Kiera Court - In questions

Kiera Court

Meet Kiera Court, Singer Songwriter & self-professed dog lover, as she tells us about her collaboration with Madia & Matilda

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I'm a musician and songwriter based in London. In my spare time I like to wear nice suits, drink coffee and am actually have the cool capacity to cut my own fringe. With scissors. I could probably even cut it with pliers if they were to hand. I also really like dogs, but who doesn't?

Kiera is wearing the  Amelia - Dress

How long have you been Singing  for? 

I've been singing for a while - I don't have an exact date, but all I know is that I love it. I just love sounds.

Kiera's Dog Alfred wears Slate Dog lead from our Shop Unique Selection

Is there anything specific that inspired your Madia & Matilda photoshoot?

Mainly my dog. He's my rock and very photogenic - I wouldn't be surprised if he got scouted for Premier Pooch Models (does this exist?) or something. Madia & Matilda feels kind of homely - solid and sustainable like a friend you can always rely on and true to its roots. I didn't want to go too over the top with the shoot and portray the sense of honesty I feel Madia & Matilda conveys in the photos. 

Which is your favourite Madia & Matilda piece of our Summer 18 collection? 

I love the Henny cotton skirt. It's so light and breezy. I could gallop around London in that, hoping on and off the tube without have to groan at the tight constraint of jeans, or unbuttoning of a trouser. It's very classy and would look great in the day with a crisp shirt, blouse or in the evening with a cami top.

Beauty secrets... 

My hair is so big because it is FULL of secrets. 

Seriously though, I don't I have any specific routine as such at the moment. All I do is make sure I'm clean and well hydrated (like a plant). I try to drink a lot of water. A decent amount of sleep is essential too. I think the key to looking beautiful though is feeling it - a warm energy transforms a face and radiates around you. Everyone's perception of beauty is different and remembering that will get you far.

I don't wear a lot of make-up, and when I do, it varies from either dark eyes or bold lips. One or the other. Like boobs or bum.

 Kiera wears Jenna Cropped Trouser

If you can take us to your hometown for a day, where will you take us to? 

I was born in Chelmsford, Essex. If I were to take you there, we would most certainly not go out at night unless it were to the Bassment (get it) bar for some blues, jazz and just genuine good music. Hylands House would potentially be on the cards. That's where I walk my dog sometimes, and my dog comes first. We'd have to hit up A canteen in town though as they do gorgeous brunches. 

Follow you at... 

You can follow me at @kieracourtt on Instagram and Twitter 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kieracourtt 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kieracourtt 

Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kieracourtmusic

Watch me on Youtube: www.youtube.com/kieracourt

Read me on Medium: www.medium.com/@kieracourtt 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Festival Styling

Looking Your Festy Best

When festival season rolls around, you're going to want to start building a pretty fab collection of clothes to stomp through the mud with. We're talking dresses with high hems so you don't have to pick them up as you tiptoe through the marshes, and cute tees to team with jeans for when the sun's hiding out. 

Our Kiera dress is a perfect style for layering with a jacket or popping a short-sleeved t-shirt underneath. And you'll fit right into the festy atmosphere with this bright quirky print! 

Nothing says Spring and Summer like our Eve mini skirt. Wear with a cropped top, long vest or jumper for an instant Spring-y lift to your wardrobe! 

For a bit of flapper glam, you can't go wrong with this fancy little number. The Felicity dress  is a lightweight and classy addition to any wardrobe. It's versatile too— wear it in winter with an oversized coat for some '20s styling. 



Possibly our most festival-worthy garment ever, our sheer Julia dress is always ready for the rave! Slap on some neon body paint or wide fishnets and you'll be ready to go. 

Wherever you're headed this year, we hope you have a fabulous time! Be sure to check out our guide to packing for your summer vacays right here. Enjoy your summer!



Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Pink? But That's a Girl's Colour!

Rose, Fuchsia, Barbie, Flamingo...

Debunking the myths around society's much-discussed hue

"Boys can't wear pink!"

"Barbie's favourite colour!"

"You wouldn't catch me wearing that!" *barf*

Pink, pinker, pinkest! The Mean Girls trio. Image: PinkNews (really!) 

Nothing says divisive, gender-based segregation than the 'pink for a girl, blue for a boy' mantra. Of all the colours of the rainbow, pink has had more than its fair share of misuse and misguided abuse. But what is the origin of the stereotype that pink is for girls? Can boys really wear pink? (Spoiler alert! The answer is yes!)

