Lisa Z Morgan and Melanie Probert have taken lingerie out of the drawer and into couture with their UK company Strumpet and Pink. The finest materials including silk satins, netting, seed beads, and chiffon are given bias cuts, ruffles, flower like petals and silk covered buttons to create unparalleled sensuous silk undergarments. Made by hand, be aware that the prices are couture as well. But what a gift these pieces would make, especially for a blushing bride!
Above: Garden of Delights
Above: Black Forest Gateau
Above: Fifi
Above: Dreaming of Jade
Above: Eve's Drapes
Above: Rosette Cheeks (extended)
Above: Mimi
Above: Swan's Tail
Above: Princess And The Pea
Above: Where The Sun Does Shine
Above: Sowing Her Seeds
Above: Maiden's Belt
Above: Ming's Vase
Above: Hunting Through The Ruffles (extended)
Above: Hunting Through The Ruffles
Above: Rosette Cheeks
Conmoto has some stunning elegant fireplace items as well as actual fireplaces, about which I've blogged before. But their latest items have a touch of devilish whimsy, verging on... dare I say it? Cute. The Feuerbock Design Series from Conmoto shown below.
Dragonheart Andirons: DRAGONHEART serves as an andiron in the fireplace or as a log rack in front of it. Made of cast aluminium, black. Design: Sieger Design, H 30 x W 33 x D 8 cm
Andiron Devil Bob: The devil BOB made from cast aluminium, serves as an andiron in the fireplace, so that wood can be easily stacked for lighting. Design: NOA H 19 x W 31 cm
Fire Devil Lucifer (black and red): The fire devil LUCIFER burns with a tea light or a candle. On top of the fireplace or in the living area, it will transform into a blazing sculpture. For easy replacement of candles, the rear wall of the fire devil is fastened with two magnets. LUCIFER is available in the following colours black/red or red. Front: cast aluminium; Back: sheet-steel Design: sieger design H 31 x W 18 x D 15 cm
Andiron Devil Jim: The andiron devil JIM gives the fireplace a contemporary, emotional appeal. And, of course, it is also the good spirit of the fireplace. In the summer, the andiron devil revives the unused fireplace and takes away its inactive emptiness. On top the fireplace, it ensures as a functional humidifier, a pleasant room climate. By the way: with a tea light placed inside, the andiron also gleams throughout the home - simply cozy. Made of cast aluminum and includes the glass Design: NOA, H 28 x W 14 x D 10 cm
Gucci is pleased to announce the creation of a special collection, "8-8-2008 Limited Edition”.
Taking her cue from competitive sports, Creative Director Frida Giannini has conceived 8 exclusive accessories that epitomize sporty luxury.
A noteworthy product in this collection is the hot new I-Gucci watch, unique to the "8-8-2008 Limited Collection". It is Gucci's first ever digital timepiece, it will be offered worldwide and is a tantalizing option for cosmopolitan watch fans.
Its clean digital face (which features both numerical or clock hand formats), black dial and steel frame epitomize sporty elegance. The surface of its red monochrome rubber strap is engraved with the Gucci logo on the exterior, while the interior has been embossed with Gucci's iconic GG pattern.
The rear face commemorates the year 2008 with a chic red and green logo. All functions are easily executed using lateral push buttons embedded in the smooth circular frame of the 44mm case. Its high-tech capabilities even allow the wearer to select a dedicated Beijing time zone code on the display.
The "8-8-2008 Limited Edition" collection also includes a unique bicycle, with bold red double GG leather details and collectable items such as a luxurious Mah Jong set covered in red "La Pelle Guccissima" and, to pay homage to China, a panda in soft leather. Though intended for leisure, the products bear the hallmarks of Gucci's impeccable quality.
Frida also proposes the bold "La Pelle Guccissima" for two pieces of luggage. The first is a chic, sturdy leather duffel and the other a soft leather messenger bag with Gucci's iconic green-red-green web on the shoulder strap. Also included in the collection are sports shoes, for both men and women, articulated in a fresh patchwork of suede, patent leather and gold trim and a necklace inspired by military tags, in sterling silver and enamel making it the perfect accessory for casual looks.
"La Pelle Guccissima" is, as usual, buffed and finished by hand and the products feature a specially created metal plaque that combines the interlocking GG logo and the year 2008.
As for the bold red that permeates this standout collection, Frida comments: "Not only does red evoke "Happiness" and "Celebration" - two emotions that couldn't be more appropriate to describe the excitement in the world of sports - but it also happens to be a very fashionable color for 2008! I also designed just 8 products for this collection, which mirror the lucky number 8 in Chinese culture".
Though the I-Gucci watch will be offered worldwide, all other designs of this special collection will be sold exclusively in Hong Kong and mainland China.
Designer Hella Jongerius' Porcupine Desk provides children with a perfect place to play or draw. The small wooden table contrasts appealingly with the plastic chairs and also asserts a distinctive identity with its asymmetrical shape.
The table surface shows a printed motif resembling a charm bracelet, with animal shapes and other symbols attached to a chain link circle. Some of the links in the chain are bored through the tabletop, so that colored markers supplied with the desk can be stored in the holes. Add a little imagination, and the table resembles a porcupine— which is what inspired the name.
Materials: Legs and table top made of solid hornbeam, water-based coloured lacquer, screenprinting, includes a set of high quality felt-tip pens.
Product Colors and Options: brown/light pink, 540 × 570 × 720 mm :
Harajuku (hara•joo•koo) n. 1. A style and attitude of Japanese girls from Harajuku, Tokyo. n. 2. Anything goes: outrageous, layered, and eye-catching.
Harajuku Lovers Fragrance: n. 1. A fatal attraction to cuteness.
Inspired by the electric street scene of the Harajuku shopping district in Tokyo, the Harajuku Lovers fragrance collection captures the lyrics and iconography from Gwen Stefani's albums. These unique fragrances, in their adorable doll-decanters, will appeal to anyone with a "fatal attraction to cuteness." But given the reviews of the actual scents, I suggest you buy them for the bottle only.
Clearly aimed at a younger crowd than Gwen's previous scent, the cute little bottles are selling out fast already.
Made by Coty,(probably why they don't smell like 'good' perfumes) they are as follows:
* Love is a floral with top notes of sparkling bergamot, pink pomelo, peach and bamboo leaf mist; a heart of watery peony, living hydroponic lace rose, jasmine sambac, nectarine blossom, creamy paperwhites and Egyptian jasmine, and a drydown of petally ylang, creamy vanilla orchid, sensual musk and blond wood.
* Lil' Angel is a fruity floral with notes of raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and pineapple; a heart of pear blossom, candied violet and sugared rose, and a drydown of lollipop accord, hinoki wood and crystal amber.
* Music has top notes of clementine and sparkling pear; a heart of jasmine sambac, sweet pea and honeysuckle, and a drydown of vanilla, skin musk and sleek woods.
* Baby, has top notes of freesia, bergamot and white rose; a heart of orange flower, tiare flower and jasmine petals, and a drydown of white musk, soft woods, heliotrope, vanilla and violet.
* G has top notes of crisp mandarin, fresh coconut and apple skin; a heart of jasmine sambac, soft freesia and magnolia vapor, and a drydown of coconut cream, white sandalwood and cottonwoods.
Gwen Stefani sure knows how to market trends and this latest collection of stylized hip asian perfume bottles with sweet little scents named Love, G, Music, Lil' Angel and Baby is yet another example. Now, a lot has been said about Gwen's obvious obsession with asian anime and iconography. Even mad TV did a funny little spoof:
But despite the fact that Gwen isn't Asian (has anyone told her?), she's making an awful lot of yen.
