Last week I was at The Bay flagship store on Queen Street in downtown Toronto with a friend who was looking for the perfect LBD (little black dress). As we made our way up the escalators to the 3rd floor, Ladies Fashions, I noticed that there was a hubbub of activity going on and the smell of perfume in the air. We soon discovered that the commotion was that the man himself, Oscar De La Renta was in the store to celebrate the launch of his new fragrance ‘Live in Love’. Sitting on a small stage in The Room (women’s couture apparel), Oscar was interviewed by none other than Jeanne Beker of Fashion Television. There was a lot of excitement in the crowd as the legendary designer spoke about life and being in love with yourself. Great words of wisdom but I soon broke away from the crowd of onlookers as Jeanne and Oscar continued on. With everyone attending the presentation, the rest of the 3rd floor was mine to discover. And what did I discover?? Outside the change rooms for ‘waiting’ friends (or husbands) to sit on was a Ball Chair. Designed in 1966 by Eero Aarnio, the Ball Chair or the Globe Chair as it is sometimes called was an idea that Aarnio came up with when he moved into his first home and needed a proper big chair that was very unique in design. “After some drawing I noticed that the shape of the chair had become so simple that it was merely a ball. I pinned the full-scale drawing on the wall and sat in the chair to see how my head would move when sitting inside it. Being the taller one of us I sat in the chair and my wife drew the course of my head on the wall. This is how I determined the height of the chair. Since I aimed at a ball shape, the other lines were easy to draw, just remembering that the chair would have to fit through a doorway”. Interesting….out of necessity comes invention. And a groovy looking one too!
Image 1 via Modmissy Image 2 via eero-aarnio.com
MODMISSY 
How was it?! It looks flatter than the original design and on a different tilt. Does the inside have the same cushion aspect? Next time I am in Toronto I will check this out if it mimics. Many, many years ago I would stroll The Room; it was a learning experience for me on many levels – design, fabric, presentation, clientele … I got a Weatherall coat there, brown reversing to beige, and loved it for its versatility – have a photo of me wearing it on the beach at Port Stanley on a cool autumn day and it daily walked The Beaches in Toronto with the kids. It was on sale for half-price and a surprise further 50% reduction on that day. Yes, I have pleasant memories of The Bay. Thanks! And maybe I will stroll there again and sit with Eero.
I’ve just had a wonderful evening reading the many informative, creative and fun posts on your blog. Great job!!
The ball chair is a statment in simplicity. The circle being the most calming of geometric shapes. Possibly because it has no beginning or end.
With that said my first thought when I laid eyes in it was that although a different shape, it reminded me of the ‘orgasmitron’ from a Woody Allen movie!
The ball chair lifestyle is a vote for individual health as well as the future sustainability of the earth’s resources, healthy versions that compare with the style, quality, and price of conventional products, there are many advantage in it.