curio noir

Zoe has written about Curio Noir in the past, but Tiffany Jeans has recently expanded the collection and I just love it. It's mystical and a bit kooky but there's a really strong attention to detail and it is beautifully scented. I like it when things are done properly. There are beautiful linens created in collaboration with artist Richard Orjis, candles in two new scents (Chypre Gardenia and Black Spice) and various other incarnations of Curio Noir creativity - handmade, one at a time. For those with a fascination for the interesting and the uncommon.

pretty pretty

From The NZFW Guide 2011
Photos Olivia Hemus

Styling Dan Ahwa

Model Laurien from Clyne

This shoot features a few of my favourite pieces from spring/summer collections from some New Zealand designers - like the Stolen Girlfriends Club floral print by Karl Maughan, Kate Sylvester's feather headpiece, Ingrid Starnes' dainty yellow floral, and Twenty-seven Names' &Co knit sweaters. Sweet! Pretty! Cute!

sparkle motion

What are your thoughts on sparkly, glittery shoes?

inspiration now

Sorry, I can't remember where I found most of these photos, but I know the last two are from here

let's snuggle

Fluffy sheepskin cushions by Home Base Collections

smtty, a mixtape - number one

In the Basement / Etta James

Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi / Jacques Dutronc           

You Keep Me Hangin' On / Vanilla Fudge

Tomorrow Is a Long Time / Bob Dylan

Bye Bye Love / The Everly Brothers

Cosmic Dancer / Marc Bolan & T. Rex

Green is the Colour / Pink Floyd           

Chinatown / Wild Nothing          

Spinning Away / Brian Eno and John Cale         

Cloud City / Pond

You Know What I Mean / Cults

Superstar / Sonic Youth

She's A Mystery To Me / Roy Orbison

I'm going to make these each month, because I make them for the car each month anyway. There's no theme, just songs I've been listening to - some old, some new. I  hope you like it.

Download the SMTTY mix for July here.

signature pose

Miu Miu resort 2012

tokyo dreams

It's almost two years since I was last in Japan. I love being there, for many reasons, the food one of the main ones. Tonight we are going to see Jiro Dreams of Sushi. And then go and eat at Sake Bar 601 - as close as we can get to Tokyo at the moment.

sophie calle

Sophie Calle is a French artist you might enjoy. It is fair to say that she and Tracey Emin have some things in common - tonally at least, their art is reminiscent of the other. Rather than recounting a back catalogue of her (prolific) efforts, installations, projects and exhibitions, I will direct you here; and make notes on a few favourite works.

Take Care of Yourself, 2007

At the 2007 Venice Biennale, Sophie Calle showed her piece Take Care of Yourself, named after the last line of the message her ex had left her. Calle had asked dozens of women—including a parrot and a hand puppet—to interpret the break-up e-mail and presented the results in the French pavilion. "Calle took the e-mail, and the paralyzing confusion that accompanies the mind’s failure to comprehend heartbreak, and distributed it to 107 women of various professions, skills and talents to help her understand it – to interpret, analyze, examine and perform it. The result of this seemingly obsessive, schoolyard exercise is paradoxically one of the most expansive and telling pieces of art on women and contemporary feminism to pass through (the major art centres) in recent years".

Leviathan (with Paul Auster), 1992

Calle asked writer and filmmaker Paul Auster to "invent a fictive character which I would attempt to resemble"and served as the model for the character Maria in Auster’s novel Leviathan (1992). This mingling of fact and fiction so intrigued Calle that she created the works of art created by the fictional character, which included a series of color-coordinated meals.

The Blind, 1986

Calle interviewed blind people, and asked them to define beauty. Their responses were accompanied by her photographic interpretation of their ideas of beauty, and portraits of the interviewees.

media unfriendly

Philo doesn't tweet, blog or communicate via Facebook. When she shows her collections, her backstage area isn't open to the media. "Once the show has happened there's no need to control any image," she says, "but I don't like the idea of people sending out images before we've even done it. We don't allow anyone to do that. I don't like all that 'model backstage standing around having her picture taken in a stupid pose'."

"To me, the show is quite a complete story. There's nothing more for me to say and, anyway, it doesn't matter what it was meant to say. It's out there. It can be whatever anyone watching it thought it was, surely."

"I absolutely love fashion. I love doing new things and finding ways to swerve in a different direction. But one of the reasons why I try to use fabrics and cuts that don't go out of fashion is because I like the idea of women buying the clothes and then... I don't know what the word is... cherish sounds over-emotional for a relationship with a piece of clothing... but for a woman to feel proud, satisfied, comfortable and powerful in them, to wear them and get on with their lives."

