FASHION@#V&A FROM DIOR TO MARY QUANT

Mary Quant in 1966 in one of her first success dresses! The V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum) are at the moment a bit of a fashion destination with two big exhibitions on the topic at once. Dior and Mary Quant, the opposites. Some would say that Britain has had no influence on fashion, not like the French. I am not so sure about that having lived in the UK for over 20 years. The upper class in the UK has always had their own fashion, and still does. A fashion that has travelled the world over. Think dandy, long hair, Oscar Wilde, tweed and brogues, for both sexes. Saville Row is the destination for this and now Burberry, Mulberry has made it fashion for the whole world! Anyway, Mary Quant (alongside Courrèges) are credited to be the inventor of the miniskirt. She wanted to reach the masses and design clothes for modern women. Fashion that was easy to wear, easy to clean, and not to expensive. Her fashion and style reached me and my first Mary Quant item was a pair of white stockings with her flower logo. I bought it at NK Farsta (strangely enough this upmarket department store had a branch in this working class/middle class suburbia, like having a Harrods in Croydon!)where I frequently visited being a fashionista from a very early age. I wore this stockings (I must have been about 14 at the time) until they fell apart. I also had some of her makeup. Just loved her red lipstick, just the right bold colour and the nail varnish in the round bottles.

The graphics at the exhibition is just like Mary Quants own, pop and op and monochrome. Her graphics and fashion are timeless.

Again, this is from the late 60:s but could just as well have been by HM and Topshop today! Sporty chic and comfortable. She was one of the first to add stretchy materials and a sporty look to her dresses.

She was also one of the first to make the raincoat fashionable. New vinyl materials was on the market and this is just one of her cool rainy day outfits.

I think I was about 12 (1967) when the fashion was all in the tricolour colours. I crouched my own Beatles cap and scarf in this colours and wore blue/white/red from top to toe!

More graphics, the iconic flower is still going strong!

Sport influenced a lot of Marys early work and also creates a bit of a red thread throughout her career. This could be now!

Ziggy Stardust? No, this was created by MQ earlier but the platform shoe was not invented by her. They have been around for centuries.

The poster of stocking collection. The one I had are the third from the left!

The entrance of the exhibition where the shop is. I missed more girly t-shirts with her flower on and more of her Make Up and some more bold earring. DO NOT MISS THIS IF YOU ARE A INTERESTED IN FASHION AND IN LONDON. UNTIL 16 FEB 2020.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the V&A one of the worlds most famous fashion houses have their own exhibition. V&A has turned fashion museum! A beautifully curated "show" that will interested even the most non fashionistas. Until 1 Sept 2019, book your tickets!

Evening dress by Dior's firs and current female designer.

The exhibition had a part with "window displays" arranged by colour. A mix of designers and eras.

Part of Gallianos influence on Dior. Sorry he had to go and show his antisemitism in a bar. It was his downfall.

More from Galliano. The reason for him leaving Dior was not mentioned in this exhibition. Cowardliness?

Famous designers has come and gone with Dior.

Yves Saint-Laurent was one of Dior's very successful designers before he left and started his own brand.

The magnificent entrance of the Dior exhibition shows what we call the "New look" interpreted by Dior's different designers during the years. All photos by AKB Design. Book your tickets online. There is always a limited number or extra tickets that can be obtained the same day. You will have to queue up at 10.00 AM and you get a slot during the same day!

Living with ankan: #FORMEX #TRENDREPORT ETC #STOCKHOLM #SS19

Living with ankan: #FORMEX #TRENDREPORT ETC #STOCKHOLM #SS19: I will start this report and talk a little about the tradition of glass blowing in Sweden. Since the 1900 century the glassblowing industr...

#FORMEX #TRENDREPORT ETC #STOCKHOLM #SS19

I will start this report and talk a little about the tradition of glass blowing in Sweden. Since the 1900 century the glassblowing industry was mainly found in Småland. What differenciate Swedish glassblowing with for example the Italian, is the way the actual blower is working with, collaborating and communicating with each other. Above, a new version of the very successful series of bowl, Centrifug, now with a cross in the bottom. Design by Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda.

Lena Bergström has reopened the 1980s box of pressed glass and added plates etc to the Carat collection. Cristall clear plates that will make most dishes look great.

I was early this cold and icy January morning in the showroom of Swedese in central Stockholm. Had a nice chat with the lovely designer Lena Bergström and enjoyed a healthy and good looking breakfast while previewing Kosta Boda and Orrefors news 2019.

Healthy seeds with blackberry and rasberry mousse! Glass by Erika Lagerbielke for Orrefors.

Bumped in to this old friend, Vanja Djanaieff, after the trend report delivered by Li Edelkoort at Formex in January.

