Special Delivery

Hooray! At last, my very own copy of FLAIR Annual has arrived!

Look at this fantastic hand lettering on the bird's tail! I can't wait to see what other visual delights are inside...

Inspiration: Ascot Gavotte

I'm not a huge fan of musicals, however I love Cecil Beaton, and his costume and set designs for the "Ascot Gavotte" scene from My Fair Lady are simply stunning. Even though his designs date from the 60's, the combination of black, white and gray patterns still feels glamorous and fresh.

(click image for a larger version)

Images clockwise from top left: Bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings; Cover for Cecil Beaton's Fair Lady; deserts from Martha Stewart Weddings; Vase by Francis Palmer (www.francispalmerpottery.com) ; Original sketch for set and costume designs for My Fair Lady by Cecil Beaton (via artnet); Wedding Gown by Oscar de la Renta; Wedding Cake from Martha Stewart Weddings; Film still from the Ascot Gavotte scene (via reelclassics.com); Floral Frieze wedding invitation by Blue Ribbon.

Inspiration: Paper Pursuits

I'm a magazine addict and there is nothing I like better than to browse through vintage magazines on Paper Pursuits. The site has tons of images from fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar (I especially love the issues from the 1950s), interior design magazines (be sure to check out House Beautiful and House & Garden), old advertisements, and even sewing patterns. These publications are a wonderful source of interesting colorways, graphics and period details. Many of the fashion magazines also produced special bridal issues that have gorgeous photos of gowns, veils and bouquets - who knows, maybe it will inspire you to add a vintage touch to your own ensemble!


All the images of vintage Vogue magazines are from Paper Pursuits. From top left: February 1956; March 1956; February 1956 (interior); July 1956; March 15, 1956; July 1956 (interior); October 15 1955, November 15 1955, October 1955 (interior).

Inspiration: Wine Labels

I got married at a vineyard, so I have a soft-spot for wine country weddings. Regardless of whether or not your wedding takes place amongst the vines, wine labels can be a great source for interesting layouts, graphics and typefaces.

I love the calligraphic swirls and crests on old-fashioned and vintage-style labels. If you are after a more modern look, the packaging blog, The Dieline, has photos of some great contemporary labels, like the ones created by Duffy & Parnters (left) and ilustrator Yiying Lu (right).


Images:Wine bottle table numbers and wine favors (upper left), marthastewartweddings.com; Table numbers, save the dates, wine favors, and invitations by Blue Ribbon; Misc. Wine labels from mmdusa.net, Wolffer Estate, Laurent-Perrier, Bonny Doon, St. Supery, Polaner Selections, R. López de Heredia, and theartistslabel.com; Duffy & Partners and ASDA California labels via The Dieline.

Bonnard, Calder & Saint Laurent

Looking for a little visual inspiration? There are two great exhibitions at the Met right now and if you don't feel like leaving home, you can browse the Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé auction catalogues online.

Pierre Bonnard: The Late Interiors (through April 19, 2009)

The White Interior, 1932, Photo: Musée de Grenoble, Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADADGP, Paris (via nytimes.com).

Calder Jewelry (through March 1, 2009)

Caged Crockery, ca. 1945, Silver wire and ceramic; Loop: 18 3/4 in.; element: 5 x 2 3/4 in., Collection Harold and Emily Starr © 2008 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York (via metmuseum.org); Anjelica Huston wearing The Jealous Husband (c. 1940), by Alexander Calder, in a 1976 photograph by Evelyn Hofer (via Art + Auction, artinfo.com/artandauction).

Collection Yves Saint Laurent et Pierre Bergé (the three-day sale begins Monday, February 23rd).

Paper Flowers at Chanel

Look at these unbelievable cut paper headpieces and runway decorations from the Chanel Spring 2009 Couture show. According to style.com, Japanese hairdresser Katsuyo Kamo (and team) "...scored and scissored out...the incredible constructs of paper roses, camellias, leaf fronds, and feathers that adorned each girl." Photos of the complete collection can be found on the Chanel website and style.com.

From style.com

From chanel.com

Since I've been obsessed with early twentieth-century art recently -- if you are having a wedding at an art gallery or museum, I think this abstract rose petal design would be a lovely choice:


("Cote d'Azur" offset-printed invitation ©2008 Blue Ribbon Design; contact Blue Ribbon for ordering information and pricing.)

Matisse & Picasso

The lithographs downstairs have me dreaming of the South of France and revisiting some of my visual memories from the 2005 exhibition, Matisse: The Fabric of Dreams - His Art and His Textiles. Matisse's palette seems extremely fresh right now and I'm entranced by the artist's ability to capture the essence of both form and pattern in an elegant and idiosyncratic way. Funny how certain things take a while to resonate.


