The Swelle Life

Swelle on Houzz.com: Pastel Mid-century Modern

You may have noticed the widget in the first sidebar that always shows some neat furniture or decor items. It links to my Swelle Ideabooks on Houzz.com, an incredibly inspiring site for endless daydreaming about spaces and the things that make you want to live in them. If you don't already know it, you must visit. You will return, I promise you. 

Since being asked to contribute, I've created five Ideabooks featuring 20 products  each that fall within a theme I've chosen for that month, with my thoughts on how it might work in a space (and I love it!). My fifth collection is Pastel Mid-century Modern, my tied-for-all-time-favourite architectural and interior style. (I think you  know what the other one is, and there are four idea books for that.) The George Nelson sofa is shown in black but colour options are available in your mix of candy and pastel colours which would look like a paint-by-numbers set of paints. Imagine the combinations! 

Each product links to the website where I found it so you can get full details and order. I admit it can be torturous! But it's too dreamy not to indulge.

Bathtubs You Can Paint!

I was doing some online daydreaming which is actually part of my job these days as an Ideabook contributor for the hugely inspiring Houzz.com (see the widget in the sidebar), and I found these gorgeous cast iron slipper baths which can be painted! I love anything customisable and my imagination began to run wild. Blush pink? Dusty blue? The exterior comes with a grey primer finish so you can do whatever you like. Pastel stripes? That's the challenge of customisation, I become hopelessly indecisive. You can also take the standard Black Imperial cast iron feet or upgrade to chrome, white or antique gold. Oh boy.

Above is the Imperial Ritz style which comes in two sizes, and below is the Imperial Waldorf and Imperial Bentley showing other tap configurations and colour possibilities. And then there are other paintable styles that have modern feet or bases and that's where my mind begins to become overwhelmed!

What do you think of the hardwood floor? (Probably Lino would make the most sense if you want that look in the bathroom.) A friend has rustic planks in hers which is a huge space and with it being all wood it has a completely different feel, as if it's another room in the house that happens to have a bath, shower and toilet. I mean you can dance around in there and not run into anything! (Yes, I can attest to that.) I love tile and one day when I have my mansion (it could happen!) I will have one huge bathroom that doesn't look like a bathroom and one that has pool blue glass tiles everywhere and looks right out of a David Hockney painting.

Pretty: Natural Beauty and Sweet Treats at Melvita

This post is sponsored; however, the content is 100% original and reflects my personal views of the company and their products

The only thing I knew about Melvita before visiting their website to review it is that they are a skincare company.  I've become a bit cynical when it comes to beauty products due to the unrealistic promises and the marketers' relentless pounding of the message that youth equals beauty and we need to get it at any cost. That's one side of the cosmetics of the industry and I was hoping to see the other. And I did.

I was happy to find that Melvita is all about organic skincare products and that they are not a bandwagon company using empty eco-catch phrases to sell products. The company was founded in 1983 by French biologist and beekeeper Bernard Chevilliat who has shown a remarkable commitment to delivering high quality, natural skincare. Each product is created to exceed the high standards set by ECOCERT France, the independent state-approved certifying body of organic beauty product manufacturers, and this applies to ingredients, raw materials, production and packaging.

Now the fun stuff! One of my most favourite beauty products are floral waters. They're like a treat for the face - they smell fantastic and are refreshing, and they wake up tired skin. Melvita’s organic-certified floral waters are distilled from fresh or dried plants and flowers that help retain the healing benefits and aromatic qualities of the ingredients. Try giving your clothes a little fragrant mist as well. I'm partial to rose or lavender scents and Melvita offers those as well as orange blossom, chamomile, witch hazel and cornflower.

And it's only natural that a beekeeper would give us some great beehive products - not for your face, to eat! Even better, I say. The organic range of honeys and sweets were amongst the first Melvita products and offer many nutritional benefits  of propolis, royal jelly, and pollen. I'd really like to try the Honey and Berries Candies and the honeys from Pyrenees and Ardèche, France. And the honey with lavender flowers, organically certified of course. I could go on. I love honey.

Swelle Review: Joe Browns Flippy Tea Dress

Can you ever have enough tea dresses? Recently I was offered the opportunity to review an item of my choice under £50 from JoeBrowns.co.uk.  Staying true to type I immediately went searching for a pretty frock and found an extensive selection of women's dresses. While there's a range of styles to suit most occasions, the common link was ease and comfort - perfect as I was hoping my choice would take me through long days of walking around Paris next week in warm spring weather.

In the end, my love of 40s styling, florals and pale blue won me over and so I went with the Flippy Tea Dress, priced at £29.95. It fits on the larger side so I had to go down a size (which I certainly didn't mind) and it's very open in the front, so you need to wear a little camisole under it and expect that you will see a lot of it as the ruffle will flip out unless you pin it down. (That just reminded me I have two 1930s silk and crochet camisoles that would be a pretty complement to the ruffle neckline.) The waist is high and elasticated - much appreciated during a week of gorging on French pastries - which is covered by a tie belt. My favourite detail is the little front fabric covered, loop-fastened buttons.

The fabric is a gorgeous pale blue with rose and cherry coloured flowers and little white dots all over, in a very soft viscose. The easy style and softness of the fabric make it extremely comfortable, so much that I considered sleeping in it! I didn't want to take it off.

I'd recommend this dress for pretty and super-comfy daily wear - just remember to have that camisole on hand and you'll have a lovely 40s style outfit.

Get in the suitcase Flippy Tea Dress, you're coming to Paris!

Photo © The Swelle Life

New French Furniture Love: Out There Interiors

My love for French furniture is well documented here, but what really makes my heart explode with giddy glee is the painted variety, especially when done in soft and pretty pastels. So imagine my delight when I discovered Out There Interiors and saw these lovely and adorable pink and blue pieces. Better yet, the prices are affordable so I don't have to suffer unsatiated in my French furniture lust, I can actually own them!

The Princess chest of drawers is a great shade of soft pink and my daughter and I would be fighting over who gets it. I love the distressed gold handles and decorative locks and its shapely Bombay-style curves. I would happily kick out what I've currently got in the alcove on my side of the room for it, it's not a bad piece but it's ivory and it doesn't give me the smiles I would get upon seeing the pink when walking into my room, and I do love my colour.

Pink is wonderful but it's great to have a options that bring happiness. I have a super soft spot for washed-out turquoise, it gets me every time. The aqua Demi chest is beautifully distressed to look as if it was passed down through the generations and is finished with pretty pewter handles. Dreamy.

Out There Interiors is a UK-based online shop with a showroom in West London offering many exclusive items that they design and manufacture themselves, and all are from ethical sources. Their delivery costs are very reasonable and they are stated on the product pages so there's no shock at checkout. And they're very friendly, too. Can you tell I'm smitten?

 

Photos from Out There Interiors

Interiors & Exteriors: Saltburn-by-the-Sea

  

Now I love our beach, the aptly named Longsands that spans Tynemouth to Cullercoats, and the neighbouring idyllic King Edwards Bay with the Priory Castle overlooking the North Sea from its beautiful, craggy cliff. But last weekend I really fell hard for the beach and seaside community of Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire. We were visiting our lovely friends in their new home in Yarm for the first time and they spoiled us in all kinds of ways, and one of them was taking us to their local beach to share the beauty.

Not only was the beach gorgeous and expansive with an impressive look-out pier, there were all kinds of charming little shops, restaurants and ice cream stands, and of course anything one needed to surf (no, I didn't, that would look ridiculous).  It was a clear, sunny day and people from all over had come to pretend it was spring. I have never seen a queue so long for fish and chips, and in England that's saying a lot.  (It was worth the wait!)

This post  is for this week's Interiors & Exteriors feature and it's long enough sticking to the theme, so I'll post the beach shots separately. Are you craving fish and chips now? I am.

In the town, just a quick uphill walk from the beach, there were some great shops. I was already lagging behind and we needed to eat lunch so I didn't go in, but I wanted some photos of the wonderful window displays of Northern Lights Interiors

As I was snapping away I saw a woman smiling from inside - you can see her below! and I smiled and waved. As I headed down the road she came out after me and asked if I'd take photos of the storefront, they'd been having trouble getting them without cars in the way and I was happy to oblige. I even had a man ham it up for me!

 

We passed a random rusted-out door that appeared to lead to nowhere with a keypad right in the middle. I'll bet if you pushed the right numbers it would transport you to another dimension. Prove me wrong!

  This photo would have been so much cooler if I'd waited just 10 more seconds...

 

On display at Arts Bank were lamps and tables in vibrant patchwork by Jane Atkinson and a metal sculpture by Ray Lonsdale. Each contains a 'secret meaning' in the form of an object placed in the head. Now, if I'd read the brief beside this life-size contemplative man instead of taking a photo and reading at home, I would have looked and been able to tell you what was in his head! 

 
   

Photos by Denise Grayson

A Peek at the First Swelle Label Dresses!

 

Ok, first, this toile - a garment made in muslin or canvas to work out a new design so you don't waste the actual fabric - was snapped when it only had one sleeve. This dress will have two sleeves! The black shirt has nothing to do with dress, it was just cold that day. So this should alleviate any concerns that I am doing a line of one-armed dresses in the plainest and cheapest of fabrics, in case anyone thought I was a total weirdo. (You can still think that if you want to but for for other reasons.)

So, what is this Swelle label? It's a house label for my shop, Swelle Boutique, a way for me to offer pretty, every day dresses that don't have to be dry cleaned. At a lower price point. I'm so proud of all of the clothes in the shop which are worth every penny and then some - especially now as most are on sale - but I wanted to round out the selection with the kinds of pieces - mostly dresses - you can wear over and over through the season, and if a glob of ketchup jumps from your burger onto your chest, you won't die. (For the record, I still need to wear a bib.) I'll continue to feature exclusive pieces from a few other designers whose work I adore, but for this concept I decided to take matters into my own hands.

How am I doing it? I'm working with a dress maker and pattern cutter who has years upon years of design experience and whose construction is excellent, she's a perfectionist which is what I was looking for. I choose the fabrics, trims and buttons and request the style and then she cuts the pattern and makes the dress. And then we can play around with the buttons and trims - the fun part!

The styles are mostly based on the clean, feminine shapes of the 60s, as in shifts and trapeze dresses, and there will be a bit of 50s. I have an incredible print, very painterly flowers on a super soft white cotton that appear to be falling and then gathering more densely at the hem, and it will be amazing as a full-skirted 50s style. Simple, pretty and fun. I bought most of the fabrics when I was in Edinburgh last month and it was the prints that jumped out.

Now I'm going to say something odd: The fabrics shown here are my least favourite of what I came home with. But that's not to say I don't like them, I picked them out and paid for them! So I do like them but not as much as the others, so I wanted to start with them, come up with a dress I loved and then it would get even better. This one has a gathered trim on the hem and sleeve in the constrasting colourway to add texture and give the slightest puff. The buttons we've used to adorn the placket (they're for show, the dress has a back zip) are actually not either of the 1930s buttons from France that are pictured here - I love that they are still sewn to the original card! - but pale pink glass vintage roses I've had with me for years. There are enough for two dresses and I think they are the perfect highlight for this very floral, vintage-y dress!

So what you get from Swelle is a new favourite dress for daily wear that is likely a one-off - each will have something just a bit different - was not made in a factory and may have pretty vintage buttons, and comes at a price that won't make you immediately relegate it to 'Wish List'. The first pieces of the spring collection will be introduced early March and new styles will be produced continuously throughout the year. Only a few in each fabric will be made so there will always be fresh looks in the boutique.

I'll post more previews as I have them!

Embracing the Cold: Winter Coat Daydreaming

The other day I had nearly convinced myself that I could feel spring coming, because I hadn't had my Delusional Thought of the Day yet and this one suited me quite nicely. The sun was shining and there was that auspicious sheen about things that suggests good things are on the way. But in January, in the north east of England two minutes from the North Sea, the weather isn't likely going to be delivering these good things. So why fight it? Instead I decided to indulge in that which makes the cold good. And that is coats. If you have at least one great coat, you're not going to resent having to put it on.

Moncler caught my eye two years ago when Giambattista Valli transformed the puffy coat into elegant satin coat dresses, ball gowns and egg-shaped bombers for Moncler Gamme Rouge's F/W 2009 collection. FarFetch has a lot of coats and jackets from Moncler's current collection and I am especially in love with the Baie quilted down jacket (top, middle), which must be the chicest warm piece I've seen yet. It's got the pocket detailing of a Chanel boucle jacket and the bow scarf is adorable.

Despite my husband's apparent imperviousness to cold, he's due for another winter coat, so I did a bit of daydreaming for him. Looking for men's designer coats is fun because the 'designer' part of it means that for most guys this requires some stepping out of their comfort zone.

I remember in the mid 80s seeing a guy with huge teased hair wearing a beat up jean jacket with the arms ripped off over a leather jacket. He was really trying to get it all in there, he had the bandana and everything and I swear you could hear a wailing guitar riff as he walked by. So it was interesting to see this biker jacket from Rick Owens DRKSHDW (above, left) - with a denim body and leather sleeves! I wouldn't have thought this look could be pulled off today but Mr. Owens has done it. You're on your own for the bandana, though. But I can't see Mr. Swelle wearing that and I'm sure neither can he.

So the middle jacket is one that would be a serious contender and from the looks of it might even be adequate for his 6'3" frame. This is a vintage denim coat from Commes de Garcons Vintage that pushes the blazer look beyond the norm but is inconspicuous enough to not get weird looks on the Metro. That's important.

And the last one is my answer to a guy who only wears a scarf never. Seems coats are generally a hassle, too, so what about a non-coat? This lambskin 'jacket', also from Rick Owens, has only one sleeve and it's short - even better! This could honestly do for him in temperatures right down to 2°! Okay, I'm exaggerating. 5°.

Intergalactic Transport Blackmarket: For Quilts, of Course!

 

 

Can you say your quilt is made by an Intergalactic remnants trader? You can, if you buy one of Jimmy McBride's aka Stellar Quilts hand embroidered creations. I have never, ever seen quilts - or anything else from an independent craftsperson/designer, well he's a textile artist actually - promoted this way. I pity anyone trying to top this film featured on Etsy for ingenuity, it's a tall order. Traditional craftsmanship combined with forward thinking has limitless potential for new concepts that appeal to what lies within so many of us these days - a yearning for that nostalgic feeling, and the wonder of technology. They can co-exist! I love McBride's message that no matter how advanced we as a civilisation become, we will always need comfort and warmth.

Do you remember when you were a teenager and started going over to guys' houses (only when parents were home, Mom and Dad if you're reading this - and they were gay!) and you first saw their bedroom (as you passed the open door on your way to the bathroom) and you saw that they still had a space-themed bedroom? McBride's quilts are the perfect transition piece from space-loving boy to man, so if you're 15 and you're still into your planets and stars and spaceships and beginning to feel a little uncomfortable about it but you aren't ready to pack it all in for the grey or navy striped bedspread, you don't have to leave it all behind - you can still have planets and stars plus nebulas, spacestations and a scene depicting an "attack on the energy collectors surrounding V838 in the 3rd quadrant occupied by the Reni"! Each quilt tells a part of McBride's intricately woven space odyssey so if you really want to indulge in the fantasy, oh boy can you! And you've invested in a piece of art you can really live with.

Pillar in the Carina Nebula

 

Hey, wait, it's ok Mom and Dad! That's (my brother) John's room I'm remembering! It was like being in Battlestar Galactica. Which reminds me that the only non-girlie thing I ever wore was Battlestar Galactica running shoes when I was 9. I don't know what happened there but they must have been the only pair Buster Brown had in my size at that particular time my feet grew another centimetre. That's the only place my mom would take us because they measured our feet properly and sold proper shoes. In other words, they didn't sell Sparks. I remember one day we had to take off our shoes at school for some reason and I was the last to grab mine from the pile to put back on, and the teacher held them up and said 'Whose are these?' and I sat there looking around thinking some dummy doesn't even recognise his own shoes. The other kids had to remind me they were mine. I tried to pretend that of course I knew they were my shoes, I was just taking my time getting up. Me and those BGs, we just didn't gel.

Painted French Furniture Lust

Mademoiselle Hettie Console from Sweetpea & Willow

I want this console table so badly I would give up Coke. If I resisted buying a big bottle every two or three days and put the money in a piggy bank instead, it would only take me 3.8 years to buy it! Well, it's a relief to know that I don't drink £1,175 worth of Coke in six months.

I have lusted after this table from Sweetpea & Willow for about a year and here I am again. There are few things that we desire with any longevity so it's a surprise when the wanting doesn't wane over time. Where I would put it I'm not sure but I would be willing to kick something to the curb to make room. Wait, no, I'm talking crazy. We would all work something out.

