Olympia Le-Tan Pre-Fall 2012 Part 2

Just as I think the flow of previews of the new collection are coming to a stop, she just keeps the lovely little sneak previews coming. I had previously written a post collaborating the Pre-Fall pieces released on the Olympia Le-Tan Tumblr but since then there have been even more additions and I think it's only fair I admire and adore them as well. I've noticed the change within her online store and website so it's only a matter of time before her Pre-Fall 2012 will be released but then again for a born and bred Parisian maybe her Pre-Fall collection will probably come in the midst of my Southern Hemisphere Winter and closer to my birthday...

It's the purple/pink coloured book clutches with medieval embroidered detail and designs that I'm most eager to see, this being the second best of that specific genre I've created. They're all wonderful and I'm eager to get any of her collection at a good price but since her new collection holds such promise as well as mystery about it I'm willing to go with the flow at this point. With that said though, I've already let a few get away from me at 75% off and I will not let such an opportunity pass me by again.

There wonderful thing about viewing the minaudières created by Olympia Le-Tan with help from her sister Cleo made in their studio in Paris is that there's such a great variety of colours and techniques- the strength of their label is that they recreate designs from other artists and transport it into a different type of media. So sometimes the book covers are wordy as well as scrolled with embroidery thread and then there's the artistic and bold impressionist view of the human body show above. There's a great variety too of fonts and the way their blended in to the book cover design in order to attract readers, or in the case of this medium those eyeballing and ogling the Le-Tan collection.

This lovely cover has had the gracious honour of being my computer background for the last week or so and I think I was most appreciative of the fine speckled detail in black felt for the beast, as well as the large sewn title of Il Gattopardo. I find writing beautifully to be laborious enough but to be able to create felted letters or stitch the title of a book in another language must be extraordinarily difficult. Red was my favourite childhood colour and the shade used for this particular book cover and minaudière matches the detail of the eyes and mouth of the feline beast- beige and red is a favourite contrasting and classic pair for the Le-Tan range of clutches it seems.

Amongst all the finely threaded and embroidered details as well as meticulously cut pieces of felt ringlets for a leopard-like beast, it's nice to be able to also see a relatively plain book cover amongst the collection. 'La Storia' written by Elsa Morante and recreated by the skilled hands of Olympia Le-Tan and sister Cleo features well cut block letters in bright green felt on a bright blue background. One of my favourite things about watching the released of the book clutches is the variety of colour and also technique in creating each and every one of the minaudières by hand.

 

Admiring the finely stitched shapes as well as neat letters and multiple fonts makes me wish I had pursued my love of textiles and taken on further study in my final years of high school but I was already ambitious enough and juggling many projects. I remember carefully doing needlework in front of the television mindlessly toiling away but to create something of such fine detail shown above a cleanly kept studio space would be necessary. I'll never be crafty enough to produce something as elegant and seamless as the Olympia Le-Tan minaudières which are a thing of beauty but it's still fun to admire her handiwork and her collection releases.

Deadly Ponies Hurrichain

After a few tidbits, leaks as well as previews from the Alice Euphemia website (a store located in the Cathedral Arcade in inner-city Melbourne today Deadly Ponies released through their Facebook their new A/W 2012 collection named Hurrichain which features muted tones of mushroom, magenta, navy as well as thick woolly fur. I had an inkling of what the collection had to bring and I was most impressed to see a magenta Mr Chain Gang Bag as well as more variations on the Mr Mail Man Bag, something I will not allow to escape my grasp this time. Although I am rather broke at the moment, I do feel confident enough to think I will own a piece from this collection but if I really start to rake it in. then maybe I can increase that to two pieces.

A stitched effect new to Deadly Ponies is quilting tried out in a variety of colours including black and brown and there's also the swirling tones of grey and flecks of the rainbow in this bag, dubbed Mr Futton complete with a neat little strap for the slinged look with the option of detaching it. There's a distinct night life appeal about this bag and while it is on the cheaper end of the Deadly Ponies spectrum, you can still expect to pay a few hundred dollars for some of the finest materials and ingredients money can buy.

Quilted felted rag shoulder bag with black deer skin leather trim, brass hardware and interior pocket. Bag measures 15H x 20W x 4D cms.

Another cute and portably sized bag that's pint-sized but still full of fun is another bag that has been available for pre-order which I had previously clapped eyes on which was the Mr. Billy Box Bag which features this lovely contrast of deep, dark brown leather as well as natural fur in a lighter tone. It seems unfair to compare Mr Futton and Mr Billy Bag but I think I prefer to save myself for a bigger bag when it comes to fur/ goat skin and since Mr Futton is one of two bags of its print and exterior texture it may be one of the first to sell out to party hungry and slightly hung-over girls.

