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!

I want this...

Found via hi-and-low.typepad.com this book has the pictures of Jackie O by Ron Galella and I'm looking forward to getting it. You can buy here

and above our 'So Jackie O' card.

Stunning films

I have no idea what this film is about, but I love the stills from it. It's called The Fall and apparently is a cult arthouse film.

The images remind me of one of my favourite films, Untold Scandal the Korean version of Dangerous Liasions.

The colour combinations, the costumes, the flowers all inspired me a lot

It really is a stunning film, to buy click here

Dennis Severs house

Over the weekend I went to the Dennis Severs house. I'd been before a few years ago, but was passing by and it's definitely worth a trip back. Dennis Severs came over to England in the 1970s from his native California, and set about refurbishing this East end house in varying historic styles.

The house tells a story and was described by David Hockney described as one of the world's greatest works of opera. Each room lit by candles, and rich with scents of oranges, logs fires and even dust creates a powerful atmosphere.

This room had a really festive look, and I loved the silhouettes that had been placed behind the curtains.

image from London town

The house has an abundance of stunning still lives - each one like a painting in its own right.

Image, mikiy.com

The remarkable thing is that in a 1970s, 80s, and 90s London Dennis Severs completely lived this life - using chamber pots, candlelight and driving around London in a horse and carriage.

image from Richard bryant

To fnd out more click here The house also has a Silent Night on various nights in December where you can sip mulled wine as you wander through the house.

All other images from the Dennis Severs flickr photostream

Embroidered signatures

c) Life magazine

I love this idea - getting your guests to sign the dinner tablecloth and then embroidering their signatures afterwards. Above is autograph collector Walter Light sitting at his mother's Irish linen tablecloth which she embroidered and to which he has added 375 more signatures.

c). www.awm.gov.au

It also looks nice when the signatures are embroidered in different colours I think. This napkin was a gift to a prisoner of war during the second world war, to ensure memories stayed strong.

Traveling in time

I love this Japanese website that ages photos. Above is the anzu office circa 1910, and me lighting an anzu candle circa 1932?

To age your own photos, simply click here, choose the file/photograph you'd like to age and then click on the blue button. It's all in Japanese but actually simple to use.

Swarovski's new offices

Yesterday I went with Beth and Christine from Five dollar shake to the Swarovski offices just off Piccadilly. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any photos of their London offices because I loved the look, but they had the feel of their Austrian one which is seen above (just a little funkier).

With lots of clean white space, tons of pink roses with tiny crystals hidden inside,

lots of different jewellery and bags on display,

large pictures of the stunning mountains that surround the Swarovski factories

and various chandeliers including this amazing waterfall chandelier which was in reception it made for a striking and fun place to visit.