Wild things

Some time I did a post on leopard print and I had to post a little epilogue to that as I have seen so many great images of fashion icons in animal print. Above is our 'Wild bags' card!

In particular it was this image of Naomi Campbell that made me want to do this post.

Classic Blondie

I think Kate Moss must have about 5,000 animal print items in her wardrobe.

A sultry Ava Gardner

and finally Marilyn Monroe photographed by Eve Arnold.

Ancient industries

I just discovered the Ancient industries blog and I love it! With great images (like this photograph above of Coney Island),

facts on everything from Fairisle tweed, to pork pies to Morris Minors being covered it is always interesting, nice to look at, and very English.

Can you believe this is 1989? English wheat pickers photographed by James Ravilious.

The blog is written from the perspecive of what is living and what is extinct. Apparently Miss Scarlet has been removed from the Cluedo game - whaaat?? Her and Colonel Mustard are the best characters!

This is the Frank Cooper marmelade factory which no longer exists. Really love the way it looks.

Have a look at the blog on http://ancientindustries.blogspot.com

Favourite London florists

One of my favourite florists is Robbie Honey http://www.robbiehoney.com I love these peonies in the lacquer container. With clients that include John Galliano, Moet and Chandon and Vivienne Westwood he's pretty sought after.

I think this flower curtain he created for a party at Hermes is truly magical.

With the figs and the red flowers I thnk this arrangement by Honey would be perfect for now.

Another favourite is Only Roses http://www.only-roses.com which just sells roses from Ecuador - below is their shop

Although these photos look nice, I have to say that when you actually see the roses they really stand out and almost look unreal. Well worth a trip.

Modern Hollywood

I love this new Hollywood glamour look that is coming out on the catwalks right now. Heavy with tons of sequins but still elegant and glamorous. I especially love this dress from Gaultier Paris

and this Philip Lim dress. Really very reminiscent of classic Hollywood.

A classic but lesser known Hollywood icon, Kay Francis - how amazing is this dress?

Norma Shearer was also clearly a big fan of sequins (pictured above and below).

She would have loved this Louboutin sandal,

this Michael Kors Spring 2010 dress

or this Fendi dress - available now at Browns.

Art London Fair

Yesterday I went to the Art London Fair and saw so many lovely things. They had a Duncan Grant painting of the Charleston mantlepiece - it was rather like the one above only nicer.

This Ben Nicholson drawing, which I think is so English.

And this Robert Bevan painting. Father Christmas, are you out there??

Rainbow

Yet another miserable day, so I thought I'd do a cheerful post on rainbows. Horst Glaesker is a German artist who works with colour palettes.

See www.horst-glaesker.de for more of his work.

How stunning is this Beijing bookshop?

You could try it yourself at home, as below.

Zeze

One of the most beautiful bouquets I have ever received was from Zeze florists in New York.

Zeze was born and raised in Brazil but moved to New York to take up a life on the stage, later changing to floristry and opening his shop on 938 1st Ave, New York.

I think his arrangements are sophisticated but also have that natural, just picked from the meadow/garden look too.

Objet and plants are also for sale in his shop.

And Zeze has also recently opened up a cafe as well as making his shop available for private parties. See more at www.zezeflowers.com

Unfortunately it's a bit far for me to go, but next week I'll be posting my favourite London florists!

Chanel in Venice

There are some images which just stick in your mind and the photos of Chanel's 2010 collection presented at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Lido Resort in Venice are undoubtedly some of those.

I mean how stunning is the fading light in these photos with all the blue and soft sandy hues.

This is a picture of Coco herself, photographed by V.H. Drandpierre on the yacht of Roussy Sert in front of the Excelsior hotel on the Lido beach.

The Chanel show was all very reminiscent of Visconti's stunning film Death in Venice (pictured above and below)

So why not be inspired? You could watch Death in Venice, Brideshead Revisited for the wonderful section shot in Venice, read Thomas Mann's novel as below,

or visit the newly opened 'The Merchant of Venice' in London, which promises tapas size dishes of Venetian delicacies like mackerel tartare, flank steak ribbons and roast pork belly with radicchio and hazlenut. Mmmm, see www.polpo.co.uk