Black cow skin shoulder bag with goat fur trim and brass hardware. Bag measures 24W x 20H x 8D cms. 

Furry and unusual, there's a lack of jewellery from the Deadly Ponies collection except for the curbchain necklace, bracelets and even ring named the Moss Chain collection for their textured appearance. I'm not sure if it's the quality from images shared on Facebook or whether the colour isn't as bold as it appeared once before but I'm still eager to see this jewellery in store and protected behind a glass case. I'm sitting on the fence with the jewellery part of the Hurrichain collection, I'm more accustomed to the fine jewellery in precious metals and using semi-precious stones at very high prices but if this newer range is more accessible for a poor student, well then I'm all for it.

I've been keen to get my hands on a satchel from Deadly Ponies for a while now and it appears that Mr Mailman is my best hope- there's the smaller size shown here and in this camel tone colour that's perfect for the street savvy university student with busy morning classes and eager to have the rest of the day to themselves. I think I was the most hopeful to see variations and new colours of this design of bag the most and since I have made the mistake of missing out in the past I will have to await the launch in March/ April for the bags in online stores across New Zealand in order to get my hands on the best coloured bag for the best price. 

Although Chanel doesn't specifically have an ownership over quilted effects for handbags, it's sort of unspoken that they do and any vintage bag will have the familiar rectangular shape as well as chain strap intertwined with leather. However the Mr Futton Sling Hobo Bag is in an entirely unique shape of it's own, with a thick shoulder strap as well as thick and plump, generous quilted diamonds.

Mr Futon Sling
Hobo Bag
38 W x 24 H x 7.5 D cm
Quilted Deer Skin / Brass Hardware
Pictured in Black
Available in
Black, Hazelnut

Deadly Ponies have been making bags out of fine leathers from exotic animals such as deer for years now but it's in the Hurrichain collection they have finally engaged in the modern and electronic age, producing a laptop case. The structure seems a lot like their wallets- the key defining feature the flatness and lack of depth within the interior pocket. A week ago I would have had enough money to buy my own laptop but I'm relatively back to square one and a bit stuck for cash I'm afraid- the hazards of being a poor student with great taste in fashion. I have about a month to scrap together enough money to get a good laptop otherwise my hand will have to keep up with about ten lectures a week or my shoulder will have to get used to my father's eight year old, stone-age laptop.

 
Mr Folio
Laptop Folder
35 W x 26 H x 3 D cm
Lamb Skin / Brass Hardware

It's interesting to track the amount of attention and positive feedback given about each bag from the Facebook release of the Hurrichainthere will be a few bits and pieces thrown on eBay at a time as well as saving my money for a bag from this new collection. Shown above is the Mr Book Large Satchel- it must be the handle at the top and sweet shade of brown, known as 'Barley' for this collection that attracts me. I could certainly use another satchel for my university endeavours and I have the perfect little Deadly Ponies Mr Lure key chain to attach to it...

One of the handbags I'm aching to get my hands on and itching to have in my possession is the Mr Chain Gang in Magenta with black and belted little strap if you so desire to sling it over your shoulder; and God knows that I will. I loved the imagination behind the design of this handbag in their last collection, but from the colours available: red, blue and black only the black had appeal about it to me and naturally sold out first of the colours. I had seen a second hand red Mr Chain Gang bag in red (lava) on eBay but at the time had no money and I'm sort of glad I did. I would much rather get my filthy mitts on a brand new Deadly Ponies bag in a great and gorgeous colour than something second hand and a bit more difficult to style.

I'm not sure what the fans of Deadly Ponies are more concerned about in terms of the pictures released for the collection, design or colour but I know I was most excited to see magenta coloured bags a part of this new collection and I'll definitely being trying to get my hands on as many feminine bags as I can. I already have a satchel of that colour but Deadly Ponies is too good to refuse and I've been trying to get my hands on one of their bags for years now. Above is the Mr Mini Fill N Zip with cute shoulder strap and matching chain in magenta to colour your dull and grey world- I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the real deal in store.

