I'm off with the girls for a day of light post-holiday shopping. It's my mom's birthday today, so we're declaring it "girl's day out" in celebration of the event. Hard to say if anything is left out there to buy, but hopefully we'll stumble into some super terrific post-Christmas sales. So, this is just a blatant shout out to my mom: Happy Birthday! I love you! XOXO!
I'll let you know if I find Louboutins priced at the "dangerously low" level. And if I do, I'll be sure to post photos.
Can I ask you a question? Are you scooping up the designer goods you've been wanting? I mean, now that we are in what could be called "the great sale of 2008" are you jumping on the opportunity to grab that Prada, those cashmere sweaters or that fabulous classic trench that you've been putting off? I hope so. Don't go into debt to buy it, but if you've go the cash on hand I hope you are taking advantage of the gleaming upside to this economic downturn.
The NYT had a particularly interesting piece on women (and presumably men) shopping in secret. Dubbed: covert consumption. It has become (according to some) impolite to flaunt your new conquests in an economic downturn. Gauche to be seen carrying home brand name goodies in a moment in time when Wal-Mart reigns supreme.
So upscale shoppers are hosting trunk shows in their homes and flocking to online sales. In fact, my eBay auctions are on fire with people buying lovely things. The "great sale" as we may look back and call it, has placed once overpriced items at values that are hard to resist. And some of our well-heeled sisters are quietly padding their closets with furs and finery. Are you seeing more of your UPS man and less of your usual sales associates?
I wonder...are you "self gifting" this year? Are you stocking up on classics? Are you finally getting those once 'out of reach' luxury items? Are you abstaining? Have you decked your halls?
I've been keeping a secret. On my nightstand, I have the most incredible book: Timothy White's Hollywood Pinups. First of all, the book itself comes sleekly wrapped in its own case. A glossy red number with the words "Be Seduced" proudly displayed in large block letters. Just the sight of it is visually arresting. But when you open it and find it filled with page after page of exquisite photos you are hardly prepared for the effect.
Sure, every month we see sexy photos of Angelina (have you seen the dozens of pages in W of photos taken by Brad?) and even Kate (The December cover of Vanity Fair showed a barely-clad Kate nearly showing us her Winslets)... but cover images have become de rigeur. There's a certain "expected-ness" about them. Each magazine vying for attention on the shelf. I can't say I'm shocked that often (although Vanity Fair does do a decent job causing me to do double takes...). But there's something different when you assemble a collection of celebrities posing in old-school pinup style.
To be fair, the book has caused its share of controversy. Most of the complaints being that pinups in the past wore boy shorts and had far more coverage. Have they tuned into prime-time television lately? I often think my great grandmother would be shocked if she had seen the Victoria's Secret television special. Or - even more pedestrian - any episode of Gossip Girl.
Maybe I'm looking at the photos from the woman's perspective. Just think of the confidence you have to muster to take a seductive photo. The old "fake it 'til you make it" adage may hold true of acting... but posing for a photograph is different. Knowing that you have trained hair and makeup teams fretting over every last freckle. And the Photoshop wunderkinds who will airbrush out any nefarious little detail threatening to tarnish your hard earned "beauty" rep. Not to mention comments and complaints from those who say women are being objectified. Blah, blah, blah.
I'm not looking at any of that when I see this book. I see confidence when I see these photos. The moxie to say "yes" to the concept. The trust that the stylist and photographer have a vision. The sense of "self" that you must have to just go for it.... everyone should feel that sense of power and confidence. Every woman. Every person. Everyone.
So what's this about a giveaway? You know I only do these on occasion. This is a rare opportunity to win a little indulgence for yourself, a loved one or a friend (who are we kidding? It's for you, right?). And all you have to do to enter is tell me something that makes you confident. That's right. Just leave a comment telling me something you LOVE about yourself. Is it your collarbone? Your hair? Your ability to quote tax code or Shakespeare or Kant? Do you love your perfect posture? Your green thumb? Your MBA? Tell me something that you just love about yourself. I want to hear it. What makes you feel GREAT about you? Got more than one? Tell me ten things you love about you. Let's hear it.
