Meet " Les Dandys," a literary concept

" Amidst the amazing territory of refinement defined and created by Ibride, objects are in league with each other, whisper their presence and share with us the desire for the unique and the extraordinary."

The Ibride design studio was originally conceived by Rachel and Benoit Convers, and became a reality with the close collaboration of Carine Jannin. Since 1996, the trio has created several small collections that can be qualified as "author design."

In its latest collection " Secrets..." Ibride teases our senses and plays with our judgements. The series of bookcases connect us to a make-believe world. Hidden beneath portraits of Dandy - Rastignac, Edmond Dantes and Bel Ami - are small shelves designed to store our favorite books.

In this collection inspired by the imaginary world of Balzac, Dumas, Maupassant, de Vigny and Flaubert, Rachel and Benoit Convers, the design team pay tribute to the theme of Secrecy. The Ibride design collection infuses a secret life to its objects, thus instilling a fairy tale atmosphere to our homes.

" Secrets " was previewed in January 2011 in Paris, and will also be presented at Salon Maison & Objet in September.

Bel Ami

Chatterton

Edmond Dantes

Rastignac

Rodolphe

Courtesy Ibride Studio, France
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Paolo Ventura's Amazing Miniature Sets

Paolo Ventura, like Arbus, began as a fashion photographer. A masterful storyteller, Ventura brings imaginary tales from Italian history to life. The artist's intricate and eerily beautiful dioramas, miniature scenes pulled from his childhood memories, are casted into tiny, sophisticated sets. He builds evocative tableaux from humble materials, and the detail is extraordinary, from the clothes of the little figures, to the artfully arranged props, to the precise way the light and shadows play out in his photographs.
His work is filled with the sweet melancholy of an era, but remains timeless in its ability to resonate with contemporary audiences.

Born in Cuba in 1968, raised in Italy and now a resident of New York City, Paolo Ventura studied at the Academia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at Forma International Center for Photography, Milan, Rencontres de la Photographie, Arles, and Maison Europeenne de la Photographie, Paris.

Automaton series

Courtesy Paolo Ventura

Some pictures of the "automaton" series will be on exhibit at the 54th Venice Biennale in the Italian Pavilion

Hasted Kraeutler Gallery NYC

September 8 - October 15, 2011
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Welcoming the Summer with Tsumori Chisato

They are pretty, fun to wear, and not too pricey!! They are created by Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato for Pare Gabia.  Inspired by Victor Vasarely's work, Chisato blends intense colors patterns with low boots or salome shoes, and offers a fresh look to summertime sandals on cork block and fancy leather velvet flowers....

Via paristore@tsumorichisato.com
Tsumori Chisato

Reed + Rader's Psychedelic Animated Fashion Shoots

Fashion photography duo Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader, known as "Reed and Rader,"mix the mediums of still photography, animation, film and interactivity to create a dialogue between arts and technology. They believe that interactivity and augmented reality are the future and are currently working on interactive projects that involve the user beyond a passive experience.

Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader met while attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and furthered their education by continuing at the School of Visual Arts at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program. They live in Brooklyn, NY with their four crazy cats and stuffed animal family.

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Viktor & Rolf

Prada

Comme des Garcons

Dolce & Gabbana

Diesel

Wunderkind

Burberry

Courtesy Reed + Rader
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A weekend in Montmartre at " Hotel Particulier "

A jewel case located in the picturesque neighborhood of  Montmartre, this former Parisian townhouse converted into a five-suite boutique hotel is one of the city's most stylish place. Surrounded by an exceptional garden landscaped by the architect Louis Benech and a turn-of-the-century petanque court, the Hotel Particulier Montmartre echoes the transformation of the Chateau de Bionnay into an artist's residence and exhibition space created by interior designer and owner Morgane Rousseau.

At the hotel, works of art and collectibles objects are an integral part of the suites, lobbies and salons. Inside this vast Directoire style house, all the suites are adorned with large scale artwork by artists such as Martine Aballea, Natacha Lesueur, and Pierre Fichefeux.

In the Salon Prive, the windows outlined in black lacquer, frame the gardens beyond. The room is furnished with exceptional and rare pieces like an Arne Jacobsen egg chair, the famous Barcelona by Mies van der Rohe or pieces by Le Corbusier ...

Hotel Particulier Montmartre, a peaceful heaven in the heart of Paris.

Courtesy Morgane Rousseau / Hotel Particulier Montmartre

Bejeweled Masks

Ghanaian born and Southern California raised, Mimi Plange began her eponymous luxury wear label,  Mimi  Plange, formally known as " Boudoir d'Huitres " in 2007 with a desire to create American Sportswear inspired by Victorian and African historical fashion.

For her stone and Swarovski crystal-encrusted masks, Plange was inspired by African tribal scarifications, elements often used in her work. She loved the idea of costume adornments that are a little less permanent, and wanted to add a modern crystallized twist whether they were functional or not. These exquisite masks are handmade and can be worn for the night with a simple outfit, or hung as art on the wall.

Courtesy Mimi Plange

Available at sales@mimiplange.com