Girl Power

Lulu Guinness' fashion and home designs are the essence of the girly-girl: full of flowers, butterflies and saucy charm.

While Topsy Turvy is not normally a fan of frilly, we give kudos to those with the je ne sais quoi to embrace an ultra-feminine persona, while not giving up any power of accomplishment.

If TT were to give in to outright sweet beauty, we'd go for that red butterfly-print pillow, only if tossed against a lavender sofa pushed in front of the Bird of Paradise throw, used as a wall hanging.

The top image of Lulu at home amidst her Japanese-inspired fabrics, and wearing a Mikado silk dress, brings to mind the delicate images from Geisha: A Photographic History, 1872-1912, by Stanley B. Burns.

This book includes a wonderful collection of mostly staged studio photos taken by commercial photographers, in faded sepia tones which were hand-painted using Japanese watercolor techniques. The shy, mysterious aura of these images belies the status achieved by the geisha in the isolated culture of Japan.

"Geishas were the only women in Japan who could move from the lowest class to a powerful and wealthy place in society."*

We'll give a full report on this book when we receive our copy! (Available through Topsy Turvy Shop @ Amazon.)


Click on images for larger view.
Top: Butterfly-print pillow, $192, Bird of Paradise throw, $5,078, Glass bead large necklace, $784, www.luluguinness.com.



Photo of Lulu Guinness from Vogue
Geisha images from Shelter Magazine
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"The most important thing about color is that it cannot be isolated ... Every color is only ever seen in juxtaposition with other ones."
John Saladino
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