Interior design: Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel's Apartment

I always liked to read more about Coco Chanel's life. I am really inspired by her personality and her beautiful, elegant clothes and found this interesting review with pictures from her apartment. Hope you like it too ...... Love all these beautiful and elegant antique furniture combined with art. This article appeared earlier at The Coveteur (in 2013). Be Inspired .........

During the fashion shows, which took place down stairs, Gabrielle Chanel would sit on the staircase. Thanks to the mirrors she could see everything taking place, but no one could see her. She wanted to know the immediate reaction, if the journalists and clients were pleased with the collection. – Chanel HQ

Coco was photographed many times in this iconic white chair. The octagonal shape of the mirror on the wall was the inspiration for the cap of CHANEL No.5. It is also the same shape of the iconic Place Vendome, which Coco could see out of her window of her residence at the Ritz Hotel.

The camellia flower was also very important to Coco Chanel. It symbolized purity and longevity in Asia and was very prevalent in her designs.

Wheat symbolizes prosperity and can be seen throughout Coco’s apartment.

The top of these tables are black lacquer, but the first time they were marble. Gabrielle Chanel wanted to take off the marble and wanted to have the black lacquer. It may remind you of her make-up- black lacquer with the logo on top. – CHANEL HQ

Coco was a Leo and she incorporated it’s symbol, the Lion, into her personal space.

Japanese deer could be seen in pairs throughout the apartment.

In contrast to Coco’s personal space, the staircase had a heavy art- deco influence.

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Source: The Coveteur

Vintage Fashion: Iconic look from American couturier Charles James

I was inspired by this beautiful vintage photo from the American couturier Charles James. Below you will find a model who is wearing a Charles James silk dress from 1956. I wrote this blogpost earlier on 12-06-2014. I found this article then in Marie Claire. However, the direct link towards the article is not active anymore. I added below some extra information about the couturier himself. Be Inspired ........... 

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Sources: Marie Claire + Couturier Charles James

Editorial: Fashion shoot 'Garden of Eden' by photographer Paolo Guadagnin

 Would like to share with you today these inspiring editorial photos, named 'Garden of Eden', shot by Italian photographer Paolo Guadagnin and featured on Harper's Bazaar Arabia. The location of this fantastic fashion shoot was at the beautiful Jardin Botanico Marimutra, Spain. The model is Paula Anguera. Earlier I wrote another blog from this inspiring photographer, SEE HERE Be Inspired ........ 

More about the fashion photographer:
Paolo Guadagnin is an Italian fashion photographer and art director based in Milan and Hong Kong. His work is focused on fashion and includes collaborations with the most famous international fashion magazines. He finds inspiration in art, painting and in the research and development of a personal aesthetical beauty in people, locations and landscapes. 

Publications: 

His fashion photos were featured in magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Numéro Switzerland, Numéro Russia, Vanity Fair, Elle, L’Officiel and many others. A section of his portfolio is represented by the international Art + Commerce.

Credits:

Harper's Bazaar Arabia - Editorial 'Garden of Eden'   

(Spring/Summer 2019’s Haute Couture collections are an enchanting fairtale vision)

Photographer    : Paolo Guadagnin

Styling               : Anna Castan

Model                : Paula Anguera @TrafficModels

MUA/Hair          : Laura Sanchez

Producer           : Luis Rivera

Location            : Jardin Botanico Marimutra (Spain)

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Sources: Paolo Guadagnin, Harper's Bazaar Arabia and Jardin Botanico Marimutra
The photos above have been placed with permission of the photographer Paolo Guadagnin.
Photos: courtesy of Harper's Bazaar Arabia.

Runway: The Best Looks from Chanel S/S 2026

An imaginary conversation with Gabrielle Chanel and a return to her personal style, masculine-feminine, as well as her fundamental fabrics: tweed, jersey and silk. Reworked, recut and reinterpreted, designed by fashion designer Matthieu Blazy. The show, which was held at the Grand Palais, was set in the intergalactic, complete with planets floating from the ceiling and a mesmerizing milky way runway. Be Inspired ....... Earlier I wrote more blogs about the Runway, SEE HERE 

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Source: CHANEL and Town and Country Mag
Video and photos: courtesy of Chanel

ART: KAREL APPEL, THE AVANT-GARDIST COBRA (02)

I admire the spontaneous abstract work by Dutch artist Karel Appel. Below you will find a painting from him, some additional information about him as a painter and several links, which I found after my research on internet. Last year I bought several blank canvases, paint as well as some knifes to start painting myself. Would love to paint in a spontaneous way like he did do. Will start soon. :-) Earlier I wrote more blogs about Art, SEE HERE

Christiaan Karel Appel was a Dutch painter, sculptor, poet and one of the founders of the avant-garde movement CoBrA. Karel Appel was born on 25 April 1921 at Dapperstraat 7 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. At fourteen, he produced his first real painting on canvas, a still life of a fruit basket. For his fifteenth birthday, his uncle gave him a paint set and an easel, and also taught him painting briefly. Appel studied at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam, where he meet the dutch painter Corneille and some years later, Constant; they became close friends for years. 

