The Entrée of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris with the imitated façade of the house on Avenue Montaigne, where even today atelier and flagshipstore of Dior are located: Bonjour, Christian Dior!

As a teenager, I was enthusiastic about “Miss Dior”, a fragrance that Christian Dior launched as the first perfume of Dior in 1947. My godmother gave me the perfume classic for my 16th birthday. My first luxury accessory, which flowery note I still have in my nose today. At the moment the Christian Dior exhibition “Couturier du Rêve”, which not only reminds of the perfume history of Dior, is running in Paris. The exhibition is devoted to the life and work of the haute couture master, whose empire turned 70 years on July 5.

Christian Dior loved the opulence, both in the interior and in his clothes creations

For me it was clear to go to Paris: This show cannot be missed as an art and fashion affine person. I had heard from friends that endless visitors were winding around the northern part of the Louvre, where more than 300 haute couture robes from seven decades were displayed in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs on 3,000 square meters. With my online ticket, I quickly passed the queue, into an exhibition that took me for hours on a spectacular journey through the decades of French luxury.

The garden theme with dresses by different Dior designers in floral prints and applications. The pink bustier dress (center) is a creation by Christian Dior, left Raf Simons, to the right Maria Grazia Chiuri

A retrospective of the history of one of the most important couture houses with personal letters and photos – also unpublished private photographs of Christian Dior, first fashion drawings and designs, campaign pictures and videos, accessories such as bags, shoes, jewelery and the legendary perfume bottles. The exhibition, which is divided into various conceptual spaces on themes such as the “flower dreams”, the “boudoir” or the “great evening gown”, begins with the collection debut of Christian Dior in 1947.

“Diablesse”: Red dress of Christian Dior’s collection debut in 1947

In addition to the partial robes of the great master, who died of a heart attack in 1957 at only 52 in southern France, the show also presents the successors of Dior. In the same year, his former assistant Yves Saint Laurent took over the fashion space that had been successfully established for a decade. He was followed by Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and today’s chief designer Maria Grazia Chiuri. “Couturier du Rêve” is a tribute to one of the greatest fashion creators of all times, the legacy of Christian Dior, which impressively shows how the brand has influenced the fashion industry and the culture for decades. I am impressed. J’adore Dior.  BvH

A retrospective of the history of one of the most important couture houses with personal letters and photos – also unpublished private photographs of Christian Dior

About Christian Dior

Born in Normandy in 1905, Dior, who wanted to become an architect, began as a gallerist in Paris with financial support from his father, an industrialist. Due to the insolvency of his father’s company as a result of the global economic crisis in 1931, Dior first designed hat fashion for the fashion supplement of the newspaper Le Figaro and finally modèces for Parisian haute couture fashion houses. The fashion designer Robert Piguet drew attention to Dior and engaged the talented painter and draftsman in 1938. After the Second World War, Dior received from the wealthy textile manufacturer Marcel Boussac 60 million francs as starting capital for the establishment of the Haute Couture house Christian Dior. In the same year he moved his studio to the elegant Avenue Montaigne in Paris, where the Dior flagship store still is today. The first fashion collection, presented by Dior in February 1947, was a sensation and was celebrated by American journalists as “The New Look”. After the scanty, simple ladies’ wear of the war years, Dior created a narrow waist, figurative tops, wide, opulent skirts of noble materials, combined with elegant wagon-wheel hats and long gloves. Critics criticized the lavish use of scarce resources and a return to antiquated fashion in times of emancipating women, but Dior’s influence was considerable: Quickly his high-priced haute couture designs were copied from the mass market.

Black-and-white fashion photographs showing Dior models

With every season Dior presented a new ‘look’, always cheered by the fashion industry and the wealthy customers. The calyx-line was followed by the dome-, lily of the valley-, the pencil-, H-, A- and Y-lines. Dior’s creations contributed significantly to making Paris a fashion capital.

With numerous worldwide licenses – including perfumes – Dior built up an empire within a few years. He was considered reserved, shy, and humble, and felt uncomfortable in public affairs in society. His homosexuality was not addressed in the public at that time. In October 1957 Christian Dior died, presumably due to a heart attack. He was one of the most internationally renowned fashion designers and left a mark that was successfully developed under his successors.

One theme of the exhibition is devoted to the development of Dior perfumes – including their elaborate flacons

Tip:

Book your ticket for the exhibition online. This avoids waiting for hours. You need patience anyway, because there is a great deal of excitement in front of the individual exhibition pieces. Therefore also be cautious of pickpockets (living without my beloved cashmere scarf ever since). Plan sufficient time: It took me four hours to look at the exhibition.

