MIXEDMATERIAL

Six of the Best: CB2 Summer 2010

CB2 is the 'urban' little cousin of the US interiors giant that is Crate and Barrel. Offering modern design for the home, successful CB2 furniture and accessory shopping involves going for the little gems and simple pieces in metal and glass that their design team does so well and avoiding the misguided forays into ethno-exotica. After all, if you want a Himalayan Singing Bowl, you should probably go and get it from the Himalayas so you've got a story to go with it. If, on the other hand, you want some great stuff that's either quirky or classic for summer 2010 - including these rather odd little ring/finger plates - then take a trip to CB2 and stock up from the Mixed Material Six of the Best.

Above: Finger Food Plate, $9.95 for 10

Motto and Crest in The Times Magazine on Saturday

 

 

Motto and Crest 'Kingdom' collection, now online!

 

 

The new Kingdom collection by Motto and Crest is now available online! Inspired by the United Kingdom and those who protect it, the collection features military styling, regimental silk colours and vintage Union Jack flags. The ties come in a range of fabrics and styles - including cotton, silk and suiting wools - making them perfect for the transition through from winter to spring. The Flag (top) and Flash (bottom) ties shown above are special editions that have been created to launch the collection and they feature panels made from the aforementioned vintage flags. You can see more instore here.

The only acceptable way to wear a skull in 2010.

 

2010 is surely the year to put away the all T shirts, ties, scarves, cufflinks, socks and everything else that has had a skull slapped on it as some slapdash designer shorthand that writes 'edgy'. If you want to go full frontal, maxilla and mandible this year, then you should invest in something more transcendent, like this incredible sweater by Alexander McQueen, when it hits the stores later this year.

Marchwood sells out, Minstead comes in

The Motto and Crest New Forest collection launched last week and there's already been some pretty frantic activity in the store. A new design, Minstead (above), has just arrived and the Marchwood design (below) has sold out. Minstead is named for the New Forest resting place of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, and it twists together two traditional Holmes-esque tweeds in signature Motto and Crest style. If you'd like to get your hands on Minstead, take a look instore here. It's also not too late to get hold of Marchwood,  pre-orders are being taken for the tie for delivery early November. You can pre-order by completing an online purchase here.

The Motto and Crest Two Tie Trick

There's a great post on Kempt today talking about the versatility of the Motto and Crest tie and using the Marchwood design from the new New Forest collection to illustrate the point. Have a read of it here.

Motto and Crest New Forest Collection Now Online

The Black Tie range by Motto and Crest is now online!

You can shop the collection here but be quick - they're selling out!

Who's your Urban Daddy?

Motto and Crest is featured today on Urban Daddy, the US website & newsletter that handpicks one essential thing a day; today, the ties are that 'handsomely twisted' thing!

It's a great write up, go here to read it.

Buy It Now: 'animalia' by Mauricio Ortiz

Treat yourself to this Scarabeus Cornuplura print (above) by Mauricio Ortiz. Available from Eyestorm in an edition of 50, the picture is one of six from the animalia series that are available on the site. I also love the Scarabeus Frondosa picture (below), available directly from the artist at his own site. The Scarabeus Cornuplura picture is on show until September 28th at the House of Cards exhibition at the Haunch of Venison gallery in London, which features individual playing cards created by artists and designers including Alexander McQueen, Damien Hirst and David Bailey.