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Interview: Father Rabbit Homewares & Gifts
Brand new range of Danish white charcoal products, Sort of Coal, from Father Rabbit, which naturally purifies air, water, and body.
This interview has been long in the making – since December last year! What with busy schedules on both sides, co-founder of Father Rabbit, Claudia Zinzan, and I finally came together to talk about the birth of her homewares store which she shares with her partner, Nick Hutchinson. With a background as an interior designer, Claudia, established Father Rabbit with partner Nick, a camerman in the film industry (who’s worked on major silver screen flicks Silvia and The Fastest Indian) – the perfect partnership in love and work. The pair have enjoyed well-deserved success and media attention, following the launch of their real life, bricks’n'mortar store a year on from initially establishing the on-line store in 2010. With a creative eye for beautiful design and an obvious appreciation for the beauty of well-made everyday objects for the home and garden, and skincare, Claudia manages to successfully juggle family life (with a little toddler) and the Father Rabbit store which has taken over half of their Auckland villa!
What was the catalyst which motivated your desire to diversify and take on a homewares business in addition to your interior design consultancy? With the opening of the on-line store in December 2010 and the recent opening of a real-life ‘brick and mortar’ store, it was always part of our vision to open an actual space where people can experience your wares in their natural habitat. We have always imagined ourselves with a family run corner store and a business that was created with our ideals. We wanted to sell everyday products that elevate the mundane tasks around the home; dish brushes, toothpaste, storage, baking equipment, linen, and general home wares. We really had to start with a website, because that is all we could afford and naturally we wanted to test and build up the brand before opening our house up to our customers. The website gives us a great platform to clearly communicate the Father Rabbit brand, and now it’s an avenue to offer the entire product range giving us the luxury of keeping the store a bit more of a conceptual brand experience (rather than trying to cram everything in a small space). Our customers all have an element of the rabbit in them – either fastidiously neat, or trying to be! It’s wonderful to see how they react to our retail space. At once, just what they expect and also what they may aspire to achieve in terms of orderliness or aesthetic. Customers that come in are very chatty and responsive because it is our home, it doesn’t have such a “shop” feel. We often have cups of tea or coffee on the go, or wine after 4!
Father Rabbit store
With the shop and on-line deliveries sharing quarters in your home, how to do keep defined boundaries between work and family? The house does have two separate flats so we live on one side and the shop is on the other. It is fantastic to be able to leave home and walk around the front of the house to work, but on the flip side when we do have a day off it’s hard to leave it all behind… these days are usually spent weeding the front garden and keeping the house maintained outside ready for another retail week ahead. What’s awkward is when I walk out on Sunday mornings on our day off to get the paper in my pyjamas… I hope nobody notices!
What have been the highlights of creating and running Father Rabbit? The highlight has been seeing the growth of our brand. We honestly thought it would be a quiet little business that would tick along slowly. It was such a joy to be able to paint our house totally white, including the roof, floors and front door for Father Rabbit! Our house was a bit paint sad before that! We love sharing in visitor’s genuine lovely responses and the fascination that we live on the other side of the house!
What do you find the most challenging aspects of running your own business? Hard bits have been getting our head around retail systems, managing staff, and little things like wrapping quickly and efficiently but meeting the rabbit’s Standards Of Wrapping too! Remembering to order enough bags; all those little details that help our operation run smoothly! I felt sick the first time the till receipt roll ran out, mad panic. I have the hang of it now.
With your background in interior design and with your partner Nick in the film industry, it must be a match made in heaven for your joint business venture? My partner Nick (and father of my child!) works in the film industry as a focus puller, so you could say he too has an eye for detail! Nick was raised in a Father Rabbit sort of household, so he really gets the brand and he is an enthusiast for things done properly. We do work well together, thank goodness, only realizing this in hindsight! We didn’t even think about what if we didn’t! Nick often takes the photos and we use photographer, Louise Hyatt as well.
