Helena Christensen - Harper's Bazaar Russia May 2011

Rackk and Ruin has another great post featuring one of my all time favourite models Helena Christensen. 

Its good to see her on the other side of the camera again! 

She was my favourite model growing up, I even named one of my cats after her!

Helena Always

Harper's Bazaar Russia May 2011

Shot by: Luis Sanchis

Model: Helena Christensen

VIA FashionCopious

 

laura x

Olo - violet and leather fagrance

My favourite perfume of all time is Bvlgari Black, can never get enough of it! But I’ve been told it’s no longer being made so my eyes are peeled for a new scent to take its place.

Olo is a cute little fragrance line based in Portland OR. They have very unusual scents like Lightning Paw, Victory Wolf and Dafne. 

The best thing is you can buy sample kits to test out the different fragrances, brilliant!

The one that really got my attention is Violet/Leather. 

This is what they say…

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

-Mark Twain

It smells like violet, it smells like leather.

Violet*Leather*Rosewood

Simple, romantic and to the point! 

Love it!

Now to pick which kit to order! 

laura x

Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress

I'm not really into the royals but it was a historical event and frankly I wanted to see the dress. 

Wow! It was perfect! She was stunning! 

The Official Royal Wedding website had this to say about Kate's wedding dress... Visit the website for the rest of the outfit including the meaning behind of the flowers that were chosen for the bouquet!

The Wedding Dress

Miss Catherine Middleton’s Wedding Dress has been designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.

Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing. Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen’s work. Miss Middleton worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress.

The dress epitomises timeless British craftsmanship by drawing together talented and skilled workmanship from across the United Kingdom. The dress design pays tribute to the Arts and Crafts tradition, which advocated truth to materials and traditional craftsmanship using simple forms and often Romantic styles of decoration. Ms Burton’s design draws on this heritage, additionally giving the cut and the intricate embellishment a distinctive, contemporary and feminine character.

The design

The lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. The lace design was hand-engineered (appliquéd) using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. Individual flowers have been hand-cut from lace and hand-engineered onto ivory silk tulle to create a unique and organic design, which incorporates the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock.

Hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace has been used throughout the bodice and skirt, and has been used for the underskirt trim. With laces coming from different sources, much care was taken to ensure that each flower was the same colour. The whole process was overseen and put together by hand by Ms Burton and her team.

The dress is made with ivory and white satin gazar. The skirt echoes an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats. The train measures two metres 70 centimetres. The ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of Alexander McQueen’s designs. The back is finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops. The underskirt is made of silk tulle trimmed with Cluny lace.

The Fabrics

French Chantilly lace was combined with English Cluny lace to be hand-worked in the Irish Carrickmacross needlework tradition.

All other fabrics used in the creation of the dress were sourced from and supplied by British companies. The choice of fabrics followed extensive research by Sarah Burton and her team.

laura x

Old photos from Modish

Over Easter I visited the old mining town of Dargo in the Victorian mountain side and saw some great old photos of the miners and their stylish women.

A long term project of mine it to frame all the old photos of my family that I scanned when I was last in Canada and hang them in my house. I have been collecting picture frames from op shops and have painted them either white or black. Now I just have to print the pictures out and figure out an affordable way to do matting. Any ideas? 

Speaking of old photos...Modish is one of the blogs I regularly follow and I was very excited to hear that a vintage photo post might become a regular thing! 

 

This is her collection of Portaits of Intriguing People

I love the lady in the throne and the cheeky smile of the kimono girl!

All photos are autochromes from the George Eastman House circa 1910-1920s

See the Modish blog for the links to thier individual pages

laura x

Decades of style

Most of us are 1950's girls but I love the glamour and style of 1920's and 1930's.

I'm very excited to find this pattern company 

Decades of Style! 

They have some lovely patterns that I am dreaming about making! 

What decade are you?

laura x

Loyal Luxe teepee

I think my little Mayzie would look very cute in her very own little teepee! 

Although she might end up using it as a scratching post or just tearing it up with her teeth. 

Why are cats such paper shredders?

You can buy your little sweety one at Loyal Luxe 

(check out the website they have the cutest videos of puppies and kittens!)

laura x

Pringle of Scotland has a sense of humour

I like when companies don’t take themselves too seriously. 

And Pringle of Scotland did just that with 

this cute video!

Now that it’s getting chilly out I’m thinking how nice it would be to own a cashmere cardigan!

Can anyone lend me 300 pounds?

laura x

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

I’m doing a David! 

Lots of new and exciting changes are happening here in Mina + Oli land.

Stay tuned to see what happens next!

image source www.progarchives.com 

 laura x

Moons and Diamonds

I think I might NEED this print by The Best Part, 

yes not want but need. 

