Inspiration From A Writer's Library

Writer's libraries are always scarily messy affairs.

At the moment, my study is overcrowded with piles of research for new book projects, plans for our forthcoming US Garden Tour in May, tax receipts to reconcile, a huddle of watercolours to be used for the page designs for the New York book, an overwhelmingly – I mean frighteningly high – pile of archives, notes and interviews for the Picnic at Hanging Rock book (almost as high as the rock itself!), a smaller pile of ribbons and other passementerie for a new Paris book, a medium pile of bits and pieces for the new magazine, and an almost hidden cluster of clippings and ideas for a new company I'm working on. (Which is a pile that keeps getting pushed to one side, so I may have to remove it from the others altogether.)

And in between all these terrorising, intimidating piles, are books. Piles and piles of books.

I tell you, this study is not a safe place to be.  

(NB I'm not showing you as I'm quietly ashamed of the chaos. It's organised chaos, but nonetheless, there is an element of alarm at the sight of it all)

But what I wanted to write about was the curiosity we have for other people's studies, libraries and private spaces.

An ex-boyfriend once told me that when he started dating a girl, he would look in her bathroom cupboard for clues, but I think you'd find out a lot more about someone by looking in their library.
Books are revealing things. I'm sometimes ashamed when high-brow literary friends come over because we don't have many high-brow literary titles. (Have you ever done the bookshelf shuffle when you've had guests? It's such panic, isn't it?) First editions are another sign that someone has a fine mind. (We have a first edition that's worth $10,000+, but it's the only one I have and I've hidden it so well I can't find it. That says volumes about us.)

Anyway, this post was inspired by another writer, the brilliant Australian-New Zealand author Diane Dorrans Saeks who's now based in San Francisco. 

A former staff writer for Vogue Living and Vogue Australia, Diane has written more than two dozen coffee-table books on design, architecture and style (above).

Her blog www.thestylesaloniste.com [link] is always fascinating: a curious compendium of travel, design, ideas, books and style. It's like walking into a bookshop and finding the owner is one of the most interesting people you've ever met, full of sage advice about people to read and places to go.

She's rather well-known but she's also endearingly humble. (Anyone who goes to Luang Prabang is not pretentious.)

This week, she did a post on her library. It was astonishing. I wish I knew her better so I could email her. Do have a peek: book lovers will go ga-ga.

It gave me dozens of ideas for new and vintage books to buy. It also made me think: Why isn't there a blog that shows pix of people's private libraries? It would offer such wonderful inspiration for new book buys, don't you think?

And so here, in something of a confessional, are some images of our book 'piles' around the place. I hope it offers you all some bookish inspiration for 2014. We all need to buy more books – new ones, old ones, vintage and classic ones, bestsellers and small sellers, high-brow and low. Thank you Diane for showing me the beauty of books again.

INSPIRATION FROM A WRITER'S LIBRARY

TOP OF THE PILE

This is one of the best books. Ever. If you love gardens and particularly French gardens and their design, buy this new tome on Le Notre, the talent behind Versailles. It's surprisingly inexpensive. How they put it all together, with the garden plans, illustrations and text, for this price, I'll never know. It's an extraordinarily beautiful volume of work.

Le Notre: In Perspective

(Published to coincide with the current exhibition at Versailles.)

CLOSE TO THE TOP OF THE PILE

Audrey: The 60s

This was a Christmas gift, along with Le Notre. (I was so lucky. I received lots of beautiful books from family.) This is one of the most beautiful books about Ms Hepburn that's ever been published. And the 1960s fashion is sublime. (Especially on her.)

A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR FRANCOPHILES

The Sun King's Garden, by Ian Thompson

Life in The French Country Home by Mark Girouard

and Côte d'Azur: Inventing The French Riviera by Mary Blume

FAVOURITE DESIGN / ARCHITECTURE TITLES

Robert Polidori's huge, three-volume Versailles, 

which shows the behind-the-scenes restoration of the palace in beautiful detail.

Danish fashion designer Marlene Birger's Life & Work

And some of Tricia Guild and Christian Liaigre's titles...

TRAVEL & FASHION RECS

Manolo Blahnik's Drawings

Bare Blass: Bill Blass

and The Golden Age of Travel by Alexis Gregory

GREAT HOLIDAY READS

Anything by Lily Brett or Justine Picardie

A SURPRISING DELIGHT OF A READ

The Garden in Art

Just superb.

