Fashion in Flight — thedesignbug.ie

This post has been inspired by the cross over between interiors and fashion and the latest stunning collection from contemporary Irish Womenswear designer, Dublin based Zoë Carol titled “Airborne Ingalls”.

Zoë’s inspiration for this collection was the American record breaking female pilot and convicted spy, Laura Houghtaling Ingalls. Laura’s famous flights took place over the 1930s, earning her the Harmon Trophy and her ground breaking career as a pilot saw her become the first American woman to fly over the Andes and to fly solo around South America in a landplane. Laura was also the first female to fly from North to South America and set the female distance record of 17,000 miles.

Zoë designs channel Laura’s strength and power as an influential female and her determination and drive resulting in a collection of versatile pieces in fluid silks, seductive lace, vegan leather and wool suiting in deep teal, tan and classic black. There are echoes of the post-war shapes in hem lengths and easy wrap dresses. Every piece is named after a female spy, in honour of Laura’s history of espionage.

The Matilda Dress

A truly elegant piece in a stunning jewel teal shade, the Matilda dress is the epitome of modern sophistication with its waisted silhouette and flattering pleating. Teal is a key colour this season in both the fashion and interiors industry and the striking shade and the glamour of this era inspired me to create a glamorous and tactile Art Deco style living room with modern twist.

Art Deco style living space inspired by the Matilda dress

To create a sophisticated space that would be fitting I based my design around the equally elegant two-seater parlour sofa and accent chairs from the Margott Collection designed by Matt Arquette in plush velvet Peacock Blue. The Margott collection has been described as cocktail dressing for your living space and the classical design and colour palate drew many similarities to the refined design and exquisite tailoring of the Matilda dress.

No chic living space would be complete without a cocktail trolley and the luxe Brewer trolley in deep green marble and antique brass takes glamorous entertaining to a whole new level so had to be part of the scheme as a key piece and perfect for an evening tipple of two.

To bring a modern edge I styled the space with a teal zig zag rug in pale hues and selected a contemporary chandelier in gold and black suspended from brass rods to create drama in the room and play on the strong shapes and movement of aircraft in flight while also looking somewhat propeller-esque.

Zig Zag Rug bringing modernity to the scheme

An Art Deco walnut casino sideboard and three legged coffee table with brass accents was selected to compliment the dark wooden legs and brass caps of the Margot suite. The coffee table is accessorised with the Forest Glass Globe vase with brass base that mirrors the colour palate of the scheme and brings a touch of luxe-style accessorising. Finally, the Hummingbird Art Deco gold print brings some softness and elegance to the room while also paying homage to flying in its in most beautiful natural form.

Shop The Look

1. Hummingbird Print / 2. Chandelier / 3. Drinks Trolley / 4. Sofa / 5. Dress / 6. Rug / 7. Coffee Table / 8. Vase / 9. Armchair / 10. Cabinet

Making a Statement

My second scheme was inspired by the Stinson blazer and Beryl skirt in the collection. In these pieces Zoë’s portrays a powerful female with strength and femininity and are a modern interpretation of the iconic pilot.

Stinson blazer and Beryl skirt from the Ingalls Airborne Collection

Speaking about the collection, Zoë explained, “The new collection is about bravery. Like my past collections, it focuses on a woman of audacity and her place and time. It’s a story of unusual passion and the beauty of breaking barriers. The Autumn/Winter collection offers something for every woman. The pieces allows a woman to truly shine and express creativity”.

In this interior space I also wanted to convey the bravery and the strength of Ingalls with a design that was undisputedly more masculine but with a feminine edge. Strong statement pieces would be incorporated into the space that would be both daringly bold and glamorous sitting alongside simple clean lines.

Interior inspired by the Ingalls Airborne Collection

The Rex Illuminated Mirror by Timothy Oulton was selected as a feature piece for its contemporary style and Art Deo style glamour. Softly lit from within, the Rex mirror's glass border dramatically glows like an Art Deco chandelier and the circular shape mirrors the buttons on the Stinson blazer. From the same designer, the distinctive Junk Art Propeller coffee table handcrafted from reclaimed propellers and glass was selected to create drama and to lend its history and authenticity to the scheme.

Timothy Oulton Junk Art Propeller Coffee Table

The Art Hide Faceta Rug, created from premium cowhide leather was also selected as a statement piece with its fragmented proportions and unexpected and irregular shapes that drew similarities to the detailed cutting found on the dress from the collection.

Contrasting with the pattern on the rug the Scott velvet sofa was chosen for its clean, square lines which give a subtle nod to mid-century design and its concrete cotton shade echoes the engine grey hue of the Stinson blazer and Beryl skirt.

To complete the look the Spoke Edgings armchairs were selected for their modern yet classical style. In contrast to the simple lines of the masculine sofa, the armchairs add feminine elegance and curves while also working together to emulate the two-tone suit and dress.

Shop The Look

1. Blazer / 2. Skirt / 4. Rex Mirror /4. Dress / 5. Sofa / 6. Rug / 7. Armchair / 8. Coffee Table

I really enjoyed putting together these schemes from two different looks from the Ingalls Airborne collection. I have always loved the connection between fashion and interiors and how the interior design industry interprets trends from the catwalk. Each season I look forward to seeing what the new trends will be and how they will then filter into the world of interiors. Some of these trends will last the test of time and some will date rapidly but in stating the ridiculously obvious, great timeless design will never go out of fashion!

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Til next time!

Sinéad x