photo taken thru a gallery window on Bond St., London
It was gloriously hot in Santa Barbara yesterday and it appears we’ve broken through the “June Gloom” and woken to sunshine again this morning-Hurrah!
Definitely time to start pulling out the summer slipcovers and accessories, storing winter’s garb and, yes, addressing the bathing suit drawer. Ugh. The horror. Forget that. Let’s go back to accessories.
Something I spotted in a magazine recently reminded me of this great vintage wicker “picnic basket” bag I bought years ago. I can’t even remember where, that’s how long I’ve had it.
I love the way it hinges open, the tiny pearls, the hand painted variegated leaves and the rich golden hue of the old wicker.
Raffia top hat, French, circa 1820
The growing collection of wicker and hats in my home is an ever changing tableau…just never the right one, and never where I left it!
Baseball hats (all 5,000 of them) are kept in a less visible area.
The tripod-y thing you see to the left in the wicker basket is a folding wicker seat with handles and a sharp metal end to stick in the grass.
May also be used to perch your Pimms in a pinch.
I believe they were made for cricket, or perhaps polo matches. Someone chime in if you know for sure, but let’s not wicker about it 
So adorable
Can you believe I didn’t have any girls???
Bridget Bardot
Douzten Krouse.
Not sure if that’s how you spell her last name, but whatever…like she needs to care.
It’s nice to gather hats for guests in a big wicker basket in your front hall for summer.
I think I used this image once before, but it bears repeating. So charming if not that easily accessible.
I like the random nature and hanging of this collection. One of the best things about wicker is that it is absolutely affordable for everyone.
You can make Pier One stuff look great with the right touch. If your wicker looks too new, set it outside for a few weeks-presto, instant old wicker.
At the other end of the spectrum, Dolce & Gabbana did some pretty artful things with wicker this season, including these madcap shoes
and wicker corset.
Talk about pride feeling no pain…
But really, who needs to sit down when you’ve invested this much into your look
I really loved the playfulness and Carmen Miranda vibe of this collection.
Snapped at the Marches aux Puces, Paris
and don’t even get me started on how much I love these. They’re like Campaign furniture made into shoes.
So, basically, two of my favourite things.
photo Cote Sud
and these. I’m fashion-dextrous don’t you know.
Kate Spade proffered a wicker armadillo
Ralph Lauren did a “Picnic basket-come-IT bag” last summer, but may I say that I like my vintage one much better
Yes, it’s lost a couple of pearls and a leaf or two but as it’s big enough to fit a bottle of wine, it could double as a picnic basket too!
~
Of course
it’s easy to pull just one piece of wicker into your abode for summer
Or you could opt for a total blast of it
like Anoushka Hempel did on her boat. SO “Indochine”. In fact, time to watch that movie again. by myself. The menfolk not at gunpoint.
How pretty are the shadows cast by the “roof” in this room?
“Jellyfish” wicker fixture. Sorry, lost the credit 
Vintage fishing baskets repurposed as outdoor lights, Vogue.
If I’d had the focus, time and the energy to organise a container at the Marches aux Puces in Paris last summer…
Oh, the damage I could have wrought. I mean how cool is this chair?!
And this turn of the century, pristine wicker conservatory seating? Also at the Marches aux Puces
I fear we just spent too many evenings keeping the wicker chairs at Hotel Costes warm.
That’s some good people watching there.
I did manage to ship a couple of Toureg “wicker” rugs home from Marrakech though.
More on those when the room is finished. Metal drum table from Pottery Barn.
And gathered a beautiful big ole wicker basket of loquats from my tree to make…jam? jelly? puree? The loquat remains an enigma. I washed them to make a puree and they started turning brown and rotten as fast as a peeled banana.
So, how about you? Do you have any great summer wicker design tips to share?
I’d love to hear.
xxSP
~
Header photo from Dedon Outdoor Furniture
~
Happily ensconced in my lovely hotel in NY, all travel turmoils forgotten (as you just read, haha) I was happy to hit the ground running.
