Burberry Men Fall Winter 2008

Finally, a mens' Fall Winter 2008 collection I like.

For you skinny legged men - be proud - this one's for you. Reflections of early 80s pregrunge. Think The Cult Love album meets Bob Dylan Subterranean Homesick Blues. A nice compliment with the GUCCI Fall Winter 2008 women's collection.

Watch a small snippet of the Burberry Prorsum mens' show.

The Fashion Equation

My husband is trying to understand how my work week wardrobe planning - which includes sunglasses and shoes - can be such a thought process. I taught him the 'fashion equation' early on in our relationship and it's something he has personally put to good use.

It goes like this:

2+2+2+5=36

Or

2 pants+2 skirts+2 blazers+5 tops = 36 different outfits when styled correctly.

Imagine the possibilities when applied to each section of the color wheel - which should be within arm's length at all times.

With the Fall collections slowly trickling in I'm going to devote the next few posts to my top picks for men and women. Expect some video as well as thoughts of what I think inspired the looks.

Here's a teaser:

Women's Trousers:

• Victor & Rolf stove pipe
  
• Balenciaga stove pipe
  
• Gaulthier wide leg

Skirts:

• FENDI front slit pockets

Dresses:

• GUCCI
  
• Gaulthier
• Sonia Rykiel

Tops:

• GUCCI
• Chloé

Handbags:

• FENDI the 80s inspired over the shoulder clutch
  
• GUCCI the cut velvet from the Hysteria Collection
• Chloé the clutch

Vintage Film and Fashion Part 2

A film that could spark some inspiration is the British horror flick Psychomania (1971). Tight leather, vintage British motorcycles, great hair styles and tripped out music.

Be warned this is a cheesy movie! Kitschy, campy, over the top movie night pandemonium.

The flick is about a gang of bikers, The Living Dead, who commit suicide to come back as a zombie gang. There's a frog with a lead role that is quite quizzical.

Watch this trailer of The Living Dead terrorizing a shopping centre. 

The Mom in the hot pants slash jumpsuit and go-go boots is worth it.

I don't know whose personal style is better - Johnny Alucard from Dracula AD 72 or Tom Latham from Psychomania.

Tom from Psychomania

inspiration - Yves Saint Laurent F/W 2008

Johnny Alucard from Dracula AD 72

inspiration: ETRO F/W 2008

Mercedes a Luxury Biofuel Ride

I've been considering buying a 1970s Mercedes 300D to run on biodiesel.  I don't want to spend much and would use it as a commuter or to simply show off.  I love the 70s sedan styling, leather interior, the wood panel dash and the chrome bumpers.  These vehicles have also been known to possess drivers with Grey Poupon accents - one of life's finer pleasures, of course. 

photo from RanWhenParked

New York in Pen & Ink Matteo Pericoli

Matteo Pericoli's Grammy nominated album design

Beastie Boys - To the 5 Boroughs

I loved pop up books as a child.

When I recently discovered that the artist of one of my favourite album covers was also a published author, designer and architect I had to dig deeper.

Matteo Pericoli captures New York City in pen and ink. His first published book, Manhattan Unfurled, Random House (2001) contains fifteen hundred buildings and nineteen bridges that unfold into two 37 foot scrolls of the East and West Sides of the Manhattan skyline. A young person's version is also available under the title, See the City: the journey of Manhattan Unfurled, Knopf for Young Readers (2004). In this version, Pericoli adds simple text and hand-drawn labels, telling young readers how he created his drawing. He also encourages kids to 'draw everything'.

Manhattan Unfurled Random House (2001)

In 2007, Pericoli completed Skyline of the World, a 397 foot panoramic mural for American Airlines' new International Terminal at JFK.

Skyline of the World

photo USA Today

Born in Milan, Matteo Pericoli currently teaches illustration and architecture at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, NY.

A Design Conundrum

$950 USD at Unica

The Dolce & Gabbana Mademoiselle armchair by Philippe Starck for Kartell - a case of purposeful SEO, insecure branding or narcissism - you decide.

Whichever way, still a very good look when set amongst 1970s red leather parlor chairs and a vintage industrial table from Get Back, Inc.