{Fine print: To qualify, you must leave a comment telling me something about yourself that you love. Of those comments that qualify, one lucky random winner will receive a copy of the book mailed to them direct from the publisher. How's that for a gift? Comments must be left by midnight PST next Thursday. Happy holidays!!!}
{Villa del Balbianello...}
This is one of those destinations I can hardly wait to enjoy. Lombardy, Italy. Most people have heard of Lake Como (thanks to celebs like Gianni Versace and Clooney for placing it firmly in the public eye), but many don't realize that villas abound in the areas of Como, Bellagio and Lecco - all of which surround the stunning and marvelous Lake Como in the Lombardy region of Italy.
I love this quote by poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, “This lake exceeds
anything I ever beheld in beauty, with the exception of the arbutus
islands of Killarney.” If that's not enticing enough to draw you to the Lago di Como, you may need to have your electrolyte levels checked. ;)
{Clooney's lakeside Villa...}
The trip itinerary we've been following calls for us to stay at the famed Ville d'Este in Cernobbio, rated one of the Leading Hotels of the World. Hotels of this nature are in a league of their own, offering a truly five-star experience. And resorts of this nature have their time and place. But I still maintain that the only way to "know" a location is the "live" the location. And living the location typically means you don't need to worry about checking out by 11am. So let's admire some of the waterside villas and decide which one we'd most love to stay at, shall we?
{Villa Melzi...}
Somewhat off the beaten path just outside of Bellagio, Villa Melzi is worth visiting even if you don't stay there. In addition to being on an impressive structure itself, it has a park filled with rare and exotic plants that is open to the
public.Stunning, yes, but a bit formal looking for my taste.
{Photo by Garrett Nudd of Garrett Nudd Photography...}
My absolute favorite property is actually seen at the top of the post... Villa del Balbianello. In my mind, this is the quintessential Italian villa. They ochre wash, the terracotta tiled roof, arched window, ivy covered walls, a sprawling layout with large patios and terraces at multiple levels as it cascades down the hillside. The kind of property that integrates itself into the landscape so fully that you imagine nature begged the architect to interrupt it and build such an estate.
{Photo by Garrett Nudd of Garrett Nudd Photography...}
{Photo by Garrett Nudd of Garrett Nudd Photography...}
You may know it... it appeared in Ocean's Twelve and (more recently) in Casino Royale. It sits on Punta di Lavedo and is every bit as marvelous at it appeared in those movies.
And while this all may sound like wonderful news to you - I assure you that I'm disappointed. I tend to love things that are a bit undiscovered and "not yet" popular. So this amazing villa that I hope to one day own will be a bit more difficult to obtain, now that the Hollywood studios have their scope set firmly upon it. No to mention, its appearance in myriad movies gives it a bit of a "been there, done that" vibe. But I suppose if it's good enough for Daniel Craig, it's good enough for me.
And I'll certainly need a great photographer for the cover of Elle Decor once I've managed to assume ownership of the property. Hopefully Mr. Garrett won't mind taking one more trip to the region.
That's enough fun for one day. Time to console myself with a hot stone massage and some gelato. ;) It's back to the hotel and take in an afternoon spa session and a brief nap before dinner. Next stop? Milano!
Arrivederci!
For those of you just tuning in, we're on a virtual vacation of Europe in a new BMW. By accepting the "European Delivery" option, we've saved thousands of dollar on our fabulous new whip and are using our savings to take a fabulous journey. After a brief stay in Munich, we've left Germany, crossed the border into Austria through the tiny principality of Liechtenstein and are now destined to arrive in Lucerne, Switzerland by mid-morning...
After an exciting city like Munich, I often find it difficult to pass much time in a quaint village. But Lucerne does offer some interesting things. Notably, the Picasso Museum or Am Rhyn-Haus, which is more about his life than about painted works of art. The body of work seen here is actually 200 photographs taken by photographer David Douglas Duncan. You'll also find a unique collection of
ceramics and metal sculptures created by Picasso.