So beautiful: On the left a design by Christian Dior from 1956, to the right of his successor Yves Saint Laurent from the year 1960

Info Christian Dior Exhibition:

The world’s largest Dior exhibition „Couturier du Rêve“  runs until the 7th of January 2018 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

Christian Dior, who wanted to become an architect, began as a gallerist in Paris

He first designed hat fashion for the fashion supplement of the newspaper Le Figaro and finally modèces for Parisian haute couture fashion houses

One dress more beautiful than the other

Personalities such as the English Princess Margaret (Foto), Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich and Lady Diana were dressed by the traditional house

Today, Jennifer Lawrence, Natalie Portman and Rihanna are among the fans of the Dior brand

Here are the designs by John Galliano (far back) and Raf Simons (middle) with a reminiscence of Christian Dior’s predilection for opulence

This part of the exhibition is devoted to colors: Accessories and clothing in white …

… black-and-white …

… Gray … and elaborately designed mini models, which show the respective design already in detail

… Orange …

… Red …

… Purple …

… in all nuances and shades …

… Blue …

… and Black

“Parfum is the finishing touch to any dress.”

One of my favorite gowns

Lush embroided evening peeptoe

And always John Galliano ..

… who fascinates me with his imaginative creations as here on the topic of the Far East. To the right a design by Christian Dior

John Galliano: “Thamar” and “Shéhérazade”, Spring-Summer 1998

The Garden topic in rose variations

… and Dior’s lily-of-the-valley line (far back) interpreted by his successors

This filigree embroidered floral gown is designed by Raf Simons

And once again John Galliano: Beyond beautiful, isn’t it?

On a journey with imperishable fashion from all Dior decades

Dior on the titles of international high-gloss magazines: “The photographs and drawings published in the magazines often present me with an entirely new light on my creations.”

They shaped the heritage of Christian Dior and represent the further development of the Dior style: Yves Saint Laurent

Marc Bohan

Gianfranco Ferré

John Galliano

Raf Simons

Maria Grazia Chiuri

“I wanted my dresses to be moulded to the contours of the female body.”

Atelier atmosphere with designs, which are first made of white nettle, which is demonstrated in this part of the exhibition of seamstresses

At the end of the exhibition, the real highlight is the spectacular presentation of a staging of lush elegance, light and sound installation. For this room alone one should plan half an hour

MyStylery in action – the world’s largest Dior exhibition “Couturier du Rêve” runs until the 7th of January 2018 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris

The post Christian Dior exhibition in Paris appeared first on My Stylery.

Black and white is coming in: here at Versmissen, which, with man-made wall sculptures, drew the visitors’ attention to this stand

Finally, it was time again: My favorite interior trade fair – the “Maison et Objet” in Paris – presented the interior trends for the upcoming autumn-winter season to the expert audience for five days. I must tell you honestly that after this long-running rainy summer I am far from being receptive to the cold season. I would rather be thinking about new garden furniture for my country house than to write about warming materials and the new autumn colors.

At the Maison et Objet, international exhibitors present the new living trends in eight halls on 130,000 square meters

The good news is that as soon as I enter the exhibition grounds with the endless halls and the seemingly thousands of exhibitors, I immerse myself in the world of goods offered to me. The offer makes it easy for you to adjust to the cold season – which I couldn’t change anyway. So: bye bye summer and welcome autumn. For example with a candle in the spicy scent “Cidre” by the Irish manufacturer Max Benjamin. With this I choose a cuddly plaid in wool or cashmere from Elvang from Denmark, sprawl myself in Tibetan lambskin pillows by the Dutch brand “Lifestyle Home”. I arrange the whole thing on a dark green velvet sofa, as I have seen it at Versmissen. Sounds cozy, doesn’t it?

Europe’s largest interior trade fair did not have much new features. For the coming season, the exhibitors are relying on already established materials such as velvet, brass, fur

With a few accessories and handgrips, the new season can be perfectly staged in your own home. It is not necessary to replace the complete equipment. I love walking through the forest, collecting chestnuts, acorns, moss-covered branches and gold-colored leaves, and making a small arrangement with them. Simple ingredients – great effect. And indeed: I now enjoy the change of the seasons, rejoice in the soothing colors and think: Autumn can come.  BvH

I like this ensemble of glass flacons in browns and blues alot – seen at Pols Potten

Loving the floral patterns on the lampshades – they remind me of paintings of old masters

Yellow is the new trend …

… very nice in combination with black …

… seen at Asiatides

So retro – so chic: The pineapple lamp foot by Asiatides makes the 1950s resurrect

The chandelier is reinterpreted: Instead of a large candelabrum, many individual (and gladly also different) lampshades merge into an illuminating eye-catcher

A blue and white peacock chair: très chic!

