Category: Design
Objet D’art Lesson..
The effervescent Matisse Exhibition now showing in New York is a joy of art expressed in it’s purest form – as is this photo of Matisse’s studio: A glimpse behind the canvas and a spotlight on those moments of pure creativity where the trains of thought are literally turned into living, breathing, pale-pink, illuminated flesh..
What particularly fascinates me is that light..a visual delight in spontaneity and plaster of paris with a touch of Modigliani thrown in…My mother’s given me an old brass lantern light that’s missing it’s glass to transform for her…I’m now thinking she might get more than she bargained for!
Laters, Kate x
Sneaky Blinders..
The weather here in London is like a PMT suffering raging beast..blue skies one minute..a cascading torrent the next, whipped up by strong winds and mashed up leaves. Coats and shoes are being seriously put to the test and any well worn with holes of love are the equivalent of leaky boats. Some emergency purchasing is required – and I’m thinking black leather skaters..a nod to the summer but with strong foundations for the autumn storms.
The white soles also have a surprising appeal..I remember looking at the AW14 catwalks thinking white soles? hmmmmm..but the appeal has chrystalised…mi piace..
Of course, I’ll buy them……and next week we’ll have snow….
Laters, Kate x
Pockets, Pockets, Pockets x
Time is a muscle that needs to be stretched and I’ve been doing my best to limber it up without running the risk of becoming a frazzled, urban melodrama. It’s a fine line.
– There’s the new fitness regime: I don’t want to hit that New Year winter coat without having done something, and I’d like that something to be a enjoyable, new, permanent addition. Swimming (good for the joints I hear) seems to be it.
– I’ve just done a massive summer/autumn clean of the house from cellar to attic (After the summer hols the house starts working as a dam of clutter and misplaced objet d’art holding back ideas n free flow, but it means wading through the detritus before calm descends. Which I thought it had, except now I can’t find anything. The calendar anyone?
– I have an Art Project with a deadline in November (more later).
– And the house – we hope to start renovations after Christmas, but it all needs planning and research..it’s the sort of thing that is very necessary and rather enjoyable but sucks the hours away. Thankfully I’m beginning to make interesting discoveries, like space-saving pocket doors – not seen much in the UK, but they are the perfect room divider. This initial idea came from Pinterest and is American, all the doors on the UK sites are very modern…I like the idea of vintage doors complete with beading and a bit of stained glass…I think more research is needed..
Now..What’s the time?
Laters, Kate x
Ace of Spades x
The new twenties inspired arrivals from Kate Spade have warmed the cockles of my magpie heart..
The rings isn’t bad either..
She’s a witty gal, Kate Spade…check out the rest of her range from some pretty cool present ideas…wish I’d thought of her site earlier…hehe!
Laters, Kate x
Cinderella Shoes..
On the lust list this autumn..the grace of a gazelle..the wit of the Edinburgh Fringe..
And the pocket pleasing price of £65…what’s not to love?
Laters, Kate x
Stamp of Style x
Using badges and logos..not invented by Marc by Marc Jacobs but cunning all the same…
A rather delicious collection of fonts and styles married to the perfect boyfriend jeans..just add a smile and a killer pair of heels..
Penelope Chilvers has also got in on the act, although is hers a more traditional, preppy version..and the meanings are meaningful..I’d love to be able to buy the patches individually..
Also to be found on her boots and shoes..
Anya Hindmarch has pushed the creative boat out even further in her own offering of luxury-retro-street. Inspired by stickers from her school days, the graphics are embossed onto the leather in a three step process. Utterly edible.
But the real joy is that this trend has it’s roots deep down in freedom of expression and do-it-yourselfs.. you could just follow your heart and DIY your own fashion statement like Fun in the Making..
Or cover a Louis Vuitton bag like the courageous Sue. Because the truth about badges and patches, despite what the designer brands would have us believe, is they’re really about individuality and being unique in a stylish and remarkably accessible way..now, where’s my needle and thread?
Laters, Kate x
Wooden Wonders x
Heading off to a warehouse to look at wooden floors today..
(all photos from Pinterest)
I wonder where my heart lies..
Laters, Kate x
A Pearl x
Preppy-sports-lux flavours Mother of Pearl SS15, stylishly crossing all sorts of nostalgic and modern borders with ease.
A step away from the bold, bright prints of previous seasons there’s something effortless about this simple combination of cut and colour that quietly sings of contentment and inner confidence.
Even when a bit of ooomph is brought to the party..
Clothes to wear around the house, at work, on a date..or just for the heck of it. Mother of Pearl has found her person and knows her well – I for one, can’t look away.
Laters, Kate x
Ancient Greek Jellies..
The wonderfully iconic Ancient Greek Sandal’s are about to introduce their latest baby – their first ever jelly shoe made from 100% recyclable rubber. It’ll be available in 2 finishes (matt and glossy) and in a variety of colours at a designer-brand-pleasing-price of £70. Looks like next summer is sorted already….
Laters, Kate x
Colourscape x
On Saturday we headed up with friends to Clapham Common to experience ‘Colourscape’ – walk-in structures originally created by artist Peter Jones in the 70’s to celebrate colour and light.
We had no idea what to expect..to go in you’re given an overall to wear. The practical purpose is to keep track of the number of people inside, but there’s also a transformative effect, blurring everyone away from normality as if you’ve stepped into another dimension…
The first thing that happens is you lose everyone as they’re swallowed up by the multiple spaces and lured away by the colours..adults slow down..children scatter like birds..
There was also live contemporary music, adding to the air of other worldly..
In the centre was a sort of meeting point of white curves and elliptical wonder.
Where there were games on the floor for the kids to play with..
You could wander, you could sit and just be..or you could just lie and go to sleep like the husband! But slowly everyone comes back together again..
The closest thing I’ve ever come to it was the permanent light installation exhibition at Villa Panza in Italy..one of my most favourite exhibitions ever..
Totally mesmerising. It was a rarified thrill to do something utterly engrossing for the whole family involving all the senses..I loved it!
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 