Category: Fashion
Delightfully Different..
There’s so much to love in Antonio Marras’s 2015 Resort Collection..
Embracing vintage concepts without the slightest hint of a costume: A-line cuts, boxy shapes, explosive prints with pop art polka dots and bubble gum pink all mashed together with culottes, cropped tops and ugly shoes.
It’s like eating the perfect four-course French meal with your fingers in an American Diner whilst wearing a bikini and a smile.
The creepers are a joy.
A touchingly aware cosmopolitan cocktail of ideas beautifully edged in black.
There’s a sense it will fit any body type: skimming, flaring and flattering, moving with giggles and grace.
A homogenous slickness of wearability.
It’s the clothes you’ve always wanted to shop for with that magic touch of satisfaction: you’ll look different…and you’ll look good.
Laters, Kate x
The Mirrorcube and More..
Big dreams and great design…meet the Tree Hotel of Sweden with it’s incredible individual rooms. Located in Harals, near the Lule River about 100 km from Lulea airport they are objects of wonder..
From the incredible mirror cube…an aluminium box, covered with mirrors and attached to a tree with a bathroom, terrace and double bed.
(There’s even an ultraviolet coating on the mirrors that birds can see so they won’t fly splat into it..)
To a floating UFO..
And a Bird’s Nest built for humans..
Inside the Birds Nest..
Or perhaps you’d prefer to be closer to the ground? Meet The Blue Cone..
And it’s stunning interior, embracing everything you love about Scandinavian design.
This is the carriage..complete with viewing platform above..
And it’s insIde.
There’s even a sauna house with outside hot tubs…
In the middle of nature but on natures terms this place sings a lyrical folk song of peace, beauty, exceptional design and understanding.
It’s on the ‘to do’ list…one day Rodders, one day..until then, I’ll just dream..
Laters, Kate x
Roses and Cupcakes x
Creative Coffee Mornings are still a regular Wednesday occurrence and a highlight of the week. These pics are from our ‘Sugar Art’ session..
Which included a variety of projects including making elderflower cordial..even the word ‘cordial’ makes me smile…
We also crystallised edible flowers..so simple and so effective..
You thoroughly coat each petal – back and front – with egg white, then cover everything in sugar. A sprinkle of very fine glitter helps with the final fairy effect. Then they dry out and can be kept for months in an air tight container, ready for a dramatic flourish when required.
And we made cupcakes to practise our icing skills on..
With a whole box of toys to play with!
The joy, the pride, the ability to allow yourself the time to be creative and the companionship of sharing the experience with others all feed in to make this time so very special. You literally zone away from real life – I’m sure it’s a similar endorphin rush to a serious gym workout. Just without the pain…
Next week is ‘homemade sausages’…..guaranteed a giggle…
Laters, Kate x
Design Hero’s x
Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino are serenely working a rich thread of inspiration which carries through to their Resort 2015 Collection.
I look at their work and wonder what it is that always makes my heart beat so. And every time the answer is the same: The workmanship.
When you read descriptions of dresses from centuries past: delicate silks caught in a web of tulle with stitches made with fairy hands…you think it’s a quality of work that’s been lost forever…until you see Valentino.
It’s also fascinating that these exquisite clothes are not based on the clothes from the Ball room or Drawing room, but are drawn from bohemian and peasant designs. Every-day-wear now elevated to the heavenly.
The incredible embroideries and textiles have a soul of their own, harking back to that time when only the very best would do, when skill named the price and craftsmanship mattered.
And like sorcerers, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli have conjured up and captured that magic.
There’s no pretence..it’s hours and hours of layers of care and dedication.
With a little bit of cool thrown in.
But the truth is, for reasons beyond the concept of modern day sheep-street Brand these clothes are the representation of true luxury…they are literally works of walking Art. And they blow my mind.
Laters, Kate x
Swarm x
Over the next few months The Husband and I are planning a little re-vamp of our house: We bought it over ten years ago as two flats and have spent much of that time doing various pretty major structural projects whilst juggling two babies. Now it’s finally the time to give it a bit of a silky lustre and add those finishing touches – the fun bits I’ve been waiting oh-so-long-for – like finding a stained glass panel for the front door where the council security glass still remains..oh joy unbounded!
It means I’ve been spending far too long in our downstairs toilet where the old interior design mags live – I’m following the principal that if it’s old and I still like it, it’s passed the ‘test of time’ test with flying colours and will last forever more. It was in a 2011 edition of Elle Decoration I found a small article about the artist Leslie Oschmann which caught my eye – she uses old canvases to make bags or to cover vintage chairs before sealing them with protective lacquer..
I love her whole aesthetic..taking something and making it more beautiful and useful. Each piece exuding character and warmth. These chairs make my heart sing.
Leslie originally came from the States where she worked with Companies such as Anthropologie before she took a complete life-style change, moving to Amsterdam, buying a bike and starting her own studio Swarm.
‘I learnt that I needed to get back to touching objects, not just trying to display or sell them..I missed the tactile’
What she does epitomises everything I love and want to embrace – classic, timeless quirky ideas with a touch of age used with care to make something both practical and beautiful that serenely stands out.
Shouldn’t be too hard then………
Laters, Kate x
Just Corking! x
These are my beloved two year old most comfortable summer shoes the world has ever known babies. They’re really on their last hurrah, but I couldn’t resist giving them a summer re-vamp to squeeze that last bit of life out of them..
Studs! Except they’re not..
They’re bog standard drawing pins (tacks to others) pushed into the cork..no glue, nothing..just a bit of thumb grease..
And I absolutely love ’em! Now they’re smiling again for another year on the tiles…
Laters, Kate x
Champagne For Rosie x
Rosie Assoulin and her Resort 2015 Collection is a bridge between the fast fashion of the street and the up in the clouds pedestal of high couture: An addict who willingly embraces everything around her, it does seem incredible she’s only been around for a year.
Rather than designing for a particular person in mind, you get the feeling her Collections reflect who she is (boarder shorts included) which we then want to buy into.
She has a magic touch with volume: How it happens is not the same as saying why it works, but ease of movement plays an important part, as does beautiful fabrication.
The cut of the sleeve..beguiling temptation…
Utterly wearable humour.
Rafia made posh, even with a baseball cap.
She’s a woman: Bra strap not a problem.
Her recognisable signature – sculptural elements, pleats, stripes and colour are all worked through.
Oh to see this at the oscars..
If I had to choose one time it would be this cape – The perfect addition to an evening out, covering that moment when you look at your array of coats and realise goosebumps are the only way to go…or to just to throw over a stripy top and a pair of jeans for a thrilling trip to the playground..
Effortless cool-girl-grace.
Laters, Kate x
Happy Father’s Day..
If you’ve never seen this video – make sure you have the tissues handy. If you’ve seen it already..you’ll still need them.
Laters, Kate x
Eddie Borgo x
There’s nothing better than a flowing boho dress with strong, studded jewellery..
The sort of jewellery that designer Eddie Borgo revels in.
It has my heart…
Solid, timeless statement pieces..
But he can do elegant too..
Is it too early to start a Christmas list??
Laters, Kate x
Shoe Notes… x
These shoes would complete my life. My waters tell me so. Sadly I have no idea who designed them…but I’m thinking a pair of pointy whites and some magic markers?
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 