Anthropologie style

Today the delectable Eileen R. of easelart from Toronto, Canada is guest blogging about the Anthropologie style in North America. Eileen is a careful European Chic reader and figured how much I like Anthropologie (even if the closest one for me living in Paris is in London).

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Since we saw the Anthropologie store in London here I thought, as a guest, I might show one in my hometown, Toronto, Canada. I think Anthropologie has hit on a style that’s quite adaptable for many places both European and North American. They always give me loads of ideas and not just about fashion. I don’t mean to single out a particular store and be an ad for them but Anthropologie are good at creating a certain look.

 I keep meaning to buy some of their letters for my home office.

             



















    It looks a bit like an antiques store.
     

I thought instead of looking at the clothes, I would look at how things are displayed and also the new line of furniture. I bet you can’t wait to get some of this in the rest of Europe. Or maybe it’s something you see more readily elsewhere in other shops and at markets and can wait. In North America where new is usually more prized over the old, it’s nice to see vintage items or furniture inspired by vintage pieces.

An old cupboard with its doors off is used for another display.

There are even live plants used for displays. 

While waiting for a friend trying on clothes I noticed that the bench in the fitting room has fabric around it. This must have been dipped in glued and hand molded to create these folds. I also love the pillows. I’m in the process of collecting bright fabric to make my own pillows for a revamp of my living room. All of the above photos were taken using instagram on my iPhone.

Bench for waiting in the fitting room                

                                       

 Owls seem to be 'in'.

I really think I could move right into the store. Would they mind? It always smells heavenly. I’m a sucker and even bought their candles in the hope of having a bit of Anthropologie at home.

 I want this lamp. Made in France

 Maybe with less pillows

I fell for this purple sofa

All photos: easelart/Eileen R.

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Thanks to Eileen from easelart for blogging today. This marks the end of this summer's guest posts. Next time it will be me again (more tanned).

Flower stationery

Purse

This summer I dig the happy flower power stationery from Cath Kidston, a British designer. I want the blue and white polka dot laptop case (they tend to be black which is boooring in an office).

Notebook

 3 draw cabinet

Spectacle holder

Letter writing kit

'My' laptop case

Miniature notbooks

Pencil case for kids

 Pencil case and matching pen

Concertina

All images: Cath Kidston

Form follows function

Form follows indeed function here with the product's smooth, elegant curves. Henning Koppel's designs look classy and timeless. Henning Koppel (1918 - 1981) was a Danish designer who worked, among others, for legendary silversmith Georg Jensen.

This post is for my blogger friend. R. because I think Koppel's design is his cup of tea. (I hope I am right).

All photos: Ditte Isager

A letter to Anthropologie

All photos: Anthropologie.eu

For once more words than eye candy on European Chic. I found this fun letter on McSweeney's internet tendencies. Who identifies with the letter writer?

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AN OPEN LETTER TO ANTHROPOLOGIE.

Your little catalogue comes careening into our home every three weeks and suddenly I am dissatisfied with my life. Happiness flies out the window (sans Persian Velvet Curtains). You make me angry with my loving, live-in boyfriend, unhappy with our adorable dogs, and dissatisfied with our sprawling, albeit ramshackle, flat.

You thought you were so clever when you one-upped our spiffy, yet haphazard flea market furnishings with your imported Long Forgotten Coat Rack comprised of grove root, and your Madeline Chair finished with a perfect weathered patina. You considered yourself cooler-than-thou when you took on a minimalist European flair by introducing the Ditte Sofa in ochre linen. "Finishing the crossword never felt so elegant," you said! Because of you, I can't even start a Word Jumble on our once beloved, now just plain natty sectional. You twisted the knife into our unstylish backdoor with your Medici Doorknob "warmed with an aristocratic Mediterranean pattern." Damn you and your Peacock Toile Switchplates!

But forget our surroundings—it's true, without the Lady & Her Dog Loveseat in mist twill, the fox terriers have been relegated to a sad little polyester-covered pup bed to rest their, what I bet you would deem, "unstylish furry legs." What pains me, Anthropologie, is that without your Two-Timing Sweater (a cardigan and a pullover! Yes, that's right!) I will not be able to "have my cake and eat it, too." Knowing I can't afford your Into-the-Woods-Dress and thus will never be able to stand like your model does at the foot of a glacier, bare armed yet warm, is more than I can live with. It pains me to accept that I could scale mountains in four-inch platform heels if only I had the Lunar Puzzle Mary Janes! I struggle knowing that without your Can-Can Pencil Skirt, complete with "choreographed flounce," life will just never have that je ne sais quoi's.

So after months of longing and lamenting, I took action. I knew I shouldn't have done it, but I made a pilgrimage. I braved the train, the crowds, the drizzly weather. I entered your doors and I stood directly in front of your Cooled Lava Dress (Oh, how very cool it was). I visited your Bay-of-Smoke Jacket. (You knew I always wanted to go to the Bay of Smoke!). Standing on your faux-sanded wooden farmhouse floors, amongst your clusters of light bulbs turned avant-garde chandeliers, I realized I've done it all wrong—the liberal arts degree, the MFA, the low-paying publishing jobs, the erratic freelancing and adjunct teaching.

