CARAMEL BABY AND CHILD – A PERSONAL STORY

20 September 2013

As far as inspirational stories go Eva Karayiannis’s is right up there. Born in Cyprus and raised in Athens Eva trained as a lawyer but started exploring ideas and designs around her kitchen table, sourcing artisan knitwear and garments from independent craftsmen and opening her first caramel baby and child shop in 1999 in London’s chic Chelsea. She says:

I wanted to find a modern, distinctive style, which could be individual – yet at the same time luxurious and understated.

I love the fact that caramel often references the charm of vintage pieces and pushes the boundaries of the archetypal childrenswear colour palette, creating a playful rhythm of layering colours and textures. Eva is passionate about exquisite quality and design and aims to use as many British materials and artisan techniques as possible, including Scottish cashmere, Fairisle knitting techniques, traditional tweeds and the use of both Liberty and original prints which are designed in-house and produced in the UK.

Opening a new store almost every two years and distributing through over 100 independent retailers caramel has now grown into a global lifestyle brand and has recently opened up a store in Singapore.

With their distinctive and unconventional styling caramel baby and child clothing is immediately recognisable and Eva believes that the customer can sense that it’s still a very personal company.

I must say I love the concept as well as the product and have decided to make this a two-part feature. Today you’ll get a peek at caramel’s baby clothes and next week you can drool over the children’s wear range for AW 2013.

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

More information & photography | caramel baby and child

Fashion & Style / LEAVE A COMMENT /

A UNIQUE VIBE AT KOOK RESTAURANT IN ROME

19 September 2013

If I owned a restaurant I would probably serve Italian food and it would look pretty darn close to Kook. Thanks to my tumblr feed I stumbled across this little gem and gave it a great big thumbs-up-Facebook like.

This Osteria & Pizzeria in Lazio, Rome serves traditional Italian food in an original setting and was designed by Noses Architects. It’s main feature is an iconic glass-encased Mediterranean olive tree sitting centrally in the dining area.

I love the use of industrial materials like board formed concrete, steel and metal and how they contrast against the softer woods and colourful traditional tiles in the bar area. As a designer and typography nut I get excited when seeing different sections like ‘cucina’ & ‘bar’ set in concrete and they didn’t even shy away from writing a whole quote in the bar area. Bet they proof read that a few times!

The furniture looks cobbled together consisting of apparent flee market finds set against bright white walls and quirky details like old racing bikes, filing cabinets and a fifties style black telephone. Pipes are exposed and there’s a no-frills feel to the bathrooms.

A unique vibe and a must visit for any Rome-lover.

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

More information | Kook Restaurant
Interior Design | Noses Architects

Travel & Places / LEAVE A COMMENT /

FUN, PLAY & CREATIVITY IS ENCOURAGED AT LEGO OFFICES DENMARK

18 September 2013

Imagine your job was to design new products for LEGO. And now imagine your working environment is shaped and designed with fun, play and creativity in mind. I know I’d be in heaven and so would my kids!

In 2010 Danish architects Rosan Bosch and Rune Fjord designed the interior of LEGO PMD [an acronym for LEGO’s development department] as a children’s universe where the designers imagination is allowed and encouraged to run wild. For starters you can escape from meetings via a slide back to your open-plan office and you can climb through holes and rest or hide in nooks and crannies just about anywhere in the padded ‘cloud’.

Rosan Bosch explains:

In order to create a design that matches the creative development process in the department, the imagination was given free reins. Across the large space, an existing walkway was turned into an oversize seating area with a light blue colour that transforms the walkway into a light, fluffy cloud. The cloud twists and turns and unfolds to form sofas, sitting podiums and a slide that connects the two floors.

A striking graphic design on the wall with giant blades of grass and an oversize LEGO man strike a contrast to the bonsai gardens with tiny LEGO people that are built into the tables. One’s sense of scale is challenged – who is big, and who is small?

In this physical design, children’s fantasy world becomes a part of everyday perception and defines a setting for creating new designs for games and play. The new LEGO PMD is a children’s universe where the imagination can be unleashed – for children and designers alike.

Wow, lucky LEGO employees! I just hope their legs still bend at the knees. 😉

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

More information | Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord
Photography | Anders Sune Berg

Home & Interior / LEAVE A COMMENT /

JUICY CONCEPT: SUCKING LEMONS FOR THE FIRST TIME

17 September 2013

Sucking lemons! Could there be a more apt concept for Stylejuicer!? I’m chuffed to bits to share Toronto photographer duo April Maciborka and David Wile’s ’pucker’ series with you today.

