Weekend Inspiration: Happy Chinese New Year

Year of the Dragon 2012 - Long Nian Da Ji

Getting back to the regular Blog Calendar, today's Weekend Inspiration is inspired by the  Chinese New Year beginning today.



As some of you may remember from my
 "25 Things You Wish You Didn't Know About Me" post last year, I am a Chinese Fire Dragon... (I mean that's my sign!).


So, I have all my fingers crossed that this year is going to be BIG! So far, it has been thankfully truly amazing so far...








But of course, knowing me, I have to have my own little spin on sharing a Chinese New Year inspired post, so I thought it would be fun to to look at all the Years of the Dragon since I was born 1976 * 1988 * 2000 * 2012 and share some of those designs & moments in fashion...


But first a little background on what the year of the dragon symbolizes and holds in store for us..

The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend, a symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power. The Oriental Dragon is regarded as divine and not the monster that we find in most tales and stories where the dragon must be found and killed. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority, and signifies success and happiness. So watch out !

To get ready for the Chinese New Year families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away any ill-fortune & make room for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper words. Traditionally, children will receive money in red paper envelopes known as hong bao simvbolizing “money warding off evil spirits” and is believed to protect the elderly from sickness and death.

So without giving too much away about my age..
Let's start with the first year of the Dragon Fashion & Interior design inspiration from 1976.

THE FIRE DRAGON 1976

1976 Norma Skurka NY Times Book on Interior Design ~ 1976 Clasic

1976 BRADFORD SOLVE DECOR PROBLEMS

Halston c. 1976 / NORMA SKURKA NEW YORK TIMES BOOK ON INTERIOR DESIGN

THE EARTH DRAGON 1988

Yves St Laurent (via Architectural Digest) / Mark Hampton in his Paris Apt 1988

AD Cover 1988 / Calvin Klein ad 1988

Arthur Elgort via House & Garden, March-1988

THE METAL DRAGON 2000



House & Garden April 2000



Japanese Vogue October 2000 / Kevin Bright house and garden Interiors by Meg Joannides

W magazine 2000/ House Garden November 2000

Hoping that this year ~ THE WATER DRAGON 2012 ~ is a year full of inspiration and huge success for you all.

If you are curious and want to know more about us dragons ~ Read this artcicle.

Also if you haven't already there is only 1 day left to post your *Lonely Window* on my facebook page for a chance to win some amazing curtains by The Curtain Exchange.
More on this post.