A Perfect Place

You know how sometimes you see a space and you immediately connect with it?  You feel as if you can move right in and be home!
I feel that way about fashion designer Pamella Roland's upper east side condo in a famed Robert A. M. Stern building.

It's a feast for the eyes.  I am crazy about the Paul Villinski butterfly installation.  They are made out of discarded beer cans.  The Marc Newsom Random Pac chair is like a beautiful sculptural jewel in the room.  The Mel Bochner "No" mono-print lends a colorful, textural touch among the otherwise neutral surroundings.  As a side note ~ Mel will be getting a show at the Jewish museum in 2014.  Stay tuned.  I would love to own one of his works.  AND a giant Chanel shopping bag sculpture doesn't hurt.  An enamel over bronze by Jonathan Seliger is titled "Backless Blackness"

Everything is in sync ~ the art enhances the furnishings and the furnishings enhance the art, like a beautiful dance.
Sue DeChiara from The Zhush interviewed Pamella about her upper east side pad.  You can read the article here.

The walnut paneled study was inspired by her home in Michigan.

Pamella chose fabrics that she would want to be enveloped in and that were very much inspired by the runway.

GORGEOUSNESS!


ph: Emily Gilbert for the NY Observer

Spotlight On: Cédric Charlier

Cédric Charlier is a "new to me" young designer from Belgium.  I get so excited when I discover a  talent whose work I love and is wearable!  Such is the case with Cédric.  As he worked for the likes of Lanvin and Celine, I am not surprised, as I see a strong influence ~ Cedric was also the artistic director for Cacharel.  When he was let go he was able to unleash his creativity and his own collection.  With monied backers behind him, his fall 2012 and spring 2013 collections have caught the attention of many a buyer and fashionista.

Cédric is on trend with his razor sharp lines and color blocking.  There are heavy doses of architectural pant suits and asymmetrical shift dresses.  I am happy to see patent  leather making a comeback.  His collection is full of inky blues, blacks, coppery metallics, and my favorite ~ the painterly brush stroke pieces.

Cedric says he loves the movement of the line in the clothes.  As you walk, your clothes take on another effect.  A bold stroke of creativity.

Never underestimate the ability of surprise.  Cedric was doing a lot of floral, feminine looks at Cacharel, so this was quite a departure.  Things always work out for a reason, don't they?






ph: Yannis Vlamos courtesy of Style.com

Roberto Capucci ~ Art Into Fashion

"Creation is a sensory experience" 

Roberto Capucci is the most imaginative, timeless, iconic designer that no one has ever heard of.  He is a revered fashion visionary.  Called "the Givency of Rome" or "lite Balenciaga", many contemporary designers have taken inspiration from Mr. Capucci's  innovative designs.  Christian Dior praised Roberto's work, and the 1955 collection was considered as important as Dior's "New Look" of 1947.

This dress was inspired by the concentric circles the water makes when a stone is thrown into it.

He is known for his love of intricate origami like shapes, inventive use of pleating, ruffles, structured ribbons, and rosettes and unusual elements he would sometimes add like pebbles or straw.  

The dress below was inspired by peeling back the skin of an orange

Roberto refers to his work as a study in structure and form; much more like works of art than clothing to be worn.  In fact, Roberto was not really concerned with commercial success, obviously.

Roberto's fabric of choice was silk shantung, silk satin and silk taffeta.

This dress was inspired by a crack in the sidewalk

A trip to India captivated Roberto.  He would return many times.   The riotous color influenced  him throughout his career.   From his travels to Asia, he began experimenting with the tight pleats, either softly flowing or tightly manipulated.

The interpretation of this dress is like fire raising up  

I think you can see what inspired him here.  Nature was another important theme running through his collections.  Roberto shied away from recognition and publicity.  It's a shame his artistic vision was not realized for so long by so many.  Many successful designers referenced Roberto's work as inspiration for their own.  Ralph Rucci, Issey Miyake and perhaps Mary McFadden.

This baroque angel of gold pleated dress is his vision of an angel ascending to heaven.  Roberto saw the joy in living and wanted to imbue that in his work.

Roberto did a revolutionary box shaped collection which really started it all.  The outfits had 2 side seams and were stiffened and squared away from the body, but the waist was accentuated.

He designed an op art collection like his contemporaries, Rudi Gernreich and YSL.  He often incorporated interesting materials like straw, pebbles, and feathers, among other things.

A respect for traditional couture craftsmanship, a timelessness, and a Doric column inspired this satin number.

 "Pure art is not meant to be worn".   In 1980 he began showing 1 collection a year in 1 city per year.  Fashion was made richer by this maverick talent.

photos: Claudia Primangell, Phila. Museum of Art

Pop Art Princess ~ Lisa Perry

Italian luxury brand, Borbonese

 A reader shared these wonderful bags with me after reading my blog story about Roy Lichtenstein and Miu Miu.  The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation in collaboration with the Italian luxury brand Borbonese, released a limited edition collection based on Roy's colorful art.  They are the piece de resistance to any pop art outfit.  The small bag collection is sold exclusively thru the Lisa Perry stores.  This requires a more in depth conversation about Lisa Perry and her mod life styled.

Lisa gravitated towards the likes of Pierre Cardin, Courreges, and Rudy Genrich.  Anything mod from the 1960's became her passion.   Lisa lives and sells that mod aesthetic she fell in love with on a trip to Paris so many years ago.  She is addicted to color and couture.  Her lifestyle stores sell the pop art shift dresses she began designing after graduating from FIT instead of going into the family textile business.  She also sells clothing with a very "focused DNA" as Lisa calls it; exclusive lines she has picked up like French tee shirts and the handbags above.  She has an extensive vintage couture collection from the 60's and 70's, and has added some housewares, accessories, and bedding to her eponymous stores.

A peek at the 2nd floor loft space above the Madison Avenue store.  It's set up like an apartment ~ Lisa's goal is for someone to walk in to any of her spaces and say, "WOW, this is so fun!"  I would say she succeeded!

She doesn't just sell the dream, Lisa lives it, and by the looks of her Hamptons house, lives it well.  She loves a backdrop of white with pops of different colors in each room.  "Anything that screams POP makes me happy."  You can't not be happy in this home, and she has two more like it.  One in New York City and a third in Palm Beach.

I adore how the tile under the table mimics the look of the pool, which is quite close.  I wonder, "How many people have fallen in?"

Lisa is an art collector as well.  Between the pool and the ocean is a Robert Indiana mosaic made into a table and a Gary Hume snowman sculpture by the tree.

ph: Veranda, Architechnophilja, examiner.com

Stop the Presses!!

SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR.
For one night only Ralph Lauren creates a larger than life 4D experience to usher in the grand opening of his newest Madison Ave. and London stores.  You must see the video.

Thank you  Design Therapy

                                       http://vimeo.com/16722030




I had heard that Alber Elbaz was doing a Lanvin line for H & M.  What I did not know was how cute it was.  I have a feeling lines will begin to form well before the November 20th debut.

 There are 48 items in the collection.  Prices range from $9.95 for a lipstick to $349.00 for a coat.   If you see me in line~ get out of my way because these pieces are calling my name.

Photos: NY times, Fashionista