“My style is driven by the architecture and the client, by the spirit of what we’re trying to create,” says Fern Santini, Texan interior designer. “But there are things I always keep in mind, no matter the architecture. I’m always looking for ways to juxtapose something new and fresh with something with a few hundred years of history. I always encourage clients to think in terms of the unexpected and unpredictable — it keeps it fresh and personal, never staid, canned or boring. It should never look like you tried too hard, contrived.”
Featured in a recent House Beautiful interview, Santini is making quite a name for herself as a luxury interior designer, especially in her home state of Texas. She’s been compared to award-winning architect and interior designer John Saladino, but unlike Saladino’s ‘rough and refined’ style, Santini adds to her spaces some hints of glamour and unexpected quirks.
“I like exposing clients to things that they never thought of or knew was there,” says Fern Santini.
For its Fall/Winter 08/09 collection, Bottega Veneta is recreating the Multi-Stone Knot, which, together with some 50 other variations of the iconic bag, was showcased in a traveling exhibit earlier this year. The mobile exhibition, which made the round of their flagship stores worldwide, was mounted to celebrate 30 glorious years of the Knot.
Still a favorite of the fashionable crowd – it has been photographed toted by the likes of Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore, the clutch has seen several reincarnations since its birth three decades ago. At the onset of the 21st century, Bottega’s trendsetting creative director Tomas Maier decided it was time to give it a little cosmetic enhancement and added a small leather knot; hence, its present moniker. Every season since, the Knot gets a facelift, which turns out to be a hit among the well-heeled every single time.
Of the seven or so variations that Bottega revived this season, the Multi-Stone definitely stands out.
Encrusted with semi-precious stones like onyx, amethyst and tigereye, this clutch is the ultimate accessory for this holiday season. The price tag for this exquisite clutch? US$ 14,500. Go get your Knot now; only 100 pieces were created of this special limited edition.
Correction: expensive disppearing graffiti with hints of herbal spicy elements and floral essences. The new Wode perfume by Boudicca sprays on blue but doesn’t stain, and changes to clear in a matter of minutes. Apparently there are also hidden messages in Boudicca garments which this Wode can reveal.
The idea for the blue paint was inspired by the legend of Queen Boudicea and her cobalt blue war paint. Ferocious and fearless was the effect they were going for as they advanced on their enemies with blue paint made from ‘Woad’ plant extract.
Ingredients in the modern Wode include extracts of hemlock, the ‘suicide poison’ from Queen Boudicea’s time, and raw opium. (Very diluted percentages, of course).
Geza Shoe from fragrance company Escentric Molecules is part of the authorship of Boudicca’s first fragrance.
Boudicca’s known in the fashion world as the ‘other bad boys’ in the same pack with the likes of Alexander McQueen.
