50's Inspired Curves

I've been thinking about this beautiful fashion shoot from the How to Spend It supplement from The Financial Times since its issue last week.
The 50's are seeing a somewhat glamorous and romantic revival at present in everything from interiors to fashion and even make up (of which this model's is awesome! Check out that white eyeliner!).
It seems the American TV series, MadMen and the beautifully shot, Tom Ford film, A Single Man have a lot to answer for. So far I have managed to catch one episode of MadMen and loved it. I have the full 1st season waiting to be watched from the very beginning and from there hopefully I'll catch up to the 4th!...I have a bit of catching up to do...

Images styled by Damien Foxe for How to Spend it

500 Days of Summer

I tend to watch films with my ears on the story, one eye on the fashion and the other on the set design and cinematography...
500 Days of Summer will surely be an example of movie imagery symbolism in film schools all over the world for many years to come. I'm a big fan of when films use visual themes to aid the characters and the storyline.

The female character, Summer, has a beautiful vintage wardrobe however, no matter how many outfits she gets through she always wears blue...baby blue, blue prints, navy blue, royal blue...even her apartment is blue. As pretty as the blue is, it helps to illustrate the fact that her personality is closed off and generally the colder, of the two main characters.
All these points aside...I loved the interior set design; Tom's apartment, especially. Definitely the apartment of a young, romantic, frustrated architect...

the empty shell

the plan

the finished set

the chalkboard wall behind Tom's bed

Laura Fox was the production designer on the film. You can see a photo reel of the different sets in the film here, including Summer's apartment and Tom's office.

Along with the production design, the music always plays a huge part in movies. The soundtrack to this film is definitely worth a buy! Not, only does it help to tell the story but it's a great listen on its own!

Also, Zooey Dechanel sings in a band, She and Him. They have just released a second album (Volume 2) that i keep hearing everywhere...and i love it!

Like for Like?

I know I keep going on about holidays but I'd love to live in a European city, not as a tourist, just live there.
Well, It seems when you no longer have the freedom to go off and 'live' somewhere exotic for a year or so there is a 'grown up with business, partners, responsibilties' option. You can go on holiday and 'swap homes' for a couple of weeks.
The concept was made more popular by the film The Holiday a couple of years back, in which Kate Winslet swapped her stereotypical 'middle of nowhere' chintz English cottage:

for Cameron Diaz's stereotypical LA over-designed super gaff:

Great idea huh? Apart from the fact i'd have to move most of my junk out and get industrial cleaners in, it's supposed to save you the cost of accomodation and you get to live as a local.
I, however, can't help but feel my swapee would be extremely disappointed, to arrive in damp Edinburgh, with keys to a one and a half bedroom flat above a Mexican restaurant, while I lorded it up in their '18th Century Mansion just 15 minutes from Paris.'
Check this place out!







Available to swap at Luxe Home Swap

The Holiday set images found on Discover: Interior Design