Wednesday, 1 December 2010

MILK's festive look


We're feeling festive at MILK, so we gave our website a touch of Christmas. We didn't forget our boutique either, we have a little festive fireplace filled with some of our favourite things!

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Love, MILK x

Cushion for the pushin'

Pardon the poor pun...but we at MILK had to somehow get these adorable cushions on this blog! The faces are by the ever-recgonisable Fornasetti, and the pixel cushions are Christian Zuzunaga for Kvadrat. Available in the boutique, look out for them hiding inside Novembre's Nemo chair!

Fornasetti cushions £75, Zuzunaga for Kvadrat £85.

Love, MILK x

Friday, 26 November 2010

Shoreditch Christmas Triangle


For your late-night shopping and perusing pleasure, MILK will be open till 9pm every Thursday and till 7pm on weekends! Enjoy your Christmas shopping with complimentary champagne and swiss chocolate, and take advantage of our free gift wrapping service. Whatever you're looking for, be it rare Fornasetti pieces, beautiful fashion by designer both established and independent, or stylish home accessories, MILK's eclectic selection of objects are sure to make for an original and thoughtful gift!

Much love, MILK x

Sunday, 21 November 2010

Baobab Collection; candles for the sophisticated

Among men, the common conundrum faced with buying candles is that the market is swamped with feminine, twee scents that are less 'distinctive gentleman' than 'old lady with a house full of cats'. Lavender candles and rose petals are all fine for some, but what about the man who wants a candle whose scent is intense yet not particularly saccharine, and a design that is sophisticated yet simple?
Enter Baobab collection. Baobab collection was born from Belgian designer Valerie Bietlot's experiences living in South Africa. Inspired by the majestic landscapes of Tanzania with its intense colours and enchanting perfumes, Baobab underlines its African heritage with fragrances such as White Rhino, Serengeti Plains, Masaai Spirit, and Miombo Woodlands.
White Rhino, Serengeti Plains, Masaai Spirit, and Miombo Woodlands in Max 10. 1ocm high, 50og, 60 burning hours.
Encre De Chine and Cuir De Russie in Max 16. 16cm high, 1.2kg, 150 burning hours.
Other evocative scents beyond the African plains include Encre De Chine (India Ink) and Cuir De
Russie (Russian Leather), the latter of which would be very much suited to a masculine study for a gentleman or at home to a bachelor's pad. One can already imagine which cigar to complement the candles with, or what colour suit would perfectly match the inky depth of Encre De Chine's matt black body.
Baobab Platinum in Max 40, 16, 10. Max 40 is 40 cm high, 7.5 kg, and 800 burning hours.
The platinum range has the same exceptional finishing and perfect lines of its glass brothers, with an extra touch--it quietly oozes luxury with the high shine of platinum, a metal far rarer than gold.



Sunday, 14 November 2010

Hudson's directional footwear for winter

Milk are excited to present to you our selection of Hudson's latest footwear for men and women! Winter in London is a perpetual state of rain, occasional hail, and it is quite likely we will be seeing some snow in the coming months. No other nation understands tempestuous temperemental weather quite the English do, and
with this knowledge English shoemaker Hudson have designed their Autumn/Winter 2010 line with this in mind.

Ladies and gentlemen can now stomp stylishly across city pavements, town cobblestones, and country pastures in these luscious and sturdy offerings. Hudson are famous for the strength yet softness o
f their leather--one customer has commented that the Hillman feels like 'butter on her feet'--and their suede shoes are no less durable, having been specially treated to stand up against rain and water. Other clever tricks to make their footwear last a lifetime are to tint the tip of their shoes a slightly darker shade to conceal inevitable staining that comes with constant wear, flexible leather whose appearance improves with wear, and creases in the curve of the top of the foot to allow for stretching.

Aesthetically, there is no need for many words--these pictures (complete with colour palette) aptly demonstrate the beautiful yet hard-wearing nature of Hudson's directional footwear. Although these pictures
really don't do them justice--you have to see them in person, or better still, slip them on and realise why these shoes are for life!

Hudson for Men. L-R: Napier, Angus (also available in black), Alaska, Dylan, Hughes

Hudson for Women. L-R: Kai, Jescot, Lowe, Chantilly, Honiton

Hudson footwear for Men and Women available and coming soon on MILK!

Much love from MILK
x

Sunday, 7 November 2010

Natural Purification for your home, by Sort Of Coal

This modern age has seen two great advancements in the history of mankind. One--the development of science and technology. And two--unless you have the good luck to live somewhere where the air and water is pure--pollution. If you live in a city, you'd understand how acrid the air can be on the lungs and how harsh the water is on your throat, and let's face it, our bodies aren't build to be constantly assaulted by man-made filth!

Short of buying a lodge and moving to the Swiss Alps, purifiers are the solution. We at Milk have banished unsightly mechanical monstrosities and have instead turned to nature.

Enter Sort Of Coal. Sustainably-farmed wood from the mountain forests of Japan and Korea are transformed into nature's most effective purifiers by a controlled burning process based on a traditional Japanese method. The result is White Charcoal, composed of microscopic pores with the ability to adsorp. Adsorption is different from absorption by not releasing impurities again but eliminating it.

Sort of Coal's range of products include cubes of White Charcoal for fridges, Kishu Binchotan stems for purifying water, and beautiful Hakutan sculptures for cleansing the air in your home. They serve not only to enrich the freshness and clarity in your daily life, but as beautiful decorative objects that remind us of the power and beauty of nature.