The carved detailing on the edges is painted ivory which makes it that much more interesting and beautiful, and you can choose your own colours from a palette of 15 shades, right down to a different one for the top surface, top edge, outer body and interior. The possibilities are almost too much to contemplate. Pink + ivory + grey. Blue + pink + ivory. Violet + bleu marine + parme. I think the original would do just fine and keep my head from exploding.

All of the above also goes for this powder pink and silver side/coffee table, also from Sweetpea & Willow. Marry me! I wanted it for our living room when we bought our house but wishing didn't put it on a truck en route to our house. And I wished really hard.

 

And then another favourite daydream site of mine where I got a lovely and simple aqua glass chandelier for my daughter's room is the The French Bedroom Company. They got in on the teasing. Yesterday I got an email showing me this dressing table, 'La Table de Rouen' in a blue so gorgeous that if I'm to believe it does match what I'm seeing on my screen it's likely to be haunting me in a year's time, too, if lucky ducks don't snatch them all up. It's on sale. TFBC put out a gorgeous catalogue as well and you shouldn't dare think of bringing it into the bathroom.

I had a couple more to show but these are my favourites and I can't bear anymore, I actually find this a bit painful!

Wedgwood's Beautiful Baubles and Blues

Let me preface this with something I hope I don't have to say too often: Don't get too excited. These are all sold out. But they are just so pretty and as this blog is a collection of beautiful things, well, I just want them on it. I'm like putty when it comes to powdery pastels and icy blues (our Christmas tree is white with arctic blue baubles) and Wedgwood is synonymous with slate blue pottery, hence 'Wedgwood blue', as well as Royal service and the Peter Rabbit dishes from our collective childhood. Wedgwood was established by innovative ceramacist Josiah Wedgwood in 1759. Can you imagine the pride in knowing that 250 years later your legacy would live on and flourish in the spirit in which it was conceived and nurtured? Except that I don't think he was doing designer collaborations back then.

I have three of their little dishes that I bought at the Tynemouth market for I think £1 each. At that price you can blow your nose on them, but that's not really good use now is it? Below are two of them along with a handpainted gold leaf Japanese dish from 1877 which is the thing that the younger children of friends feel compelled to run up to and slam with their fist. It's a miracle it's still intact. It only cost £2.50 but that's not the point. Pocket change for an antique and people still barter if you can believe it. I witnessed one woman trying to get a bargain on a figurine that was 50p. I'll pay 35p for that but no way I'm paying 50! Those vendors stand out there all day and may only make a few quid for their trouble. You might as well just steal it when she's not looking, that would be more dignified!

 

Okay, at this point I was going to show the Wedgwood teacups I'm in love with - collecting tea cups is a phase I've been going through for about five years now and I don't think it's a coincidence that it began when I moved to England - or go on about how I've brought blue into our house as it's the colour I'm most happy living with. I'm going to take photos of all the blue, in whatever form and do a show and tell. Seeing as it's an ungodly hour I'm going to save both for follow ups. Part two coming tomorrow...

But here's a preview in the meantime, I didn't stop until I found the exact blue I wanted for the walls:

It's UP TO YOU

I'm always up for supporting Canadians - or anyone for that matter! - who make it their mission to bring interesting things to the marketplace, and Up To You fits the bill. From my old hometown of Toronto comes this new concept shop of curious objects, for those who like their days infused with a little humour, oddness, and fun. Such as? Well, wouldn't you prefer your coffee mug to leave neat, swirly designs instead of the usual boring ring? The frustration of nearly ruining your oak top or white table cloth becomes "Aw, look at that...how pretty!" I also like the corrugated coffee cup and coaster combo being the texture freak that I am. And although I would be craving it constantly, I would love to sit my cup on top of that thick bar of chocolate. Which of course isn't really chocolate but don't you want to sink your teeth into it? (I know that I would put my teeth on it just a little bit. And maybe lick it, but just once.)

You can tell I'm in a cup phase, I haven't mentioned anything outside of their Kitchen and Tabletop category. There's everything from lighting to toys to T-shirts. And funny things that made me laugh such as 'moldy' sandwich bags to prevent the office jerk from stealing your lunch. (Who does that? No, really, who does that? At one place I worked we were always getting our lunches stolen. And even if someone was dumb enough to forget what they brought and mistake someone else's for their own, there's no excuse for eating my friend Kerri's sushi that she was so looking forward to all morning, or the tasty samosas I had bought next door and put in that fridge just 20 minutes before. Yes, it was 11 years ago and it still stings!)

Wow, where were was I? Oh yes, funny stuff:

 

They have book covers that will make you look smart and hide your shame at the same time! Worried what the judgemental-looking stranger across from you on the metro will think of your Danielle Steel novel? It would help if they didn't put her name in a gigantic point size front and centre but since they do, how about Complete Japanese to the rescue? Konnichi wa to you!

You can visit the Up to You shop online or have a browse in person at 1483 Queen St. East in Toronto - they've got all of their products displayed in an actual flat so you can have a voyeuristic shopping experience. It's like going into someone's cool house and buying their neat stuff!

Stephen Jones' Glamour on a Budget: The Reveal

 

Yesterday during Showstudio's latest LivesStudio session, Stephen Jones created a floral centrepiece and a beautiful hat trimmed with fresh flowers as his contribution to their latest exhibition, Florist. When Stephen reappeared after changing outfits - I love that he had a setting up outfit and one for working - he greeted us with 'Welcome to Glamour on a Budget' and I thought he was kidding, but apparently that was the title of this project. Which makes perfect sense considering the centrepiece was made of yogurt pots, wire hangers and toilet paper rolls! It's like the coolest nursery school craft time ever. And you'd think I'd have a photo of the final piece but the feed cut out, then they broke for a bit and there's nothing on the site. Just trust me it didn't look like it was made from the contents of your recycle bin!

The piece will be available for sale in the Showstudio Shop, so I'm a bit confused as to how that is pulled off with fresh flowers! An edited version of the session is currently being prepared.

The next Livestudio happens Monday, 6 December 10:00 GMT and it's with Mary Katrantzou!

The model was wearing an incredible John Galliano trench:

And Stephen loved her shoes:

 

Photos are screencaps of the livestream, the trench and final shot is from Showstudio

Stephen Jones Livestream at Showstudio Now!

 

Click to watch Stephen live!

Showstudio has just begun their livestream of Stephen Jones (12:00 GMT) who is creating a unique piece for the SHOWstudio Shop's latest exhibition Florist - what a treat! This is part of their series of live-streamed performances in which eminent industry figures will be joining the LiveStudio, crafting floral-themed works in tandem with the exhibition and celebrating SHOWstudio.com's ten year anniversary.

Showcasing the entire process in a live stream for today only, Jones' floral artefact will then be exhibited and available for sale.

As I write this Stephen is changing his outfit after having laid out his materials. They include a crystal vase that was a wedding gift to his mother in 1947, glass top hat, art deco mat, his baby bowl, something he bought with Janet Jackson, a book of flowers he found in Italy that he 'brought for Nick', that one being Nick Knight obviously. His friend Princess Julia is playing the music to keep viewers entertained while he wait.

Oh, he's back! And he's wearing a three-piece black suit with a Santa hat that has flashing lights on the furry trim, and an equally festive white and red dotty shirt. He's fun, eh? 

You can't miss this, he's an amazing story teller and just wonderful to listen to and watch, and he's full of all kinds of flower arranging tips and then some. See him here

 

How Not To Embarrass Yourself at a Party

 

1. Don't arrive at your holiday party going to town on a kebab.
2. Drink in moderation to later avoid needing and therefore asking your fellow revellers if they can lend you a Tena pad (or is that just me?)
3. Check that your new exorbitantly priced heels are not dragging half a toilet roll behind you. 
4. No matter how good you think you are at doing The Robot - don't.
5. And most importantly, make an entrance in a gorgeous dress that is guaranteed to bear no resemblance whatsoever to the latest high street window display, for there's a good chance if you do, you won't be the only one representing. You'll be spending the night hiding behind pillars and portly gents while guests are mentally comparing who styled it better. Who needs that? (And you had to pay for it!)

The charm of being an original amongst the identikit masses is one of the reasons I exclusively offer one-offs and limited edition pieces in Swelle Boutique, and luckily I know some very talented people who specialise in doing just that. The three dresses above, left, are one-offs from Rowanjoy, a long time Swelle favourite who uses new and vintage fabrics to create her enchanting, adorable pieces that make girls look dreamy. The Wrapped Up strapless styles are the perfect party dresses and the Obscura halter can go holiday soiree as well as resort.

