A few weeks ago I posted images of a topiary elephant from a front garden in North London. I’ve now spotted another topiary piece, again in a front garden and again in North London. Is this a trend? It isn’t really something you can produce overnight so either I’ve been extremely unobservant or there is a secret topiary […]
Is there a new trend for urban topiary?
Bronzino in Florence
I normally only write about people and events based in London or Paris but this exhibition from a recent visit to Florence is simply too wonderful to leave out. Bronzino lived in the 16th century and worked for the Medicis, principally Cosimo I, amongst others. His skill for versimilitude was one of the characteristics of his work, something quite […]
Hermès pop-up shop
In Shoreditch till Sunday then in West London, this pop-up shop is a fun way of trying on the new collection of famous scarves. Luscious colour and print, some with up to 40 colours. They really are objects of beauty and can be worn in many ways. I had a kind of tied turban – not too Gloria Swanson. […]
Velo-re belts from bike tyres
A custom-made present for keen cyclists: take an old tyre and have a belt made by Velo-re. www.velo-re.com You can send in your used and worn out tyre (you know, the one you kept getting punctures in on that memorable cycle tour holiday) and receive a souvenir to keep your trousers up. You can of […]
Maya Selway silverware
The first thing I noticed was the silhouette bowl, seen in the middle below, basically a line drawn in metal. Some of them are freestanding and so fragile looking that I hesitated to hold them. There is no practical use for this or some of the other pieces but purity and beauty are reason enough. They are contemplative pieces: just looking […]
Vintage Fairs
London is such a rich source of vintage product it attracts stylists and designers the world over. Here are a couple of shots from one I visited recently. It reminded me of the early days of Camden Market and Brick Lane where I’d go searching for interesting clothes and accessories as a student. I still remember […]