Material Archive

My Christmas Wish List

Truth be told, we don't do gift exchange in our family anymore – unless you happen to be under the age of 18. Instead, we travel or buy one another fun food items – like great chocolate or wine. So this list above is not a not-so-subtle hint for my beloved – I wouldn't dream of asking for these things (beyond vulgar!). Rather, it's a wish list for the things I hope go on sale Boxing Day...so I can buy them myself, if I have any fun money left after 3 weeks in Europe! ;-)

 Starting from the top, left to right:

1. Dries Van Noten Snake Boot from MyTheresa

2. Gold heart drop earrings from St Kilda

3. Sparkle needle point pillow from Jonathan Adler

4. Hipster heads from Jonathan Adler

5. Red plexi clutch by Charlotte Olympia

6. Gold snake Sang A Pop bag from Kirna Zabete

7. Multi-wrap watch from Burberry

8. Camel coat with fur collar from Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti

9. Creme de Rose lipbalm from Christian Dior

10. Soap on a roap from Diptyque at Barneys

11. Pave diamond earrings by Janis Provisor at Kirna Zabete

12. Gold devil pencil sharpener from Jonathan Adler

13. Blue satin ribboned heels by Liam Fahy

14. Constance H bag from Hermes

15. Green star earrings from Bochic

16. Glitter ankle boot from Barneys Co-Op

17. Nail lacquer in Scarlet Chinois by Tom Ford

18. Pink enamle bracelet from St Kilda

19. Yellow drop earring by Tom Binns

20. H Ring, little square dishes and collier de chien, Hermes

21. Bag by Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton

22. Needle point sunglasses sleeve by Jonathan Adler

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Chanel Make-Up

Was just looking through my YouTube favs and found this fun video from last January.

Gimmie Gimmie:

Bangle by Lady Grey  •  Sparkle Bag by Miu Miu  •  One-piece pale pink swimsuit by Miu Miu  •  Medor Clutch by Hermes  •  White leather bracelet by Hermes  •  Gold oxfords by Nicholas Kirkwood  •  Pyrite ring by Lunessa  •  Linen oxfords by Jill Sander  •  Silver pyrite ring Carole Tanenbaum •  Gold sequin top by Vince • Velvet dress  • YSL Nail lacquer  •  Gold lace cuff by Aurelie Bidermann •  Hammered gold bangles by Osanna Visconti  •  Caramel booties by Celine  •  Trench by Burberry  •  Jypsiere by Hermes  •  Coin ring by Aurelie Bidermann  •  Silver sequin / pink scarf by Club Monaco  •  Bow brooch by Balenciaga  •  Boots by Hermes

 

 

Famous Eyebrows: A Chart

Pretty spot on actually

My new favourite nail colour for summer: Chanel Orange Fizz

Described as a combination of "coral, fluorescent orange, and bubblegum pink". Love it.

Tom Ford on your lips

 

Tom Ford is launching a new line of lipsticks – and just look at the beautiful packaging.

In Tom's words, his interpretation of 12 classic colors: "I took the most universally flattering colors that a woman can wear, and then I reimagined them in a modern and authoritative way," he told WWD.

I think one of the reason's I've always loved Tom Ford is because he always speaks with such calm confidence – nothing is subtle or accidental – every detail is deliberate, exacting and completely unapologetic. He owns his work. It makes everything he touches and ultimately sells magnetic and powerful.

Kimchi Chanel

By Hongtu Zhang

Aubin & Wills Branding

The packaging and typography of Aubin & Wills wares is quite lovely don't 'cha think? Check out the fox with a top hat – bloody charming.

   

Taschen's Barcelona

 

Since I've been doing research on Barcelona, I thought I would share the lovely series of books from Taschen that I like to refer to when visiting certain cities. All of the books (Paris, London, Berlin, New York & Barcelona) are so well designed and thought out and have beautifully illustrated covers and maps.

 

A few things I'm currently in deep like with...