On the right: It doesn't come more special than an original print created by an inspired and inspirational artist who is behind many of the prints from the London fashion week catwalks. Rob and Kate Burton are the duo known as embodied.creative, and Swelle Boutique is thrilled to have the opportunity to offer their exquisite, limited edition, made-to-order digital art print dresses to you. Thoroughly contemplated imagery is richly layered on fine silks to produce complexity and beauty in colour and texture, as seen in the stunning Babaji and Moonshadow dresses. A collection of gorgeous scarves in a choice of silks and sizes is also available.

 
Wholly Cow is an English label of one-off and limited edition pieces that have beautifully handmade touches such as contrasting crocheted collars and sleeves, and hand carved oak toggles specially made for the dresses, all seen above. Fabrics are luxe and include silk crepe and Italian tweed. The lovely tweed in the toggle wrap dress above has pretty turquoise flecks throughout the pattern, complemented  by the crocheted collar. The black shift can be made in a variety of lengths with your choice of colour for the mohair silk crochet sleeves. The cobalt version is a one-off that also looks great as a top with skinny jeans.

And if you're more of a smart top and skirt girl, there's Mitra's Victoriana mini-collection that offers a seriously figure flattering outfit of the Parlor Gathering top adorned with a list of sweet details, and its perfect accompaniment, the Promenade Pencil skirt with a lacey kick out the back which you can wear demurely or bold depending on your mood. Finish the look with the Victoriana Jacquard wool coat. All are one-offs.

By buying at Swelle Boutique you are supporting independent designers in the UK, Italy, Canada and the United States who personally create the high quality, original work that bears their name, from conception to final stitch.

The New Swelle Boutique has Arrived!

At long last, the new Swelle Boutique is here! As mentioned previously, the first version was a temporary look and format to get my first collections launched. The new site allows for more content and ease of navigation, and it's slicker but still embodies that dreamy Swelle aesthetic - of course it does! I can't do anything else!

More pretty pieces are on their way including dresses for holiday parties from Rowanjoy and Wholly Cow and gorgeous feather and chain earrings and neckpieces by Noémiah.

A Swelle label is in the works as well for spring with a few preview pieces coming in the next few weeks. I love dresses, coats and jackets so expect a lot of those!

London Shopping: Victim Pop-up Sample Sale

Victim Fashion St. is having a sample sale and if you're in London you'd be mad not to go! Not only will there be loads of tea-stained, vintage lace adorned creations but bespoke shoe designer Natacha Marro and Glovedup.com will be represented there as well. Come on, that's awesome. If you want to know more about Victim and see some of Natacha Marros killer platforms you can read my interview with my dynamic friend Mei Hui here.

What's Your Shoe Story?

 

To get everyone revved up for The Shoe Galleries, a shoe fanatic's fantasy come true courtesy of Selfridges, they want your shoe story. And for your contribution you may just win a years supply of shoes! You won't be competing with me; unfortunately my only shoe stories involve whining, blisters, cuts, friends asking 'Do you own any shoes you can actually walk in?' and limping in bare feet on city streets with a grimace on my face and naughty words spewing from my mouth, because all of my favourite shoes have it in for me. Despite their disloyalty, I still love them. Maybe my daughter will have better luck with them one day.

The Shoe Galleries is due to be the single biggest shoe destination in the world, showcasing 150 designers with 55,000 pairs of shoes in stock at any one time and 4,000 pairs on display. That should increase my chances of at least one pair loving me back?

Part of the inspiration for The Shoe Galleries was the idea that everyone has a shoe story, whether it stems from your favourite pair, a hidden gem or your first expensive pair that cost a month's rent. Tell yours to Selfridges and not only will you get to shout about your favourite shoes to the whole world, but you could be in with a chance of winning a gorgeous new pair (one winner every week!). Plus one lucky winner will scoop a year's supply of shoes from Selfridges!

Daphne Guinness has already submitted hers and it sheds light on why she was wearing those Alexander McQueen 'reptilian' shoes in the first place - which were several sizes too big - and surprisingly she swears they were very light and comfortable! We won't get the chance to call her bluff so let's just take her word for it, shall we?

You can enter by submitting your shoe story here

The Shoe Galleries open on the 23rd September

 

Above is just one view of this shoe paradise, and Selfridges' Director of Accessories Sebastian Manes describes what The Shoe Galleries will look like when complete:

"Imagine you are in a gallery. From the entrance you see a succession of doorways, and at the end a huge window flooding the space with daylight. Your journey begins at the front, with shoes from the best of the high street. Slowly you begin to travel through different galleries until you reach the end - the couture designer gallery, flanked by Chanel and Louboutin, and a vision of Eden - the new suspended garden at Selfridges. Shoe heaven!"

And don't forget to grab some Pierre Hermé macarons on the way out!

Noémiah in the National Post

 

 

Imagine my surprise and delight when on Saturday I looked down at the table in my mother-in-law's living room - we're in Toronto now! - and saw Noémiah's gorgeous illustrations by Miss Paule T.B. spanning the entire cover of the National Post's Style section! The gestural renderings of Noémie Vaillancourt's beautiful and unusual feather and chain jewellery were most obviously the highlight of the feature on Montreal's Festival Mode & Design, which practically gushed about the exciting design talent produced by this vibrant and electric Canadian city. 

Swelle Boutique currently offers an exclusive mini-collection of one-off necklaces and earrings by Noémiah. There are four pieces left!

Summer Sale at Swelle Boutique!

The Summer Sale has begun at Swelle Boutique, with up to 40% off one-of-a-kind and limited edition dresses, tops and skirts - plus free shipping worldwide! Cue the fireworks and party streamers, and where's my megaphone? I've also installed a new photo viewer so when you click on the photos on the product pages you get a nice, slick presentation.

The Liana Dress from Neue (top left) has been a popular one to try on with the local girls, its sweet styling in Italian silk with gorgeous pleat detailing is hard to resist, but with its empire waist and button front it's best suited to small busts. If you're petite and have had your eye on the Liana, now's your chance to get this limited edition, tailored, silk dress at a reduced price. The sleeveless Viviana Dress is extremely flattering on, with stunning pleats, and there's just one left in size small. 

The Dagger Dress by Rowanjoy (top middle) has been featured around the blogosphere and is one of Swelle's most drooled over pieces. As it's a one-off it comes in only one size, a UK 10 which is true to size. The Dagger Tee is really lovely, hand screenprinted in an art deco design with a neckline of vintage floral cotton and lace appliques on the front. It's long enough to wear with leggings. A one-off in UK size 10.

What can I say about Lu Flux? Her Plume Skirt is a dream with 10 layers of individually cut and sewn plumes or petals (I like to think of them as petals) with a beautifully finished interior of organic cotton with fully finished edges. The two that are left are done in different fabrics, making each a one-off - and they're £100 off! Pair the skirt with the Bow Tie vest or Bow Tie T-shirt (only one left!) of organic cotton with an inlaid 'bow'. The Marsupium Pocket Dress is a very easy fitting and substantial one-off dress of organic cotton that fits small to large sizes. It has a band of pockets in different fabrics all around the waist and looks great cinched with a belt or ribbon. I would have shown it that way had I thought of it before the photo shoot! 

CYN.fONG, the star of Designer Series, Knitwear, has handknit three adorable tops and embellished them with textured knit bows, beading and Swarovski crystals in summery, ice-cream colours. During the summer/autumn transition you could layer a short or long-sleeved blouse under this one. Adorable!

Support independent designers and look awesome doing it!

A Wardrobe that Looks Like a Georgian Dollhouse

I found this wardrobe with the facade of a Georgian dollhouse on the site I bought our sideboard from. It's The Furniture Rooms and they sell antiques as well as reproductions. Our sideboard get lots of compliments when people first come to our house and it's my favourite piece of furniture:

 

Now, that Georgian dollhouse wardrobe is one cool piece of furniture but it comes at a hefty price, £3250 to be exact. If I were considering spending that kind of money I would like to know more than this:

Georgian style dolls house wardrobe. The wardrobe opens up to a hanging rail and has a neat mini mahogany door on the front. h213 x w128 x d55 cm

But what's it made of, wood? What kind? Where is it made? Is it grey or white? Can we see inside? Those drawers look like a facade, is that right? Tell us more so we can convince our significant others that we really need this!

When something is so obviously special and comes with a weighty price tag it only makes sense to tell us everything you possibly can. I wrote about that in a previous post, how perplexing it is that the seller wouldn't tell us just how cool their thing is and take the chance that one or two images are enough to convince us to hit the 'buy' button. I describe every detail of the pieces in my shop, Swelle Boutique, otherwise, how will you know just how great they are? And there's a certain lack of trust that I feel when I see very brief descriptions that leave you asking questions, even when the item is a £30 dress or something even cheaper. It's our money and we want to know what we're getting, we can't see it or touch it and your words are all we have.