Funny decoration idea: Fully loaded minibus with baskets and suitcases made of bast

Again popular in the lamp segment: porcelain shades in nostalgic shapes like here at Bobo Boom

Light up!

Trendy glass lamps in round shapes …

… for example these ones by the Polish brand Schwung, are still in trend

The new romantic – I like it!

Spookily beautiful: An almost floating bust made of spring-like tulle under a glass bell

Living in industrial style is still very much in demand. But where put the bicycle? Here is the solution!

One of the major interior brands is Eichholtz from the Netherlands. Eichholtz has recognized the retro trend and has revived the 50s and 60s with ice cube containers in pineapple form …

… couch tables with ears bunch-shaped feet …

… dainty armchairs in a bamboo look …

… lamps made of bronze-colored palm fronds in brass, a material that is gaining importance

Florida feeling with mouth-blown retro lamp feet: Sometimes in bright colors …

… or in elegant nude tones

Portugal has been an interesting market for innovative furniture design for a number of years, such as the Mambo label …

… which incorporates Portugal’s famous tiles in its furniture design

Almost a sculpture, which in any case takes a lot of space: Sink from an XXL natural stone

Nature – a wonderful, inexpensive supplier for autumn decorations

The photographic wallpaper – here as a light installation – is experiencing a comeback as here at Flamant

Autumn leaves in a different experience: the wall lamp is made of bronze and glass

Are they real? Yes, though no more alive: Stuffed flamingos as decoration objects

Miami style by Jonathan Adler

Autumn can come with this cozy leather sofa from “Lifestyle”, fur plaids and cuddly pillows in the colors of autumn: cognac brown, fir green and granite gray. Beautiful accessories such as the candle holders made of brass

Lush Gobelin pillows by the Spanish manufacturer Becara

Beautiful items for the laid table in autumn nuances

The interior scene is based on the color palette of the fashion industry with the just-hottest bordeaux, green and berry tones

The post Autumn tendencies at the Maison et Objet appeared first on My Stylery.

A Mother-daughter-weekend in one of the most beautiful cities ever: Paris, here on Place des Vosges

I often get asked about tips for Paris. As you know, one of my favorite places, when it comes to city breaks. Of course one day in Paris is definitely too short. But to prepare your stay and make the best out of it, here you’ll find a few things to do in the city of love. Paris has so many sights to offer, so for a first – and easy – impression and orientation, I actually suggest a ‘hop on hop off’ bus tour. I also did this with my daughter at our mother-daughter weekend. She first thought it was stuffy, but then okay. You can book tickets online in advance, what I also recommend for museums like the Louvre.

The cathedral Sacre Coeur – one of the sightseeing highlights and tourist attractions in Paris

If you have the opportunity to be in Paris during the week, it is simply more beautiful in many places than on the crowded weekends.

Start the day early (!) in the morning in Montmartre – in good weather you have the best view over Paris and the district with Sacre Coeur only for you.

Silent streets in Montmartre – and Sacre Coeur in the background

There is a small, hidden hotel where you can stay and enjoy very nice breakfast: The Hotel Particulier Montmartre in the middle of a small, bewitched garden. I love it!!!

Visit the Père Lachaise cemetery, where many celebrities are buried in impressive graves: This is pure romance.

The grave of the composer Frédéric Chopin in the cemetery of Père Lachaise. Foto: Internet

I would go from here to Marais. The youngsters love this hood. Especially the very cool concept store “Merci” on the Boulevard de Beaumarchais. Here or at the Café “Benedict” you can also have breakfast. The Benedict is totally hip and comes originally from Tel Aviv. They serve breakfast 24/7.

One of my favorite addresses, when ist comes to shopping in Paris: The cool concept store “Merci“. Foto: Merci

From here take a trip to the most beautiful square of the Marais district, the Place des Vosges and stroll through streets like Rue Vieille du Temple or Rue des Francs Bourgeois with lots of nice boutiques and shops. Nearby is the Picasso Museum.

I love the area and atmosphere around the Place des Vosges

From the Marais you can walk along the Seine to the Louvre. How about a boat trip on one of the Bateaux Mouches?

How about a boattrip on the Seine with a Bateau Mouche?

On the Rue Saint Honoré you will find all the luxury boutiques, such as Dior, Hermès, Saint Laurent … In the mood for a break? Than enter the Hotel Costes and ask for a table in the lovely courtyard. Here I had probably the most expensive spaghetti, but served in such a chic setting and people watching included ;-). Around the corner you find the always crowded Colette store, the mother of all concept stores, which by the way will closes its doors in December  – forever.

