If you’ve ever obsessed over a period in history, collected enough books to seriously think you need your own library room, daydreamt of candlelit cathedrals, been convinced your blood type is now TEA, had a thing for unnaturally vibrant red hair, wanted to step straight into a Waterhouse painting, or just really liked dressing in black then chances are we are going to get on just fine!
So, a bit about me. In a nutshell, I’m a Brit with a taste for the darker, vampy things in life! If you keep up with my comings and goings on social media then you’ll know I’m often found visiting castles, cathedrals, and ancient woodlands. That or I’m at home with my head in a book and brewing a steady supply of tea. Despite my rock n’ roll appearance, I’m a real introvert which sometimes surprises people (which works for me, as I’d hate to be predictable 😉 ) I really enjoy showcasing my style through carefully curated imagery and perhaps inspiring someone or introducing them to a new brand they’ll love.
As AMANDAGRAYINBLACK would imply, it’s safe to say that I have an affection for wearing a lot of black and my parents realised many, many moons ago that it really wasn’t ‘just a phase’. I’m still not sure how to describe my style but I keep coming back to the term ‘dark feminine’ due to the tones and styles that I’m drawn to.
Looking back…
My love affair with the magic of the English countryside really took hold in 2013 when I moved into a little stone cottage on the grounds of an Elizabethan manor house. It was pure MAGIC! I’d open my solid oak door to shy rabbits scarpering every which way and find curious roe deer peeking in through my kitchen window. I felt a bit like Snow White, just with stompier boots and a much taller housemate (my other half is 6’3″!)
I ran a small online business at the time called Lady Gray’s Emporium, selling loose leaf tea that incorporated dried flowers and herbs from my own cottage garden, as well as creating whimsical jewelry and accessories.
Later I would run another small business called Smoke & Velvet, which focused entirely on loose leaf tea blends with a dark and luxurious aesthetic. It was rather a dream job for this tea addict – you can only imagine the volumes I drank in order to test each blend…
If you’ve been around for a while then you will remember my modelling work too; from latex to band t-shirts – SUCH fun times. The support for my signed prints and calendars still means the absolute world to me. It is this work that I’m looking to get back to and build on after a break to focus on other things, so I welcome collaborations with brands who align with my style. Watch this space for the reopening of my print shop…
Despite running these businesses which kept me rather busy, I guess you could say that I was immersed in the concept of slow living long before I even came across that term and was living a very ‘dark cottagecore’ lifestyle in my countryside cottages. It really was a slower, more mindful pace, based around embracing the things that meant the most to me and brought joy to my life. This way of living is still very important to me and my sanity (ha – despite appearances I DO still have some shreds left, dear reader).
The here and now…
You can now find me in an old cottage in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, where I live with my love, Merlin the Siamese cat , and Rupert the Miniature Schnauzer . I’m still to be found wandering cathedral cloisters, filling my home with clouds of incense while I read or watch films, and I sometimes find my way in front of (and behind) the camera too; something I plan to get back to much more frequently.
I hope you will join me here and find this little corner of the internet inspirational, thought-provoking, or at the very least entertaining. Welcome to AMANDAGRAYINBLACK.
Now, do you take sugar?
Amanda ~x~
Categories: