How to: Care for me. Wear Me. Love me. Mend Me.

Caring for your clothes

Inspired by the Cheltenham Literature Festival, we've picked out five of our favourite fashion care and sustainability books for you.

Wardrobe Wisdom, by Alicia Healey
Trained at Buckingham Palace, Alicia Healey has worked as a lady's maid and high-profile wardrobe consultant across the globe. In this book, she shares her top tips for decluttering your closet and looking after investment items so they'll last you a life time.
Buy the book here.

Laundry: The Home Comforts Book of Caring for Clothes and Linens

Laundering queen Cheryl Mendelson shares her love of housekeeping. With extensive knowledge of how to care for almost every fabric, from hand washing and removing stains to storing fabrics and garments, Mendelson shares the indispensable guide to caring for clothes at home.

Buy the book here.

Clothing Care Basics: Tips for Fabric Care, Clothing Storage, and Saving Money by Keeping Your Favorite Clothes Looking Good Longer

Explaining some of the basic terms used in clothes laundering, Julie Gallagher teaches you the basics so you'll never turn another white shirt pink or shrink your favourite jumper.

Buy the book here.

Clothing Cultures - Certified made in the UK
Madia & Matilda is now published in Clothing Cultures. This journal explores the issues in the production and consumption of clothes within the fashion industry.
Buy the journal here.

The Sustainable Fashion Handbook

An in-depth and comprehensive guide to sustainable fashion, from the impact fast fashion is having on our environment to eco-fashion and sustainable designers, this book will change your outlook on the fashion industry.

Buy the book here.











Sincerely Madia & Matilda

AW17— The Playlist

Turn It Up!

The days are darker, colder — and longer. So don't be sad, dance like mad! We at Madia & Matilda list 8 crazy good tunes we can't live without. Always on in the studio, these tracks get us through the day (they double-team with coffee). 

Cranes in the Sky by Solange

This track has an amazing atmosphere to it: calm and completely lush

Bourbon by Gallant

A tune. Gallant has the most incredibly elastic voice. You'll probably find yourself wondering "How the heck did he get up there?!" And then you'll listen to the rest of the album (it's the bomb) and realise that the man's basically a genius

Underwater by Porches
Simultaneously danceable and chillable, this is a versatile track with a moody bassline and 80s styling. The whole this is brought sharply up to date with spacey synths and a very sexy beat

Jungle by Tash Sultana
Aussie Tash plays all the instruments on this number. She also produces and writes her music, and has the sassiest, most gorgeously cheeky voice ever

Stay Awake, Wait For Me by Jessie Ware
A mellow, soulful tune with lyrics about that feeling of being with and without someone at the same time. It's a meditative and cosy without drowning in its own sentimentality. A good one for nights in

Silence by THEY.
Edgy and trappy, this is R&B at its most seductive: it's slightly eerie, it's not got any of the aggression of commercial rap, and it's perfect as a background to pretty much anything

Don't Want to Feel It All by White Lies
White Lies are ridiculously catchy and this track is no exception, being great for driving (or anything else really). Don't let the synths fool you, it's not as cheesy as it sounds at first

Birch Tree by Foals
This is one of the most underrated tracks from their 2015 album (when's the next one coming out please?). Its trademark opening riffs and bouncy beat make it a great one for Autumn

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Halloween! All the fun starts with the Prep!

Welcome to Madia & Matilda's

Halloween Party

Halloween isn't just for kids. We're excited to bring you a post all about the world's favourite Autumn festival— for adults! Step this way for boozy Halloween beverages, delicious pumpkin treats, and some amazing outfit ideas that are too good to only wear on Halloween!

Disturbing Drinks

Our first recipe is a cocktail that Snow White's evil stepmother would be proud of. Cosmopolitan magazine calls it called Poisoned Apple Pie... 

• Add 2 oz. dark rum, 1/2 oz. heavy cream, 1/2 oz. of cinnamon syrup and 1 medium egg white to a cocktail shaker without ice
• Shake it up! 30 seconds should do it. Next add ice, then shake again to chill through
• Strain the mixture into a glass and top up slowly with sparkling apple juice (Cosmo recommends the IZZE brand, but we suspect another one would work just as well) 
• For that wicked finishing touch, add a little ground cinnamon powder and 2 pinches of activated charcoal powder. Seriously, it looks amazing! Get some here.

The evil-looking Poisonous Apple Pie cocktail, courtesy of Cosmopolitan magazine

Halloween in the Tropics. Our next offering is a calming tonic for the evil stepmother after she hears that Snow White is still the fairest of them all. The Food Network calls this one a "brew to chill out stressed witches". After an evening of small ghosts hanging on the doorbell, you're going to need it!

• Mix 30ml pineapple juice with 30ml cranberry juice in a pewter cauldron (we recommend using a pewter cauldron, size 2. Buy from Potage's: first shop on the left after the Three Broomsticks, on Diagon Alley)
• Add 60ml lemonade. Stir clockwise 3 times
• Pour into 4 glasses
• Just before drinking, add one shot (40ml) of Malibu coconut rum to each glass

Green Slime Soda, a non-alcoholic drink for tiny vampires, or grown-up zombies who have to drive home after the party!

