The Swelle Life

Living Out of a Suitcase is Looking Pretty Good

2009-07-19T22:36:52+01:00

I thought since today was all about furniture shopping I'd keep with the theme. This cat bed from Vintage Renaissance is made from a vintage suitcase and mid-century coffee table legs and is just so cool. But the cat doesn't care, you can see that he's just dying to attack a piece of string he sees on the floor and is already over the whole modelling thing.

If only it was this easy to furnish our bedroom. After a day of looking at showrooms with a three year-old in tow (who at the moment thinks it's hilarious to get Mummy and Daddy angry and frustrated - her eyes light up and she smiles BIG at the first sign of exasperation) I'm about ready to resort to luggage, too.

Shameless Self-Promotion: Swelle Interview at Aspiring Couture

2009-07-19T22:05:45+01:00

On Friday The Swelle Life aka 'Me' was featured at Aspiring Couture, a blog with a big heart for emerging and independent fashion designers. Thank you to everyone who left a lovely comment, and much gratitude to Allison for thinking of The Swelle Life!

Aspiring Couture has recently launched an online boutique that sells the unique creations of the clothing, bridal, accessories and jewelry designers who have had spotlights on the blog. And as The Swelle Life has also got it bad for exciting indie talent I'll soon be introducing the Aspiring Couture boutique and its growing roster of new designers. So watch this space, especially if you're looking for an extraordinary wedding gown!

Marie-Antoinette Visual Overload

2009-07-17T18:01:31+01:00

I'm not really sure that Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette was a good film but this is one occasion where it matters not a whit. For it is a tasty feast for the eyes with breathtaking costumes from Milena Canonero and set design so enchanting that it could tempt you to trade places with Marie Antoinette, if only a spaceship could come rescue you sometime down the road from, well, you know.

For me, these pictures never get old.

Drown Me in LA Drama Queen

2009-07-17T00:39:07+01:00

It's late July, everyone is suffering in the sweltering heat and the humidity is so thick it's suffocating. You do the charitable thing and offer to take your nieces and nephews to the community pool for a dip in what is essentially raw sewage. What swimsuit do you take along for such an occasion? Something you won't mind pouring gasoline over and setting ablaze after you remove it, and certainly not a piece from LA Drama Queen.

The Los Angeles-based swimwear and intimate apparel designer creates showstopping suits, taking her cue from ultra-feminine vintage styles and incorporating such features as a built-in corset bra in the above 'Barbie' swimsuit. And better yet - you can actually swim in them. Though wouldn't you be a bit reluctant to get this insanely adorable 'Absyinthe' suit all wet?

A Decorated House is a Happy House

2009-07-16T00:52:26+01:00

Tonight I found another artist who loves Paris as much as I do (I'm referring to Fifi Flowers as the first, and I have a hunch there may even be more!). Donna Courtney of The Decorated House creates collages that completely satisfy the lust for romantic and hazy French antiquity and delivers it nice and compact so we can clutter our walls with the (seemingly) time-yellowed aqua and pink-hued delineations with the reckless abandon of Marie Antoinette.

The French writing that is featured in the first collage is from a note Donna found in a French book dating back to 1808. It's details like these that transform a piece of paper into a much-loved treasure.

Donna also creates mixed media pieces using found objects such as beautifully aged skeleton keys, old crocheted lace, metal birds, all of which are meticulously finished to look and feel like a piece of antique art:

Le sigh...

La Joie de Vivre, Fifi Flowers-style

2009-07-14T20:22:32+01:00

Parisienne Party Dress. Fifi Flowers

Just about everybody who has been to Paris has fallen in love with it. And the rest are likely just as smitten with the notion that lives within their imagination thanks to photographs and paintings that illustrate the best of what one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world has to offer.

The paintings from Fifi Flowers convey the playfulness, guilt-free indulgence and unapologetic passion that lives in the heart of Paris, its interiors and its people. How is it that simple lines and a vibrant colour palette can imbue the kinds of qualities that leave us hopelessly besotted? The answer lies in the heart, the hand and the eye of the artist who, who when I first saw her paintings, had me feeling the emotional equivalent of a wet puppy just out of the bath madly tearing around the house.

Red Bench Entry. Fifi Flowers

Fifi paints homages to other great cities as well and takes commissions where she works from your travel photographs or pictures of your house or business or even your pets, and makes them Fifi-esque. And she appears to be endlessly enamoured by flowers and beautiful interiors which are my favourite paintings of hers as I share the same longing to be surrounded by gorgeous and happy things.

And then she takes it even further. The saying goes "the home is where the heart is," and the ultimate home surely reflects those details we consider the key to a blissful existence. So it's only fitting that Fifi also provides an online decorating service which is as simple as sending her photos of the room you want to decorate. She then works within your budget to create colour renderings and floor plans of your new look, and provides photos of the items she envisions for your room and where to buy them.

Pink Mirror. Fifi Flowers

I wanted to know more about the Los Angeles-based artist and decorator so I delved a bit further into who is Fifi:

One can't help but notice that Paris figures prominently in your paintings; is it your favourite city/subject?

Paris...French things are a favourite of mine, for sure!! I studied French art and the Parisian art lifestyle while I was in art school. Once I graduated I went to Paris for a week, walked the streets and felt overwhelmed knowing I was where some of my favourite artists hung out. EXCITING!! I have yet to return, but the memories are still in my heart. I hope to return next year!

Your lively painting style conveys a fun and happy energy; who or what was it that inspired you to paint this way?

