Sinful Savoir Faire!

I just recently came across this wonderful series of illustrations from a French Fashion magazine during the World War II. They are by Remy Hetreau whom I must admit do not know much about, however here I have the incentive to find out more.

Hetreau has illustrated the seven deadly sins by personifying them as women dressed by the leading couturiers of the day. What is interesting is that he has also drawn a character in the same drawing to illustrate the seven Catholic virtues opposite the particular sin involved.

What a novel way approach to illustrating the current fashions of the day with a bit of humour also involved. The illustrations are very French and Almost Cocteau like in their appearance. You have to look closely at the detail of each drawing for the humour involved.

As they were done during World War II I am sure that there are some hidden references to the repressed atmosphere felt in France during the German occupation.

Greed and Generosity dressed by Paquin

Anger and Patience dressed by Fath

Gluttony and Temperance dressed by Mad Carpentier

Envy and Altruism dressed by Marcel Rochas

Sloth and Activity dressed by Madelaine Vramant

Pride and Modesty dressed by Lelong

Lust and Chastity dressed by Gres

Weekend Away in Istanbul

Istanbul is one of my favourite cities in the world. It is a perfect blend of Middle East Exoticism and Western culture. With a long rich history the city has a commanding position on the Bosphorus spanning two continents.

If I just happened to be lucky enough (which I am not) to be jetting off to Istanbul for the weekend there would be no better place to stay than the A’jia Hotel. This luxury boutique hotel of only 16 rooms is housed in a traditional Ottoman Mansion from the 19th century perched on the Asian edge of the Bosphorus.

Blending traditional and modern design the hotel is an oasis from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul, not to mention that the views are stunning. Each room is decorated in a different style which is a welcome relief from the larger hotels. With an emphasis on simplified luxury the modern décor of the hotel is in perfect harmony with the historical exterior.

However I think the crowning glory of the hotel is the terrace of the restaurant, and the outside terrace bar one level above. Who can not imagine themselves sitting there having cocktails or dining whether be it night or day?

So who wants to spend the weekend in Istanbul? I do!

Dining at the Dorchester with Savoir Faire

Over the years many Hotels have forsaken their fine dining rooms for the coffee shop or casual all day dining where the food and ambience sometimes borders on the mediocre.

Not so in London, where the celebrity chef reigns supreme and many of the older establishments (under the celebrity chef patronage) have embraced fine dining and taken it to new heights. The trend now is for the bespoke dining experience where guests can tailor their dining experience under the watchful eye of the chef and hotel staff.

Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester presides over the Table Lumiere where guests can create their own menu and table settings choosing from the hotel’s selection of china, glassware and linens from such design houses as Hermes, Puiforcat and St. Louis.

Cocooned behind a luminescent curtain made of 4,500 shimmering fibre optics hanging dramatically from the ceiling diners are screened from the buzz of the main restaurant. This gives a sense of intimacy to the diners within, without any loss of atmosphere. The interior designed by Patrick John is extremely elegant, while the private dining area only seats 6 people.

The main restaurant is an elegant affair done in shades of beige and white with the private dining area serving as a focal point for the rest of the restaurant. Whether in use or not the private dining area is a dramatic centrepiece of almost space age connotations, with ever changing fibre optic curtain creating an ambience that is dreamlike and whimsical.

Definitely something to check out not just for the food but for décor and experience as well!

The Man from Gruau

I am sure that most of you (like me) just adore the illustrations of Rene Gruau. One of the most prolific and well respected fashion illustrators of the last century, his work is instantly recognisable. With just a few brush strokes and some blocks of colour he created images that moved with the times. Although spanning several decades his drawings were always au courant with the period they were drawn, and yet remain timeless.

The influence Gruau had on the art of fashion illustration was enormous. Commissioned by major couturiers, magazines, and perfume houses they invariably contain women, but what about the men?

One of my all time favourite advertisements is the below drawing Gruau did for Christian Dior’s Eau Sauvage. Our young man has definitely moved with the times and sports a hippy style mass of curly hair that covers his eyes, like a shaggy sheep dog. All we see is his rather self contented smile, confident in knowing that his bottle of Eau Savage is close at hand!

Gruau’s men are sexy and mischievous. They are carefree and always in pursuit of someway to make them more attractive to the opposite sex. They move with the times adopting the latest fashion and hairstyles, to convey a suave cool elegance which is sometimes quite detached.

Clients ranged from McGregor sports wear to Christian Dior, proving that his talent was a force to be reckoned with and that for advertising there was no better man to do the job.

As the century wore on his men became more stylised with solid blocks of colour. There is a safety in numbers as they ride motor bikes or adopt Zorro like guise while wearing Eminence underwear.

So here’s to the almost forgotten men of Gruau! We salute you!

Reclaimed Savoir Faire!

Since moving to Canada nearly 9 years ago (and being a country boy) I have been utterly fascinated with the architecture and style of the Canadian Barn. Especially old derelict ones, where my mind works overtime on the possibilities of using all that lovely old wood which is just lying around.

I am definitely by no means advocating the destruction of all these wonderful old structures and believe that they should be kept, no matter what state of disrepair or un-use, as they add character and substance to a landscape. However lying around these great structures is a plethora of old timbers. I love the variety of colours, patinas and textures of the wood and the history that it has seen.

My mind works overtime considering what uses I could do with old reclaimed barn wood. I really believe that what new timber is used for interior decoration can easily be substituted with reclaimed timbers. The colours and the textures not too mention the sense of history that these timbers evoke, I think can be easily adapted to modern uses.

While walking the other Saturday in Toronto on Queen Street East, there are an amazing number of stores springing up using reclaimed timber in furniture manufacture. Although basically modern designs, and very linear the pieces presented a warmth that modern timbers and veneers just do not have. The only thing that I was a bit disappointed at was the price that some of these stores were charging, which in some cases was rather exorbitant.

Here are some random examples of uses that have all the savoir faire in the world and some of them quite achievable, including some you could do yourself!

It looks great as a major feature as in the case of these panels and walls. When teamed with modern furniture such as the Eames chair it really pops!

The below gazebo is just stunning, as the architect has used the wood in such a way to give a wonderful flowing effect.