Liberty London

“Blink” Inspiration: Leighton House

May 17th, 2012

While we’re on an inspirational tip, I’ve been looking through all the tears and articles I’ve stashed as reminders of things I really must do, see and visit. One of them is for something that is really just on my doorstep, so there is no excuse…

The Leighton House Museum, in Holland Park, is the former home and studio of the Victorian painter and draughtsman, Lord Frederic Leighton. He traveled extensively, and in the Victorian tradition, collected as he went. Leighton perhaps went a little further than most as shown in the amazing ‘Arab Hall’ which is smothered with a heady combination of incredible Islamic art, tiles and decoration. Until September, there is also a one of the world’s finest private collections of Pre-Raphaelite and Victorian art being exhibited at Leighton House, so that’s another fantastic reason to visit soon.

Leighton House Museum, Arab Room

Leighton House Museum, the Arab Room

For more inspirational posts, click here. For more on the arts, click here.

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Inspiration: The House Beautiful

May 17th, 2012

Li Edelkoort started the Lifestyle section of the AW’13-14 presentation with an actor dressed as Oscar Wilde, reading excerpts from his ‘The House Beautiful’ lecture which has written in 1882. The premise was that much of what Wilde felt were the rules to a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing home were also many of the same rules we should be considering today. It was a lovely introduction to the trend presentation.

The Wilde text contains a quote that I first discovered through James Brown, a brilliant graphic artists that we have featured previously on the blog. He immortalized the words of Wilde (or was Wilde quoting his contemporary, William Morris?) as a stunning posted created for the V&A. We thought we should share it with you again. It’s something we’ve been keeping in mind with the remodeling of “Blink” towers…

James Brown, Victoria and Albert Museum

James Brown for the Victoria and Albert Museum

 Click here to see our interview with James. He has an exhibition on at the moment too, at the Stour Space in East London, until 4th June so do get over there to see more of his work if you can.

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Inspiration: Trend Tablet from Trend Union

May 16th, 2012

So, yesterday was quite momentous actually. Not only did I meet and interview Li Edelkoort, but I also attended the AW ’13-14 Trend Union presentation on fashion and lifestyle. I’m now brimming with inspiration and looking forward to getting stuck into the new season. I’ll be dropping the full Li interview soon, but in the mean time, wanted to share with you some of the newer parts of the Trend Union business. In particular, the more accessible options.

It was so good to hear from Li and the Trend Union team that they are working to create service options for smaller businesses, emerging markets, new designers and students. The seasonal trend presentations and the wonderful books are an incredible resource, but they do have a price to match. If those options are out of your budget, but you’d still like to be in the Li Edelkoort loop, then why not have a look at Trend Tablet? It’s a great insight into what the team are being inspired by. We particularly like the interface with Pinterest, where the Trend Tablet team have set up some boards (3 so far) that are comprised of images that you have submitted. Just email your image to trendtablet@gmail.com, and probably note which board you think it should go on, and then you become part of the team, contributing to these communal mood boards, and perhaps even shaping a future trend. I love this concept and am working on some shots to send it right now.

Here are some of our favourite images from the boards so far…

"Make Me Smile"

"Yellow is the new Pink"

"Spring Snapshots"

If you are in the UK and you’re interested in knowing more about the Trend Union services on offer, contact KM Associates, the UK agent.

For more posts on inspiration, click here. For more about colour, click here.

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Advice: How to be…

May 15th, 2012

Today we are dropping you a substandard post, and for that I’m sorry. However, there is a very good reason. I’m out interviewing the person I have found most inspiring in my fashion career, Li Edelkoort. I was too much in a spin to write a proper post for today, so instead raided my newest resource for trustworthy advice… Pinterest (it has no end of uses!). Here’s some of my favs from all of the rather trite sound bites out there. Hope you like the look of them as well as what they say.

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For more graphics inspiration, click here.

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Music: Santigold ‘Disparate Youth’

May 14th, 2012

We are in love with this amazing tune and the visual treat of the accompanying video. Santigold kind of defies categorization. What we can decide on is the fact that this is super stylish. Diverse, surprising, but at the same time somehow recognizable, we are loving Santi White’s sound. Treat yourself and have a listen.

For more of our Music Monday posts, click here.

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Inspiration: Isabel Marant at Liberty

May 11th, 2012

So, you may have seen my tweet yesterday, after indulging in a little fashion retail porn in Liberty. I popped in just to have a recreational smooch around the new deliveries, but I didn’t make it far past the rail of Isabel Marant. I knew it was a mistake to actually try some on, but I couldn’t help myself. I stood in the changing room wondering what I could put into hock so I could bring just a couple of pieces home with me…

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant, SS'12

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant, SS'12

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant, SS'12

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant, SS'12

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant, SS'12

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant, SS'12

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant, SS'12

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant, SS'12 (this one tops my lust list)

If, like me, you’re not quite up to filling your wardrobe at this price level, then lots of high street brands have been ‘inspired’ by this collection too. These tie dye jeans from Topshop aren’t half bad as a starting point to build this mood.

