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}

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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}

(More) Sublime Libraries

Ralph Lauren's Brook Street collection. Love a library that matches the decor. {Via Ralph Lauren and Habitually Chic}

Another Ralph Lauren library, this time from the recently released One Fifth collection. A touch too gold for me, but still decidedly glamorous. {Via Ralph Lauren}

The enviable walk-through library of Carrie and Mr Big in Sex and the City 2. This was my favourite room in their much-blogged-about residence. It not only offered an elegant, aesthetically beautiful space in which to showcase Carrie's books, it also provided a clever little hall to link the entrance and their bedroom. {Via Elle Decor}

Another ingenious home that uses a library as a lovely entrance. When this exquisite little cottage in Melbourne's South Yarra went up for sale, it was immediately snapped up by a stylish bibliophile. The image below shows the black front door that leads from the street straight to the library, and the floor plan is below that.

The artful library of French interior designer Frederic Mechiche's townhouse in Paris. Superbe! {Via Marie Claire Maison}

A beautifully designed New York library by the incredibly talented team of Roman & Williams.  One of my all-time favourite libraries. {Via Greige and Roman & Williams}

The handsome country house library in Badgley Mischka's Kentucky getaway.  {Via Elle Decor}

The sleek, modern library of French designer Christian Liaigre. {Via Maison–Christian Liaigre by Herbert Ypma}

The dignified library in the bedroom of the late Bill Blass's Connecticut residence.  {Via At Home With Books}

The white library of Stephen Shubel's restored 1906 fisherman's cottage in the coastal village of Sausalito near San Francisco. This house has been around for more than a decade, and yet it hasn't dated. Timeless black and white – don't you love it? {Via stephenshubeldesign.com}

The beautifully detailed two-storey suite of the City Club hotel in New York. Designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber, this incredible hotel room has its own soaring library. But it might be difficult reaching for a book... {Via City Club Hotel New York}

Is Green The Unofficial Colour of 2012...?

The design world's current passion for green – particularly emerald green – appears to show no signs of abating, with increasing numbers of shelter and fashion/style magazines devoting column spaces to its fresh, modern, slightly whimsical and surprisingly elegant feel. In fact, some magazines are suggesting it could be the colour to watch this year – even more than Pantone's predicted Tangerine Tango forecast.

Now bright green isn't for everyone – I know people who avoid it like the proverbial plague – but I adore it. And I know many others do, too, including Kelly Wearstler, Kate Spade, Windsor Smith and Alison Pincus of One Kings Lane, as evident by her glorious hall, below.

Here are a few more images of this sassy, sophisticated shade. Let's see if you can be persuaded to join the Green Brigade!

The San Francisco home of one of the founders of One Kings Lane, Alison Pincus, which has just gone on sale. Spectacularly vibrant.  {Via Hooked on Houses}

The whimsical, tropical, truly glamorous Martinique Banana Leaf wallpaper, which was first made famous by the Beverly Hills Hotel and is now showing up in lots of other lovely hotels, such as this one.

It's also being seen in some seriously stylish interiors, such as Nate Berkus' Milan apartment. {Via Elle Decor}

And at New York's Indochine restaurant. {Via Wall Street Times}

The now iconic Reception of the Viceroy hotel in Santa Monica, LA. I adore those mirrors. (How very LA.) And the emerald leather chairs are fantastic pieces for welcoming guests as they check in. Much nicer than standing up at a overly high reception desk! {Via Viceroy Santa Monica}

Emerald and black and white always look crisp and chic together, and this bedroom shows how glamorous the combination can look. (I've mislaid the credit for this, so please remind me if you know where it comes from. Looking at it, it appears to be one of the suites of the Viceroy Santa Monica.)

A rare glimpse of Bunny Mellon's sublime green conservatory, which was photographed for Vanity Fair. {Via Vanity Fair}

A geometric green desk, a green Moorish-inspired design on the wall and some carefully selected pieces elevate this office to a truly inspirational space. {Via House Beautiful}

Who would have thought a green kitchen would look amazing? This colour is more of an olive green than emerald, but the painted cabinetry and checked ceiling really create a dazzling space – part country, part contemporary, and completely, utterly startling. {Via House Beautiful}

It reminds me of the gorgeous green dining room of Bistro Guillaume in Melbourne, here –

Bistro Guillaume in Melbourne. I've been wanting to go here for dinner for years, mostly because of the beautiful and unusual interior design! I've put it on my "Wish List" for my birthday in February, so will let you know if the food is as fabulous as the decor. {Via Bistro Guillaume}

I love this spread from Red magazine. Look at the luscious little VW! How cute is that for a weekend away?

Windsor Smith's entry hall. This must be one of the most beautiful halls ever designed. Simple. Thoughtful. Sophisticated. Inviting. And oh, so enviable! You know what makes this hall so gorgeous? The accents of green against the dramatic blacks and whites. {Via House Beautiful}

The front door of Sydney stylist Sibella Court's store, Society Inc. Now there's a door to adore!

One of the most enchanting little guesthouses in the world, the cutely named Bed of Flowers in The Netherlands. {Via Bed of Flowers website – www.bedofflowers.nl}

One of my favourite new fabrics and wallpapers, this print is called 'Woodland Fern', and it's from the range 'A Painter's Garden' by Sanderson. So pretty. {Via Sanderson}

And lastly, two of my favourite magazine covers, the much-missed Domino with India as cover girl, and  Town & Country – with a surprisingly un-Town & Country cover! Love that emerald gown!

The Fabulous Art of Food Photography

Have you see the Sweet Paul blog and magazine? {sweetpaul.typepad.com and www.sweetpaulmag-digital.com/sweetpaulmag} It's easy to see why it was voted one of the best new online shelter magazines in a recent poll by Casa Sugar. In fact, the year before it WON the poll – even though it's technically a food magazine.

Full of sublime photography and gorgeous ideas for the home, including, of course, recipes, its key to success is that it's all photographed so beautifully. Look at the spread above, which was wittily named Before The Gardens Went Grey (as a tribute to Grey Gardens).

But now there's another fabulous chef/food stylist/photographer who's giving Mr Paul a run for his money. Béa from La Tartine Gourmande {www.latartinegourmande.com} 

A French expatriate now living in Boston with her Irish-American husband and daughter, Béa compiles the most exquisite recipes and then shoots them in a way that could almost be cinematic. Her signature look is colour, but even when she shoots monochromatic spreads, they're still full of life and energy.  It's not surprising she's been given a book deal. And the video the publishers organised to promote it is just beautiful! Even The New York Times loved it.

Go over and have a peek at www.latartinegourmandebook.com

At the moment, I'm putting together story ideas for a new online magazine that will be launched this year, only one that focuses more on lifestyle, destinations, inspirations and travel rather than predominantly food or interiors. I've started putting together some spreads for a Paris story – just photographs that I've done for various shoots over the past few years that I thought would add to the "flavour" of the piece (bad pun, sorry) – but then I realised my food photography isn't anywhere near as gorgeous as Béa's or Sweet Paul's! It takes a special kind of skill to shoot food, doesn't it?

(Chef's) hats off to those who do it well!

PS – Here's the way a professional does it! A lovely page from the portfolio of Australian photographer Sharyn Cairns.