Images above via Adrian Searle's review of the exhibition while at London's Royal Academy for The Guardian: Odalisque with a Screen, oil on canvas, 1923, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, © Succession H Matisse/DACS 2004; Odalisque with Yellow Persian Robe and Anemones, oil on canvas, 1937, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, © Succession H Matisse/DACS 2004.

Along the same line, this iconic Robert Capa photograph of Picasso and Françoise Gilot in the South of France recently popped into my head. Despite what we know about Picasso as a companion, isn't it a lovely image; so glamorous in a truly bohemian way. I wonder what type of stationery they wrote to each other on during during their romance...


Above image via the New York Times ("A 1948 gelatin silver print of Pablo Picasso and Françoise Gilot in France by Robert Capa, a part of the I.C.P.'s collection.")

New Inspiration

Philip Williams Posters is a vintage poster dealer two doors down from our new space and there is always an eye catching assortment on display in the windows facing Chambers street. Right now I'm drawn to these small format exhibition posters for the work of Miró, Picasso, and others.

(Photo of the current window display at Phillip Williams Posters, located at 122 Chambers Street.)

Taking a design from start to finish

I am often asked about the inspiration behind specific designs, so here is an example of how one greeting card progressed from inspiration to realization.

It all starts when I see something that catches my eye. In this case, I was taken by an illustration for one of Paul Poiret's most famous ensembles, "Sorbet." (Georges Lepape illustration for Gazette du bon ton, 1913, via The Metropolitan Museum of Art, metmuseum.org)


What appealed to me most were the stylized rosettes and the black & pink colorway. I made several sketches and eventually came up with a stylized rose of my own. The sketch was then scanned and cleaned up in Illustrator.

Once the line art was created I started working on the layout. I love patterns and thought that this rosette would make an elegant repeat reminiscent of early twentieth-century textiles.


In keeping with the Moderne mood, I choose a typeface smiliar to those seen in period advertisements. Voilà, the finished product.

Everything's coming up roses

A few of my favorite places that stylized roses have popped up recently.

Van Cleef & Arpels Roses de Noël

(photo from www.vancleef-arpels.com)

Liberty of London's Nineva Gold Necklace
Not sure if these are roses or camillas; I like to think they are roses
(image from www.libertyoflondon.co.uk)

Satin Rose slingbacks from Prada's resort collection

(from www.trendora.com Copyright © 2007)

La vie en rose

Ever since visiting the Metropolitan Museum's Poiret show this summer, I can't seem to get early 20th century modernism and the Art Deco aesthetic off my mind. Everywhere I turn I see Deco details that catch my eye and now it's beginning to show up in my initial designs for 2008.

I'm particularly obsessed with stylized roses - a favorite motif of couturiers Paul Poiret and Jeanne Lanvin. Apparently, I'm not the only one, since roses seem to be experiencing a kind of revival as another generation rediscovers this classic symbol of feminine beauty and allure. More on the renaissance of the rose in a bit...

(drawing of rose cascade © Blue Ribbon Design 2007)

Musée des Arts décoratifs

If you are visiting the Louvre, don't forget to visit the Musée des Arts Decoratifs. The period rooms are full of beautiful textiles, ceramics, glass, and furniture, and the hushed Galerie des bijoux provides a quiet and intimate viewing experience that is a welcome change of pace from the crowds in the main museum.

Musée des Arts décoratifs
107, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 55 57 50
www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr

(Photo from museum website: Broche « nœuds », 1819-1838, Paris, photo credit: Laurent Sully Jaulmes)

Decorative Details

Just a few pretty details. From top left: Wall covering from the Grand Trianon, detail of a painted frame in the Louvre, a striking color combination (yellow, salmon pink, black, and gold!), and a close up of de La Tour's pastel of Mme de Pompadour at the Louvre (love the shoes).

Poiret: King of Fashion

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York • on view through August 5, 2007 • www.metmuseum.org

New York, NY • I have always loved the Iribe and Lepape renderings of Poiret's ensembles, so it was a treat to see the actual gowns - with all their beautiful draping - in person. Many of the dresses on display were designed for Poiret's wife, Denise, and the exhibition explores her role as muse. Additionally, the exhibition makes the case for Poiret as a "prophet of modernity" not only because of his revolutionary approach to dressmaking, but his ability to successfully market his brand simultaneously across the realms of fashion, interior design and fragrance. The hand-painted perfume flasks for his Parfums de Rosine were a delightful surprise.



Left: to right Georges Lepape (French, 1887-1971), Hand-Colored Pochoir from Les choses de Paul Poiret, 1911; Georges Lepape (French, 1887–1971)"Serais-je en avance?" from Gazette du bon ton, 1912, gouache on paper (images from metmuseum.org).

On a related note, the Poiret inspired spread photographed by Steven Meisel in the May 2007 issue of American Vogue was utterly stunning.




Above: Steven Meisel, "Vogue: Fashioning the Century," Vogue (May 2007).