The one-and-only Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby. Image: Celebsclothing

Historically, pink was actually worn more by boys than girls. The reason for this was that pink, as a diluted but still potent form of red, conjured up ideas of strength, battle, blood and other such manly associations. Although infants and young children were usually dressed in plain, neutral tones to minimise the use of expensive dyes, up until the 19th century the rosy hue was mainly favoured by boys. Girls often sported the calmer, more tranquil blue, thought to better suit their docile nature.

Thomas Lawrence's 1794 painting, dubbed Pinkie. Image: Wikipedia

So, what changed? In the aftermath of World War ll many people chose to express the end of rationing and society's return to normality in their dress. Designers such as Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli opted for bright, exciting, happy hues under the umbrella of 'pink'. As people began to shop commercially rather than make up their own outfits, it was extremely important to take note of what the icons of day were strutting out in. High-profile personalities such as Mamie Eisenhower and Jayne Mansfield created massive buzz in outfits of unapologetic pink-ness, spurring women all over the Western World to imitate the look. 

Jayne Mansfield in her House of Love. Image: WordPress

Still, it was only until about the 1970s that the trend started to seriously impact sales of gendered clothing for babies. Toy manufacturers soon caught onto the shift and began to advertise ranges catered specifically to boys and girls, the identifier being blue for boys, pink for girls. Gradually it became what is still is today: the way a young child learned about what it means to be a girl or boy: if they are a girl, they should enjoy wearing pink dresses and play with dolls, and if they are a boy, it's normal to play with fire engines and wear blue. What was initially one of fashion's phases became a hugely influential commentary on the role of gender and colour in society. As a result, pink is the most politicised colour out there. It will define our gender, and even our sexual orientation, if we let it.

The Pink and Blue Project by JeongMee Yoon. Image: JeongMee Yoon

Hold the phone and shut the front door! You're saying anybody off the street can judge me on what colour I'm wearing that day? That's ridiculous! And it is. As one critic of the pink-for-girls trend said, wearing head-to-toe black used to be a symbol of mourning, yet we don't ask a person if someone's died if they favour the colour. Why should pink be any different?

Cinderella was a fan of blue. Image: Pinterest

The 2000s ushered in a new kind of pink-promoting pop-culture. Legally Blonde, with the incorrigible Elle Woods, and teen flick Mean Girls, with the immortal "On a Wednesday's wear pink" line, helped to consolidate the idea that any self-respecting female held it in her best interests to wear pink loud 'n' proud.

Reese Witherspoon rocking pink in Legally Blonde. Image: Cosmopolitan

Despite all of the above, pink is finally being reclaimed as a colour for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. Millennial pink has risen from the ashes of the misinformed gender-based melee, and it's as inclusive as you like! Celebs such as Drake and Jay Z are notable fans of the colour, and have been snapped wearing it out a fair few times as well as in music videos. The stereotype that says pink is synonymous with femininity and sweetness is being discarded en mass. Solange's gorgeous video for Cranes in the Sky shows her wearing a selection of pink get-ups which transcend the mildly nauseating girly vibe perpetuated in the 2000s, and head straight for a new era of inspired rosy loveliness. As told by Stylist magazine, "Pink is the shade of the feminist revolution, radical femininity and the anti-gender construct zeitgeist." 

Solange in her Cranes in the Sky video. Image: YouTube

Where does that leave me and pink? Wherever you like! It's time to depoliticise and redefine the colour and knock it down a peg or two. It should no longer define you; it's time you defined it: as fun, classy, bold, sassy, powerful and individual— as long as it's up to you!

Our peachy Stone dress: pink 'n' proud!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Stainless Steel Straws and Saving the Planet!

Editor's Choice: 

Yeah, we've gone and done it, again. A brand new article with loads of easy, feel-good ways to make your home more eco-friendly. Access our new post here!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

8 Things I Hate About... Packing Badly For My Summer Holidays

8 Things You Need to Pack This Summer

Let's get real here my friends. Everybody, I repeat everybody, is familiar with that feeling you get when you're abroad, or even just 10 miles from home, and you realise you forgot something very important indeed. Now for some that's your favourite undies (or, shock-horror, any undies); it could be the framed pic of your cats, or your phone charger. We consulted with the M&M team to compile a list of 10 things you should never leave behind...

