Lusiana Fashion

Lady Gertrude Do! Do! Do!

Famed femme fatale, star of the London stage and musical theatre, lifetime friend of Noel Coward-

(applause, applause)

Gertrude Lawrence!

Her drawing room at Portland Place was decorated by Ronald Fleming. This-in the day of Syrie Maugham's all white drawing room- Lawrence opted for panache.

The stage set chic room sparkled with a mirrored wall along the bookcase and mantle. Comfortable upholstered club chairs covered in satin with small bullion fringes along the hems, a low slung rather glamorous sofa in a decidedly reptilian pattern, and a fireside bench with deep contrasting bullion fringe-Enter Noel Coward. Curtain up. A Stylish little Vogue Regency drum table probably held lighters, drinks as the white likely lacquered grand piano swayed while played by Noel Coward and Gertie sang.

I wonder what color that Satin was? Champagne- my guess.

A gorgeous photograph of the Lady GERTRUDE, Satin? Magnolia-my guess

Definitely a Satin Bed-Nude- my guess.

Cecil Beaton photographed the actress in bed swathed in chiffon, fur and satin in Vanity Fair 1934's-Celebrities in Bed. Yes dog lovers that is a dawlin' Yorkie in bed with Gertie.

What color is your Satin? silk satin rather? I know it might not be the thing these days, But baby it undeniably was back then.

Lawrence's drawing room foto from Style Traditions, by Stephen Calloway & Stephen Jones

90's 90's 90's 90's with Dom Cheminais (Cape Town)

Dom Cheminais, Cape Town based super fine artist 'hipster' socialite shows us where she thinks its going when it comes to summer future looks. This girl is hot and the proof is in the pud. Check it out and let your jaw drop.

If you can't afford Chanel make it.

Photographs by Chris Saunders.

WOW: Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude - OBG's Word of the Week (WOW) is - simply put - pleasure derived from the misfortune of others (yikes!). This German noun comes from "Schaden" (adversity, harm) and "Freude"(joy) and like all German nouns, it is typically capitalized, although it is often used in the English language without capitalization.

Have you ever giggled at someone who tripped and fell down while running across the street? (Ouch.) That's schadenfreude. Did you ever laugh at a reality show contestant that embarassed herself by pretending to be rich and popular only to find out on national television that she's broke and not particularly well liked? (Oh dear.) Again, that's schadenfreude. And if you're a Project Runway fan that gets a secret thrill hearing Heidi announce "You're out" to a losing clothing designer, well, you know, that's schadenfreude too.

ELSIE DE WOLFE: Long May She Reign

In light of the recent travails of Elsie de Wolfe's Villa Trianon:

LONG MAY SHE REIGN

Scene from a Dining Room: Walls covered with mirrored panels done in the style of Jean Baptiste Pillement, with the mirror's backing cut away to reveal painted chinoiserie landscapes. This particular scene certainly appears to me-Chinoiserie Elsie on her throne with her subjects kneeling in reverence or in fear.

read
An Aesthete's Lament: Villa Trianon:The Dilapidation

An Aesthete's Lament: Requiescat en Pace:Villa Trianon

An Aesthete's Lament: Up Close: Villa Trianon

(image from Elsie de Wolfe's 1936 design in Beverly Hills for Countess Dorothy di Frasso. A 70 year secret treasure of her work photographed by SIMON WATSON for House & Garden in 2007, "Elsie in Amber" produced by Mayer Rus, written by Christy Hobart.)

Hutton Wilkinson, president of the Elsie de Wolfe Foundation called it "a lost gem" and a "complete surprise. It has all the bells and whistles of her work. It's absolutely extraordinary," The estate was handed over in 2008- for the sale of its contents and the residence. (read more here.)

This de Wolfe creation 70 years in situ-relegated to destruction. Little is appreciated in terms of the work by this legend. Whoa to the similar destruction of a great work of architecture- this is unlikely. Now it seems that Elsie de Wolfe's Villa Trianon will suffer the same fate.

Brown Girl in Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia bordered by China and India, which of course, provides for interesting cultural influences. It is the world's youngest republic and Kathmandu is the capital city. The main language is Nepali. Fun Food Fact: A typical Nepalese meal is dal-bhat-tarkari. Dal is a spicy lentil soup, served over bhat (boiled rice), served with tarkari (curried vegetables) together with achar (pickles) or chutni (spicy condiment made from fresh ingredients).

