A Dark Edge

Just in case you're were stuck for what to wear this Halloween - here's some inspiration for glamorous gowns with a slightly darker edge.

1, frenchgoldtumblr, 2, modeavenueparis, 3, via mylacedcorsettumblr 4, via modeavenueparis

This weekend...

In honour of tomorrow's Derby Day in Melbourne ... a little black and white inspiration the Cecil Beaton way.

Beautiful Eliza...

Making a Cameo appearance...

I've always been fascinated with beautiful carved jewellery, cameo and intaglio.  In fact, I often think back to that intaglio ring I found in a jewellery store on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence years ago - why didn't that fit my finger!  

Then I found this Bottega Veneta cameo cuff at NetAPorter a few months ago, and as with all things beautiful, its now sold out! Grrrr...  But I love its modernization; blackened oxidised sterling silver.  

Then I saw this lovely post at Haute Design the other day... and I thought, yep it looks like a revival is coming -  a resurgence if you will,  as it occurred during the Renaissance and during the Neo-Classical court of Napoleon and of course during Queen Victoria's reign.   Semi precious stones, shell, glass, amber, jet, bakelite, coral and lava have also been used for cameos, with artisans in Naples and in Germany specialising in their craft with skills being passed down to them from generations of skilled cameo carvers before them.

In its 'classic' form, the cameo is a dual coloured, dual layered object with a 'positive' relief carved generally of light coloured gemstone (agate, onyx, sardonyx) or shell (during Victorian era) attached onto a bold coloured background (black or blue).  But in its 'modern' form, the cameo is bright, bold and attached as a detail to crystals, gold, and wood with images ranging from profiles, skulls, and peacocks.   

But don't confuse an 'intaglio' carved piece of jewellery with a 'relief' cameo.  Where a relief cameo is a 'positive' carving, (set 'up' from the base), an 'intaglio' carving is negative and is carved 'into' the base material (stone/glass.)

Wow, I love all this history and craftsman knowledge... all this from one bold cameo cuff.!  I'm hooked.

Bottega Veneta Cameo Cuff

Amedeo Scognamiglio
carved ring

Oversized cameo

Classic Cameo with black lace and
black leather cuff

Cameo meets punk meets glamour

1, netaporter, 2, 3, 4, style.com, 5, tombinns spring2012 via fashionologie 6 & 7, via pinterest

Home Style, Elegant Inviting Terrace in London

Great renovation of a 3 storey terrace in London, making way for light filled rooms, warm undertones and flashes of gold, saffron, honey and blue, cool furnishings and great lighting fixtures.

I love, love a sandy, velvet sofa!

the O-luce floor lamp is a Favourite!

Great pendant lighting

via livingetc

This weekend...

Sending you some fabulousness, wherever you maybe.  Remember its all in the pose (and the shoulders).

Pauline Trigere, Fur trimmed sheath 1957

Versace for H&M collection

These images of the new Versace collaboration with H&M (photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott) just transported me back to the early 90's.  The colours, the images, the greek key symbols, the sexy cuts and the bold prints, everything just reminds of those fabulous iconic shots by Richard Avedon during Gianni Versace's reign on the catwalk and in homewares (remember them?)

Christy, Linda, Naomi, Stephanie, Claudia, Nadja, Cindy and Amber took turns individually or all together to bring their glamour and humour to each shot.  (Don't forget it was the time of George Michael's Freedom video - gotta love that!)

This new collection is modelled by Sasha Pivovarova, Daphne Groenevald, and Lindsey Wixson.  Impeccably crafted, very strong images!

As Donatella says "...its rock 'n' roll..."!

Now...

and then...

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 via dailyfrontrow, 6, 7, 8 via vogue.uk 5, via 

Valentino, Spring 2012

The long and the short of it... Intricate but bold lace showcased on the recent Spring 2012 runway show for Valentino.  I love the relaxed, casual look of both these styles.

via style.com

Stylishly Grand in London

A fashionable flat indeed. With marble accents throughout, this gorgeous home still manages to be warm and inviting.  Well, I feel I could definitely be at home in these surroundings.  Just gorgeous!

via elledecoruk

Home Style, Flexible, Light-filled workers cottage in Melbourne

You really don't need to have to big a space to make a stylish home.  This tiny ex workers cottage in Melbourne's suburb of Fitzroy has been renovated to allow for more of a light-filled, stylish home.  I particularly love the focus of the bluestone walls in some rooms and that they have been left uncovered as a nod to the home's past.

I really love those Mark Tuckey stools

Diesel furniture by Moroso in the living room

Stylish living & kitchen area

via HeckerGuthrie

Its all about the Hats

We are well into the Racing Calender this month with the Caulfield Cup having run this Saturday gone, in Melbourne.  The whole month of October leading up to the first week in November is a fantastic time for Spring carnival.  And Carnival says it all!  The shoes, the dresses, the make up and of course the hats on offer are fabulous.  So lets talk hats!

This year hats are colourful, ladylike, bold, elegant, fanciful; in fact everything a hat should be!  Fascinators will still be popular, but a more elegant fascinator that's fuller and and fanciful that starts from the ear up and over the crown.  Something plush!

And hats, well, the pillbox is THE hat of the moment.  Petite, ladylike, colourful; placed jauntily on an angle so as to showcase your cheekbones and your lips.  Just so.  But beware, I'm talking more Victoria Beckham NOT Princess Beatrice!  You know what I mean?

Here are some gorgeous hats that I've found around the world for some inspiration- hope you like them.

Perfectly poised fascinator

Classy - very cool

Philip Treacy - the master & the pillbox

Flight of fancy - headband

The pillbox - very elegant

Wide brimmed & elegant lace Fedora

Cool & Sexy

Retro inspired floral

Elegant, Bold & Colourful

My Favourite! Just gorgeous

Classic Wide Brimmed

1 & 2, LifeOfPolarnPer 3, Philip Treacy, 4, fashion-ocdtumblr, 5, Phillip Treacy, 6, HeraldandHeart, 

7, MarilenaRomeo, 8, Louise Green, 9, Louise McDonald, 10 & 11, Arturo Rios