{favourite five: fashion designer tory burch}

above: tory burch's manhattan home, designed by architect & interior designer daniel romualdez, who also decorated the new flagship store


e d i t o r ' s n o t e : h e l l o f r o m r o s é l i n e

. . . as you know, a few weeks ago in the early morning light of late summer, stopped in for coffee & mimosas at the opening of tory burch's new flagship boutique on 797 madison avenue in new york, for a glimpse of the beautiful interiors spanning across five floors of a 19th century townhouse . . .



. . . and while browsing the new collection and in between a glass of champagne for me, and a freshly brewed coffee from a gilded service for laily, had the chance to catch up with tory and ask her a few questions . . .


from the fall 2011 collection

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. . . and so, without further ado, this week's favourite five . . .

à bientôt & hope you're having a wonderful week so far, roséline xo

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[click after the jump to read laily's interview with tory burch]

click to continue >>>

{favourite five: designer kelly wearstler}

I ask a lot of clients what their favorite colors are and they say, 'I don't know what I want to live in.' I say, 'Go in your closet and look at the majority of what color is in there; that's the color you're going to like living in.

~ Kelly Wearstler

Whether she is dressing interiors or dressing models, interior and fashion designer Kelly Wearstler is taking the world of high-style by storm -- a very chic storm.





Since she started her own interior design firm in 1995, Kelly has taken lessons from celebrated decorators such as Dorothy Draper and William Haines, applying the modern sensible style of a strict color palette and clean, graphic lines to the chic, plush and swanky glamour of old Hollywood . . .

[click below to read more]




from the fall 2011 ready-to-wear collection

{p.s.} as always, so much more after the jump x
click to continue >>>

{favourite five: designer & author india hicks}

In fairy tales, humble and gallant princes defeat their adversaries, succeed to kingdoms and marry beautiful princesses -- and although India Hicks’ family legacy would suggest that to be her destiny, and even though she is very proud of her heritage -- her life hasn’t been based on Prince Charming sweeping her off her feet -- instead, she has created her own happily ever after as a a successful model, designer and author.





Born in London, India's father was famed interior decorator, David Hicks, and her mother, Pamela Hicks, the daughter to the Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma. As India's grandfather was the last Viceroy of India {and gave the country their independence in 1947}, she was appropriately given her name.



As the Goddaughter of The Prince of Wales {and also his second cousin}, India was one of the bridesmaids at his wedding to Lady Diana, above. Of the experience, she tells us that “riding in a horse drawn carriage in central London was rather magical . . .”



At 17, India traveled from England to Italy, meeting up with designer Emilio Pucci, and was asked to model his catsuits.



She then continued her studies in art and photography, and upon completion, moved to New York, where she was discovered by Ralph Lauren and began a successful career as a well-known fashion model of the 1980's and 1990's, modeling for the likes of J.Crew.



In 2007, India hosted the Bravo interior design competition TV series Top Design.





Now living in the Bahamas with her partner and four children, she has published an interiors book titled, 'Island Life', as well as a lifestyle/fitness/beauty book titled, ‘Island Beauty’ , and has also created a luxurious all-natural body and home fragrance line with Crabtree & Evelyn.



According to India, her “father's great design legacy has impacted me and remains a source of influence...”



And so, in addition to all of her designing achievements to date, India has also added a new fine jewelry line, influenced by her father [who once designed a line for the famed French jewelry house Chaumet], and her grandmother’s extensive and matchless jewelry collection, which included the Star Tiara of Queen Victoria [more about tiaras, here, if you like].



In light of all her many projects and accomplishments, for this week's Favourite Five, we had the chance to sit down with India to find out her:

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{five favourite tips for living a successfully balanced life:}

1. Not indulging in too much of a social life. Now-a-days I would prefer to be at home tucking my children into bed than attending a social dinner, especially as evening hours can be so productive in the home office, no phones ringing, no interruptions, no dogs needing to be exercised.

2. Keeping your body and soul in shape. I try to exercise 5 days a week.

3. Being born under the star sign Virgo. We are phenomenally organised -- we even organize piles of paper clips.

4. Not being ashamed to ask for help, for instance, having some one else cook the kids dinner.

5. Not spending too much time worrying about the little things.

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* food editor & author: donna hay
* photographer: debi treloar
* painter: janet hill
* jewelry designer: suzie gallehugh
* artist: michelle armas
* jewelry designers: megan & moira flynn
* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro
* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* jewelry designer: cc skye
* designer & ceramicist: reiko kaneko
* perfumer: anne mcclain

~ laily


{images: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 - photography by patrick cline for lonny, interior design by david flint wood; 2 - domino via a previous post; 9 - via india hicks; 10 - from island life via minty; 11 - collage by this is glamorous; 12 - india hicks by british photographer jason bell for viyella autumn/winter collection ad campaigns via rdujour}

{favourite five: on vacation}

. . . a quick hello and a little note to say that the favourite five series will be on hiatus until september 12, 2011, as laily is away on holiday before summer's end . . . and when she returns, brand new and exciting interviews lined up that we can not wait to share with you, but until then, a few past favourites you may have missed . . .