How did the alter ego of your company develop? Rabbit, or Father Rabbit, has been my nickname for years (after a memorable night in a French Restaurant Au Pere Lapin). We just thought it had such a great ring to it… “Father Rabbit’s General Store”. Over the years he has developed into a really defined personality, reflective of the particular way we aspire to do things. It was wonderful to see him come to life through the website, and experience first hand the way people react to, and resonate with him.
Reading about Father Rabbit’s delightfully detailed character traits, like how he “irons his pillowcases and tucks his sheets in with hospital corners” and is “disciplined” and “discerning”. Are these qualities you aspire to, as well as a way of expressing the ethos of your homewares business? We aspire to, but don’t always exist in such meticulous splendor in our half of the villa. At times we measure up to Father Rabbit’s exacting standards, and it’s at these times when we are happiest. Those fleeting moments when the books are in order, the beds are made, the garden weeded and the clutter cleared away.
Father Rabbit styles and provides table settings from their homeware range in collaboration with The Vitrine for Juliette Hogan’s new S/S13 collections at a media breakfast in Auckland. Photos: Karen Ishiguro
Models for Juliette Hogan’s S/S13 media breakfast shootin’ the breeze before showtime!
I see you offer an exciting new range of linen tea towels produced exclusively for Father Rabbit and illustrated by textile designer Angela McKay. Can you tell us about how the collaboration can about and how you came across Angela’s work? Angela McKay works in our store! She’s a recent design graduate and her illustrations are amazing. She came to me with her travel journal of illustrations and it was such a perfect fit. It’s been a really rewarding experience to help promote her alongside the Father Rabbit brand.
How would you describe your personal style? Is it similar to Father Rabbit? I love the orderliness of Father Rabbit’s style. I appreciate the calming qualities, though personally I am open to a bit more expression through vibrant colour and pattern.
What qualities do you look for in products you buy for your shop? Our pick of products are practical and pleasing in both form and function. There’s an underlying sense of quality and timelessness, they’re tried and true with an understated and calm aesthetic.
How much time do you currently devote to each of your businesses? Sometimes it feels like I never switch off… especially with work and home essentially in the same place. Currently I am working 6 days a week in the store, which is a bit trying. We are looking for a retail star to take over some of these aspects.
What are your most recent products to arrive at Father Rabbit? Sort of Coal, a Danish range of water purifiers, hair and skincare products, and a beautiful range of stationary from Sydney based Follow Paper Co, that we’re really excited about.
Can you give a preview of what’s to come? Father Rabbit Children’s PJs (ages 1 – 6) are due to be released this month! Super soft in white and grey with our design on them (baby rabbit by Angela McKay) in collaboration with G. Nancy.
Father Rabbit styling shoot which appeared in the Christmas edition of Australian based Fête magazine. Photos: Louise Hyatt
Father Rabbit Co-founder, Claudia Zinzan, shows off her styling talent with Father Rabbit homewares for Fête magazine. Photos: Louise Hyatt
What are a few of your favourite art and design pieces in your home? I love our old mantle pieces on the wall, which are all mint green, peeling paint. I love our wall paint colours too; Aalto Royal White, Aalto Umpire, Aalto Zinzan Chalky Pea Green (our own colour!) and Aalto ½ Division. In my old life I was a colour consultant. I am a bit of a colour palette nut!
What are your top three new year’s resolutions for 2013? This year I am going to take regular breaks, I burnt out, and wasn’t as productive at the end of last year. That really is my only resolution. I have lots of goals but not really a resolution sort of person. I have zero willpower!
What are you most looking forward to in the coming year? All the new exciting, fresh products coming in! We have really worked hard to find new things that aren’t always available in New Zealand. Plus we are doing our own range of pyjamas and more bed linen! We have a couple of exciting secret developments too! (watch this space for developments! – ed.)
What are your top favourite design/style blogs you’re visiting these days? The Design Files and Milo and Mitzy Travelling Wares by Sydney based New Zealand stylist, Kara Rosenlund (two fantastic style blogs which are at the top of my blog roll! – ed.)
Partners in love and work; the successful duo behind Father Rabbit – Claudia and Nick.
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Mint Styling Shoot: Kitchen
Mood/Product board designed to show visual concept of commercial styling shoot to the client.
The first styling shoot of the year was right up my alley – a simple white kitchen styled to give a country classic/industrial vibe for kitchen panelling company Panelform. Following the last kitchen I styled for the same company late last year here, with it’s glitzy metallic silver feature slash back, this kitchen was beautifully pared back – the perfect backdrop to create a nod to country classic style with a hint of industrial vintage chic. Using props like the long standing US brand KitchenAid (established by the introduction of the stand mixer in the 1920s) in the popular 1950s mint and classic cream, mirror the high quality kitchen finishing details by Panelform. Together with the US Mason’s vintage storage jar, from my personal collection, old school milk bottles and wire carrier with a few carefully arranged eucalyptus stems, and complemented by French galvanised Tolix stools, to give credence to the industrial look.
Appliances like KitchenAid reflect the client’s own quality product.
Commercial styling shoot for Panelform, photographed by Lisa from Lumo Photography, and styled by Majka Kaiser from Mint Style Studio.
Other props used to create the country classic/industrial style were a vintage wooden cheese box filled with fragrant thyme, an old aluminium shaker filled with fresh mint, a concrete mortar and pestle, (all from my own props collection) an old Crown Lynn ceramic jug, and vintage New Zealand map – both kindly lent from my fantastic local industrial antique dealer, Chaos Collectibles on Ferry Road. Both KitchenAid appliances were generously lent out from Askö, on Montreal Street, Christchurch.
I adore using fresh herbs and foliage of any kind in my work as they always add life and freshness. The historical items lend a sense of tradition, longevity, and integrity, which I strongly believe supports the same values in the client’s product. As my second only commercial styling shoot, I feel like I’m starting to get the hang of things and am learning new methods and tricks every time. I can’t wait for the next opportunity!
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Wedding Event Styling: The Little Details
One of the very first weddings styled and shot by Auckland based The Little Details, who specialise in boutique, handcrafted weddings.
Two talented young women; one, a super star stylist, the other, a kick-arse fashion photographer. The Little Details is the result of this dynamic combination where Gemma Speeden (stylist and co-owner of vintage fashion/design boutique Hunter Gatherer) and Heather Liddell (photographer), harness their combined creative talents to provide a boutique wedding service to brides and grooms who are looking for something a little extra special for their wedding day. I came across the pair’s brand new business whilst researching for fresh, new ideas for yet another wedding themed editorial for my regular contribution to the fortnightly local lifestyle magazine, Metropol. Not only did I find the duo to be incredibly helpful, but super friendly and down to earth. Here are a few more little details behind the story of how Gemma and Heather came together and what’s involved in creating unique stories for equally unique couples again and again. Read on to discover the stories behind both girls’ own romances and their Top Five Wedding Tips, including some great wedding blogs for inspiration and their favourite wedding dresses!
How did the two of you hook up and how did the idea of TLD come to fruition? Gem and I met through mutual friends a couple of years ago… One of those friendships that start up and you wonder why it took so long for that to happen. Haha we bonded over cider and discussing our favourite bloggers and designers. I had shot a couple of weddings and was keeping an eye on the style and photography that was trending on blogs and magazines. I loved seeing how creative couples were getting with the photography and wanted to be able to offer something a bit more personalised than what I saw in the market. Enter the oh so talented Gem Adams. After a few excited conversations we decided to combine forces and create a bit of a wedding photo/styling monster.
Intimate moments captured at the wedding of Hannah and Fraser, by The Little Details.
