This is one of those amazing images I snagged from somewhere online. I wish I could give due credit... my suspicion (based upon the file name) is that it's a California Closet photo. All I know with any certainty is that it is SUBLIME, just like the spectacular day outside. On that note...get out there and go play!
Have a lovely weekend! XOXOX!
Hey Dallasites... busy this weekend? Take a few moments to swing by Highland Park Village to see the lovely Cynthia Rowley. She'll be rolling into town quite literally, via her "shop on wheels" event. Expect to see her frill frocks and festive footwear in her outfitted mobile boutique parked next to Vince (across from Starbucks). What to expect? The complete spring 2010 RTW collection from head to toe, even eyewear.
Why do you care? Because the weather is going to be absolutley perfect this weekend. Also - Cynthia dresses women like the feminine creatures they ought to be. Her florals are not overwhelming, her heels are always graceful and her hemlines are short enough to show off those legs. I can't say I'm head over heels for her S/S 2010 line, but there are a few very pretty pieces and she's definitely offering some pretty colors. I love the iris-hued number above paired with nude heels and a simple clutch. Just one look at the model's legs and I'm looking online to buy the Poetic Waxing kit.
Even if Mrs. Rowley isn't there herself you can paw through the goods, grab yourself a Frappuccino and pop into Vince, Chanel and D. Porthault to console yourself. Any way you slice it, you'll have a lovely afternoon.
Starts today and goes through Sunday. Get details via her blog.Hapy shopping, ladies!
Ample seating: I love the image of me and my gal pals laughing and getting ready to go out. I can even see me sipping my morning coffee and talking to my husband as he gets ready for the day.
Mirrors: That floor-to-ceiling vintage mirror on the left will be perfect not just for me, but for my little daughter as she tries to walk in my heels and puts one of my bags over her arm. With any luck, there's a twin to this mirror on the other side of that zebra chair.
Lighting: while my preference is a room with windows for natural light and circulation, I love the ambient glow of the chandelier in this space. The room has an ethereal glow that promises to make you look great in that bikini but will also let you know if you need to touch up your lip gloss. Love that.
Contrast: The black shelving - while beautiful - looks like a nightmare to dust. I actually love the Mariah Carey method better (creamy white shelving), but the black is very, very glamorous! As long as your clothing is light and bright, this does a great job of showcasing your wardrobe. New Yorkers beware: if you have a sea of black on black apparel, you'll want to go for lighter toned cases. Also since I'm so fanatical about things being clean, the black wall units are a definte no. The last thing I want to think about when I enter my closet is cleaning. It should be a "happy place" not a space filled with tension.
Space: will you look at the size of this thing? HUGE! Large enough to house several tables, at least three chairs, a massive chandelier, a dressing table, an untold number of Chrissy Lou's and frilly frocks and STILL have room left over. I've seen studio apartments smaller than this.
Flowers: See the bouquet on the left table? Love that. Again - this is best with some sunlight streaming in.
Lucite: the legs on that console might be Lucite. Hard to say, but I can see that the little round table in the fireground is Lucite. It just adds a nice unexpected touch. I'm adding that to my "ultimate closet must have" list.
Clean palette: I am in love with the golden, creamy color on the walls and the honey-hued floor. The walls might even have a hint of shimmer to them. It's absolutely beautiful and lets the focus be on the beautiful things inside of the space. Very glam.
Seating: This room has it all... a slipper chair, a reclaimed Bergere chair and a Klismos-back chair with zebra print. On one end of the spectrum you've got classic Hollywood Regency and on the other edgy and over-the-top design. It makes me want to fill the chairs and the space with characters as diverse as the furnishings themselves.
On that note I'll sign off. But tell me... what characteristics would your dream closet possess?
Net-a-porter has added video to the product pages. Rather than the standard "click to enlarge" feature (which, sadly is now gone on products with this new feature) you may watch a quick video of a model walking out onto a white stage, turning, shifting and retreating. I have to say, it does give a terrific sense of how the item really looks. I still prefer the click to enlarge feature myself.
{Above dresses by Marchesa, Versace and Badgley Mischka.}
While you're there, stop by the pieces in the Fashion for Relief collection. Here's the scoop:
NET-A-PORTER.COM is joining forces with Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief 2010 Superstars Walk The Runway to help raise much needed funds for mothers and babies in Haiti. This year, Fashion for Relief will be held in aid of The White Ribbon Alliance - a charity which seeks to protect the health and rights of women around the world. There will be two Fashion for Relief runway shows taking place in New York and London in February, bringing together celebrities from the worlds of fashion, music, film, sports and society. Both will feature clothes from designers including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Dolce & Gabbana. What's more, NET-A-PORTER will be selling all of these glamorous designer clothes from March 15 for two weeks only, with all net proceeds going to The White Ribbon Alliance.
So go ahead... rock that frock and feel good about it!
There's a reason some things cost more to produce. Frette linens may be many things, low-priced isn't one of them. But I'll let you in on a secret... you can snap up a set of fresh linens for yourselves this coming week courtesy of Rue La La. That's right. You + a set of supple, soft, luxurious linens = many nights of restful sleep. In my opinion, you can't put a price on something as precious as beauty sleep. Sale starts this week on the 25th.
High thread count sateen not your thing? DDF skincare goes on sale tomorrow morning, your opportunity to get a bargain on European Yachting on the SeaDream happens Tuesday, Michael Kors sales happen Wednesday... let's just say it's a full week. If you need an invite, here you go! Happy shopping! XOXO
I'm going to need one of these at some point. A chic little white Vespa. Last year I pondered the idea of a pink one, but white will go with anything and happens to be one of my favorite colors for accessories, cars and the like. Speaking of colors.... while I don't consider myself to be very "green" at all, it is noteworthy to mention that the Vespa gets about 95 mpg. Over the course of a few months that's quite the rainy day fund you'll have amassed. Just think of all the extra espresso and shoes you'll be able buy with that. Not convinced? Check out the Vespanomics info on the site.