What inspired me to paint in the first place was the LOVE of art. My favourite artist is Henri Matisse. I wanted a painting in my home by him. Of course I cannot afford an original so I painted reproductions of his work. I have six or seven Matisse reproductions by moi hanging in my home. I enjoyed painting so much that I started painting my own paintings of things that surround my daily life. I LOVE colour and FUN, so that is what reflects in my paintings.

You also decorate home interiors. Do you seek to re-create the kind of aesthetic that you like to capture in your paintings or will you work in any style?

I do decorate homes and offices and I try to consider each individual in the home and the clients that will be in the office. I will not be living in the houses so they really MUST reflect the inhabitants of the dwelling. Everyone is so different with unique needs and wants. However, I do like to incorporate a painting in each project I work on and they are also to their taste. These days I do very little interior decorating because I am so busy working on my paintings or painting commissions, but I do some online decorating.

swelle.

Berry Cushions and Wine. Fifi Flowers.

Fifi's Happy Studio. Fifi Flowers

Cafe de France. Fifi Flowers

After spending a total of 10 weeks in Paris thus far I have to say that what is so wonderful about the city is that once experiencing it in person, it lives up to the expectations conjured during daydreams and then some (though sufferers of Paris syndrome - a bizarre reaction to disappointment once arriving in Paris that affects some Japanese tourists who require medical attention and counselling - would surely disagree!). So, to be able to put up a painting that captures the spirit of the city, whether it be a street scene or a turquoise chaise longe and look at it daily is a real treat. For my new house I'm now trying to decide which pieces of Fifi's collection will make me happiest; though that's a tough one - I find myself smiling ear to ear every time I browse her gallery. Vrai bonheur.

Pink Commode. Fifi Flowers

Today at the Beach I...

2009-07-14T18:29:34+01:00

...took some photos. And here they are! I'm trying to take advantage of an opportunity to be brief but I can tell you that this is King Edwards Bay in Tynemouth in the north east of England. And it's proof that the sun does shine in the UK! And the sun was hot. Although even in August just dipping your toes in the North Sea will numb your bits and make them fall off. That doesn't seem to stop the natives from diving right in, though. They are apparently immune.

Cupcake Monday!

2009-07-14T00:02:04+01:00

Ice cream cone cupcakes from Couture Cupcakes

There's Pancake Tuesday so why not Cupcake Monday! Mondays tend to wang (well, not for me because working from home means every day is kind of the same) but it's a dreaded arrival for office folk, a tribe I was once a part of. There is nothing more evil than the shrill ring of an alarm clock on a cold, dark, Monday morning. So hopefully this will add a little sweetness to your day.

I'm just coming under the wire as we near midnight, London time, but I just thought of it now! So every Monday look for The Swelle Life's weekly pick for cutest, most mouth-watering or most unique cupcake. Why didn't I think of this sooner? I ADORE them and judging by the explosion in cupcake shops and websites so does everyone else.

The debut featured palm-sized treats are from Couture Cupcakes at the Blushing Bakeshop, some of which are adorned with beautiful and delicate gelatin butterflies.

Have you made your own fabulous cupcake? Take a photo and send it to denise[at]swellebydenise.com and I'll feature it on Cupcake Monday! Or share with us a favourite cupcake shop in your neighbourhood or online. Or a special recipe! I apologise in advance for cravings this post most certainly will have spawned. My mouth actually just watered. Uh-oh.

Geeking Out at Chanel

2009-07-11T02:48:04+01:00

Sasha Pivovarova with Karmen Pedaru

Earlier this week I was in Paris to attend what was supposed to be two couture shows: Xuan-Thu Nguyen and Alexandre Matthieu. Then I was bumped from the latter by Vogue Italia! I was one of the last confirmed and they made requests after the list was closed and therefore I became the sacrificial fashion lamb. I was disappointed because I really admire the beautiful work of Alexandre Morgando and Matthieu Bureau and this was the first time they were invited to show during haute couture week. However, their people were very apologetic and asked for my understanding. And uh, yeah, I think I can understand why Vogue might have won out there. And I think it's kind of funny. Turns out I wouldn't have made the show anyway, I got in too late. So there.

Xuan-Thu Nguyen's superb collection deserves a post of its own so this one is about what I saw afterward, outside the Chanel show at Grand Palais. And this is where the geekery comes in. I couldn't care less about celebrities, unless it's Audrey Tautou or Vanessa Paradis or any other French actresses or singers. Haute couture favours the socialites who are the ones who buy from the collection and fashion editors and other big players in the industry, and it's those influential people I'm most interested in. Socialites slide right off my brain, however, but I was looking forward to seeing Daphne Guinness who must have been there but I didn't see her (and she's so much more than a socialite, it must be noted). Her cousin Jasmine was and she looked fantastic with her red lips, red belt and red seamed stockings (she never goes out without something red). And she paused for a photo when she saw me light up at noticing her but it blurred. Poo.

It rained while sunny and we got a rainbow over the Petit Palais across the street!

Before that, the same thing happened but with Mario Testino. I nearly died. He saw me gasp (I know, I know) and stood right in front of me, looked me in the eye and smiled. My heart was racing and my fingers were so shaky that the photo came out completely blurred. But I'm keeping it because you can still see that he was smiling. And what a smile it was. He's quite tall, too. He's a very charismatic presence.

And then it was like my fairy godmother granted all my wishes at once with a parade of style icons, editors, the models from the show and the most gorgeous Chanel haute couture dresses. One young socialite who couldn't have been more than 17 years old was wearing the most exquisitely detailed dress with lace and tulle and camelias which I believe is from the current collection (of course).

The Queen of fashion journalism: Suzy Menkes and her famous quiff.