Will be closed in December: The famous concept store Colette. On the first floor the women’s department

The end of a legend

Crossing the Seine river: From Rive Droite to Rive Gauche

Pass the Louvre with the pyramid and cross one of the bridges from here to visit the Ile de France, Notre Dame and Saint Germain. A coffee – or a glas of Champagne – at “Café de Flore” or “Les Deux Magot” is a must. And of course the perfect place for a little nightcap to celebrate life. Santé!  BvH

Founded in 1887: The Café de Flore in the Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés at 6th Arrondissement in Paris

MyStylery’s tips for Lunch and Dinner in Paris:

1.) There is “L’Avenue”, trendy, chic and pretty expensive, but definitely a place to see and be seen

2.) “Caviar Kaspia” on Place de la Madeleine is the hotspot of the model and fashion scene during Fashion Week

3.) “Le China” at 12éme – when it comes to Asian Food in a nice dinner atmosphere. I love this place!

4.) “Robert et Louise”, which is a quaint French restaurant in the Marais district

5.) The secret lunch place of former top model and style icon Inès de la Fressange is a typical Parisian place: ”Le Chardenoux des Prés” in Saint Germain

6.) And there is an elegant and beautiful decorated Ralph Lauren Restaurant: “Ralph’s” on Boulevard Saint-Germain

The cosy courtyard of Hotel Costes with a great but expensive restaurant: Très chic! Foto: Hotel Costes

Don’t miss:

1.) The best and unbeatable flea market is the Maché aux Puces! But it’s a bit outside the center and open only during the weekend

2.) The DIOR exhibition “Christian Dior – Couturier du Reve” – at the Musée des Art Décoratif (until January 2018)

3.) And last not least the shopping paradise “Le bon Marché”: Shop till you drop!

(Too) many people infront and inside the cathedral of Sacre Coeur during the afternoon. Tip: Try to get here very early in the morning!

Fantastic view from Sacre Coeur to the Parisian skyline

My secret hideaway: The Hotel Particulier in Montmartre …

… in the middle of a small, bewitched garden …

… where I can easily relax from the city’s hurly-burly

Sooo beautiful: Lush Wisteria infront of white house facades

Always a good idea: Breakfast at Ladurée, also well known for the delicous Macarons

The Métro, for me the best (and fastest) way of moving in Paris. Tip: Safe money and buy a carnet, a ticket booklet with ten single tickets

The Eiffel tower, the landmark of Paris. Foto: Internet

Pyramid and Louvre

Me infront of the cathedral of Notre Dame

The Grand Palais, museum and the venue for important individual exhibitions as well as the fashion shows during the Parisian Fashion Week

The classic Parisian kiosk in dark green, decorated with a small dome

These unique roofs and romantic mansards only exist in the city of love

Worth a visit, just because of the opulent architecture: The Galeries Lafayette in Paris

The post A perfect day in Paris appeared first on My Stylery.

Summer can come with colorful tableware from Pols Potten

Twice a year the interior fair ‘Maison et Objet’ in Paris opens its gates for the expert audience: The M&O is the platform for thousands of international buyers, interior designers, architects, shopkeepers and lifestyle journalists who flood the fairground with its eight exhibition halls. Even though the mood in September 2016 was rather dampened due to the terrorist attacks in France, the response to the show this spring is a lot stronger and brighter.

Colorful pillow parade! Cotton pillows by Van Verre

For many years I visit the Maison et Objet and I do that always with great enthusiasm, as it is the most diverse and informative exhibition of its kind. While the ‘Salone del Mobile’ in Milano showcases large design brands of the furniture industry, the Maison et Objet shows all areas of living, decorations and furniture designs, home accessories, textiles, fragrances, the world of the child, tableware. Every time I ask myself how the exhibitors and designers create a new motto, a pioneering theme, within a period of less than six months.

No longer so fluttery, but still beautifully colorful – butterflies under a glass hood

A challenge that has to be faced by the fashion industry as well. Both industries benefit from the seasons and the associated materials and colors. But convincing customers to buy a new sofa or new tableware requires another, in my opinion, greater persuasiveness of the seller and the needs of the customer than buying a new dress or a bikini.

Green is still very trendy

The good news: color green – which I already discovered on the last Maison & Objet as a trend – remains. Videlicet in all its nuances, from delicate lime green to bright petrol to elegant fir green. For spring and summer 2017, the industry has yet another motto: Color, color, more color. The whole Maison et Objet presented itself in a single color noise. What could be more beautiful during this gray season? BvH

The colorful world of the French company Asiatides

Chic: Black and yellow play of colors

Very popular are velvet sofas

I really like those brass door handles in the form of parrots and trees. Handwork from India

For (luxury) children: retro plane as (day) bed from Magical Furniture

Rosé-colored velvet sofa by Bruccs in front of matching flamingo wallpaper. So retro, so cool!

