Beautiful Lighting Design "Oracle" by Christopher Boots

Sometimes I get really excited while doing blog research. I was impressed by finding this beautiful lighting design "Oracle" from the Australian company Christopher Boots. Love the shape as well as the used materials copper and zinc. Earlier I wrote more blog about Lighting Design, SEE HERE I wrote this blog on 24-10-2015 but decided to republish it today. 

More about the company:

Trained in Industrial Design, Christopher Boots has a background in product design engineering. All products made by the brand are handmade in Melbourne, Australia using a broad variety of techniques from a team of artisans that ensure a commitment to quality. Artisans at Christopher Boots include: glass-blowers, coppersmiths, ceramicists, sculptors, and bronze casters. The studio carefully composes these artisans as an orchestra for perfect harmony.  The underlying ethos of the studio is to mix materials and processes, experimenting with techniques old and new. Combining these with an investigative sensibility gives birth to an aesthetic that often is completely unexpected, still retaining traditional elements of form, proportion and scale.

Note: Christopher Boots is presented by Melbourne Design Week as part of the Destination initiative at Downtown Design 2015, Dubai (for more info, see the link below).

Thank you for reading this blogpost.
Sources: Christopher Boots and Downtown Design

Art: Sculpture by Spanish artist Lito Barreiro - Home IV

Would like to share with you this beautiful sculpture from the Spanish artist Lito Barreiro. I was touched by the way he constructed this artwork in concrete. Be Inspired ......

More about the artwork

Sculpture made of recycled reinforced concrete, finished in iron patina. "Home IV" is a symbolic and compositional game that refers to the container and the content. A reflection between the signifier and the meaning that starts from the definition of an envelope that defines us as humans.

Lito Barreiro, the artist

More about the artist
Lito Barreiro is a contemporary Spanish sculptor. His training as an architect pushes his work towards a geometric abstraction, and his experience as a builder brings the impulse to understand sculpture as a constructive process, where works are not sculpted, but constructed.

Barreiro's work have influences of naval construction, the work of anonymous stonemasons, and influences of the great Spanish sculptor Jorge Oteiza formally.

The conceptual aspect shows the influence of Arte Povera in the use of materials and the effect of the action of time in the work. The use of recycled concrete and common cardboard for the realization of the formwork confers to his work a peculiar character that connects with the dense and imprecise atmosphere of his native Galicia.

Thank you for reading this blogpost.
Sources: Saatchi Art, Art Majeur and Art Majeur (02)

Inspiring collection from the Isabel Marant F/W 2023 fashionshow, Part 01

 Highlights from the Isabel Marant F/W 2023 collection. Take a look below to get an impression of this Fall/Winter 2023 collection. We saw turtlenecked mini dresses. Low-slung denim. Sparkly tinsel knits. See-through beading. Necklines intentionally askew. Layers that can be thrown on or peeled off throughout the night, depending on the venue or vibe. It was all there ........  I hope you're inspired! Earlier I wrote more fashionblogs, SEE HERE 

Thank you for reading this blogpost.
Source: VOGUE
Photos courtesy of Isabel Marant.

The Beauty of Dance: Ballerina Lucia Lacarra

Would like to share with you these beautiful photos from the ballerina Lucia Lacarra. So elegant. Dress: Jesus del Pozo. Photographer: Juan Gatti. I hope you're inspired!

Lucia Lacarra (born 24 March 1975) is a Spanish ballet dancer who has been a principal with the Bayerisches Staatsballett (Bavarian State Opera Ballet) since 2002. A recipient of the Prix Benois de la Danse, she was named the Dancer of the Decade in 2011, at the World Ballet Stars Gala in Saint Petersburg. 