Liv wears our Gwen jumpsuit... In Cuba!

1   Mains adapter, 'cos like, duh, if you forget that you're not going to be impressed with yourself. Alternatively, leave it behind and let your phone die. Then just lie back and relish the feeling of being unreachable, just for a little while.

2   Shampoo, conditioner and soap bars. Stay squeaky clean and smelling great with these no-plastic travel toiletries and not for getting a handy perfume travel set.

3   Sunblock. Forgetting this baby is no joke, especially if you're a pale specimen.

Coffee in Cuba!

4   Antibacterial wipes or a good face cloth, because you never know when you'll run into an ill-maintained toilet. Also good for wiping yourself after you spill ice cream down your top. 

5   Small padlock in case you need to put something in a locker at your accommodation. 

6   Microfibre travel towel. Dries quickly and packs away small, too!

Lovely Liv is wearing our Mel dress in peach

7   A Kindle or similar, for quiet moments while travelling, or for those lazy beach afternoons.

8   Some sassy, versatile outfits for sunset dinners, city wanderings and veranda gatherings. How about checking out the SS18 collection on our website? One of our curated brands, BBoheme, also make the most gorgeous, sunny sandals. 

If we've forgotten anything, drop us a message and let us know. Happy holidays!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

What's On This Bank Holiday Weekend?

Where Will Bank Holiday Weekend Take You?

That's right, lads 'n' lasses: it's bank holiday weekend from the 4th to the 7th. While some people will be hurling themselves into the car at 6pm on Friday to speed off for a mini-break away, others will be oiling up the barbie and putting their feet up in the garden. Whichever you choose, take a quick look at our lil' list of some really cool stuff that's 

happening around the country this weekend. 

The Cotswolds

Close to home for us, the Cotswolds really come alive in the sunshine (especially with a cool glass of beer in hand). The Prince Albert pub in Rodborough are holding their 11th annual beer and music festival this weekend, offering "32 of the finest handpicked beers from across the country", plus gorgeous food from the Jamaica Inn Kitchen pop-up, and a lovely selection of equally delectable local music acts. 

Photo courtesy of University of Hull

Hull
The UK's City of Culture has a huge amount to offer in terms of stuff to do (as you'd expect). This weekend you can indulge your curious side with exhibitions on everything from Light and Colour at Studio Eleven, a collection of pieces centered around glass and its sculptural qualities, to the Hull Skateboard Festival at several different locations across the city. Another place worth checking out is the fruit market on Humber st, with lots of eclectic vintage shops and restaurants. 

Photo courtesy of The Telegraph

London
Deciding what to do when you hit London can be difficult. Luckily we've done some digging for you, so no stress! Here are a few ideas to contemplate while sipping a glass of something cold in your back yard...

Fashioned From Nature: an exhibition hosted by the V&A
Described as being "about the future of fashion – and the planet" by TimeOut, this awe-inspiring collection pulls together examples of nature in fashion from the 17th century to the present day. The V&A is famous for it's world-class events, and if you have even a passing interest in fashion, this sounds like one you wouldn't want to miss. Find out more here.

New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival 
Catch a selection of quirky films from all genres in a number of venues across London. The event is running from Friday to Sunday, so grab a blanket and head over! More info here.

KERB Does Alchemy
The Southbank Centre becomes home to a whole world of vibrant and spicy cuisine from India to Afghanistan. The event will host 29 traders, all cooking with a huge range of flavours and styles. If you think you can handle the heat, head over there now! We were especially taken with the mention of "pistachio butter orange glaze donuts". Count us in! More here.


What will YOU do with your extended weekend of freedom? Enjoy your May bank holiday!





Sincerely Madia & Matilda

We've Been Nominated For A Muddy Awards

https://glos.muddystilettos.co.uk/vote/womens-store/



Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Fashion Revolution Week - Meet The Team

Discover Madia & Matilda at the Ethical Fashion & Lifestyle PopUp. 

                We will be showcasing our collections at 

               39 Pepper Street, London, E14 9RP, UK.

Madia & Matilda is designed and produced in the beautiful Cotswolds by Shalize Nicholas. Shalize graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University after working within the industry for retailers and designers, such as Mary Katrantzou in Paris, Tesco's and Littlewoods. 