I was so excited to see Suzy Menkes but I have to admit it was eclipsed when I turned around and Carine Roitfeld, Editor in Chief of French Vogue was right in front of me. (And if you don't know her you are probably thinking that's an unflattering photo but that's actually what she looks like. But we don't care, she's amazing. She's real, like French women tend to be.) I was expecting Balmain shoulders but she's already done that. Next.

My new prized photo: Carine Roitfeld

I know some of you who come by for the Paris photos and art are saying 'Who?' and others at the opposite end are saying 'Please. No need to crap your pants.' But this really is a big deal to me, these people are my Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce and whoever else everyone loses it over. They create fashion, and some of them ARE fashion. And by my reaction it would seem that this is an important thing to me. It stings but I missed Inès de la Fressange. This time.

But I didn't miss Anna Piaggi! And no one was taking her photo but me! How can you not photograph Anna Piaggi even if you don't know who she is? (And if you're there, how can you not?) She was whisked away in a waiting car, which was a Vogue car. Yes, it had 'Vogue' painted on the side. Speaking of Vogue, Vogue Italia's editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani went unnoticed as well (I wonder if it was her who got my seat at Alexandre Matthieu). I didn't take a photo because silly me didn't want to appear ravenous like some others out of respect (I must have confused a major fashion event with a funeral). But then the subjects became far too tempting and I remembered that I do write a fashion blog. And they are surely used to being photographed by now!

And this woman was something else, she was wearing a sheer dress with nothing underneath on top and had a much younger man on her arm. She hammed it up, flashing some leg and dancing around and then she changd her shoes with the help of her date who replaced her heels with these ratty flip flops! Awesome.

And now, the models. When Sasha Pivovarova appeared (header photo) - my favourite of the last few years as she filled the void Gemma Ward left but in her own way - people went absolutely apeshit. Imagine this, gasped in the most over-the-top male 'fashion' voice: "She's FANTASTIC!" Gasp. Moan. Gasp. "She's THE BEST!" More gasping and shaking of the head with mouth agape. And a little bit of drool. She was in FULL model mode and with that Chanel cap, the multi-strands and her attitude she gave everyone exactly what they wanted. Her intensity is really quite surreal. Her signature taken-from-a-psychotic-episode stare is a force of nature yet for that brief moment I wasn't sure what was in front of me was actually human. Here's an example if Sasha is new to you (I'm accommodating my non-fashion readers here because I love them):

More girls who just can't help being 'modelly' when off the clock:

She whipped out the cigarette and began smoking in one
fluid, overly-dramatic motion. She still reeked of tobacco, though.

I love this photo. They just keep on giving. Every movement
seems camera-worthy. Yulia, Tara Jean and I can't tell who is
on the left (many do look the same!)

Lara Stone. Her gift bag was bigger than that of a lot of the other models.

Remember, she's considered the 'normal-sized' girl':

Baptiste Giabiconi, who appears in every Chanel show for
some reason. Apologies to him for the laser eyes.

Elsa Sylvan

Magdalena. Stunning.

Shu Pei Qin. I cannot begin to describe just how gorgeous
she is in person. Especially when she smiles. She's so tall and I'd
say she presented as the most impressive out of all the models.

Oh, and I finally got to sit in Ladurée's dreamy bar and have my macaron cocktail! I went for the cassis. And it was only 22 euros! Ha. Seriously, it was. It was strong, as in alcohol, and that cream at the top while at first seems more fresh and milky than rich and creamy is deceptive. I got so full that halfway through I had to stop. Maybe I should have had it before I had lunch upstairs! I didn't know how I was going to finish it but despite feeling very uncomfortable I persevered - it cost 22 euros after all!

I finished all but a couple of sips. As I ventured out on Champs Elysees I thought at one moment I might throw up right there on the street. And if I had, do you know what my next words would have been? "I REGRET NOTHING!"

The Winner of the Fashion A-Z Giveaway is...

2009-07-10T19:19:58+01:00

The lucky winner of Fashion A-Z: An Illustrated Dictionary is Mary Jane! Congratulations Mary Jane! And thanks to everyone who entered, your answers as to which fashion detail is your favourite were fantastic and I think there were barely two of the same in the bunch! Reading them as they came in was a real treat and it served as a reminder of why fashion is endlessly enticing.

Mary Jane tells us her favourite detail is godet inserts, "they are so flattering!" I liked her answer because I had no idea what godet inserts are (the draw was random, just to clarify!). Something new to learn! So I looked it up in Fashion A-Z and there it was:

"A piece of material, typically triangular in shape, that is inserted into a garment to add fullness. Used on skirts, dresses, gloves and sleeves."

So that's what those are! I should mention that Mary Jane is the designer behind By Mary Jane, a unique line of bohemian and vintage-inspired, one of a kind handbags, jewelry and headbands.

Watch for the next contest coming soon!

Why Models Get Paid the Big Bucks

2009-07-10T01:00:17+01:00

Last month I won first prize of a contest that Dream Sequins hosted to mark her 100th post (a favourite blog of mine - it's great for discovering emerging designers). She asked if I'd do a photo with the prizes and I was only too happy to oblige - not just out of gratitude but because no one who has ever won a Swelle giveaway has granted that very request from me! So I know how much it sucks when people don't.

