When It Rains, It Pours Design. Fornasetti Umbrellas & Holders.

I've written about some wonderful Piero Fornasetti products in the past and now here's the latest collection of umbrellas and umbrella stands from the Italian brand.

Fornasetti Umbrellas:







The Fornasetti umbrellas shown above are available here at European Umbrellas.com and are less expensive than the ones shown below from Barneys. Even with the additional 19% VAT and $43.00 to ship to the US, they still come out to less.

Fornasetti Umbrellas at Barney's:





The above umbrellas have long wood handles and each sell for $260.00, available at Barney's.

Fornasetti umbrella holders:



The above Fornasetti umbrella holders and more not shown here, are all available at Unica Home. Prices start at $1,170.00.

Big Fornasetti fan? Then you'll love this:

•Fabulous Fun For Fornasetti Fanatics

Model Iris Strubegger Plays Dress Up For Karl Lagerfeld & Harper's Bazaar

above, clockwise from upper left: Iris as Karl, Donatella, Carolina, Vivienne, John, Sonia and Rei, shot by Karl Lagerfeld.

Karl Lagerfeld photographed model Iris Strubegger as a series of famous fashion directors, including himself, for an editorial titled "Designer Double Take" in the March issue of Harper's Bazaar.


above: model Iris Strubegger

The model was superbly styled (hair by Odile Gilbert, make-up by Max DeLorme, fashion styling by Jacob K) and posed in Lagerfeld's own likeness as well as the likenesses of the following.

Below are all the photos without the editorial text

Iris as Donatella Versace:

Iris as John Galliano:

Iris as Carolina Herrera:

Iris as Vivienne Westwood:

Iris as Sonia Rykiel:

Iris as Rei Kawakubo:

Iris as Karl Lagerfeld:


Credits:
Iris Strubegger - Model
Jacob K - Fashion Editor/Stylist
Karl Lagerfeld - Designer/Photographer
Odile Gilbert - Hair Stylist
Max DeLorme - Makeup Artist
(images courtesy of Chanel)

The Tramp Stamp Goes Upscale With CHANEL Temporary Tattoos

With the body art craze continuing to grow, it's no surprise that a luxury brand would capitalize on the trend. And it seems that french brand CHANEL is the first to market luxury temporary rub-on tattoos, LES TROMPE-L'OEIL DE CHANEL.




In the Chanel Spring-Summer 2010 Fashion Show in Paris, the models were not only sporting fashionable fabrics, but a series of temporary tattoos designed and applied by Peter Philips, the Global Creative Director for CHANEL makeup.

Chanel CD Peter Philips applying the body art:





They are now selling the fifty-five exclusive temporary tattoos, originally hand-drawn by Peter Philips. Artful images of CHANEL symbols and icons, including Oriental cherry blossoms, bejeweled Swallows, Chanel's double CC logo, strands of pearls, link chains and toggle clasps have been turned into rub-on body art. They add visual trompe l'oeil jewelry to the body in the form of classic ornamentation.



necklaces and leg art:


bracelets:



Yes, you can buy them.


Created as a special limited edition, the set of 55 of the applicable body art is now available for purchase from Chanel boutiques ($75), online stores and at Selfridges. They only take 30 seconds to apply and last a few days.
Buy them here.

images courtesy of Chanel,the Daily Mail, LA Story and Luxuo

The Porta Hedge Allows You To Study Nature Incognito & Eco-consciously

The Porta Hedge is a mobile artificial hedge created by Justin Shull. The exterior repurposes discarded artificial Christmas trees and on the inside, it can accommodate people, offering them an opportunity to study what's around them, such as birds and plants, all while enshrouded and incognito from nature.



above: exterior, Mixed media, including artificial Christmas trees, birdsong audio, video surveillance cameras, 21′x8′x6′


above and below: interior Mobile Observation Lab


As described by the designer:
Like all hedges, the Porta Hedge is a physical barrier that provides a certain amount of privacy in the guise of greenery. Built within the ‘green’ paradigm, the Porta Hedge features several eco-conscious design features including solar power, a small physical footprint (2 tires and a swivel jack), recycled Christmas trees on the exterior, living plants and wood finishing on the interior, and the relaxing sound of birdsong audio on the interior and exterior.



BRANCHES: The exterior of the Porta Hedge is constructed from thousands of recycled artificial Christmas tree branches donated by 7,000 EVERGREENS Instead of going to the landfill, these artificial tree branches become part of a new mobile landscape.



AUDIO: The Porta Hedge also features exterior audio of prerecorded, arranged birdsong. Robins, Cardinals, Chickadees, Blue Jays and Mourning Doves are just a few of the birds that one hears crooning softly from the Porta Hedge.

WILDLIFE HABITAT: A study is currently under way on the Summer '09 Tour to determine if the combination of artificial branches and precorded birdsong audio will attract other bird and animal species to use the Porta Hedge as a home.

SOLAR:

The roof of the Porta Hedge is the perfect location for photovoltaic solar panels. Generate additional electricity either for the interior of the Porta Hedge, for your home, or for any structure nearby.

What About the Trailer?
With minimal impact upon the landscape, and mobility for the lifetime of the hedge, the Porta Hedge and its related Porta Projects are a novel approach to landscape design.


Like many other contemporary products, all Porta Projects are designed to be modular and easily relocated when necessary. With only 5 points touching the ground, Porta Projects have minimal impact upon the land they are situated on.

INTERIOR:





The Porta Hedge's interior Mobile Observation Lab features surveillance cameras/monitors, a rooftop observation hatch and peep holes with accompanying chalkboards to observe and respond to one's surroundings. For the comfort of the inside observer, amenities include a small bathroom, live plants, and an internet uplink.

Rooftop hatch and live plants:

bathroom:


Since July 2009, the Porta Hedge has been travelling the country in search of suitable sites, for field testing, and to meet the public. To learn more about it and see other projects of Justin Shull, visit his site here.

all information and images courtesy of Justin Shull