide to achieving "the look", incorporating the basic philosophy of "taking on jobs you have no intention of finishing". My recommended starting point would be wallpaper stripping, all the better to discover not 1 but 3 layers of paper, this, of course, permits license to give up for a year or so; it's better to ensure a small child sees you in the act of wallpaper removal, as they will then recreate said act in rooms you had intended to leave well alone. Fireplaces, hearths, surrounds etc should be removed, leaving a gaping hole in the wall...better still to leave a pile of rubble/dust in the gaping hole. Paint work should be nicely chipped, I would recommend a regular battering with bike/ skateboard/ pushchairs. Accessorize with a vase of wilted daffodils, a few casually scattered DVD boxes (empty of course), a trail of tea cups and a few crumbs. The look is easy to maintain, simply survey the scene (ignoring the dust), sigh, raise your eyebrows and decide to put off 'til tomorrow what you could be doing today et voila: shabbalism at your finger tips.

4 comments:

Helen Brocklebank said...

I was immensely relieved to read about the 'rough luxe' trend - totally lets me off the hook re. redecorating Trefusis Towers EVER...the spiderman stickers and little grey hand prints two feet above the wall are all part of shabby chic - who knew! Brilliant. And have you looked at the Rough-luxe website? peeling wallpaper at Ian Schrager prices. yikes. totally not with the programme with regard to economy

Katherine said...

Wow, have just checked out the Rough-luxe website and am at one appalled and delighted. Delighted because I let the children run amok with face paints yesterday evening, with CONSEQUENCES (which I no longer have to deal with) and appalled because...well...WHY? It puts me in mind of the Harry Enfield/ Paul Whitehouse " I saw you coming" sketch. Regarding the Schrager prices, I completely agree, why pay that much for something that cost be zero pence to create?

Jo Beaufoix said...

I knew i was fashionable. Sighhhh. The rest of the world just needed to catch up. Brilliant. :D

Katherine said...

The problem is now I feel almost too cutting edge; getting the plasterer in tomorrow. the thing that shocks me is that people will actually pay a packet for something my kids would do for a packet of sweets and "computer" time!