Collection SS2016: Dragonflies

One of my most beloved artists commissioned by the Maison to mesmerize us, Leigh Cooke is proposing in 2016 a poetic, lighter-than-light touch in a vintage format, design that conjures a flutter of dragonflies and damselflies, those most ethereal, fairy-like insects.  The latter bear a close resemblance to their cousins, but their bodies are narrower, and they carry their wings folded upright above them when they alight on a surface.  

The artist’s studio stands beside a pond surrounded by flowers and reeds.  

The endless ballet of these fragile Odonota (their scientific name) was the inspiration for this composition, rippling gently like the water’s surface.  

Leigh Cooke began the watercolour after a dragonfly flew right into his studio.  While he was at work on the picture, another – the biggest he has ever seen – settled on his windowsill as if to watch.

Collection FW2005: A Walk in the Park

I've been aware of this design for a long time now, and was ecstatic to come across a picture of it earlier this year. The reason why I find it appealing is threefold: for one, I live in Canada, where the maple leaves (featured on this scarf) are a national symbol. Second, the plum background is a very rich colour that appeals to me. Finally, I love the way the design is very discreet when the scarf is worn. Very elegant, indeed.

The colours in this picture are not quite accurate, as most of the leaves feature brighter autumnal shades of yellow, orange and red. But it gives you a sense as to how peaceful this scarf is, indeed deserving "A Walk in the Park" title, by - who else? - Leigh P. Cooke.

I was disappointed by two recent designs that this person created - "A vos crayons" and "Berries", which were created in the same style of apparent random position yet the former featured the pencils perpendicular cu the sides, which made it less than appealing when worn (although it did feature pencil sharpening shavings in the middle, which were totally cute!), whereas the latter was just too busy for my liking. The designer's return to the values intrinsic in this scarf, in 2009, with "Winter Walk", is encouraging as it depicts more outstanding and mesmerizing designs. A review of that design should follow shortly.