Coolness: June 17, 2014

Vintage Deco Agam Rug

Optical and kinetic art
Mary Katrantzou
Nouveau Voyeurism
Instrumentation: Daydreamin' 
Brand Theory

Collecting Contemporary Art

Image via Studio Voltaire.

This limited-edition print titled "Hey Babes" by British artist Prem Sahib, was on sale at London's Frieze Art Fair as part of Studio Voltaire's Allied Editions that make owning contemporary art accessible to both established and new collectors. Isn't Diana Ross super cute on her rotary phone?

Betty & Veronica

These shoes went straight to my heart! I adore Charlotte Olympia's cleverness. When I was a little girl, I'd buy Betty & Veronica comics from the corner store in my neighborhood, along with salt & vinegar potato chips--what a mix!

Bal D'Afrique

New signature parfum, Bal D'Afrique by Byredo picked up from Colette in Paris this summer. A warm and romantic vetiver inspired by Paris in the late 20's and its infatuation with African culture, art, music and dance. A mix of the Parisian avantgardism and African culture shaped a unique and vibrant expression. The intense life, the excess and euphoria is illustrated by Bal d'Afrique's neroli, African marigold, and Moroccan cedarwood.

Wild Silk!

Cocktail dress - Cristóbal Balenciaga 
1962
Paris
Embroidered wild silk lined with silk. 
Shot at the V&A.

Windmills!

Featured as part of the London Design Festival and spotted at the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Wind Portal is a dramatic gateway of 5,000 paper windmills turning in the breeze. The effect is nothing less than magical! Created by Lebanese designer Najla El Zein,  this whimsical walk-through installation gives new meaning to playfulness in exhibition design.

Hassan Hajjaj Pouf

I was recently in London for FRIEZE and 1:54, the first contemporary African Art Fair. My fashiony friend Helen Jennings took me vintage shopping in Shoreditch--we did Spitalfields and Brick Lane and then headed up to Shoreditch where we met up with artist Hassan Hajjaj. He was born in Morocco, moved to London in 1975, and his current work mixes global culture with iconic consumer brands. I snapped up the pouf above from his super cool boutique, LaRache.