Attila, The Well-Dressed Hun. Prada's Costume Sketches For the Opera.

The Metropolitan Opera brought in the big guns when it came to the costume and set design of Pierre Audi's Met premiere production of Verdi's Attila.

The new production, which premiered on February 23, had costumes designed by fashion icon Miuccia Prada and sets designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.

Although the production is not necessarily receiving the greatest of reviews, the sets and costumes are worthy of applause.

A lot of sites, blogs and articles have featured the sets and mentioned the costumes, but here's a look at the actual sketches by Miuccia Prada for the costumes in the Opera (courtesy of Prada and the Met):







And a look at the sets and finished costumes (with photos by Ken Howard ):









Cast
Conductor: Riccardo Muti
Odabella: Violeta Urmana
Foresto: Ramón Vargas
Ezio: Giovanni Meoni
Attila: Ildar Abdrazakov

The Production Team
Production: Pierre Audi
Set and Costume Designers: Miuccia Prada, Herzog & de Meuron
Lighting Designer: Jean Kalman

The opera continues to play through March 12. You can purchase tickets here.

Bamboo For Baby Is The Bomb! Castor & Chouca Eco-Friendly Baby Products

Innovative French brand Castor & Chouca creates eco-friendly bamboo baby products inspired by innovations in the medical field as well as design. Crafted in France, the pieces and collections combine modern simplicity with futuristic design and a concern for the world we live in.

Their green high end furniture is crafted with ecological and recyclable raw materials (massive bamboo-slat, linen, organic cotton, recyclable components) the furniture is made to last and not to be thrown away.

With products for infants to toddlers to juniors, their lines are broken down into four collections, one of which is actually recycled and repurposed products.

The Hop! Cradle


The Hop! Bassinet Trolley:



The Hop! Sofa kit:

The 1,2,3 Soleil All In One (crib, changing table and junior desk):



The Generous Furniture Baby Cot:

The Generous Furniture Nappy Changing Commode:

The Generous Furniture Junior Bed:



They brilliantly recycle their products as well, so you can choose from repurposed products in their Generation Offer -Recycled collection.

Design Cradle (recycled):


About them:
Castor & Chouca is the child of a french manufacture in Marciac (south of France). Its three founders: Philippe Ossona de Mendez (designer and co-designer of the brand), Jérôme Lasserre and Bruno Flinois wanted a brand to answer new parents' demand: secure, eco-friendly and nice design products for their families.

Castor & Chouca is an innovative french brand which creates and produces furniture, accessories and textile products, dedicated to the blooming of the children. An eco-design universe, a contemporary atmosphere, a collection inspired by child care in maternity hospitals (practical and safe) and designs in the heart of the parents' home a line of decorative furniture (innovation and design) for children. Castor & Chouca stands apart as well by the originality and quality of the chosen materials and the evolution of each of its creations which follows the child in his development.


Castor & Chouca
9 Villa des Sablons
92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
France
T : +33 (0)1 47 22 25 99
F : +33 (0)1 47 22 41 64

Murano Glass Skull Chandeliers By Philipp Plein

For Philipp Plein, the skull is deemed to be a symbol for art, beauty and the celebration of life. The motif plays a central role in the design of the 31 year old designer and is a highlight of the new Murano crystal collection.


above: the giant Swarovski crystal skull in his new Monaco store

At MAISON&OBJET in Paris for the first time PHILIPP PLEIN presented its new Murano crystal collection to the international Interieur scene. Besides the impressive chandeliers the collection includes also drinking glasses and vases, all made in Italy. Every item is unique and intricately crafted by the hands of Muranos best glassblowers.



The shining stars of the new collection are the chandeliers. These appear in the three designs black, white and crystal and in two different sizes of 1,5m x 1,2m and 0,8m x 0,9m. The big one is composed with 105 glass elements, including fifteen delicate skulls, stars and romantic flowers with stalk.



Images of the chandelier in the Monte Carlo store:



additional photos courtesy of Monte Carlo Daily Photo

about Philip Plein:

Starting with a personal vision 10 years ago, by now PHILIPP PLEIN can look back to an amazing track record. It is the passion for the detail, the desire to meet the emotional and intellectual needs of the customer, which affect the 31 year old.

In eleven different lifestyle categories PHILIPP PLEIN offers contemporary luxury, Fashion for Men, Women and Kids, Luggage, Jewellery and Lunettes. The Home Collection includes Home Furniture, Home Accessories, Garden Furniture, Dog Accessories, Lightning and Kitchen. Exquisite materials are combined in our collections, always inspired by the spirit of Rock' n' Roll.
Unless otherwise noted, all images are courtesy of Philipp Plein.

Philipp Plein