Grand hotel style

I've always loved vintage hotel style, and the Wes Anderson film Grand Budapest hotel film did not disappoint. Here's how to get that vintage style at home!

Parisian perfume company Nose have teamed with hatmaker Larose to produce these items for sale in their Nose shop in Paris

Vintage luggage note-cards, available from yours truly Anzu!

I love my Raffles hotel key-ring, partly because it's too big to lose! Available from their gift shop in Singapore.

The Paris hotel boutique shop has great pieces of hotel china and silver, simply click here to visit

Sakura!

"In the cherry blossom's shade there's no such thing as a stranger" Kobayashi Issa

At the first glimpse of Sakura, these girls had headed out for a drink in their yukata under the blossoms, otherwise known as hanime

"The cherries' only fault: the crowds that gather when they bloom" Saigyo

Romantic moonlit strolls under a red parasol through Sakura in the rain

I loved the way the blossom looked against the green-blue river and the pine trees in Arashiyama

Even the tube gets the full Sakura treatment

Artistic journeys in Japan, part 1

Whilst in Japan recently, I was very lucky to be invited to a studio for a kimono fitting. Unfortunately I can't post all the pictures here is a little glimpse. Each kimono is hand-painted and takes 2 months to paint by master artist Mr. Michio Ito at Sakura Sajiki.

This particular art of silk painting has existed since the 8th century and is famous for its use of distinctive colours. Featuring cherry blossoms in mist, crescent moons, dragons and temples, Mr Ito's designs were just so beautiful and utterly romantic.

Back in Kyoto, I watched another artist creating pieces with this technique. Fascinating!