Fashion Accessories, Umbrella.

Couple of things before I get into the umbrellas below.


First of all, I hope everyone made it through the hurricane as best as possible. Particularly those in flooded areas. Not a good situation.


Secondly. As the blog has grown a little quicker than I had initially anticipated, there's been some maintenance going on in the background. Which answers the question as to why the posting hasn't been as frequent lately. I should be back into more of a regular routine towards the end of this week or into the beginning of next. Consequently, you'll most likely be noticing some new blog elements popping up here and there with regard to the format, the layout, the columns, and whatever else. Thanks for your patience while the blog grows.


Now. The inspiration below I think is obvious. It's an often overlooked item. Substituted perpetually, and I'm guilty of this as well, by three dolar versions from a stand on the corner. Which inevitably go inside out. If not in minutes. But actually, there is an entire umbrella universe out there. Tons to choose from in terms of design. And even some people who border on having complete mental obsessions with them. Particularly vintage ones, believe it or not. So I tried to get the best sample platter possible. There is even one for the boys at the bottom. As they've been neglected on the blog lately, but that will be changing shortly I think. It's a real man's man umbrella. Shoulder slung and all. I love it.


Thomas-Michael

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. We have to start out with clear bubble umbrellas, because that's where the market seems to be heading, and because they're fairly chic in a strange quirky way I think.

modcloth.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. Here's how the clear ones look closed up.

fultonumbrellas.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. And here's an image where you can see the full shape. There are some out there without the color tipping, but I think it makes the umbrella.

fultonumbrellas.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. These are a little more playful with some patterns on the clear.

fultonumbrellas.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. And of course some polka dots and bright rainbow colors if you want to get super playful with it.

bellaumbrella.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. Here's a classic vintage shape from Bella Umbrella. I love all the shape variation that's out there. You'd be inclined to think first in terms of color, but there are so many shape choices floating around.

katespade.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. Rainbow stripe from Kate Spade.

ginaandmay.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. And if you're into more of these bright, vibrant, and strong patterns, Gina And May has a few great selections like this one and the one below.

ginaandmay.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. Here's another one from Gina And May.

coach.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. Now of course, Coach has to be included. They have roughly a million umbrella patterns floating around. These and the ones below are just a few.

coach.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. I also have to say, I love what Coach is doing with there logo graphically. It's amazing how many different tones, moods, and styles they are getting out of a single brand.

marimekko.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. Classic polka dot umbrella here. Had to have one.

burberry.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. A Burberry umbrella. I like this better than the plaid I think.

distinctiveumbrellas.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. London.

distinctiveumbrellas.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. Paris.

nittygrittystore.com

Fashion Accessories, Umbrella. And a man's man umbrella to close it up. This one has beautiful details including that leather strap which you can utilize to sling it over your shoulder. Keep your hands free. Can't tell you how many times I've needed that.

Everything Polka Dots: Part I

The spacing is critical. Just kidding. Well, kind of. Sure you'll be seeing alot of these polka dots around in the short term, so maybe there will have to be an second part to this post soon. In the meanwhile, enjoy and if you're into the all-over theme, be sure to check out the previous stripes post Stripes.

Thomas-Michael




A colored polka dot pattern.

Polka Dots: ...a colored polka dot pattern.

Or a black and white one. Preferable I think.

Polka Dots: ...or a black and white one(preferable I think).

Here's a polka dot building in Bangkok by Architect Kidd.

www.architectkidd.com

Polka Dots: ...here's a polka dot building in Bangkok, by Architect Kidd.

How about a polka dot interior from Vogue Italia.

www.vogue.it . Photography By Tim Walker.

Polka Dots: ...how about a polka dot interior from Vogue Italia.

You could space them closely to make this capiz shell fixture from West Elm. Love the sound they make.

www.westelm.com

Polka Dots: ...you could space them closely to make this capiz shell fixture from West Elm(they sound enchanting when they 'cling').

Or maybe you just want some polka dot plates.

www.lisastickleylondon.com

Polka Dots: ...maybe you just want some polka dot plates.

An environmentally friendly polka dot ceramic coffee cup to go with your plates.

www.paper-source.com

Polka Dots: ...or an environmentally friendly polka dot ceramic coffee cup.

And then of course you would need this polka dot I-Phone cover from Kate Spade.

www.katespade.com

Polka Dots: ...you'd need this polka dot I-Phone cover from Kate Spade of course(with your coffee cup).

To fashion where the inspiration came. Here's the Dolce And Gabbana Fall 2011 Ad Campaign. It's actually polka stars I think.

www.dolcegabbana.com

Polka Dots: ...to fashion where the inspiration came. Here's the Dolce And Gabbana Fall 2011 Ad Campaign(polka stars I think).

And on the runway more polka stars with Dolce. A kind of regal looking polka on the skirt.

www.dolcegabbana.com

Polka Dots: ...and on the runway more polka stars with Dolce(kind of regal polka on the skirt).

Paired naturally with some Sergio Rossi polka dot shoes.

www.sergiorossi.com

Polka Dots: ...paired naturally with some Sergio Rossi polka dot shoes.

