Sad Mondays

I do not hate Mondays. I haven't had to since I started working for myself. But this Monday is a little gloomy and put in my mind to hear an old ballad--Barbara Allen. Definitely pretty and old--if plenty sad.

Out of Vogue

I am utterly bored with today's style/fashion magazine covers. I think it's because they focus too much on the celebrity or the model and not enough on style.  So I decided to go back in time...

Carmen Dell'Orifice

 

I'd like to put the lady under a microscope and examine her.  But it wouldn't matter, would it? I mean why bother ask what she eats, how many hours she sleeps, what is her skincare routine, what is the secret to love, life and avoiding boring people? But why bother?

Darlings, on the subject of pretty old stuff: presented with no further comments, Carmen Dell'Orifice.

If you feel like carrying on you can read another curios fashion post here.

A Family Collection: The Giacometti Brothers

I have no interest in collecting any one group of anything. Or, maybe secretaries. Yes, I do seem to buy an odd number of those.

But when it comes to art I do not have a preference for any one artist, so expressed, that I would collect his work. But last winter I went to the Brussels Affordable Art Fair  and while walking around un-stimulated and bored out of my mind  I can remember thinking that there seems to be a lot of Giacometti inspiration or knock-off--- however you may choose to think of it.

The Giacometti family simply had art flowing through their veins. These Swiss brothers and their father were all artists and designers. Sculpture, paintings, furniture, rugs,buildings. There were three Giacometti brothers: Alberto, the oldest who was famed for L'Homme Qui Marche and other bronze sculptures; Diego, sculptor and furniture designer, famed for his L'Autruche and patinaed bronze furniture; and Bruno, the architect.

I think one collection worthy of possession would be works of the Giacometti brothers. Oh, to dream.

Alberto and Diego were really the artists of the family and it is their work that draws mass appeal and as such, it is their work/style that is copied. The styles are so similar you can hardly tell which brother produced what. It makes sense that one would collect both brothers' works.

Les Modernistes

When next in Paris I want to visit Les Moderniste. This is an interior décor shop specialising in original 20th century furniture, sculpture, pictures, lighting, etc.

The shop (gallery) celebrates the design of the 1930s and carries a lot of pieces reminiscent of that era.

Josef Frank: Cabinets and Commodes

Josef Frank is said to be the Austrian who raised Swedish design to new heights. Frank  is said to have felt that standardised designs would render humans bland and all the same.

 

Frank's perspective on Swedish design brought human warmth by incorporating features of nature into his work via colour, depictions, material and form.

Frank's take on interior design focused on rooms that were clear, free and breathable. This is reflected in his cabinets that are all mounted on high legs.

Frank's designs ranged from the 1950s up until his death in 1967.

See more of Frank's work at Svenskt Tenn, Bukowski, 1stDibs and Bonluxat

Brazilian Modernism: Organic Furniture

I couldn't possibly have these pieces as the staple furniture style in my home. But a few pieces in a beach home or mountain cabin would certainly go a long way. This is furniture from the 1940s onwards; but the modernism movement dominated the 1960s aesthetic-- the pieces look carved, sculptural, for sure architectural, solid and at one with nature.

 

 

Above, Jose Zanine Caldas

 

 

 

Above, Joaquin Tenreiro 1960s Armchair and Sofa 

 

 

 Above, Jorge Zalszupin Tea/Bar Cart, Credenza, and Armchair

 

 

 Sergio Rodrigues Armchair

COME THE VINTAGE

I was shopping around for Fall/Winter 2015-2016 clothes and other gear and I found myself somewhere between distress and dismay. I cannot recall a time when the clothes looked more ill-fitting, the fabric cheaper and the stitching more sub-par. I cannot claim to be able to afford high-end everything but I like a good coat, and at least three well-made sweaters and a sturdy pair of boots. But even the stitching on my Ralph Lauren sweaters are unraveling after one wear and the buttons on my blouses and shirts from JCREW come away between my fingers while I am doing them up. I just feel like everyone's manufacturing on the cheap and duping us consumers.

But then I look at shirts my aunts have left over from the 60s and 70s and I think that everything, and I mean everything (even things that were bought on the cheap back then) was made well and made to last. Should we all be vintage shopping this Fall---especially in light of the 70s kick the designers are forcing on us?

I popped over to 1stDibs and La Double J to look at what they have. The thing is, vintage stuff costs even more than present day high end swag. What is a person to do?

Dinner Service

Actually what I should call this post is "In Service of Dinner" because it pertains to the bout of anxiety I usually feel when it is time to host a big dinner party. I want dinner to be perfectly enjoyable for my guests but not neurotically done up. I want to evolve to the stage where I care less about what people think and do more of what suits my taste. I like to mix and match.

I fall into the eclectic crowd as far as interior décor is concerned---a lot of colour, a lot of mismatch, a general theme or two, running along the lines of colour or furniture style. Otherwise, I buy what appeals to me.

And I do find that once I get home all the pieces just seem to fit.

So I never wanted wedding china. Never had a wedding registry. So when I serve dinner the tablescape is usually held together by a colour or texture. I would never buy a 48 piece dinner set.

A little Wedgewood, some pottery from Provence and a tea set from the Flea and so on.

 

 

So when it comes to serving up dinner for a crowd, can it not be a mix of old, old and some new?