Concours d'Elegance

During the week, Anzu was invited to view a luxury trade show. Well really it was more of a vintage automobile rally with some aviation, boat and other luxury stands selling jewellery and holidays. It all took place in the quintessentially English Hurlingham club.

With the absolute best of vintage cars, tennis courts and croquet lawns,

secluded spots to sip champagne in courtyards full of overbrimming flower beds,

yet more stunning vintage vehicles (this was my favourite),

beautiful areas to sit and have a spot of lunch, views of the river

and a bridge over a lake with swans and newly hatched ducklings who could fail to smile?

Tablescapes

Just some lovely little corner details...

Vanity Decorista, Unknown, Michelle McCormick, Unknown, Unknown

Some stunning couture

Givenchy. Really like the photo shoot as much as the dresses.

Alaiia's first couture show - say no more!

Mary McDonald

I am absolutely loving the new series of Million Dollar decorators! Really funny and just entertaining. It has also introduced me to Mary McDonald's interiors.

The mirrored dressing table above was originally from Buster Keaton's estate, which makes it even better.

I like her vibrant use of colour and pattern.

I have admired this office for some time, but didn't know who it was designed by. Most people would never cover such beautiful wallpaper with photographs but Mary McDonald does it nonchalantly and it works.

I also like the way she has decorative bowls filled with jewels.

Her book is gorgeous. Click here to get it on Amazon, or click here to visit her website.

Images: Mary McDonald

Anzu twins!

Anzu is happy to announce we've had twins. Their names are Ben and James. They both do graphic design, eat together and on occasions wear identical outfits.

Anzu new office!

We have finally completed on a new office in Hoxton! So happy! Above Ben and I outside what was formerly the Hoxton boutique.



We have a lot to do though! Knocking down walls, taking up floors, new bathroom, kitchen etc. We're going to be busy, but all very exciting!

Charmed

Sometime ago, a lovely reader of the blog left a comment asking about the inspiration behind the Anzu charm bracelet cards. I couldn't comment back directly as I lost the comment, but here is the reply!

What I really love about charm bracelets is the symbolism, and that each charm has a meaning behind it. I also like that it is a tradition that dates back to ancient times. In ancient Rome, Christians would wear hidden fish charms to identify themselves to each other and ancient Egyptians wore them for protection but also in death as a way to guide them through the afterlife.

I think they are great gifts too, especially for bridal showers and god-daughters. Gifts that can be added to over the years, and just get richer and richer in emotional meaning whether they are vintage or modern.

But most of all I love the Chanel charm bracelets - whether they are Etruscan inspired, laden with pearls or whether they just have the symbols of Chanel. They are chic but fun!

Images: Anzu, unknown, hattonsantiques.co.uk, Chanel

Spotted in Shoreditch!

I think this is one of my favourite bits of graffiti ever! Aside from the fact that it has one of my favourite animals - the giraffe, I also just love the shadow but most of all the small scale of it. You could easily walk past it and totally miss it. Great.

Day of the Triffids

Recently a garden I visited had the most enormous rhubarb growing in it, and I always love these sort of giant plants that seem like something out of a fairytale or a science fiction movie.

Lily pads big and strong enough for Victorian gentlemen to stand on them,

rhubarb forests in Helford, England,

big plastic lily type sculptures at the Cavalli fashion show,

and even bigger lily pads on the Amazon, Peru.

Images: via currybet.net, unknown, flickr stream of frollein2007, Cavalli, Flickr stream of tlp4682

Anzu on Vogue.com today

We are happy to say that Anzu will be having an exhibition of limited edition prints of our jewellery paintings at Harrods in September, and that today Vogue.com has featured it. You can read more here and more about this to come later!!

Biba-esque

I'm a huge fan of Biba and Barbara Hulanicki and all she and her husband achieved. Above, the real thing and

and then two Biba inspired photoshoots, complete with flamingos.

Images: Biba, Catherine Baba via July Stars blog, unknown

Ahh... Hermes

The windows by Hermes are just amazing. Created by Leila Menchari, each one transports you into a fantasy world. A whitewashed desert,

a jewel coloured boudoir,

a nomad's tent,

an icy green cave,

an industrial landscape,

or a secret cave garden filled with hidden treasure.

All images: Hermes