Color, color and more color: carpets of Italian Seletti

Classic wicker sofa by Gervasoni in front of a cute flower wall

Green, green, green

I love the green glasses. They make you want to spend some summer holidays

Outdoor furniture by Missoni homecollection

Colorful ceramic beetles as a decorative element at the Portuguese designer Mambo

A petrol-colored sofa as an eye-catcher on the stand of the Dutch manufacturer Versmissen

Color by nature: multicolored fowl

Different shades of orange by Versmissen

The Jonathan Adler collection is always good for a colorful surprise

Brit-Chic by Jonathan Adler

The whole Maison et Objet presented itself in a single color noise …

… as here at the booth of Fancy

Each glass is unique: glass art by the Italian designer Carlo Moretti

Trash or art? Armchair for friends of stuffed animal formations and for fans of extravagant living designs: Flamingo chair of the Belgian label AP …

… Also available in the variants wild boar …

… penguin …

… bunny …

… and swan

Color, color and more color

The product range at Maison et Objet includes not only decorations and furniture designs but also home accessories, textiles, fragrances, the world of the child …

… and tableware. This one is from Lifestyle homecollection

If you do not have enough books, you can now stick them on. Wallpaper on the stand of Venetia Studium

Lampshades made of peacock feathers: How wonderful is that?

Also an installation idea: chandeliers at a branch

Original: This iron table was made from an old oil drum

In last September there has been a noticeable drop in visitor numbers: 40% fewer trade visitors than in the comparative months of the previous years. There hasn’t been a trace of this in January 2017

African Delights

After so many popping colors here’s something soothing for the eyes: art from Africa

The Spanish Fernando Otero specialized in art from Africa: colorful wedding hats from Namibia …

… wooden masks from the Ivory Coast …

From the Congo: former seat mats for guests, today a decorative wall decoration

… bronze heads from Benin. Ethno-Chic is always ‘in’

Contact Maison et Objet

www.maison-objet.com

Merken

Merken

Merken

The post The latest Interior Trends from Paris appeared first on My Stylery.

Trendscout MyStylery on tour: Looking for the latest interior trends at the interior fair Maison et Objet

Since many years I visit one of the most impressive – if not the most interesting – Fair for Interior and Housing, the Maison et Objet in Paris. On many thousands of square meters more than 1,000 exhibitors in eight halls are presented twice a year – in January and in September – the international audience with the latest interior design trends. A mega show, a must for all interior designers, architects and lifestyle experts and my seasonal highlight, to which I look forward to in advance. However, this fall the exhibition was below my expectations.

In Hall 5A young artists present their creative ideas under the motto “Craft Métiers D’Art”

Of course, everyone knows that the wheel cannot be invented again. But similar to the development in fashion, one also hopes in the world of living, at least for a new vision or an inspiration. The result of my over two days extending on-site investigation, I summarize as follows: There is not much new.

Love these lamps made of pressed glass, which look like a glass creations from Murano in Italy

Trend 1:

Peacock Thrones – I looove these extravagant wicker chairs, which admittedly – due to their expansive dimensions – take a lot of place. So retro, so chic! And hardly any of the top exhibitors, that did not have any of these opulent armchairs in the program in his autumn – winter collection.

Peacock chairs by Asiatides

Trend 2:

The color green – whether as glass or tableware, wallpaper, sofa cover or lamp stand: No one at the Maison et Objet missed out on green. The color palette included all the nuances: From soft lime green to juicy fir green. Actually a color palette, which I would have expected more in the spring. But I was glad to have ever spotted a trend. I will not complain. The Maison et Objet will probably never lose its charm for me. This is already guaranteed by the location in Paris, one of my favorite cities, that already accounts for only the stimulus, to visit the Maison et Objet.

The wall candle holder with porcelain parrot competes with green-antiqued glass tiles

Interesting:

Polite reservation and reduced minimalism seem to belong more to the past in these times of social and political change. I mostly came across lush exuberance in the form of bright brass, satin and silk. Even copper is still one of the favorite materials. The cottage-chic is more than ever socially acceptable, which I can only be glad off, with my little renovation project in Brandenburg. The theme country style and natural materials were served almost perfectly. Interestingly, by manufacturers of different nations. That has something connecting, right? BvH

Lush home accessories infront of a mirrored wall

Beautiful arrangement of antique books, natural stone and wood

New romantic: Angels as lamp holders

This king crab is a true giant with a leg span of 180 centimeters and twelve kilos. A monster version that is supposedly 100 years old and has a premium price of 12.400 Euros

A real novelty and the only one of all exhibitors: heavy, opulent Wilhelminian furniture at the stand of Objets des Curiosité

Opulent retro style

Peacock Thrones at Maison et Objet

Colorful bird on Peacock Throne. This one is from Versmissen …

… and this model is from Nkuku …

… and this is from Zenza with 50s floor lamp in shape of palm trees

The Maison et Objet devoted an entire hall to the subject Ethnic Chic

Lovely chairs by Andrew Martin in pandas look. So sweet!