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :



* food editor & author: donna hay

* photographer: debi treloar

* painter: janet hill

* jewelry designer: suzie gallehugh

* artist: michelle armas

* jewelry designers: megan & moira flynn

* actress & writer: shiva rose

* jeweler: camille eddera

* artist: kimia kline

* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny

* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro

* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro

* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré

* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger

* entrepreneurs: rent the runway

* designer: rachel ashwell

* interior designer: tricia foley

* photographer: romina shama

* jewelry designer: cc skye

* designer & ceramicist: reiko kaneko

* perfumer: anne mcclain





{images: lagerlings via the diversion project}

{favourite five: perfumer anne mcclain}

per·fume/ˈpərˌfyo͞om/: the scent of something sweet-smelling

The word perfume is derived from the Latin phrase "per" meaning "through" and "fumus" meaning "smoke", and even the word itself were almost to take one away. . .







Perhaps that is the reason why the French gave the name parfum to the delightful smells that drift through the air when burning incense. Since early civilization, perfumes and scented oils have played a role in attraction and emotions -- a fragrance can create memories and also be a sign of individuality -- having a signature scent can leave a lasting impression, not to mention, it is one of the most luxurious things ever . . .











Ancient Romans indulged in applying perfume at least three times a day. Emperor Caracalla's Roman baths had rooms dedicated to housing jars of fragrant oils and essences in bottles of varying size. The animals were even perfumed -- during lavish feasts, birds were released from their cages to disseminate perfume from their wings; even draperies, candlesticks, tables, and cushions were all perfumed.







In the 18th century, Louis XV of France's court (known also as "le cour parfumee" / "the perfumed court") also daily perfumed not only their skin, but also their clothing, fans and furniture, for perfume was a substitute for soap and water.







Having studied the history of perfumery, Anne McClain of MCMC Fragrances creates scents with the past, present, and future in mind, by adding her own touch to perfumes that were developed throughout history and will live on in the future through memories created by those scents -- whether a delicate floral that conjures thoughts of a summer day or the scent of a musky bark that reminds of the author of a love letter . . .







Raised in Rhode Island and Japan, Anne moved to Grasse, the “perfume capital” of France, to study, intensively, the history, techniques, and practices of modern perfumery, before starting her own company in 2010. Now based in Brooklyn, NY, MCMC Fragrances carefully crafts perfumes in small batches and hand-bottles them in Anne’s own studio. Since the launch of the company, Anne's fragrances have won the praise of publications such as Wallpaper, Lucky, InStyle, New York Magazine, and the New York Times.











Offering a range of classes, Anne shares her knowledge of the art and craft of perfumery. Another way she creates a positive impact is through her collaborations with community organizations, creating special edition fragrances with Trust Art and the Ananda Harvest, to help benefit their causes.







After delighting in the intoxicating scents of each of her fragrances, we were interested to know more about the history that has inspired her work, and so we asked Anne:

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{the top five most interesting things about the history of perfume:}

1. Egyptians wore scented wax cones on their heads to parties.



2. Louis XV demanded a different perfume every day.



3. The formula for Chanel No. 5 may have been a mistake! It's said that the perfumer's assistant mixed in ten times the amount of aldehyde by accident, but Coco Chanel loved it.



4. The first perfumes popular in France were used to scent leather gloves, not the body.

5. The very first mention of perfume is from 2,000 BC...Whoa! I'm still amazed by perfume sometimes!

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :



* food editor & author: donna hay

* photographer: debi treloar

* painter: janet hill

* jewelry designer: suzie gallehugh

* artist: michelle armas

* jewelry designers: megan & moira flynn

* actress & writer: shiva rose

* jeweler: camille eddera

* artist: kimia kline

* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny

* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro

* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro

* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré

* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger

* entrepreneurs: rent the runway

* designer: rachel ashwell

* interior designer: tricia foley

* photographer: romina shama

* jewelry designer: cc skye

* designer & ceramicist: reiko kaneko



~ laily





{all images: via the makers by jennifer causey; the definition for perfume from the merriam webster dictionary}

{favourite five: designer reiko kaneko}

“Art has no end but its own perfection.”

- Plato

To create the perfect piece of art requires a number of variables to be in order -- in the world of ceramics, for instance, the potter must manipulate matter, energy, time, and space -- and with that, can produce an infinite number of potential works of art.







