Posh Totty Loves The Mad Hatter is Real and he lives in Venice Beach

In "fashion for dummies" "have you met" on February 7, 2014 at 3:51 pm

Hidden behind the beach where once upon a time in America, they attempted to rebuild the canals of Venice, you’ll find him…

Look for the twinkling lights, the dream catchers and the crooked sign with a fedora and there, through an open door of the mystic den all in black, the mad hatter awaits.

His name is Nick Fouquet and he says he’s part human, part animal. He’s also French. And he makes hats … psychedelic bourgeoisie bohemian ones. If he ever had the chance to make one for his idol, he reckons it would have a bullet hole in the side of the crown.

Two of his hats actually ended up on the heads of Pharrell Williams and Madonna at this year’s Grammy awards, which is pretty neat for someone who didn’t even know hat-making was his “thing” until a few years ago, when he met a cowboy that told him that there were only 25 hat makers left in America. With that, Nick decided to become a part of that world; the last of the hat makers.

He tracked down retiring milliners in their closing shops, bought the machinery and learned the craft in a basement for two years before landing himself an atelier on the historical shopping boulevard of Venice Beach, Abbot Kinney.

Oh, and he does this awesome and slightly mad thing to distress his hats– he sets them on fire. Actually, Nick’s unofficial “signature” is to add a matchstick to the ribbon of a hat. Check him out in action…

For a while there however, like all great creatives, Nick Fouquet might have been what society likes to call, a bit of a screw-up. He was kicked out of boarding school as a kid and after finally graduating, he “stole his mom’s credit card” and disappeared to Patagonia for five months.

“My future was looking more like forestry or a recluse in the high mountains of Colorado as a field worker,” he notes. After his stint in South America, Nick re-emerged, well-travelled, and actually got himself a BA in environmental sciences and sustainable development. He then traveled some more, modelled for Ralph Lauren in New York (let’s not kid ourselves, the guy is a total babe), emulated a native American adventurer in Colorado and eventually settled in California in 2008. His story is all here in a nutshell, laid out in a nice little timeline he made…

But without further ado, let’s get to those mad beautiful hats. Now, you’re going to want one naturally, so it’s best we start by telling you how. The ideal way is to go to the shop and see Nick and his team in person, but if like me, you’re stuck all the way on the other side of the globe, it’s not the only way. You can browse the online collection, pick your fancy and then over the phone and through emails back & forth with Nick, together you can create your perfect chapeau. Of course, if you can get there yourself, you could bring your own personal items to add to the hat. You could also just pick one right off the shop shelf if it’s love at first site. Here’s an idea of what you might find…

So remember how I told you to find him …

Down the rabbit hole…

The Mad Hatter awaits!

Or you could just check out his nifty website for all the contact details…

And there’s also this mad little video he did with Italian filmmaker Bruno Miotti…

Posh Totty Loves Disneyland Paris family-focused Ratatouille attraction

Disneyland Paris Partners with Chef Paul Bocuse for ‘Ratatouille’ Attraction

by Roger Scoble in Family

Disneyland Paris has enlisted the help of chef Paul Bocuse, the godfather of French gastronomy, to create a new attraction featuring Rémy, the little rat who dreams of becoming a master chef in “Ratatouille.” Scheduled to open this summer, this new attraction will be located within “Le Monde de Rémy,” (The World of Rémy) a reconstructed Parisian neighborhood in the Studios Disney park.

Titled “Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy,” the ride will invite guests to follow the adventures of the young rat. Like the Oscar-nominated animated film, the ride will take place inside of the Parisian restaurant “Chez Gusteau.”

“Our new family-focused Ratatouille attraction, which is scheduled to open in 2014, symbolises all of the creativity, innovation and emotion that guests associate with a Disneyland Paris experience,” said Euro Disney Chairman Philippe Gas. “By developing this new Ratatouille attraction, we continue to ensure our guests can experience their favourite Disney stories in memorable ways that only Disney can provide. The theme, which is very français, is a tribute to our capital and the unforgettable characters that make Ratatouille the ideal choice for an attraction that fits perfectly at Disneyland Paris.”

