Isabel Marant: Boho Chic at Its Best

If you haven't figured it out already, I currently make a living as a fashion designer (but only for  another 3 weeks, which is why my posts are a bit sporadic...important deadlines are coming up and gotta make the donuts!).  I have always looked to Isabel Marant for inspiration when designing clothing, and now that I am moving onto interior design, I find myself doing the same.  I have always admired her use of pattern, color, embellishment, and her distinct way of putting everything together in such a way that everything looks so put together, yet at the same time not too perfect.  Even though I have to admit that I am a little bit of a perfectionist (ok, maybe a LOT) and I like everything "just so" (and I beat myself up if it isn't), I don't want my work to look TOO perfect, because if it is too perfect, it doesn't look effortless, which is key when it comes to design.  Nothing is worse than design that looks contrived.

Isabel Marant 2013 Spring Collection

Marant has a certain cool "boho chic" aesthetic to her signature look - a little hip, free spirited, and lots of little details. If I had this waif like figure, I'd be rockin' this look in a flash. So what better way to channel Marant's signature style than to incorporate it into interiors so that EVERY figure, be it slim or slightly overweight, can enjoy?  In design school, I was always taught, that "there is nothing new under the sun" - that is, that we all gather inspiration and borrow ideas from each other  yet these ideas get implemented in  different ways when crossing over from one design discipline to another.  Ideas are constantly being tossed back and forth and at the same time being recycled over and over, so it is difficult to tell who actually pioneered a certain concept.  As the question always goes, what came first - the chicken or the egg?

Marant uses a lot of antiqued studs, nailheads, and grommets in her Spring 2013 ready to wear collection. Is it perhaps  Marant who was inspired by what has been a driving trend in the interior market for quite some time and not the other way around?  Here are a few examples of how nailheads have been used in interiors.

1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7

Regardless of who came up with the idea first, I've decided to channel my inner "boho wild child", à la Isabel, into interiors...

{1} Kaleidoscope art print {2} Caravan elephant print {3} Églomisé armoire {4} Garnet Parisian chandelier {5} Etro paisley throw {6} Moroccan sham {7} Etro paisley pillow {8} John Robshaw pillow {9} DVF home beaded pillow      {10} Designer's Guild fuchsia cushion {11} Cream leather Chesterfield sofa {12} Pacific Elk Coral {13} orange nesting trays {14} West Elm carved side table {15} Red velvet ottoman {16} Moroccan rug {17} Moroccan inlaid chair          {18} Moroccan ottoman {19} Ruby red moroccan rug {20} nailhead trim dresser

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I love Marant's subtle use of color is in her Spring 2013 ready to wear collections.  In the above spread, I decided to dial up the color a bit to give it a little oomph.  So what do you say? Are you as big a fan of Isabel Marant as I am?

Cheers, Jeanne

Today's post is sponsored by Tea Collection:
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