GLORIOUS GARDENALIA

Anything by Adam Nicolson (Vita Sackville-West's grandson)

or David Hicks' My Kind of Garden

MORE GORGEOUS GARDENALIA

Bunny Williams' An Affair With A House

Heritage Gardens: The World's Great Gardens Saved by Restoration

Sara Midda's In and Out of the Garden

Garden Mania (a gem for those who love garden plans)

GREAT BEACH READS

Vintage Swimwear

Capri Style

AND BOOKS THAT ARE GOOD FOR DISPLAY

Anything by Images Publishing (my old company), particularly the New Classicist series.

And of course my new publisher, MUP, which produces beautiful books. 

Although in the end, it doesn't matter what you read, as long as you keep reading...

Topping It Off... The New Trend For Top Hats

It must be one of the more unusual trends to develop in the fashion and design worlds. The fad for top hats and bowler hats has finally come out of the closet (literally), where it lingered for several years as one of those quietly whimsical thing only stylists knew about, and is now firmly in the Glamoursphere. (That inner circle where high-fashion items sit. Also known as the IN list.)

Photographer Rodney Smith used them first. Well, actually, Margritte used them before him. Then The Thomas Crown Affair adopted them... Then Ralph Lauren. Then Lady Mary, I think? Oh, I forget the order. But here are some fine examples of this dashing fashion accessory, which will soon be making an appearance in a closet or home near you...

Spotted on the New Victorian Ruralist's website this morning. Like the fine dandy he is, James has adopted the top for his brand photo. {finderskeepersmarketinc.blogspot.com}

Shot on Fifth Avenue in New York on a recent trip. This was a stunning window display. I'm sorry now that I only snapped this detail.

The extraordinary photography of Rodney Smith, who is undoubtedly one of the best photographers in the world. Mr Smith (he's so extraordinary that he really needs to be called Mr Smith) uses the bowler hat as one of his recurring motifs, and in fact has made  it his signature look. Even his website has the bowler as the favicon. So witty. {rodneysmith.com} 

The inimitable Thomas Crown Affair, and the equally inimitable Mr Brosnan. How is it possible that a man can look this handsome? The film's poster and indeed some of the storyline was inspired by Belgian surrealist René Magritte's self-portrait 'The Son of Man' (or 'Le fils de l'homme' in French). The painting is about the idea that we all hide behind a facade of sorts. "Everything we see hides another thing. We always want to see what is hidden by what we see," Magritte explained of his famous work. He also painted 'The Man in the Bowler Hat', but in my opinion it isn't as witty. 

The legendary Marlene Dietrich. Did you know she and Greta Garbo once got it on in Frank Sinatra's Palm Springs pool to try and turn Frankie on? No? A bit of Marlene trivia for you there....

And Kate Moss' reinvention of M's signature look..

And then Ralph Lauren's versions...

Oh, how I love, love, love the top outfit. There's nothing like a top hat (in this case a riding one) and a sliver of veil to create a sexy, slightly androgynous mystery. One blogger called it "a statement piece – a mix of high fashion, equestrian chic, and burlesque femme fatale." Just add a black bustier dress and killer stilettos, she said. I agree. Although I'd perhaps put something on down below, as well, just to be modest. {Via Ralph Lauren}

.

Not that Dita von Teese cares about top OR bottom... But when you're this gorgeous, you only need to wear a top hat to look fabulous. (Although perhaps tuck that nip in a bit Dita...)

Another sassy little lady is Lady Mary from Downton Abbey, who just looks more and more fantastic with each scene. This was perhaps my favourite. The riding scene. Just before she...well, you know.

Did you know there's a website called F--k Yeah Lady Mary? (Forgive the language. My Catholic grandmother would be stirring in her grave right now.) It calls itself a site for "fans of the flawlessly flawed Lady Mary Crawley". You can look it up at {fyeah-ladymary.tumblr.com} Do take a look – it's surprisingly good.

The always-glamorous Kate Waterhouse, who never puts a foot wrong during Spring Racing Carnival. Unlike some of the horses I back. {Via SMH}

Photographed in New York on a recent rip. While not exactly a top hat or bowler hat, this window display did tap into the current fashion for all things equestrian and/or dandy-ish... I suggested to my sister-in-law that she might like to wear this to Derby Day. I'm sure it would have gone a treat at the Emirates Marquee.