Since gourmet cuisine is at the heart of the new attraction, the ride will open alongside a new restaurant, “Le Bistrot de Rémy,” where fans can savour the little chef’s famous ratatouille in a jumbo setting. There will also be a souvenir shop called “Chez Marianne, Souvenirs de Paris.”

Disney provided a few details on the Ratatouille attraction last May, noting that it will allow the character of Rémy to “combine his storytelling talents with next-generation technology.” Living up to this promise, the ride will allow guests to experience the world as Rémy sees it: a few inches from the ground.

With an estimated budget of $150 million, the attraction and restaurant open Summer 2014, with the boutique following in Autumn 2014.

Posh Totty Loves Barneys Transgender Models

Barneys Features Transgender Models In Latest Campaign by Bruce Weber

by Roger Scoble in Style Women

Barneys has unveiled a new campaign shot by Bruce Weber called “Brothers, Sisters, Sons and Daughters” starring a cast of transgender models. Weber cast 17 transgender models from around the world to appear in the campaign for the New York City-based luxury retailer.

“I hope that my photographs and films of these 17 new friends, who are transgender men and women, convey the respect I have for them and how I stand in awe of their courage to face the world,” Weber told WWD.

The story behind each of the models has also been told by Vanity Fair’s Patricia Bosworth. The company partnered with the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, and on February 11 Barneys will donate 10 percent of sales from its flagships and online store to the two non-profits.

Posh Totty Loves Teenages fight for unedited images

Thousands join girl in urging Seventeen magazine to publish unedited images

by The Guardian in Style Women

This article titled “Thousands join girl in urging Seventeen magazine to publish unedited images” was written by Karen McVeigh in New York, for guardian.co.uk on Thursday 3rd May 2012 14.05 UTC

A teenage reader of Seventeen magazine is hoping to change the title’s practice of airbrushing images to make young girls appear flawless and thin.

Eighth-grader Julia Bluhm, 14, from Maine, delivered a 15,000-name petition to the Hearst magazine’s editor-in-chief, Ann Shoket, on Wednesday calling for the magazine to publish at least one unaltered photo spread a month.

“A lot of my friends are happy in their skin, but I know people who aren’t comfortable and wished they looked differently,” said Bluhm, who dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer and activist. “There are pictures all over the media that show photoshopped girls that have no flaws and they are perfect.”

In her petition, titled Give Girls Images of Real Girls, Bluhm, a blogger with Sparksummit, a “girl-fuelled” movement against the sexualisation of young women, wrote: “Those ‘pretty women’ that we see in magazines are fake. They’re often photoshopped, air-brushed, edited to look thinner, and to appear like they have perfect skin. A girl you see in a magazine probably looks a lot different in real life.”

Bluhm hopes to fight back through her work with Sparksummit, which began after the American Psychological Association task force reported the harm to girls’ self-esteem caused by sexualised images of young women.

By late Wednesday, the petition, hosted on the social action platform Change.org, had amassed even more names, with the total passing 30,000 signatures.

It chronicles the daily battles faced by her peers over their body image. It reads: “I’m in a ballet class with a bunch of high-school girls. On a daily basis I hear comments like: ‘It’s a fat day’, and ‘I ate well today, but I still feel fat’. Ballet dancers do get a lot of flack about their bodies, but it’s not just ballet dancers who feel the pressure to be ‘pretty’. It’s everyone. To girls today, the word ‘pretty’ means skinny and blemish-free. Why is that, when so few girls actually fit into such a narrow category? It’s because the media tells us that ‘pretty’ girls are impossibly thin with perfect skin.”

Bluhm said the “fake” photographs she and her friends see in magazines and adverts has been shown to lead to low self-esteem.

Her petition states: “Girls want to be accepted, appreciated and liked. And when they don’t fit the criteria, some girls try to ‘fix’ themselves. This can lead to eating disorders, dieting, depression, and low self-esteem.”