Many exhibitors showed corals, gemstones and fossils as a new decoration idea

It greens so green

Green jungle at Pols Potten

Beautiful green bottles from Brucs

How about a bar in green? This is from Cravt

Eichholtz combines white furniture and green wallpaper

Jonathan Adler also papered his stand in green

Not to deny: The cold season is coming! But the opulent interior design is more an expression of the current social change

Remember this song? My clothes are all green, green, green, everything I have is all green. That’s why I love everything green, because my beloved is a hunter

These autumn shades look very cozy

Retro Style

Still hip: palm trees …

… and pineapple motifs continue to enjoy great popularity

Please pack everything – I take it!

Countryside Style

I’m trying to see the best in everything and therefore hit pay dirt with my trend search. Completely in love with this Belgian linen!

Great idea: Jute-related wire racks become original lampshades – made by Sempre

www.maison-objet.com

The post Maison et Objet – It greens so green appeared first on My Stylery.

The redstone villa in Fontenay-sous-Bois with it’s black slate roof. Who wouldn’t want to live here?

Her French is accent-free and her classic elegance typical Parisienne: Katharina Schmitter came as au pair to France, studied History of Art and Textile Design in Paris. There the Munich-raised designer lives since 27 years, works for Hermès and Boussac, before she came into charge of the design of the Ardecora-Collection by the German fabric producers Zimmer und Rohde. Luxury Hotels like the Costes are stocked with her creations. Eleven years ago she moved in a romantic, 110 years old turn of the century-villa in Fontenay-sous Bois on the outskirts of the French capital, hidden behind walls clad in ivy and a high, squeak gate where she still lives with her family.

It’s always good to have a friend in Paris… Here the entry shows the original a hundred years old floor tiles

Textile designer Katharina Schmitter – as beautiful as her designs

MyStylery: Your house could have been served as a set for the movie „Amélie“…
Katharina Schmitter: Indeed! It was love at first sight when I found the house in an advert. It’s important to me that the children grew up in a green environment rather than in an effervescent city centre.
MS: Isn’t it a great temptation to put up new curtains in your house for every season? I mean as a textile designer you’re close to the source…
KS: No, quite the reserve in fact: at first I didn’t want to have any of my collections in my house. I thought I would need some space. But then my family convinced me and on the contrary they’re hanging now.

Livingroom and library

Katharina designed the curtain fabric for her Ardecora-Collection for Zimmer and Rohde

MS: Besides the decorative part, do textiles not also convey a feeling of comfort and warmth?
KS: Not necessarily. There are textiles that should create the opposite. They radiate a cool elegance. But this isn’t me. I’m not interested in industrial manufacturing or smooth surfaces. There are so many cold and unstructured things that surround us already.
MS: Your textiles remind of a homage of magnificent, times long past…
KS: Yes they’re very precious and extraordinary, handcrafted after old traditions. Hereby the whole thing gets its liveliness and emotion. My textiles are mainly such dominant as they could get in concurrence to pictures.

Fabric samples of the Mulberry collection

Lying sculpture in the library

The Buddha sculptures are from Asia

MS: Does that mean that one should rather abandon art, if one decides for your textiles?
KS: The question lies in the focus. Where is the creative focus in the apartment? There’s no need for opulent curtains if there are great paintings and art on the wall, which dominate the room already.

To Katharina Schmitter decorative light is important. How beautiful is the reflecting chandelier in the mirror…

MS: Are you thinking of sales figures while working on your new collection?
KS: My textiles suit best in big old houses that have a patina. That’s what I’ve got in my eyes when I’m working. It’s all about luxury and quality and also about the “special something” that didn’t exist before, but is still requested by the costumer.

Fabrics from Africa become a wall decoration

MS: Your dressing room is literally bursting at the seams – how many dresses and pairs of shoes do you have?
KS: Many! Too many! Textiles attract me, in every respect. Dresses and shoes are my passion. And that’s why I always need more space although I already get rid of things sometimes – that’s a question of the right moment though. However my absolute “shrine” is the handwritten cookbook of my mother that contains all my favourite German recipes back from my childhood. It’s my favourite memento.  BvH

Katharina bought the portrait of a girl in an auction

Antique chandelier from the south of France

Small remise in the garden. How romantic is this?

Sundowner in the garden with the family

The fantastic world of Katharina Schmitter

Cheers – Santé! Champagne is always a good idea!

The covered entry with wrought iron details

The fine, brocated details are very typical for the Gründerzeit

Still life with bike – the black entrance in the background

The post At home with designer Katharina Schmitter appeared first on My Stylery.