Thank you for reading this blogpost.
Source: Bayerische Staatsoper.de

Fashion: Highlights from the elegant Badgley Mischka Pre-Fall 2023 collection

Below you will find some highlights from the elegant Badgley Mischka Pre-Fall 2023 collection. I hope you're inspired! Earlier I wrote more fashionblogs, SEE HERE





Thank you for reading this blogpost
Photos: courtesy of Badgley Mischka
Source: VOGUE

Elegant Menswear collection from Dries van Noten for Fall 2023, Part 2

I guess long-time readers of my blog know already that I am a huge fan of fashion designer Dries van Noten. The Dries Van Noten look is colorful with lots of embroidery and has an ethnic feel inspired by countries such as Morocco, India and Egypt. Comfort is as equally important as the design itself. He often creates clothing in a soft palette of black, white and gray but will add a splash of color in an accessory or detail to add contrast. Below you will find photos from his Fall 2023 menswear collection. I hope you're Inspired ....... Earlier I wrote more blogs about this fantastic designer, SEE HERE

More about the designer
Born in Antwerp in 1958, Dries Van Noten is the third generation in a family of tailors. At the age of 18, Dries entered the fashion design course of Antwerp’s Royal Academy. On graduating, he began to freelance as a consultant designer before starting his own collection of menswear in 1986. Since its beginnings Dries Van Noten has presented collections for women and men for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter each year. He celebrated his 50th fashion show in 2004 and 100th fashion show in 2017.

In June 2008, the Council of Fashion Designers of America honoured Dries Van Noten with its International Designer of the Year Award. 2014 began with the grand opening of Dries Van Noten, “Inspirations”, a first ever exhibition featuring his designs and influences at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Another configuration of the exhibit moved to Antwerp in 2015. In July France decorated Dries Van Noten with the honour of ‘Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.’ In October 2016, Dries Van Noten wins the Culture Award from The Province of Antwerp for his contribution to Culture.

2019 saw Mr Van Noten collaborate with world renowned fashion designer Mr Christian Lacroix on his collection for Women, Spring/Summer 2020. In June 2020 and September 2021, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has again nominated Dries Van Noten for its International Designer of the Year Award.

Q&A with dries van noten

When did you know that designing clothes was your path & passion?

There was a certain logic to my choice as my family had been involved in fashion and the garment business for generations. My father created one of Belgium’s most innovative retailers of ‘Pret-a-Porter’ and my grandfather was a tailor. I inherited my love of garment making, its traditions and rituals, from these men and my mother. Family immersed me in the craft and skill of fabrics, impassioned me with the power of flair and style for women and men that fired my quest to explore and question the subjectivity of “beauty” and the role it would play in my life. My family was very supportive and encouraged me to continue its fashion tradition. I regularly accompanied my parents to Paris and Milan on their many buying trips for collections. Though they had imagined I might take over the retail business, that I was passionate to become a fashion designer came as a great surprise to them.

What is your design signature?

I see a garment as a singular item of excellence that is part of a larger story told, firstly, within a designer’s vision for a collection and ultimately as part of the final wearer’s expression of their style through their wardrobe. My joy is to create a garment that fuses and balances beauty, craft and function, a garment that can perform well and continue in time to become part of life’s story. I enjoy juggling with colours, textures and light in a way that evokes rather than provokes.

Where do you come up with your best ideas?

The spark of inspiration for the narrative of a collection rarely ever comes in the same way. The initial idea can sometimes come quickly and remain constant throughout the design process… occur on a walk in my garden, encountering a painting or the life and work of an artist. It can be something rarefied or ordinary, for example, suddenly looking at something that has surrounded me every day and seeing it in a different way that inspires. It can be a photograph in a book or a magazine, a re-read passage in a loved book, a conversation with friends or my design team or a piece of music. For other collections the story is more of a journey, deliberate, considered, and evolves through time and the design process. Anything can be that spark that ignites the creative process. What I have learned is that one recognises the spark when it happens, it may not be too planned, be ‘of its time’ and is more emotional than cerebral.

Is there a difference between style and fashion?

Of course, style comes from within..

What colour or fabric would you never use?

None actually! Often, challenging myself to work with colours, fabrics, or forms that I have disliked and bringing them into a collection can be an important aspect of the creative process.

What is beauty?
The idea of beauty is supremely subjective and very personal. Time also plays a role when our view on what is beautiful to us evolves. A flower, a building or a garment can be a thing of wonder for one while leaving another completely indifferent. What was beautiful to us even recently may be ugly today. Luckily, all designers have their own eye on and language of beauty.

