The Blog

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Category Archives: Culture

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MY LIBRARY

Posted on Friday 17 May 2013

The ‘My Library’ series discovers the books loved by the people we meet. Our latest contributor is co-founder and San Francisco editor of Remodelista, Sarah Lonsdale. We came across a beautiful series of stories on Remodelista celebrating books, the craft behind them and how they influence people’s lives. We thought Sarah would be an ideal person to add her own voice to the book conversation.

Celebrating books on Remodelista >

The books on Sarah’s day-to-day radar are design books, and she has chosen to photograph the ones she has on her bookshelf and bedside table. “The downside of being a blogger is that I don’t read as many novels as I used to, I tend to cram them in over holidays.”

“We’ve been writing about houses and homes at Remodelista for over six years now and over this time it has really made me think about the meaning of home. Designer Ilse Crawford’s book Home is Where the Heart is, is a thoughtful look at the subject laying out the essentials for a well designed nurturing environment.

Last year Sarah worked on several shoots with foraging friend Louesa Roebuck, who creates dramatic over-sized installations with foraged flora, which brought flower books to her attention. “I never get too excited about most flower books but Bringing Nature Home by photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo and Nicolette Owen of Brooklyn’s Little Flower School is an exception. They have poetically captured seasonal flowers in domestic settings in a way that makes it easy to emulate (or at least the appearance of doing so).”

Sarah has also been enjoying niche magazines such as Apartamento, but Kinfolk remains a favourite. “It has a clean layout, dreamy photography and homespun prose.”

My Library: Remodelista

My Library: Remodelista

My Library: Remodelista

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MY LIBRARY

Posted on Wednesday 1 May 2013

The ‘My Library’ series discovers the books loved by the people we meet. The latest snapshots come courtesy of author and filmmaker Liz Goldwyn. Her first book Pretty Things celebrates the ‘last generation of American Burlesque queens’.

Throughout her career, Liz has been surrounded by literature and the written word. She has immersed herself in different cultures and opinions, from work as a curator of the Sotheby’s fashion department, to writing a column for the Japanese Hanatsubaki magazine. She has told stories through traditional essays as well as visual exhibitions, films and documentaries. Pretty Things is based on her own documentary on American Burlesque.

“I am a huge fan of William Gibson.” Liz tells us. His cyber punk novel Neuromancer is a classic: it predates the mainstreaming of the internet and virtual reality.” His latest book Count Zero was recommended to her during a romantic visit to the Morgan library in New York and seeing a Surrealist drawing show. “The way to my heart is through literature.”

The Chair of History at USC, a recent mentor, recommended Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos to Liz. “It’s a fictional tale set in Los Angeles in 1897 in the world of prostitution. After reading the first draft of my new book, he suggested I look at Dos Passos’ writing – he’s an experimental author whose work reminds me a bit of the beat poets, though he was writing in the 1920s. I also love his novel, 1919.”

Liz Goldwyn, Pretty Things >

Liz Goldwyn, My Library

Liz Goldwyn, My Library

Liz Goldwyn, My Library

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WOMEN OF SILICON VALLEY

Posted on Wednesday 10 April 2013

There’s no inspiration like sunny skies and semiconductor chips. At least not for the brilliant women who live and work in the heart of Silicon Valley. We sat down with some women who are helping shape the world’s most beloved tech products and services, while maintaining their sense of personal style in a male-dominated industry. They share their inspirations, and how their taste is shaped by the unique culture of their industry.

In the final part of this series we bring you Alexandra Levich, Product Manager at Google.

By Mariana Lin

Where did you live before coming to California?
I was born in Russia. In the 1990s, I moved to Israel, where I grew up and went to college. I served in the Israel’s Defense Forces as a software engineer. Then I moved to northern California to work for a startup, and a year later I joined Google as an engineer.

How has living in Silicon Valley impacted your style?
If I had chosen another profession, my style would have evolved differently. My style is much more casual than it would be elsewhere, because of the tech industry. I love to wear t-shirts and jeans. You could describe my style as geek chic. I have a big Google t-shirt collection.

How do you adapt your style to the workplace?
I want to look professional, but still feminine. I’ll wear high heels and jewellery to balance the casualness of the t-shirt and jeans. But I don’t dress over the top where it would take attention away from my work.

Which piece from the Mulberry collection best reflects your style?
The Dorset High Heel Booties fit my style perfectly.

What are your favourite places to eat and hang out in the Bay Area?
Cafe Venetia in Palo Alto has the best atmosphere and coffee, pastries and cake. It feels like you are in Europe. And Joya has great tapas.

What inspires you about California?
California allowed me to become who I am, and be comfortable with my own style. I don’t feel forced to follow trends. In other parts of the world, people might look at you strangely or make comments if you dress differently from everyone else. But California is so diverse and lets everyone define their own sensibility.

Read part one, with Apple’s Jenna Boule >

Read part two, with Facebook’s Morin Oluwole >

Read part three, with Pinterest’s Cynthia Maxwell >

Find Mulberry on 166 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108 Tel: 415.399.9105.

