Category: Art
Another Walker..
Koppola – Maasai beader.
This season Karen Walker, Goddess of eyewear, is using her product advertising platform to highlight her work with the United Nations’ International Trade Centres Ethical Fashion Initiative whose task it is to promote sustainable business over aid dependency.
Velma – Assistant.
Each pair of her new sunglasses will come with a screen-printed pouch made by Kenyan Artisans, with a further option of buying more embellished, more expensive pouches as well.
Winnifred – Supervisor.
In a clever, human move that perfectly illustrates the interwoven connections within the project and Karen Walker’s thinking, the workers and makers have also become the models and the faces of the glasses.
Beatrice – Craftsperson.
She says: ‘The Campaign captures our innate optimism, our love of maximum-impact in the images themselves and also directs attention to Kenya in a positive way. The images help to bring visibility to how fashion can be a vital vehicle out of poverty.’
Rason – Maasai Beader.
Florence – Artist.
Anton – Metal Caster.
All photos by Derek Henderson
The workers are no longer the forgotten force but have personally created the Work of Art this Campaign is by owning the visual story and underlining the simple fact that beauty is around all of us in our every day.
Effective, clever..and stunning.
Laters, Kate x
Walker-lust
Isabella Blow as Joan of Arc by Tim Walker
Yesterday I had the treasure of going with friends to indulge in the Isabella Blow exhibition at Somerset House. If you get the chance, go because it was a pure joy to be immersed in her original, outrageous and extravagant world: Blow found normality in the perfectly absurd and utterly fabulous and, with her instinctive eye for style she had an unstoppable enthusiasm for creative genius – she was happy to break boundaries with those special people prepared to leap out of the mediocrity trap with her. Reflecting afterwards, we talked about the rich source of inspiration that English eccentricity is and I mentioned the photographer Tim Walker, another lover of high drama and magical thinking. My lovely mate Galliana D’ove had never come across his work..so Galliana..inspired by our trip and wanting to luxuriate in the delights of maximalism for a little bit longer, this post is just for you!
Laters, Kate x
Jenny Liz Rome x
Jenny Liz Rome is an illustrator from Southern Ontario, Canada. I love her realism mixed with a fine dose of fantasy..she manages to get the balance just right.
Cousin Elinor – is that you?!
It’s beautiful work that leaves you wanting more.
Laters, Kate x
Lust Lust Lust..
Maria Grazia Chuiri and Pierpaolo Piccioli are producing the type of Valentino Collections that bleeds my soul.
I tell myself – it’s only clothes…but my heart knows better.
It’s as if they’ve stepped inside my head and cherry picked my favourite things: Blanket coats, proper boots, Doc shoes, loose but crisp, colours on the side of dusky..and handed them to me as a lighter than air, perfectly baked clafoutis.
The proportions make me smile with pure pleasure.
At first glance I thought this was a play on the boyfriend blazer..it is, but better – it’s a cape.
So clever.
How do they get it so right?
And then there is the Butterfly motif, Damien Hirst re-invented.
How understated can this be? And still pack a punch..
I need to lie down.
Laters, Kate x
Karen Jessen x
Karen Jessen of the Benu Berlin label has just won The Ecochic Design Award 2013 for her innovative use of reconstruction techniques. Created from a mixture of waste and imagination each piece is a discovery – just like her list of ingredients above…
There’s gently rocking inspiration.
And a big focus on structure: Each piece is lovingly crafted.
There are rules – and then Karen sets about breaking them with confidence.
The best intentions need that bit of passion – and a bit of support: For her prize she’ll now design the 2015 ‘Recycled Collection by Esprit’ for Esprit’s global retail in mid 2014 – and I’ll be watching out for what she does..
Laters, Kate x
Erik Madigan Heck x
All photos from his website. Make a cup of tea and go and indulge in cocaine for the eyes.
A pure visual feast – Erik Madigan Heck is an award winning Photographer who’s developed his own uniquely beguilingly and surprisingly tender technique, blurring the lines between photography and the painted Arts.
In our minimalist world he’s looked to the past and found forgotten, curiously exotic textures to weave and layer into his creations.
Drawing inspiration from painters such as Matisse and Monet he revels in colour, clash and pattern with almost brutal thematic clarity.
Unconventional yet timeless with total emotional clout that hits you in the heart, I love him.
Laters, Kate x
Secrets..
Do you know postsecret.com? It’s an online community art project where anyone can anonymously send in a postcard with a secret written on one side…which is then uploaded in all it’s gory glory. From the confessions of a disco queen to the thwarted angst of true love, each one reminds me of the Ernest Hemingway six-word novel:
For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.
The perfect illustration of how small things can have a big impact: These are subtly crafted, often poignant bubbles of true and honest humanity released onto the cyber-ether and I love them..
Laters, Kate x
Feeling the Love x
How I love these sandals by Valentino! Let me count the ways..the studs are perfection, the colour sublime and the advert? So cool! – the manly hand resplendent with tattoos wearing the straps like a macho bracelet. I’ve always had a thing about Greek sandals and I’ve been lusting after a gladiator style pair since the summer. Happily I was lucky enough to receive a pair for my birthday in November, all the way from Athens from the very shop recommended by our lovely blogger Lia.
My father, looking rather Greek (he’s not, he’s Scottish (although he was born in Athens)) standing outside said shop.
Pantelis Melissonos third generation sandal-maker and designer holding my very shoe.
The ‘Mycenean’.
I’m not the only one that has loved/loves the classic, timelessness of these shoes that just get better and better with age..
So I’m now the proud owner of a pair of ancient shoes, bought in Greece through the power of the blogging world, walking in the same footsteps as many of my icons and sharing the love with one of my favourite brands. Could it get much better??
(Now all I need is the maxi-denim skirt (dropped waist Valentino style) and white-rolled Palazzo pants I can see in my head to wear with them…and of course..the sun!!)
Laters, Kate x
A slice of Heaven..
Think of this as a beautiful, decadent present from me to you, waiting to be unwrapped layer by mesmeric layer…it’s not a new clip, but remains one of the most stunning demonstrations of ballet I’ve ever seen..every time I watch it, I have tears from sheer amazement…The Guandong Acrobatic Dance Troupe dancing Swan Lake, starring Wu Zhengdan and Wei Bashua…watch and fly to heaven.
(Can I add that my head today is in utter sympathy with his head courtesy of an amazing night at Chez Galliana Dov’e and Jo’s, you wicked, wicked people…you’ll know it when you see it, but yes, there is a ballerina doing pirouettes on my forehead as well..you just can’t see her…so remember – it maybe Tchaikovsky…but make sure the volumes down, pretty please??!)
Laters, Kate x
Door-Candy x
The word on the street in the South West London ‘hood is that festive bling matters…bugger the size of your car, house..waist…What hits the spot in December is your door-adornment slash taste ranking. The competition is hotting up…
So far there are no reported cases of wreath-rage,
but those in the know fear it’s only a matter of Christmas time…
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 