Wes Anderson style

I have been busy painting the last few days, but took some time to re-watch Darjeeling Limited the other night. As you probably know I love Wes Anderson films. I love the eccentricity and humour of his films but most of all I find the style so inspiring. I think these bespoke Louis Vuitton suitcases that they had especially made for the film are fantastic.

So whether it's the clothes and style of the characters (Anjelica Huston is so cool in Life Aquatic),

the quirky and witty illustrations (mostly done by Wes' brother Eric Chase Anderson),

the details in the interiors (such as these butterfly cases in Hotel Chevalier),

the wallpapers in 'The Royal Tenenbaums',

or the signature Futura font that Wes uses in all his films, I just love it all!

New York Times also did a style profile of Wes Anderson in India (see below) or visit here to see it bigger.

Frida Kahlo's suitcases

I just received this book in the post and am really enjoying looking through it. The book is about some chests and boxes which were found packed full of paintings, clothing, a diary, drawings etc and some airmail letters inscribed with the words "personal archive of Frida K. and personal archive of my private life".

There have been rumours that the objects are fakes, but fake or not it is certainly a beautiful book full of photographs of all different things be it recipes, dolls, receipts. Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to find all this?

The pink and blue project

To follow on from my Shocking pink blog, I wanted to post about Korean artist JeongMee Yoon's Pink and blue project. I think these photos are hilarious.

Above is Seowoo and all her pink things

Jimin and his blue things

Jeeyoo and her pink things

and Jeonghoon and his blue things! Read and see more here

Shocking pink

The days are so dull at the moment, I thought I'd add a colourful post and brighten a grey day with some shocking pink. You could buy a vintage Schiaperelli dress (the designer famous for making hot pink so fashionable),

send our Anzu fifties style dress card or hot pink Patent card,

add touches to your house, as in this interior with the signature Schiaperelli pink hat boxes,

lounge on a Salvador Dali sofa (based on the lips of Mae West),

step out on the town in this Lanvin dress

or join India's Pink gang. As Diana Vreeland said 'Shocking pink is the navy blue of India'. The Pink gang, or Gulabi gang have hijacked trucks laden with food for the poor which were being waylaid by corrupt officials and stopped child marriages. In India they have become folk heroes! Read more on www.worldproutassembly.org

Designers block

I'd like to say a big thank you to Di over at designersblock for featuring our cards on her blog and for such a nice write up. I always like reading Di's blog so it was great to actually be on it. Di features interiors she likes (love this above),

favourite photographs(such as this very Avengers one above),

cool places to go in Paris, which she visits regularly,

shops she likes (this is Liscious in Jericho, Oxford),

her own range of original furniture,

and objects ranging from giant teacups (we have one of these in the office too) to gadgets. Click here to see more.

Maharajah

Yesterday I went to the amazing Maharajah exhibition at the V&A. Stunning jewellery (such as this Cartier necklace above),

bejewelled belt buckets,

varying forms of transport be it a 1927 phantom Rolls Royce or a silver palanquin,

and golden thrones make an amazing exhibition. One of the things that I enjoyed seeing most was the modern/Art Deco Maharajah section, which I will also do a post on later this week!

Underwater love

I came across this image and I don't know who it is by, but I love it and it set me on googling underwater fashion shots.

In a dolphin tank in 1939!

I love these Annie Leibovitz shots (above and below).

An almost fairytale shot by Zena Halloway

And if anyone knows who this is by let me know!

OTT fashion icons

Following on from my post yesterday, I thought I'd do a post on some of my favourite eccentric fashion icons - people who dare to wear whatever they like with flair and a sense of fun. So of course I had to start with Vivienne Westwood.

and continue with Isabella Blow.

Nice to see a picture of her in her youth I think. I remember seeing Isabella Blow resplendent in a Prada jewelled coat and Philip Treacy hat whilst shopping in the Belgravia Waitrose.

When she wore this hat above, she noticed that there was a terrible smell at the party she attended, but on reaching home she could still smell it. It turned out that the milliner had forgotten to fully scoop out out the remains of the lobster!

Fashion iconoclast Iris Apfel, a distinguished collector and authority on antique textiles as reflected in her elaborate, often ethnic style outfits.

This chinoiserie style outfit, was photographed in a book on her clothes 'Rare bird of fashion'. It's a beautiful book.

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo wearing traditional Mexican dress at a time when it wasn't fashionable, combined with elaborate and large floral headdresses and Tehuana ribbons in her hair.

The next icon I would pick would be Elsa Schiaperelli, pictured below.

So ahead of her time - practically the inventor of shocking pink, such an irreverent witty approach to fashion, and the creator of truly eccentric hats.

This is her stiletto shoe hat!

And finally I had to finish with poetess Edith Sitwell, famous for her often medieval style of dressing and the many large rings that she would wear on her extremely long fingers.

Over the top fashion

Viktor & Rolf, Style.com

It used to be that extreme fashion stayed on the catwalk and barely made it to the shops, but is it just me or does this seem to be changing? I am loving seeing all the OTT fashion on the streets at the moment.

Dolce and Gabbana A/W 09, Style.com

Desperately Seeking Susan style hair bows,

Prada A/W 2009, Style.com

thigh high boots,

Alexander McQueen A/W 09, Style.com

and the highest platforms. Maybe I'll rethink my office wardrobe!

Anzu on tv!

We are very happy that Anzu candles were featured on the Wedding show on Sky tv last week. Thank you for everyone that helped me with my first tv appearance!