Read more about Sort of Coal and shop their incredible prodycts on our new Life&Home section here!

Here's to wellbeing and purity,

Love, MILK x

Saturday, 23 October 2010

Take a Bow

The holidays are approaching, and with it the inevitable party season. With the Christmas lights already on display in London, there's no ignoring the festivities--and this is even before one considers Halloween! Naturally, these occasions require one to put their best foot forward, after all one does not want to look anything but their best. When faced with the conundrum of looking elegant, while remaining insouciant and effortless , the sartorial solution is to look to the classics--the TIE.
Ceramic knot ties and ceramic bow ties by COR SINE LABE DOLI
A fresh twist to a classic style, these papillons (french for bow tie) are made of the finest quality ceramic, and available in a variety of colours and textures--our personal favourite is the Shiny Black with Gold Stain Corner. These ingenious designs ensure you'll not only stand out in a crowd full of traditional silk bow ties and ties, but also save you the time, hassle, and stress of making those complicated knots and loops. Just slip them around your neck, and walk out the door--a godsend for gentlemen and ladies with too many occasions, and too little time!

For those who want the traditional feel and shape of the classic silk tie, but want to display their sense of humour and discerning taste, there can be no better choice than Fornasetti's latest designs. Already a cult designer, Fornasetti's instantly recognisable artwork can now be worn as a neckpiece--surely a great conversation starter. More so, these silk ties are collectibles, as are all of Fornasetti's works of art.

Inventive and bold as these bow-ties and ties are, it is great to remember that these are classic accessories that you can wear for a lifetime, not just special occasions and parties. Go ahead, update your wardrobe with these beautiful statement pieces--your better half (or future better half) will thank you for it!
Happy holidays, MILK x

Saturday, 16 October 2010

The Importance Of Being On Time by MILK

Punctuality must surely be one of the most underappreciated virtues in these modern times! These days, a 'small' amount of lateness is acceptable; commonly about ten or fifteen minutes in the Western world, whereas in cultures such as Japanese society, or in the military there basically is no allowance. In this time and age there really is no reason to be late or keep anyone waiting, not when you can be on time with these stylish timekeeping pieces. MILK presents a selection of wall clocks and watches, available to buy from our boutique and online--

Sunday, 10 October 2010

Fornasetti Profumi per la Casa at MILK

MILK is delighted to announce that Fornasetti's new range of home fragrances, Profumi per La Casa, are available in the boutique and our online shop!

First, an introduction--There are few artisans as prolific as Milanese artist Piero Fornasetti. Painter, sculptor, interior decorator, engraver of books--and now, his son Barnaba, custodian of the Fornasetti legacy, has turned his attention towards the notion of home fragrance. The first collection of Fornasetti Profumi per La Casa, celebrates the Fornasetti ceramic heritage in combination with both well-known and less familiar decorative images. Together they make up a desirable group of iconic objects and decorative pieces that are at once collectable and covetous.

Fornasetti has taken a new step in home fragrance, one that transcends the obvious and transforms it into the truly magical. Architectural details, butterflies, facial expressions, suns, owls and monkeys all vie with one another to capture the imagination and open the realm of dreams.

The collection encompasses various home scenting devices from the ubiquitous scented candle and boxed incense sticks through to room sprays and ceramic globe diffusers for incense, perfumed oil or scented rocks. Each object has a clearly defined purpose and can be re-used, given an alternative use, or added to a Fornasetti collection. Fornasetti Profumi per La Casa will be a constantly evolving range of decorative objects and limited editions. Subsequent collections will explore other avenues within the Fornasetti world, fragrances and ways of experiencing scent.

Fornasetti is celebrated as being one of the most original creative talents of the last century. During his long career he perfected his art and made use of a rich visual vocabulary that is instantly recognisable and constantly engages. Fornasetti designed a magical dream world, saturated in rich of imagery and filled with whimsical humour. And now with the addition of Profumi per La Casa, the Fornasetti experience has been expanded beyond tactile and visual, and entered the realm of scent.

Experience the new dimension of Fornasetti's whimsical and magical world at MILK Concept Boutique, from 13th October!

Love, from MILK x

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Sunday, 3 October 2010

Fabio Novembre Him and Her Chairs

Fabio Novembre has been called Italy's most flamboyant interior designer, and
his colourful and vibrant aesthetic is immediately apparent in the colour range of
the iconic Him and Her chairs. Red, aquamarine, violet, matte, lacquered, all
are now available at MILK and ready to order from our online shop.

We at MILK are excited to announce that Novembre's latest creations, a
glass-like clear version of the Her chair will soon be arriving to and gracing the boutique!
Lightness and sensuality come together in the latest version of
Novembre's Her chairs. Continuing research into new
chromatic effects lead to the development of a new production method
which in turn, has given birth to a new transparent, glass like version.
The chairs are created using rotational moulding technology combined with
transparent polycarbonate. The form of the seat itself comes from a 3D replication
of an original plaster sculpture of the female form.

The clear versions are also available to order online, delivery to the UK is
only 1-2 days.


Conveniently, the Him and Her chairs are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Allow these pictures to demonstrate and inspire---




Remember to follow MILK on Twitter and 'like' us on Facebook for
updates as we acquire more beautiful things for your home. Happy
looking, perusing, and shopping!

Love, from MILK x

Images 1&2 © MILK, images 3-6 © Fabio Novembre