Re-Design For Life.: April 2010

Friday 23 April 2010

Le Marais and Marni - SS2010 inspiration

Natural raffia bag with citrus and floral embroidery

Image by Redesign for Life

Spot raffia bag and 1930's bakerlite earrings and bangles

Image by Redesign for LIfe

Embroidered raffia bag and 1950's painted flower brooches

Image by Redesign for Life

I came across these images yesterday whilst having a spring clean on my computer. I'd taken them one evening as I was walking through Paris's Le Marais district. It's a window display from a vintage shop that specialises in interiors and accessories. I can't remember the name but it's on Rue des Francs Bourgeois.

The whole display has a 1950's Latino Carmen Miranda feel to it, don't you think? I love the vintage raffia bag embroidered in vibrant citrus colours. Such a statement! Those chunky bangles are original 1930's bakerlite. Pile 'em on and clash those colours. Ah! but it's the huge bauble earrings that are to die for! Wear these and you'll be so on trend this summer.

Not sure? Then check out Marni's SS2010 collection...

Vibrant citrus colours at Marni SS2010

Image via Style.com

Large drop earrings at Marni SS2010

Image via Style.com

Monday 19 April 2010

Vintage indulgence - Secret Siren

Secret Siren - Vintage clothes and accessories

I gasped with shock when my friends R&A told me that they planned to sell some of their vintage clothes collection. You see their collection isn’t just the contents of a few tatty cardboard boxes gathering dust in their loft. Oh No! This is an enviable collection of vintage finds accumulated over years of – as they put it – arduous haggling, smooth talking and bare faced cheek. It’s a stunning collection of high-end vintage clothing and accessories from the 1920’s to the 1980’s – from ‘Pure Vintage’ to ‘Future Vintage’, from ‘Sunday Best’ to ‘Red Carpet’ dressing. It’s a collection filled with memories of their glamorous parties and flamboyant club nights. It’s a collection of exquisite vintage pieces to get you looked over rather than overlooked.

You can find the full collection on Secret Siren's website. It’s time to indulge…

Secret Siren

Secret Siren - Vintage clothes and accessories

Thursday 15 April 2010

Summer Smock by Michelle Lowe-Holder

I met Michelle Lowe-Holder at London Fashion Week in February where she was showing her AW10 accessories collection inspired by the idea of creating treasures from trash - more about that collection in a later post.

Michelle has always loved using traditional textile embellishment techniques in her work, which shines through in her latest collection for SS10 - Summer Smock. In this collection of mainly black and cream pieces, Michelle has redesigned historic "Labourer's Embroidery" from the middle ages, bringing it bang up-to-date with modern shapes created in fluid jersey and ruffled silk.

I love this collection! Each piece has an effortless and unique style. And isn't that what we'd all like to have?