Luckily, The Furniture Rooms is a reputable company that delivered on a great piece of furniture (and a neat 70s vase) and I would buy from them again. I took a chance buying our sideboard based on only two exterior views and a very brief description. I just think they should do their pieces justice with more elaborate descriptions. It only takes another minute!

Here's an Art Deco Fan Lamp I passed on when I bought the others because it wasn't an essential, and it's now sold and oh boy does it sting:

And if you're into dollhouses you might like this and this and this.

Product Review: Love Label Jacquard Coat

I was given the opportunity to review a cute coat from Very.co.uk and I took it, I'm a coat girl and you can never have too many. Some people have a closet overflowing with shoes, my thing is coats and jackets. (My husband pointed out the other day that not only can he not slide his wardrobe door fully open because my side is so stuffed but that I also have my own wardrobe in the study filled with my outerwear. I believe that was in response to me declaring "I don't have that much stuff compared to some people!" Point taken. It's all relative.)

My little addiction to coats stems from their magical powers of transformation. You can get away with dressing not so chic underneath (school run, anyone?) but if you've got a great coat to throw over it you can look as if you carefully contemplated your outfit before you left the house. Having said that, I'm not sure it's a good thing to appear as if you spend a lot of time thinking about your clothes - effortless over try hard - but it always astonishes me how some people haven't figured out that it takes the same amount of time to put on a bummy coat than a fabulous one! If you have the right pieces, the work is already done.

That's why I like this jacquard coat from Love Label (despite looking miserable in the photo, sadly this was the best of the lot!). First, the shape. Ladyline and A-line (admittedly I'm filling out the 'A' bit more than I'd like at the moment) is a flattering cut that looks great over anything, especially dresses and skirts. Instant loveliness. The coral colour appeals to my love of the happy hues and the details are pretty: the sleeves and back have a split that adds a bit of stylised volume and each is finished with a little bow that adds just enough sweetness. The cotton has a subtle jacquard pattern and the lining is a polka-dot printed coral acetate. And the fit is good, no too-small armholes or weird proportions. For £49 I'd say this is really great value - worth pushing all of my other coats and jackets over to squeeze into the overpacked wardrobe!

Coco Boudoir Makes Tasty Accessories

The Patisserie Neckpiece

Lovely, romantic and soft is the look and feel that Toronto-based accessories designer Erin Summer conveys with her one-off Coco Boudoir accessories. And since many of us are into that kind of thing I'm offering several exclusive designs, created especially for Swelle Boutique. Made from vintage trims and findings with surfaces generously adorned with faux pearls and chiffon rosettes, each piece is painstakingly handsewn to create a beautiful one-off creation with its own little treasures worked in.

They make look delicate but they feel nice and weighty in the hand due to their solid construction. Each piece is lined with felt for comfortable wear. Someone else likes Coco Boudoir, too - look for her in the Summer 2010 edition of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Fancy one of these delish pieces? Click the images for details and to purchase:

Judy Blame's Monochrome Day at Showstudio

Judy Blame is the latest resident at Showstudio to spend a day being filmed and livestreamed while making original, one-off creations. An absolute treat of a feature, I think. It's a wonderful thing to see the creative process in action and it's fascinating to watch the individual's face as they do their thing, all the subtleties of expression that can range from satisfaction to frustration (Gareth Pugh was giving his sewing machine the business at one point) and everything in between. Which makes it a real burn that I forgot to watch today! (Been just a little busy).

The legendary London-based stylist, jeweller and accessory designer who has it bad for buttons and badges contributed two pieces to Showstudio's Blackwhite exhibition. Viewers watched him "stitch and adorn a pearly king's titfer" - that's not something you hear every day - and rework and develop a rather extreme neckpiece that would require a great deal of inspection to fully take in everything happening within the black and white curiosity. (My silly tendency to identify things as offspring of incongruent parents has me thinking the necklace could be the result of a collaboration between Mr. T and Karl Lagerfeld.)

 

Now that's a cool looking man. The neckpiece and adorned cap will be soon be available in the Showstudio SHOP. And if you're into Gaga you might want to head over to the site, she's practically lived there for the past month.

A Sneaky Peak at Swelle Boutique!

  

Amneris jacket of fine summer wool and Liana silk pleated dress, by Neue

By now you have likely thought that the teaser under my banner was just that, but I promise that Swelle Boutique is actually on its way! Thank you to all who have been asking about it. I did the final photo shoot on Sunday - I'm thrilled with the results! - and it will be ready to launch in two weeks. 

Like The Swelle Life, Swelle Boutique is a collection of beautiful and original things, and I'm so excited to present the dresses and accessories that, for the most part, have been made exclusively for Swelle. I've invited my favourite designers to create pieces that follow the boutique's concept of lovely, romantic and soft things that are of high quality materials and workmanship. All of the pieces are either one-offs or limited edition and are made by the designers - no factories involved here - and each one has special details that are unique to their vision and technique. Offering exceptional, 'happy' things is the whole point in launching this project, which I hope to be a lasting one. 

If you are interested in any of the pieces you see here you can reserve them or get more information by emailing me - click the 'email me' link in the top left sidebar under that goofy profile photo.

Admiral dress of vintage lace, mixed silks and cottons by Rowanjoy - one of a kind

Photos by Denise Grayson (Yours Truly) and Paul Marr, respectively

Vintage Beaded Dresses and Parking Violations

I visited The Cat's Meow when I was home visiting Toronto in the summer, it's my favourite brick and mortar vintage shop. And here's why. It was one of the few things I got to do between getting strep throat twice while home. I popped in to see what was new and gorgeous (everything) and found myself obsessing over several dresses and two hats. And a beaded bag. And some 1930s silk camisoles with crochet necklines of which I bought two. Never mind the jewelry which I didn't even have time to ogle. Why? Because I mentioned to the lovely Louise, the gracious owner of the boutique, that my parking pass had probably run out and she informed me that they tow everyone at the stroke of 3. And it was well after 3 pm. I looked out and saw that Avenue road had been cleared of all parked vehicles, including mine. And that sucked so hard. Especially as my mother-in-law's house was just a five minute walk up the street. But it was so hot outside it was gross. Like if you exert yourself for 10 seconds your armpits turn into sprinklers and you're sporting a sweat moustache. You can see why I drove. But Dunce of the Year me forgot to check the signs, probably because I thought I would only be there for about 20 minutes, not the hour + I actually was (as if, I'm never quick with anything. Case in point - this took me four months to post).

Anyway, there were loads of enchanting dresses with beading or sequins or adornment of some kind and I had to take pictures. For a preview of what's new now (rather than four months ago) you can follow The Cat's Meow blog for some serious vintage lusting. And if you're in Toronto and haven't been - a visit is a must!

Help for Boyfriends: Net-a-Porter's Gift Finder

From the Rock Star collection 

Some men are great at finding presents their wives or girlfriends will love, but many others are hopeless. Pour souls. A common problem is having trouble deciphering the subtleties of what she loves and why. But we can't blame you, sometimes it's not necessarily discernible what's great and what's meh, or God forbid - tacky! in our eyes. Case in point: Crystals and rhinestones can be beautiful in the right hands but when they're not you can look like a bedazzled nightmare. A Judith Leiber crystal embellished cupcake clutch is the cutest thing ever. The same idea from Wal-Mart is not.

So if you're finding yourself in panic mode - don't fret, there's still time! - you need help unless you want the holidays to be marred with side-eye stares and little, forced-out sighs that say "You really blew it, Dude. You've sent me into early PMS and now you're going to have to deal with it. Don't you know me?" (I wouldn't be so ungrateful of course. It's not like I've ever received a plastic turd or something. I'm referring to a friend's sister who did in fact give a plastic turd from a novelty shop to her mom on Mother's Day when she was a teenager. And that was with money her mom had given her. She bought the turd and spent the rest of the money on herself. Her mom cried. It was not a good Mother's Day.)

