Simone LeBlanc Inc.

Eiko Ishioka

Simone — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:59:34 +0000

You may have heard the unfortunate news of the recent passing of Japanese designer and art director. Stateside, she was known primarily for her extraordinary costume design for films such as Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula and The Cell. Her work was truly spectacular; surreal, sculptural, innovative and otherworldly. I recently finished reading Eleanor Coppola’s autobiography Notes on a Life in which Ishioka plays a big role. She and Coppola were very close, and there are many great anecdotes and recollections on the behind the scenes costuming of Dracula. You can read more about Ishioka and her many talents and contributions here.

The incredible photos below were shot by Brigitte Lacombe on the set of Ishioka’s last film, Mirror Mirror. The film is directed by Tarsem Singh, who Ishioka collaborated with on The Cell and The Fall.

treasures!

Simone — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:11:49 +0000

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while (thank you, by the way!) you know by now that I have a serious love for teapots. They are such diverse, decorative and useful little objects. I am stuck on this rare 1800s Wedgwood basalt teapot. Basalt, you may know, is a fine grained blackened stoneware that has a dense, uniform surface, requires no glaze, and gets polished to a dull gloss. Hence the fabulous, chalky feel. The ornament on the Wedgewood basalt pieces are usually intricate and well-defined, often in complex geometric patterns reminiscent of Neoclassical or Greek design. Stunning, right? I would also say these colors work quite perfectly for that little Holiday of Love that’s upon us!

inquire here

paste sf

Simone — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:30:01 +0000

I’ve been spending some time on Paste SF’s site recently as I’m stuck on their charming collages. I first discovered founder Denise Fiedler’s pieces at the NY Gift Show a few years back. Her pieces have proved to be a charming accompaniment to many a gift; a trip to Paris given with the Eiffel Tower collage below, a custom wardrobe pull paired with her sweet wing tips…I could go on and on. She makes custom portraits as well – I’ll be venturing in to that arena soon. What do you think? Sweet, no?

reasons to love red

Simone — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:18:51 +0000

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend some lovely gatherings that required a bit of the fancy. Nothing too fancy, but just that little bit of extra effort which to me is a sure sign of good time just around the corner. When it comes to fashion, I have always been a gal who leans toward practical purchases (some near and dears may laugh at that notion). Honestly though, if I’m going to invest my hard earned and well loved dollars into a fabulous piece to wear, I want to be sure it’s well worth it and I’m going to:

A) Wear it often and feel comfortable in it

B) Dream, fantasize, dare I say lust for if I do not have it

C) Instantly style multiple outfits from my closet to pair with it (often to the confusion of the sales associate: ‘why has she gone silent?’)

The Janice wedge from Louboutin hit me just so. Before you either scoff at the price or perhaps nod your head and think I purchased wisely (disclaimer – I did have a gift card) I must fill you in on the effect this shoe has on women. Over the weekend I had 6 different women approach me about this shoe. They were complete strangers of all ages, income levels and tastes and each was compelled to stop me on the street and share their opinions on color, wedge height, and most importantly the comfort level. I assured my fellow avoidees of the platform stiletto that these beauties were indeed the shoe they’ve been looking for; playful, versatile, comfortable and…cherry red. With ladies from their early 20′s to their 60′s all responding with the thumbs up, I can rest assured I’ve hit on something good..What do you think, are you with me on this?

here

Simone — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:21:46 +0000

Happy Friday my darlings! How has your week been? Mine has been busy – I’ve been putting together a lookbook for one of my favorite clients; she’ll soon be the lucky owner of pages and pages of enticing items to keep her inspired and up to date on all things relevant to her interests. Although accessories are only a small portion of what will be covered in the pages, I couldn’t help but share some of the Spring delights I’ve been pulling. These bags below are inspiring fantasies; fantasties of both tropical locales and sunlit outdoor cafes where the only decision to make is between a campari or prosecco..a girl can dream, can’t she?

