Tuesday 29 December 2009

Happy New Year

Heading to a little Welsh village for a few days - log fires, board games, bracing country walks, pub lunches. Can't wait.

Sunday 27 December 2009

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Festive


Monday 21 December 2009

Copper


Sunday 20 December 2009

Ice ice baby


The green

Saturday 19 December 2009

The nineteenth of December

Ten years ago today I arrived in wintry London from the antipodean tropics. And seven years ago today I met my love. I am because of this day.

Friday 18 December 2009

She remembers how it felt

All I want for Christmas is...

Shadow



Delicate



White





Sunday 13 December 2009

Roger Hiorns Seizure

How to create a show-stopping contemporary art installation:

Step 1: Locate old flat ready for demolition

Step 2: Pump in 75,000 litres of copper sulphate solution

Step 3: Leg it

Step 4: Create a place of rare and haunting beauty, transformed by the growth of sapphire-blue crystals

Step 5: Engage the public and receive a nomination for the Turner Prize







Saturday 12 December 2009

Southwark





Au revoir, Paris

Madeleine Vionnet @ Les Arts Decoratifs

One of the highlights of the Paris trip was a visit to the Vionnet retrospective at Les Arts Decoratifs on rue de Rivoli. Vionnet was a true visionary in the way she draped fabric to a mannequin to perfect her signature long and lean silhouette, which still looks fresh and not overworked. Any of the dresses on display could be worn to a contemporary black tie event without looking like fancy dress.

The exhibition was beautifully curated with gowns presented by theme and time period. Below each dress was a digital frame displaying the original drawing, captioning and black and white photograph of a model wearing the gown, creating a complete narrative of both the dress and the relationship between designer and client.

Our visit to the gallery was also memorable in that a very low-key Janet Jackson was visiting the Vionnet show with a small entourage, including her costume designer. If that means goddess gowns for her next tour, we're in for a treat.

EDIT: On the subject of sightings, the boy and I saw Marc Jacobs on consecutive days in the 2nd arrondissement. On both occasions he was sporting a kilt over leggings and carrying his ever-faithful black Hermes Birkin.

Friday 11 December 2009

Pierre Herme: macaroon perfection



Paris: food for the soul

Some highlights:

- Croque monsieur made with poilane bread

- Bacon and tomato tartine, salads and mocha at Rose Bakery

- Steak bernaise with frites followed by creme brulee at Chez Paul, directly opposite from Isabel Marant's boutique near Bastille

- A coq au vin supper after seeing Battles play the gorgeous Elysee Montmarte theatre

- Crepe Belle Helene (poached pears, dark chocolate, roasted almonds and cream)

- Foie gras from Monoprix

Paris: the 7th



Paris: the 18th




The boy and I chose a rather mild day to wander the back streets of the 18th arrondissement near Sacre Coeur, stopping to look at electronics, fabrics and the vast assortment of high-end beauty products stocked by corner-store pharmacies.

After much anticipation, the APC surplus store was a letdown: the lower exchange rate combined with limited stock (green mohair dress, anyone?) scuppered any purchases.

Monday 7 December 2009

Paris, je t'aime...back on Friday

(image source: Jeanloup Sieff)