So I got an outfit together to show off what I won (see below). I thought I'd make one of those happy 'surprise' faces which I tried out in the mirror a few times and it seemed to work. A bit goofy but fun. So I thought. After Other Half snapped a bunch of photos they looked okay. On the tiny screen of our camera. But once I had a look at them full size I realised just how misleading those thumbnails were. As you can see above, the 'surprise' face lacks the smile/ooh! combo I had practised and thanks to what appears to be a hugely oversized tongue that despite efforts just can't be contained it looks like a rude gesture if only my left hand was closer to my mouth. And that pose was supposed to convey energy, like a forward momentum propelled by my unbridled enthusiasm. Which apparently was all in my head.

So, yet another situation where I find that modelling isn't as easy as it looks. I swear, it didn't really look like that in person! I guess I just have to accept that I don't have a photogenic tongue.

Just for the record, I was thrilled to win this contest. I NEVER win anything. In fact, the last time I won something was kindergarten. Which would also make it my first. It was Halloween and there was a draw for a huge pumpkin. I remember it being the size of a boulder. I'm sure it wasn't really that big but it was definitely substantial. My teacher offered to drive me home and I think my mother picked me up from school then but I took the ride anyway (duh). So of course my mother wasn't home when we got there and we had to wait in the car for a few minutes until she was. That was uncomfortable. So much so that I can still recall it now. Which reminds me of the time I missed the bus in grade 5 so my cool British principal, Mr. Wolfe, put me on the back of his motorcyle and took me home! Ha, can you imagine that happening now?

What was I talking about? Oh right. So here's what I won: a limited edition "Garfield" tote from Stand Up Comedy (my right arm); Envirosax shopper courtesy of Shopflick (my left arm); LucyJ flip mirror from Brittique (what I'm holding up, it's so cute); Mini-bag and lookbook from Chree (in the shopper bag); knit armwarmers from NIT: FELT: PHRAME (love them) and two bamboo jersey headbands from The Battalion (I'm wearing one which you can't see in the photo but they feel awesome, they are beyond soft. Do they make bras?).

Does anyone still wonder why I don't do styled posts?

Xuan-Thu Nguyen's Blooming, Foxy Haute Couture

2009-07-06T00:58:07+01:00

I've taken a bit long to follow-up my interview with Xuan-Thu Nguyen with looks from her haute couture show in January, but the timing is just right as I'm leaving for Paris tomorrow to attend her Fall/Winter haute couture show on Tuesday (and yes, I'm stupid with excitement) and this makes for a nice teaser/prelude.

If you read the interview you know what makes Thu's garments so special is the detail, which goes beyond simple embellishment. Many of the looks she sent down the runway for her spring/summer show began as one thing and transformed into another - specifically, jackets and dresses that bloomed when unsnapped. And then there's the fox stole made entirely of flowers:

When I think of haute couture I think of exquisite detail upon exquisite detail, a piece of clothing that at first glance blurs the eyes and leaves you compelled to stare in the hopes of unravelling the glorious chaos. Xuan-Thu Nguyen delivers this with an undeniable joy.

These colours combined with the various smocking techniques
and those strippy bows is just delicious

A 'fox' capelet

I love how the shoes give a hint as to what's
hidden beneath the snaps of the dress (header photo)

Notice the subtle embroidery on the top.
The print on that skirt is a dream.

What a stunner. Both the front and back offer something
beautiful and unique with the elegant ruching and those
strips that are somehow chaotic and sublime at once:

Here's the video of the show where you can see some of the detail a bit better and watch the clothes transform:

When I visited Thu's boutique in the Marais in April I got to see her couture necklaces which look fun at first glance but they are much more than that. They take four days to make - each 'bead', like an exquisite ball of twine, is created by hand and the technique is the designer's secret. In fact, a major retail chain copied Thu's design but made them cheaply and no surprise, they fell apart and had to be recalled after a week. H. and. M.

The metallic fibres and the thick, wooly yarn each offer their own
wonderful texture, and they feel lovely on

Little fabric dolls that are fun as brooches

Those shoes - the ones I love so much I asked Thu
if I could use them for my banner!

A jacket with exquisite broderie anglaise

I'll report back fromt the show Tuesday night, hopefully with some good photos! Bisous!

Ript, Poked and Deflected

2009-07-04T01:31:44+01:00

Boing Boing has come up aces today with a trio of goodies that I must share. First off is the 'Hypolux Chandelier' made of plexiglass plates and commercial syringes (I'm not quite sure what a 'commercial' syringe is but it might mean it doesn't have a needle), from Bughouse. It is really cool and kind of sickening all at once.

Next up is the Anti-Papparazi Clutch by [AH] Projects. That's right, it is meant to ruin unwanted celebrity photos and it works by detecting camera flashes and responding with another flash that obscures the photo and gives the subject a kind of Pulp Fiction open briefcase effect. Adam Harvey's website doesn't actually show the bag itself which exists as a prototype and is patent-pending. The designer says he is seeking investors. Well, that might be tough because the potential market is miniscule. First, no 'regular' person has a use for it; and second, we're all on to the fact that the most papped stars put themselves in front of the camera.

However, I do buy that Twilight's Robert Pattinson really isn't loving being stalked 24 hours a day by fans or paps so maybe he should start carrying the clutch. He can start the trend.

I saved the best 'til last. Get a load of this. Ript is "a classic men’s undershirt injected with steroids" created by a designer for Diddy's Sean John label. I don't know about you, but I'm attracted to a guy who is intrigued by a salespitch that uses "injected with steroids" to sell their product. It's like Spanx for guys and acts as a compression garment so the moobs and jelly belly are minimised. Right. A guy with a B-cup who looks to be carrying twins is going to be buying this. It's never the people who need it that buy it. It's the guy who goes to the gym five times a week and cuts out carbs who will drown in his own saliva at the prospect of looking even more cut in his tight t-shirts.

