Manceeeeeeep

Lesley Blanch walks the dog

a Lesley Blanche illustration for Pamela Hinkson's 1933 British Vogue story about one of my favorite subjects- dogs & in this case their national origins.

'Admittedly it is as common for women to express their clothes, as for their clothes to express them. Yet in these islands it is in our dogs that we often best express ourselves, or sometimes-they turning the tables on us- express them. They express our way of living as well as, or better than, we do ourselves.' Pamela Hinkson

illustration from DOGS IN VOGUE by Judith Watt.

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teamuncoolfashion likes: adidas Originals: "Splitpiece" Falko Murals

Kloof St, Cape Town

Drake Street. Durban

Jan Smuts. JHB

Blow by Blow

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just finished reading Detmar Blow's Blow by Blow-the story of Isabella-his wife.

photograph by Arthur Elgort

Read Thea's thoughts at Thea Beasley, on the book HERE

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Bejeweled Hats and the extravagant work of Louis Mariette

The "Deep Blue Sea" is the name of one of the most expensive hats to be brought to auction. Created by Australian milliner Ann Maree Willett, this very elaborate hat is crafted in hand-blocked felt, embellished with bright feathers and carrying 26 opals weighting around 1,447 carats. The Deep Blue Sea is estimated at between $150.000 and $200.000.
The record for the most expensive hat in the world is currently held by the "Chapeau d'Amour - Hat of Love,"created by designer Louis Mariette. Crafted in woven platinum and studded with diamonds, the hat is valued at $2.7 million.
The auction "The Nature of Opals" will take place at Bonhams&Butterfields in San Francisco on November 10.

Deep Blue Sea

A look at the designer milliner Louis Mariette' exotic world, his extravagant couture hats, bejeweled headpieces and more....

Chapeau d'Amour

Source Luxist

Art Inspired by the Nature of the Sea

Wave Vessel

In planning for the upcoming Heal the Ocean Benefit & Concert that we are chairing in October, we have stumbled upon some beautiful new sources of art inspired by the sea. Jennifer McCurdy is one of those remarkable artisans. A potter since her teens, McCurdy, now 54, lives on what she calls the "magical island" of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, just off the coast of Boston. Her works in porcelain reflect the natural beauty of her seaside environment. She likes to "create soft and hard shadows, shape it, distort it, and test its limits."as quoted by her in the the current issue of Ceramic Review. The results are confounding, even to other ceramic artists. "People always ask me how I do it. Other artists ask me about the tools I use. I’m happy to share my ideas. By the time people become technically proficient enough to do this type of work they’ve developed their own style."

Net Bottle

She is inspired, she says, by the patterns she sees in nature. "Pieces of coral, fish bones, anything that shows structure fascinates me." Each morning, as she has for years, McCurdy sets forth on a twenty-mile bicycle ride around the Island. "I’m inspired by the Vineyard landscape – the shape of shells and other natural objects," she explains. Time passes slowly in this environment. "We have to ferry everywhere so there’s no instant gratification." Living on what she calls "Island time," the serenity of her world affords her the patience and quiet needed for her exacting, delicate work.

Cut Wheat Vessel

Surrounded by the sea, Jennifer McCurdy believes she is influenced unconsciously by light and the movement of light on the water. She also credits the Vineyard’s "wonderful community of creative people" for supporting and nurturing her endeavours.

Jungle Leaf Vessel

On her website she shares the structural questions she has been working with for the past few years:

How thin can the high-fire porcelain be before it collapses in the fire? How much can it be cut away and still maintain structural integrity? How can the structural form be integrated with the visual, as in nature? How can the movement of the potter's wheel and the fire of the kiln be reflected in the finished piece, which is rock-hard and permanent?


Contour Vessel

photo courtesy: Design Sponge

See more of her work online or make it to one of these

two shows in November on the East Coast.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show
Philadelphia, PA November 11-14, 2010
http://www.pmacraftshow.org/

Washington Craft Show*
Washington, DC November 19-21, 2010
www.craftsamericashows.com/WASH_main.htm

Italy and David McGrievey

One of the greatest things about blogging is stumbling across amazing talent. I had that WOW sensation when I first clapped my eyes on the beautiful illustrations of David McGrievey at An Illustrated Life.

David's illustrations are a cocktail of elegance, colour with a twist of humour thrown in. His posts of his adventures in New York and beyond are just as interesting.

When I first saw these two illustrations of Italy they struck a cord with me. It was the Italy of the Amalfi Coast that I know and I love. Especially the bottom one with the curly wrought iron railing and water for as far as you can see. He might have been inspired by another place but it took me straight to a balcony I know in Positano.

Though his beach tents are more glamorous than the little wooden changing sheds and colourful umbrellas they are evocative of the era that still permeates that part of the world. A world that still adores old wooden boats, where people 'dress' to go to the beach, capri pants and glam sandals.

God how I would love one those beach tents when I go to the beach!

I figure from his illustrations that this man must have has a kind, elegant and romantic heart. If you have chance check out his beautiful work at An Illustrated Life.

Carla x

why don't you? ii & a Birthday

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from yesterday's post- why don't you?, I received this comment- from the ever tuned in, turned on the HOUSE OF BEAUTY & CULTURE-

"all that is missing is Truman Capote circa 1977." 

image from here by Arnold Newman

TRUMAN sprawling 1977

Yes, Truman did have a thing for Victoriana- the furniture that is-

So what about a Truman Victoriana Redux?

well-not to disturb any literary spirits-

& in that spirit-

Prints, Pattern-that Truman would approve of-all from QUADRILLE.

He decorated with damasks, Japanese obi textiles, quilts, florals, batiks- So yeah, He went for it all

Here- Truman -as a younger Victorian.

photograph by Slim Aarons

So-why don't you?

photograph available from Wessel+O'Connor Fine Art

so tell me what you think?

why don't you?

& DO wish TRU a Happy Birthday- born September 30th 1924.

Now playing for HOBAC- did you hear this in '77?

Off-Black and Nude

Welcome to the world of hosiery. The subject really deserves its own one-word-titled book like Salt or Cod because ‘enmeshed’ in the history of “Hose” you’ll find the history of, among other things, technology, sexuality, art, the women’s movement, natural resources, and cross-dressing.

Like any other specialty item, legwear has a language all its own. I’m pretty sure that “Nude-to-waist” is a technical term and while “off-white” can be found everywhere, in the realm of hosiery, "Off Black” is a standard color.

And the packaging…

Three illustrated boxes from the mid-1950s.

I'm just crazy about these Deco boxes from Old Nylons. They sell original vintage hosiery, and carry many rare, boxed specimens that sell for upward of $100. The site also provides details about the manufacturing process and the mills.

White space-age chairs, Pucci prints,
purple & orange—so very 1960s.

This type of cut-out-peek-a-boo packaging became very popular as a way to show color. But there's no way around it, if there are no samples to fondle, one must occasionally violate the taped plastic package.

I don’t quite get it, but Warren Beatty seems to have wandered from Shampoo (1975), onto the set of Saturday Night Fever (1977).

Sources and sites for more "sheer" hosiery delight:
SSSH960 Nylons Collector on flickr. A vast trove of hose pix. Many brands, and photos of what's inside all those lovely boxes--the protective tissue paper, the paper bands, etc. Many thanks to Alain for use of images.
Sleek 'n Chic, Deedeebon, and Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day for Touch of Soul package.