Set apart from the 'fast-fashion' industry, Madia & Matilda's chief objective is to create using zero waste ethics. Unfortunately, the fact that most fashion retailers view wearing the same clothes more than once as 'uncool' has negative effects on the environment. Clothes put into landfill create waste which takes years to biodegrade. We at Madia & Matilda oppose the rule that fashion is transient and disposable, and aim to produce garments with the lowest environmental impact possible.

What we are doing differently

Our brand was born from a wish to contribute positively to the idea of “slow fashion”. This view of fashion emphasises the importance of respect for the planet and the sources of the materials we use to make our garments. We hand-make all our clothes and have the greatest respect both for our workers and the materials we use. The clothes are made from recycled fabrics which might normally be thrown away. Some garments are up-cycled: transformed from old or unwanted garments to beautiful new ones. 

We also offer an alterations service in our shop, mending and adjusting customers’ worn and torn clothes to give them a new lease of life. 

Our clothes are intended to be timeless pieces to add to the customer’s existing wardrobe. In this way we like to think of our business as a kind of antidote to the rigid seasons-based fashion industry we are urged to subscribe to on the high street today.

Check our website for a general overview of what we do and to stay updated on our press releases. www.madiamatilda.co.uk

Opportunities 

Madia and Matilda provide opportunities for local and young people, encouraging them to gain experience. We work with universities and local colleges and initiatives, bringing production back to Britain. 

All our packaging is biodegradable and we recycle where ever possible.

Free registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kitty-ferreira-friends-ethic…to be kept up to date with in store events, from swishing to workshops.

Connect with our in store seamstress for repair, mend and alterations and details on each brand will follow shortly:) #whomademyclothes#fashionrevolution

QUIZ! Finding Your Personal Style

Simple As ABC? 

A few people out there have it all figured out: career, culinary prowess and crazy good dress sense. But what if you don't have a built-in clothing compass? What if you're still in the land of 'Can I wear black and navy together?' Take our quiz to find out which core pieces you should invest in as building blocks to your wardrobe.

Jasmine jumpsuit... Fresh out of the studio for Spring!

Our Felicity dress... Cute and Summery!

Send us a message on our website to let us know what you think of our quiz, 

we'd love to hear your results!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Wedding Season

Bride or Groom?

It's coming up to wedding season y'all. If you've been invited to anyone's big day, you'll want to start planning what you're going to wear. But for a lot of people it isn't as simple as seeing a dress in a shop with a reasonable price tag that fits like a glove and will miraculously go perfectly with your best shoes (we wish). So you're looking at the invitation and you read...

..."dress code is black tie..."
This is pretty standard order for weddings and fairly easy to shop for. It's usually agreed that for women this translates into either a long evening dress, one that finishes just below the knee, or a cocktail dress. The key with black tie dress is to keep it fairly simple and elegant— you don't want to outshine the bride! Our Katherine dress below also comes in pale blue and soft coral, perfect for a Spring wedding!

"...morning dress please..."

Formal day dress, essentially. You should aim for smart, elegant daywear, e.g. a dress or skirt with a jacket or long coat. Again, no thigh-high hemlines! You're not heading out for a night on the town, girl. If it's going to be hot (so probably not being held in the UK), you could opt for a shawl or wrap to put over your shoulders. How about teaming our Cordelia dress with a bright shawl to add a pop of colour?

"...please dress smart-casual..."

This can be a tricky one. If in doubt, always check with the organisers exactly what this means. However, if you know what the venue is and who the couple are, it shouldn't be too difficult to figure something out. Our Minnie skirt would work really well with a light blouse or shirt and jacket. The gorgeous yellow-mustard colour is perfect for any occasion. 

"...casual/themed dress..."
This can seem ambiguous but it all depends on whose guest you are! If the people walking down the isle are the 'go big or go home' type, feel free to get a bit adventurous, while taking care not to appear too formal. Have some fun with it, let loose! Make sure you read the invitation carefully and ask around to see what other people will be wearing. Our Abbie dress can be dressed up or down, depending on what the occasion calls for.

General things to remember

• You're not the bride: don't go for colours that are too loud or clashing that might make you the centre of attention by accident.
• Choose styles that are semi-conservative and respectful: if you're wearing a short dress with a massive slit down the side, eyebrows may be raised.
• Don't wear white! That's the bride's colour. In the case of two grooms, double check with the organisers.
• Have fun! Weddings are all about celebrating love, so feel free to dress like it!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Care of Cotton