I'd like to point out what Boing Boing also found amusing - instructions for how to put on the RIPT shirt:

This is especially funny considering that according to the Ript website the designer has "mastered her understanding of what appeals to the most sophisticated and discriminating men." Who need instructions on how to get dressed.

These come in XS. I'm so getting one.

Jena Ardell's Dreamy Summers 'Past'

2009-07-02T23:21:04+01:00

Diver by Jena Ardell

Hazy, washed out photographs that appear like a faded memory make me nostalgic for my childhood, even if the subject matter doesn't quite fit my own experience. Like this candy-coloured attraction-filled pier below that has me asking if it even ever existed; it looks right out of a child's fantasy. And I mean the good, pure kind of eras past that is devoid of corporate sponsorship and the scourge of animated characters that have their own breakfast cereals and clothing lines. Hard to believe then that these were all taken today, though I'm happy and willing to buy that fact.

These photos are polaroids from the Summer Love series from photographer Jena Ardell whose work I was introduced to thanks to a contest happening at Constant Cravings. The prize is a print of Homage and the contest closes July 5.

The pool scene above reminds me of David Ho ckney's A Bigger Splash which is one of my most favourite paintings in the whole world. A nicely framed poster of it sits on my wall and never fails to replicate that dreamy feeling for me. Diver does it for me as well and frankly so does Ardell's entire Summer Love series.

Ardell is from California and that neatly fits the 'perfect summer' depicted here - who wouldn't have guessed these are scenes from the 'Sunshine State'? After all, it's an idyllic and romantic notion that we who are not from California all seem to share. But it so happens that 90% of Ardell's beach shots were shot on the east coast which she reveals in an interview with Feaverish Photography.com. She offers an explanation of this and I love the last line - it sums up perfectly the innocence and simplicity of our own childhood summers:

The spirit of Summer isn’t in California because Californians do not know what it is to miss Summer. Most native Californians actually despise the Summer months because to them Summer represents heat waves, rolling blackouts and wild fires. Plus, there is a phenomenon known as “June Gloom” when the Marine Layer gives California gray, depressing skies for a month. Meanwhile, on the East Coast, temperatures are slowly climbing and children are dreaming of Dairy Queen and lightning bugs.

I spent most of my summer days playing outside in the sun in our small southern Ontario town with the neighbourhood kids (I remember one day when I was about seven years old and it was so hot I came in and changed four times trying to find something cooler so I wouldn't have to come inside) and if there was a promise of Dairy Queen in the evening that just made my day. The one we had at the time was hardly more than a shack and there was always a line working its way out both sides of that metal framed ice cream stand. I always got a raspberry Mr. Misty and sometimes an ice cream sandwich. Writing this I can actually smell the mix of ice cream and flavoured syrup in the air.

Thanks for the memories, Jena.

Swelle Giveaway! Fashion A to Z: An Illustrated Dictionary

2009-06-30T14:48:28+01:00

I'm all excited about this giveaway, I have this book myself and it's something that I think every fashion lover and student should have. It's especially helpful for us fashion bloggers who time and time again find ourselves plotting along just fine in a post until we want to describe a particular detail on a garment and we have no idea what it's called! It sounds so much better to say "epaulettes" instead of "those loopy things on the shoulders."

So thanks to Laurence King Publishing, I have a copy of Fashion A to Z: An Illustrated Dictionary to give to one lucky reader! It covers every detail, accessory, garment and costume you can imagine and gives a brief history of the item so it's a great way to expand your fashion brain. Writer and designer Alex Newman wrote the book and the fun illustrations that brighten each page are by renowned fashion illustrator and designer Zakee Shariff.

To enter the contest*, answer the following question in the comments section of this post:

What is your favourite fashion/style detail? (Like ruching, a boater hat, or cashmere for example. Anything that makes a garment or accessory special or is a standout piece.)

*If you re-post this giveaway on your blog and provide the link with your answer you will get an extra entry. I will also count RTs on Twitter as second entries as well. I will go in and put a '2' in your comment once I've seen it!

The contest will run until midnight (London time) Thursday, July 9 and the winner, chosen at random, will be announced on Friday. Anyone, anywhere, can enter!

Good luck!

Louise Black's Victorian Beauties for Shrimpton Couture

2009-06-29T16:05:55+01:00

My favourite vintage shop, Shrimpton Couture, has embarked on an exciting venture and enlisted the talents of a handful of carefully chosen independent accessories designers to create one-of-a-kind capsule collections for the boutique. Each is known for using special vintage materials that befit their own unique style and their creations are the perfect complement to the outstanding collection of vintage and reworked clothing that Shrimpton Couture offers.

The latest set of adornments comes courtesy of Louise Black whose richly detailed Victorian pieces favour delicate vintage laces and fringe and exquisite beadwork. The story goes that Courtney Love - a client of both Louise and Shrimpton Couture - suggested the two collaborate!

How I missed posting on the recent collection from The Glamourai I have no idea because I was completely smitten at first glance. It was influenced by the Sofia Coppola film Marie Antoinette and certainly captured the decadent, feminine styling at its best. My favourite piece went before it was even in the shop due to a frenzied reaction to a preview, so it's now with a lucky owner but I'm going to show it anyway:

However, somehow this piece is still available and is equally as luscious:

And a little something for the wrist, perhaps?

Modelled by The Glamourai herself along with another stunning
neckpiece that got snapped up immediately

Watch the Shrimpton Couture boutique for two more mouthwatering jewelry collections arriving soon. And fashion fans won't want to miss the Shrimpton Couture interview for Herald de Paris in which Norma Kamali answers questions from twitterers (tweeters? I'm not sure) including one from Yours Truly about the future of vintage. You can read the article here

Turkish Delight: Eat it or Wear it?

