The Imagination Of Olivier Mourao

Mechanical Splendor

1956 Jaguar DType

1960 Sebring Winning "Rat Race" Corvette

1931 Brough Superior SS80

1931 Duesenberg Model JLong-Wheelbase Coupe

1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet

1947 Italian Championship -winning 1933 Alfa Romeo 8c 2300 Monza

Selection of Beauties for Gooding Auctions

1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

1950 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

1995 MacLaren F1

1955 Austin Healey 100s DSC3

1927 BMW R47

Ferrari 166 Spider Corsa

1957 BMW 507 Roadster

1955 Bentley

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Cabriolet

1954 Jaguar XK120 SE

1954 Mercedes Gullwing

I got my love of cars from my father, he was mostly a Mercedes Fan and drove like he was in a Formula 1 racetrack much to the horror of most people, even more when he would put one of his children on his lap while flooring it. Us the kids we loved it, we would drive all over Europe and get to our destination in no time.

  To me there is nothing like the beauty of Classic Cars, beautiful and elegant. There are so many that it took my days to do this post as I got completely engulfed into the world of classic cars it was so hard to narrow it down. It all started as I read about the famous Car Collector Auction House of Gooding & Company Amelia Island Sales that were a staggering $38 Million! The other well known of these Auctions are held at Pebble Beach and Scottsdale where they sold a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300Sl Alloy Gullwing for a record $4.6 Million.

Its fascinating and wonderful to see how many people still collect and appreciate the incredible history and craftsmanship of these classic cars and motorcycles. Just be aware once you jump in you may never be the same again.

Now which one should I bid on? 

Sources and Images via,

Gooding, Sports Car Digest, Luxist, Driven Urban Daddy and TopSpeed

California Niemeyer

While researching all of Oscar Niemeyer's work on the week of his passing I stumbled upon these images.

This 1963 Californian Mid Century Modernist house has an incredible history, It was commissioned by Film maker Josef Strick and his wife Anne after meeting Oscar Niemeyer in a film festival in Brazil. It was a complicated commission as Niemeyer was not allowed to enter the country because he had connections to the Communist party, regardless that he had designed the United Nations in New York. Not putt off by the challenge he cleverly designed the house via Aerial photographs and Topographical surveys. How is that possible! There was no internet or fax in those days all by mail from California to Brazil!

Oscar your genius will never be forgotten.

Que Marvilha xo

Sourced via The189.com, Architectural Digest

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

I am a big fan of Martyn Lawrence Bullard  a very diverse decorator with incredible attention to detail, who connects with his clients personalities and then translates it in their homes.

No two homes are alike and you feel as if you have travelled all corners of the earth when you view the pictures. He also produces his own fabrics and furniture.

The homes are beautifully put together but yet are very welcoming and warm and have a sense of humour. Just like Martyn as you can see from the picture of him being goofy in front of an amazing painting by Keith Hering and now we can all watch him in action in the fun show Million Dollar Decorators. Hopefully it will air in England soon. I am hooked, Martyn, darling do you need an assistant?

All Photos via www.martynlawrencebullard.com

Visions of Sebastiao Salgado

The Nomadic Nenets Yamal Peninsula Siberia 2011

The Nomadic Nenets Crossing the Ob river to enter the Arctic Circle, Yamal Peninsula Siberia 2011

The Nenets : What made us survive all these hundreds of thousands of years is our spirituality; our link to the land. 

The Nomadic Nenets Family Yamal Peninsula Siberia 2011

The Reindeer of the Nenets Yamal Peninsula Siberia 2011

Oil Wells Greater Burhan Kuwait 1991

Oil Wells Greater Burhan Kuwait 1991

Oil Wells Greater Burhan Kuwait 1991

Dinka Man covered in Ashes which sterilises the skin against insects and parasites Sudan 2006

Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Omo Valley Ethiopia 2007

The Anavilhanas covering 1000sq km if Amaziona Rio Negro Brazil 

Two Mursi women, Omo Valley Ethiopia 2007

Yacare Caimans in the Patanal State of Mato Grosso Brazil 2011

A Yali man in the Jayawijaya mountains of Irian Jaya, West Papua 2012

The Mentawai Siberut Island Indonesia 2008

Zo'e Tribeswomen, State of Para Brazil 2009

Church Gate Station, Western Railroad Line, Bombay India

Coal Mines Dhanbad Bihar India 1989

Macaroni Penguins in Zavodovski Island, The Sandwich Islands 2009

Miner Standing up for himself Serra Pelada Gold Mine Brazil 1986

Figure Eight Serra Pelada Gold Mine Brazil 1986

Ladder Serra Pelada Gold Mine Brazil 1986

Arizona

Upper Xingu Kamayuva Shamans Brazil 2005

Namibia 2005

The Mentawai Siberut Island Indonesia 2008

Elephant Seal Calves on South Georgia, Barren Island on the South Atlantic 

Sebastiao reading his Sumo size book Genesis by Taschen

Genesis Exhibition at the London Natural History Museum 

  The look in the eyes of the Seals, the brutality of the life of the miners, the intoxicating beauty of our natural world The Patanal, The Okavongo Delta, the dunes of Namibia and the incredible lives of the tribes from Siberia to Java Indonesia that live the same way for thousands of years. God do I live in a bubble in London. 

