I’ve been using the same foutas when I swim for years, but I do love these fouta inspired towels, designed in Melbourne by Sophie Matson. The company is called købn and the towels come in a selection of bold stripes. They may be too good for chlorine, but I don’t care. Thrice weekly swims deserve a prize.
I’d never heard of Dutch designer Iris van Herpen, but just one glimpse of the setting for her spring 2018 runway show, had me curious about her work. The show was held at the Galerie de Minérologie et de Géologie in Paris and although her work is not my thing, I found the sheer fantasy of it all captivating. Nature is a central inspiration (the collection is called Ludi Nature); “I think we as humans don’t even come close to the intelligence within nature. It’s funny how people think that nature is simple and technology is complex—it’s the opposite; technology is simple and nature is complex.” Take a look at the collection –– this dress looks to be made up of a dozen vertabrae.
I went to the Christian Dior exhibition at the ROM on the weekend which left me all in a flutter. The ribbons, sequins and silks, oh my. It was learning about the companies –– Maison Hurel, Masion Rébé and Ginistry et Quénolle –– that produced all the hand embroidery that I found most fascinating. And the ones that created velvet ribbons, (Giron Frères) and dupioni silk (Staron). One of my very favourite Diors in recent memory, was the embroidered white dress that Mara Rooney wore in Cannes in the spring of 2017. It was modern day Hepburn. The sheer fabric added edge to her demure collar and hem length. And her choice of black heel and clutch was perfection. It was classic, crisp and utterly chic. Dior would have approved.
It’s hard to imagine, but soon enough we’ll be sliding bare feet into summer shoes. I’m a little in love with these rope sandals from San Paolo based designer, Lane Marinho. Her colour combinations are brilliant. Two small caveats: the shoes are only available in Brazil, and you need pretty darn perfect feet to wear them. So, I won’t be buying a pair, but I’m delighted to know they exist.
I came across these lovely body suits this morning –– the perfect first layer in cold winter. I love the muted colours –– pale blue, peach, cream and olive –– and fine ribbing. The last time I wore a bodysuit was circa 1995, with lots of eye makeup, bottle green jeans and biker boots. Twenty years later, this is more my speed. I should dig up the old biker boots, though.
I find these lover’s eyes both creepy and charming. “In the 18th and 19th centuries, wealthy British and European lovers exchanged “eye miniatures” — love tokens so clandestine that even now, in the majority of cases, it is impossible to identify their recipients or the people they depict.” The largest collection, upwards of 100, belongs to an Alabama eye surgeon and his wife. It’s thought that the Prince of Wales gave one to his mistress, Mrs. Maria Fitzherbert, a Catholic divorcée. The two did eventually marry, in a secret ceremony, and it was possibly them that brought the Georgian miniatures into the fold.
I don’t know that I would wear these earrings, but I am intrigued by the creative process behind them. Each pair, super light and one of a kind, is made from layers and layers of paper, handpainted with gold, silver or copper and finished with several coats of waterproof varnish. The colours are rich and the shapes decadent, (there is a Renaissance feel to them) and at 18 Euro, they’re an affordable alternative to chandeliers.
The only socks on my feet these days are Chups, but when the cold lifts, I’ll be wearing Lirika Matoshi’s beautiful stockings. Imagine ladybugs, flowers and starry nights beaded onto fishnets with exquisite precision. They’re expensive, but the work is so intricate. take a look at Matoshi’s Instagram feed –– it’s such a delight.
Iole and I watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s this week –– a rite of passage for mothers and daughters. Well, it was a rite of passage for this mother and her daughter. Iole loved it, thank goodness. So now that I’ve introduced her to Audrey’s most recognized film, we’ll make our way through them all. Sabrina is next, and Roman Holiday, will come after that. We’ve been humming Moon River for days and talking about our favourite outfits (the pink rhinestone Givenchy, of course).
Yes, to velvet and pompoms, and walking to parties barelegged in December! I like everything about this look, down to her short nude nails and chic knot ring. Who knows where this gal’s going, but she’s turning heads before she’s even reached the fête.
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