Antony Price rings to say his new collection’s in Topman right now. I’m up to Oxford Circus in a flash.
As usual Anthony’s cut flatters the figure beyond belief, so I pick the ‘Alien’ Black Cire parka and the black ‘Ming’ Military Jacket, with square Joan Crawford-y black chintz (probably not, but it looks like it) epaulettes, which I wore that night to Goga Ashkenazi’s dinner for current Serpentine artist Philippe Parreno, on the way meeting up with design legend Barney Wan, art director of British Vogue for over two decades.
If you haven’t yet, run don’t walk to Topman to get a piece of the Antony Price action. You won’t regret it.
Nicky has been named one of London’s 1000 most influential people of the year by the Evening Standard.
“Nicholas Haslam, Interior designer
Gets invited everywhere because he’s the best company. And his designs are to die for — furniture, fabrics, antiques, Nicky does it all. Knows tout le monde. Brilliant Spectator book reviewer too.”
See the rest of the list here.
We are all so proud!
One thing I (almost) never do is use tassels for tiebacks. For me, it’s a bit too expected. That aside, any chance discovery of some pretty gathered thread of a swingy thing does make me smile.
My latest Topman acquisition obliged for example, as they sport chic black leather tassels. (Yes, ‘The Girl hunt Ballet’, tasseled loafers!)
I also find them in the most random places such as this divine 18th century wooden box which is edged with carved tassels and swags.
Line Vautrin the genius jewel of a maker was not opposed to a few ‘cordons et passementerie’s herself despite working in gold plated bronze. Now we’re talking!
And of course if all else fails, 17th and 18th century portraiture is choc-a-bloc with ideas since nary a man or women was seen without at least a few, or indeed a million, woven into their finery.
Where is your favourite tassel located?
This is so typical…Nicky is my psychic wonder twin…I can’t explain it, but here is an example: I decided to blog about Rex Whistler and Beverley Nichols - completely unrelated to bookcases, which Nicky just blogged about yesterday - and wouldn’t you know, the first picture of Rex Whistler I put under the scanner features painted bookshelves NOT to the ceiling!
Okay so, if you don’t read Beverly Nichols this is the time of year to do so, curled up by a smoky fire. Yes, it’s faintly twee, but between the story’s charm and those lovely Rex Whistler’s sketches I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Beverley Nichols only died in 1983 and was best known for his gardening books. A Thatched Roof is the second in the Allways trilogy and focuses on the house itself, including its re-thatching…and is my personal fave. It is available in reprint from Timber Press.
Have you ever indulged in one of these literary wonders? Which one is your favourite?
ARJ was THE place to go for super cool hi-fi in the 70’s. It was owned by Alexander Jones (Annabel Astor‘s brother and Sam Cameron’s uncle) and I think we all still love this techy groove, especially in traditional interiors, and especially when NOT hidden away in cupboards. I also like the bookcases he has installed in his home which are very simple painted ones, stopping short of the ceiling. Makes one positively long for a reel-to-reel.
Geoffrey Bennison‘s example of brass bookcases, which he installed in Sir George Weidenfeld’s flat so many years ago, (and bearing a startling resemblance to Billy Baldwin‘s room for Cole Porter, no?!) are another successful example of this non-built-in look, and charming too.
The wonderful P.E. Guerin in New York still produce these brass etageres, which they call the Baldwin Porter Etagere. A look that never tires, I think.
And for those living with more modest ceiling heights, try very low bookcases, like I’ve designed for my clients time and time again.
