I ♥ PERFUME

I believe that one of the senses that is the most neglected in design is smell. We are always concerned about how things look and feel, even how things sound, but when it comes to design, smelling if often forgotten. I am so grateful for the ability to smell. I think there are few things more pleasant in life than hugging someone, or greeting someone with a kiss and sensing the delicious smell of perfume. I love it when I put my hair up in a bun when it is still wet, and hours later let it down and the fragrance from my shampoo is still there. I love how powerful odors can be, and how they can trigger your memory so quickly. I will never forget the smell of my mom's house. Every single time I go there, as soon as I go through the threshold I can smell cleanliness and the sutil perfume of whatever home scent she has plugged in.

Anybody who knows me knows I LOVE food. Now that's an art form that takes smell seriously.

Anyhow, this post is actually about something that combines great design and great scent - perfume!

I love perfume, and never go a day without it. So here is a compilation of some of my favorite designs and all time favorite perfumes! 

How about you? What is your favorite perfume? I would love to know! =)

 

I ♥ FEMININE FASHION

Now here is a fashion designer who's work I truly admire: Elie Saab. I love the fact that he makes such feminine and delicate collections. Did you know that he is a self taught designer? Talk about a God-given gift! Some people are just born to do certain things. Elie Saab was born in Beirut, Lebanon and loves fashion design since he was young. When he was only 9 years old he would sketch dresses and make them out of his mother's curtains and tablecloths for his sisters to wear. Soon his fame spread around the neighborhood. Can you believe he opened his couture atelier when he was 18? He went to Paris to study fashion design, but became quickly bored and that's when he decided to open up shop. I love the fact that he is a family man, married for 21 years and has 3 children.  Bravo Elie Saab. I hope someday I can at least see one of these gowns with my own eyes (what I really want is to wear one of them, but lets get real, I'll be content just touching it!) He has been an official member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture since 2003, and his REady to Wear Collections are amazing as well.

Here are some of my favorite dresses from his Haute Couture Spring 2011 Collection. I am in love with the color palette and natural airy flow of the dresses. My favorites are the pale pink ones! 

You can check out the whole collection here.

(pictures from www.elle.com)

I think this is my very favorite one!

I'm In love with this dress! 

I ♥ OPERA

Magazine cover by Italian Artist Leonetto Cappiello - one of the pioneers of modern advertising

Here are some of his posters:

Now enough about Capiello and on with what this post is really about. Today's inspiration is opera. I love opera, specially Italian opera. I love the costumes, the music, the acting, the sutil humor and everything else about it.Yesterday night my husband and I spent a couple of hours listening to our favorite ones, like Rigoletto. It just makes my soul happy!  How sad is it that this this video of Pavarotti and Sutherland in Rigoletto only has 27,346 views and Justin Bieber's Baby has 537,230,394? I'm not saying anything bad about Justin Bieber, but it just seems unfair to me that these are the numbers. Anyway, hope you enjoy one of my favorite opera songs (and please disregard the voluptuousness of the singer if at all possible).

COLOMBIAN NOSTALGIA

When I was 14, I had the amazing blessing to move to Colombia. I spent 4 of the happiest years of my life in that country. Colombians are literally some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I miss something about Colombia nearly every single day. Most times it's my dear friends, sometimes it's the delicious food, but there are so many more things that go on that list: the beautiful green mountains of Bogota, the perfect never too cold/never too hot weather, their beautiful accent, their extreme politeness, the kindness with which mothers always speak to their children, the hard working people who are everywhere, the colonial architecture, the happiness of people who have endured a lot and are proud to be a nation that fights for freedom. The list could go on forever. There are no words that can express the love and respect that I have for those people. 

Looks like the setting for a Fairy Tale right? Colombia is my inspiration today. The country is filled with talented musicians, painters and actors.  One of the things that impressed me the most is the local traditional craftwork. I especially love the graphic design quality of the geometric designs of the Mochilas and the Caña Flecha works made with natural cane fibers. Enjoy! You can purchase and look at some of these items online here and here.

This last one is called a "Sombrero Vueltiao" and it has become a National Symbol for Colombia. Previously worn by peasants, now nearly every Colombian has at least one of these at home.

GRUAU INSPIRED GALLIANO WHO INSPIRED ME

Rene Gruau was the italian fashion illustrator who had a lot of influence in the Haut Couture world specially during the 40's and 50's. He worked as the advertising artistic director for Christian Dior in the late 40's and his style became iconic in the couture world. Even though he worked for fashion houses like Givenchy, Lanvin, Balenciaga and Schiaparelli, he is best known for his campaigns for Dior. Here are some of his works:

For Dior's Spring 2011 collection, John Galliano drew inspiration directly from Gruau's illustrations and created fabulous dresses. I love this collection! The red/gray/black combination is chic beyond measure, and the delicate tulle that was used to create that painterly chiaroscuro effect is applied masterfully. I love how feminine these dresses are, and how effortlessly weightless some of these dresses and headpieces look! Enjoy. You can check out the entire collection here.

Photos by: Yannis Vlamos