Seventeen magazine said it had invited Bluhm to its offices after seeing her petition. It said in a statement: “We’re proud of Julia for being so passionate about an issue – it’s exactly the kind of attitude we encourage in our readers – so we invited her to our office to meet with editor in chief Ann Shoket this morning.

“They had a great discussion, and we believe that Julia left understanding that Seventeen celebrates girls for being their authentic selves, and that’s how we present them. We feature real girls in our pages and there is no other magazine that highlights such a diversity of size, shape, skin tone and ethnicity.”

After the meeting, Julia said in a statement released through Change.org: “The fact that Seventeen’s editor-in-chief met with me in person proves that the voices of teen girls everywhere are getting through. While I would still change some of the ways Seventeen portrays girls, I’m encouraged that they’re willing to listen to me and the 30,000 people who’ve signed my petition. Seventeen’s invited me to work with them on this issue, which means we girls – Seventeen’s readers – are finally being heard loud and clear. It’s really exciting.”

Bluhm started the petition when she learned that another magazine, Glamour, had decided to limit its use of the airbrush to make people look thinner. After a survey of women found 43% believed magazines should not retouch pictures, Glamour magazine introduced limits for retouching photographs, even if a celebrity or model requested the modifications.

Bluhm said: “A lot of girls read Seventeen magazine. They do a lot to make girls feel good about themselves, stuff like Body Peace. So I thought if they are already doing it, they might like to do more. There have been stories about how much photoshopped images can hurt girls with low self-esteem and eating disorders.”

Body Peace asks women and girls to make peace with the body they have and carries interviews with celebrities talking about the issue.

Bluhm’s mother, Mary Biter, a social worker and mother of two girls, said she is proud of her youngest daughter.

She said: “She has taken on something that is important to her and it is something that both Robert (Julia’s dad) and I have felt important raising two girls. That they are judged by their abilities and abilities and qualities other than their appearance.”

Posh Totty Loves Magic in The Maldives

This glistening beach is not part of a magical Disney or Pixar sequence – it’s actually a perfectly natural occurrence. These glistening dots of light, captured on a beach in the Maldives by Taiwanese photographer William Ho, are caused by microscopic organisms called bioluminescent phytoplankton, or Lingulodinium polyedrum for the scientifically inclined.

These plankton are part of a red tide, which is when the population of phytoplankton like these explodes in a certain location, coloring the water a dull orange-red. Some of the organisms that form red tides are directly toxic to marine wildlife and humans, while others simply produce toxins that accrue in shellfish, making them unsafe to eat.

At night, however, the red waters take on a completely different hue. These organisms react to changes in water tension and to acidity by giving off light, so every wave break and paddle causes them to give off light. Surfers who surf a red tide at night leave a trail of shining water, and steps taken in soaked sand leave shimmering imprints. Boats traveling through bioluminescent red tides leave especially impressive light trails.

Source: Flickr | (via: thisiscolossal)

Posh Totty Loves Courvoisier introduces L’Essence Year of the Horse by Matthew Breen in Epicurean

Courvoisier, which is one of the world’s leading cognac houses, has released L’Essence Year of the Horse, a limited-edition, collectable release of L’Essence de Courvoisier Cognac.

L’Essence de Courvoisier, which launched in 2010, brings together the traditional and the contemporary, representing both the heritage of Courvoisier and its future. The cognac is the result of exceptional blends combined with the rarest eaux-de-vie from the centuries old Courvoisier Paradis cellar. Courvoisier boasts that their premium blend features ‘exquisite notes of sandalwood and cigar leaves, followed by toffee, marzipan and honey from fresh mountain flowers, L’Essence blends a full-bodied and rich palate of licorice, dried plum and apricot, building to a smoldering intensity and finishing with the delicate perfume of May blossom.’

Courvoisier recommends that L’Essence be served over ice, chilled or neat.