This is a dream list item but I had to show the girls. It's the adorable package clutch from Judith Leiber

You can't go wrong with choosing from Net-a-Porter (*nudge nudge wink wink*), they wouldn't dare try to sell us something naf. I could take any page in any of their Gift Finder categories, close my eyes and point at the screen and it would be a winner. Whatever you choose, be sure to get it wrapped! Their gift boxes are beautiful and they're keepers - exactly what you see on that magical splash page, bow and all. There are amazing bags and shoes of course, but I recommend that if that's what you're leaning toward you do a bit of sleuthing to find out what she's mad for - brand, style and colour. There's nothing worse than getting a great gift and feeling guilty about thinking 'But I wanted the other one!' We girls are very particular about what we carry and put on our feet. I don't know how you guys deal with us. 

Here are more of my picks, whittled down from hundreds (I tried not to go too crazy on the prices and included a wide price range):

These are from the Stocking Fillers collection which includes a Peruvian wool snood kit from Wool and the Gang (that's a loopy scarf you can pull over your head like a hood, guys); an Erdem and Globe Trotter collaboration vanity case (a bit big for the stocking!); Burberry heart-print umbrella and Stella McCartney knickers of the week!

And you might want to stay away from this one, guys. It's Solange Azagury-Partridge's Ballcrusher ring!

Wanna Buy Coco Rocha's Miniature Greenhouse?

Victorian miniature greenhouse by Simon Costin. £6,000.
Model Coco Rocha. Albion Cosmetics A/W 2009 campaign.
Photographed by Tim Walker.

Have you ever wondered what happens to those cool and unusual props made for editorial shoots and campaigns? Well, some of them now go Showstudio's new curated shop. It was established to sell an exclusive selection of one-of-a-kind creations that will appeal to collectors eager to own a piece of fashion history. Showstudio's got the inside track in that renowned British fashion photographer Nick Knight is the creator of the site and the shooter of many of the spreads from which the items came. Others are from Tim Walker's fantastical and dreamy editorial so if you have the cash to scoop up the greenhouse please know that I hate you. Just a little bit.

Cherries by Simon Costin. Edition of 9.
Albion Cosmetics A/W 2009 campaign.
Photographed by Tim Walker.


Taxidermied Belgian tiger on painted wooden base, £50,000
Alexander McQueen S/S 2010 PUMA campaign
Crane Vs. Tiger, photographed by Nick Knight.

I'm uh, assuming it died of natural causes...


Poodle marionette by Shona Heath, £6,000
British Vogue, April 2008. Model Karen Elson.
Photographed by Tim Walker.


Eyeballs by Shona Heath. 6 pieces, £3,000.
British Vogue, December 2008.
Photographed by Tim Walker.



Life-size Toy Soldier costume by Shona Heath, £5,000.
‘Soldier, soldier, won't you marry me?’ British Vogue, April 2008.
Photographed by Tim Walker.

Now here's something interesting. It's a pirate flag made from a Union Jack, created by John Galliano for a 2001 portrait shot by Nick Knight. Price, £25,000. That's a lot of sterling for a piece of distressed cotton with a stencil spray-painted on it. So, the perceived value must be in the idea that Galliano made it with his own hands (I'd want proof) to serve as the backdrop for an iconic photograph of himself. Surely many of his fashion designs, particularly haute couture, sell at a price even higher than this. It could be argued that his dresses, embellished by artisans at Paris' last remaining specialty ateliers and the product of hundreds of hours of work should be considered works of art. And I'd agree. But the flag? And to the extent that a price tag of £25,000  is justified, even to the least objective of fans? What do you think?

‘John Galliano’. Design Museum London, 2001
Photographed by Nick Knight

Heaven is Macaron Cocktails at Ladurée

I was going to post my photos of the bar at the Champs Elysées Ladurée - the epitome of the French/macaron/pastry/girlie experience - but they came out slightly blurry because I was trying to sneak them. It just seemed too gauche to take pictures in such a breathtaking wonderland of sugary delights. So instead I give your theirs; it's what the bar in heaven must look like. I was standing right at the door when the bar opened, queuing to get some macarons at the shop and lamenting the wait time for the cafe (I made up for it a few days later when a friend came to visit) and my eyes nearly fell out when I looked into the room. And guess what they serve there? Macaron cocktails!

I am going to be in Paris in a couple weeks, alone. I am not averse to going for a drink by myself if it means having a macaron cocktail. But what if I want a second? Does that border on rather sad? Maybe if I drink four or five I won't care about appearances. Actually, that's a given.

Let's not stop there. There's too much Ladurée dreaminess to share:

One of the rooms upstairs at the Champs Elysées location


I had the Saint Honoré fraise and pistache and nearly died.


Ladurée Bonapart


Ladurée Bonapart

The spring/summer collection for packaging

Ladurée at Harrods in London






Ladurée Lausanne

Oh, why did I do that to myself as I'm about to eat a cheeseburger...

Zaha Hadid Does Architectural Shoes

 
Lacoste has partnered with renowned architect Zaha Hadid to produce a line of shoes that push that boundaries of footwear. You may remember Hadid as the creator of the revolutionary art pavillion that housed the Chanel 2.55 handbag tribute exhibition. (Or you know her well and are giving me a big 'DUH!' right now.)

Born from a digital interpretation of the iconic logo of the brand, the shoes are crafted from Italian calf leather and printed in relief realized by heated metal plates. “Wrapped around the foot, these shoes adapt in an ergonomic way to the shapes of the body" explains Hadid. The run is limited to 850 pairs which will be sold exclusively at colette from July 20th. No price has been given. Most likely to avoid a collective gasp around the world.

That's all the info colette provided and I can't find anything on Hadid's site. I think we deserve more! How do they stay wrapped? Are they unisex? What colours will be available? Will I be able to leap over tall buildings in a single bound?

A Visit to Coco's House

I still have loads of photos from Paris and I'm bringing them out here and there. These are from my visit to the original Chanel boutique on Rue Cambon (just before eating the macarons). They were promoting their sunglasses, in case that wasn't obvious. Lunettes. I love the one with the kid flying by on his skateboard. Nice juxtoposition with the valet/greeter/security/polite intimidator.

Shoe Freaks: You Need to See This!

I'll get right to it - all of the shoes you see here are on sale right now at 40% off at farfetch.com, including the LaRares above which until now seemed be non-existent as far as being able to by them is concerned. All of these amazing shoes come from Mell in Paris, so keep that in mind if you find yourself visiting!

This link will take you to the footwear sale page, there are six pages of temptation! You can thank me by letting me borrow yours one day.

Parisi

Diego Dolcini


Diego Dolcini

Claudio Merazzi


Claudio Merazzi


Parisi

MIME Vintage Not Just a Tease Now

Last week I posted about MIME vintage and showed you some fantastic photos of gorgeous girls modelling adorable outfits - the likes of which would soon be for sale. And now they are! All of the looks you see here - mostly 80s dresses - are available at their eBay shop at the time of writing this post. They will be adding new items once a week and shoes and accessories will be making an appearance soon. I'll keep you updated - I love posting their brilliant photos! They're happy photos!

This one has gorgeous eyelet detail throughout


The shoulders! The waist! The shoulders!


Juju is holding a barbapapa!

Dream and Awake Exhibits in Paris

I wanted to get the news out for anyone in Paris or visiting between now and May 10 that dreamandawake is having an exhibition. I'm thrilled they introduced themselves to me and I'm now trying to find out more about them, I am intrigued (and hugely disappointed that I missed this by two weeks). But for now it's enough to know that they take 'dresses of yesterday' from around the world and redesign them for today, and their photos are like works of art, conveying the feel of the clothes as a hazy, dream-like old memory. Let us know if you're lucky enough to visit them in Paris?

Click image for their website

Stella's Second Film 'Poem' Arrives

Yesterday was the launch of Stella McCartney's summer capsule collection for NET-A-PORTER and we saw #1 of four films, Magnolia Tree and the first pieces of the collection. Today Poem is revealed with more designs including cloud-print tops and espadrille wedges, and a gorgeous blush silk chiffon top with scalloped teardrop trim. View the film and collection here

Norwegian Wood Harnesses Your Moods

Are you a Road Warrior or more of a Mad Maxine? Angie of Norwegian Wood has a knack for creating unusual accessories for the coy all the way to the hard-core statement maker, all of which are guaranteed to instantly elevate your fashion cred - no wonder she's the go-to for fashion bloggers in the know!

Each design is a true original and hand-made by Angie in her Montreal studio using both new and vintage fabrics and trims. Her cage skirts, fringe necklaces and earrings and harness top in variations that range from zips and chains to stretch vintage lace are her signature designs - for now! She's always on the hunt for interesting trims and findings so who knows what she'll give us next?