Alexandra Levich

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WOMEN OF SILICON VALLEY

Posted on Wednesday 6 March 2013

There’s no inspiration like sunny skies and semiconductor chips. At least not for the brilliant women who live and work in the heart of Silicon Valley. We sat down with some women who are helping shape the world’s most beloved tech products and services, while maintaining their sense of personal style in a male-dominated industry. They share their inspirations, and how their taste is shaped by the unique culture of their industry.

In part three we bring you Cynthia Maxwell, former Mobile Engineering Manager, Pinterest.

By Mariana Lin

Where did you live before coming to California?
I grew up in Holland, Michigan. Herman Miller had its Design Yard there, so growing up I was very influenced by the midcentury modern aesthetic, which was everywhere. It really impacted the sense of style and culture.

What brought you to Silicon Valley?
I came to Stanford for my masters in mechanical engineering, and fell in love with the Bay Area. I worked for a while for NASA nearby, working on simulations and life science experiments. Then I went to Berkeley for a PhD in computer science.

You also used to DJ, and you have quite an art collection.
I used to DJ at Burning Man and breaks/electro nights around San Francisco. I have my own turntables and still mix with vinyl, which is rare these days. My favorite album is The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest. It’s timeless, and every track is great. I used to read a ton of design blogs, and through that, I got into art. When I moved into my first nice apartment, I wanted to own some from people I like. There are some artists I kick myself for not buying long ago. I love Banksy, Jeremy Fish, Kristian Olson, Jeff Soto.

How do you adapt your style to the workplace as a female engineer?
Engineering is a very male-dominated field. But I have always ignored the engineering dress code and dressed as fabulously as I wanted to at work. I am a woman and I like to celebrate that. I have never been shy about busting out four inch heels while coding. It’s fun!

Where are your favourite places to eat in the Bay Area?
Flea Street Cafe has the best blackberry pie in the summer. Portola Kitchen has a gluten free selection, and their tap wine selection is also very nice.

What inspires you about Silicon Valley?
When I arrived in California I felt a huge weight lifted. California is filled with people of all beliefs and they are not afraid to express themselves. It’s a great feeling knowing you can really be free here.

Mulberry on Pinterest >

Read part one, with Apple’s Jenna Boule >

Read part two, with Facebook’s Morin Oluwole >

Find Mulberry on 166 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108 Tel: 415.399.9105.

Cynthia Maxwell

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THE GOURMAND

Posted on Wednesday 6 February 2013

Mulberry has long been a supporter of very good food. British chef Tom Aikens cooked a feast for our Autumn Winter 2012 London Fashion Week dinner, renowned Oyster Bar J Sheekey and British sparkling wine brand Nyetimber have fed and watered guests at recent store events. As part of the Brilliant Britain campaign we celebrated all things brilliant about local, interesting and amazing British food.

From our own love of food, we were delighted to discover The Gourmand, a contemporary food, art and culture journal. Founded by editors-in-cheif Marina Tweed and David Lane, the journal is dedicated to culinary delights, bespoke recipes and a celebration of beauty in many forms. Issue 01 talks to British chef Mark Hix in his library, looks at ‘gluttony’ for a photo essay and has a fantastic recipe index with, among others, Cheddar Gorge Souffle and Lime Pie.

The Gourmand >

The Gourmand is hosting an exhibition of limited edition prints commissioned for issues 00 and 01 from Thursday 21 February until Sunday 3 March at Hewett Street in Shoreditch, London.

Image courtesy of The Gourmand

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WOMEN OF SILICON VALLEY

Posted on Monday 4 February 2013

There’s no inspiration like sunny skies and semiconductor chips. At least not for the brilliant women who live and work in the heart of Silicon Valley. We sat down with some women who are helping shape the world’s most beloved tech products and services, while maintaining their sense of personal style in a male-dominated industry. They share their inspirations, and how their taste is shaped by the unique culture of their industry.

In part two we bring you Morin Oluwole, Business Lead to VP, Global Marketing Solutions, Facebook.

By Mariana Lin

Where did you live before coming to California?
I grew up in Nigeria. I’ve lived in London and in New York City.

What brought you to Silicon Valley?
I was working for Facebook in New York, and there was an opening to work in the headquarters in Palo Alto. I had never lived in Northern California before, and embraced the opportunity.

How do you navigate the workplace?
You have to learn how men think, how they function, how they communicate. But I don’t let it change me. I use this understanding to build confidence.

How would you describe your personal style?
I’m very dressed up for California. I embrace glamour; fur, embellishment, lots of jewellery. I wear a lot of colour, rich jewel shades look good on my skin tone. I tend toward more European and structured styles. I am almost always overdressed for an event, but I don’t mind. In my opinion, there’s more to notice.

What is your style in the workplace?
I prefer a dress or skirt rather than pants [trousers]. I wear a blazer almost every day. The campus is large, and walking from one end to another for a meeting can take a long time, so comfortable shoes are a must, even if they’re high.