Commemorating the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Horse, L’Essence Year of the Horse showcases the L’Essence de Courvoisier cognac in a Baccarat decanter engraved with an image of Napoleon on his horse, edged in a soft brown leather harness. As the cognac of Napoleon, the signature decanter is complete with an ornate crystal stopper, inspired by Napoleon’s signet ring, which he bestowed upon commanders in his military to commemorate noble acts of power and bravery. Each bottle will be showcased in a wooden trunk and sold in an exclusive, individually numbered series.

“L’Essence de Courvoisier is a precious and exquisite cognac—the jewel in the crown of Courvoisier collection — and we are excited to be launching a limited-edition bottle in celebration of the Chinese New Year,” said Claire Richards, Director of World Whisky & Cognac at Beam. “The horse is a universal symbol of victory, drive and passion and is a perfect representation of the heritage of Courvoisier and the revolutionary spirit symbolized by Napoleon. As such, the onset of this Chinese New Year was the perfect time to unveil an exclusive release and commemorate the Year of the Horse.”

L’Essence Year of the Horse is available now in limited quantities in select U.S. and international markets with a retail price of $3,500.

Posh Totty Loves Chanel Joaillerie Unveils Exclusive Pearl Collection – Les Perles de Chanel

by Joan Stern in Style Women

Chanel pays tribute to Mademoiselle Chanel’s penchant for pearls with an exclusive all-pearl collection of fine jewelry at the haute couture fashion week. The French high-fashion house has unveiled Les Perles de Chanel haute joaillerie collection which is dedicated to precious pearls.

The imaginary world line-up features pearl edition of some of the brand’s existing signature themes like camellias, majestic lions and constellations. Iconic pieces like Lion Baroque necklace and bracelet (main image featured above) makes a majestic statement with white, grey and gold pearls fastened to lion’s head set in sapphire.

Bringing the charm of pearls back in vogue, Chanel’s latest collection also flirts with diamonds, sapphires, amethysts and other gemstones along with finest quality of pearls in shades of gold, black, pink, grey and white. Picking out the best of cultured pearls that vary in size, shape and color, the collection also strings together freshwater mussel pearls along with beautiful oyster pearls from the South Seas, Tahiti and Japan.

Exquisite Collier White Tie features 1,370 cultured Japanese pearls arranged in strands fitted with diamond clasps and a asymmetric pearl bow.

Other extraordinary pieces include Perles de Jour necklace which is a diamond studded strand of South Sea pearls. Ideal for day time, this Day Pearls necklace is designed in a night edition, Perles de Nuit, with Tahitian grey pearls.

The Printemps de Camélia neck piece, read Camellia Spring, brightens up with colorful pearls and is accented with diamond and sapphire studded camellia shapes.

A range of well-designed necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, time-pieces and brooches ornamented with pearls complete the whole collection. Highly valued as gemstones and object of beauty for many centuries,a  pearl is considered as one of the nature’s most beautiful and elegant gift. Speaking about their graceful founder, the brand stated, “The image of Mademoiselle Chanel is inseparable from pearls. Wearing them in earrings, chokers, short necklaces or row upon row of long strands, she only took them off to sleep.”

Via Elle

Posh Totty Loves A Miniature Bohemian World

A Miniature Bohemian World

“Atelier Nο5″

This is the beautifully bohemian (and slightly mad) small world of French artist Ronan-Jim Sevellec. At 80 years of age, his most recent exposition was in 2012 and saw his boxes of tiny artist’s workshops and old antique rooms displayed in various eccentric and romantic locations around Paris.

Ronan spent much of his childhood hanging out in the ateliers of his father Jim, a painter and sculptor, and was clearly influenced by the beautiful chaos of an artisan’s life. When he moved from the provinces to become a Parisian in the 1960s, Sevellec began working as a set decorator in French cinema until he found his calling for creating these breathtaking miniatures in the late 1980s.

“Je cherche peut-être à revivre quelques parcelles de
ma vie, plutôt des miettes, à travers la mémoire des autres
en observant – et toujours avec le même étonnement -
l’étrange similitude qui existe entre nos souvenirs
de passés différents.”

