Just one more thing: We were also quite amazed by the gorgeous collateral provided, a personalised menu presented in an envelope sealed with a waxed stamp, a bookmark detailing the story of the Mock Turtle Soup inspired by Alice in Wonderland, an adorable menu with a list of candies served at the very end, the “Like a Kid in a Sweetshop” course and a striped candy bag – great use of silver foiling all around. Then there was the packaging of the actual sweets. The Coconut Baccy was presented in a rolling tobacco type envelope, another came in an edible wrapper, and the Queen of Hearts (see photo…not sure what it was, but it was delicious and beautiful) came in a little sealed envelope.  Every detail was thought of, and as lovers of printed matter, we were very happy to have many envelopes to open and feel, and keep as a memento of an incredible evening!

Queen of Hearts

Mock Turtle SoupBlack Forest Gateau

Sound of the SeaMock Turtle Soup

Sound of the Sea

Foie Gras

Red Cabbage Gazpacho

The full list of events can be found here

Taking a lead from the 2005 Rara Avis (Rare Bird) exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 20-piece line is ‘inspired by a rare bird who has always been ahead of her time’  and perfectly sums up Apfel’s unique style and quirky sense of colour, with lipstick shades such as Party Parrot, a bright matte red, a glossy coral called Flamingo, and nail colours like Toco Toucan and Oriele Orange.

The range goes on sale at MAC stores from January 5 and the beautiful bright colours already make us feel like spring is just around the corner!

Provenance also oversaw the art direction for the photography for Fernando Jorge’s latest brochure, working closely with the photographer, stylist and hair & make-up team.

www.fernandojorge.co.uk

For the second year, Provenance produced an interactive press kit to launch of the annual Relais & Chateaux Guide for 2012. Evolving the design from last year, the opening graphic was an animated rendering of a group of butterflies. The press kit, which is for international distribution to travel and lifestyle press, was produced in nine languages. Provenance copy-wrote the English master version, designed the layout, and worked with a network of graphic designers who could typeset in Chinese, Japanese, and Thai.

To house the 2012 Press Kit, Provenance designed a hotel key-card inspired USB Press Kit and folder. Again, the objective was to evolve last year’s design. The cover featured butterflies printed in a translucent gloss varnish, while the inside was die-cut to accommodate a USB key.

Relais & Chateaux Event Invitations

Provenance designed the event invitations for the 2012 Relais & Chateaux Guide launches around the globe. The invitation consisted of an outer shell, featuring butterflies in a translucent gloss varnish, and a tip-in on tracing paper that could be adapted for each event. Provenance oversaw the print management for six different events.

The event is invite only so please RSVP by emailing  rsvp@thepoundshop with the subject line PS5-INVITE.

The Astrological Observatory in Jaipur

After this encounter I began to notice how many Indian people were wearing gemstones on odd fingers, and that they were always the same stones on the same fingers: ruby on the ring finger, pearl on the pinky, coral on the index finger and so on. There are nine stones, one for each planet, and depending on your astrological make-up and which planet needs to be “kept in check”, an astrologer may prescribe a ring to wear on a certain finger.

The art of prescribing gem stones for karmic or health-issues is as old as the hills of course, mankind has been mining for gems for thousands of years. A lot has been written about the power of stones, and the talismanic and healing value of jewelry, beginning in ancient sacred Sanskrit texts.  But I wonder can this side of gems be harnessed more effectively for commercial purposes? Should it be?

We’ve definitely noticed a trend in the symbolic role of jewelry in numerous of the pieces designed by contemporary jewelers, from Aurora Lopez Mejia to Loree Rodkin.  Pippa Small and Carlos Souza, designers we’ve reported on for COUTURELAB MAGAZINE, both make Nav-Ratna pieces. These are jewels (rings or pendants usually) featuring all nine stones in a particular constellation. But are people buying these because they are gorgeous or because they believe in the power of these gems to change their lives?

But, enough of my musings – surely you are wondering if I have purchased a sapphire to wear on my middle finger. The answer is yes. On line from the Natural Sapphire Company, and it arrives next week. Here’s hoping my Saturn will be straightened out soon.

Where to stay: if you are in Moscow for business your best choice is Katerina City which is located in the Moscow City center and has everything you need for a comfortable stay. For a short break, another good choice is the Golden Apple hotel, located near Tverskaya street.

