Our guest blogger again this week is Taylor Anderson, Design  Assistant at Beacon Hill.  In this blog, Taylor continues her exploration of our attraction to the stripe and its place in fashion and interior design.

Taylor Anderson

There is no room for error when it comes to straight lines: the stripe abandons its quiet demeanor, and can’t help but tattle on anything that is not perfectly aligned, measured, sewn, painted, or stretched. Whether it be the strings of our instruments or the frames of our architecture, the importance of precision resonates with those who recognize true quality and craftsmanship.

I find it fun to be on the lookout for stripes in fashion, because the human body is anything but straight! It's always inspiring to see a designer who can flatter the female form while still capitalizing on the impact of a stripe pattern.

Source

I love the way the taffeta in Grace Kelly's skirt appears pieced together, almost like beams of light shooting from her waist.  We see a greater sense of circular rhythm coming from her skirt than from the mosiac behind her: like a parasol or pinwheel ready to spin.

 
Source: The World of Interiors

The broad, hand-painted strokes in this gown allow your eye to take quick inventory of every pleat, tuck and fold.  It's the structure in the stripes that reveals her form and the desiger's workmanship.

Zoe Saldana in Armani (Source: In Style

Each bag below speaks a language of sophistication, where less is more, and pattern serves to focus our attention on excellent workmanship.  Would we notice such curvature and layering without the stripes to guide our focus? Would this Miu Miu bag look as crisp and sleek?

Giuseppe Zanotti                     Miu Miu                    Edie Parker                       Fendi  

And now, we look at some of the most challenging and satisfying uses of the stripe in design: interiors!

We get a sense of austerity and serenity from these meticulously painted stripes.  Whereas the flat plane of the wall is a perfect canvas for clean lines, the stripe reciprocates by accentuating the curvature of the shelving and molding.  Such a simple motif transforms these small bathrooms into spaces with drama and character.              

   
                                Source: House Beautiful                                   Source: Lonny                                                               

  
Source: 1stDibbs.com                     Source: House Beautiful

Note the alignment of each piece on both this bed and the settee. The stripes seem to spill in an endless flow, jumping over spaces or bumps along the way without missing a beat.

But Sampson, steer clear of that pink bedroom! 

Our guest blogger this week is Taylor Anderson, Design  Assistant at Beacon Hill.  In this entry, Taylor dives into the meaning behind a basic pattern seen every day: the stripe.  Drawing on history, art and fashion, Taylor explores the attraction to and enigma surrounding this staple in the design world.

Taylor Anderson

 
15th Century Depiction of Cain & Abel: Cain- the Bible's first traitor and murderer- is shown here in an unmistakable two-toned smock.

Francesco Morone's (1471-1526) "Samson & Delilah": Stripes on the bed, stripes on the wall: an obvious lair of deception.

However, as Lynn Phillips’ points out in her New York Times article “Crossing The Line,” does our eye understand the stripe even now? Perhaps to me they flow down a plane, but to you they climb up it. We welcome such enigmas now: they intrigue and excite. Is this why we love the stripe? Because our subconscious is drawn to solving the puzzle? Is it because we are convinced that the simplicity can only be skin-deep? Are we drawn to it simply because we can’t crack the code?

Unitled (Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red)  by Mark Rothko

The 2nd Annual Patterns for Paws event at the Pacific Design Center took place last month. The theme for the event this year was Paw-parazzi - Hollywood themes. The Robert Allen | Beacon Hill showroom in Los Angeles donated fabrics for this great event and worked with Interior Designer Christopher Grubb, President of Arch-Interiors Design Group Inc., fashion designer Connie Coleman and "model" Landon.  Landon was transformed into Ruff-dolph Valentino.

Below are some highlights from Christopher Grubb on the event.

Christopher Grubb

Paying homage to "old Hollywood," Landon is the epitome of the "Chic" Sheik, as made famous by the Italian actor, "Latin Lover," Rudolph Valentino. Landon's dramatic pleated velvet cape made in Mordini/Tarragon is trimmed in a opulent braid.  The tarragon harem pants and flowing white shirt are trimmed in a coordinating gimp.  And the crowning touch - his turban in green velvet and linen voile wrapped in Alchemy Braid, sparkles with the addition of Alchemy Jewels trim - making Landon the embodiment of a ladies' man.

The following is the journey to the big event!

First - the inspiration! 

Angela and I select fabrics that would work from the inspiration image.

Connie does an amazing job of utilizing all of the great Robert Allen Fabrics - including the turban!  Landon does a fitting at the showroom for any final alterations necessary prior to the debut.

The Green Carpet arrival at the show.  To avoid spoiling the debut of the outfit, Landon wears a pre-show formal vest, complete with sunglasses for his photo op, hello's to various celebrities and best wishes for a good show from Angela and Connie.

Show time preparations!  Landon is dressed and in hair and makeup.  Connie created a vest for me in the same Robert Allen fabrics to match Landon's outfit - and Kevin Nealon signals - we're on!

Landon fortunately had TWO passes on the runway - one being carried and one walking, with the last picture being the one that received international attention. 

And a big thank you is extended to the team by Teri Austin, President of the Amanda Foundation for making the evening a huge success! 

About Christopher Grubb

Christopher Grubb is president of Beverly Hills based Arch-Interiors Design Group Inc, which is internationally recognized for its creative and unique work in residential, commercial, retail, and hospitality and high end medical design. Throughout his career, Christopher has been a sought after lecturer nationwide on what makes compelling design. The firm has been featured in books, hundreds of magazines and news papers and Christopher has shared his design skills on multiple radio and television shows - including recurring appearances on LXTV / NBC and Martha Stewart Living Radio.  The firm was honored to be named as one of the top 10 firms in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Home and Décor Magazine and an entire issue of World Architecture Magazine in Hong Kong featured the works for Arch-Interiors.