Renaissance Man

Pauric Sweeney masterminds his luxury bag empire from a buzzing Florentine Palazzo, then cycles to his minimalist family home. Although he is responsible for some of the fashion world’s most sensual and seriously lusted-after handbags, it when you discover that he originally trained as an architect that parts of the jigsaw start falling into place. For a man with such artistic bent, it’s not surprising his studio is in an ancient palazzo near Santa Croce. Parts of it date from the 14th century and the floors and frescoes are original. View interior feature.

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Groovy Baby

When artists John and Molly bought an old Tudor stables as a rural retreat from their full-on London lives, they brought punk rock and pop art to the heart of Norfolk. Inspired by the heady cross-fertilisation between music,fashion and art in the swinging Sixties, the couple made their names - and their retirement fund - when they stumbled on a screen-printing process and subsequently set up their fashion company, Wonder Workshop, in 1969. Their iconic roaring-leopard jacket was worn by Iggy Pop on the back cover of his Raw Power album. Mick Jagger, the Beatles, Marc Bolan, Lou Reed and Sid Vicious all snapped up their designs, and their wild thing T-Shirt has been a bestseller... view feature

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On Top of the World

Legend’ is a word much bandied around today, but few people have earned the right to wear that particular badge. In Celia Birtwell’s case it is most appropriate. Not only is her image immortalised in one of the most visited paintings of all time - Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy by David Hockney - but she was the pragmatic half of one of the most exciting fashion partnerships of the twentieth century. The prints she created for her then husband, Ossie Clark, were transformed by his gossamer touch into romantic, womanly, sensual garments that send the e-bay community into a frenzy each time one is listed. No wonder that Top Shop has snapped her up - her first collection launched in Spring 2006 caused near riots when it hit the rails. The west London villa where she lives with her partner, Andy, is overflowing with paintings, books, mementoes and mad touches of kitsch that have caught her eyes over the years. Celia may be a grandmother of six, but there is nothing matronly about her home - deep red felt lines the walls of the drawing room giving a depth of colour paint can only aspire to - while Fornisetti plates look chic against the lavender white of the dining room. As she says: “This is a fun house. The children can come round and slide down the banisters if they want - they create a lot of happiness when we are all together”... view feature

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In His Jeans - Diesel

This old farmhouse and estate was rescued from building development by a leading Italian fashion designer who restored and replanted much of the vineyards which now boast award winning vintages. The old farmhouse has a large open ground floor with two hearths and a long dining table, upstairs there is a mezzanine lounging and TV space and off that a single bedroom and bathroom. The house is decorated in a rustic cowboy, rather than farming, style and has an unusual collection of taxidermy... view feature Pin It Now!

What did you say...

We are hopefully continuing to listen to what you say and we have a new theme section up this month called Fashion & Textiles, its full of fashion, couturier and designers, please take a look by clicking the link Fashion & Textile. Pin It Now!

Renaissance Man

Pauric Sweeney masterminds his luxury bag empire from a buzzing Florentine Palazzo, then cycles to his minimalist family home. Although he is responsible for some of the fashion world’s most sensual and seriously lusted-after handbags, it when you discover that he originally trained as an architect that parts of the jigsaw start falling into place. For a man with such artistic bent, it’s not surprising his studio is in an ancient palazzo near Santa Croce. Parts of it date from the 14th century and the floors and frescoes are original... view interior feature Pin It Now!