Topshop

Topshop tie dye Jamie jeans

For more posts on inspirational stuff, click here. For more retail news, click here.

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Inspiration: Pinterest

May 10th, 2012

Okay, I avoided it for a little while, but now I have been truly sucked in. The Pinterest bug has got me, and I think I like it…

I was working on a project for a client, reasearching trend for their new season collection, and they suggested I grab a few images onto their Pinterest board. Well, I have to say it was a revelation- and a great way to gather thoughts and images in a really swift and simple way. It’s not perfection (you can’t decide on image adjacency in a board, or resize images to give them focus as you would on a real mood board) but its not half bad. I like the immediacy, the repinning, liking and following. What I don’t like is quite how ‘estrogen heavy’ it seems, so I think it could do with more boys on there to rebalance all of the puppies, cupcakes and wedding favour ideas.

Without Pinterest, I wouldn’t have easily found some really lovely and inspirational images so easily- and time is always of the essence. I also wouldn’t have come across some really creative people who have curated some truly stunning ‘boards’. Here are some of my favourite Pinterest images so far, found from pinners like Anita, Christina Banana, Paola Gambetti and Lasca Sartoris- to name but a few great Pinterest peeps that we’re following.

A member of a swim team rests in her hotel room, photo by Nina Leen, Florida, 1950

A member of a swim team rests in her hotel room, photo by Nina Leen, Florida, 1950

vintage Danish wallpaper

vintage Danish wallpaper

'Kid Carnies'

jewellery inspiration

jewellery inspiration

Serge Lifar and Josephine Baker

Serge Lifar and Josephine Baker

Suzy Parker by Norman Parkinson, 1952

Suzy Parker by Norman Parkinson, 1952

Andy Warhol, Lips 1950s

Andy Warhol, Lips 1950s

For more inspirational posts, click here and do come and find us on Pinterest.

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Remembers: Vidal Sassoon

May 10th, 2012

We were very sad to hear yesterday about the passing of a huge creative talent, Mr Vidal Sassoon. For me, he was the first ‘Designer’ hairdresser that I knew about, with his line of deliciously scented shampoos that I hounded my Mum for in the 80′s, believing they would impart some associated hair fabulousness to me. Well, they didn’t quite turn me into Mia Farrow, but it was the start of a long term love for Vidal Sassoon and his genius.

Here are a few iconic shots of the man and his work.

Vidal Sassoon

Vidal Sassoon

Vidal Sassoon, Mary Quant

Vidal Sassoon and Mary Quant

an iconic Vidal Sassoon bob

an iconic Vidal Sassoon bob

Vidal Sassoon, Mia Farrow

Vidal Sassoon with Mia Farrow

Vidal Sassoon

Vidal Sassoon

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Events: Trend Union

May 9th, 2012
Trend Union

Trend Union, UK Colour, Fashion, Lifestyle for Autumn/ Winter 2013-14

Next week, on the 15th May, Li Edelkoort will be presenting her trend concepts for colour, fashion and lifestyle at the Cine Lumiere, Institut Francais in South Kensington. For those of you who have maybe attended one of my lectures on forecasting, you may well have seen me getting all starry eyed when talking about Li and Trend Union. The simplest way of putting it is that I think Li Edekoort is a genius. To me, she is one of the most gifted and inspirational individuals I have ever come across.

Trend Union is synonymous with creating globally impactful, highly creative, deeply informed and most essentially, reliable forecasting information. If you work in fashion, home, beauty or any lifestyle related field, you would probably wish to attend one of her presentations or purchase one of the many inspirational publications that Trend Union produce.

I’ll be there next week, and am hoping to also get to talk with Li- if I can calm myself sufficiently, you’ll get to read the interview soon after. KM Associates, the UK agents for Trend Union, have also incredibly generously offered a limited number of students the opportunity to attend this event for a deeply reduced price. If you are a student and would like to try and grab one of those places, then contact Geoff on geoff@kmauk.com, mentioning the “Blink” blog.

Looking forward to seeing you there…

Enjoy! Lucy

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“Blink” Music: Beastie Boys ‘Intergalactic’, RIP MCA

May 8th, 2012

We have decided to dedicate all of today’s posts to music, to give us the chance to commemorate the loss a massive musical talent. This post is in memory of Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys, who has very sadly died after a long battle with cancer. I may be a middle class girl from the Home Counties, but in my heart I’m a hip hopper to the core, and that’s in no small part due to these cats. Thanks for opening my eyes to your amazing styles. MCA, you will be missed.

This is one of my most favourite Beastie Boys tracks (from a long list).

For more music posts, click here and turn up the volume.

Enjoy! Lucy Related Posts with Thumbnails

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