welcome to the dollhouse

I never run out of reasons to visit London again, and how I wish I can right now! Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf are exhibiting what they hope to be the world's largest doll house, and what is so insanely adorable about this exhibit is that a lot of their runway work has been miniaturized and will be modeled by dolls.


The House of Viktor & Rolf presents each of the designer’s signature pieces from 1992 to now, shown in a specially commissioned and characteristically theatrical installation that dominates the entire Gallery. Highlights include pieces from Atomic Bomb, 1998–99, featuring dramatic mushroom cloud-like cushioned necklines and Russian Doll, 1999–2000, in which a single model was painstakingly dressed by Viktor & Rolf until she was gasping under 70 kilogrammes of exquisite haute couture. For the collection Bells, 2000-2001, models emerged from a smoke-filled space in clothes embroidered with hundreds of brass bells, so they were heard before they could be seen.

Also, for you V&R fans out there, you might want to head to the gift shop to get some limited edition V&R pieces.

As well as selling the book that accompanies the exhibition, a specially commissioned silk scarf by the designers, limited edition versions of their famous perfumes and exhibition postcards, Viktor & Rolf have also selected a unique range of designer objects, books and curiosities that have inspired them. Omigosh, I wish I could buy the scarf!!!!!


I just emailed them about getting the book, seeing that I can't possibly make it to the exhibit, but they don't ship outside of the UK, so we shall see what happens.


If anyone does go to check out the exhibit, please let me know how it went!!! :)


Also, V&R have been guest bloggers and have documented the entire process of putting the show together here. It's a great read, and has loads of photos. Enjoy!

The House of Viktor and Rolf - Barbican Art Gallery
June 18, 2008 - September 21, 2008

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Emma not the new face of Chanel

For anyone holding their breaths, those rumors aren't true, "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson is NOT the new face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. While Keira Knightley is currently reigning supreme as the spokesperson, and her contract is scheduled to end this summer, there has not been anything definitively set up to replace her.

While I don't picture Emma as exuding much sensuality, which is how the brand is defined, it would have been interesting to see her "grow up" and be made over into that role.

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Coming up Roses...not!

I have long been an avid fan of anything that smells remotely of jasmine and/or lily-of-the-valley, so I must, I MUST recommend this fabulous home fragrance. I use it in my office at work, and thankfully, it's a wonderful, clean, sweet smell that isn't too heavy. It makes my office smell like fresh lilies all day long. From West Elm (they have some other fabulous scents, too, such as Lavender Mint and Grapefruit/Mandarin), I chose White Flower because it was just too perfect for what I was looking for.

Fragrance is a funny thing in that everyone is different in what they like, and it's easy to annoy someone with a scent that someone might think is too much and they start to develop migraines, but thus far, this scent is nice in that it's not so over-powering that the scent drifts out of my office, and it keeps me serene and calm and happy. If you are near a West Elm, def. walk in and get a good sniff; you won't regret it (or have headaches!).

West Elm Diffusers and Sticks - White Flower - on sale for $19 (retails for $24)

capturing the essence of Chanel

Poo-pooing reports that Keira Knightley would be starring as Coco Chanel in the movie biopic, there was news that Audrey Tautou of "Amélie" and "The Da Vinci Code" fame would star as the iconic designer. She is now also rumored to be the new face of Chanel No. 5, which might even be directed by "Amélie" director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. (I would so LOVE that! That is still one of my fave films of all-time!)


Keira was first linked to the Chanel rumor when she portrayed a modern version of Coco as the newest face of Coco Mademoiselle. I loved the ads, particularly the video ad that she filmed with "Pride & Prejudice" director Joe Wright. However, I always thought that the willowy Keira might not have the acting chops to really define the woman who came from nothing to build an empire.



Audrey seems to be a much better match if she was really chosen for the role. Her beauty and grace is undeniable, but I also think she can carry the weight of the story much better. It doesn't hurt that her French heritage would fit even more elegantly into the character. I also think if she is the new face of Chanel No. 5, she would be helping to define the new sensibilities of a modern French woman. If you're counting, the last few Chanel spokeswomen have been Australian (Nicole Kidman) and English (Kate Moss and Keira). Is Karl thinking "Viva la France?"


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all dolled up and smelling sweet

I am not ashamed to admit that I have bought things purely for their aesthetics, regardless of the function of the item, especially where beauty and fragrances are concerned. I have bought Shu Uemura's entire line of cleansing oils just because I love the artwork by Ai Yamaguchi that adorned the limited edition bottles.


I have bought make-up from Pupa Cosmetics because I love the containers that the make-up came in, my favorite being an abstract Little Red Riding Hood. For all intents and purposes, I am still working my way through using all of these products, since I justified I was buying art and paid a premium, but there are only so many hours in so many days to use all of these products up.


So someone please stop me before I buy more! I was immediately smitten when I saw these cute fragrance bottles called Harajuku Lovers, a line of different scents from Gwen Stefani. My favorite is the Gwen figure (who in essence is Alice in Wonderland, one of my all-time faves). I don't even care if the scent smells good. Just the cute little figures are enough for me to get one. How absurdly adorable are these?!?


In learning more about their marketing strategy, it certainly sounds like they fully intend to sell the fragrances based on the appeal of the cute, whimsical bottles.

"The scents will each be available in two sizes: $45 for 30 ml. and $25 for 10 ml. A coffret, which includes solid perfume versions of all five, will be on counter later this fall as a permanent addition to the collection, and will retail for $60. "They're value-priced to encourage multiple purchases," said Catherine Walsh, senior vice president of American Fragrances for Coty Prestige, adding, "While we're not the first to launch multiple scents at once, I do believe that we're one of the few to launch five extremely different scents at once."

In the U.S., certain retailers — including Macy's West — intend to install such fan-appealing features as 5-foot versions of the fragrance dolls and a photo booth where customers can take their pictures with the characters."

Shrewd, maybe, but they don't pretend that they are not trying to make money off of the look, and they have priced it so that anyone who wants to spend money on them can afford to. I like that idea very much.

I have not purchased fragrances in a long time, mainly because I am very picky about the scents. However, I do look forward to seeing this line in the stores and checking them out.

Oh yeah, doesn't this look inspired by LV from last season? It's catching on still (but a lot less blatant than the United Colors of Benetton's campaign). I know, I'm a little obsessed over this. :p


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