Ode to la silhouette

You need to know: I have a small addiction to antique cut silhouettes. For years, I’ve clung to an inspirational tear-out from the iconic Southern Accents (sniff), back issues of which still fill a great big apple green Macbeth tray on our coffee table. I treated said page like a dictum on how I should use them design-wise . . . like I wasn’t allowed to put up a trio of them, oh no. Instead,  I spent a decade sidling in and out of antique malls, snatching any that caught my eye and were signed/authentic/hand-cut, and safely stowing each silhouette away until I felt I owned enough to splay them across the wall behind our master bedroom headboard.

Bless my heart.

Moving on, the obsession hasn’t subsided. A few nights ago whilst out on a girl date, my new friend suggested I check out the latest Mike Miller collection at West Elm . . . thus fueling the fire. Have you seen it? Check it out:

Cool.

Isn’t this you and your bestie (you/your sister, you/your mom)?

The perfect gift for groomsmen…

Cuh-ute on a little armless slipper chair.

Though masculine and super-clean in their mock-up, I think it’s still a sharp presentation and could translate to almost any home.

NOW. If you’re only up for the classics/vintage/real deal, a few tips:

1.) Click here for a little history and origin if you will.

2.) Avoid buying them unframed, as finding the perfect tiny old frames is a hard row to hoe.

3.) Commission a local silhouette artist in your town to have your loved ones (even pets) done, like we did here.

4.) Try to find only those which are hand-cut, ie not drawn on or painted on, as those tend to be either modern, poorly done, or sorta funky. The flip side: if funky is your thing, then buy it. My sister always says it’s about what you love; ie, it doesn’t have to be infinitely collectible to belong in your life.

Dig on this:

and die over this: all rounds!

Ok, I’ll stop now.

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