This Mathew Williamson affair is a favorite. It’s timeless in the sense that it will always work great in exotic locales and sultry summer evenings, yet it’s totally unique at the same time…

The Anya Hindmarch woven metallic is another favorite. City or island chic and a bit seasonless as well…

I don’t often turn to Jimmy Choo, but I am hands down a fan of this piece. I love the mix of the brocade fabric with the hand stitching on the snakeskin binding. Such a fun mix of details. Oh, and those chunky leather beaded tassles aren’t so bad either…

Ah, Lanvin. What can I say? I can say that this beauty is for the lady who appreciates a collection…as butter yellow python is not necessarily an every day occurrence. However, this piece makes me think that it should be.

here, here, here, here

loom

Simone — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:16:13 +0000

I’ve been a bit obsessed with rugs lately and recently stumbled upon the Australian company, Loom. Have you seen their work? Owner Doan Bilgis grew up in Turkey and comes from a bit of a nomadic background. He recalls his family and relatives always making rugs, as a result he found himself fascinated by the colors and patterns. His admiration later turned into an appreciation of the history and stories behind each rug. Get this – Loom over-dyes vintage kilims, how wonderful is that?

Below is a vintage Kilim rug to lust over…..

The piece below is crafted from a variety of old yarns; which means it is literally made from yarn unraveled from antique kilims. Talk about labors of love…
The two lovelies below are new wool pile rigs crafted in Loom’s studio. I love the abstract, painterly look of them.

Take a peek at all of the rugs they have to offer; you are sure to fall in love…… here

ojai

Simone — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:15:30 +0000

Happy Friday, readers! I wanted to kick off this weekend with some pictures from the last one. Some of my favorite ladies (Clare, Jeana, Joanna & Heather) and I decided to treat ourselves to a weekend getaway in Ojai. The few days away turned out to offer everything we needed – delicious food and wine (and many desserts), natural hot springs, conversations about business, and downtime in the most relaxing kind of way. It was restorative and inspiring to say the least.

How beautiful are these orchids from the farmers market?

Crisp, organic braeburns – my favorite type of apple.

I love the look of these flowers, do you know what type they are? They look like they’ve been faded by the sun.

These baskets were calling my name…

We drove up to Meditation Mountain to take a look at the expansive view. They were having a book sale (all books .25c) and I couldn’t help but be inspired by these covers. I love the titles as much as the 70′s and 80′s era graphics.

This gateway felt dramatic and peaceful all at the same time.

Some lady love…

Here is the spectacular view from the mountain. I love the quilted look of the orange groves and farms. Quite a landscape,no?

Have a fabulous weekend!

annex

Simone — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:37:09 +0000

What do you think of these clever pieces below? Annex a clothing and housewares company based in New Zealand makes these marvelous travel inspired treasures from maps. The perfect homage to your favorite city, no?

And of course the gift guru in me could not let this charming wrapping job go unnoticed….

Sweet touches for the well traveled home, no?

here

forget-me-nots

Simone — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:52:38 +0000

Good morning, sweet readers! I always love the month of January – it tends to be a bit slower in the gift world, so I can take stock, be present (no pun intended) and look forward towards the year ahead. With the cozy nostalgia of the holidays behind us and Spring heading our way, it’s easy to feel like it’s the time of beginnings. These sweet pieces from artist Lisa Rupp are in sync with my mood – refreshed, energetic…and quite optimistic,actually. How’s your January going, by the way?

This bright Forget-Me-Not screenprint should be in a kitchen near us…

And how about this Poppy towel below…a sweet addition those important morning coffee & tea rituals, no?

here

mindful efficieny, otherwise known as some favorite men’s shoes.

Simone — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:29:19 +0000

I can’t stop thinking about a gift I put together for a client not so long ago. For a gentleman’s birthday, I created a shoe wardrobe; a selection of amazing shoes that covered the bases for this sartorialist’s particular lifestyle needs. Not only that, the gift included the option of having custom shoes created as well. Something every girl wants for themselves, right?! Through my man-shoe travels, I kept noticing how many of pairs I would have loved to have for myself. There’s something to be appreciated within the parameters of men’s style. Menswear design pushes the boundaries from a pretty tight frame work – the framework of function, fabrication, tradition, and simplicity. Let’s call if mindful efficiency. What about you? Do you dabble in the gear for the boys? I’m feeling the love for all of these below….

And how great is this ‘College Shoe Care Kit’ by TURMS? Clever little play on the penny loafer, wouldn’t you say? There’s something nostalgic about shoe shining – taking the time to care for the pairs you love. A self contained kit is a great gift for the guy who takes pleasure in taking care of his goods.

And I couldn’t resist posting about this luxurious accessory from long ago. Yes, it’s true – it’s a solid gold Tiffany & Co. shoe horn from the 1920′s. Can you imagine needing something as fine as this today?

here, here, here