Thank you for reading this blogpost.

Sources: VOGUE and Dries van Noten 

Colors: Delicious color palettes by Irene (03)

Would like to share with you today this delicious color palette in purple and blue hues. What a delightful color combination! I wrote more color palette blogs, SEE HERE or take a look at my PINTEREST account. Be Inspired ......

Thank you for reading this blogpost. 

Sources: Pinterest and Design Seeds

Design: Elegant Desk and Table lamp via LuxDeco

I would like to show you some pieces that caught my eye this week like this elegant Lichfield desk by Justin van Breda and the stylish Colette table lamp by Richard Taylor Designs. Aren't they beautiful? This is a repost from October 2016. I hope you're inspired!

Thank you for reading this blogpost. 

Source: LuxDeco

Runway: Elegant collection from Jason Wu F/W 2023, Part 1

 Highlights from the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2023 collection. This is part 1. I hope you're inspired! Earlier I wrote more fashionblogs, SEE HERE


The fashion designer Jason Wu

Thank you for reading this blogpost.

Source: VOGUE

Photos: courtesy of Jason Wu.

Furniture Design: The Alpha chair by Made in Ratio

While surfing on internet I found this elegant furniture design. It's the Alpha chair designed by Made in Ratio. The Apha chair is a classic, sturdy, solid wood chair that’s made from the latest production technologies. Made in Ratio, founded by designer Brodie Neill, used CNC routering technique to be a high-production tool rather than just a prototyping technology. The chair even uses digital sculpting, rather than forming it from a mold. Its strong, A-shaped structure gives it a seamless appearance, which contrasts with more traditional furniture where joinery is visible. All components join organically into one, smooth chair. I hope you're inspired!

Thank you for reading this blogpost. 
Sources: Design Milk and Made in Ratio

PFW: Stunning S/S 2023 Haute Couture collection by Gaurav Gupta, Part 01

 
Be Inspired by this stunning haute couture collection from Indian master couturier Gaurav Gupta for the season Spring/Summer 2023, seen at Paris Fashion Week. I will write more blogs about this inspiring couturier .....

More about the designer and his S/S 2023 couture collection

Gaurav Gupta is the third Indian designer ever, to show at Haute Couture Week and at Palais de Tokyo, he unveiled his spring-summer 2023 couture collection. Known for his sculpted designs in couture and ready-to-wear, his themes in surrealism and fanaticism, as well as his fine jewelry make him sought after. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) chose Gupta to be on the official calendar because of his quintessential Indian core, of incorporating indigenous construction and the flamboyant details of his craftsmanship.

Graduating from Central Saint Martins in London, Gupta launched his brand in 2004 and today, he has been able to create a brand that permeates on the world’s stage. Having dressed Megan, Thee Stallion at the Grammy’s last year, Jennifer Hudson, and Latin artist Maluma at the Latin Billboards has allowed him the opportunity to grab the attention of the celebrity world. The man and woman that wears Gaurav Gupta are quite unique with a distinct personality.

“My brand is very couture and futuristic but rooted in detailed craftsmanship,” says Gupta. “Our aesthetic is usually described as future primitive as I mostly draw inspiration from fantastical, surreal themes and hence, it’s almost like a parallel spectrum that we think in. The woman who wants to experiment, make a statement, feel glamorous, and is confident is the woman who wears the brand. She’s self-aware, travels and likes to dress up in fantasy – with a purpose and somebody who is artistically curious and has a keen eye for detail.”

“Haute Couture Week is the mecca of fashion. It is an honor to represent our country and partake in a spectacle which celebrates the art of couture and supreme craftsmanship. The team and I were eagerly looking forward to exhibiting the world of Gaurav Gupta on such a revered global platform, which has been uniting the world with fashion – bestowing creative opportunities upon couturiers who have been creating magic,” says Gupta.

Thank you for reading this blogpost.

Sources: GAURAV GUPTA and FORBES
Photos: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta