URBAN GAUCHO Duro Olowu A/W 2011

Sunday saw London designer Duro Olowu debut his A/W 2011 collection for the first time in New York. The collection is inspired by South American gauchos and Harlem photographer James Van Der Zee.

NKWO HAPPY LIVES HERE

Last year we were invited to take some behind the scene shots for the new NKWO 2011 look book.










Here are some images from the look book








The NKWO collection has something for every girl. We love the use of colour, column shapes, African prints and braided textiles, which accompanies the intricate hair sculpture from Angela M Plummer.

Model Symara Templeman
Make up Valerie Saint Amand
Hair Angela M Plummer
Stylist: Angela Plummer and Nkwo
Photography 2shooters

Jessica Dance Jewellery

We saw these in Selfridges







by Jessica Dance

African print skirts for BnnBaby

The extended Bnn Family's twin girls celebrated their 2nd birthday a few months ago and we decided to make them these draw string African print skirts. The skirts were based on the adult one we designed and made last year.

For us


For them

Duro Olowu's New Shop

We finally made a trip to visit our old Portobello Road neighbour Duro Olowu at his new shop on 14 Masons Yard. Surrounded by fine arts big names in The White Cube Gallery. Duro offers pattern print to his stark white surroundings.

The Space




Vintage furniture house the payment area


Curio objects alongside fashion


Reupholstered vintage chairs in Doro's prints and carved wood lamp base creates a front room.




A little inspiration


The inspiration for his S/S collection was the colours of Picasso’s ‘Mosqueteros’ paintings and the vibrant goings on of 125th Street in Harlem, New York.






Amazing shoes by Charlotte Dellal which provide a simplicity to the head rush of pattern print.


Duro Olowu S/S 2009

Stitch and Bitch

Recently there's been a revival for cross stitch and all sorts of embroidery. Channel 4 Kirstie's Homemade Homereignited the nations love for all things crafty and homemade.

Found these books in a charity shop






Our handiwork




Transfer from Blik



Melamine plate by Jennifer Rose

Beyond The Chintz Eley Kishimoto S/S 10

We went to the Eley Kishimoto S/S 10 collection Beyond The Chintz.

A clashing of visual references in the home environment; a predilection for old value co-exists with modern commodity. The quiet madness of this chaotic affection surrounds the inhabitants, observed but not questioned the closed door.





The catwalk came alive with their signature bold prints which always reflect their textile background.
Our pictures were really rubbish so here are pictures from London Fashion Week website

This print reminds us of the embroidery piece which we saw at The Spitialfields City Farm last year







Loving the slouchy socks chunky strappy sandals






Clash of angles and chintz


Also checkout their pop up shop at 8 Kingly St Soho, which holds their current collection, flash pieces and sample sale downstairs.

Appliqué

Appliqué
Ornamented with a pattern (which has been cut out of another color or stuff) applied or transferred to a foundation; as, appliqué lace; appliqué work.

So following on from Do you like my Angles in print I decided to experiment in appliquéd leather. Here are the results which can be worn as a statement necklace or attached to a vest.

Perseid

Now taking place The Perseid Meteor Shower

Meteors are streaks of light in the sky caused by blazing pieces of dust drawn into the Earth's atmosphere from near space.The meteor particles, many no bigger than sand grains, come from comets which have passed through the inner Solar System.

On their journey around the Sun, the comets evaporate and leave behind a trail of gas and dust. When the Earth ploughs through a comet's old trajectory, this dusty debris burns up in our atmosphere to form shooting stars. The Perseid meteors owe their origin to Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last moved through the inner Solar System 11 years ago. The Perseid meteor shower is also known as the "Tears of St Lawrence" since the peak of the shower occurs around the anniversary of his martyrdom in AD 258


Pictures from last night via BBC News


Pete Lawrence


Bill Pinnel South London

Reading the Stars by Embroidery MiniatureRhino via Kitsune Noir

The stars tell stories of ancient myths involving monsters, loves and animals fixed in the night sky. i remember learning about these stories as a child and they still captivate me as do the graphic beauty of the constellations themselves. This is a group of my favorites constellations stitched ever so delicately

Needle point constellations




1. Andromeda - the chained lady
2. Ursa Major - the great bear
3. Cygnus - the swan
4. Orion - the hunter

Cosmic Designs by illstrator Chrissie Abbott for Little Boots



Chrissie Abbott T Shirt for Jaguar Shoes Kingsland Road

Get it here

Peter Pilotto's A/W 08 Collection via Trend de la Creme blog

Cosmic Prints
The Circinus Galaxy


Galaxy NGC 1569