All that aside, I really do want one of these. I can't wait to get one. Ideally, I'd live in Rome with Bianca (that's going to be the name of my white Vespa... sorry for not introducing you sooner) and we'll zip along the Via Condotti, stopping periodically to sit at a cafe or visit with friends. Ahhh... la dolce vita!
But moving back to the present: if you buy one of these babies before the 31st of March you'll enjoy $0 Down/ $0 Payments/ 0% Interest. Yes, you read that correctly. Vroom vroom, baby! Vroom vroom!
There is, however, hope for the other 99.9% of us... we can visit. :)
Rue La La is offering bargain pricing today on the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. Or, as I like to call it, heaven on earth. Here's the description via the Ritz's web site:
Escape to one of the world’s finest luxury resorts – The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Consistently ranked among the world’s premier travel destinations, this alluring Southern California vacation spot provides the perfect getaway for the discriminating guest. Restore your spirit in the cleansing waters of our brand-new spa. Enjoy innovative seafood cuisine in our ocean-view restaurant. Treat yourself to a romantic California coast vacation in our richly appointed accommodations in a striking oceanfront setting.
My response? Yes, please. Where do I sign and who do I pay? Surf, swim, spa, sleep, shop, dine... you name it... the Ritz offers it on a silver platter. Boutique opens TODAY and packages (I'm certain) will be limited. Please note, I'll be first in line trying to grab my little sliver of borrowed time at the pristine beachfront resort. Boutique opens at 11 am EST today. That's right... today. Bust out your Amex and I'll race you to the checkout!
{editorial note: if you want to get a pre-game warmup, check out the R-C site to see regular rates and packages. The one that stands out to me is the Spa package with Ocean View suite. It's $645/night for the dates I'm previewing. Quite steep, although the package does include one 60-minute spa treatment per day. Sounds lovely. I'll be curious to see if the Rue La La even lists the same packages and what their pricing looks like. Good luck shopping!}
In light of all this, today's surprise sleep-in was a welcome surprise. I felt rested, recharged and a wee bit indulgent for slumbering on the first day of the week. And this being early spring, I arose to the sound of birds chirping and the beauty of light streaming in through my bedroom blinds. When I describe it like that, there is a bit of a fairly tale spin to it.
So imagine my delight when I discovered these beautiful boudoir images at Savio Firmino. The Florence-based design company was established in 1941 near the Santo Spirito district. If you've been to this area beyond the River Arno, you recognize it as a bustling are filled with specialized artisans and busy workshops. Standing on cobblestone streets peering through the filmy, paned glass windows at the artists lost in their work it is easy to lose your place in time. It's as though you're flung back into the Renaissance. It's a magical feeling.
As generations pass, that craftsmanship and skill is often lost. Such is not the case with Savio Formino's company. Named after the comany's founder, the company (now located in Scandicci) is internationally recognized as a brand leader in interior design. His passion and attention to detail is still visible today in their beautiful collections of bed and bath furnishings. Grab your espresso, have a seat and prepare to lose a bit of time as you peruse their site.
The next time I sleep in and wake to such an enchanted day, I can only hope I'm surrounded by beauty like that seen in the images above. One might be encouraged to slumber for a bit longer every day. :)
While there is still a chill in the air some days, it's clear we're nearing day after day of warm weather. I for one can't wait. The good news is that you can still enjoy a good deal of layering in your outfits. You simply need to rethink your approach and start with thinner layers. Most importantly, don't forget the accessories. You can pile them on with abandon like this fair haired beauty above. Notice her jewelry has an air of edge and funk to it - but the rest of her appearance screams classic beauty. Fresh hair, clean makeup, natural pink lips, manicured nails, classic trench. There's nothing bohemian about anything in her appearance except for the excessive hardware about her neck and earlobes. That, dear people, is fabulous French style at it's best.
{Image courtesy of the Sartorialist}
As much as we love to travel, we've still never ventured to any amazing Asian countries. We wax on about visiting our friends in high fashion Tokyo, toy with the idea of seeing the great wall, discuss the potential thrills of shopping in Shanghai. While all of those sound amazing - and will occur in the future - I never thought Beijing needed to be added ot the list. Based upon the luxury hotels in Beijing I'm finding I might be selling this bustling city short.
For those in need of a little pampering, the spa takes up an entire floor of the towering hotel, offering a calm respite from the busy streets below. If the photos are any indication, the Beijing financial district's Ritz-Carlton is easily one of the best. But don't take my word for it. The who's who of style and travel publications have all listed this as a truly luxurious treat. Take a peek for yourself!
Recognize the vista above? It's Jade Mountain, the backdrop for last week's Bachelor finale. Fortunately, you can go there on your own without the cheesy 'reality' (cough cough) show entourage. Despite its now infamous tie to prime time television, the St. Lucia resort looks like a sensational place to visit.
Here's the more official rundown:
Why am I sharing this with you? Jetsetter.com is offering us the opportunity to live like kings and queens at this pampering retreat - at a fraction of the normal cost. Check out the site for more details!Jade Mountain is carved from a steep hill with unimpeded views of the iconic twin Pitons of St. Lucia. Rock formations thrust into the sky like abstract sculptures, while tiny traditional fishing villages buzz with subdued energy. It's a secluded place to Zen and zone out, whether at the spa or in one of the individually designed suites that architect/owner Nick Troubetzkoy dubs “sanctuaries.” Guests come to Jade Mountain for a romantic escape — or to destress in a place that feels like another world.