A simple and genius idea that provoked quite strong reactions in me. Not only did the childrens faces make me laugh out loud but I couldn’t help imagining the experience myself and started salivating and sucking my cheeks! I guess that’s what you’d call a Pavlovian response.

Finding this project online is exactely what Stylejuicer is all about: sharing cool (and juicy) ideas and bringing a smile and a dash of inspiration into your lives.

Apart from the fab photos I wanted to find out a bit more about the concept and how it all came together, so here’s what April told me.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA?

Dave and I wanted to shoot a creative [project] involving babies. We brainstormed the idea of photographing babies reactions to tasting or experiencing something for the first time, when our friend suggested lemons. It was such a great idea because everyone can relate to the experience of tasting something sour. We imagined that freezing that moment in time would be hilarious and it was!

DO YOU HAVE SMALL KIDS YOURSELVES?

No, we dont. Dave has 2 nephews and 1 neice that we hang out with a lot. I have done a lot of volunteer work abroad at baby orphanages so combined we have had a lot of child experience.

IN THE BUSINESS THEY SAY NEVER WORK WITH SMALL CHILDREN OR ANIMALS…

Lol. Somehow we chose to work with babies and animals in our series ‘splash’. I guess we are suckers for what is considered difficult.

WHO ARE THE LITTLE MODELS?

All of the babies are our friends kids or friends of friends kids. We advertised on Facebook and started a selection process. We offered a free family portrait in return for having your child be photographed as they taste lemon for the first time. Parents were exstatic for a free photoshoot and thought it would be hilarious to see their babies reaction!

HOW LONG DID IT THE SHOOT TAKE?

The shoot was completed over 2 weekends. Kids take a lot of patience to photograph and TIME. You need to allow time for them to get used to their new environment and be comfortable there. They also needed to be comfortable with us. For the most part we were strange faces to these babies. After easing them into the environment we would photograph them with their family and then break and then put them on a seperate set for the lemon. Out of about 20 kids, only 1 would not try the lemon. She hated the texture of the lemon in her fingers. Most babies love to eat so the idea of picking up a slice and munching on it was so alluring for them.

Shockingly, most babies continued eating the lemon even if they thought it was so sour. Some kids munched on it without a reaction at all!!!

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

Photography | April Maciborka & David Wile

Fashion & Style / 1 COMMENT /

MADEWELL IS COUNTING ON FRENCH COOL FOR AW 2013

11 September 2013

We all know that our American cousins love the French and Paris in particular. Somehow they’ve got the reputation for being effortlessly stylish, chic and arrogant which infuriatingly contributes to their ‘cool’ factor and their ‘je ne sais quoi’. Putain, how do they do it!?

Madewell has cunningly cottoned on to this open secret and aligned themselves for the AW 2013 season with achingly cool Parisian model, mum and music producer Caroline de Maigret. Never heard of her? Don’t worry, I hadn’t either but I’ve since fallen in love with her ‘romantic tomboy style’. That and the fact that she’s in her late thirties. Just by being herself as well as reading her Madewell interview she’s sold the entire collection to me. I’m sure Madewell’s marketing and Social Media guru’s are climaxing right now but you’ve got to hand it to them. This is top notch marketing of a VERY good product.

I couldn’t help including an excerpt of Caroline’s interview with Madewell as it demonstrates all that I love about fashion and ok, I admit it: Fench style! [Please read with a French accent and a croissant.]

WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH TO STYLE?

It’s almost unconscious. A lot of it comes from what my mother taught me: to seek out a nice cut and a quality fabric. It’s in our roots not to show off or be too ostentatious, but rather to understand the classic beauty in the understated.

OTHER THAN YOUR MOM, WHO HAS INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE THE MOST?

My boyfriend taught me to have fun with clothes and to look in the mirror and find that little twist, that one signature or special item. I don’t follow trends but my style evolves with fashion in the sense that I incorporate new pieces into my wardrobe every season—a mix of closet staples with a few of those statement pieces to give it that unique twist.

YOU WEAR A LOT OF HATS. HOW DO YOU TRANSITION FROM A DAY SPENT IN THE STUDIO TO HEADING OUT AT NIGHT?

In France, we dress the same almost 24 hours a day. What you wear during the day can always take you out at night, because it’s already cool enough…I only wear things that can carry me from day to night.

CREATE THE LOOK WITH STYLEJUICER AND POLYVORE

Such is my affection for the brand that I’ve even created a MADEWELL AW 2013 collection with key pieces.
I must be mad!

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

More information & photography | Madewell

Fashion & Style / LEAVE A COMMENT /