Inspiration

Surréalisme

January 20, 2017

Please, on this dreary Friday, take a virtual walk through the fantastical world of designer, Vincent Darré. From an eye-popping sputnik light, to richly printed fabrics and wallpapers, to objets and curiosities wild enough for a Dali stamp, this Parisian pied-a-terre is pure theatre. Every last item is a conversation piece –– and tell me you’re not dying to faire le chit-chat with this wonderfully exuberant and bizarre fellow. Everything got sold at auction in November –– Darré is reinventing himself, oh my -– but if I could get my hands on that 18th Century couch, I’d never leave home.

A long walk

January 20, 2017

I’ve admired the work of land artist, Richard Long for many years. “There is a point of view,” he once said in the Guardian, “that if you go into the landscape you should only leave footprints and take photographs. The other extreme is making monuments. I have no interest in making monuments. But I think there is a fascinating territory between those two positions. I can move things from place to place. I can manipulate the world by leaving stones on the road. And they don’t disappear because the stone is still in the world – but completely anonymously.”

swan song

January 19, 2017

I came across artist, Sophia Pappas and I want to share her work. I love this charming puppet and this brilliant fish made out of a water bottle. Her little pop up cards are delightful –– just the sort of treasure I’d like to receive in the mail. Her River Swan drawing is one of my favourites. It’s not that I’m soft on swans, but I can relate to the image of this poised, graceful bird whose webbed feet are flapping hard beneath the water’s surface. As Albert Einstein said, “the secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”

c’est chic

January 17, 2017

Here’s an outfit that I’d steal from top to toe. High waisted, pleated trousers, (the blue tweed is divine) an antique inspired white shirt and a bold, printed scarf. I love outfits that stop the show with their chic, understated brilliance. Yes, Madame — you belong at Chanel.

Different Strokes

January 16, 2017

Like most people –– breast stroke is my strongest stroke. But I’ve joined the flipper-wearing fast laners recently, and so I’m doing a lot more crawl. I’m tempted to take a lesson or two to improve my stroke. When it’s something you’ve done all your life, it feels strange to take a lesson in it. One woman I swim with, moves with such strength, grace and fluidity up and down the pool that she makes her 50-odd laps of crawl look like a cinch. Maybe, I’ll ask her for a few tips. Take a look at this series of images by Maria Svarbova. They’re so striking and crisp. Don’t they make you want to dive right in?

Winter Spirit

January 13, 2017

In the spirit of winter, which we haven’t had much of, I spent this morning admiring Kari Medig‘s pictures of awesome glaciers, frigid seascapes and snow capped mountains. I felt cold just looking at them, but also invigorated and inspired by the people out there embracing the season, and all its joys and challenges. Medig’s photos of Bolivia fueled my desire to go there, and his cold water surf series reminded me that weather shouldn’t get in the way of people doing what they love.

Textile Me

January 13, 2017

If you have a fabric fetish like I do, then rock on over to Australian photographer, Martyn Thompson colour rich loft in Manhattan. Glorious wallpapers, beautiful hand-stitched embroideries, and vibrant murals painted by Thompson’s partner, artist Dove Drury Hornbuckle make for a space that is vibrant, decadent and utterly unique. Thompson’s own textiles, wallpapers and home furnishings are scattered about the place, as are Hornbuckle’s paintings and ceramic creations. If you ever get invited over, be sure to wear face paint and flowers in your hair. You’ll fit right in with the décor.

arc de triomphe

January 11, 2017

Take a look at the eyebrows in these Marc Regas portraits –– stylized ones, skinny ones, bushy ones and barely there ones. I don’t know about you, but it’s the thick, natural brows that appeal to my eye. Once every six weeks or so, I go to see Michelle or Emily at Gee for a tidy up. “Sit down, let me pluck those three strays,” jokes Emily. She whips off more than three, but it’s not much more. Still, it’s a little luxury to have them done. These here, these are great brows. And these ones, well these are the ultimate.

marcregas-web25_3_2048

Al Fresco

January 10, 2017

Some of the most beautiful frescos I have ever seen are in Florence, where I lived for a year in my late teens. My friend Zelmira rented a beautiful apartment in Palazzo Pucci on Via dei Pucci and her ceilings were covered in cherubs and clouds and palm leaves. I’ve always loved the romance and decadence of frescos or murals at home. In fact, inspired by Zelmira’s walls and Barbara Klunder‘s large Arcadian mural at Union in Toronto, I’ve thought of commissioning something similar for our living room. This room, by Johann Bergl, is magical to me.

Suits

January 10, 2017

I’ve never had a ski suit that I love. As a kid, I wore a lot of puffy, pastel-coloured one-pieces that were cinched at the waist. As a teenager, I moved to black salopettes with a baggy ski jacket, a beanie and a cigarette. By adult life, I’d given up the slopes for sun and gluvine. But if I were to hit the piste again, my dream is to look something like this. In reality, I’d opt for a jacket that throws back to my early ski days, like this retro inspired one with a pair of black ski leggings. A few runs would be enough before I’d hear the call of après ski echoing from mountain to mountain.

La Parachute

Categories

Archives

Inspiration

Surréalisme

January 20, 2017

A long walk

January 20, 2017

swan song

January 19, 2017

c’est chic

January 17, 2017

Different Strokes

January 16, 2017

Winter Spirit

January 13, 2017

Textile Me

January 13, 2017

arc de triomphe

January 11, 2017

Al Fresco

January 10, 2017

Suits

January 10, 2017