Her latest design is the harness top with shoulders (seen above and below), in black with fringe - the 'Road Warrior', and a softer, retro lingerie look with smaller shoulders with beaded trim and vintage lace detail in shades of brown, ivory and coral. Angie offers up some great looks for the harnesses (yes, that's her modelling and what a great model she makes) but the possibilities with these are as endless as your imagination. (And the prices are incredible for such special, handmade pieces).

See the Norwegian Wood shop at Etsy for the full range of statement accessories.

Update: I just received my first Norwegian Wood purchase, a pair of indigo fringe earrings with a silver hoop and metal tassel (these are the shortest of the fringe styles). I just adore them, they look ever better in person - they are just so cool! I'd show you but I can't get a shot as good as Angie's, so here they are on the gorgeous creator herself:

Stella McCartney Launches Films and Frocks at NET

Stella McCartney has created a summer '09 capsule collection exclusively for NET-A-PORTER to be revealed in four parts over four days, accompanied by a short, atmospheric film. Today we can view the debut installation, Magnolia Tree, along with the first pieces from the collection which include a backless, silk jumpsuit and a cloud-print dress in silk jersey cut from one piece of fabric - all done in her palette of soft neutrals.

Click here to watch Stella

Shrimpton Couture for Past, Present and Future Style

While the dynamo behind Shrimpton Couture is celebrating the exciting relaunch of her fabulous online boutique for luxury vintage, upcycled pieces and couture, her fans are partaking in a frenzied shopping session and hoping to claim some of these special, hand-picked clothes and accessories for themselves.

If you're new to Shrimpton Couture now's the time to introduce yourself! Items are categorised according to What's New, Designer, Era, and Size and each look is accompanied by photos from every angle with detail shots to show you exactly what you're getting (and how great the piece is!).

Not only are the vintage pieces divine (I love the 1940s nightgown) but the 'upcycled', re-worked pieces are one-of-a-kind, and keep an eye out for the current couture from Alexander McQueen.

Now that's giving us what we want!

Harris Tweed Can Be Sweet

My long-held association with Harris Tweed is a humourless, aging man, almost certainly based on the hopelessly uptight grandfather in one of the greatest 80s movies ever, Weird Science. Kelly Lebrock aka 'Lisa' chastises Wyatt's grandfather who has just entered his son's house where a high school house party sans parents is in full effect and begins to swat his way through the crowd, with the famous line, "You can't go around hitting people with your Harris Tweed hat." Or so I thought. As I was writing this a little voice said to me "Denise, it's not Harris Tweed, it's Rex Harrison." Dilemma: Do I scrap the post? No, because then I couldn't show this screencap of Wyatt's grandparents, catatonic in the closet in an induced 'happy' state thanks to Lisa's convenient "computer world" magical powers (back then we thought computers had the potential to do just about anything, but creating an omnipotent woman was pushing our imaginations just a little). 

Correct or not, that was my association. Harris Tweed = serious, boring and joyless. Until now. The talented people at Glasgow shop breagha use Harris Tweed and Shetland wool, two of Scotland's finest resources to make accessories such as this adorable bag topped with a giant bow in grey herringbone HT and lined in pink dupion silk. I couldn't resist. One is on its way. With 15% off this weekend (quote 'Weekend Deal' in Message to Seller at checkout) and free worldwide shipping it's a real treat and a generous one as well considering the quality. When my package arrives surely I'll be looking like grandma in the photo (I'm referring to her expression only).

See the other great bags on offer at the breagha Etsy shop

P.S. Did you know that Harris Tweed means a tweed which has been hand woven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the islands of Harris, Lewis, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra and their several purtenances (The Outer Hebrides) and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides? Neither did I. Now we're both a wee bit wiser.

 

Holly Stalder's Dreamy Vintage Shrugs

I used to spend a lot of time on Etsy working on my shop, posting in the forums and seeing what great things the handmade community were doing, and then I started blogging. There just isn't enough time to get around to everything I love online, but Etsy is one place I have to check in with regularly. If you're not already an Etsy enthusiast, it's a handmade marketplace and wonderful resource overflowing with independent talent of all kinds - fashion, jewellery and accessories, furniture design, fine art, toy makers, doll makers, etc. etc., from all over the world.

Etsy has begun doing videos featuring various sellers on The Storque, which give a glimpse into how the work is created, which is what I find most fascinating - don't you love your handmade with a story? That's part of the charm.

The video for American independent designer Holly Stalder and her vintage lace wedding shrugs grabbed my attention right away. Holly works in what I think is the most gorgeous colour palette for vintage laces - ivories, beigey-greys, and pale pinks, the faded softness of which capture the 'from another time' look so beautifully (with a little black thrown in here and there). I love the idea of these dainty, detailed shrugs worn with a tank and skinny jeans, especially as I'm not planning on getting married again (which my husband will likely be relieved to hear).

Holly also makes tops and tanks adorned with her unique vintage finds that she gets from estate sales, Ebay and by deconstructing dresses from the 1950s, as well as dresses for all occasions, including bridal - which are sometimes perfect left as they are (a good designer knows when not to add!). She takes custom orders and still, you'll find her prices are very reasonable. Another thing I love about Etsy - you get a one-off piece made with love, that you love, without having to admit to yourself "uh, I think I was just violated,'' as we sometimes feel in the shops. Before I go and join the strikers in Paris to shout about the wonders of Etsy in the streets, I'll let you see the video:

Thanks, Holly - you've inspired me to finish a felt and lace collar I brought with me to Paris and haven't yet taken out of the bag!

NET's Notes and Stylish Stickies

 

Net-a-porter.com puts out their NOTES magazine each season and I've just received the latest one, for Spring/Summer 2009. It's got the best of the collections, neat little features like the Jumpsuit Encyclopedia, and it doubles as a fashion diary. But the best part are the sticker pages in the back - tiny shoes, bags, sunnies and the looks as worn by the models on the runways. You can use them to create your own Top 10 list with the pages provided or add an ice lolly stick to the back and have your very own walk-off between Abbey Lee and Vlada.

They're including NOTES free with all orders right now. If I was going for something for spring I'd start with Luella. Loooove.

 

Luella's Psychedelic Tweeds and Frills are Here

The spring collection I was most excited to see in the flesh for possible acquisition was Luella's with all of its tweed, ruffles, lace, and mixed patterns in vibrant colours that should hurt the eyes, yet somehow made for a truly stunning offering of mix and match pieces.

My fave online shop, NET-A-PORTER just received their stock for their international site (UK, Europe and Asia), including what you see above. There are already sell outs, but more sizes are on the way for some items. Not surprising that I'm not alone in my lust for this stuff. (And why is NET my go-to place online? For the selection, the service, and their website which in my opinion beats the skirts off its competitors. Who else actually measures each individual piece and lists the specs so you order the right size?)

Hopefully we'll see even more Luella in the coming weeks, I'm insane for this floral top and skirt (though I can't quite see myself in the skirt, as in being out in public wearing it - it's more of a daydream piece unless I'm going for a modern Little Bo Peep look):

 

Mackage Knows Leather

I wrote a post on Mackage's gorgeous coats recently and focussed on the warm, winter styles and in doing so left out their equally impressive leathers (thanks for the reminder, Nicole!). Their signature detail is leather trim but when they go full-on with the skins the result is a great leather jacket, with all of the detail you get in the wool coats, including the collar styling options which really transform the overall look of the jacket.

Though I really do have a packed wardrobe of coats and jackets I can't wait to see what's coming for spring, they always do short, compact styles that are loaded with detail yet come off as effortless and easy. And rival that of the best fashion houses at a fraction of the price. Which is why if you do don't already, you must get to know Mackage. (By the way, don't try to look up what Mackage means in French as I fruitlessly did when I first discovered them - it doesn't exist. It comes from cofounder/designer Eran's niece's mispronunciation of 'maquillage'!)

This Leane jacket is the same as the one above - note how a
flick of the collar creates a totally new look and do you love
the blousey sleeves? A fresh, feminine take on the bomber


The leather trench - Matrix, without the harshness

Love the longer bomber style - bend over, worry free!

The full knit collar worn up


3/4 sleeves. Yes.

Canadians Make the Best Coats

I'm now in Canada for Christmas, we got into Toronto last night after an 11+ hour flight. Or rather an eight hour flight and a three hour sit on the tarmac. There was a problem with the plane that required a parts. But we got here fine, no luggage was lost (phew! I do so worry about my beloved dresses) and all things considered, we fared far better than the poor souls whose flights were cancelled today thanks to the snow storm. The thick snow covering everything in sight makes me think of White Christmases, and fabulous winter coats. And that reminds me of Mackage, who I don't believe I've mentioned, except in passing, in my very first post!

