With the romantic pressure of Valentine’s Day well behind us
(but hopefully still a few chocolates left) we can move on to something truly important;
FASHION!!
Between trying to keep up with the Winter Olympics, ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘House of Cards’ (husband; finished, me; Fail) and, lest we forget, plain old Real Life, staying on top of all the shows during NY & London Fashion Week this season required a supremely valiant effort.
Sometimes a girl’s just gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
You strap on that (hand painted) helmet and forge ahead.
There were oh SO many heart-stopping collections but one of my favourites took place just a couple of days ago at “Burberry Prorsum”.
Christopher Bailey knocked it out of the park for me with his “Bloomsbury Girls” Fall 2014 collection.
A couple of months ago I was asked to weigh in on what trends I was hoping to see prevail in terms of Fashion this Spring and my answer was;
“Keep an eye out for an exuberant abundance of colour, texture and pattern. Take a break from clean lines and mix…”
Of course for me it’s never just about one subject :-)
I’ve also been feeling the same way about interiors. Now first, let me say that I appreciate the spare beauty of a mininalist room as much as anyone, except perhaps John Pawson, but I’m starting to fear we’ve become so focused on the ‘coolness’, dare I say safety of the almighty ‘clean line’ that the soul of interior spaces appears to be drifting away.
I’ve a sense of longing for the well layered space again.
Rooms that feel utterly lived in, proudly displaying the history and personality of their inhabitants.
In other words, where’s your stuff, people?!!
I’m not by any means advocating the acquiring of Things for acquisition’s sake, I’m simply wondering how all of a sudden it became so déclassé for living spaces to actually look lived in?
Who amongst us doesn’t have a huge pile of unread books & magazines, an overly used and frayed chair, or items worth virtually nothing, yet priceless with memories?
Who hasn’t had a puppy that’s left a little memory (or two)?!
Dan Marty
But not to veer off track too much (well, it wouldn’t be me, would it?)
I simply loved the mad exuberance of Bailey’s collection. The mix of florals, lace & leather. The luxuriously long scarves tucked into skinny knotted belts. The whimsically hand painted oversized bags-impractical as their handles and heft may be…the baggie open-toed ankle boot reminiscent of vintage Vivienne Westwood’s Buffalo Girls again
( Viv IS having her moment, isn’t she?!)
Elle Decor
Tamara Comolli ocean jasper coconut bracelets and ring in sterling silver would be perfection with this collection.
“Yvonne Printemps on the Sofa”: Edouard Vuillard – 1919-1921.
Lou lou de la Falaise living room
Who doesn’t love a room that feels comfortable in its own fabric?
A ‘house’ is a roof over one’s head. A ‘home’ tells a story
As does the way we dress
(although, speaking for myself these days, not exactly a bodice-ripper)
Edouard Vuillard
A cozy Sunday afternoon in front of the fire.
I don’t have to tell you why my ottoman has a Suzani over it.
Homes have their little secrets as well as stories 
Carpetbagger
A wall of fine majolica.
And in gold. Sigh.
Burberry Fall 2014 finale lead by Cara Delevingne
Mix, don’t match
via Elle Decor
Viva la Exuberant Abundance!!
Inspired? Encouraged?
Exhausted?
Me too!
xoxSP
~
One Year Ago: Heads Up
All uncredited photos via Pinterest or Tumblr. If you have a credit I will be happy to include it.
via Vogue Australia Living
This is the lovely, old world bar in the Hotel das Cataratas, located on the Brazilian side of the Iguassu Falls, the second to last stop on our trip to South America. I loved the hand-painted birds against the old mirror and the broken wires of the cages. Clever.
What the clever bartender conjured up
The front entrance foyer of The Biltmore Hotel in Montecito, California last week.
“Paradise by Way of Kensal Green” in London (via 
I remember making silhouettes in art class back in elementary school and having my own silhouette done at a fair…
Linen napkin image via Remodelista
How do you do get the light at the front and dark right behind it??
via 
slim paley photo
Restoration Hardware
This image via Graham Moss is a nice example of how silhouettes can be used to ’modern’ effect.
Contemporary artist Kara Walker turns the traditional concept of ‘Silhouettes’ on its head with her cut-paper images that critically address gender, sexuality, race and power within an antebellum tableau.
Kara Walker
Slim Paley photo
Slim Paley photo
The question (which arose once before on my “Graffiti” post) as to whether these clandestine installations, both on public and private property, constitute ‘Art’ or not is an interesting one.
Unfortunately (actually, he probably doesn’t give a toss as it only brought him more publicity) Banksy lost many supporters after he harshly criticized the design of the new World Trade Center.
photo by Ara Guler
Prawns on fluoro ice.
