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.

Christmas / Sales

Festive

Copper

Ice ice baby

The green

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.

She remembers how it felt

All I want for Christmas is...

Shadow

Delicate

White

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

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.

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.

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

(image source: Jeanloup Sieff)