NOT SO 'PRIVATE EYE'

Customizing was once the rubber stamp on the hand written love letter couriered to its reader sealed with privacy, or the superior initials on the top of personal writing paper that just scream sophistication. Nowadays everything seems to have to the ability to be customized, even sunglasses.

Pradas new eye range, notably called 'Prada Private' seems to have taken this a one stage further. Shunning the name stickers Im sure mothers selotape to the inside of their child's glasses in case of loss and insuring proper return, this 'exclusive' new way to brand your sunglasses has just raised the bar. 

To be honest, Im  not quite sure how I feel about this. Normally Prada could do no bad in my eyes but this just feels that little bit wrong. Sure enough I could probably find myself having some fun rearranging the letters in odd ways, but how long will the gimmick last? How long until I find myself fiddling away and ending up without the crucial ones? (Notably for me the J and L) Its like texting on the toilet... its only a matter of time before you drop it down the bowl. 

Do I really want any old 'T' 'D' or 'H' (Tom, Dick or Harry) guessing my name through the arrangement of letters or asking what they mean? Or is this just a way for people to ensure that everyone else knows they have Prada glasses? The latter question is probably more accurate and thus not so 'personal'.

A wonderful design idea, but I do like my Prada to say 'Prada'.

KEEPING FESTIVE SPIRITS HIGH

Like we all know the stress and strain in shopping for the perfect gift can send energy levels on a downward spiral, forcing us to give up and find refuge in a coffee shop. Selfridges have cottoned on to this trend and are kindly offering festive mince pies to the most exhausted looking shopper, unfortunately keeping you locked in for longer, a shame for Selfridges. But who cant resist a mince pie, especially when they are free?!

Even a napkin to avoid sticky fingers, that's what I call service.

IF THE SHOE FITS...

Like every good high-heel shoe this one certainly isn't short in height.

Located on third floor women's wear, it is an installation piece in Selfridges, London and most definitely a show-stopper, even distracting the most dedicated shopper.

Joana Vasconcelos' 'Carmen Miranda' (2008) is made entirely from stainless steel pans, their lids and cement
The nature of her creative process is based on the appropriation, decontextualization and subversion of pre existent objects and everyday realities.

Joana has made an object typically associated with the everyday house hold (saucepan), stereotypically seen in the hands of a women, into a more favorable accessory of a hers; a stiletto shoe. What I like most about this idea is the association of the household elevating the women, metaphorically shown in the shoe, and aesthetically it is a beautiful and interesting installation to look at. If one is looking at the meaning in this way, I think it could be seen as quite a dated look at the role of a women. Isn't she more than the everyday objects that make her? Or is it solely my interpretation of it. As they say 'if the shoe fits, wear it.'

THE 'MARMITE' THEROY OF UGG BOOTS

From coining the term "flying boots" in the 1920s being used by pilots during the First World War, to surfers making them popular using them to warm their feet after paddling in the waves, Ugg Boots have come along way. Made increasingly fashionable by celebrities seen sporting them, no-one can deny the abundance of Ugg boots that are about in wardrobes today. Now they are not only available in the basic neutral tones, one can pick from a rainbow of colors and an assortment of 'individual' detailing, even decorated with embroidery or the more punky studded affect. 

Heres were the 'Marmite' affect kicks in for me. When I was younger I used to envy those who had the much coveted boot and dream of tucking my baggy joggers in for all to envy. Then I got my feet in some and it all changed. The soft, warm, snug fitting boot after time soon turned into a slouchy, scruffy mess on my feet. And just to add insult to the injured shoe, everyone seemed to now have them. I think the downfall of the Ugg has been the alternatives that have surfaced. Not only do they look all too similar to the Ugg but they have meant that the standing of the name has slowly been chipped away at. 

A bid by Ugg, I think to get its individuality back, was to produce 'alternative' colors and styles, doing nothing but irritate me more. You can see a girl walking down the street wearing an enviable outfit until you see her footwear, quickly the envy goes and, for me, so does the style. 

I know I cant help but to sneak my foot into my housemates pair when nipping to the shop because of the undoubted comfort they bring, and because of this they are my guilty pleasure. Like marmite, I just cant make up my mind, but I still have it on my toast.

The Ugg is clearly no longer a shoe based on its functionality, but instead is becoming a somewhat of a statement piece to an outfit. But is it the wrong statement? 

image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/11180960@N06/3296021193/

CAMILLA GREENWELL.