The interview's over and for the first time since it began, Phoebe Philo leans back in her chair and relaxes. "Shall we have a fag?" she says.

Phoebe Philo: intelligent, fashion hero, blunt, talented, amazing, I love her, etc, etc. There are many things to admire about the Celine designer, but something that I find especially endearing is her media unfriendliness. Her approach to fashion is refreshing as well - no stupid backstage model photos that are beloved of so many bloggers, a lack of ego about how her shows are interpreted ("it can be whatever anyone watching it thought it was"), and a realistic approach to how women dress. I really like her comment about how fashion can help women feel proud and powerful, but then they get on with living their lives.
The quotes above are from a great profile from the Independent; you can read it here.

rich bitch

I am so in love with the new Prada resort collection, and the lookbook. Pretty sure I've said this before, but I want to dress like a snooty, rich looking lady with perfect posture, in pointy pumps and scarves with everything.

I like cats

These Charlotte Olympia kitty velvet flats are amazing!

caitlin foster

My work focuses on fine attention to small details, gestures, and patterns in everyday life.

I would like to have one of these delicate, stippled drawings on my wall.

See more on Caitlin's website.

wallpaper

Lately I have been obsessed with the Golden Girls - their pastel clothes, their quick wit and their Florida inspired interiors. I'm particularly enamoured with Blanche's bedroom, with the iconic Martinique print wallpaper and bedspread.

sunset on her breath now

this weekend we escaped the city.

went here.

teepees are only in summer, but staying in a converted train carriage — caboose — was pretty great too.

we played cards under lamplight & drank red wine.

ate fresh mozzarella & tomato & basil from the farmers market on honey wholemeal bread, while a wild thunderstorm pounded the tin roof.

it was a perfect break for karel, who is in the midst of making a new record (the excitement as it comes together!).

i read the stories of tracey emin and bobby dylan.  

in the morning we went to the raglan creative market. lavender soap, crystals, homemade pesto, lime marmalade, a wreath of flowers strung by a woman who plays the sitar.

p.s. i have seen seven rainbows in the last few weeks. 

the pearls are absolutely non-negotiable

I cannot wait to see this film! It's set to be released in January.

I also love this photo, of Lucky the dog, Ronald Reagan, The Iron Lady and her handbag.

nature calls

'new girl'

It may come as absolutely no surprise that Zoe and I love Zooey Deschanel.  She is brunette, wears glasses, is awkwardly sexy, smart, loves brands like Orla Kiely. So, it's quite exciting to anticipate the release of her new series New Girl. It looks pretty trashy, to be totally honest - but I'm hoping it errs more on the side of a female-skewed Bored to Death.

afterzine no. 2

This is my favourite zine. I am very excited to see the new issue. 

To purchase...

want to wear

 Diana / Golden Girls / FQ Occasions / Diana / Self Service / Vintage Versace

we love thursday sunday and thursday sunday love...

Zoe and I have a soft spot for girls who are friends who work in a pair. Iris Cuaresma and Mara Tonetti are Thursday Sunday. They are based in Melbourne and they make beautiful clothes, from natural fibres, in Australia. You can take a closer look here, but we'd draw a parallel to other pared back labels with a sense of simplicity - if you like A.P.C. or Rag and Bone, you'll probably enjoy Thursday Sunday. A pair of woolen shorts, a cashmere camel coat, a handknitted jumper (handknitted by Mara's Mum!). Here's what I imagine doing in their clothes: drinking a tumbler of red wine, sitting on the floor and listening to records with my flatmate; going for a walk in the park and getting a cold nose; smoking a cigarette on the porch really quickly so I don't get cold hands. Basically just doing stuff and getting stuff done. Thursday Sunday like:

1) Erin Wasson.

2) Phoebe Philo and her work for Celine.

3) Sketchbooks and Diaries, we each have 2 diaries. One boring one for business related things and of course less practical personal one which are beautifully designed which inspire us to sketch more.

4) We love knitwear, especially our hand made knitwear which features in each collection made by mum. This knit was from our previous A/W collection. Thanks Liz for the beautiful photography!



5) Derek Henderson’s terrible boredom of paradise is so inspiring – such a simple concept but his photograph tell a story with his use of an amazing colour palette and atmosphere.

6) Summer/Winter – Iris loves Winter, Mara loves Summer so we fight all the time!

7) RnB/Hip Hop – Who doesn’t like it?



8) Linen – One of the oldest textiles but stands the text of time. We use it for every collection because of the amazing texture, quality and the way it feels on your body.

9) Tea & Cigarettes – They go hand in hand and gives us an excuse to take a break in between our busy schedules.

10 ) Family – We are very family orientated and they inspire us everyday – couldn’t live without them.