Gin in Teacups and Leaves on the Lawn

Gin in Teacups and Leaves on the Lawn


I’m not the world’s biggest Pete Doherty fan and quite frankly don’t know his music that well (the first is probably the logical outcome of the latter), but one of his phrases has been stuck in my head for years. In Babyshambles’ Albion, he sings: “gin in teacups and leaves on the lawn.”

I’ve always found these eight words very evocative: whatever the context of the song, I think of an autumn day – sunny, but already chilly. There is a beautiful garden, a bit wild, and a party going on: people in bohemian tea dresses and wellies, in long flowing skirts, in sequins and parkas, slip dresses and sweaters. There’s lots of black eyeliner, but not much to eat. But there’s the gin, of course. And the leaves.

The mood is melancholy and quiet: the summer is over, it’s still too early to be drunk. You can already tell, though, that the mood will change. There will be more gin and there will be joy and sadness and anger, but that’ll be later. For the moment, it’s just gin in teacups and leaves on the lawn.

Under the tree

Teacup and Leaf

Autumn profile

Pictured:
– two seventies-inspired tea dresses (one on me, one on the ground) by Zara
– Zara velvet shoes and fake fur stole: I also have some really nice Topshop ones in crazier colours, but of course could not locate them this morning
– Cos silk socks and copper hair pin – Cos has a great selection of both
– antique teacup, but no actual gin, as pictures were taken early on Tuesday, before work
– Jo Malone Birch & Black Pepper, as Jo Malone is very British, but the scent is also a bit rock’n’roll
– The First Bad Man by Miranda July

From the back

Things on the lawn

12 Comments

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  1. 5
    Frances

    Ykkinna, how lovely this whole post is: the setting, the elegance of your dress, the fun of the silk socks, the utter beauty of your shoes (I’m much too old now for such a pair, but how I wish I were not!), the evocative theme words and the mood you’ve created with them.
    I so enjoy your experience of life, as presented in this blog, but today’s post really resonated with me. Thank you!

    • 6
      Ykkinna

      Thank you, I’m very glad you liked it: it’s one of the posts I’ve had in mind the longest, years before I actually started the blog. In the end it was horribly rushed (as everything blog-related tends to be), but I think I managed to convey some of the things I had envisaged.

  2. 7
    Ephesian

    Oh what a perfectly gorgeous post! I, too, have a thing for this landed-gentry-gone-bohemian vibe, and you captured it splendidly. I discovered your blog recently, and it’s been a sheer delight – but this post is particularly fabulous. Please do not stop.

    • 8
      Ykkinna

      Thank you for such a lovely comment! I’ve said it before, but you have no idea how encouraging it is to read things like that. And I’m especially glad you liked this particular post, as I’ve been carrying it my head for so long.

  3. 9
    Märt

    Hah great post!! Think there should always be time taken for gin, leaves and autumn blues. And after posting done for some genuine booze in a cup!!

  4. 11
    Johano

    Post Christmas reading,I’ve come to one of my sacred places(the other being NST of course!)I don’t comment like ever,but OMG….THOSE SHOES!!!!Simple stunning!!Hope you’re having some off-time at least!?Happy Holidays!johanò

    • 12
      Ykkinna

      These shoes are pretty amazing, aren’t they? I’m in Estonia and relaxing until 4 January – I hope you have been able to take some time off, too.

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