Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Sage advice.

PC ?... PO!

I realise that animal skin rugs are not to every one's taste. I accept and respect that. What I do not accept or respect is the smug attitude of the politically correct brigade and their pat regurgitated response of " I prefer it on the animal", inevitably delivered in an insidious and whining manner.
Do people who speak like this honestly think they sound original and clever? Have they ever sounded original or clever? No, given their general appearance and demeanour, I don't imagine they have ever been or are ever likely to be mistaken for either. My response to these individuals is and has always been that of a wry smile and a polite 'hmm'. What else can one do without engaging them in conversation (too unbearable) or being deliberately rude (too easy) ?
Well, I have had enough.
Thanks to two particularly repellent denizens of Leeds, from here on in it is open season on the PC brigade and their drivel. This war of attrition is over. Like Maeve Brennan, I too, "have a tongue that can clip a hedge". Now, even though it may be akin to breaking a butterfly on a wheel, I am prepared and willing to use it unreservedly.

Lil' Man's Mate

No, its not what you think - dirty bird!
My friend Little Man, who I happen to think is a very talented artist, drew my attention to the work of Lucy Merchant.
I must say, though I was already familiar with her designs, I knew nothing about her. After visiting her web site, www.lucymerchant.com, I can honestly say I adore what she is doing. Her designs posses a lyrical quality that is vaguely reminiscent of the works of Christian Berard and Jean Cocteau; and would not look out of place amongst their creations.
In fact I can see her pieces working anywhere - from the grandest of drawing rooms to humblest of kitchens.
The image, which is a photograph and not a line drawing, is of her Mommy's Chair - distilled to its very essence and constructed from coated recycled steel.

Ernest Race

'BA' Chair















'Antelope' Series








British mid-Century modern that is severly undervalued.
Race designed the aluminium 'BA' chair in 1945 and the steel rod 'Antelope' chair for the Festival of Britain in 1951.
His synthesis of the English traditional and the Swedish modern garnered gold and silver medals, respectively, at the prestigious Milan Triennale in 1954.

As the Sun moves into Leo

another seven year cycle draws to a close with the anticipation of beginning anew.
Typical positive traits: ambitious, strong willed, positive, independent, and self-confident.
Typical negative traits: ruthless, stubborn, critical, aloof, and arrogant.
Guilty on all counts.
For richer, for poorer, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Rare indeed

This is a must see - must have.
Eric Boman's catalogue of the exhibition of accessorised ensembles from the wardrobe of Iris Apfel. I should imagine not since Mrs. Vreeland was at the Costume Institute has anything like this been staged. Breathtaking in its originality and sumptuous in its execution.
No other book to date has been as inspirational as this.












plt. 89 Cuff bracelets, plt. 88 Lanvin haute couture
Images by Eric Boman

Kinky Boots: The Catwalk in Milan

This is dedicated to you philistine - hope it is instructional.

Look what I found...

a picture of the philistine, measuring something no doubt.

Normally I would not be so base as to name and shame, but I do think that this could serve as a lesson to all when selecting clients....Blah,blah,blah...
Oh, who am I kidding ? No, this is exactly what it appears to be - a little philistine bashing.

One should not work for clients who are:
1. Control freaks - especially when the emphasis is on the freak.
2. Petite Bourgeois - especially when they think they are Haute Bourgeois, and you know they are not.
3. Bankers - who then become unhappy housewives, and who then become unsuccessful antique dealers, and who then become unsuccessful handbag designers, and who then become shoe* designers - all in the space of three short years and several tainted lives.
4. Hagglers - it shows they do not value your services and that they are cheap - cheap people are just that, and their lives reflect it regardless of their surroundings.
5. People you hate - because regardless of the overwhelming desire to watch them crash and burn, it will show in your work.

* Suffice it to say I would not be caught dead in them or work for the type of woman who would wear them. Perugia she's not.

jacques garcia decorateur

The Chateau du Champ de Bataille - rescued and restored by its current owner, the distinguished decorator, Jacques Garcia.

Bamboozled

Something we have always loved is Victorian and Edwardian bamboo furniture. Try as we might, we have yet to convince a single client to acquire any.
Antique bamboo furniture can work beautifully in any setting. As with all things, the scale and the quality of the piece must be in keeping with the rest of the scheme. The pieces lend a certain air of lightness and exoticism to a room - a certain romance.

TEDTalks: Ross Lovegrove (2005)

An amazing, amazing man and visionary.
Today I was shown the future - luckily, and thankfully, I realised it.

Isabella Blow Tribute

Style can be created only at a risk, it is a form of courage, it is an exposed and often indefensible position -
Edwin Denby

A true love affair

Michael Webb's in-depth study, with photographs by Tim Street-Porter, of the only Oscar Niemeyer designed house in the United States.
Even if one is not drawn to this particular style of architecture, or decor, this is a beautiful and inspirational tale worthy of note.

Boys in The Band - Trailer

Another favourite movie - the sets by Philip Smith create the perfect New York apartment. Smith's set decoration strikes the perfect note between formality and off-handed elegance.

England, I mourn for you.

Smoking in public spaces has been officially banned in England.
Ah, the all inclusive modern society - so tolerant and so protective of its members.
Include - originates from the Latin includere : in- 'into' and claudere 'to shut'.
To shut into. To shut into! To shut into what exactly? Convenient, content, little boxes - convenient, content, little lives; undoubtedly. Lives that are indiscernible from one to the next - sharing all the trivialities that masquerade as modern thought. Thank you, but no. I, for one, would rather not be included.