Four new pairs of shoes...am I feeling lonely?

I think yes.  Please see evidence below (thank you DSW clearance!), which also sparked a cataloging session of every pair of shoes...I will now know how many I own...

Happy Sunday!
xoxo, Alex

True British - Temperley London

There she is - Alice Temperley - the amazing mind behind Temperley London and the newest collection; True British.  At her show at Milk Studios in NYC this week, Alice used mannequins once again to show off her collection.  I have to admit that I was confused at first.  As I was helping to dress the mannequins, I kept wondering why she wouldn't want to use models to show the movement and wearability of her beautiful designs.  But after struggling to get the clothes on to the clumsy, awkward (and obviously stiff) life-size dolls, I realized that she is a genius.  The more I stared at these clothes the more I fell in love with them.  They are so well made and designed that if a model just walked past me (and as quick as they do), I'm not sure if I would have appreciated them as much!

On the day of the show, when I was actually in Studio 4 helping to do the final set-up, I also learned about her inspiration; Norman Parkinson.  It seems a family friend happened upon a whole series of Norman's photos this past year.  Alice was so inspired by the photos that she based her entire collection around them and showed them to the world 20 years after his death.  The canvases hanging behind the clothes are directly inspired by Norman and taken in the same style.  In fact, I believe I was told that some of the models were the same models Norman shot in the 60s!  You wouldn't believe it by how vivacious they all looked!

After the canvases were initially made they were sent to India to be hand embroidered and beaded in the same manor as the dresses and leather jackets.  Some of the canvases were made "life-sized" so that the same exact beads could be used in the same proportion as the clothing on the canvases.  It was unbelievable to see the stitching on the back (especially loving to hand bead things as I do and I know how much work goes in to them!).  The reason so much time was spent on the canvases?

Yup, that's Annie Lennox!  She's a friend of Alice's and a huge supporter of Oxfam.  This summer, those canvases are going to be auctioned off with all proceeds going directly to the large organization.  A perfect pairing if you ask me.  (And I'd pay big bucks for the Lily Cole piece!)

Well, I've written too much and I'm terrible at editing - so I know I should stop here.  To see more photos, please visit my Flickr site.  Otherwise, good night and arrivederci, I shall speak with you soon.

xoxo,

Alex