by Johanne
This hole punch sends our hearts a-flutter:
The Heart Hole Punch, $18 at Urban Outfitters
What’s even better is that:
1) its punched-out holes fit standard binders world-wide
2) it comes in red (!) a colour we love here at White Cabana, and
3) the punched-out hearts make adorable confetti:
You’ll always have confetti on hand with a heart hole punch!
Images courtesy of Urban Outfitters.
by Johanne
I love a fondue and I love it even more when I enjoy one with guests.
Gala fondue set, $39.95 at Crate & Barrel
Personal-sized fondue set for two, $18 at Cooking.com
Trudeau Tulip fondue set, $26 at Cooking.com
Pfaltzgraff fondue set, $32 at Cooking.com
And in case you’re inspired (like we are) here’s a quick link to a traditional 3-cheese fondue recipe.
Images courtesy of Cooking.com and Crate & Barrel.
by Johanne
We’ve been talking about getting organized this year and there are some seriously sweet shelves at West Elm to get that home or office project started.
Angle Nesting Shelves, $99 for a set of one large, medium and small size at West Elm
Two sets make a great wall display.
We also really like these mirror-backed box shelves:
Mirror Box Shelves,$34 - $49 at West Elm
Looks great on its own, too
And more clean lines..
Modular shelves, $79 - $139 at West Elm
Modular shelves in black in a white cabana..
.. or tone on tone
Images and snazzy shelves from West Elm.
by Johanne
As some of you know, my thoughts are typically walking the aisles of the fashion world although, these days, my ukulele is doing all the walking and talking.
Today I’m featuring images from two advertising campaigns that are getting a lot of rubber-necking. The campaigns have much in common:
– Both are in black and white
– Both feature ‘it’ model Lara Stone
– Both are photographed by ‘it’ photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot of Mert & Marcus
– Both are for spring/summer 2011
– Both are a little arresting.
Without further ado, our first campaign:
Calvin Klein’s Spring/Summer 2011
photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot of Mert & Marcus
I really like this Calvin Klein campaign: the simplicity of the styling works with the clothes’ minimalist cuts. Klein is known for his love of black & white in everything that communicates the brand: campaign photos and his logo, for instance, continue to stick to the recipe after all these years. He’s also infamous for launching the so-called anorexic model look of the ’90s and his affinity for half-naked bony models had us complaining enough that he’s toned it down a notch for 2011.
With Lara Stone for spring, we see the gender-bender play he’s also fond of but we get a few curves and not-so-straight lines among all the symmetry. The campaign images are classic examples of photo compositions that are perfect because of a slight disturbance in the proportions. In the top left photo, an otherwise symmetrical image gives the illusion of a longer leg because of Lara’s off stance.
In the top right image, the perfect symmetry of Lara’s face and her outfit’s geometric lines are challenged by the asymmetry of her sloped shoulders. It’s simply stunning.
And now for our second campaign:
Givenchy Spring/Summer 2011
photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot of Mert & Marcus
I like this campaign; it’s definitely one we’d call ‘unconventional’. Prints are a contrast to solid white and black, people are layers to each other within the images and odd shadows lurk about. Not a hair is out of place- literally- except perhaps on Lara Stone, and we can forgive her for that because of a certain menacing-looking and albino Stephen Thompson hovering behind. And he really is albino- that’s not his fault, either.
In terms of selling clothes, I’m not sure that this Givenchy campaign works. If it’s to relate a mood, a weird moment in time or the beauty in the odd, then it’s a perfect sales pitch.
Images courtesy of Givenchy and Calvin Klein.
by Johanne
Happy New Year!
This New Year, I’m making a resolution to live life better. In essence, I aim to truly manifest my father’s wisdom: “Work smarter, not harder.”
This motto can be applied to many facets of living: by working smarter, energy is focused on producing quality and time is valued as precious and limited. When working smarter, not harder, you actually free up hours in the day for what’s important in life. It’s a kind of de-cluttering; it’s definitely a philosophy.
Luxurious living is about enjoying the best in life and that doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money or effort. It’s about thinking and planning smarter and simpler, not harder.
Treating yourself to luxuries such as a bubble bath, a cozy throw, or de-cluttering the kitchen and office are some of the easiest ways to make small positive changes to brighten your daily life.
Wishing you luxuries big and small this 2011! I’m looking forward to hearing about how you’ll be working smarter, not harder, this year!
Images courtesy of Flor’s Blog on Design and AB Home Interiors Blog.