And a specialized polka dot collar from La Vie C'est Yeye.

www.laviecestyeye.blogspot.com

Polka Dots: ...and a specialized polka dot collar from La Vie C'est Yeye.

Had to have one period black and white polka dot photograph.

www.weheartit.com

Polka Dots: ...had to have one period black and white polka dot photograph.

Movement And Contradiction

That which is most balanced, is also most precarious. Below there are three levels of movement and contradiction in the photographs. Which I think is why they are so incredibly provocative. And also so beautiful.

1. The literal movement or motion. Itself a contradiction. The opposition of forces.
2. The vibration of the images between seeming to capture a still moment and seeming to capture movement in time. This of course is a contradiction.
3. And lastly the visual suddenness or emotional immediacy of realizing that you're sensing two things at once. What the surrealists would refer to as the uncanny. Or the emotional feeling produced by seeing a double image.

Thomas-Michael

artandcommerce.com

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. Solve Sundsbo. Ellapsed time and dramatic posture freeze into a solid white sculpture.

artandcommerce.com

MFashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. Solve Sundsbo. Another one. These are so gorgeous, aren't they.

janmasny.com

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. Jan Masny. These first three all remind me of Rodin. But this one in particular has such a beautiful sense of motion and stillness emerging from each other. Amazing.

iaincrawford.com

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. Iain Crawford. Static color becomes visual velocity. Yellow is so flat and muted, but can also be so fast. As in this image.

petrovskyramone.com

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. Petrovsky & Ramone. The diffusion of light softens an image, but the resulting blur renders uncertainty. A slow and unsure sense of movement.

waldemarhansson.com

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. Waldemar Hansson. This was the image that originally gave me the idea for the post. In a way, it's so still. The stong definitive sense of a geometrical composition. But then there is the immediacy of that tilt. Like she is frozen, but about the lean over. The handrail is solid and static, but also feels like it's moving along perspectival tracks. Like a train passing through the image.

assemblynewyork.tumblr.com

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. Guy Bourdin. Even more subtle. Everything is natural save the tilt of the head. The angle is so dramatic that it almost seems uncanny, thus creating a sense of emotional immediacy and suddenness within the perception of the image.

coupdegrace.tumblr.com

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. The vibration created by seeing two distinct images at once. Both completely still.

petrovskyramone.com

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. Petrovsky & Ramone. Similar to the previous image in the sense that there is an overlay. The lights. Somehow that simple overlay of white dots immediately produces a sense of motion. Yet the image itself is almost entirely flat black.

Fashion Photography, Movement And Contradiction. And lastly, anticipation. Maybe trajectory is a better word. It's so quiet and still, yet the immediate sense is her prior or eventual movement.

Rex Ray: Contemporary Art And Design

Ever since I saw one of the below images, I've kept it on my mind. So today is all about Rex Ray. A San Francisco based artist and designer. The images themselves are extraordinarily powerful. A heightened fusion of art mixed with a decorative attitude. Amazing colors. Exotic patterns. Sometimes even butting up against each other, or overlaid. I really love this confrontational aspect of them. At times they feel modernist, at times totemic. But always contemporary in an unique way. Throw moments of Miro and Matisse influence in there as well. I almost forgot. I think they're amazing. But what I also really love about this artist and designer is that he is in fact both. He's managed to straddle that line between high art and usable design which I think is always a tricky move. His work has been exhibited in major art museums. But he has also done product design work in conjunction with companies like Apple, and album art for David Bowie. And as I'm further showing below an assortment of rugs, placemats, and wall tiles for various manufacturers. It's really quite a diversity of art and design applications.

Thomas-Michael

rexray.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray.

rexray.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray.

rexray.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray.

rexray.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray.

rugsandcarpets.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray. This is an example of one of his rug designs. Really love this.

modern-twist.eu

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray. This one is a placemat design. It could be so many things, couldn't it.

modwalls.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray. And finally some subway tiles for the wall. I love information inspired design.

Anticipating The Fall

...a
little more like curving colour(say
orange)
...-E.E. Cummings

On a weekend in Somerset, it's already mysteriously in the air. And on the ground naturally. I was thus inspired to pull up some inspirational imagery for the season. Nothing strenuous. Just a few table settings, interiors, and a touch of fashion to get in the mood. The colors as E.E. suggests shift through orange. Ranging from neutrals to browns. Eventually. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Thomas-Michael

pinterest.com

Early Autumn Fall Color Inspiration. An early explosion of amber.

bhg.com

Early Autumn Fall Color Inspiration. To a perfect early autumn fall table setting in gold.

marthastewart.com

Early Autumn Fall Color Inspiration. Themes of the harvest. The last moments of green are more deep muted and turning in tonality.

countryliving.com

Early Autumn Fall Color Inspiration. To interiors where accents of orange momentarily come into play.

traditionalhome.com

Early Autumn Fall Color Inspiration. And deep browns. Notice how dark this table is.

chanel.com

Early Autumn Fall Color Inspiration. Finally, a hint of fashion. Beautiful golds and browns mixed in with Chanel. I love how they are pulling cultural influence from Egypt and the Byzantine into the season to achieve the palette.