Andre, Uggs, and Home

"I like the idea of being warm and secure. That’s what home should be.
That you have a sense of warmth, security, love,
and you love the things around you and surround yourself with beauty." ALT

image from christat23

ALT also confesses to a love for & the wearing of Ugg boots

read the whole charming interview with ALT here " THE HOT SEAT" by Erin Wylie

systems breaking down

anna - systems breaking down

anna - systems breaking down (dub version)

absolute classic early 80s female-led synth dirge by the mysterious Anna. File under spookiness like "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin, or "Faith"-era Cure. Note the killer outro, with wild drum fills and background screaming, everything melting like a comet descending into the ocean. Anna sings lines like "Wish my boyfriend stayed around...I think my system's breaking down," the whole thing expressing psychic turmoil, metropolitan alienation, shadows in the neon wilderness, empty streets in the dead of night, the faces of passersby like blood-drained specters. Also a tinge of intense hysteria like in Polanski's "Repulsion." Included here is also the dope tech-ed up dub version, where you hear a quiet child's voice, like some lost guardian angel, imploring "don't cry anna..."

you be the judge

"This review is a load of pompous, pseudo-intellectual tripe."

"This review is an absurd pile of pretentious garbage"

"absolutely stunning review"

RA review - Naum Gabo "Black Lab"

It's Foto Friday!

"I was at a John Mayer concert in December and rocked this shirt -- got lots of compliments and told ladies where to find it. Be blessed and keep doing what you do!! Love ya." - Stephanie

having a dress up moment - the HOVEY Sisters

If ever there were two ladies that fit the bill for the new-Between the Wars Era- fashion revival-

it is these two.

Not having officially met them-it is safe to say the Hovey Sisters were Born to it.

Porter & Hollister Hovey

photograph by Valerie Dray

MAKING A NAME FOR THEMSELVES

image from Habitually Chic's story about Hollister Hovey

Hollister Hovey

Picks from Hollister Hovey in the New York Times

The New Antiquarians in the Times

Porter Polaroid Project

Porter Hovey Photography

Polaroid Photographers Plead Their Case

(all listings are links click above)

Hollister

When reading blogs there is a familiarity that's established. I know the Hoveys, along with countless others who tune into their Blog pages. Terrifically individualistic describes them both- something I think quite a challenge to achieve today when inundated with books on achieving a certain this or that Personal style.

In other words- for getting your Personal style- here is a road map.

Here's how to get the Look.

Hollister

Porter

Hollister

Porter

Times photograph by Michael Weschler

The Hoveys make their own map, follow in their parents footsteps, and have their own compass.

image from the NYTimes New Antiquarians article

Photo by Michael Weschler

the Sisters will have to fight over this one

Aquascutum Madame Bovary Trench

Thomas Wylde

all images are from net-a-porter

Designs from top Alexander McQueen, Just Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Temperley London, Alexander McQueen,Vivenne Westwood Anglomania, Stella McCartney, Valentino Red, Victoria Beckham, Christopher Kane

spectral empire - black shark

video for a new jam by my esteemed labelmates Spectral Empire. Images by Tommy Boy from As Restless As We Are - rugged sci-fi John Carpenter suspense on the high seas. I'm glad to have Night Plane on the same label as these guys, it's a wondrous fit. The Black Shark 12" is out this week.

night plane - drug sub mix

All tracks/edits by me aka night plane, Berlin July/August 2009, mixed together into a twenty-minute voyage of trippy disco and slow-mo house. It's the imaginary soundtrack to drug sub: the movie, the hollywood saga starring everyone's favorite homemade narcotics-smuggling submersible. The story follows the construction of a drug sub in the colombian jungle, its journey to deliver cocaine, capture by coast guard, and the final raid on the drug cartel headquarters

new york times - "drug-sub culture" (april 26th, 2009)

night plane - drug sub mix

1. out of the jungle, into the deep

2. coast is clear

3. caught by icebreaker

4. silent invasion

5. bamboo pentagon

oh and you can order the night plane record here: phonica

Rick Owens- not for Muffy darling-

fashion designer Rick Owens is in the esteemed company of fashion designers with their own collections of furniture. new pieces for his collection are slated for unveiling on september 9th at Sebastian+Barquet's London location . Owens pieces will be available in limited editions.

don't expect any thing you can use at Muffy's house. Expect the unexpected- just like his fantastic edwardian tinged clothes.