Inspiration

sail away

June 14, 2016

I’ve spent a good part of my life on boats, but I’m a pretty crap sailor. In my early teens I took sailing lessons at the Amateur Dinghy Club in Bermuda and spent the entire summer attached to a buoy in the water. With the words, “pull the tiller towards you,” bellowing across the sound, I would capsize, again and again. Good thing the water was so warm –– good thing I have a sense of humour. I did master it in the end –– the task of keeping the boat afloat that is –– but I can’t say I did so with much skill or grace. But if there was a prize for perseverance, I think I deserved it. When it came time to take our test, we (as in my brother and I) passed with flying colours. It helped that the instructor fancied the pants of him. I actually think sailing is one of those things, that should I ever go back to, I could be quite good at.

TUNISIA. Djerba island. 1990. Sailboats in the water.

Standout

June 13, 2016

“I have to be seen to be believed,” the Queen once famously said. HRH was unmissable yesterday, donning neon lime green to Trooping The Colour. Not every 90-year-old has the chutzpah, poise and purpose to pull off such a high-wattage hue. But the Queen has all, in carriage-loads.

Wayne meets Matisse

June 10, 2016

Two of my favourite artists are Picasso and Matisse, and I tend to gravitate towards anything in the spirit of either artist. So you’ll understand why I really like the work of Brooklyn artist, Wayne Pate. Both Madame Blue and Goddess would fit in effortlessly on our picture wall, as would this whimsical paloma. There is a strong Grecian influence –– in the abundance of urns and olive branches and overall colour palette –– that appeals to me, also. I wonder if Pate (who is married to designer, Rebecca Taylor) has seen the work of Alekos Fassianos? Take a look at his lampshades –– lovely for both home and head!

The colour purple

June 9, 2016

Ask my children what their Mama’s favourite colour is and they’ll say, “every colour of the rainbow, except brown and purple. She doesn’t like brown and purple.” The truth is, I do like like lilacs and plums. Amethysts are beautiful, and so are aubergines. I adore wisteria. Iridescent purple wrapping paper is pretty cool, too. With respect to Prince, I’m just not a fan of “purple rain” purple. But I loved the way it looked on him. And I love the way it looks on the women in this Deborah Turbeville photograph. It’s just not for me. As for brown, if it weren’t for brown diamonds (and chocolate) I’d have nothing good to say about it.

bad taste

June 8, 2016

“A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika,” said Diana Vreeland. “We all need a splash of bad taste –– it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical. I think we could use more of it. No taste is what I’m against.” With pieces from Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Jones, Elsa Sciaparelli and Pam Hogg on display, The Barbican gallery will showcase an exhibition this Autumn dedicated to vulgarity in fashion from the renaissance to the present day. A romp through hundreds of years of gaudy, audacious, daring, flamboyant fashion sounds like my idea of brilliant fun. “Playing with juxtapositions, different themes and vistas, they’ve (the exhibition is co-conceived by Judith Clark and psychoanalyst Adam Phillips) set the stage for visitors to wonder, ponder, question, reflect or just revel in why some costumes are considered vulgar, and how that changes through time, context and experience,” said Jane Alison, The Barbican’s head of visual arts. If I don’t make it to the exhibition, I’m sure my Mum will. Wearing a Pucci silk blouse and a zebra print runners, no doubt.

Lemon slice

June 7, 2016

I have no idea if this is a hotel, or a private residence, but it’s just the sort of place you want to live your island life in. It doesn’t get better than lemon curd windows, shutters and scalloped edge awnings. It’s lemon meringue pie in the tropics. I can only imagine a lot of fabulous on the inside, too.

Windy day

June 6, 2016

In the Cyclades, where I spent much of my childhood, the Meltemi wind can be fierce. It fills you with energy and wares you down. In Toronto we don’t get many windy days. Today was one. And it was the kind of good, gutsy wind that lifts the spirits.

Boating

June 3, 2016

I never wore a uniform, but my school did insist on a straw boater in the summer months and a bobble hat in the winter ones. The wooley hat –– with its big red bobble –– was an embarrassment, but I did rather love the boater. Last week, I saw a charming one at Holt Renfrew complete with pale blue ribbon and tiny silk flowers. I like the idea of wearing a boater again. Only this time around, I get to wear it with lipstick.

pink

June 2, 2016

The sensible advice –– for a front door, facade, Dior bag –– is to choose a colour that you won’t tire of. But who needs beige when there’s bubblegum pink? Londoners (well, Notting Hill-ers, at least) live in houses that are dipped in Dolly Mix. This little mews house, pink as marshmallow, is as sweet as anything.

Green

June 1, 2016

How different Toronto looks when the trees have their foliage back. Even our scrappy little garden is a veritable jungle, with hostas, hydrangeas and lilacs, galore. This is Steven Meisel’s work, shot years ago with Grace Coddington for Vogue. Minus the glamour, the green and texture reminds me of my garden.

La Parachute

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