2009-06-28T23:25:49+01:00

I saw these gorgeous Erickson Beamon Turkish delight coin earrings and I couldn't help but think of Big Turk, that Turkish Delight chocolate bar from Nestlé that I think is only available in Canada. Why that is I have no idea because I have never, ever seen anyone eat it. But someone must be or they wouldn't be selling it. "A delicious combination of jelly and chocolate" is how the Nestlé website describes it. When I could have bitter chocolate, and chocolate with almonds and mint and those hard toffee Skor bars that can rip out your molars but are so worth it, why would one choose Big Turk?

Okay, I can't believe this. My husband just walked over, looked at my screen and exclaimed "The BIG TURK!!" and nodded with an ear-to-ear smile. I just about fell off my chair and he said "How can you not like the Big Turk??" He's the one! He's keeping the Big Turk in business! Just when you think you know someone. So I asked him if he misses it since we're in the UK. He said "No, I'm not so sure I would like it so much now, I think it would probably be too sweet. But then again maybe the Turk wasn't too sweet. I'll have to get one when we go home. It was like two treats in one. You could eat the chocolate off the outside and then you were left with the chewy jelly."

Wow. I don't know if I should be there to witness this reunion or let them be alone together. But now I'm curious and I may have to crash their party and see for myself.

Uh, anyway, aren't the earrings gorgeous? I think the second style is my favourite, but the first matches the colours of the Big Turk packaging and that must count for some bonus points.

Erickson Beamon has put out a ridiculously gorgeous collection for spring/summer and I have to show my other two favourites: the gem embellished cuff and bangle:

Sorry, no chocolate bar analogies for these ones.

Jonathan Saunders' Happy Resort

2009-06-28T14:51:38+01:00

You would think by the look on Alyona's face that she'd been asked to hold a cockroach in her mouth. But not even such a sour face can ruin the exhilarating effect of the vibrant palette that featured in Jonathan Saunders' Resort 2010 collection.

It's this combination of his usual happy hues and beautiful fabrics - particularly the floaty chiffons - that made me slobber all over my keyboard when I saw his Spring 09 collection and it's that softness that I missed in the fall offerings (though there were some great stand-out pieces). And there's variety in the looks. For example, I think British Airways should adopt this outfit as the new uniform for their female flight attendants:

And the delicate chiffon ruffles that finish these skirts are just the sort of thing I cringed at as a child when my mother surprised me with a new, ultra-feminine dress. So it's a bit ironic that I'd now gladly take a wardrobe full of them in equally girlie colours:

Everyone needs a few cardies, at least one that's rather nondescript to go with just about anything, and a happy one that brings a smile to your face and brighten your mood. This is my pick of the season:

Moving On: Burberry's Not So Traditional Trenches

2009-06-27T16:44:54+01:00

I know that the trench is a staple piece of any woman or man's wardrobe (if you're into that sort of thing) but as a jacket/coat fanatic it's the one style I don't really own. I have something that is sort of a trench but a bit fancier, though certainly nothing that would render me akin to a British WWI army officer.

If I was to ever decide I had to have a proper trench coat, the ultimate would obviously be an Aquascutum or Burberry, though at £500 for the most basic of the offerings of the latter, for me it's a tough sell. Never mind not having the cash, if I did I'd want a bit more bang for my buck. (I've mixed British currency with North American currency slang there. That's what you get from a Canadian living in England.) It's details that sell me and epaulettes and wind flaps just won't cut it.

Burberry's past few collections have caught my eye but more for the complementary layering and styling of the looks rather than stand-out individual pieces. But Christopher Bailey's latest re-interpretation of the trench for Resort 2010 have me standing at attention and saluting (and this time it's not a one-fingered salute). It's that familiar palette of rainy day shades but the details are undeniably bright and cheery, and definitely feminine - unevenly ruched seams, puffy sleeves and lush pleats. And they bear no relation whatsoever to a WWI army officer.

The September Issue Trailer Has Arrived

2009-06-26T14:10:39+01:00

Wow. That's not the most flattering screen capture. The film that has all of us fashion freaks giggling with anticipation - besides Coco Avant Chanel - can be now be seen in sound bytes and quickly spliced clips, otherwise knows as The Trailer.

The September Issue treats us to an all-access pass to the Vogue offices, including Anna Wintour's (love how it looks exactly like Miranda Priestly's office in The Devil Wears Prada, if there was any doubt as to the 'inspiration' behind the film) so we get to witness all of the madness that comes with putting THE fashion issue of the year together. And I assume in the end we'll be quite happy to have viewed it all from the outside.

The U.S. release date is August 28, 2009 and will coincide with the September 2009 issue of Vogue. Of course. I can't wait to eat this one up.

Au Revoir, Farrah

2009-06-25T18:28:06+01:00

No need to say what you already know. Goodbye to the last pin-up in recent memory that didn't have implants. We'll always remember you for your hair, The Burning Bed, your marriage to the Six Millions Dollar Man, Letterman and a smile that reminds us why the 70s were so great. You were my first iron-on T-shirt. So long, Farrah.