Staying at either of those hotels, you are perfectly placed to explore the main sights like the Kremlin, Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, the GUM department store. Crossing the bridge next to the Christ the Saviour Cathedral will lead you to Red October, a disused factory complex that is now home to many shops, restaurants and galleries. Our firm favourite is Bar Strelka, especially if you are visiting in summer as you can sit on the terrace with an amazing view over the river. It’s great for a quick stop after sightseeing but also for dinner and drinks at night.

Red Square

Bar Strelka

Art: For Russian art from the 12th til 20th century visit Tretyakovskaya Gallery and for contemporary art, the Garage Center for Contemporary Culture is your best address. If you are very lucky and manage to get a ticket, don’t miss visiting the newly reopened Bolshoi Theatre but tickets sell out 3 months in advance so you need to plan ahead.

Garage Center for Contemporary Culture

Bolshoi Theatre

Where to eat: For authentic Russian food in a warm and friendly atmosphere, Marivanna is the place to go. The restaurant even has a branch in New York where visitors include Bill Clinton who celebrated his birthday there and Spike Lee among others. We can only speak for the Moscow branch and can definitely recommend it. The interior is designed to look like someones house and you are greeted by Vanya the cat who casually walks among the guests making sure everyone is having  good time.

Marivanna

If you feel like having a few drinks and partying with the locals, head down to Solyanka, although it it also worth visiting during the day as this 19th century townhouse  includes a shop and a great restaurant with the best borsch in town!

Loveboat party at Solyanka

Souvenirs: A matryoshka in every shape and form, as well as fur hats and other souvenirs but also paintings and antiques can be found a plenty at Izmailovo market on the outskirts of Moscow. If you would rather not travel far, the Old Arbat street also has many souvenir shops, although slightly more expensive.

Izmailovo

Architecture: Another open air highlight is VDNKH, the former main exposition centre of Soviet achievements. It’s Stalinist architecture, with 400 buildings dedicated to the different former Soviet republics and various, mainly agricultural, achievements  will make you travel back in time.

VDHKH

Another architectural highlight you should not miss is the Moscow metro. Although difficult to navigate without a guide, an iphone app can be very helpful. Just travel along the circle line to see the oldest and most beautiful stations.

Komsomolskaya station

This is just a taster and our personal ‘best of’ for a short trip and there is a lot more to explore, email us if you need any tips!

The exhibition is running until December 4
www.garageccc.com

From the villages of Rajasthan, where women work the fields in bright, almost neon-orange sarees, the streets of to Jaipur where they sit sideways on motorcycles wearing hot-pink and gold, to the sophisticated parties of Delhi where I saw precious fabrics of brocade and silk georgette embroidered and embellished with stones, crystals and more, I was dazzled by the completely unique and joyful sense of fashion Indians have.  It made me question how it came to be that we here in the West think colours like beige, heather gray, or monochromatic combinations in white and black are chic or flattering, for that matter.  What do Western brands, particularly fast fashion chains like Zara have to offer to a nation that can go out and buy, for the same price or less, a beautiful Saree or Salwar Kameez, that is much more flattering? It will be interesting to see, how, as this gigantic country’s spending power grows over the next decades, their sense of fashion evolves.

Queuing or the Taj Mahal

Colourful decorations at a Mehendi CelebrationEmbroidery on a vibrant red saree

Embroidery on a vibrant red saree

www.cornerroom.co.uk

Oddly enough, I am the proud owner of a Karl Lagerfeld Cola Light. This didn’t bother me at all – in fact, I felt the irony of it was sort of genius. Karl, who was famously fat and then became skinny, depicted on a Diet Coke bottle. Karl, who can perhaps get away with anything? Can he? But importantly it was not a brand, it was him the person, and he is sort of promiscuous in a way we all love and accept. That is his personal brand, and it works.

Email me at ilaria.alber@provenanceagency.com to share your opinion, I’m interested in hearing it.

The Bulgari San Pellegrino Bottle

The Karl Lagerfeld Coke

After her Manifesto Project the activist and Grande Dame of fashion Vivienne Westwood has partnered with the International Trade Center and Ethical Fashion Africa to produce a collection of handbags in Nairobi, Kenya. Using recycled materials from roadside advertisement banners and safari tents, the three designs have been hand crafted by marginalised communities of women such as single mothers, widows, HIV/AIDS victims and those living in extreme poverty. The aim of the project is to provide jobs to African women, to teach them new skills and to encourage them to start their own companies.

Photographed by her long term collaborator Juergen Teller, the campaign shows Westwood, her husband Andreas Kronthaler and African models in a Kenyan slum. The images are quite jarring, and filled with irony,  but will no doubt grab attention, raising awareness for the plight of these Kenyan communities.

Watch the video here