My attempt at translating this beautiful quote:

“I might be look to relive certain parts from my life, or rather crumbs, through the memory of observing others – and always with the same astonishment, the strange similarities between our memories of different pasts.”

Ronan-Jim Sevellec

Every image courtesy of Joël Laiter that you see here is clickable for the full sized view, which I highly recommend doing to really poke around Sevellec’s small world and take in the astonishing detail that’s gone into his work. No word on how long it actually took him to build his miniatures, but with very little information available on Ronan, I get the feeling he keeps  himself to himself, which no doubt leaves room to lose oneself in another fantasy world.

Of all the miniature art I’ve come across, this has to be the most exquisite. Enjoy… (and click to enlarge).

“Les bains de Mirande”

“Resserre aux accessoires” – (Accessories storage room)

“Atelier N03″

 

Images via Àvivre & RoughDreams.fr

The Posh Totty Club recommends The Vic in Stroud.

Let's paint the scenario: Three Posh Totty's plus A.N.OTHER flitting around country pubs après Christmas when we decide to toodle-pip off to Stroud for any signs of an establishment that might be busy and might have music!!!  One down and some to find we find The Vic, vibrational in its welcome as well as the noise!  It has been ages since I have been to the Vic (before the millennium) and I was amazed at how it has spread out slowly, possibly infiltrating around the back of every business in Gloucester Street!

One of our colleagues tried to make a run for it when she realised that it might have been compulsory to have tattoos, piercing, innovative hair and leather; but an ankle grab by me and hypnotism that tattoos are good evaded her discomfort being so far away from London!!

Every client in the place was friendly with manners to your space trying to weave in to the 3 a breast queue at the bar.  The lovely angelic lead singer of the band that was playing could fairly pelt out a rock tune or too and access to outside where you could cool down or light up was well lit and a good idea!  As the evening progressed I did appear to get lost a lot and we fell into another part of Narnia named The Little Vic!  Hop hop tunes and an average age of 21 greeted us without any condescending looks at the more advanced aged Totty's that appeared to invade!

We had so much fun and danced our boots off, time whizzed away and I decided to go home when wobbling into people became annoying for me not them!

An excellent place to be and we really suggest you get down there and check it out for yourself!!

The Posh Totty Club highly recommends The Ragged Cot at Minchinhampton.

Would it be the very friendly locals collectively present, dedicated to the daily drinking that supports their chin-wagging at the Bar?  Would it be the efficient and welcoming Management and Staff who remember you by name on return; especially if they have had to lift your chin up from the bar to pay your tab whilst gently reminding you of their opening hours!?  Would it be the cosy Lounge Bar with log fire?  Would it be Dude, the practically resident Mutt, found seated on a selection of chairs and a stool at the Bar?  It could be any of these but for me it has to be the Mashed Potato; better than sex as it always performs without fail on the comfort zones of your taste buds!  Whatever one eats at the Ragged Cot have the Mashed Potato in any of it's identities; Creamy Mash, Rosemary Mash, Mustard Mash....the list is long and endless.  I have left numerous requests for the relevant Mash Potato Chef to marry me but to no avail; I think they wish to keep him for themselves.  Double Drat!!

So Posh Totty along and decide for yourselves!

x

Posh Totty Loves Voojan Indian Restaurant In Cheltenham

The Posh Totty Restaurant Review

A Posh Totty reader and member has asked us to totally endorse Voojan Indian Restaurant, Montpellier, Cheltenham.   Being a Totty fanatic of Indian Cuisine I checked out the menu online to torment myself and yearn for that plate of spices entwined food to be compulsory accompanied with freezing white wine.

Our elusive diners chose red wine for their totty tipple and Poppadoms so as not to overkill the taste buds for the red grape and ensuing main courses.  Tandoori Garlic Chilli Chicken and Dry Coconut Lamb with Peshwari Naan was as delicious as the service was excellent.

This spicy couple loved the décor and at £44 can't wait to return and totally totty recommend it as a favourite.