If only I could go back in time and study Anthropologie (quirky spelling and all!). If only I had known that true happiness comes wrapped in a $118 Frefaxi Cowlneck in the color porcelain, and that bliss was founded on boots with "rough-and tumble" cognac leather stacked heels, and that with a Hillside Vista Skirt, "layers of earth and sky" would be mimicked on my own person.

If only I had known, Anthropologie. If only I had known.

— Anna Mantzaris

Let's celebrate 150 years Italian unification

Today is the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. Thanks, Signore Garibaldi! My dear friend R., an Italian expat living in Paris, forwarded me this link to the cute brooch book. It measures approx. 3 x 2cm, is made from recycled paper and has a leather cover I thought it would be the perfect present for Italy lovers today.

All photos: anticovalore

Surprise guest: La Clarière in Paris

 Today I am going to interview textile designer Sharon MacDonald in her beautifully decorated atelier/shop in a cute village-like neighbourhood of Paris.

European Chic: Good morning, Sharon. First, tell us about yourself?

Sharon MacDonald: I am an architect by training. I studied in Canada and at my university we took also classes in interior design and fine arts. I believe my training as an architect brought me three things: The way I look at the world, attention to detail ,and a general knowledge about composition.

I worked as an architect in London for a while and when I moved to Paris I started working as an interior designer, among others with Philippe Starck and Andrée Putman. I had been offering printed fabrics which I designed myself to friends as presents and encouraged by their positive reactions I opened my first atelier in 1996. I sold my creations at fairs such as St. Jean de Beauregard near Paris. In 2008 I finally moved to a larger atelier on the Buttes aux Cailles and opened my shop/atelier La Clarière.

La Clarière has been featured in the French print publications Marie Claire Ideés and Cote Est but never on a blog before.

European Chic: Please tell us about your style and influences?

Sharon MacDonald: As an architect/interior designer I worked for others and adapted their style but I realised that I had to offer something more personal. My mother and grandmother did a lot of crafts and needlework and I was always attracted to textiles.

My style is influenced by my year living in Japan. My designs are decorative but slightly austere. I am also influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and the beauty of nature, especially the study of leaves and flowers.

I have an eclectic approach and enjoy mixing my work with antique linen I find at local flea markets. I call it the 'The Past Perfect' collection. My philosophy is to upcycle. I take antique pieces, transform them and give them a new life. I encourage my customers not to be too matchy matchy.

European Chic: Why do you work exclusively with linen?

Sharon MacDonald: Linen is such a sensual fabric. Every piece is different, it is a living fiber. Linen drapes in such a graceful unique way. Actually, it is scientifically proven that linen is good for your sleep as it is a very absorbent material. I have a nightgown collection with flat felled seams in light summer linen and thicker winter linen.

European Chic: What is your favourite collection? I know, this must be a tough one.

Sharon MacDonald: My favourite collection ha to be the Children's clothes collection. I especially love the red designs.

European Chic: Ok, one last question. What are your plans for the future?

Sharon MacDonald: I am currently designing new motives with bright colours on lightly coloured linen.

I am also going to add baby blankets made out of the softest linen I could find to my bestselling Baby Collection. My Children's Collection will also be expanded to include more clothes for boys.

European Chic: Thank you very much, Sharon, for sharing your beautiful designs with European Chic readers. I think your lovely store/atelier is really 'you' and I feel right at home here.

Oh, by the way, La Clarière ships anywhere in the world and also accepts custom orders. La Clarière's website is bilingual French and English.

All collages by European Chic; other photos by La Clariere


La Clarière - Atelier/Galerie de Création Textile


8, rue de L'Espérance
75013 Paris France
01 82 09 44 79
http://www.atelierlaclariere.com/
 

Me (and Sharon, I am sure) are eager to hear from you (click on the post title and scroll down in order to comment).
 
I had promised in January that I had new ideas for this blog. Please do let me know what you think of this new format. As you can imagine a post like this one is somewhat time consuming (but lots of fun!) to produce.

Rainbow stationery

It's a post on stationary design again! Yep, I hadn't forgotten, but lately I hadt't found anything I liked from Europe, although lots of lovely American stationary which didn't really fit the scope of this blog.

BookbindersDesign is a Swedish brand and we are lucky to have two of their shops in Paris which I am known to frequent, well, frequently. They also have an online shop in case you live in a country with no BookbinderDesign shop. Most of their designs are available in all colours under the rainbow.  

All photos: BookbindersDesign.

P.S: I am already working on my next post where you will meet an unexpected guest. Stay tuned!
P.P.S. Click on the title of the post and then scroll down if you want to comment. I'd love to hear from you!