6 minute read
Black Magic Christmas
The Winter Fashion Issue '21
Written By: MANDY ALLEN/BUREAUXSTYLING SHELLEY STREET/BUREAUX
Black Magic Christmas
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
On walking through Rupert Smith’s extraordinary and beautiful inner-city Cape Town loft, it’s easy to appreciate why he is in constant demand in South Africa and abroad for his work in visual merchandising, installations, and high-end media events. As well as Rupert’s consulting work in the retail, fashion, creative, and advertising industries, he is a lecturer at VM
Central, the design consultancy and training studio that he co-founded with longtime collaborator Sanet Coetzee. And then there is his new shop, CENTRAL; the successor to O.live, his much-loved concept store that was the first to offer the wunderkammer aesthetic to eager, local decoristas. Just like its predecessor, CENTRAL has become a magnet for the city’s magpies, design lovers, and seekers of one-off treasures for the home.
In the hands of this Cape Town creative, Christmas decorating has been given an intriguing twist defined by Gothic influences, ornate flourishes, and foraged wild botanicals
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE
A potted, well-established indoor ficus assumes the role of Christmas-tree-in-chief, complete with gifts positioned in their rightful place. The wrapping paper, with its dark background and moody botanicals, connects with the greater decorative theme.
Using an existing indoor tree is an eco-friendly alternative to a short-lived pine, spruce, fir, or artificial option.
The graphic ornaments have been handmade using cardstock in black, matt gold, and a natural finish and are hung with plain butcher’s string. Their shapes bring to mind baroque architectural onion domes and Eastern Orthodox turrets.
A black, wooden-beaded rosary hanging from a branch is a subtle reference to the spiritual aspect of Christmas. Cheap and decidedly cheerful, delicate rice lights—seen here wrapped around the tree and draped over gifts—are obligatory at Christmas and should be used in abundance.
Make bespoke wrapping paper to compliment the theme of your Christmas decor. Find imagery you like from one of the many public domain museum or art gallery resources (we recommend the Rijksstudio library of the Rijksmuseum rijksmuseum.nl) and have artworks professionally printed onto large sheets of paper to use as gift wrap.
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
Metallic ornaments tucked in between the presents evoke the comfort of the familiar and introduce a touch of bling.
Rupert’s own home is a double-volume industrial space with million-dollar views of Table Mountain and a spellbinding interior that is “a curation of all the gems that I have found on my life’s journey, things that have meaning to me.” It is in this urban, stripped-back setting that Rupert has foregone the conventional Christmas sentimentalities and instead conjured up a darker, more dramatic vision that marries the Gothic elements he loves with opulent accents and lashings of foraged botanicals— all of which are connected by a colour palette inspired by the paintings of the Dutch Old Masters. It’s a kind of magic. (vm-central.com)
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
ART DE LA TABLE
Of all the elements that make up a Christmas gathering, the festive table should conjure up the greatest sense of drama and occasion. With a centrepiece that evokes romantic notions of just-foraged greenery, opulent chandeliers hung fashionably low, theatrical black candles, green glassware displayed en masse, muted gold cutlery, and artfully mismatched crockery, this reimagined offering is suitably show-stopping and edgy—its inspiration drawn from the still life paintings of the Dutch Old Masters (with a touch of Nick Cave) and alfresco living.
Arrange swathes of magnolia leaves, camellia, and ivy down the centre of the table. For colour, intersperse these waxy greens with species such as pepper tree branches in fruit with pink berries as well as thistles. Loosely secure the centrepiece with concealed raffia and/or jewellery wire to keep the arrangement contained while retaining an artfully informal effect.
Eclectic seating—including an antique garden bench, a mid-Century Modern wire chair, and vintage carved wooden dining chairs—adds to the eccentric mood of the setting, lending it character. Be playful with proportion, color, and texture. Layered ceramic flatware, both matte and glazed, clear green glass vessels, and accents of gold result in a complementary contrast of materials and form as well as the reflection of light.
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
THE GOLDEN AGE
While gold has been introduced into the mix here, it is, for the most part, muted and therefore in keeping with the perfectly imperfect theme of nature balanced by texture and contrast.
The ever-so-slightly faded glamour of these gold teacups has a charm that reflects their vintage provenance. Here, the teacups have been used instead of bowls to display fruit for eating. The colours of the fruits themselves—plums and figs— form part of the moody palette.
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
PRESENT TENSE
Aesthetes will appreciate the visual harmony of wrapped Christmas presents that connect with the greater decorative scheme.
Make bespoke wrapping paper to complement the theme of your Christmas decor. Find imagery you like from one of the many public domain museum or art gallery resources (we recommend the Rijksstudio library of the Rijksmuseum rijksmuseum.nl) and have artworks professionally printed onto large sheets of paper to use as gift wrap.
Every last detail has been carefully considered. The ribbon decorating the gifts, for example, marries with other purple highlights such as the icing on a festive cake, plump figs and plums, as well as the distinctive mauve of thistle flowers
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
PHOTO CREDIT WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX
When asked about his tips for entertaining, he said, “Setting an interesting table is something I really like spending time on. A beautiful table can make a get-together so much more memorable. Colour and textures are very important to me when putting together a table. And of course, greenery, beautiful ceramics, and glassware complete the setting.”
Read more at https://issuu.com/rareluxuryliving/docs/winter_fashion_issue_2021_full_pages/50