The hotel lobby, designed by fashion designer Christian Lacroix

First of all, I love, love, love Paris! The “savoir de vivre“, the elegance of the city and its inhabitants, the cultural offerings have already fascinated me when I lived in Paris as “Au Pair” years ago. One of my favorite places in Paris is in the heart of Saint-Germain-Près: The boutique hotel “Lebellechasse”. The 33 rooms created by fashion designer Christian Lacroix afford a lavish elegance with rich brocade fabrics, heavy velvet and creative murals that invite you to dream: Lacroix chose a great material-mix for the equipment of this four-star hotel in the seventh arrondissement.

Double room with open bath*

The standard rooms are small – but nice

As everywhere in the French capital, the rooms are very small and even in a double room you have to be very well organized, to not step on your own feet. Still, I’m happy here and this is not only because of the central location. Institutions such as the “Café de Flore” on the Boulevard Saint Germain are within walking distance, as is the nearest metro station “Solferino”. The RER (line C) is diagonally opposite the hotel, right at the Musée D’Orsay. The other side of the Seine – the Louvre and the Rue de Saint Honoré – are easily accessible from here.

The open bathroom ensures more generosity

The single room offers an open bathroom and separate toilet

The breakfast room is located in the basement

However, I do not really like the breakfast rooms in the basement. I prefer the small cafés and brasseries in the quarter, which are more individual and also cheaper – and much more “typiquement français”.

Tip:

I was positively surprised when I booked my room directly on the hotel’s website, where I found the best deals and prices.

Nice view from my window to the beautiful roofs of Paris

Contact Hotel:

8, Rue De Bellechasse
75007 Paris, Frankreich

www.lebellechasse.com

*Photo and featured image: Lebellechasse

The post Christian Lacroix’s Boutique Hotel in Paris appeared first on My Stylery.

Admirers of the cultivated table culture: these china dishes will delight you!

I have a distinctive weakness for fine china. Whether KPM or Dibbern, Rosenthal or Meißen, inherited, bought, or received as a gift: At home mountains of china pile up ‘till they reach the ceiling. But that doesn’t stop me from providing more supplies on a regular basis, risking that my husband is getting a seizure each time the newest acquisitions enlarge the domestic assortment. In Paris the best address for admirers of the cultivated table culture is situated in the Rue Saint-Honoré 173. Here Astier de Villatte, master of the peculiar ceramics, resides.

Elegant address, unusual ceramics: here shopping has it’s price

When the two French design students Ivan Pericoli and Benoît Astier de Villatte met at the Parisian École des Beaux-Arts at the end of the Nineties, none of them had a clue about the china-sector. But they did have a strong sense for form and design and so it doesn’t really surprise that plates and bowls, jugs and mugs – in solid white or extraordinary décor – quickly found their lovers and admirers. Inspired by old masters, secondhand discoveries, or flea markets, the duo loves to paint their creations with unusual motives like skeletons, skulls, and diverse animal species.

Creations with unusual motives like skeletons, skulls, and diverse animal species

Self-evidently the Astier de Vilatte china is “made in France” – produced in their company’s atelier at Boulevard Masséna, displayed and sold in the famous Rue Saint-Honoré, where the china is presented in old wooden shelves.
The retail store already exists since 1788 and used to be a shop for odds and ends. Pericoli and Astier de Vilatte left everything the way they found it: the creaking floor, the weathered walls and the rudimentary wallpapers accurately matching the setting in which they wanted to offer their luxurious and quite expensive china.

Most recent showpiece is the “Peanuts-Collection” …

Most recent showpiece is the “Peanuts-Collection” to honor US-writer and illustrator Charles M. Schulz (1922-200), creator of the same named comic series. Next to white china Astier de Villate also offers small pieces of furniture, calendars, papeterie, scented sticks and an exquisite collection of scented candles, resulting from collaboration with renowned perfumers and, needless to say, are also sold in Astier de Vilatte-Ceramics. I love this shop and can spend hours looking around. It makes me feel like I’m in a time long gone. Each time, I enter the shop. BvH

Estelle, the friendly salesgirl, shows me the newest Astier de Villatte Collection of the Peanuts: Hey, Charly Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Woodstock and Schroeder! Characters of my childhood! …

The Peanuts – the newest Collection

View on Rue Saint-Honoré

These eyes …

The exquisite collection of scented candles – one fragrance nicer than the other and I can not decide

In love with the Shabby-Chic atmosphere

Objects of Desire

Objects of desire

So beautiful!

… and another sales room

Very nice: the simple mugs with curved handles

Astier de Villatte: “We create objects that are inspired by old treasures or things nobody notices anymore.”