When was TLD founded? The concept was born circa 2011 and then I left for an overseas adventure and returned with a website and some determination, and we launched in mid 2012. So still a baby, but with our background and experience…more like Benjamin button baby.
The driving force behind TLD seems to be your interest in story telling and specifically telling the unique tale of the couple in question. So what’s the story behind each of your own romances? Heather: My tale is rather rare and quirky. I met my husband first when I was 14 sneaking into a ska punk show at the Kings Arms. But with four years between us we left it at a hello and a smile. Two years later we became closer friends and finally had our first date at an open air cinema watching one of my favourites, Donnie Darko. We dated for the next five years, became best friends, played together in a hardcore punk band, and continued our love for good movies and Italian food. He proposed one night after a festival film on the rooftop of a building in Parnell, and we were married in January 2009.
Gem: The first time I met my husband he was playing a punk band at the Saint James. I was promoting the show, and a sucker for a cute guy in a bandana, we locked eyes across the back line. In 2007, after that a few myspace messages (yes, myspace!) I headed to America to work for his band. From there I never left his side. We toured through the States and Canada, and during the recording of their last album my husband took me on a cross-word/scavenger hunt proposal. After two month engagement and planning frenzy we were married by the seaside in May of 2009.
The real-life romances of The Little Details founders; Gemma and her American beau (above) and Heather and her hubby, on their happy day.
Being a wedding planner involves organising a host of specialists. Are there particular businesses or people associated with the wedding business that you call on regularly to collaborate with? So far we have been a two-women band, but are always looking for wonderfully talented people to collaborate with.
Which elements of the wedding do you make yourselves? Depending on which collection the couple decides on, it varies. Mostly we focus on the styled photoshoot. With that we make whatever we need to, from garlands to backdrops.
Based in Auckland, how easy is it for TLD to organise weddings long distance for couples across New Zealand, or further afield, wish to use your services? We love the Internet! It’s such a big help with organising from a distance. We are currently crafting a shoot for a couple who are in Australia, but will be married Whangarei this summer. As for local sourcing there isn’t a lot that is local specific that we’ve needed up until now, but when that day comes we will ask our friend, the worldwide web, for a helping hand I think!
Pip and Scott’s big day including elements of travel and adventure, like retro caravans and sailing boats.
Can you give a brief outline of the different aspects TLD assists clients with and what the process involves? Well, we kick things off with a meeting. We want to get to know our couples well before the big day so we can craft something that resonates with who they are. There is usually a good long black or a cider involved. Then Gem and I sit down afterwards and brainstorm different ideas for a style we can thread through the photography, and will often scout an ideal location to suit that. We then create a mood board with the inspirations and muses for the photography, also with ideas on what kind of elements we can introduce to the photoshoot, like a vintage chair we’ve found or a peice of fabric we can use as a backdrop. After that we get the couples feedback on the ideas and either make or source items for the big day. It’s a detailed process but heaps of fun. We have a couple of other tricks up our sleeves as well, but we’d like to keep a couple of in-house secrets!
Do you find that most clients already know what they’re after in terms of style? Yes, most do. But a lot of brides appreciate a second opinion, and the photography and style of the photoshoot is often an area where they are a bit stumped.
How do you go about determining a couple’s style if they not sure where to begin? We have a pretty thorough questionnaire that we use to guide us, then through meetings and emails you get a feel for what the core of their personalities and relationship is. And a lot of the times it’s a bit of reading between the lines.
What have been the highlights for you both with TLD so far? Getting the website up and looking good, the amazing feedback we’ve had from friends and couples, and most definitely the best is when a couple gets their photos and love the memories and aspects of their personalities that we’ve captured.
Editorial inspired styling like this collection of travel items systematically laid out on a vintage New Zealand map, aptly illustrate the sense of adventure in couple Pip and Scott’s union.
Which aspects of running TLD do each of you find most challenging? Heather: Admin- a lot of emails hahaha! And coming up with fresh ideas that haven’t been shot to death! That’s a challenge I love though.
Gem: Yes. Fresh ideas, and individual ideas specific to that couple. It’s so much fun thinking out side the box of a typical wedding, but also can stretch the old brain a little!
Wow! What a beautiful group of bridesmaids flanking the bride! Gorgeous vintage floral patterned dresses with richly coloured iris posies.
Besides your obvious areas of expertise, how to do divide up all the other tasks your business involves between the two of you? Heather: I handle the emails and the day to day as well as the editing and final processing. The rest is split pretty 50/ 50. I love working as part of a team. Creatively, it’s how I tick, and I love having Gem capture the more candid and natural photos while I’m shooting.
Gem: I take care of the styling, making of props etc, and the sourcing. From the start we knew each others strengths and have played on those. We work rather well as a team; Heather is an incredibly talented lady and I’m pretty chuffed to work with her.
Are the props you source for the wedding shoot and table settings bought, borrowed, rented, or owned by yourself? Mostly they are owned by me, or made by me. I am always on the look out for something that I can use in the future and have picked up amazing things on my journeys, but I also have some great places and friends I can put to use too!
Another recent summer 2013 wedding of couple Lucy and Ru, styled and photographed by The Little Details.
What are your top five tips to create a special wedding event?
1 Aim to do something different and just for you. Traditions are good, but not always necessary. 2 Hit up the blogs for some fresh ideas. We love Ruffled, and Style Me Pretty is another goodie. 3 Be yourself. If a big puffy wedding dress just ain’t your thing, don’t do it! The options for simple and gorgeous dresses are so wide these days. Rue de Seine is one of our current favourites for classic, timeless dresses. 4 Remember it is a celebration, It is about you two deciding to be together for your lives 5 Have fun! At the end of the day things may not always go perfect, so roll with it – don’t fight it.
What plans to you have for TLD in 2013? Mostly to keep producing good work that couples love. I have been working away at a blog for the little details as well, that i love to get up and running this year. I personally would love to do a couple of winter weddings- they’re the best for lighting. As well as hopefully some overseas adventures- Florence was a favourite city for me and it would be a dream boat to shoot a wedding there.
The final editorial which appeared in 28 February 2013 issue of Metropol, written by Majka Kaiser.
For contact details, visit The Little Details and to keep up to date with their latest weddings, join them on Facebook.
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Fossik: Handcrafted Throws & Rugs
Handmade reversible quilts made from antique saris, from Sydney based online store Fossik
Fossik introduces delightful handmade throws and quilts made by Indian artisans
It’s Easter Friday, breakfast in bed – black coffee and pastries from my favourite bakery, Bellbird, and with one of my favourite interior mags, Inside Out. Immediately catching my eye on the first few pages are these incredible handcrafted quilts. Sold at a ridiculously reasonable price through Fossik – a Sydney based online store specialising in bringing exquisite throws and rugs made by Indian artisans. All things Indian naturally conjure up wildly colourful hues typical in their spicy food to their blindingly bright saris, which these quilts and throws are made from.
In addition to bedding, Fossik also offers beautiful handmade Moroccan rugs. Handcrafted using a variety of recycled materials such as cotton, synthetic fibres, and occasionally wool and plastic, these remarkable rainbow hued creations are made by the Berber women. Using a traditional style of weaving called Boucherouite, (pronounced boo-shay-reet),which is particular to rural tribes of Morocco, marks them out as unequivocally unique as the design follow no pre-designed pattern and are utterly at the whim of the maker. Equally at home in contemporary interiors, as they are in a homely home, they look great under foot as well as on the wall. Visit Fossik for their full range of new and vintage textiles for a truly characterful decorative piece for your home.
Stunning vibrant rainbow hued Berber rug handcrafted from recycled materials, from Fossik
These whimsical rugs sit comfortably with contemporary interiors, adding a quirky creative touch
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New Homewares Collection: Inventory by Daphna Laurens
New from Daphna Laurens, Legged Frame from their Inventory homewares collection - (beautiful styling guys! So in love with the tiny chair model and brass penguin!)
I love it when something appears in my in-box that’s worth shouting about! Dutch design duo Daphna Laurens (featured here last year here) have just launched their highly anticipated homewares collection entitled Inventory. This collection, all made from wood, includes four new items for the home. My top two favourites are the Legged Frame (above) and the Look Shelf (below) which appeal to the stylist in me. The Legged Frame is the perfect display solution if you rent, as it requires no screws or nails. Simply lean against a wall, and voila – instant style! The frame comes in two sizes and is available with either a slot for your favourite print or exhibition poster, or the choice of a mirror. Ideal for entrance ways, lounges, or bedrooms. The 12cm deep shelf below is perfect for displaying those special little treasures, a vase with a couple of buds, or a practical place to leave your keys, watch, and phone.
A stylish shelving solution – make your coffee table books works of art with Daphna Lauren’s new Look Shelf.
The Look Shelf was designed to showcase the item itself, whether it be your favourite book, album cover, or concert programme, this solid oak shelf is also a great in the kitchen for a recipe book or your ipad. Use singularly or make things a little interesting by positioning a few in a line horizontally, vertically to hold magazines, or carefully positioned in a cluster. To order, contact Vij5. All other items from the collection are available through Daphna Laurens. Contact Daphna Laurens here.
Clockwise from Top Left: the Look Shelf, Bottle House corks, and the Grid Plank ‘cut and serve’ boards
The cute little Bottle House wine corks caught my eye as not long ago I made some wooden houses just like these (here on facebook). The Grid Plank comes in four variations on the grid pattern which inspired their earlier Grid Table. Designed to cut on one side and serve on the other, is the answer to one of my conundrums concerning the practical versus stylish presentation on a chopping board! Thanks guys! You’re amazing!
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Mint Styling: Kitchen Shoot
Product/Mood board I create for the client prior to the shoot to give them a feel for the style I’m going for. I wanted to capture a simple, fresh feel with lemon and grassy green accents. Unfortunately we missed out on having the company of the Eames’ bird, as Corso de’ Fiori had completely sold out by the time we went to pick up the other products – four in one week! He sure is popular! Now they have brothers Bouroullec’s L’oiseau for Vitra!
A great styling shoot is not complete without complementary props. A huge thanks to all the local suppliers for making this shoot a success!
Well, it’s been a few months now since we shot this – my first ever commercial shoot. I was called in for the job by the lovely Lisa Gane from Lumo Photography (check out Lisa’s awesome new site!), whom I had the pleasure of meeting and working with a couple of years prior on my first magazine shoot for then Christchurch based interiors magazine, Homestyle. This shoot came along only weeks after leaving my full time visual merchandising position with Ballantynes department store. Arriving at the house at 6:30am for a four and a half hour shoot and then returning props all over town afterwards was pretty darn exhausting, but I was pretty pleased with the results. I’m happy to say that the client was too, and I have been re-booked for another shoot this week with a more country/industrial theme. I’ve sourced some awesome props and can’t wait to set it all up! Of course, all this would be impossible to do without the amazing skills of local suppliers of the floral arrangement and delicious homemade bread, and of course local retailers who have generously lent out furniture and designer products. See below for a list of suppliers and their contacts.
Commercial kitchen shoot for Panelform, photography by Lisa Gane of Lumo Photography, styling by yours truly.
Many thanks to the lovely Suzannah of Bolt of Cloth for the cute Marimekko cups, Marj from Corso de’ Fiori for the bread board, Citta glass vase, carafe, and tray, the clever girls at Aromaunga Flowers for creating this wild bouquet, delicious bread from the super friendly folk at Breads of Europe in Woolston, green bread bin from Askö Design (now at their lovely spacious new location at 210 Moorhouse Ave), and McKenzie & Willis for the loan of the Kartell Charles Ghost stools. All other props, stylist’s own - oh how I’ve always wanted to say that!!
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Nude: The New Black
Product spread I curated for 13 December 2012 issue of Metropol
With a background in visual merchandising where I mostly worked in the fashion sector, I find myself being asked to write a lot about fashion trends. This summer saw a wide variety of trends which often influence the interiors world, which is my first and foremost passion when it comes to design. I find it interesting to see how each inspires the other and what particular trends crossover from one design discipline to another. Sometimes a style feature like brogue detailing from the iconic brogue shoe, is then applied to a leather trim on a coffee table. This summer pastels were equally flaunted on the streets of Europe and the States, as were bold brights. I love these muted tones which are all variations on a theme of nude. Nude bares all in luxurious natural fabrics of cotton, silk, and leather, combined with brass and natural wood.
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Karen Walker Eyewear S/S13 Forever: Inspired Campaign
What a truly inspired collaboration between Karen Walker Eyewear & Ari Seth Cohen creator of Advanced Style, a fashion blog dedicated to celebrating the stylish and creative “silver set” on the streets of New York – where else?! For KW’s current S/S13 (northern hemisphere) eyewear collection, Forever, Cohen chose four glamourous New York women from 65 to 92 to photograph, imbuing this stellar eyewear range with integrity and timelessness. In addition to the wonderfully characterful imagery, the campaign includes a blurb about each woman, each of whom have the most fascinating and full lives with sage advice worth paying heed to.
65 year old model, Laura Rodin wears Orbit and Blue Moon sports Atomic from KW’s S/S13 Forever Eyewear collection.
80 year old New Yorker Joyce Carpati offers wise advice, “be positive in everything that you can and it will come your way”
Lynn Dell, is Manhattan born and bred. This vivacious 80 year old has been running her fashion boutique, Off Broadway, on the upper east side for 50 years.
92 year old Ilona Royce Smithkin has been living in the East Village for 60 years.
Polish born and Berlin bred, Smithkin, moved to the States with her family just before WWII where she’s lived ever since. An artist, she once painted Tennessee Williams’ portrait (what a claim to fame!). Still drawing and painting daily, Smithkin has been performing cabaret for the past decade! This gorgeous woman offers some sage advice, no matter your age, “I greet every day as a gift because I don’t know from day to day when I will be called away.” I couldn’t agree more.
View the latest Karen Walker Eyewear collection, Forever, here »
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God Is In the Detail: Bridal Gown Designer, Louise Anderson
Real bride Hannah Shepherd in a Louise Anderson couture bridal gown with her handsome groom, Simon Fox. Photo: Paul Tatterson
This bride not only looks incredible, but what a joy to see her kicking up her heels! Exquisite detailing of lace bodice on Louise Anderson couture gown. Photo: Paul Tatterson - just gorgeous Paul!
My work of late has involved meeting many extremely talented creative people in my community. Just when I was beginning to think I had to venture beyond my backyard to find these nuggets of creative gold, the writing assignments I have been given of late have led me to unearth some incredible local talent. I count myself incredibly fortunate to have had the pleasure of interviewing such people including the likes of the quiet genius, bridal gown designer, Louise Anderson. Working in the elite realm of couture bridal wear for over twenty years, Louise Anderson is one of the very few talents who has worked her way from the ground up by remaining in her hometown of Christchurch. Completing a fashion course at the Design & Arts College right here in the city, Louise decided early on that her talents were best suited to the bridal arena. Given her passion for luxury fabrics like silks and vintage hand made laces and embroidery, combined with her desire to create haute couture designs, bridal was the obvious path.
Louise Anderson’s bespoke bridal gowns on parade at New Zealand Fashion Week 2010
Louise had been working from home as her bridal boutique was in the Red Zone following the quakes, up until her and her family moved to their spacious architecturally built home set in the idyllic paradise of Tai Tapu. Just twenty minutes from the central city, yet a whole world away from the quake ravaged centre, this is the ultimate peaceful location in which to quietly sit for a bridal consultation with the designer. Consultations take the form of an informal chat about your wedding plans, your style, and any ideas you have for your gown. From here, the bride-to-be is able to try on a variety of different styles from Louise’s off the rack gowns in order to give both parties the opportunity to see which styles are most flattering. Often budget is a primary consideration, which will most likely determine whether you choose to go down the bespoke path or from her Ready to Wear collections, which as I write in the article, “are unlike any run-of-the-mill off-the-rack wedding dresses I have encountered before. Just as her bespoke gowns are made of glorious silks, tulles, organzas, and graced with intricate beading, so are these. What’s more, Louise makes alterations to ensure it fits your figure like a second skin.” However, if you do have the budget and hunger for an exquisitely handmade gown with the utmost attention lavished on the tiniest detail, Louise is definitely the woman for you. Every gown even has its own protective sheath, custom made and finished with beautiful satin ties. It’s this kind of devotion to detail which sets one at ease, knowing you are in fine hands. As Louise says, “It’s your wedding day. Therefore every detail must be perfect.”
Another Louise Anderson gown showcases brilliant craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. Photo: Jessica Jones
A stunning gypsy-like bridal Louise Anderson gown made with a hand embroidered lace. Model: Phillipa Hendry of Portfolio Models and Talent, Make-up: Damaris Lee, Hair: Siobhan Colligan, Flowers: New Brighton Florists, Photos: Johanna MacDonald
Metropol wedding feature on Louise Anderson, 31 Jan 2013. Words: Majka Kaiser, Photo: Johanna MacDonald
A huge thank you to Louise for sharing her insights with me and to all the photographers who contributed their stunning images for the article and this post.
To read the full article in the current issue (31 January 2013) on page 43, visit Metropol.
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Everyday Needs: A Stylist’s Haven
My latest acquisitions from the ever desirable Everyday Needs – yes, all vessels I hear you say!
You would think Christmas has come twice, and in quick succession in my little apartment. Stylist extraordinaire, Katie Lockhart’s shop Everyday Needs, has a downright divine curated selection of hand crafted simple everyday wares. As a stylist by nature and trade, Lockhart’s collection of desirable objects for the home are made with love by artisans from right here in New Zealand to California, Japan, England, and Sweden. My first purchases were the utilitarian Kaico enamel kettle with an elegant maple handle by Tokyo designer Makoto Koizumi and another Japanese piece, a Kashiwan hand turned oak bowl from the Kihachi studio where they have mastered this technique over six generations. While the sheer beauty of the grain and its contemporary form caught my attention, it wasn’t until I felt it’s flawlessly smooth surface, that I was completely won over. The core ethos of true beauty and workmanship lies within each and every piece sold here at Everyday Needs.
So, as you will now be aware, I am a die hard fan of anything which encapsulates these qualities. So when I saw there was a sale on some of the items I had most coveted over the past year, I found it impossible to resist. First and foremost has been Austrian designer Carl Aubock’s effortlessly elegant modernist brass watering can. I must say, even at half price, I did feel awfully naughty parting with such a large sum for such a perfunctory object. However, therein lies the beauty. Seeing the beauty in the seemingly mundane, is where the greatest happiness can be found. The other vessels of wonder I had been salivating over were Gidon Bing’s ceramic pitcher, Stephen Bradbourne’s pottery cups, and the American Modern Pitcher by industrial designer Russel Wright. With an exciting new plan of action to do more styling work this year, you’ll be seeing these beautiful items in upcoming shoots! Of course, as one is never satisfied when feeding a serious addiction like this, I have compiled a little list of future items to add to my ever expanding collection below.
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