My bowler hat in our Black Library. This came from the great little vintage store Izzi & Popo in Melbourne. It sits with my favourite photographs of Miami's iconic Raleigh Hotel, a receipt from the first date my partner and I went on (The European in Spring Street), and a paper skyline of New York that he created as a Valentine's Day card one year. (I've asked him to do Paris this year, but he muttered "one was enough!") 

By the way, there's a funny story about the receipt. I had it framed and then realised, looking at the total bill of $250, that my partner would have never spent that much on dinner! Turns out it was from another date at the very same restaurant exactly a year before! How ironic is that? I had to do a fast swap before he noticed and said "What the...?"

Royal Ascot, which I attended as a media representative, even though I know next to nothing about horses, racing OR society events of this nature! But the top hats were fabulous.

And finally, to top it all off (sorry, couldn't resist), there are these fantastically witty, neatly dressed top hat pendant lamps by designer Jake Phipps. Perfect for adding a dash of whimsy to a space, these lampshades are made of actual top hats lined with anodized aluminum for an authentic British Gentleman charm. Can't you just see these in a cool bar somewhere in Mayfair? {www.jakephipps.com}

Pin Up Chic: Hollywood Swimsuits

Have you noticed that swimwear has gone all glamorous lately? It seems to have been taking its cues from 1950's Vogues and old Hollywood films. You only need to look at Chanel's 2012 Cruise Collection (which was staged at the Hotel du Cap in the south of France – a fitting backdrop for such a collection) to see how glamorous swimwear is now. Even Seafolly has started producing Hollywood-inspired styles, with frills, gingham, polka dots, halter necks and swimmers that look like they should belong on Capri or an old wooden motorboat off the coast of Portofino. It's about time we returned to elegant bathers. Just add a striped deck chair, some big black Jackie O-style sunnies and an azure-blue pool and you'll  soon be starring in your own Hollywood drama. (PS You seem to need VERY good hair to go with these bathers. No chlorine-soaked pool hair here.)

Here are some of the gorgeous swimmers I've been seeing around. Some are also from my archive files. {Top image of Chanel show via Reuters.}

A sleek, retro-style bikini (above) with a whole lotta glamour factor, from a beautiful spread in the just-released January issue of Australian Vogue.

An ivory lace knit swimsuit from Lover's collection, again from the January issue of Australian Vogue. Love the black and white lace espadrilles too.

A black maillot by the White Suede label, called the 'Crossed Love' swimsuit. Love that name. 

{Image from theage(melbourne)magazine}

A cheeky playsuit from Mrs Press' collection. Imagine this with a full-circle black skirt or even a cute wrap-around black skirt? You could slip the skirt straight off and be ready for a dip. It would be perfect for late-night cocktail parties! (As in... very late-night ones.)

{Image from Notebook magazine}

A fabulously glamorous maillot from Chanel's latest collection, as featured in the recent Chanel show at Brisbane's Government House. Look how sensational the matching gown looks? This is definitely one for Qualia girls. (And Qualia would have the black-and-white lounge chairs to match, too – for extra glamour.)

{Image courtesy of Absolutely Beautiful Things}

Another fabulous two-toned maillot from Chanel's 2012 Cruise Collection. Look at the one behind it, too. {Image via style.com}

A page from one of my favourite books, The Swimsuit, by Sarah Kennedy. (Cameron House publishers.) Not sure which designer did this swimsuit, but I adore the tomato-red beach bag and towel.

A spectacular ballgown-inspired suit from 1954 featuring sleeves and a burgundy bustle. Not sure how practical this is but it sure looks gorgeous. {Image courtesy of The Swimsuit}

A cute red polka dot swimsuit from a great Australian label called My Sister Pat. If you're into retro swimwear, do look up her website. She has hundreds of styles, and they're all gorgeous. www.mysisterpat.com.au/product

Another gem from My Sister Pat's collection. This number is called 'Myrtle'. This is how Myrtle's blurb reads: "Myrtle oozes 1950's elegance and femininity. After a morning dip, add a little classic denim to her pretty print and meet the girls for lunch..." Oh Myrtle, you're too cute for words.

A beautiful old Vogue cover. Look how the Vogue masthead has been created around the ball. Genius. Why don't they make covers like this anymore...?

{Image from The Art of Vogue Photographic Covers.}