Tree Spheres - Micro Compact Vacation Rentals

Tree Spheres by Tom Chudleigh

First spotted by Italian ELLE Decor in 2007 (Aprile 2007 N.4 pg 102) and now available for vacation rental - Tom Chudleigh's Tree Spheres at Qualicum Beach, British Columbia (you may remember my post on the White Ravens of Qualicum Beach). These micro compact homes are suspended from the forest or any other solid object - like a rock face or building.

Chudleigh describes them:

'The spheres are all about unity and oneness. Architecture is a way of shaping and creating habitat to reflect a feeling and to harmonize with the environment. The sphere is a form of architecture that reflects that thought and feeling of oneness. Where normal square/rectangular housing separates walls, floor and ceiling with hard lines and often color and material changes – in a sphere they all become one.'

What a magical place to spend a night on your way to Cathedral Grove or Tofino.

Related Posts:

3 Countries 3 Architects 3 Noninvasive Designs

Ann Demeulemeester FW 2008 Collection

You can never have too many coats or boots. As long as you have quality, cut and class your investment can last a life time - if not more. What I like about Ann Demeulemeester's Fall 2008-2009 collection is her draping and tapering of fine wools and silks to create an Annie Hall meets Boy Blue in big boots.  

Top 5 Ways To Disappoint Vogue Readers

The July cover of American Vogue is off brand and tabloid like.

Top 5 disappointments:

1. 'The Price is Right - Strategies for shopping the trends on a budget'
2. 'Cost Effective Beauty and Fitness'
3. 'PREGNANCY UPDATE!'
4. The red font
5. Julia Roberts and George Clooney

I thought Vogue was about fashion not trends.  If I want trends and budget shopping advice I'll read InStyle.  

Related Posts

Vogue Editor Earns Biggest Fashion Faux Pas

You Think You Know Fashion? The Quiz

Designer Homes On The Market

The Saarinen House

The Eero Saarinen Family Home was listed last December and looks to be still on offer here. For a small $3.2 million you can enjoy this modern piece of history and the gorgeous views it offers. According to the listing, rentals are permissible.

Another listing that's caught my eye is the Robert Welch Home. I first saw the Mayorcas & Guest designed home in Taschen's 70s Decorative Art (pgs 82-85) and searched it out online. The home was listed here on June 18th so you better get it while you can - for $1.9 million.

Mayorcas & Guest on the edge of the Cotswolds

Trends - Graffiti in Interiors

Verona by Anna James

I was never allowed to take art classes in school - not to worry I make a living as a creative now -so when my parents gave "the kids" our own room in our unfinished basement it was as if I had my first orgasm -  I called it The Punk Room.  The Punk Room was a box of unfinished concrete, it had a black plastic tarp doorway, a black light and enough neon highlighters for every neighbourhood kid and their cousin.  I covered the walls in graffiti and had a forgotten about pastel Oriental rug on the floor. It was 1984 and I was inspired by everything "out of the ordinary" particularly goth hair and men wearing eyeliner in British bands...

Inspired by the graffiti in Verona, Italy, Anna James has transformed 20th Century furniture into contemporary works of art. 

I think her pieces in Verona and Romeo and Juliet are fabulous and I'd love to see them in a boutique hotel.

Inspirational seating - The bench at Viretta Park, aka Kurt's Park in Seattle (the park next to Kurt Cobain's home).

Romeo & Juliet by Anna James

The Torrid Latin Shoe Affair

The Spanish Lover

Balenciaga Facet Strap Sandal

I've fallen in love for the second time. The first time was 1986 and it surmounted in a rather torrid summer love triangle between my Mexican love, Huarache and my Spanish love, Espadrille.

Upon a recent blitz to Scottsdale, Arizona (stay at Mondrian) we were reunited.

Within no time, another torrid Latin affair. Huarache comforts me during the day while my new Spanish love, Balenciaga, whets my appetite at night.

Huarache prefers walks on the beach while Balenciaga prefers running amuck.

The Mexican Lover

Huarache Sandal

How to camp in style

DeLuxe 16 pc Plastic Cutlery Set

available at Moss

I prefer my campfire marshmallows à la crème brûlée, my picnic table draped in gingham and my cutlery brought from home -  every year we reuse the same plastic stuff picked up at some McDonald's along the way.  