But it's really the photography that will overwhelm you. David's photos show a side of Picasso most of us never consider. Playful, energetic and (at least in this photo) downright funny. Sometimes we focus so much on the art that we don't stop to think about the creator behind it. I love the idea of spending an hour or so peeking into this window of the art world. And when we make this trip I will definitely not miss the opportunity to view this collection.
But really, days 3 and 4 are so exciting I can't wait any longer. We're off to Lake Como, Italy. Home to George Clooney and so many other fortunate souls. The itinerary calls for a two night stay at Villa d'Este, a "princely 16th century estate surrounded by 10 acres of private park on the shores of Lake Como." Sign me up. I am there!
So for now I'm signing off. Tomorrow we will take a speedboat to admire the breathtaking private villas surrounding the lake. And after we've sauntered through the gardens and had our fill of espresso, we're off to the silk factories just outside of town. For now... thank you for joining me on my virtual vacation. More to come this weekend!
Arrivederci!
We can't possibly visit Eastern Europe without donning some fur, some ski goggles, and adding a bit of intrigue to our apparel, now can we? So before we head off to Switzerland, we need to do a bit of shopping. First, we'll need to have the quintessential white apres ski outfit (who cares if we hit the slopes or not).
And to make sure we feel a bit like international spies on a mission, I'll add this Moncler quilted coat to the mix. I can see Angelina wearing this in Mr & Mrs Smith...
And these Celine ski boots ought to go well with everything we've packed.
And so as to avoid looking like total posers, we'll need some skis (these lovely Chanels ought to do the trick)...
The little one will fit right in in this sweet little Burberry with fur trim (isn't this cute????).
Next up... Switzerland, Lucerne.... and more adventure ;)
Why, you may ask, are you going to save thousands on this BMW if you accept European delivery? Let me explain...once you're done with your tour of Europe's finest luxury hotels BMW can then ship the car back to the states as a "used" car, thus saving the fees normally levied on brand new luxury automobiles. Smart? You bet.
We've already decided that the next time we buy a car, we'll be picking up the BMW in Munich. It may seem like an extravagant thing to do (given out current economic climate), but incredibly it is actually a clever way to save thousands of dollars on a luxury automobile. You read that right... you'll save thousands. Not to mention, you'll get a chance to to test that baby out on the Autobahn and spend five to six days jaunting in and out of 5-star hotels while you get acquainted with your new car. Got your attention? Okay... let's go....
Day one, we arrive in Munich after flying directly from the US on Lufthansa (your companion will fly free... a nice perk of the BMW experience). You'll be driven to the famed BMW Welt, where you'll go on a tour of this acclaimed factory and your custom ordered BMW will be revealed to you. (Yeah, baby!) You'll be able to take in both the prestigious heritage of the rand and its modern facility, all while bursting with anticipation of taking that bad boy out on the road.
Okay, papers are signed, maps are in hand and we've had our coffee. Let's head off to our first destination, the Mandarin Oriental, Munich and drop off our things before exploring the city.
I should warn you, My first order of business, however, would be lunch.
If you know me, you know I'm always hungry. I'm no beer & brats
kind of girl, so prepare to sidestep those activities on this journey.
Something tells me there will be no shortage of excellent Bavarian
cuisine at one of the many sidewalk cafes nearby. So we'll head out on
foot in search of something special. (Don't worry, we've got plenty of
drive time ahead of us...)
One last stop to St. Peter's St. Peter's Church....Incredibly, it was built in A.D. 11, and bears the distinction of being
the oldest parish church in Munich. Hopefully we're all set for a climb
to the top for the spectacular view of the city's architecture. The
church has a tower boasting the best view of the city, but there's no
elevator. But the 300 steps we'll climb will be well worth the view of
Old City of Munich. Touristy, to be sure... but you just can't go to
Munich without this experience.
After the long flight, the new car and the great experience that is Munich, it hits us just how tired we really are. So we saunter back to the Mandarin in preparation for the amazing journey ahead of us. After all, tomorrow is a big day...
Until tomorrow...Gute Nacht!
