images/sartorialist/thisisglamorous
Mydesignfile is now on facebook … like the page for daily design inspiration !!
J. crew style … weekends
This is the time of year to spruce up the weekend wardrobe in readiness for that casual entertaining in the lead up to the silly season. Well actually that season is upon us now. I always give J. Crew a casual glance to get my eye in for the latest look instore. A trip to Zara is just as good … particularly Bondi Junction in Sydney which is slightly more elegant and easier to navigate than the city store.
Feel I am giving away trade secrets here, however not everyone has success with this look. I personally love this smart, with a touch of glamour look …. yes I am drawn to the little jacket with the weather we are having at the moment. Don’t get me wrong … this is not the look for the Christmas party, Christmas drinks or even Christmas day. You will need something far more festive for those occasions. This is just for ‘popping in for a casual drink with friends on a Sunday afternoon’ or ‘meeting your girlfriend for a glass of champagne at the local wine bar before Christmas !!
PS. To all my friends in the rag trade … I am no fashion guru … just know what I like. Maybe it is all in the fabrics and colours … more my expertise !!
Stylish baroque flowers in bowral, southern highlands
Oh what a joy to have such a divine little shop in the Southern Highlands. Once renowned for all things stylish and smart the beautiful Highlands has had little to offer in the way of boutique shopping of late.
The Southern Highlands has seen the likes of Belinda Seper, Peter Chadwick, Jan Weekes and many others, open wonderfully stylish shops … sadly, no longer. This is the sort of boutique shopping that Sydneysiders with weekenders in the Highlands, crave.
Anyhow, back to Baroque Flowers … it isn’t all about flowers … the shop is full of decorative items such as urns, baskets, glassware and one off antique furniture pieces that compliment the flowers …. and draw you through the door.
Vanessa is a very clever florist/stylist who creates not only fabulous flowers but beautiful vignettes within this tiny space. She puts together unusual combinations of flowers and foliage, both strikingly bold and pretty, rustic and classic. There is always a surprise element.
Mulberry moments at london fashion week
When I awoke to Mulberry’s The Blog …. Fashion Week Moments it was too gorgeous not to share. It captures exactly that …. the behind the scene moments that most of us don’t get to experience. These photos for me portray the energy, anticipation, excitement, elation and relief …. probably in that order !!
In Mulberry’s words …. Months of planning go into creating a show for London Fashion Week. Then the day seems to be over in minutes !
David jones sydney … spring flowers spring fashion
What a spectacular entrance to this annual event at David Jones, Sydney. I love the reference to the spring fashion direction with their theme ‘fleuressence’.
Having said that … I am not sure that I can embrace the whole fleuro fashion statement … maybe a scarf.
However … the idea of bringing fleuro into the home as summer approaches is a fun concept. It need only be a vibrant cushion, vase, platter, towels or flowers !!
Each year, the ground floor of David Jones is transformed into a floral fantasy for the start of Spring. I have such fond memories of the trip into the city with the express purpose of viewing the ‘David Jones Spring Flowers’ and can’t recall ever being disappointed.
Dreaming of warmer weather and summer holidays …. corsica would be nice
Nothing like reading Garance Dore’s latest blog about her holiday in Corsica to pick you up. Especially when the wind is howling and temperatures freezing in the Southern Highlands. It is about now that I start to get itchy feet. Longing for the warmth, the sun, the summer clothes … for a start.
I just love this interview with Aurelie … hearing all about her summer essentials. It does get you in the mood … her Liberty print shorts for summer on the Mediterranean (made for her in Paris of course), her Gap cargo pants and white T shirt but best of all, her divine vintage white peasant blouse above. Have noted the white Acne skinny jeans and Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunnies as essentials and are on the list already.
Have also done my research on Corsica … only 1.5 hours by plane from Paris or by ferry from Tuscany 2.5 hours. All very achievable once over there … there being Europe, the centre of the universe. Well it is for me, sitting here at the extremity !!
The photo above, is one of my favourites. It captures a moment !! I can feel the heat coming off the sand as I lie under the shade of the cabana. Oh yes and the water would be the perfect temperature as well.
Meanwhile back in the Highlands ……
Weekend reading … pure and general … celebrating one year
Pull out your ipad over coffee at your favourite haunt this morning and savour this beautiful book from Pure and General. Page by page of mouthwatering images that really only confirm what we already knew … this store/emporium is a triumph … and has been rapturously received by all over the last 12 months.
Leaf through Pure and General’s diverse and exotic product range … but fall in love with their merchandising !!! This is the magic of Pure and General.
‘approach … tactile textured sensual bespoke’
Refer my blog May 22 2012
Container homes are all style
I first heard about container homes and the creative things people were doing with them, a few years ago. I listened with great interest … fascinated to think of the challenge and the potential !!
All they require are windows and doors…of any size or proportion and a coat of paint.
They can be joined together side by side or on top of each other ….
Somehow they suddenly become a design statement ….. minimalist and state of the art. I just love the way they seem to nestle into their environment.
Weekend woollens in the highlands
Another wet and cold weekend in the highlands. Whatever has happened to our sunny winter days and crystal blue skies. My memories of winter are those of finding a sunny spot in the garden to sit with a tray … pot of tea, a slice of boiled fruit cake and papers to read … absolute bliss. Not this year !! I watch from the window as the first sign of bulbs appear under the trees and yearn for Spring. Even our sasanqua camellias have rebelled with very few blossoms on show. I am looking for a lot more colour with the Japonica’s.
images:remodelista
Instead we are cosying up inside with woolly blankets, throw rugs and open fires.
I do love the old fashioned check blankets and seek them out in antique shops. I found some gorgeous ones at out local antique emporium that had come from Scotland … such interesting colours and so homely. More than anything I love a blanket stitch edge. Even more homespun !!
Cath Kidston does wonderful things with vintage blankets … she makes cushions with them and even covers wing back chairs with one or a number of check blankets in patchwork . They look fabulous.
Maybe our cold wet winter will inspire some of these creative activities … in the meantime I will just bring out that scarf that I started to knit last year but didn’t finish. No doubt Monday morning will bring the sun !!
Country style and design by justin bishop
This book is the treat you need to curl up with over the weekend….beautiful photography, elegant layout and styling. I felt I just had to own this book.
The houses and properties featured are the sort of ‘country’ that you dream of ….that you want to pack your bags and head off to for that city escape.
Enjoy your weekend …..