If you haven't heard of Mackage and you consider yourself a coat girl or guy, you need to get to know them. Their coats are incredible - gorgeous detailing (look at that belt - yes, it comes with the coat - and the pleated sleeve styling on the Juju above and right), excellent workmanship and high quality materials combine with the most flattering shape and fit. You can also wear the collars several different ways. And the best thing is, they are still, somehow, bargain priced for what they are. If you buy in Canada or the US from their online shop, their winter coats run from $496 to $760, with most falling in the low to mid-range. And the prices have remained the same since I bought mine four years ago, despite them being a 'celeb favourite' from the beginning and being seen all over the most fashionable TV shows. How refreshing. However, I saw a Mackage coat featured in Grazia last year and it was the same in pounds. So there's an advantage to buying on their home turf (they're Canadian. Me so proud).

As for mine, I don't plan on ever getting rid of it. But I do plan to add to the collection. Hmm...I don't have one of their spring jackets...

And I love the story behind the brand. Mackage is a fashion outerwear label run by childhood friends Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan who started sketching at age 12 and had a hit label at just 22. A few highly successful years later, it's still a family-run business based in Montreal, Quebec. And in their photos they're always smiling and look so happy and cute. I love them.

 

   

 

  How adorable is this, they can even make the puffa jacket look fab:

 

How cosy and beautiful are the chunky knit neck and cuffs:

   

And more details...

Leather trim is their trademark:

 

Perfect pleats:

 

I love how the bottom looks like a tennis skirt, sigh: 

 

Beautiful buttons:

 

How good would you feel wearing this:

 

And that is the Tessy, which looks like this worn with the collar done up:

That's like two coats! And that belt! And those sleeves!

Now, tell me - are you convinced??

 

'Playing Dress-Up' Rhymes

This New Years Eve is quite up in the air,
But I'm still dreaming of posh outfits to wear
NET-A-PORTER.COM is the place where I go
To find magical fashion from the A/W shows

Soft metallics that shimmer and dazzle and such
T-Bags' jacquard mini dress with a Jimmy Choo clutch
And Pedro Garcia sequin pumps work so well
I'm blowing my paycheck! Who cares, what the hell?

 

Then there's black, the sure thing for ''put together' and sleek
Missoni, your earrings? Impossibly chic
Lela Rose does impress with her large disc hemmed dress,
And belt sweetly embellished of buttons, no less.

Details too lush to not see them close-up:

And the shoes, the shoes,
so easy to choose...
How could it not be these fab Christian Lous?

But wait! There's a bag!
A clutch with plush plumes
Black satin with a bow
And just enough rooms.....
for your lipstick and mobile.

 

It's Party Time

Give Bush and Cheney the Finger, But Tickle Lagerfeld

I really must commit to featuring an Etsy seller on a weekly basis, there are tens of thousands of talented people from all over the globe offering their one-of-a-kind creations on the site - remember it for holiday gifts and say no to mass-produced, uninspired crap at the malls! (and watch the economy crumble even further...)

I discovered the perfect little stocking stuffers from Mullish Muse, by way of a fun and fashionable blog called Cuffington. Felt finger puppets bear a striking resemblance to 'Karl Lagerfelt', Jack & Meg White from the White Stripes, and a host of prominent political figures such as Obama, The Clintons, McCain & Palin and Bush & Cheney (there's something I'd like to do with those last two finger puppets). Fun, eh?

Make Your Pad Lush with Mid-Century Modern

The Kaufmann House. Photo: Tim Street-Porter, The New York Times

While in the end it didn't matter as by the time our condo was finally finished being built THREE YEARS too late (ugh) and we'd already moved to England, a website like Lushpad would have made our search for the mid-century modern furniture and knick knacks we wanted far easier (though it's always fun to wander the fabulous retro district in Toronto's Queen St. East. You just don't want it to be your only option - that doesn't involve dubious offerings and online bidding).

Lushpad is a unique online marketplace that specialises in the buying and selling of mid-century modern furniture and accessories as well as fine art - a dream for those looking to start their collection or add to it, and a desirable alternative for artists and designers looking to sell their work. It is run by Melanie Carlson, a Vancouver-based award-winning graphic designer and creative director with a passion for everything mid-century modern and the whole retro vernacular. She saw a gap in the online marketplace for a website dedicated to this much-loved design era and took her cue to fulfill her mission: to "democratize good design" by creating a place "where buyers and sellers can connect at every price point." The site currently serves North America and plans to broaden its reach soon.

And if you love the mid-century design aesthetic but only breakfast pastries come to mind when you hear Danish, you might benefit from Lushpad's expanding list of resources that currently includes designer, artist and architect profiles; articles on design classics; book recommendations and a blog, all of which can help you gain a deeper appreciation for this exciting and important design era. And in no time you'll know your Eames from your Mies van der Rohe and that Le Corbusier is a who, not a what.

To get you in the mid-century modern mood here's a Chevrolet movie presentation from 1958, featured on the website's blog. It's a long one but if you've got a minute even the opening sequence will put a smile on your face - love that echoey, deep-voiced narrator style, the dreamy music and the colourful graphic treatments so typical of the era:

Eley Kishimoto Sample Sale in London

It's sample sale time and next week is the two-day sale for Eley Kishimoto, the design duo who sent one of my most favourite Spring 09 RTW collections down the runway at London fashion week. I am all over the floral printed tights with bright hues to match the dresses. If you have trouble reading the flyer above, here are the details:

Thursday 27th November - Friday 28th November
44-46 St. John Street, London, EC1M 4DF
Tube: Farringdon - Chancery Lane - Barbican

Garments, shoes and accessories in a variety of sizes. Samples and past season stock. Prices start at £5. Customers are required to pick up a little something for Denise @ The Swelle Life as she can't make it and is absolutely gutted.

Ideas for the Ever Elusive Men's Gift-giving

Shopping for gifts for men is just brutal. No matter how well you know the guy you're buying for, the brain becomes a giant, grey void when it comes to finding that thing he'll really love and also shows you went out of your way to find something special. (That's if he already has an X-Box or you refuse to buy him one).

While actually not looking for gifts (I already got something wicked but can't say until later - a rare achievement that comes down to timing), I found this leather Paul Smith wallet with a photo of a striped mini (the stripes being Paul Smith's signature graphic) in a field, printed on the inside. For someone who's a bit quirky and stylish, I think something like this might be appreciated. And it's plain black on the outside so if he's shy about his tendencies he can keep them a secret.

And for a gag gift (albeit an expensive one), or if you are both just into these things, there's the 'naked lady' wallet:

Maybe not the best choice for your boss (male or female), male family members, or your minister/priest/rabbi/etc.

I'll add more things as I find them. Assuming I do...

Update: I just showed this one to my husband, and his reaction was to ask "Can you customise the picture??"

Hey Baby - I Like Your French Connection Style

Grazia and French Connection held a special holiday shopping event at locations throughout the UK last night, and I attended the one in Newcastle. After giving my name at the door (it was a reserved place event) I was greeted by a waiter with a tray of red wine. Thank you, I will certainly have one of those, please. It's worth the purple lips and teeth. The guests were treated to goodies such as Origins hand massages and make-up applications. And, oh yes - the shopping! It was a bit tough browsing the racks while trying not to spill red wine on all the cute dresses, but I wasn't complaining. 

I was there with three friends, including my power-shopper-yet-sensible mate Sophie, my kindred spirit in fashion (well, kindred except for the sensible part). It was a great girlie night, which admittedly got even better when I found the table downstairs filled with more red wine and some white, and these new Cobra flavoured beer drinks - the blood orange was quite nice! I'm not much of a drinker, it's just nice to be treated to a tipple whilst shopping with the girls! We each left with a dress we loved at 20% off (hers a gorgeous silk slip dress with ruffle shoulders and mine a cute and comfy grey hand knit number with short sleeves).

One of the sales assistants by the name of Morgan caught my eye, she was tall and stunning in her black, strapless French Connection prom dress, red lips and platinum bob, and rocking some seriously killer heels. I don't know how she was able to stand all night in those skyscrapers, but if she was in any pain she hid it well. She pulled off a distinctly 80s vibe - the good part of the 80s (yes, there was good, I can't claim it as part of my personal history, however) - bold, polished and a force to be reckoned with. 

Morgan, please share - I forgot to ask you at the time (the wine) - where did you find those wicked shoes?

I heard from Morgan, they're Kurt Geiger - and they were a birthday gift from her friends! Now those are good friends!