If only Mickey D's could bring on Donata Paruccini and Fabio Bortolani to design their cutlery my camping decor would be a lot more chic - after all they're carrying iced coffee now aren't they...

On that note, do you think I should commission Philippe Starck to design a wiener/veggie dog roaster or should I keep relying on my Dad's design staple; Sonny's Unpainted Wire Hanger Wiener Roaster 1975?

West Coast Modernism going going gone

McNab Residence

photo West Vancouver Museum

Vancouver is full of Modernist architectural gems - many of which are being demolished and replaced with pink marble and glass and constitute a whole other post.

The work of Duncan McNab, one of BC's 'lesser known modernists', may fall victim to the wrecking ball simply because of his lack of flamboyancy. Sometimes lost among the West Coast Modernist name droppings of Arthur Erickson and Ron Thom, McNab stands out with his clear, simple European and some may argue Japanese influences.

McNab photo West Vancouver Museum

Goldilocks' Search Continues

You may remember that I sold my vintage couch and seating on Craigslist awhile back - in a miraculous two hours at that - and that I've been searching for the perfect, or at least a reasonable facsimile of perfect, replacement.

Well, the search continues and I have another contender - "La michetta" by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia.  "La michetta" is a system of modular components that remain unique due to the different arrangements you place them in.  The system is composed of a wooden structure with polyurethane and "fiberfill" padding upholstered in 100% cotton velvet.

The Pseudo Cocktail

Baccarat Mosaique Tumbler

photo RoyalArtGlass

My husband and I are the 'regulars', the 'locals', the ones with our own seats at the bar and table in the corner. Everyone knows our drinks and we know everyone's name. 

On that note, you may have noticed I haven't been posting too many cocktail recipes as of late.

It seems that my 'Irritably Bored Syndrome' has decided it was time to try something new.

On the advice of Cheryl at the Comox I've been drinking Soda and Bitters instead of Vodka and Soda.  It's actually quite good!

Ingredients:

Club Soda

Angostura Aromatic Bitters

ice

Add ice to a rock glass, fill with Club Soda, add about 6-10 drops of bitters and stir.  

Enjoy - your stomach will thank you for it!

Design Lover - Maria Jauhiainen

Ginkgo necklace photo unicahome

Inspired by the skeletons of leaves she saw while taking out the rubbish, Finnish designer Maria Jauhiainen has created "Lehti" out of silver or brass. Jauhiainen's work has received widespread attention since her first major showing in December 2005 at Design Forum Finland. Now on permanent collection at MOMA and the V&A, Jauhiainen has a long career ahead of her.

Her beautiful pieces are worthy of layering - a look I love for the summer!

A Necessary Luxury?

This is so unreal I don't think it's real:  18 karat gold Hello Kitty cell phone strap ($500), coupled with calf skin Dior ($450) iPhone case. 

Inspired Candlelight

Magnolia Lumen by Adam Frank

We all look better by candlelight so why not find your next dinner party cast beneath the shadows of pine, cedar and magnolia trees.  Adam Frank has designed Lumen a series of acid etched oil lamp shadow projectors.

If you'd rather see things go off with a bang Piet Houtenbos has given us Grenade Oil Lamps. Made from actual US army surplus grenades and gilded in silver or gold.

Mixed Tapes vs Diamonds

My parents liked to throw parties.  In order to throw a good party you need a good sound system and with every good sound system comes good headphones.  

I was lucky enough to grow up listening to tunes on my Dad's vintage headphones - you know, the big, over the ear, amazing sounding, padded type. Needless to say, I could never get into the feeling of 'ear buds' or their sound quality.  

I've recently come into the possession of a pair of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones . These are some very amazing headphones.  So amazing, in fact, that when you take them off it takes a moment to reground yourself!

If you love music as much as I do I highly suggest investing in a pair of these - they're great for the plane, the iPod, the computer and the peace and quiet!

While your reminiscing about the good old days take a look at the Mix Tape USB stick.  It holds up to one hour of music - the same as an old 60 cassette tape. 

Nothing shows the gift of love more than a good mixed tape!

Mix Tape USB Stick