Wednesday 29 May 2013
Wonderful Shops To See
I Gigi General Store
I love independent retailers who offer something different and unique.
Owned by interior designers, Zoё Ellison and Alex Legendre, i gigi General Store based in Hove is a haven of beautiful gifts, clothing and unique pieces for your home. With its calm, welcoming atmosphere you can browse at your leisure or do some serious shopping. The muted, earthy colour palette is chic and modern and yet utterly timeless allowing all the pieces to fit seamlessly into any home. A beautiful Café, local sourced and organic food, exhibitions of local artists, a bespoke furniture range and an interior design service completes the experience.
“When it comes to interior design, the most important thing for us is to create a space that is practical and can be lived in, as well as looking beautiful and feeling relaxed. Zoe and Alex
An online shop is available if you want to have a look at this lovely shop.
Happy shopping!
Sara x
Thursday 23 May 2013
Bespoke Tailoring
Alexander McQueen- A Great Artisan
One of the best known British designers of all times, Alexander McQueen sums up all that is British, uniqueness, quirky, but beautifully made.
He was a British fashion designer and couturier best known for his in-depth knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, his collection could be very feminine almost fragile but still had great strength and the power to shock at times. His fashion shows could be very provocative and did force people to think.
McQueen's early runway collections developed his reputation for controversy and shock tactics and he was called the L’Enfant terrible as well as "the hooligan of English fashion. His collections were also named to shock titles such as Highland Rape. But I think it was just theatre, if at times a little dark. Alexander McQueen was known for over the top, unconventional runway shows: a recreation of a shipwreck for his spring 2003 collection; spring 2005's human chess game; and his fall 2006 show "Widows of Culloden", which featured a life-sized hologram of supermodel Kate Moss dressed in yards of rippling fabric. He used new technology and innovation to add a different twist to his shows and often shocked audiences and I am sure the fashion world is a much duller place without his unique showmanship.
Behind the drama, Alexander McQueen did have a formal, traditional apprenticeship at Anderson and Shepherds, Savile Row Tailors, and then at Gieves and Hawkes. I think this does show in the construction and sharp fit of his clothing. He then moved on to Angels and Bermans, theatrical costumiers, where he mastered 6 methods of pattern cutting. He went on to work for inventive designer Koji Tatsuno in London and then Romeo Gigli in Italy.
When he returned to London he completed a Master’s degree in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martin’s. In 1992 he was spotted by Isabella Blow who was going to have a huge impact on his future, personally and professionally, becoming his muse.
He had a profound respect and was influenced by the arts and crafts tradition. Alexander’s collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing. In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy where he worked until March of 2001. In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he remained Creative Director.
In Style magazine listed an Alexander McQueen dress in the "100 Best Dresses of the Decade. McQueen also became known for using skulls in his designs. A scarf bearing the motif became a celebrity must-have and was copied around the world.
Alexander McQueen’s major achievement in fashion have been recognized by the following awards: British Designer of the year 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003, International Designer of the Year by The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2003, A Most Excellent Commander of The British Empire (CBE)
Today his legacy is continued by the talented Sarah Burton.
For more images please view
Bye for now
Sara x
Tuesday 14 May 2013
Accesorize With Bespoke
Emma Cassi- Jewellery and Lace
I just love fashion accessories and I am always on the lookout for something a bit different. I came across Emma Cassi’s unique, beautiful work several years ago and feel she a truly talented artisan. Originally born in France, she merges a sensibility for lace and embroidery born of her native country. Emma now lives and works in South West London, where she creates high quality fashion jewellery and is also an interior stylist.
Emma mixes beading, sewn work and hand-embroidery in her collections. Vintage sequins, Japanese glass beads, semi-precious stones, crystals, Swarovski, and gemstones are all used in these stunning pieces of work. Emma uses the ancient traditions of lace making and craft of hand embroidery in her modern but nostalgic jewellery.
Her feminine designs have a timeless appeal and are modern antiques and that will never go out of fashion. Emma’s work can be found in. Anthropologie and Designers Guild and on her own website.
I have posted example of her work and also have examples of her work and other unique fashion accessories
http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/adornment/
http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/adornment/
Bye for now
Sara x
Friday 3 May 2013
Mirror, Mirror On the Wall
Huw Griffith-Bespoke Mirrors
I love old mirrors when they have become distressed and weathered over the years this is much more interesting than new highly polished pieces. (Quite a lot like people really). With the trend for Shabby Chic a lot of new mirrors and furniture have been made to look older than they are (with various degrees of success) and a lot of beautiful old pieces are re-painted and re-polished totally losing their unique character. One artist who takes old pieces and keeps the character and also adds to the beauty is Huw Griffith who re-works old mirrors, produces artwork and re-works old chairs.
Huw Griffith is a London-based designer who creates antique décor by covering 19th century mirrors in faded vintage fabric and reworking plywood conservatory chairs with vintage floral wallpaper. His one-of-a-kind mirrors are carefully antiqued and backed with rare textiles so that the papers show through parts of the glass. As he describes it, "Knock off the bits you don't want, and leave on the bits that you do." Many of these old pieces have been overlooked or unwanted at flea/antique markets but Huw brings a new life to these pieces turning them into something beautiful, nostalgic and yet still innovative and modern.
Huw also creates commissioned art pieces such as; mercury glass bottles, painted mirror cabinet doors and mixed media mantel paintings. Huw has developed a small range of reproduction antique furniture piece, carefully covered, sanded and sealed in 1940's wallpapers. These have featured in several design magazines and are really stunning. I would love these pieces in my own home.
The bulk of his inspiration springs from the sourcing and re-working of unusual pieces that most dealers might overlook. Recent commissions have been wide ranging including work for the following clients
Paul Smith Interiors, Jamie Oliver, Designers Guild, Whistles, Quintessentially Soho, Savoy Group, Gordon Ramsey, Avoca, Anthropologie and Seventy-b-antiques.
Huw also finds the time to be an interiors editor for men's quarterly magazine Port, and has written interior pieces on many leading designers like Piero Fornasetti and Joseph Ettedgui.
I have posted images of his stunning work and I also have further images of his mirrors in http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/mirrors/
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