What inspires you about California?
There’s a sense of positive calm that the California vibe provides. I think it’s a combination of fresh vegetables and clean air plus the combination of progressive thinking that makes for a great environment.

For Silicon Valley style, shop our Technology Accessories >

Read part one, with Apple’s Jenna Boule >

Find Mulberry on 166 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108 Tel: 415.399.9105.

Morin Oluwole

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WOMEN OF SILICON VALLEY

Posted on Tuesday 8 January 2013

There’s no inspiration like sunny skies and semiconductor chips. At least not for the brilliant women who live and work in the heart of Silicon Valley. We sat down with some women who are helping shape the world’s most beloved tech products and services, while maintaining their sense of personal style in a male-dominated industry. They share their inspirations, and how their taste is shaped by the unique culture of their industry.

We start by meeting Jenna Boule, Marketing Manager at Apple.

By Mariana Lin

Where did you live before coming to California?
I grew up in Washington state, so the Pacific Northwest. My home style is still very influenced by that area – Pendleton blankets, Native American inspired designs.

How would you describe your style?
I wear classic, almost androgynous styles, like boxy sweaters and boy jeans. But I also like vintage jewellery and vintage dresses. My style has always been about finding a balance between the feminine and masculine.

How do you adapt your style for the workplace?
I work in the education group at Apple. Both my parents were teachers, and I have a passion for education and technology. My style has always been more modest, like boxy or tunic shapes. So it’s a comfortable transition to the workplace.

What music do you listen to?
My favorite albums, that make for amazing soundtracks for our California adventures, would be Joni Mitchell’s Blue, or Chet Baker’s My Funny Valentine. We always have those two playing in the background when we have friends over for dinner or drive to the next weekend getaway.

How has California influenced your style?
I’ve been forced more to think about style here. I’m not dressing for the elements as much as I was living in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve enjoyed exploring all the incredible boutiques and vintage stores in the San Francisco area, like The Other Shop, Painted Bird and Wasteland.

What inspires you about California?
I love how incredibly beautiful Northern California is. You have the wine country, breathtaking beauty of the coast, incredible forests and mountains, and all that San Francisco has to offer as a city. I’m inspired by how easy it is to have wonderful adventures, just by driving an hour in any direction.

Read part two, with Facebook’s Morin Oluwole >

Find Mulberry on 166 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108 Tel: 415.399.9105.

Jenna Boule

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PENGUIN ENGLISH LIBRARY

Posted on Wednesday 19 December 2012

The Penguin English Library comprises 100 of the best novels in the English language. From romances like Pride and Prejudice and A Room With A View to gothic horrors such as Dracula and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as well as fantastic tales of adventure in Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island, there are books for every kind of reader. Penguin commissioned British designer Coralie Bickford-Smith to design the covers for the series, with each inspired by an element from the story.

To celebrate their nomination as part of the Brilliant Britain guide, we’re delighted to share this short video from Penguin, celebrating one of the literary classics.

Literature on Brilliant Britain >

Penguin Classics >

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MY LIBRARY

Posted on Friday 30 November 2012

The ‘My Library’ series looks at the books that are close to the hearts of the people we meet. We start with Lucy Moore, owner of the Claire de Rouen bookshop in London.

Lucy Moore is surrounded by books in the Claire de Rouen bookshop in London’s west end. From independent magazines to vintage photography, the store is a treasure trove of titles. The website is also a lovely space, take a look at ‘Chance Claire’ where collaborators curate a list of books that reflect their interests.

Claire de Rouen books >

Lucy’s current recommendations are Bruce Weber’s new book ‘All-American Volume 12: A Book of Lessons’ and Centrefold Magazine, Issue 8.

“Bruce produces an All-American once a year, so it acts as a diary of sorts. It’s a hotly-anticipated publication from a regular visitor to Claire de Rouen Books. This volume has a feature on textiles designer Kaffe Fassett and a shoot with a Bo Derek set in the Utah desert that reminds me of Antonioni’s film ‘Zabriskie Point’ in its Seventies sexiness.

Centrefold is a high-concept fashion magazine that isn’t bound, so that each of it’s pages can be pulled out and displayed as a poster. The eighth issue celebrates 25 years of Storm Model Management, with images of Kate Moss, Lily Cole, Jourdan Dunn, Cara Delevigne and Cindy Crawford, to name but a few! Claire de Rouen is one of a handful of stockists in the UK.”

Claire de Rouen books

Claire de Rouen books

Bruce Weber 'A Book of Lessons'

Centrefold Magazine

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ON OUR BOOKSHELF

Posted on Thursday 18 October 2012

We love Tim Walker’s new book Story Teller, that accompanies the new exhibition at London’s Somerset House. Tim’s beautiful images are interspersed with quotes, sketches and mood boards giving an insight into how his fantastical shoots are created.

It might be a bit big for bedtime reading but it looks beautiful on our bookshelf!

Tim Walker Story Teller

Tim Walker Story Teller on our bookshelf

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