For those of us that enjoy a good rollicking trip to a music festival, a sweaty music gig and need to travel light and stealthy, look no further than the Mr Hutch Duffel shown here in 'Ghana' (dark brown) made of deer skin/ cow skin and complete with brass hardware. I can think of many a teenage girl who would be all over the style of this bag and the lightweight feel of it in her back, but may not be necessarily appreciative of the design and materials used in this bag. Still- it's utterly fabulous and chic and is pint-sized as well and while I have always wanted a great leather backpack I would say vintage Chanel on a good day will cost the same as Mr Hutch Duffel over here.

Mr Dipalopagus
Two Tone Shoulder Tote Bag
34 W x 42 H cm
Deer Skin / Brass Hardware
Pictured in Magenta / Black

I love the imagination about the design of this bag, but I am a little dubious about it's practical nature and how to sling it over one's shoulder- I'm not a large fan of having my bag tucked underneath my armpit and having a strap dig into my arm but I suppose versatility in size, shape and colour is an important thing to consider in the fashion world in order to accommodate everyone's needs and personal preferences.As much as I love the colour combination of black and magenta as well as all the glorious pockets protected by brass hardware, I'm going to give this bag a miss; it's not to my own personal style really.

Because I'm a bit of a magenta enthusiast and I love low slinged bags with soft cushy structure and flowing lines I'm sure I will go into a type of insanity when I see the Deadly Ponies Mr Sling Hobo bag in the feminine shade of my choice combined with the black adjustable straps as well as familiar brass hardware. One of my great adorations about the Deadly Ponies line of bags is the generous amount of colours for each design in a collection as well as the variations in size- they're all perfect and unique spanning across handsome skins of animals and look classy and chic.

Mr Fill N Zip Fur comes with an alluring white stripe from the handle attachments, incorporating the handles and fur design as a continuation of one another. This cleverly creates flow and movement within the design of the bag, but I wonder just how big a discrepancy between the designs of the fur for this bag will be. After all, since each animal is unique and real animal skin and fur is used there will be variations from the picture shown here of the Mr Fill N Zip but I remain faithful and confident in Deadly Ponies keen eagerness for perfection when it comes to design as well as patterns for bag. Not yet have they steered me wrong.

The Moss Chain Bracelet which appear to come in Black, Silt and Magenta are unusual in their design for the obvious reason they are shaped like traditional curb link bracelets but appear to be covered in velour/ velvet earning them the nickname of 'moss'. In an earlier press release and magazine exert featured on the Deadly Ponies Facebook page the magenta Moss Chain bracelet had appear to have a much deeper, dark wine coloured luster to it so I will be eager to see if there are different photographs used for the Deadly Ponies online store as well as many other online New Zealand stores in order to find the true colour. I don't really like this washed out, dusty pink colour and if indeed there is a stronger purple shade about the magenta you can be assured I will wear that bracelet with pride.

The Mr Billy Messenger bag made me whip my forehead in relief that the lovely people behind each collection at Deadly Ponies had decided to bless the peasants with such a fabulous messenger style bag complete with the middle buckle strap across that thick and wonderful fur. I know for someone who aspired towards becoming a veterinarian that to see fur and animal skin used in such a way is extravagant and has affectation about it but I can't help but adore the natural materials, the shiny brass fixtures and the quality of the bags. It's not often the brand becomes available on eBay so your best to buy something new when it's hot off the press and enjoy it as much as you can and watch a little 'Sold Out' note be attached to that item.

Oyster Magazine have already jumper on the bandwagon and have commented on the collection in the same day of the Facebook release and teaser sneak preview. Don't believe my praise for the brand? Here's what Oyster had to say:

New Zealand accessories label Deadly Ponies have just launched their AW12 collection, ‘Hurrichain’. Proving that they’re no one trick pony, their latest venture delivers on the opulent fabrics that have been the cornerstone of previous collections. ‘Hurrichain’ largely depends upon deer, cow and lamb skin, as well as goat and calf fur for its bags, wallets and jewellery. If this all sounds a little extravagant, never fear – the collection comprises natural, earthy hues and bags are finished with brass hardware, to chill things out a little. If, however, you like everything in excess, you might find yourself gravitating towards the pieces that have stark injections of magenta or metallic accents.

Olympia Le-Tan at DN'A

All of the book clutches made by Olympia Le-Tan each with their brass edges as well as print lining by British label Liberty have already been sold, so I suppose I don't mind sharing the images with you as a means of cataloguing what may well be some of Olympia Le-Tan's earlier works but there's still the fine detail and crafty kitsch about them. If I had all the money I needed, I'd buy them all and have a little library of them where I can touch their covers and also collect a list of great classic books to read as well. I loved the contrast of shapes for the yellow hats and their little red ribbon brims as well as the white stitching to create lines and flows of crease along the red dresses for the above book clutch, 'CES DAMES AUX CHAPEAUX VERTS'.

