Trends from Decorex 2013

This year`s Decorex, which ended last week in London, did not disappoint. This highly anticipated annual `must visit` destination for high end luxury design,  showcased a multitude of new trends and innovations for home and outdoor space.

Kit Kemp MBE followed in the footsteps of Vivienne Westwood and Nicky Haslam, and designed an interesting entrance, influenced by the Silk Route; she made these simple, colourful lamps the focus of her show-room.

So what would our homes wear this year? How would we decorate to make our surroundings as fashionable as our new Prada coats?

Bursts of vivid colour

 

Antiques are still in, but cleverly re-worked into truly magnificent effect; here, an antique Murano glass takes form of a beautiful lighting panel

Natural materials can be crafted into unexpected shapes

Fashion-inspired interiors - lit-up wall panels use images from well-known fashion houses like this Cartier`s panther

Ethnic influence – exotic dragons will add drama to a simple setting

 

Monochrome – guaranteed sophistication; here in a beautifully made set of armchairs

 

Wall coverings came in exciting new materials: these beads on a stretched out fabric, can be placed behind a glass panel - super-effective and easy to maintain

 

Apart from the main exhibition space, we had the added bonus of two smaller tents, one dedicated to outdoor space, and the other to lifestyle brands, which hosted, for the first time, a team of Missoni Home experts; I have my eye on Botanica rugs, and Liuwa furnishing fabric.

 

Prince Zylinski`s Palazzo Rocks!

 The Open House Weekend programme opens the doors of many prestigious properties in London, and the one I visited – the White House in Ealing, West London – is clearly, in my opinion, the most magnificent and characterful of them all.  

In the doorway, which leads from the Library to the Snug Room; I am wearing a Michael Kors dress and a Gucci handbag

 

A Neo-Classical exterior of the White House

 

 

An elegant and vast living room is full of antiques and crystal chandeliers

 

 

The Blue Bedroom, one of many luxurious bedrooms in the house

It has been lovingly designed and built by Prince John Zylinski, as a private residence for himself and his wife, and is a replica of an old family estate in Poland that had been burnt to the ground, by a communist government who exiled the family during the II World War.  

 

The Library

The whole property is breathtakingly beautiful, and not surprisingly, had been used by TV crews, and high profile designers for photoshoots and promotional videos.

 

Britney Spears` music video was filmed in this marble bathroom

However, the residence is not a show-home; it has many family-friendly amenities, for example under-floor heating throughout the house, a fridge concealed in an old, birch-wood cabinet, and a sensor-light at the gilded entrance door.

Its main attraction is a distinct feeling of a wonderful family home.    

Marble statues look out from a wrap-around terrace towards a peaceful garden

 

 

David Downton`s Fashionistas at Claridge's

As the London Fashion Week came to a close, on 17 September I met the undisputed master of fashion illustration, and a distinguished portrait artist - David Downton. Having spent the last few years as Claridge's artist in residence, he amassed a collection of sketches of some of the hotel's most iconic guests, and was showcasing a selection of portraits at the exhibition entitled `Midnight at Noon (and Other Stories)` at Claridge`s.

I asked how long he spends drawing one portrait and he said it could take two hours or a few days; if he doesn't like the image he starts again.  He admitted that even his mother asked him why he often depicts only one eye - his trademark – and confessed he can often express the character of his subject better by just focusing on one eye, as a distinctive feature. He pointed out he wanted to make his subjects look pleasant; not to flatter or to be cruel. He said he usually knows at the start how he wants to portray his models. And he tries to spend as much time as possible with them and found that chatting puts them at ease.

And what the famous fashionistas think at the end of the session?  

-          ` They usually like what they see` - he said.

A study of Carmen Dell'Orefice - model and muse, and Erin O'Connor – model

Poppy Delevinge – model, and Antonio Berardi - fashion designer

I really like the elegant depictions of his sitters, and am pleased to report that the artist behind the iconic images is a truly engaging and amiable person.

Longchamp`s Biggest European Store Opens in London

`Vast` and `airy` come to my mind when I crossed the threshold of the new Longchamp`s flagship store, located on London`s Regent Street.  

Created in 1948 and still controlled by the founding family, the brand initially produced leather-covered pipes for smokers, but is now a symbol of affordable French chic.

I was pleased to see the whole wall dedicated to their iconic Le Pliage handbags in a rainbow of colours and variety of sizes. Sadly, the machine which engraves your name on the nylon bag didn`t work today – I was told by a member of elegantly dressed shop crew – but they offered to take my order and deliver `soon`.

 

I am wearing a Love Moschino leather jacket. The dress (my favourite at the moment)

is by Michael Kors

 

My Michael Kors favourite in its full glory. Clutch by Michael Kors, glasses by Bvlgari and clogs by Chanel. Photo taken last week in another location

The Longchamp`s store, which also sells other bags – the Legende, the Roseau, the Gatsby, the Balzane, and Kate Moss-designed Gloucester collection – is spread over two floors. Between them, a `floating mezzanine` provides the most visually pleasing aspect of the overall design, and enhances the feeling of lightness and speciousness.

A view from the first floor, towards the mezzanine level

 

The ground floor sells women’s accessories, and ready-to-wear. The first floor houses menswear and luggage, and its home to a fabulous, long, leather table with engraved map of the world, on its surface. I want it NOW!

 

 

 

Rain or Shine, London Fashion Week Comes to Town

Today`s front row....

The shine of Pearce Fionda`s party dresses was reassuringly glamorous and the rain….well, it was constant! It was humid and drizzling this morning, turning into steady downpour by early evening.  It played havoc with fashionistas` tresses, and didn`t provide the ideal conditions for my vintage, white leather bustier, lilac-coloured Sophia Swire fur shrug, Michael Kors harem pants, vintage Italian necklace, and Juicy Couture shoes.

I wouldn`t miss the SS14 collections, no matter what the weather was throwing at me, and even made my European holiday end prematurely, so I could be back in town for London`s fashion extravaganza.

Not all `day one` events were exceptional and I witnessed one show that didn`t meet my expectations. Never mind, we live and learn.

Bright Young Things at Selfridges

I was pleased to discover a selection of unique accessories, theatrical clothes and inimitable art in the Selfridges` Concept Store. For the third year running, Selfridges opened its doors to young and talented student-designers, and asked them to create a limited edition of fabulous pieces, under the banner of Bright Young Things. Their handiwork is sold in the Concept Store on the ground floor, and also displayed in the store`s windows.

I bought these six bug tie-pins, which I would wear as brooches; they would complement my Michael Kors knitwear. Cat Johnston designed them, and she is part of a bigger student collective, called The Pound Shop. The young designers were tasked with creating affordable objects that would sell in Selfridges for either £1, £5 or £10 a piece. My insects cost me £5 each, and I was thrilled to see such lively, quality products, priced so low.  

I look forward to meeting a few of the Bright Young Things at interactive events that are being run in Selfridges throughout September and October; hopefully Cat will be there.