From top left to right:

VPL Overall Tank • 3.1 Phillip Lim Curly Fur Vest with Grosgrain Trim • Balenciaga Strass Single Strand Necklace • McQueen Python box clutch with skull clasp • Lee Angel Oversized Crystal Earrings • Hermès double tour Cape Cod watch • Druzy Gold Studs by Pade Vavra • Prada Bath Salts • VPL Beckham Bra • Bally python SP10 Ardey peep-toe d'Orsay • Silver diamond cut studs from metalicious on etsy • Stripe-T Forever 21 • Make-up palette Laura Mercier : Holiday "Colour Wardrobe" • Old Marc by Marc Jacobs laptop bag • Silver diamond cut ring from metalicious on etsy • Calvin Klein SP10 t-strap sandal with silver chain appliqué • Church's gold oxford

You Don't Know Jacques – O.P.I. Grey Nail Polish

  
 

 




Say what you will about Goop but she does have excellent taste. Her nail colour at the London Film Festival last year has spawned a grey trend for Fall 09 which I finally decided to try this week at Gee Beauty. So far, I must admit that I quite like it – the colour is You Don't Know Jacques by O.P.I.. In addition to the countless compliments, I think it's a much nicer option than black – which can look too harsh against pale winter skin.

As for the matte trend, I've tried a few colours from Knock Out at Aritzia, put still prefer the shine of a top coat. Something about the matte finish makes it look like chalky liquid paper to me.

The next colour on my list is YSL's Stormy Grey.

My Fall 2009 "Back to School" Shopping List

Oh, where to begin! There are so many things from the Fall collections that I am drooling over. Above is just a small sampling of my Fall 2009 shopping wish list. From top left to right:

First Row: Helmut Lang blue Y-back tank, Roksanda Ilincic Sabine velvet dress, Tom Binns sparkle cuff, Bulgari gold ring, Rick Owens shrunken zip biker.
Second Row: Giuseppe Zanotti flat suede boots, YSL gold chain strap satin purse, Elizabeth & James convertible trench (it becomes a dress!), Rick Owens grey bomber.
Third Row: Bottega Veneta silver chandelier earrings, Sass & Bide black studded cap-sleeve dress, Proenza Schouler PS1 med-satchel in blue suede, Proenza Schouler striped long-sleeved shirt
Fourth Row: Miu Miu belted wool sweater, RM by Roland Mouret grey wool dress, Mulberry black patent Bayswater handbag, Joseph leather leggings
Fifth Row: Miu Miu brown handbag, Christian Louboutin grey Paris boots, Fendi wool camel ruffle dress, Miu Miu embellished socks, Golden Goose fur vest, ACNE grey skirt
Last Row: Miu Miu studded black hobo, Burberry belt (from last season), Church's riding boots, Missioni cashmere thigh-high-legwarmers

Now you might be asking yourself – where's the colour??? I quite agree but will opt to be colourful through make-up this season despite the black lipstick trend (ick) or the nude lip look. Should we really be promoting a depressing look in these times? I say no!  I think a pink or poppy lip with a warm cheek is a shot of optimism right in the kisser. Here is a sample palette to balance out the greys and blacks above.

The prettiest handsoap ever

 

 

When you consider that you're supposed to wash your hands long enough to sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself, these soap rings seem like an ideal alternate timer. By the time they're completely dissolved, you're clean and smelling sweet. Could be a fun thing to have in the bathroom at a wedding shower – by designer Kyeok Kim.

Tsumori Chisato for Shu Uemura

 

Japanese fashion designer Tsumori Chisato has partnered with Shu Uemura this season to create a line of cosmetics that embodies the best of both brands. The packaging features prints that reference Le Petit Prince from Chisato's upcoming Fall/Winter 09 collection and will be available in November.

Great packaging design: C.O. Bigelow Apothecary

On a recent trip to New York City, I popped into C.O. Bigelow, my favourite apothecary, to poke around and admire their goods. I bought a couple of things and the one that stands out is my Rose Salve. Not only does it have the smoothest texture and the most delightful scent – it's beautiful tin never fails to make me wish I had designed it. I wish all things were so thoughtfully considered.
 
Above is a compilation of my favourite packaging designs from their house brand. You can see how a commitment to understated classic design has served them well from their inception in 1838 in Greenwich Village. See the pink mouthwash just above/right in a glass bottle? I mean look at that – it's mouthwash and it's gorgeous! The power of good design will make you covet the most mundane things. True story.

Neat fact: Thomas Edison, Eleanor Roosevelt & Mark Twain were regular patrons.

Paul & Joe Beauté Packaging

As a follow-up to my vintage Coty packaging post – I decided to look up some Paul & Joe Beauté image references and was disappointed to learn that they've moved away from their original eclectic pattern packaging design to something more simple. Above are some of the original designs that I thought really helped differentiate them in the market and referenced their clothing line in a meaningful way.

Classic Coty Airspun Face Powder Packaging

You can see from these great vintage Coty samples where brands like Paul & Joe Beaute got some of their inspiration.