There's more detail for some design than others and the simplistic silhouette shapes in felt of a hand here, a face there as well as hair and a chef's hat on a red background can be enough to keep some people happy. I've worked with felt before, on the most basic and simple of levels and at times I struggled to cut out the perfect shapes and also manipulate my dull scissors in such a way to manufacture the perfect shape and sharp edges of the material. I wonder how much practice Olympia and her sister Cleo have had with felt and how many pieces they throw out if they don't succeed at first attempt.

Ironically I had the chance to buy an Olympia Le-Tan book clutch for about $400 online of the title of 'Ex-Husband' but it sold before I was able to scrape together the funds and a means of paying for it online. 'Ex-Wife' seems to have more meticulous detail and shading, especially about the neckline and the expression captured in here eyes is simply wonderful, in an unhappy sort of way. I do hope that Olympia Le-Tan continues to make her book clutches in the time it will take to me to graduate from university as well as settle into a high-paying job. I couldn't die a happy woman if I didn't have a Olympia Le-Tan clutch as well as some Charlotte Olympia kitty flats in my possession.

I know in my heart of hearts that the visual design of this book is very simple and there's nothing extraordinary about it, but seeing those bright and wonderful squares contrasted on this black background set my heart a flame- as it were. I love seeing photographs of the Le-Tan studio space almost as much as her book clutches long since sold- there's bookcases full of the original classic novels that have inspired a book clutch of their own and an untold story about them a younger generation now has access to.

What's interesting about the Le-Tan book clutches is the variety in book covers they assimilate and recreate- there's boundless energy about them whether they focus on the title of a cover or an illustration of a woman, Her latest designs seem even bigger and better than before some featuring an entire tableau of a city and background and finely stitched cities and renaissance scenes about them. I can't wait till the whole lot is released in her online store, and there's also been rumours of a few pieces of clothing too!

Everything about any book clutch designed and produced in the Le-Tan workshop of dreams is perfect in every single way- I never think that certain elements can be done better or that the title isn't stitched quite right. Nope, nothing is wrong about any clutch and they are all reach their artistic limit and greatness at the hands of their skilled makers, Olympia and Cleo. There's so many elements of design for the above book clutch including the hand wrapped around the clock, the roman numerals as well as the author's name and in between clock hands and the title of the book. Although all these different things are very close to one another, there's nothing crammed in and everything seems relatively spaced out.

A 1920s drawn woman with black lipstick, black hair and eyes with a well placed white thread to create shadow as well as shine? Coupled with the fur coat created around her petite face and the combination of dark green and light pink in neatly stitched words? It seems an impossible task to pick a favourite cover and book clutch from the nineteen shown in this post, but this particular clutch would make the top nine easily.

There's no real preference for me when it comes to the colour of a Le-Tan clutch made be the wonderful sisters Olympia and Charlotte but it's how the cover looks as a whole and I wouldn't even bother to coordinate the minaudière with an outfit. You can be sure that if I had one in my possession I would use it at every opportunity and love the thing to pieces- which may end up being a dangerous pursuit really since they are quite expensive. I suppose I'm drawn to this clutch above for the looping and scrolling thread used to write in such a small font for French and the decorating loops around and in between the two borders.

I've always wanted to read George Orwell and when I finally finish my university enrollment and suss out all the buildings I will be making a trip to the library to borrow, one book at a time, a classic novel and pray that my studies don't swamp me with too much study. However I will be in the science faculty and there's a lot of lectures and tutorials to attend so we'll just see how my social and online life fair when scholastic pursuits once again threaten to take over my life.

 minaudière. Although there are mini-cases available in this colour combination of pink and light blue, there's something irresistible about the allure of the book clutches made with brass on the edges as well as Liberty material lining. Of course beggars can't really be choosers when it comes to the fabulous allure of Olympia Le-Tan and I'll take anything at a low price from this collection. I just hope that the new Pre-Fall 2012 collection is a kind price for my poor wallet... 

Another of my favourite book clutches from the selection that was available at DN'A is this book clutch of Daphne du Maurier's play, 'The Years Between'. It must be the contrast of the grey and beige as well as the red stitched roses and ribboning effect at the top and bottom of the border that seems quite feminine as well as minimalist. I wish that all these lovely clutches were still available for purchase on the online store... instead of having to see the images of purchases I could have made myself.