Though I have hardly enough money to have an apartment all to myself, I can't wait for the day that I buy my own place so that I can call it my own and decorate it. I love oohhing and awwing over drool worthy closets and well decorated abodes, like this one from artist/writer, Michael Hainey and Brooke Cundiff, who is the director of merchandise for one of my favorite online retailers, Park & Bond. From the vast collection of books, personal art, the chandelier, vintage LV trunks, collection of CHANEL bags and ties, to their quilted head board, I am in awe of it all. Simple, elegant, and a bit eclectic, my kind of taste. For more of their lovely love nest, click here.
I love a good interview and I think Dior and John Galliano's new creative director, Bill Gaytten gave a very reminiscent, but interesting one with thefashionisto.com. Here's the full interview:
Did you always want to work in Fashion?
No. I went to UCL, to study architecture, I just got distracted when I moved up to London.
Describe your sense of humour.
Dry, sarcastic, very English humour I suppose, well, you need one working in fashion.
What inspires you about fashion?
The construction – I started as a machinist and then worked with John on the patterns and the shapes that constructed the DNA of Galliano. I love working on the fittings, the cut, drape, line of the form. It’s the architect of the clothing.
Who was your fashion heroine?
I suppose Vivienne Westwood – she was so outrageous, she seemed so avant garde and really challenged fashion in the 70s, she was a real rebel and catalyst for many of us.
Paris, London, New York, Milan – where are you the happiest?
London will always be home, but Paris has such a finesse and artisans, I feel very inspired and welcome here.
What is your idea of a perfect lost weekend?
I used to love going out and partying but now my idea of heaven is very quiet and with a huge pile of books – I love reading, that to me is the ultimate escape and inspiration.
Do you enjoy being in the limelight?
Dresses are designed for the limelight not designers.
What advise would you give to young designers wanting to get into fashion?
Go for it! Follow your dreams and don’t let anyone put you off! Be open to meeting people, new ideas, new directions – I thought I was going to be an architect and look where I ended up! Have a sense of adventure and enjoy it!
What to you have been Galliano career highlights? Do you have favourite shows?
You get so involved in them all they blend into one huge show mixed with friends, memories, moments…Obviously my first collection for the house is special but as special as the next one we are working on today. Galliano is like a little sister I have watched grow, nurtured and shaped – I feel very protective over here and I like looking to the future and thinking where could she go next.
Who is the first person you call after a show?
My mum!
Some pieces of work deserve to be blown up and put up as wall art. For any fan of the great Elizabeth Taylor, illustrator, David Downton's works of art should be a must have. I think they're absolutely stunning and really emphasize her passion, bijous.
Merry Belated Christmas to all my readers!! I hope you enjoyed the holiday just as much as I did. I got to come up for a few days and see my friends and family, and besides getting hammered all two days, I had a lovely time really getting to spend time with those I care about. I'm very family/friend oriented, and I don't have any family here in Santa Barbara, so getting to spend time with them whenever I can really means a lot. As you can tell in the following photos, I drank a lot, decorated gingerbread men that tasted nothing like I thought they would, opened gifts, and enjoyed tons of food that were fattening, but also deliciously yummy. Can't wait for New Years even though I don't really have any plans!! Merry Christmas again to you and yours!! xoxo
I can think of a ton of celebs who tried to break into the fashion/beauty industry whether it was with their own line, collaborations, jewelry, shoes, or fragrances, but I can't think of one that has dominated the red carpet as much as Victoria Beckham. The VB collection is practically on every female celeb from her BFF Eva Longoria to Jennifer Hudson, Drew Barrymore, Mary J Blige, Gwyneth Paltrow and Anna Wintour favorite, Blake Lively. Her strong yet very simple and sophisticated silhouettes really flatter women of all shapes and sizes and I think that's what really gets her a lot of exposure...on the read carpet that is. But with her more affordable line titled, Victoria, Victoria Beckham, making it's debut, I'm sure Posh will be exploding everywhere from the carpet at premieres, on the runway shows in NY, or on the streets. The critics are definitely on her side and for good reason. One things forsure, she's definitely grown since her denim days...
I don't really refer to anyone as being dreamy, but I seriously cannot think of another word that best describes Pirates of The Caribbean actor, Sam Claflin. The English actor is starring in the new Snow White & The Huntsman alongside Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, and Chris Hemsworth, and you know I'm about to buy my ticket as soon as it comes out. If you watched him as Phillip in POTC, then you know what I'm talking about. Ugh, his smile...those dimples! SWOON!!
Spring/Summer ads are quickly coming out and I love the ads for Prada's SS 12 mens collection. Just like their female counterpart, Miuccia Prada created a collection that was fun and classic with a tribute to the 1950's with retro prints and sophisticated simlicity. I love love love the prints, although I'm not too sure I could pull off those floral printed pants, but the shirts and shoes?! Yes puhhleasee! The ads portray actor Michael Pitt as an old Hollywood star, and I think it's about time they got rid of Tobey Maguire. What do you think, do you guys like the ad campaign?
Online retailer, Mr. Porter tapped model turned actor, Douglas Booth for their blog and the photographs styled by, Toby Gridmitch really emphasized the beauty and quality of incredible knits and trousers from a variety of designers. I'd like to think that by the time I die, people would understand that my style was simple, classic, a bit eclectic, and refined...
Looks like rumors were true; after walking the Givenchy SS 12 show, Victoria Secret alum and supermodel extraordinaire, Gisele Bundchen snagged herself the ad campaign for the fashion house. Am I having Balenciaga SS 11 flashbacks? It starting to seem like every guest appearance on the runway she makes, she also gets the ad campaign, but can you blame her? The girl looks banging like always. She looks even more bangin' in the Versace SS 12 campaign. Swooooon.
For those of us that missed Yeezy & Jay's concert, Watch The Throne, these mini docs are the next best thing. We practically get to follow Kanye around the tour and even get to see glimpses of other celebs like Big Sean, Mary Kate Olsen, and even Christine Centenera of Harpers Bazaar Australia. The Louis Vuitton Don brings up some good points and the videos are pretty interesting as well as inspirational. "Excellence is the bare minimum." Looks like his tour wardrobe was filled with nothing but FW 11 Givenchy. Can you imagine being Renie Padora has having to style one of the most influential rappers of our time? She's amazeballs, love it.
If I was a female, I'd go bananas over Phillip's prefall 2012 collection. A presentation for those no fuss, cool girls for sure. From shape shifting knits to touches of neo nior comic strips, the pieces are extremely well done and obviously Homer Simpson drool worthy. Wool coats/jackets with leather sleeves are apparently still going strong, but I think the punches of red, pleated skirts, Ka-Boom! comic printed pieces and overall color scheme brings in a great yet very cohesive collection. Bravo Phillip, Bravo!!
