Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Jean-Paul Gaultier: moods for Maison

all photos from Lelièvre
Vagabond
I always think of the style Jean-Paul Gaultier as a gust of good humor playing at the masterful cuts and seams of his Couture collections. The designer never fails to give a brisk shake to the wrinkles of propriety by using a mischievous print or by converting what is rock, kitsch, and everyday into high fashion. Yet he never stints on rigor and traditional craft. By teaming up with the design department at Lelièvre,  his inventive joie de vivre has recently found its way into the home.

But there's another side to that effervescence, as you can see. I've selected 5 new fabrics from Jean-Paul Gaultier's most recent collection, Le Défilé, and what comes across is a romantic mood even with the state of the art technology that is evident behind these designs.

The relaxed linen digital print above called Vagabond set the tone for me with its flowing composition and roaming, soft focus photographic scene. (The boldest items of the collection, I'll leave you to see on the at the end of this post.)


Casino
Lace is a constant in Gaultier's world and this clever Jacquard stand-in, with all its delicate appearance, is actually resistant enough to be used as upholstery.




Coquin
A small graphic motif with clean lines and iridescent weft.



Spacial
Large scale irregular dot design with a dynamic painterly spirit on an innovative and resistant 
new cotton material that imitates suede -



in deep,warm colorways.


Mousaillon
Sweetly nostalgic with humor creeping in -
there's the ubiquitous striped Gaultier marinère on the putti and romantic figures here. What seems to be a classic arrangement of medallions is in fact a woven compostion of six different scenes which can be isolated and cut out to use creatively in an original decor.
***



And now, you can follow up on the boldest, most colorful side of the collection at the 


Thursday, October 17, 2013

Light as air

photo Lelièvre 

Kenzo isn't alone to have its textile head in the clouds lately. A glance outside was always good for inspiration and now this cloth makes the perfect reverie for a
window with or without a view. 
Lelièvre has designed Cirrus, a wide width textured sheer in grey... 

Cirrus

or blue. 

photo Atelier de Soierie
In Lyon, the Atelier de Soierie proposes cumulus and stratus scarves inspired by two artists. 
Ruisdael...



photo Atelier de Soierie

and  Boudin

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Vincent Darré Print Collection for Frey


photo © Claire Israël
I like a surreal touch here and there, it keeps us on our toes, so the universe of Vincent Darré has always tickled my fancy. He recently gave his particular stamp to the smallest room in the 17th century hôtel particulier, L’Enclos des Bernardins where this year's AD magazine France interior decorating event took place. Darré was one of 15 other leading decorators and architects who worked within the theme of Metamorphosis. 

The narrow room was no limitation for the designer's fancy. In fact, he chose its strange dimensions with its towering ceiling and broad windows for the surrealistic dream place of a "Little Prince," as the Darré christened the bedroom. In collaboration with the celebrated upholstery firm, Jean-Paul Phelippeau, no less than 6 prints from the collection Vincent Darré for Pierre Frey deck the walls and cover the the furnishings here. A trip to the 40s in the Frey archives assured Vincent Darré a meeting with kindred spirits of the era in the designers Monsieur Fontaine and Janine Janet, Irène Rohr....

photo Pierre Frey


The design for the curtains in the picture comes from Irène Rohr's Le Soleil a moustaches, 1944.


photo St Tyl
On the bed,  Rêve d’analyste  and covering the toys Songe zoologique - both are original designs by 
Vincent Darré

photo St Tyl

On the walls, Darré's  Nuit d’architecte 

photo St Tyl
Le Zoo design by Janine Janet

Tassels and trim are from Declerq Passementiers.

photo St Tyl

 Au lasso design by M. Fontaine