Karel Appel (1982). Ph. Nationaal Archief.

In 1948 Appel joined CoBrA (from:Copenhagen, Bruxelles, Amsterdam) with Corneille, Constant and Jan Nieuwenhuys and the Belgian poet Christian Dotremont. This artistic movement was formed with a unifying doctrine of complete freedom of colour and form, as well as antipathy towards Surrealism.Their working method was based on spontaneity and experiment, and they drew their inspiration in particular from children’s drawings, from primitive art forms and from the work of Paul Klee and Joan Miró. The new art of the CoBrA-group was not popular in the Netherlands, but it found a warm and broad welcome in Denmark. 

As a result of this controversy and other negative Dutch reactions to CoBrA, Appel moved to Paris in 1950 and developed his international reputation by travelling to Mexico, the USA, Yugoslavia and Brazil. Appel died on 3 May 2006 in his home in Zürich, Switzerland. 

Watch here the great Cobra painter in action in this video from 1962 where we can see him in real life. 

1962. Karel Appel shows how a real "cobra-artist" paint!

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Sources: Moma.org, Wikipedia and Wikipedia/Cobra

Bella Hadid in Mugler Archive at CR Runway done by LuisaViaRoma

Stylish fashion photo from Bella Hadid in Mugler Archive at CR Runway done by LuisaViaRoma of its 90th anniversary 2019. It was to an astounding number of 5,000 guests and a star-studded front row at Florence’s Piazzale Michelangelo that CR Runway made its official debut. A fashion show unlike any other, this unprecedented multi-branded affair— done with LuisaViaRoma in celebration of its 90th anniversary —was blown up to spectacular proportions with a whopping total of 90 looks worn by iconic ‘90s supers like Lara Stone and Natasha Poly alongside today’s buzziest models, including Gigi and Bella Hadid. Personally curated and styled by Carine Roitfeld, the ‘90s-themed show featured full Fall/Winter 2019 looks from Gucci, Dior and more and archival pieces from Mugler and Christian Lacroix. For all the photos from this fashion show, see the link below from Fashion Week Daily. Be Inspired .......

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Sources: LUISAVIAROMA and Fashion Week Daily
Ph. Courtesy of CR Runway

Beautiful art by Italian artist Pino Daeni

Be inspired by this beautiful painting from the artist Pino Daeni. Love his refined and vibrant coloruse. 

More about the artist

Pino Daeni's art and canvases elicit feelings of warmth, nostalgia, love and family. His paintings are often set on vibrantly sunny beaches on the Mediterranean where he grew up. Pino (born Giuseppe Dangelico) is noted for his exceptional ability to capture the movements and expressions of his subjects. A talent which has brought his artwork a worldwide following and private commissions to do portraits.

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Sources: Pino Daeni and The Art Shop

Interior: Beautiful industrial table from Maisons du Monde

Would like share with you today this beautiful industrial table, the table "Edison", earlier seen at the French company Maisons du Monde. You can find on their website a lot of interesting industrial products. I wrote this article first on 13-05-2014. However, this blogpost is a repost. I republished it today again. Be Inspired ........ I wrote more blogs about Maisons du Monde, SEE HERE

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Source: Maisons du Monde

Furniture Design: Beautiful Pixel Cabinet by Boca do Lobo

Love this beautiful furniture design from the company Boca do Lobo. They design beautiful and exclusive design pieces with elegance, refinement and sophisticated character, handcrafted in Portugal. Pixel is an effort to honor the union between design and craftsmanship. The 1,088 triangles that complete this piece carry the dedication and art of those who built it – with a diversity of finishes never seen before. The polished brass base gives Pixel a unique personality, a strong and at the same time sophisticated character. This blogpost is a repost. I posted this blogpost earlier on 31-10-2014. I added today some extra photos. Be Inspired .......

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Sources: Boca do Lobo, Architonic and Designs and Inspirations

Bridalwear: A Magnificent F/W 2024 bridal collection from Reem Acra, Blog 02

Magnificent F/W 2024 collection from Reem Acra. 
This season Reem Acra introduced an exciting classical collection, inspired by the core of the brand DNA. There were some real gems in this collection that are a modern re-interpretation of styles from the very first Reem Acra collection. This Fall collection offered a variety of accessories for the bride to celebrate her own unique style. It paid tribute to regal femininity and old-world elegance. Be Inspired ....... Earlier I wrote more blogs about 'Wedding Dresses', SEE HERE

Thank you for reading this blogpost. 

Sources: Reem Acra + Tom + Lorenzo
Photo Credit: Fadi Acra/Courtesy of Reem Acra
Photo's: courtesy of Reem Acra