The art of fashion

That's Not My Age hit the town last night for the launch of the Mother of Pearl pop-up shop (or Mop Shop) - a very fancy do indeed with paparazzi, pop music and potent cocktails. MOP designer, Maia Norman, 48, has collaborated with artist Jim Lambie, 47, on her S/S 11 collection, the floral head dress made me think about synchronised swimming, the Burkha ban in France and surrealist artist, Sheila Legge's self-portrait in Trafalgar Square, 1936:



Californian-born Norman is Damien Hirst's partner and the mother of their three children, so she already has strong connections to the art world and a history of er, working closely with artists. Don't you love Jim Lambie's Miles Davies print? He should call it 'Kind of Bloom.'



That's Maia Norman on the left wearing a floral print dress from the collection and those Prada shoes:



And behind the decks, in a chocolate brown corduroy suit, Mr Jarvis Cocker, 47. Hello Jarvis.



Of course this isn't the first time fashion has taken inspiration from art, Elsa Schiaparelli and Salvador Dali teamed up in the 1930s - this lobster dress was worn by Wallis Simpson:




in 1965 Yves Saint Laurent kicked off the colour blocking craze with his Mondrian dress.



The following year, artist Andy Warhol dabbled with fashion and came up with this Campbell's soup tin paper dress.



For spring 2008, Marc Jacobs worked with the American artist, Richard Prince:



And more recently, one of my favourite artists, Grayson Perry collaborated with Liberty on a range of lovely scarves:



That's Not My Age would like to see a Bridget Riley/Sonia Rykiel collaboration. Who would be your designer/artist dream team?



Photos:

Sheila Legge: Tumblr
Schiaparelli: The Huffington Post
YSL and Andy Warhol dresses: The Met Museum
Marc Jacobs: style.com
Grayson Perry: Marie Claire

Thank you, Marianne Faithfull

So, Marianne Faithfull, 63, told me to go to the Chelsea Physic Garden. The legendary singer-songwriter and actor recommends spending Sunday 'under the ancient elms,' (in this month's Harper's Bazaar) which is exactly what Mr & Mrs That's Not My Age did yesterday. London's oldest botanic garden, founded in 1673, is just off Chelsea Embankment and has it's very own microclimate. Where exotic plants grow, like this pomegranate tree:




Even though it's the end of summer, the walled garden is lush and green and there are still a few flowering plants to be seen. That's Not My Age loves echinacea.




Mr TNMA makes a delicious pumpkin risotto - but we had been warned not to eat or touch any of the plants. Many are poisonous and can kill!





The greenhouse is called the 'cool fernery.' We ended our lovely afternoon at home listening to Jarvis Cocker 's Sunday Service on BBC6 (Marianne told us to, but we love Jarvis anyway) whilst admiring some old photos of Marianne Faithfull in her cool finery:







The Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS

Photos
Recent Marianne Faithfull photo: Julian Broad, older photos from The Selvedge Yard

Jarvis Cocker and the National Trust

Can't believe I haven't blogged about the lovely Jarvis Cocker, 46, before now, the Sheffield-born crooner is a genuine That's Not My Age hero. I could blather on for hours, but I won't. Suffice to say that when I saw Pulp play back in the nineties, Common People reduced me to tears. Now JC has produced what the National Trust's Visitor Experience Director, Tony Berry calls the ultimate chill-out album. Sounds recorded at properties like Brownsea Island and Ham House - birdsong, footsteps on gravel, lapping waves, creaking stairs - all act as aural souvenirs of a good old-fashioned day-trip.

'I hope this album is a holiday for the ears,' says the man who showed Michael Jackson his bum (Brit Awards, 1996, not the Neverland Ranch), 'something to have on in the background to aid relaxation or contemplation.'

Download it for free here



Quotes: Drowned in Sound
Photo: last.fm