These images just stir so many emotions in me, amazement, respect, sadness, anger, love but mostly awareness thanks to the courageous and humanitarian "photo-god" Sebastiao Salgado. 

The love and sensitivity this man has for this planet has been recorded in many photo essays and books ,some of the images I choose are from  "Workers"  on labour all over the world , "Migrations" on the displacement of people due to famine and war and now Sumo sized Genesis is "  My Love Letter to the Planet" a project that took Sebastiao into a journey of 9 years and over 30 journeys of trekking, canoeing, ballooning and travelling to the ends of the earth to visually connect us back into our planet, its tribes and its beauty that is still here.  

" We need to recover our instincts, to learn more about nature"

 " I wanted to give others the opportunity to see the nature of a pristine planet " 

I wish I could make these pictures bigger as you can only skim the surface of their power here. Luckily the Natural History Museum in London is showing a retrospective of Genesis until the 8th of September 2013. 

Otherwise you can get The Collectors Edition of the Sumo sized Genesis designed and edited by Salgados wife Lelia Wanick Salgado published by Taschen and also a custom made bookstand designed Legendary Japanese Architect Tadao Ando.  

There is more information on the websites below of other work and books. A lot to read and learn. 

Thank you for bringing us back the wonders of that still exists in our world. May they always be here for generations to come..

Genesis Exhibition at the London Natural History Museum

Amazonasimages

Taschen

Native Americans at at Glacier National Park, Montana c.1910

via reddit

Back at The Ranch

Howdy!

The Double RL Ranch outside of Tulleride Colorado is not your average ranch, No Sir it is not.

One of the many homes of Ralph & Ricky Lauren the ranch is set in a mere 16,000 acres of beautiful land. With a barn that's over 200 years old, Tepees hand painted by Native Indians, with Cabins named Little Bear & Elkmeadow and a 1960's Silver airstream trailer, the choice of accommodations is vast and charming.The Spirit of the Old West Americana that Ralph Lauren does so well, for me the Lauren Family got this so spot on.

Last August the Double RL Ranch was the perfect backdrop for the wedding of David Lauren and his bride Lauren Bush who transported everyone in time with the fantastic  traditional Old West/Meets Little House in the Prairie theme in Lauren style and yes of course the wedding dress was designed by Ralph.

Ralph and Ricky can you be my in-laws too?? xo

Photos Via Architectural Digest and Vogue

http://www.nowness.com/media/embedvideo?itemid=2120&issueid=1987

Through A Glass Brightly directed by William Snieg for Nowness.

Carribbean Chic

New Designer Alert!

Haitian -Italian Stella Jean has truly marinaded both of her unique cultures to create a very individual collection. The Italian blood shows in masculine pinstripe and jean shirts and the Creole side comes in the choice of fabrics and patterns. Then these are taken to another level with the impeccable tailoring and the fun and elegant accessories which include the hair scarf's (would love to wear them like that) topped off with hats and  some fun jewellery that was also created by Stella Jean. The formula works wonders, so could wear this in the summer but this is last years collection. But I loved it so much that I had to share who cares what season it is or what year it is.

In the meantime enjoy the Caribbean via Italia! xo

Moda Operandi had a trunk  show of her pieces , I think Matches  London will be stocking her this year too. Browse her site for stockists and video of the show.

All images via,

STELLA JEAN

Jewelled Splendor

Marisa Berenson New York 1970 Photo by Bert Stern

Violet Desert via Sister Himalaya

 Venus Necklace by Fabio Salini

Yellow & White Gold Ring by Carrera Y Carrera

Indian Ceremonial Hair Piece via Vogue Gioiello

Cuff Bracelet by Jaipur Gems

Choker by Anmol Jewellers of India

Peacock Brooch by Jaipur Gems

Matthew Williamson Peacock Skirt

Revelation Sapphire and Diamond Earrings by Jewellery Theatre

Sapphire and Diamond Ring by Tiffany's

Blue Waterfall by Sister Himalaya

Art Deco Waterfall Earrings by Cartier

Photo by Fabrizio Ferri Vogue Italia 1989

Gold and Mother of Pearl Earrings by Fabio Salini

Black and White Diamond Mosque Ring by Sevan

Zebra Diamond Brooch by Jar

Pearl and Diamond Necklace Source unknown

Diamond , Pearl and Gold Ring by Sylvie Corbelin

Gold and Black Mosque via Sister Himalaya

I love Jewellery!  No need for an explanation or a story, the pieces speak for themselves.

Bling it on xo

Some Sources

www.vogue.it

www.fabiosalini.com

www.sisterhimalaya.tumblr.com

Petite Noir, La vie est belle. www.visionofsplendor.com

#petitenoir