Covetable Collette

Above: Highlights from Collette Dinnigan's 2012 Resort Collection 
All images: style.com

After 20 years in the fashion design business, Collette Dinnigan is still at the top of her game. Her resort 2012 collection was luscious, languid and of course, very lady-like. 

The designer - Collette Dinnigan

Source: Collette Dinnigan

Collette started off in her career making unique dry-clean only lingerie from delicate silks and vintage laces.  In 1990, the Collette Dinnigan label was born and in 1992 she opened her first store.  In 1995, Collette did her first show in Paris (the only Australian fashion designer to have ever shown in Paris).  Now with a $20 million dollar-plus fashion empire, Collette Dinnigan is a truly global brand with her clothes highly coveted by women the world over.

Divine De Gournay

Take me to the Orient - De Gournay wallpaper transports us to another time and place

Capturing in paint, delicate images of flora, fauna and landscapes of the East, french bespoke design firm De Gournay's chinoiserie wallpapers are mesmerising.  Handpainted and with the option to customise, these really are luxury finishings for your walls. 

De Gournay in gold
Source: De Gournay website

Painstakingly handcrafted a De Gournay flower comes to life
Source: alovelybeing

Source: De Gournay website

Europe's fascination with all things oriental originated from the East India Company's trading trips to China in the 17th Century. 

Now, even after centuries, it seems our love affair with chinoiserie still endures, and through De Gournay's magical work, handpainted wallpaper can still find a place in our digitised world.

Tea Time

source: Oriental Tea-house

A recent purchase from T2 has got me thinking about tea.  Tea is the most popular drink on the planet after water, with the tea plant being native to East and South Asian regions. The documented use of tea as a beverage dates back to China 10th Century BC. In the 16th Century AD, tea was imported to Europe during the Portuguese expansion and was referred to as 'cha'. By the 19th Century, the western world had adopted tea as it's own, formalising the ritual of drinking tea by serving it in the drawing room (for the 'drawing' of the tea) and enjoying high afternoon teas both at home and at high society engagements.

A little girls tea party: Source unknown

Fresh tea of course is still the best and T2 which have stores throughout Australia, have made selling tea the art form it deserves. Choose loose tea leaves or tea bags (note: they have nothing to do with your supermarket versions) and any herbal or black tea varietal you desire.  A box of their loose leaf tea also makes a nice thank-you gift too.

Above: With their bright, graphic packaging and variety of teas, T2 are taking tea into the now.

Photo Credit: Miss Silk for Especially Beautiful

Liberty London Love

Above: Colour, pattern and texture - Liberty has always loved fabric
Photo Credit: Stephen Vidler

I have unfinished business at the iconic Liberty London department store - and I am sure I'm not the only one. History, luxury, eclecticism and a passion for hand-crafted works have always been Liberty hallmarks and they continue to be so today. Liberty London was founded in 1875 by Arthur Lasenby Liberty. The store first began by selling ornaments, fabrics and objet's d'art sourced from Liberty's travels to Japan and the East. In 1924, the amazing tudor building that we know today was constructed, reflecting the love affair of tudor revival architecture at that time. With the building's interior, Liberty had wanted to create welcoming and intimate spaces so that it felt as if you were walking through the rooms of your own home. Welcoming? You will not want to leave once you walk through the entrance. Sadly Liberty passed away in 1917 before he got to see his building and his great plans come to life. No doubt he would be incredibly proud of his legacy; the magnificent British institution that Liberty London is today.

Above: That iconic tudor building constructed in 1924 by Edwin T. Hall
Photo credit: unknown

Inside the amazing Liberty London store - with persian rugs on display
Source: traveldk.com

Just one of the many beautiful installations inside Liberty's
Source: www.omdesign.co.uk