nye fabulosity

Chanel, Pre-Fall 2009

"Fashion fades, only style remains the same." - Coco Chanel

I hope your NYE ensemble is as fabulous as this.
Cheers!

more parisian dreams

Paris Out of Hand - A Wayward Guide by Karen Elizabeth Gordon

As if I needed another reason to dream about Paris, where I plan to spend a portion of next winter in celebration of my 30th, I received this thoughtful and precious book from my good friend Lindsey and can't seem to put it down. So cleverly written in a dramatically different tone than your standard, boring travel guide. Simply charming.

Introduction tidbits...
"Out of hand, yet in your hand, dear reader, this is Paris by heart and Paris par hasard, a hopalong travelogue around the city of shadows and the city of light....Lustily iconoclastic, this guidebook gone amok licks and undresses Paris, who is herself on a journey of self-discovery, admiring her own reflection in the Seine - startled to discover your face looking back at her. For you matter very much in this book, and will not only find your place in it, but also make places of your own. The Paris sauntered, eaten, embraced, renewed, adored, and ever so out of hand is, for all its fabulous dimensions, details, and creatures, a city grounded in her own history, literature, and art."

Tres bien.

joyeux noël

Paris in December

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!!
xo

cubicle fun

The Tinsel Lounge

My submission in the department decorating contest at work.
We have our own bar, a lighted tinsel tree, and disco Christmas tunes playing in the background.
Smashing!

remembrance

Christmas at the Cemetery by Michael Crowe

host/hostess goodies

With every fabulous holiday party invite, I find myself stressing over what my host/hostess gift will be (and what I will wear, of course). I don't know if you do the same, or if I'm just extra obsessive about finding the perfect thing. Either way, here are a few of my holiday host/hostess gift favorites...

Pottery Barn Crystal Ornament
A great personalized gift for those parties you know about in advance.

Paperwhites
One of my favorite Christmas traditions. Beautiful and classic with a heavenly scent.

The Veuve

You can't go wrong with this yellow beaut as your entrance fee.

See's Candies
A tradition in my family and an all-time favorite.

Henri Bendel Candles

These candles are fantastic and they last forever. Amber is my fave for the holiday season.

hello winter

The fabulous Boboniaa

un conte de noel

If you are looking for a great Christmas film, look no further!
Un Conte de Noel is a fantastic tale about the trials and tribulations of a family and how the holiday brings them all together, or not.
Joyeux Noel!

jay-z style...part II

Although I previously posted about the impeccably dressed Jay-Z, I felt another post was in order. Every time I catch a glimpse of him, I am inspired. The man knows how to dress to perfection with flawless taste and an edgy sophistication. So well done!

holiday treasure

Made by my very talented friend, Jeannie, this Mer Ger original apron is quite the treasure. Exquisitely made with beautiful fabrics, charming details, and lots of style.
Merci Jeannie, merci!

ulbricht love

My mom & I took our annual Christmas trip to Roger's Gardens nursery last night and it was fabulous. We've gone every year since I was ten, and it is always one of the highlights of the season for me. The atmosphere is festive with beautifully decorated trees and plenty of treasures to ooh and ah over.
This year, we discovered the Ulbricht Nutcrackers. Makers of fine German hand carved nutcrackers for the last 80 years, the Ulbricht family artistry is one of a kind. Perfect in every way.
I sense a collection coming on...

more polyvore

shower me with sequins

Between frantically searching for festive party ensembles and feeling the need to shine, I've had little time to think about much else.
If only I could look and feel like her...all of my prayers would be answered.

Paula Gellibrand by Cecil Beaton, 1928

via The Ugly Earring

better the second time around

The flannel shirt

One trend revival that I'm not missing out on this winter.

neverending fun

And another reason to sit in front of my laptop for hours.
I heart Polyvore!
A website for mixing and matching images from the web. Easy to use and perfect for creating design and fashion inspiration boards.
My first attempts...

5 o'clock on the swatch watch

Swatch 007 Villains Collection Gold Watch

Christmas wish list:
#1 - Gold Watch
Must remind me of my dad's old watch with the stretchy gold band, circa 1980.

vincent

Edna St. Vincent Millay

First Fig
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -
It gives a lovely light!


Second Fig
Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand;
Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!

- by Edna St. Vincent Millay


Thanks for the intro Ambika!

dear santa

D&G Mid Calf Boot

I promise to be good next year.

my cup runeth over

Marni's Spring 2009 collection could quite possibly fill my inspiration cup for the rest of the year and on into next.
A flawless collection containing perfectly executed combinations of patterns, colors, layers, and textures, all tied up in an exquisite little bow.
I will wear each look in my dreams and hope I never wake-up.

P.S. As if the collection itself weren't enough, the first photo features my signature color combination. Mon amour!

i heart art....lindsay!

Our friend, and resident art expert, Lindsay returns this week with another insightful I Heart Art!

Witold Wojtkiewicz

Garden Party, 1907, Private Collection

The turn of the century was a hard time for the Polish people; it was rife with political, social, and economic instability. The Russian revolution of 1905 had sharp repercussions on Poland, weakening the cruel Polish Kingdom, strengthening the nationalistic movement and acting as the epilogue to the nineteenth century. Witold Wojtkiewicz portrayed the vigor and frailty of human existence by pairing a sense of the grotesque with a satirical edge. Often incorporating marionettes and carnivalesque figures, his works seem to straddle the cusp between the ordinary life and an imagined Other. While his earlier works, such as Rozpustnica, contain distorted figures that are almost caricatures of human emotions, his later works exhibit a mature serenity and awareness. In Garden Party, the solemn twilight procession of near-faceless figures suggests a ritual voyage from day-lit reality to the dreamworld of Wojtkiewicz's mind. Wojtkiewicz melds his fascination with childhood, the sadness of human existence and the solemnity of ceremony, three subjects that he continually explores, in order to probe the human experience. He informatively contrasts illusion with truth, appearance with inner meaning, late nineteenth century sensibilities with grotesque figures from Polish fairytales.

Rozpustnica, 1904, Muzeum Narodowe, Warsaw

Cyrk II, 1905-06, Muzeum Narodowe, Warsaw

giving thanks

Thanksgiving restaurant in Paris

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
Have a wonderful holiday!

I'm thankful for you, readers and fellow bloggers, and for Blogspot for giving me a space for my nonsense.

giving thanks, veggie style

Delicata Squash and Roasted Mushrooms with Thyme

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them. - Chinese Proverb

Save a turkey and eat Tofurky!
Tasty vegetarian holiday recipes here, here, and here.

For those of you who are vegetarians, or have hosted a veggie or two for Thanksgiving, you will relate to this article.

style icon....nancy reagan

Red Room, 1981

Forever graceful and polished, Nancy Reagan is one of the fashion greats.
From her signature Reagan red, exquisitely tailored suits, pretty bow blouses, and mastering of classic Park Avenue elegance, her approach to fashion offers endless inspiration.

2008

Is it just me, or does she get even cooler with age?

wang wins

Alexander Wang is chosen as the fifth CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award winner!
Vena Cava and Albertus Quartus were named runner's up.
More here.

love muffins

Why leaving home is always so hard to do.

a trench coat and a hat

Inspiration: Detective Chic

warm fuzzies from yokoo

Yokoo Cilantro and Grass Remix Warmer

Yokoo Minnie Bow in Grey

Yokoo Braided Spice Chain Necklace

Yokoo Oatmeal Cowl

Her photos are equally as fantastic as her beautiful knits.