Also the wallpaper is a relic of ancient times

The assortment of Astier de Villatte includes selected Papeterie

Contact:

Astier de Villatte
173, rue Saint-Honoré
75001 Paris
www.astierdevillatte.com

The post Cool Ceramics by Astier de Villatte appeared first on My Stylery.

The Louis Vuitton-Exhibition “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez” (flying, sailing, traveling) is currently shown at the Grand Palais in Paris

I still remember my first Louis Vuitton-Handbag: the ‘Speedy’, a classical bag, which my grandmother gave me for my passed “Abitur” certificate. My pride and joy that I carried around like a trophy for years, a favorite bag full of memories that I could never get rid of.

“Mine”: The suitcase of Elizabeth Taylor

In fact I don’t really like bags with logos that others can see from 100 meters of distance. But a Louis-Vuitton bag presents a classical elegance and therefore has a special position beneath the ‘logo-bags’: That’s why I’m a fan and the reason for my visit to the ongoing exhibition “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez” at the Grand Palais in Paris. “Volez, Voguez, Vozagez” is a time journey through 160 years of Louis Vuitton’s success story and has been curated by prestigious fashion historian Olivier Saillard, who’s also the head of the new Parisian Fashion Museum in the Palais Galliera. For the opulent optic Saillard engaged artistic director and set designer Robert Carsen, who ensured a felicitous flamboyance at the Parisian exhibition “The Impressionism and the Fashion” with his design in 2014.

The young Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton, the son of a carpenter, was only 14 years old when he hit the road from the homey Jura to Paris in 1835. He temped for his subsistence during his journey, which is why it took him nearly two years until he reached the French capital. He found an apprenticeship at Rue Saint-Honoré, even then the street of the luxury addresses. In the age of 33 years Vuitton went into business by himself as a case maker. His packaging guaranteed a safe transport, even for the most fragile objects.

Louis Vuitton was the founder of the modern luggage. With his “Steamer Bag” (on the right) he firstly created a bag that was soft and flexible

What an ingenious idea to develop a material out of coated canvas and to provide it with the own initials. With this idea Louis Vuitton succeeded at the right time: those days mark the beginning of the Haute Couture and its adventurous wearers needed suitcases for every kind of travelling, from railway, automobile to ocean liner.

Louis Vuitton had also customized solutions for booklovers

The extraordinary client-wishes Louis Vuitton went after are unbelievable: XXL-suitcases for cruises, elaborate metal cases for expeditions or accurate boxes for the batons and valuable instruments of a collector. Between all the historical exhibits I also find lots of modern things, for example the beauty cases that have been designed by Nicolas Ghesquière in 2014. This kind of presentation underlines the timeless elegance of the Louis Vuitton-Collection. And I’m even happier about my Speedy. BvH

The typical Logo LV = Louis Vuitton

In the first room of the exhibition I could see all utensils of a wood workshop Louis Vuitton used to work with more than 150 years ago

Louis Vuitton’s personal suitcase showing his initials

I really liked the fact that you cannot only marvel into empty suitcases …

… Olivier Saillard filled the suitcases with authentic things of their time …

… from the evening gown of Elizabeth Taylor to antique picnic equipment

The exhibition covers nine topics and leads its visitors through temporal epochs …

… and opulent showrooms

Louis Vuitton was a coeval of Charles Frederick Worths, the inventor of Haute Couture …

… A mutual fertilization, as clients of the Parisian fashion houses Paul Poiret, Balenciaga or Christian Dior naturally also equipped themselves of Louis Vuitton

A catcher for the eye: one compartment of the orient express has been rebuilt for the exhibition following the former world exhibition in Paris, where visitors sat in train compartments and saw drawn landscapes rolling past

Also Lauren Bacall, Greta Garbo and Katharine Hepburn were fans of Louis Vuitton

A collection of old Louis Vuitton perfume bottles

Travel cases and bags in all sizes and for every occasion – also for air journeys

In the beginning of the 20th century his idea of travelling was yet very exciting and new

The exhibited suitcases are lovingly decorated with old accessories

Original locks by Louis Vuitton

In 1997 the “ready to wear”-collection officially became part of the Louis Vuitton collections and Marc Jacobs was named the first designer

Protective cases were designed by the trunkmaker Vuitton, whether for fragile and delicate musical instruments or a vinyl record-collection

The LV-Logo in colors

Until February 21: The exhibition “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez” can be seen at the Grand Palais, which was built in 1900 in Paris for one of the most spectacular World Exhibitions with 48 million visitors

For more information:

http://de.louisvuitton.com/deu-de/grand-palais/grand-palais#/home

The post Louis Vuitton: How fashion learned to travel appeared first on My Stylery.