Interiors Product Launch: British Home interiors brand Laura Ashley launches Autumn/Winter 2024 range

As the weather gets cooler and we step into autumn, British home and interiors brand Laura Ashley invites us to step into a modern country story with Rustic Charm, as we look into developing an intimate story for a residential bedroom project.

Wallpapers and soft furnishings from Laura Ashley showcase feminine ditsy florals with the modern nostalgia of on-trend terracotta orange and autumnal hues.

The new Autumn Winter collection from Laura Ashley featuring warm colour palettes, soft details, and luxurious fabrics, evokes a welcoming and inviting ambience, perfectly suited for snug evenings in autumn, creating a cosy and relaxed atmospher.

This story features a blend of neutral tones and autumnal hues, complemented by large scale floral prints.

Helen Ashmore, Laura Ashley's Head of Design, notes: “Terracotta is more than just a colour; it’s a statement of warmth and comfort. Incorporating this shade into your home, whether through wallpaper, sleepwear, or even carpets and rugs, creates a cohesive and inviting atmosphere. This timeless colour brings a touch of nature indoors, making it ideal for the autumn and winter months.”

Country living is brought to life with timeless earthy tones featured in upholstery fabrics, cushions and washed-oak furniture pieces, like the Braystone collection. Featuring a painterly floral design with trailing hibiscus flowers amongst scrolling leaves, Aylworth Trail is a hero print with terracotta orange adding a romantic charm. 

Autumnal hues of fern green, duck egg and sage green with touches of mustard yellow create a rich and cosy ambience in the home.  Wallpapers and soft furnishings combine feminine ditsy florals with the modern nostalgia of iconic stripe patterns in on-trend terracotta orange and autumnal hues.

Product Launch: Fable England collaborates with The Natural History Museum for new AW24 collection

British heritage jewellery, accessories and sleepwear brand, Fable England, have launched a capsule collection with London’s iconic Natural History Museum for AW24.

Inspired by the natural world, British fashion brand Fable England thoughtfully weaves tales from British literature into each of their collections, and their latest collaboration with London’s Natural History Museum is no exception. United by a shared passion for nature, Fable England and the Museum embraced the chance to explore the Museum's remarkable collections—a treasure trove of artwork, manuscripts, and rare books—in search of inspiration for this new autumn/winter 2024 collection now available on fableengland.com.

With more than 80 million specimens in the Museum's archives, the challenge was choosing the right narrative to follow. Ultimately, the story that captivated the Fable England team was that of Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717), a pioneering entomologist. Defying the societal expectations of 17th-century women, Merian transformed the scientific understanding of insect life cycles, leaving a lasting legacy.

Maria Sibylla Merian’s 1705 publication, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, marked the first scientific documentation of what we now call metamorphosis. Her meticulously detailed, hand-colored plates have since inspired generations of natural history illustrators, artists, and entomologists.

Fable England drew from Merian’s and her daughter Johanna Helena Herolt’s botanical illustrations to create their abstract botanical luxury print, "Floral Engravings," which serves as the foundation for the entire collection. The print’s intricate borders, with elements of fine carvings and geometric patterns, were inspired by Alfred Waterhouse’s architectural blueprints for the Natural History Museum.

The Floral Engravings collection honours the artistic and scientific achievements of this mother-daughter duo, symbolizing new beginnings, unconditional love, and a lifelong devotion to their craft and one another.

Fable England’s Creative Director, Vanessa Radley, reflects on the collaboration: “We were thrilled when the opportunity arose to work with the Natural History Museum. It was an ideal partnership for such a special capsule collection for AW24.”

“One of the highlights for me,” Vanessa adds, “was the unforgettable experience of visiting the Museum’s Rare Books Library and meeting Special Collections Manager, Andrea Hart. The design team was given the chance to explore priceless rare books, including beautiful illustrated studies in botany, entomology, and ornithology. I was especially excited to discover that some of the artwork we selected for our hero print, Floral Engravings, was actually the work of Maria Merian’s daughter, Johanna Helena Herolt, whose illustrations are often mistaken for her mother’s.”

Maxine Lister, Head of Licensing at the Natural History Museum, also praised the collaboration: “Our shared values and commitment to showcasing the beauty of the natural world made this partnership a natural fit. This collection celebrates the groundbreaking work of Maria Sibylla Merian, a true pioneer for women in science. Sustainability was a key focus for both Fable England and the NHM, and the collection reflects that commitment, featuring materials like TENCEL™, recycled PU, and recycled nylon.”

All images courtesy of Fable England.

Fashion Exhibition and Culture: "Sheer : The diaphanous creations of Yves Saint Laurent" all the rage in Paris

As exemplified by designer Anthony Vaccarello's latest collection for Saint Laurent and echoed in numerous shows (from Chloé and Courrèges to Givenchy) during this season's Paris Fashion Week, sheer and see-through fabrics have reemerged as a dominating trend for Autumn/Winter 2024 in the world of fashion.

"Sheer: The Diaphanous Creations of Yves Saint Laurent" (running until August 25 2024)
at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Paris 

Yves Saint Laurent championed the notion of transparency back in 1966 with his first see-through look and two years later his emblematic now-famous "see-through blouse," a chiffon creation provocatively worn without anything underneath as observed in the recent trends, highlighting the enduring impact of Yves Saint Laurent's designs with sheer fabrics retaining its powerful allure.

Vaccarello's emphasis on transparency serves as a connection between the past and present, prompting contemplation on the transformation of fashion aesthetics and societal norms.  In this autumn/winter 2024 collection, he prominently featured sheer fabrics, with a majority of models confidently showcasing bare breasts under translucent blouses, fitted T-shirts, and sleeveless tops. Some even adorned transparent pencil skirts, revealing high-legged knickers underneath.  The allure of Saint Laurent's designs has transcended the runway, captivating stars to don these daring creations on the red carpet during the current awards season.

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Paris is currently presenting a timely exhibition titled "Sheer: The Diaphanous Creations of Yves Saint Laurent" (running until August 25 2024). This exhibition spotlights the designer's groundbreaking exploration of transparency in fashion. In conjunction with concurrent exhibitions at the Fondation Louis Vuitton and Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, this cultural trifecta provides a distinctive diversion amid the vibrant activities of Paris Fashion Week.

Exhibition Catalogue
Forewords and essays: Elsa Janssen, Anne-Claire Laronde, Emilie Hammen, Shazia Boucher, Domitille Eblé, Judith Lamas, Alice Coulon-Saillard, Sophie Henwood. 
Graphic designer: Agnès Dahan. Photograph: Patricia Canino
Published by LIENART, 128 pages, 100 illustrations. On sale at the bookshop.

This exhibition signifies the second installment of a narrative that commenced last summer at the Museum of Lace and Fashion in Calais.  With curator Anne Dressen serving as its artistic advisor, the "Sheer" exhibition has been crafted by Pauline Marchetti, an architect whose work delves into the interplay of perception and space.

Featuring approximately 40 textile pieces, the exhibition showcases iconic Yves Saint Laurent creations, such as the groundbreaking topless blouse from spring-summer 1968 and the feather-belted dress. Additionally, it includes more distinctive pieces, some sourced from the SAINT LAURENT rive gauche collections.

Furthermore, the exhibition unveils previously undisclosed aspects of the creative process, including patterns on tracing paper and a collection of drawings by Yves Saint Laurent influenced by the paintings of Goya.