Back to the wild: animal prints

A second cup of black coffee, Sting on the background and my little hound (yet another nickname for Oscar these days) sleeping next to me, exhausted after a long happy play with a horribly noisy plastic bagel... Bliss...

Well, frankly this part has nothing to do with the post you are about to read. I just thought I'd tell you a bit about my daily life before I continue. It's all about animal prints today. They are like Marmite - you either love them or hate them. You simply cannot be indifferent when it comes to these style.

Personally, I like animal prints in moderation, just like, say, a glass good wine. Talking of which and continuing to compare... I hardly ever drink and I don't really wear animal prints much, but when/if I do, I enjoy it. My perfect animal print item would be a pair of stiletto pumps or a bag because these would go with so many things and create an accent rather than an "in-to-your-face" statement. I am a bit too shy and yes, conservative for more than that.

Having said that, I love how other people wear animal prints. I adore beautifully put outfits that would include a statement piece and black, caramel or chocolate brown "canvas" created by the rest of the ensemble. This is, I think, is the most important rule: choose a statement and keep the rest of your outfit as simple as possible. Mismatched and mixed prints may look good in fashion magazines, but those have more to do with selling the garments and creating a piece of fashion art that may not work so well in real life.

So.... what do you think of this trend? Love it? Hate it? Can't get enough of it? Do you feel different when you wear animal prints? I would love to hear your opinions on this, my dearest readers.

As always, I hope you will enjoy these style and editorial photos.

Vogue Nippon 2009

Christian Dior Pre-fall 2009 / Giambattista Valli Fall 2009 / Zac Posen Pre-fall 2009

Vogue US 2008

Vogue US 2009

Rebecca Taylor Fall 2009 / Dries Van Noten Fall 2009 / Michael Kors Pre-fall 2009

Vogue UK 2005

Monsoon Campaign Fall/Winter 2009/10

Ruffian Fall 2009 / Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2009 / D&G Fall 2009

Vogue Paris 2009

Vogue Korea 2009

Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2009 / Blumarine Fall 2009 / Isabel Marant Fall 2009

Vogue Italy 2009

fashion story shot by Scott Schuman, The Sartorialist

Vogue China 2009

DSquared2 Fall 2009 / Rachel Comey Fall 2009 / Oscar de la Renta Fall 2009

Numero No. 106 2009

Elle Brazil 2009

Isaac Mizrahi Pre-fall 2009 / Albino Fall 2009 / DKNY Fall 2009

Photos via style.com, top photo - models posing in Azzedine Alaïa, circa 1990

JOB OF THE WEEK

words and pictures

Making a living from craft/design is not easy. It looks great on the outside - no boss (read no paycheck), no 8am starts (read work through the night if you have to) no saving up holiday days (read no sick pay, overtime, or...holidays). There is also the added pressure of coming up with new things all the time. On occasion you can feel like a sausage factory.

Christmas comes with its particular stresses. You have to get work done for it in September for a start and if you don't make your money over this all important season it makes for a very difficult first quarter of the following year. I'm only just getting my catalogue out now - about three weeks late (read completely on time for me). But for the first time in ages I genuinely like the new work.

I've used old fashioned Christmas messages, collaged them onto linen then hand painted extensions to the floral frames. Scanned it all at very high res to get the fabric detail. They print really well, very soft but retaining the detail of the fabric. The cards have both a vintage and a modern feel and there isn't a silhouetted deer in sight. I'm pretty sure that the market will be pretty limited for these - making my January a poor poor month in 2010

No matter. I feel like closing down the factory and growing things instead.

Focus on: SCARVES

Gorgeously chunky, beautifully draped or casually thrown over the shoulders, with pom-poms and fringes, miles and miles of soft cozy glory, scarves are an autumn-winter must-have or, should I say "can't live without", item because, really, how can you be without one (or two)?

Vogue Paris 2009

Ralph Lauren / Marc by Marc Jacobs / MillyVogue Russia 2009

DSquared2 / Missoni / Yigal AzrouëlAmica Italy 2009

Just Cavalli / Diane von Furstenberg / Mulberry
Vogue US 2009

Pringle of Scotland / Issa / Ungaro
Elle Italy 2009

Aquascutum / Loewe / Limi FeuL'Officiel 2005

Vivienne Westwood / Paul Smith / Rachel Comey

SHOPPING LIST

Bottega Veneta cashmere scarf
Burberry large check wool scarf
Michael Kors tie-dye scarf
Brown & gray signature wool knit long scarf - Roccobarocco
Maison Martin Margiela Panna -
Multi Check merino wool scarf
By Malene Birger Salusia knitted scarf
D&G Dolce & Gabbana Intarsia silk and wool scarf
Pashmina Scarf in pure cashmere
ETRO KL05W03 yellow wool/silk -
Check Merino Wool & Cashmere Scarf
Solid Signature Wool Long Scarf - Moschino
Multi Stripe Cashmere Scarf
PETER JENSEN A2181 blue wool -
Multi Scarf
Slit Scarf

Photos via style.com

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK

build em up 

Thinking a lot about architecture recently. Perhaps as a bit of a distraction from the craft and design blogs we spend too much time reading.  There are 4 architecture blogs that have become weekly destinations.  Sometimes it's good to go and read things outside your world just to get a bit of perspective, some fresh ideas and inspiration.

Architecture could be called an extreme craft. Having recently interviewed an architect I was struck by one thing he said "I can build anything, I can design your house, all the furniture in it, the lights, the door knobs anything" - imagine leading that kind of newfashiontodayblog?

1. A Daily Dose of Architecture - a brilliant starting point and not too esoteric.

2. MoCo Loco - you have to see it to believe it. It not only scrolls sideways it makes you think laterally.

3. Life Without Buildings - a blog by outspoken Yale man Jimmy Stamp. genius food for thought.

4. Confessions of an Architect - literally. architects confess their sins. and then it gets published. addictive.

SHOWS OF THE WEEK

We apologise for the lack of posts last week. One house was struck down by the plague (ie chicken pox) the other experienced technical difficulties beyond control and there were planes to catch to warmer climes . This week promises to deliver as we've even scheduled in some 'go out and look at stuff' time.

 .

First thing to do of course is head down to Pieces of Eight and check out the new show by Justine Austen. Monster Zoo is her first solo show after heading south from QLD some years back.  We are a big fans of monsters (like Rufus above) - and with pieces titled 'Maurice the Marauder' and 'Monsieur Ballard' we are guarenteed to get a laugh out of these finely crafted creatures.

Weirdly enough Austen's Monsters remind us of John Kelly's paintings on show this month at Niagara Gallery. Those of you in Melbourne or in Paris will know his Cow up a Tree work. There is a Lucien Freud show on there too if you like superstar painting. We prefer imaginary monsters any day.