So many factors are a part of what will result: there are countless ways force can be applied, limitless possibilities of what shape will evolve out of clay, and the timing, duration and intensity of the heat all play a role in the outcome.







And so it is with life -- there are many factors, like the time, place and the energy that we invest -- that play a role in creating meaningful and beautiful lives.







Ceramics and home accessories designer Reiko Kaneko certainly has merged beautiful ceramics with a beautiful life. Born in Britain, Reiko spent her childhood in Japan, and continuously draws on influences from both British and Japanese cultures, blending the two in the pieces she creates.







Having studied Arts and Design at Central St. Martin's College, Reiko specializes in ceramic design and supplies bone china design. In 2007, she established a design studio in London’s East End, where she creates the most exquisite home accessories and fine bone china tableware -- gorgeous pieces like her renowned boat, which was first launched at the famed Maison & Objet show in Paris earlier this year.







Featured on the pages of publications such as Vogue Living, Elle Decor and Marie Claire to name a few, Reiko has become one of the top designers in ceramics today.



This week, she imparts her:

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{top five favourite pieces of advice for young artists & designers:}



1. I find the more I learn, I realise how little I know, so my first piece of advice is to always keep trying, experimenting, and learning.



2. Use all the tools available to you -- for instance, YouTube and google are great senseis, or teachers -- don’t underestimate them!



3. Rome wasn't built in a day, so be faithful to your dreams.



4. Live every day as if it's your last, but also live as if you'll be alive for a very long time.



5. Above all, enjoy everything you do -- a lot!

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* food editor & author: donna hay

* photographer: debi treloar

* painter: janet hill

* jewelry designer: suzie gallehugh

* artist: michelle armas

* jewelry designers: megan & moira flynn

* actress & writer: shiva rose

* jeweler: camille eddera

* artist: kimia kline

* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny

* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro

* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro

* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré

* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger

* entrepreneurs: rent the runway

* designer: rachel ashwell

* interior designer: tricia foley

* photographer: romina shama

* jewelry designer: cc skye



~ laily

{favourite five: jewelry designer cc skye}

Often, accessories are added afterward, to accentuate outfits, adding glimmering touches here and there. In the case of LA-based CC Skye, however, the accessories she designs do not merely accent outfits, but rather, create them.



Unlike most fashion lines that are influenced by big cities like New York or Paris, CC Skye was born out of a six-month study abroad program that the designer did in Nepal. Traveling only with a backpack containing the bare essentials, CC, a true LA Girl at heart, missed the fashions she would find in the pages of Vogue while living in Kathmandu.



After some time, she decided to trade in her hiking boots and ended up in the silk stalls of Kathmandu, buying silk used for Tibetan Temples to make dresses with the help of local seamstresses, and started to work with gems and metals . . .



According to the designer, "...living in Nepal made me stop and learn how to to create my vision with my hands and use my resources rather than just go out and buy something, which is what we are all so used to doing in a consumer-based culture. It [Nepal] was a self-sustained culture in which you grew your own food, made your own utensils out of bamboo or wood, and ultimately, you made your own spring wardrobe".



CC Skye, who has been called "consistently ahead of the trends" by Women's Wear Daily, merges uptown sophistication with downtown glamour in her jewelry and handbag collection. A favourite of the most fashionable celebrities, including Eva Mendes and Nicole Richie, CC Skye's line was nominated for Best New Accessory Designer by GEN ART.



This week, we ask the designer:

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{What are the top five ways you stay ahead of trends?}

1. Knowing trends is instinctual. I like to think some people are great at picking stocks, others are great at predicting trends. I've had an innate instinct since I was very young. Perhaps that was because I had a very fashion-forward mother who always had the latest trends in the 70's and 80's. I grew up in a big city and although I longed to live in the suburbs and climb trees, Barneys was my backyard.

2. Timing is everything. I found out early that you cannot be too ahead of the trends as you must connect to your customers.

3. Timing in fashion is everything. The magazines are not always correct about what the public wants and you have to be rather intuitive about what is good for the street versus the runway and be able to balance the two.

4. There is a constant play on opposites in the forming of trends and being aware of that is important. Years ago it was bohemian-based and then suddenly all skulls and rock n' roll! One season handbags are structured and almost immediately the next season they’re slouchy. There has even been correlations with the stock market in trend research. They say that when mini skirts are in, the stock market rises, and when long skirts are in, the market drops. I recall when the recession hit, we were unintentionally designing jewelry inspired by Art Deco in the 1930’s.

5. In the end, I think it comes down to finding styles or colors you love, exploring them, and reinventing ways to make it a part of your brand’s personality.

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* photographer: debi treloar
* painter: janet hill
* jewelry designer: suzie gallehugh
* artist: michelle armas
* jewelry designers: megan & moira flynn
* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro
* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay

~ laily