Glassware and crystal, classic and traditional at the same time by young Danish designer company Specktrum.dk. Everyday classics to affordable prices. I am impressed!

Also impressed by Jan Rundgrens installations at the Formex design café. Good to see everyday objects like a BBQ together with china, cushions and lamps. And of course, if we shall believe what they (who?) say. Pink is the new black?

I would like to say that "Green is the new black". So peaceful and calming. Love this display by Jensen & Jensen at Formex in January.

Mild apricot nuances together with straw. No iron in sight and a nonchalant touche to the arrangement of the napkin. Housedoctor.dk.

More natural feelings by Housedoctor. Close to MexTec that was so popular in the late 80s. Mix with cacti and modern art.

Wonderful stripes, always right. AfroArt.se.

Zandra Rhodes was the guest creator at Formex this spring and here we are! Colourful ladies together! She is such an inspiration for all of us females 60+. We are more than alive and kicking! Do not forget that. I here want to add that I am not and influencer (though I am sure I have inspired many during my days with Damernas Värld, VeckoRevyn and Elle Decoration in Sweden and Ikea Worldwide (catalogues). I am a journalist and are not being bought or sponsored by anyone to write this blog.

A detail from Zandra Rhodes installation at Formex in January that had aspects from her home in London which is situated on top of the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey which she founded. Visit when next in London for a colourful experience.

One of the trends by Formex/Jan Rundgren. More is more, i.e. more colour and a bit of kitsch. All down my street.

And to finish, Zandra with a Z. The big entrance to Formex in Jan 2019!

#TERRACOTTA ACCENT AT #CHELSEADESIGNCENTRE #LONDONDESIGNWEEK #SS19

Hi everybody, here I am in my green outfit. I recently added some powder blue in form of a polo neck jumper from #Lindex.com. As you know I have recently moved to Wales and we are now fully installed! It feels strange, like I am still a visitor and soon will go home again... This move has been the hardest so far. Moving from a big house to a flat meant we had to get rid of a lot and buy some new furniture since sofa did not get through the doors and not enough storage space in the kitchen. I am also looking for what to do with the rest of my life...a new career? Voluntary work? Well, will start to try to blog a bit more even though my energy level after this move is low at the moment. I promised some news from Stockholm but I decided to give you some more recent news from London Design Week and Chelsea Design Centre. Surprisingly blond and pale colour palette with accents in terracotta. Classic patterns like tex mex, folklore and flowers dominated and retro graphics and as always - stripes.

This beautiful wallpaper panel is new from Designers Guild, if you love Ranunkulus you can let them bloom on your whole wall. Notice the mix of yellows, pink and terracotta.

Classic design with a touch of folklore and the Victorian era. Just look at the fringes on the armchair! Traditional flowery wallpaper and graphic rug! GP Baker at Chelsea Design Centre, London.

Classic inspiration from China, graphic weaves with an Art Deco feel, and of course, stripes. Manuel Canovas.

The retro trends is still going strong. I think of Mad Men when I see this. Cole & Sons in collaboration with Fornasetti.

Blues and terracotta with a mix of graphics at Abbott + Boyd, Chelsea Design Centre.

The sea had influenced the decor of the spring looking Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. Hanging corals in the so popular colour with the same name, or terracotta.

More graphics, with a yellow to red colour scheme. Add some grey! Patrick Frey.

Pink, coral, and green! Modern and contemporary forms at Designers Guild. Soon more from London and Stockholm.

Living with ankan: #ARTS#HOPANDCHAPELGALLERY #ABERGAVENNY #WALES #UK

Living with ankan: #ARTS#HOPANDCHAPELGALLERY #ABERGAVENNY #WALES #UK: Had brunch today with "local friends" (Usk) at the lovely Chapel Gallery (Artshopandchapel) in my new hometown of Abergavenny. A...

#ARTS#HOPANDCHAPELGALLERY #ABERGAVENNY #WALES #UK

Had brunch today with "local friends" (Usk) at the lovely Chapel Gallery (Artshopandchapel) in my new hometown of Abergavenny. A mix of cafe, artshop, gallery and restaurant in the heart of Abergavenny. With a calming little garden with a hint of Provence. I highly recommend a visit if you are passing by! Interior tips! To lead your customers in the right direction why not welcome some branches into to the shop!

Ceramic art at the Chapel by Clementine van der Walt. I love the colours!

More ceramics by Clementine!

Mothers Day is coming up in the UK. Last Sunday in March. Nice cards at the Chapel Shop.

Books, jewelry, ceramics are some of what you can find here...

The Art Shop are located at Cross Street not far from the Angel Hotel, all connected!

Why not just have a drink and a read!

We had a nice chat and a yummy brunch. I had Bayonne Ham and Celeriac Remoulade, recommended.