What I Saw On a Stroll One Night in Paris

2009-06-25T02:00:05+01:00

I wanted to call this post simply One Night in Paris but someone ruined that for me. These photos are what we saw along the way when we walked from our flat in the Latin Quarter down to Rue Mouffetard one evening in April. It was light when we headed out:

The Pantheon

Detail of the Pantheon

I, uh, don't know

The steeple of I don't know

The street off Rue Mouffetard where we ate

Down a bit we found some street art by Jef Aerosol, with random scribbles by the less inspired who likely just stopped to take a whiz and happened to find a black Sharpie in their pocket:

If you're familiar with automatic writing and/or a fan of André Breton and Surrealism you may be interested in the Hotel des Grands Hommes. Breton lived there and created surrealist automatic writing with Philipe Soupault. There they wrote Les Champs Magnetiques, Surrealism's first literary work. (I can't not mention this - when I first wrote 'automatic writing' I actually wrote 'automatic thinking' which is making me laugh because it seems to be a process that eludes me as of late!)

I'm not really sure why it says 1919-1989 since the hotel is obviously still there.
Or is my lack of capacity for automatic thinking causing me to miss something?

Heaven is Macaron Cocktails at Ladurée

2009-06-23T18:39:44+01:00

I was going to post my photos of the bar at the Champs Elysées Ladurée - the epitome of the French/macaron/pastry/girlie experience - but they came out slightly blurry because I was trying to sneak them. It just seemed too gauche to take pictures in such a breathtaking wonderland of sugary delights. So instead I give your theirs; it's what the bar in heaven must look like. I was standing right at the door when the bar opened, queuing to get some macarons at the shop and lamenting the wait time for the cafe (I made up for it a few days later when a friend came to visit) and my eyes nearly fell out when I looked into the room. And guess what they serve there? Macaron cocktails!

I am going to be in Paris in a couple weeks, alone. I am not averse to going for a drink by myself if it means having a macaron cocktail. But what if I want a second? Does that border on rather sad? Maybe if I drink four or five I won't care about appearances. Actually, that's a given.

Let's not stop there. There's too much Ladurée dreaminess to share:

One of the rooms upstairs at the Champs Elysées location

I had the Saint Honoré fraise and pistache and nearly died.

Ladurée Bonapart

Ladurée Bonapart

The spring/summer collection for packaging

Ladurée at Harrods in London

Ladurée Lausanne

Oh, why did I do that to myself as I'm about to eat a cheeseburger...

Zaha Hadid Does Architectural Shoes

2009-06-23T13:42:06+01:00

Lacoste has partnered with renowned architect Zaha Hadid to produce a line of shoes that push that boundaries of footwear. You may remember Hadid as the creator of the revolutionary art pavillion that housed the Chanel 2.55 handbag tribute exhibition. (Or you know her well and are giving me a big 'DUH!' right now.)

Born from a digital interpretation of the iconic logo of the brand, the shoes are crafted from Italian calf leather and printed in relief realized by heated metal plates. “Wrapped around the foot, these shoes adapt in an ergonomic way to the shapes of the body" explains Hadid. The run is limited to 850 pairs which will be sold exclusively at colette from July 20th. No price has been given. Most likely to avoid a collective gasp around the world.

That's all the info colette provided and I can't find anything on Hadid's site. I think we deserve more! How do they stay wrapped? Are they unisex? What colours will be available? Will I be able to leap over tall buildings in a single bound?

The Men's Cropped Suit Jacket: It's About Time

2009-06-22T20:14:59+01:00

This post is dedicated to my husband. Whenever he has to put on a suit it's torture. They're hot and you can't shed the tie and loosen the collar unless it's late into the evening at an event where everyone is too drunk to care, like a wedding. Or a funeral. But for the guy who is attending meetings and speaking at conferences where a few beads of sweat is unsightly and well, really gross, this version created by Bruno is a godsend. It's cropped nice and high, has bracelet, or I guess 'watch-length' sleeves and the pants are more like culottes - allowing the arms, calves and stomach to breathe, and be seen!

I think the exposed thong might be pushing it a bit but then again, never say never!

Source: Towleroad

Unheard of in High Fashion: Dolce & Gabbana to Cut Prices

2009-06-22T16:53:15+01:00

This is good news. It means that someone out there is finally getting a clue that dropping quality while raising prices is a formula that along with making us vomit with rage just isn't good long-term business practice. Dolce & Gabbana are going to reduce their prices by 10 - 20% while maintaining creativity and quality, according to WWD. The cuts will be applied to the upcoming spring collection for both the main line and D&G, and will continue indefinitely.

Stefano Gabbana tells WWD, (while wearing Crocs!), “In this moment of uncertainty, people spend more willingly on travel or spas rather than on a new dress. We want to work for the final consumer.”

WWD gives evidence of the lower prices in specifc items which is actually far greater than a 10 or even 20% reduction:: "A pair of five-pocket jeans for spring will sell for $450 (for spring 2009 they cost $695); a dress will cost $1,469, down from $2,295; a leather bomber jacket will be priced at $1,499, compared with $2,296, and an iconic stretch silk tulle corset dress will go to $3,589 from last year’s $5,200."

So, the news gets even better, although I still won't be able to afford anything. Even the 'cheap' jeans, I'd feel like a tool spending $450 on. My butt would have to look so spectacular that the angels in heaven would sing and fairies would fly out of the back pockets, waving their wands and showering me and everyone in the vicinity with magic fairy dust.

But let's not leave on a sour/goofy note; it looks like these two deserve some major credit. To achieve the cost-cutting while keeping the quality of the materials, construction and design high, they talked their suppliers and manufacturers into a collective, cost-efficient approach across the entire supply chain. And they stress that everyone, from button suppliers to mills to manufacturers, is doing their part. In addition, the designers’ usual selection of hundreds of fabrics was dropped to dozens that will be served up in a more far-ranging palette, while constructions will be simpler. For example, Dolce and Gabbana worked hard to develop alternative stitching techniques that are innovative, but reduce manufacturing costs.

“The idea is to peel off the superfluous because there are too many clothes, too many seasons, too much advertising — too much of everything that is tacked onto the final price. We want to go back to how things were 20 years ago. It’s about drawing the line,” said Domenico Dolce.

Sounds great! Who's next?

Urgent Appeal to Canadians to Save a Little Girl's Life

2009-06-20T17:38:29+01:00

This gorgeous little girl is Julia D'Innocenzo, the niece of a childhood friend of mine. She is two years old and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. She has leukemia with an MLL rearrangement. The MLL rearrangement makes her odds of beating her disease much less. Her only hope is to get back into remission and then have a stem cell transplant.

Unfortunately, her last treatment of chemo didn't work and the leukemia has returned. Her aunt describes how dire her situation is on Julia's Facebook page:

"The doctors have said that they are running out of options. Everything left is very, very experimental. If she can find a match she will have more options, and possibly beat this. I cannot emphasize enough how important finding a match is to Julia's life. She is almost 3 and deserves a very happy, healthy life and she can't have that without a match.

Please please please tell everyone you know, especially friends and family to join One Match today. Julia needs you and so does her family and everyone who loves her!"

Need to know more? You can read The 6 Biggest Myths About Marrow Donation

There's no time to waste and if you even have a fleeting thought about registering for a match to help Julia, PLEASE follow it up and JOIN One Match now. Also, know that you are registering to see if you are a match and would only be donating if you are found to be - it is very hard to find a match.

And Stacie from San Francisco urges her fellow Americans to participate as matches may be found in other countries:

"If you are in the United States I do want to share that this weekend and Monday are the final 3 days of the "Be The Match" Marrowthon here in the United States. I know that the registries are cross matched for patients worldwide so if anyone knows people who live in the States please let them know that for the next three days EVERYONE (including Caucasians) in the U.S. can test FREE of charge if they order a home test kit online:

http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now_Special/Marrowthon09/join_now_mt09.html

The Marrowthon runs from June 8-22 or until 46,000 new registrants join Be The Match. Normally testing for ethnic minorities and mixed ethniciities is free due to a federal grant but Caucasians are charged a fee that typically ranges from $25 to $52.

The Be the Match website here in the U.S. says roughly 50% of matches are international so it's very possible for Julia to find her match here in the U.S."

You can check Julia's Facebook page for updates. With your help they may be happy ones.

Designer Series, Knitwear: Totes and T-shirts

2009-06-19T23:53:16+01:00

Our prolific knitwear student from Central Saint Martins, Cynthia F. has been neck deep in yarn since we last saw her. She was paired with a Final Year CSM knitwear student, Frida Hulten - who will working at Mulberry when she graduates and - to assist up to and throughout the graduate show. Cynthia knitted a dress and half a jacket for her and hopefully we'll get to see photos of those pieces. Cynthia says the collection features lots of bubble shapes so I am all into that.

Then came two competitions. The first was to design a fashion illustration for the tote bags for London Fashion Weekend and Cynthia came up with what you see to the left. If you've been to London you'll surely recognise the 'Gherkin' building that makes up the hat (if you've been following along you know how she loves to take inspiration from architecture). Very cool.

The project for the other contest was to create a T-shirt using an existing one, and the garments were sold at a one-day exhibition to raise money for Oliver, a boy who was about to enroll into first year for Fashion Print but was stabbed in East London. He was left paralyzed from the neck down and will need treatment and medication for the rest of his life.

Cynthia wanted to stick to her knitwear background for this garment so she created a lush collar made of interwoven links of super-thick yarns of varying textures and shades:

Cynthia wasn't at the exhibition but was told her T-shirt was gone very early on and said it was "either sold already or they lost it, or it’s just somewhere lying around..." It think it was sold, Cynthia! (How modest.)

Next time we'll see the project she worked on with The Siblings designer Syd Bryan where she tried out some new techniques. And this one I cannot wait to see: a lingerie project for which she has to knit the lingerie. She's going against her usual style and going 'girly and sweet' to make a lingerie set that is Marie Antoinette inspired (she recently watched the film. If you have not seen it and love fashion it is a must-see for the costume alone). The set will consist of a babydoll, high waisted pants, suspenders (or garters) and stockings and will be photographed in a shoot.

Watch this space!

Want to catch up on the series? Click here.

SSP: Swelle Interview at Dream Sequins

2009-06-18T16:13:14+01:00

SSP = shameless self promotion. How can there be any shame in being featured on one of the greatest fashion blogs out there and one of my most favourite daily reads, Dream Sequins? It's all about exciting, emerging designers and the lovely lover of fashion behind it supports her fellow fashion bloggers like no other. One of the ways she does that is with her feature Five Questions for My Favourite Bloggers and I'm honoured that she chose me for this installment.

You can read the interview here and be sure to take a look around if it's your first time at Dream Sequins. Or I'll crash your dance class!

Coco Avant Chanel: The Trailer

2009-06-18T13:18:39+01:00

It looks like Coco Avant Chanel is going to be released in the UK on July 31 and word has it September 25 is the US date.

I noticed that the supporting quote at the end comes from Grazia. Not UK Vogue. Interesting...

Luckily it opened in France the day before I left Paris - I so wanted to see it in Paris - and I caught a matinee which I wrote about here, or more accurately I blubbered all over my blog (I was a bit emotional about having to leave).

I highly recommend it. Well, duh!

(Email subscribers: click the header to get to the site and view the video!)