Speaking of peeling…a wall down by my son’s neck of the woods reminds that “Art” is always in the eye of the beholder
Not sure if it was the heat, but I also decided to chop off my long hair. I will probably cut a few more layers still, but I was nervous to do anything too drastic all at once.
There were a lot of these going on already, but I was more in the mood for walking than shopping.
That being said, I did drop into Barney’s shoe department which was like a hill of fire ants. I feared for my life. Not enough to leave mind you, but I was mighty scared just the same. Aside from the predominance of fluorescents, yes, still (upcoming post) I’m guessing there’s going to be a lot of brogues, saddle shoes, and flats in the coming months. Adorable if you can carry them off. I saw Muiccia Prada in person recently and she was wearing a knee-length gingham dress, ankle socks and saddle-y brogues. Of course she is Muiccia Prada, worth 7 billion dollars due to her fashion sense and was on the cover of the NY Times Style magazine last weekend, but as much as I appreciate her iconoclasm, I have too strong a fear of looking like Betty Davis in “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” to attempt this look at my age.
One day, the designated meeting point with my son was at ABC Carpet down on 17th. Truthfully, I could have spent the day in there, but the weather was so divine it would have been sinful (and my son would have killed me) so we walked around downtown all day instead. Such great people/dog/window watching there, especially on hot days.
You may read more about Lotus Land in one of my older posts 
”Art” once again, in the eye of the beholder.
Two views of the “study room”
The Honesty Bar
*
Halls are hung with old maps and cool art, even the baseboards are blackboards where inspiration may be chalked up daily.
**
How fun is this custom carpeting in the rooms?! (yes, that’s my foot- for scale)
Plus these egg custard pastries are mandatory every day. It’s a Portuguese law.
Chanel Resort 2013
Chalkboard candles & Chargers both from Chalkboard China
there was some food involved…
It’s great fun to experience Tom Hank’s first time on the Broadway stage, in fact the entire cast is stellar
My Instagram pic (following yet?) of the Celine shoes that are starting to grow on me
Especially the “Birkenstock” version which FYI is already sold out in the black on black style.
Then there’s this casual little Walter Steiger heel for all you 
Where it’s every woman for herself (more crown-thorny shoes there too-not in my size 
We enjoyed a hearty brunch at 
menu board at il Buco
Then Son of Slim threw down with a short rib sandwich that quite frankly did his Momma proud.
via Il Buco website
The salted caramel gelato at Il Buco.
Where behind every gently wafting silken drape…
another gasp awaits
The attention to detail at Royal Mansour knows NO bounds
It’s how you spell luxe and then some.
One could wear the newest Dior dress I love so much and not feel overdressed.
“Le Bar” to end all bars
with walls panelled in reverse glass rose gold leaf
Photos do not capture the depth and beauty of the rose gold panels.
Are you getting the idea yet??!
The chandelier in the interior courtyard
We enjoyed a cocktail or two here in quiet awe, just listening to the birdsong, the tinkling of ice cubes and the heavy rustling of palm fronds in the wind.
“La Grande Table Marocaine” restaurant, with blue marble floors, is presided over by celebrated French chef Yannick Alleno.
I would probably choose this little number from Armani Spring 2013 should I be so lucky as to dine here.
Cool marble, embroidered water-silk taffeta, feathers & inlaid rosewood…cuhraazy
I don’t even know how to begin to explain the coffered ceiling in the “Chimney Lounge”
The Chimney Lounge, so named for the transparent glass fireplace that allows you to gaze upon the gardens through the flames while sipping your cognac.
Photo via Royal Mansour
Hand tooled leather walls
and rugs.
“La Grande Table Francaise” Royal Mansour’s French restaurant preparing for the evening.
A gecko candle holder, one of many crystal creatures crawling across the walls of the restaurant.
As dusk descends (yes, we stayed that long!) the hotel becomes even more magical
