GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAFY

Couldn’t think of a more fitting artist for a Halloween post than Damien Hirst, an artist born in Bristol to a lapsed Catholic mother and a mechanic/car salesman father who left their family when he was only 12 years old.

Despite his humble beginnings, (or perhaps because of them), Hirst would later become the most extravagant living artist in the world.

Damien Hirst's work centers around death as its main theme. The artist is best known for his Natural History series, in which dead animals (a shark, a sheep or a cow) are preserved in
formaldehyde.

In May 2007, Hirst exhibited his latest work, Beyond Belief, at the White Cube gallery in London. The centre of this exhibition was a Memento Mori titled For The Love of God, which featured a human skull recreated in platinum and adorned with 8,601 diamonds weighing a total of 1,106.18 carats. Approximately £15,000,000 ($30,944,726.60 USD) worth of diamonds were used. The work was based on an 18th century skull, with the original teeth incorporated into the artwork. The work's title comes from Hirst's mother who asked him, “For the love of God, what are you going to do next?”

This piece, which was cast from an 18th-century skull he bought in London, was influenced by Mexican skulls encrusted in turquoise. “I remember thinking it would be great to do a diamond one — but just prohibitively expensive,” he recalls. “Then I started to think — maybe that’s why it is a good thing to do. Death is such a heavy subject, it would be good to make something that laughed in the face of it.”
{from the NY Times}

On August 30, 2007, For the Love of God sold for £50,000,000 (100 million dollars or 75 million euros), giving the piece the auction record for the most expensive work of art by a living artist.

White Cube gallery sold several limited-edition silkscreen prints of this work, priced from £900 to £10,000, for one sprinkled with diamond dust.

Ivanka Trump has partnered with Dynamic Diamond Corp. to design a collection of jewellery that was recently unveiled at the opening of her brand new, flagship store on Madison Avenue. While the collection is beautiful, (especially the Diamond briolett double tassel lariat, pictured below) it's her super stylish boutique, done in black and white with splashes of yellow and coral, that is really quite stunning.




{update:}
The design of the shop was done by Brian Humphrey with Kramer Design Group.

{images: GlamChic, nytimes.com & ivankatrumpcollection.com}

While I definitely appreciate a good handbag, mine are usually large and while beautiful, they are also a little practical (this one in black was my favourite for travelling), for carting around my daybook, BlackBerry and all of the things I can't live without. Dior's new Samourai 1947 pieces, however, are complete works of art. The bags are part of Dior's 60-anniversary collection and come in five limited-edition designs.

Came across these lovely hanging pendants at elle decor, and was reminded that Zenza's new catalogue is out and full of beautiful, handcrafted things, especially hand-pierced metal lights that emit a soft, luxurious glow.

(And if you think these lights are romantic, you should read the Zenza story.)

My maximalist tendencies went into overdrive at the site of all these mismatched framed photos at Rosenbaum Design. The grouping reminded me of Liza Giles' south London home and seems to be current Bohemian-meets-old-Victorian look of the moment. In fact, the large table-setting, piled up china, and white furniture against the graphic and dramatic floor made everything feel as it were in a dream . . .

{all images: Rosenbaum design; via Review Australia}

. . . a day off to catch up on a few things and a moment to dream about the 250-year old Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, India, a marble palace that appears as if it's floating on the waters of Lake Pichola. Guests, of course, arrive by boat.

Built in 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II, 62nd successor to the royal dynasty of Mewar, Taj Lake Palace was originally built as a summer palace. It has recently been transformed to its former glory and is now possibly one of the most romantic hotels in the world. Filled with marble pillars, glasswork, silks, intricate paintings and ornately carved wood furniture, the palace is every bit as luxurious inside as it is dramatically stunning on the outside.

I may have a thing for all things French, but may make an Italian exception--after all, who doesn't love the sound of a villa in Tuscany?

Villa Monticello was built by the counts of Orsolini at Avenza in 1766 as a small country retreat. In the late 19th century, it was acquired by French Dervillé family, who did some renovating by adding grand flights of steps at the front and back, as well as loggias (balconies or entrance porches) on three sides of the villa. Statues and fragments of ancient sculptures still adorn the main entrance, while marble vases and a marble gable were placed on the roof.

Today, Villa Monticello is owned by Marzia Vanelli Dazzi, who lives there with her husband and children.




























{images: Taschen}

It's that skull and crossbones time of year again and what could be more fun than wearing posh, brightly-coloured skulls?

Dior Joaillerie's Coffret de Victoire collection includes: ring in 18K yellow gold, diamonds, pink sapphires, turquoise and mother-of-pearl (above left); and pendant in 18K yellow gold, diamonds, pink and green tourmalines, aquamarine, tanzanite, pink sapphires, amethysts, chrysoberyl, sapphire, emeralds, cultured pearl and coral (above right). Any piece from this collection (or anything by Dior, for that matter) will ensure you're the talk of the costume ball . . .


Not to be outdone is Tom Binns' Tough Chic collection of less precious, but still loads of fun punk-infiltrated creations (below). The Irish-born Binns was a one-time collaborator with Vivienne Westwood and favours rock and roll interpretations of jewellery classics, where diamantes and pearls sit alongside bullets and skulls.

The new Fifi Chachnil collection is gradually shipping to our boutique. In the meantime, we thought we would share some images of the items we purchased!
We noticed that the new collection is not available for purchase on Fifi's website (though she does show pictures of it, along with her ready-to-wear collection), so we plan on getting our stock online ASAP!!
In the meantime, here's a preview of the Fifi Chachnil new arrivals at Faire Frou Frou.

The pink pom-pom ensemble shown is available as a bra & panty in our store. We also have the cute, and popular angora cardigan sweater in ivory shown with it on our display - so cute!

Yet another fun, flirty Madame V collection has arrived! This group is called Octavia and comes in this beautiful 'powder blue' (as they call it), which really looks more like periwinkle. This entire group is so cute, particularly because of the little velvet rosette bouquet pin on most of the pieces. To top off the cuteness, there's the pink ostrich hand fan that came with the group that we just love! In fact, the hand fan makes a great accessory for most of the brands we carry in the store.
We have other new items from Madame V (and Courtworth) that will be posted to the online store this week...and certainly we will post about them when they are available for purchase!
Of course, the Octavia collection is currently available online, so treat yourself to something sweet!