• Stir 3 tablespoons of sugar into 1/4 cup of lime juice
• Add 1 cup of sparkling water and give it all a stir
• Measure one scoop of lime sherbet or lime sorbet and add to the drink. Stir well and serve

Other tips and tricks:

• We love the idea of mixing a little red food colouring into golden syrup in a shallow bowl and dipping the rim of a glass into it. It should look as if there's blood dripping down your glass!
• Food-grade dry ice cubes add drama to cocktails
• You could try adding slices of blood orange to your glasses when serving, either to line the inside of the glass or as a garnish on top of the glass

Spooky Treats

Pumpkin everything! Bring it on! What Halloween gathering would be complete without some delicious homemade bakes? Not ours, no way! So put on The Monster Mash at full blast and get making.

Pumpkin Puree

Use this as the pumpkin-y base to all your baked pumpkin-y delights!

• Preheat your oven to 170℃/gas mark 3
• Take a small-medium pumpkin and chop the top off, where the stalk is/would be. (It's best to use pumpkins which are grown to be eaten, rather than the ones that are grown to be carved)
• Chop the whole pumpkin in half vertically, right down the middle. Remove the seeds and stringy bits with a spoon. Don't throw the seeds away! You can roast them later
• Next, chop each half in half again, lengthways. Repeat with the other half of the pumpkin, so you end up with four chunks of pumpkin which look a bit like giant orange slices
• Pop the pumpkin wedges on a baking tray and into the oven for about 45 minutes, or until they go a bit brown on the edges
• Remove the skin from the pumpkin slices while they're still warm, scraping an flesh leftover on the skin off with a knife
• Whizz up the flesh in a blender or food processor. If the mixture looks dry, add a little water. If it's too wet, strain it gently through a muslin cloth or similar
• Use immediately or freeze. This puree keeps for a good 6-8 months, so feel free to carve up more than one pumpkin and put the lot into the freezer for use at a later date. For more about this recipe, see this fab blog post from The Pioneer Woman

Using your pumpkin puree

Put your beautiful puree to good use! How about these spiced pumpkin cookies, perfect for a cold evening...

You will need: 

• 300g plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 125g butter, softened
• 300g caster sugar
• 250g pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract  

Method: 

• Preheat your oven to 180℃/gas mark 4. Combine the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and salt; then set aside
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and caster sugar. Add the pumpkin puree, egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in the dry ingredients. Drop tablespoons of the mixture onto the baking tray and flatten slightly with the back of the spoon
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven, cool and devour. How easy is that?! Thanks to All Recipes for this great one.

The Costume Competition

It's a Halloween party, after all! Here are our top picks for the Autumn Season...

Presenting our wonderful, versatile Emily dress! You can layer her up by wearing a woolly sweater or top underneath (it is October after all), or dress her up by adding... whatever you want! Bats' wings, devil horns, a veil, you name it. This dress is the perfect sustainable canvas: not blank, but adaptable. Get it here.

Emily dress

Dracula's Bride? More like Dracula himself in female form. If you're after a perfect Halloween dress with just the right amount of drama, look no further: our Rosemary dress has it all. Buy it here and channel your inner Wednesday Addams. You know she's in there!

Well, that's all from us! Hope you have a kooky, spooky Halloween! Please get in touch with pics of your Halloween outfits, drinks or bakes, we'd love to hear from you!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

#Foodie - Pea Soup

Why not choose a creamy pea soup for a delicious autumn dinner to keep you going in the middle of the week

Ingredient:

Creme fraiche (optional)

Butter

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion or spring, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or parsley

6 cups peas, fresh or frozen

½ cup water

4 cups vegetable stock

½ cup half-and-half (optional)

½ teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

You will need:

Pan, a hand held Blender, Spoon

Directions:

Heat butter and oil over medium heat until the butter melts in pan. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and thyme (or parsley); cook, stirring, until fragrant, for about 10 seconds.

Stir in peas. Add in water and the stock; bring to a lively simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer and cook for about 1 minute.

Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Stir in half-and-half, add in salt and pepper.

Finally add in Creme fraiche (Leave out if Vegan)

Tip:

Ready  to eat in 35 m, with 3 servings, you can also make ahead of time; refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

  

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Muse of the Autumn Season

As we transition in to the autumn season, we thought we share our muses for the season; Caroline Issa, who is an fan of Madia & Matilda and our sustainable clothing ethos.

CEO and Editor of Tank, Because magazine Caroline Issa exudes classic feminine style, that the Madia & Matilda woman portrays. Always, making a statement in the front row or street style blogs, Caroline style is understated and sartorial.



We have hand selected, work style we feel Caroline Issa would approve of; to transition into the autumn season. 

1. Effortless everyday staple - Shan Blouse worn with the Phoebe skirt, in a fitted silhouette  with a contrast elasticated waist band. A great selection if you are planning on going for drinks after work.

2. A less conventional classic Work shirt - Adian has embroidered flowers or for a classic work shirt the Carrie - Chiffon Blouse as seen worn with the Eduora skirt a midi Length pleated skirt.

3.  Floral beauty - River Top a cap sleeve, pleated top; worn with a smart crop trouser Zara is perfect for running from meeting to meeting!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda