Style Icon: Florence Broadhurst

You might not have heard of Florence Broadhurst, but chances are you will have seen her maximalist patterns gracing everything from wallpaper and cushions to dresses and Vespas. The story of the Australian design doyenne's life - and death - is fascinating (read more here) and thanks to the people at Signature Prints her legacy has been kept alive. New York label Kate Spade are bringing a whole host of products featuring Broadhurst's patterns in 2012 too, so we'll be seeing a whole lot more of Florence in the coming months.

Hermes Bleaus D'Allieurs Tableware

I don't have the sort of lifestyle that requires a Porcelain dinner set - especially one with an Hermes pricetag - but the new Bleus D'Allieurs range is at the top of my lust list right now. I'm also loving the window displays by talented set designer Sarah Illenberger at Hermes' Berlin store see below). They're entirely made of paper. You can view more of her work here.

Rick Genest for Dermablend - Go Beyond the Cover

This is genius! Canadian Model Rick Genest AKA Rico the Zombie - the world's most tatooed man and star of Lady Gaga's Born This Way video - demonstrates how effective Dermablend's tatoo cover-up is. Great music and editing. Watch it!

Prada Menswear Autumn 11 - Loving the Lurex!!

Who says that men shouldn't sparkle too? Ok, so admittedly not many guys will be able to able to carry off these Prada pullovers, but, as the saying goes a little goes a long way. I've slurged on a subtly sparkly sapphire blue tie which looks precious, intriguing and just eye-catching enough.

Rhianna We Found Love Video by Milena Matsoukas

I'm OBSESSED with the video to accompany RiRi's We Found Love. It elevates a so-so pop song to another level. The promo was directed by the super talented Milena Matsoukas, who also created the iconic video for Rude Boy. Matsoukas is a graduate of the American Film Institute and New York University and has worked with everyone from Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez to Snoop Dog and Jay Z. That's not to say that her videos cost mega-bucks or necessarily use expensive equipment. What they have in common is a strong, compelling narrative and juicy images that ping off the screen. I'll let the lady herself have the final say: "A good video has the right visuals, a well conceptualised story and should be exciting and elicit reaction." watch the video below:

Catwalk to Couch

mary katrantzou's creations artfully fuse fashion with interiors

WOW! That was my initial reaction upon seeing these pictures of fashion Mary Katrantzou's AW11 collection. The London-based fashion designer is often inspired by interiors (who can forget her lampshade skirt?) and this season, Katrantzou imagined her muse as a connoisseur, surrounded by objects of beauty (Fabergé eggs, Meissen porcelain,Ming vases) and dreamt up her hyper-realist prints accordingly. In this shoot by the photographer Erik Madigan Heck for Nomenus Quarterly, the woman in the room is wearing the objects in the the room. It's a surrealist tour de force.

Spanish Prize

these traditional soaps are bathing beauties

I discovered the iconic Spanish soap Heno de Pravia while holidaying summer. The deep green bar has a distinctive sweet, herby scent. Although it doesn't remind me of hay (heno means hay in Espanol) is does remind me of sunshine skys and carefree days, provding the perfect early morning pick me up on grey London days. The story goes that in 1903 Perfumer Salvador Gal passed through the small village of Pravia and was utterly taken by the smell of freshly cut hay and flora on the air. He sought to recreate it and the Heno de Pravia range of soaps and colognes was born. I stocked up on a couple bars at the local Farmica and wish I had bought more. I also LOVE the packaging of these soaps from Portugese store A Vida Portuguesa, which sell beautiful range of traditional products. You can buy them online here.