I wanted this to be my first post, but due to the unfortunate workload of a Fine Artist I had to wait, but it was a wait that Im sure you'll agree, was definitely worth it. 

Camilla Greenwell is currently in her final year at Central Saint Martins, London and I cant help but share her fantastic artistic talents. These first few photographs are from her sculpture last year where she was looking at household objects, removing their function, alluding to the uncanny -something which Freud speaks a lot about- and demonstrating this through repetition. Camilla uses latex as a tool to trap and drown her objects and preserve them in a way which evolves to be visually magical.

                   

The way Camilla has manipulated the set latex creates movement and life in her photographs. Its almost like the light-bulbs have been given another function, and I no longer see them as the everyday mundane object that they are. The way the light-bulbs have also taken on the latex as a color, which is slightly different to each, adds a new personality to them and you start to see them as separate wonders, intrigued by the individual way the latex has affected each of them.

These next set of photographs are from a current project of Camillas, and I have to say are just absolutely darling.

   

Camilla is still looking at household objects here, but this time is hand-making them and focusing on the miniature. Not only am I overwhelmed by the immense detail that has been put into recreating these everyday objects, but their setting in the photograph is just perfect. By seeing them in the leafy background lets one imagine that the objects have been set out in the home garden to dry. The sofa pinned to the washing line just continues this theme perfectly. I am in Love.

Finally, this last photograph is one of my favorites.

This glass vase, filled with smashed ceramics and photographed in a blank space, is just amazing. The simplicity of this photo just creates such a rich feeling. There is such a deep, warm quality to this image, I just cant stop starring at it. She has managed to add a quality to the photograph that you just would not expect to get from a cold glass vase filled with sharp and obtuse shaped ceramics.

I think it is fair to say that Camilla Greenwell is a bit of a talent! Her photographic eye just captures her ideas and messages perfectly. She is able to create feeling and emotion in her work, which I think is a talent we don't see that often in 'snaps' at the moment. I most definitely would never call her photographs 'snaps', they are works of art in themselves and I have no doubt in my mind that she is going to be such a successful artist.


Please check out Camilla's new website full of her amazing work

http://camillagreenwell.com/

ONE WARM WISH

Rather than rolling in the excess of snow that seems to have poured down on us recently and perhaps risking frost-bite in the pursuit of a snow angel, I would much rather be rolling on this Missoni rug...

The colorful, botanical rug would just let me imagine that I am in the height of summer and instead of sipping on lemsip and snuffling, I am slurping on pimms and fanning the excess heat away. Until then I'll just have to make do with hugging the heater whilst admiring. I can dream, can't I?

HOLLY FULTON FOR SMYTHSON

As a professional Smythson admirer, I fell in love when I stumbled across this new collection for 2011.  

                                                                                        

This originally quirky look for Symthson is such a wonderfully modern twist to the traditional 'first class' product. The characters have such a personality that you would just love to get out at every opportunity and scribble some notes in. I would be writing "I looove my notebooks!!!!"

images from www.smythson.com

ADDING THE PERSONAL TOUCH

This prop store located in Paddington was bought to my attention this week and I absolutely love it. 'Society Inc' is the creation of Sibella Court, the Interiors Editor for Grazia, and what's so exciting about this store is that the interior is changed four times a year with a new theme that encaptures the visitor and takes them on the journey. But what makes this store even more unique is the special touch Sibella seems to have.

 

Sibella's designs are everything I love in a room; a combination of function, beautiful and quirky. Its a space that is never allowed to age, ensuring visitors come again and again. All that's missing is a pot of freshly brewed tea and some homemade cake to enjoy whilst you absorb the surroundings. She makes messy look meaningful and distressed desirable. 

One of my favorite quirks is that the front door color changes when the interior inside does. Seasonal and meaningful.

I just wish I could get the keys, move my stuff in and close the door. I wish it was my 'mess'.

images from http://www.thesocietyinc.com.au/

NOT JUST A 'QUICK BITE'

When it comes to scrummy snacks, usually I would devour them too quickly to notice anything else but its taste and if I required more to fill my appetite. However, when it came to these biscuit sticks I had in a 'Yam Yam' dip set, I couldn't help but notice the adorable animal-isms on them. Far too sweet to eat.