What would a Psychologist say about that justification? 

But who doesn’t need moons and diamonds?

Oh ya, It's an image of the moon that was dissected and reassembled to form a diamond!

laura x

Elizabeth Taylor

I read this great article on Elizabeth Taylor on Rrefinery 29 this morning. 

She was quite the lady and will be missed!

10 Things You Didn't Know About Elizabeth Taylor

By Leila Brillson

Her violet eyes were eerily piercing, her love affairs were the stuff of legends, her acting range extraordinary. Today, the world learned that it had lost the icon of classic Hollywood and signature style, Elizabeth Taylor, who not only lit up the silver screen, but also touched hearts with her deep humanitarian commitments and unwavering support of AIDS research long before it was trendy. We'll never forget her viciously tugging on our heart strings as Maggie in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, or somehow reaching our souls playing Martha in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. With Elizabeth Taylor no longer with us, the world has lost the iconic Cleopatra—fierce, independent, always her own. In memoriam, here are 10 facts you may not know about one of the most fabulous women to ever live. Here's to you, Liz!

10. The New York Times' writer for Elizabeth Taylor's obituary actually died six years ago.

9. Her first marriage (of eight!) was to Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr., Paris' granduncle.

8. She was a close friend of star Montgomery Clift, and when he had the infamous car crash that disfigured him, he was leaving Liz's house. She found him, and saved his life.

7. She is actually Dame Elizabeth Taylor, thanks to Queen Elizabeth II.

6. Liz has owned some of the biggest bling to date: the 33-carat "Krupp Diamond", the Duchess of Windsor diamond brooch, the Grand Duchess of Russia emeralds, the "LaPeregina Pearl", and the famous pear-shaped 69-carat "Burton-Cartier Diamond". In fact, she is known to be a jewelry expert.

5. She's the godmother of Paris and Prince Michael Jackson.

4. Liz was on Twitter: @DameElizabeth.

3. Her fourth marriage to Eddie Fisher was directly responsible for the dissolution of his marriage to Debbie Reynolds. But instead of disappearing as a shamed home-wrecker, Taylor took the role of the sultry empire-wrecker Cleopatra in 1959.

2. She gave a voice to one of the most popular silent stars of all time: Maggie Simpson.

1. She had purple irises and a double set of eyelashes.

laura x

Gin & Jacqie blogged about me

It’s always nice to be talked about! 

Well when they say nice things that is and 
Jacqueline Ng over on Gin & Jacqie blog sure did
have some nice things to say!

Mina + Oli Loving these amazing clutches from Mina + Oli, brainchild of Canadian born Melbourne based designer Laura Thomey. We adore the romanticism involved in the label, from its name, (a combination of Laura’s grandmothers’ pet names) to its cause (to bring new life to preloved leather), to all the little details that go into each piece made.

laura x

Knock Knock

I think there are a lot of people who have a “thing” for stationary and I’m no exception!

I went goo goo when I found Knock Knock. 

100% pure cheek! 

They have gifts for all the people in your life

The annoying…

 Your work mates…

 Your buddies…

Your lover…

The eaters…

 The ones with little ones…

How to decide? 

Or just get them all! 

laura x

Style Caster - Crystal Renn: Surfer Videos

More cute fashion videos! 

This time it's over at 

Style Caster.

Were they inspired by Prada's fun video? 

Not sure but I like them...so keep them coming!

 

 laura x

John Galliano's last show

Only 20 outfits were shown in 

John Galliano's last show.

Here is a look at a few...

 

Image credit: Style.com

laura x - Still heart broken

Japanese Pattern Book

I stopped by the fabric store Tessuti a while back and ended up coming home with a beautiful Japanese pattern book! 

I'm not sure what the title is and the only English are the words "page" and 'how to make" so I think I might have my work cut out for me! 

The book consists of cute pictures of the clothing on a model with a corresponding letter to the design, then a section on how to make with detailed drawings (this will save me) 

At the back is attached a giant piece of paper with all the patterns on it, like a spider web. 

You must find your pattern and try to follow the right lines to trace it off. 

Thankfully the store gave me a cheat sheet. If all goes bad I can call my Japanese friend Naomi for help! 

I'm excited to start! 

It’s like a little adventure in my sewing room! 

I'll keep you updated on my progress!!

 laura x

John Galliano – The king has fallen

Really John? 

The rumours are flying… jail time, suspension, alcohol problem, and that it was all planned. 

They say he is officially fired! 

John what were you thinking? 

If you don’t know what I’m on about have a look at the video if you can stomach it. 

I’m disappointed and bewildered by his behaviour.

I think it’s so so sad that my favourite designer will no longer be creating his amazing designs for LVMH. 

What will he do now? Retire? Will anyone hire him after all this drama? 

laura x – heart broken