{colour inspiration: golden coral & morning sky}

. . . a softer, subtler, more romantic version of the classic combination of red and turquoise -- golden coral and morning sky -- and whether a bouquet of peonies at an afternoon dinner party or a delicate silk blouse against luxurious bed linens -- the intermingling of the two feels like a rush of spring air, billowing past curtains and fluttery skirts and bright petals in carved vases, ushering in long-awaited days of summer . . .


{images: style me pretty; katie fogarty by nicolas moore for flair, june 2011 via fgr}

{fashion stylist: fer decartaya}

. . . crazy for the perfect styling, by london-based fashion stylist fer decartaya, in these hopelessly lovely shots by photographer xavi gordo -- high-waisted and romantic lace shorts paired with structured handbags, stylishly messy side-braids and thick-rimmed glasses, delicate seafoam silk chiffon blouses cinched with ultra-thin teal-coloured belts, and the beautiful layering of tartan and ruffles, . . .






{alexandra vittekova by xavi gordo, styled by fer decartaya via miss at la playa}

{the promise of things to come}

. . . in all the busy-ness of the past few weeks and ever-enchanting pre-holiday excitement, had barely realized a new month had quietly arrived and if truth be told, must confess am often the tiniest bit more fond of september and october and all the blustery autumn promises they bring -- the golden morning light and magic of turning leaves, days in light trenches and evenings that still linger -- november, however, is often imagined with thoughts of overcast skies and chilly rains, and once the last of the leaves has fallen, cloudy days that end too soon . . . and yet, november has its own promises: nights wrapped in mohair and wool tartan blankets, pretty cashmere gloves with delicate crystal buttons, warm, crackling fires and the intoxicating romance of candlelight on evenings in, and most of all, the beautiful anticipation of the coming holiday season . . .

{p.s.} also new today: red wine & ripe cranberry

{images: 1 - mostly likely atlanta bartlett via tumblr; 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 - photography by david prince via aubrey road; flickr via julia}

{runway inspiration: monique lhuillier, new york}

. . . a longstanding love affair with monique lhuillier for as long as can remember, and couldn't possibly choose between such a stunning array of beautiful things from the spring 2011 collection, and so, not one, but two glimpses, the first, strewn in magnolias on silk and chiffon and belted in gold . . .

{style.com}

{décor inspiration: a sense of grandeur}

. . . adore the idea of enveloping the walls of a small space in deep charcoal hues and positively filling every corner with perfectly ornate and beautifully embellished details -- chandeliers and velvet, walk-in closets and wine cellars, silk curtains and tufted headboards and wonderful french antiques -- to create a certain romance, an old-world charm with a luxurious sense of grandeur . . .

{1,000 square foot bungalow of designer & stylist lizzie carney; photography by bjorn wallander for country living, scans by shelter}

{runway inspiration: luca luca, new york}

. . . pretty prints and delicate fabrics, soft silhouettes and romantic upswept hair, fluttery sleeves and coral lips -- utterly adore luca luca's spring collection, which feels like cocktails by the water's edge at sunset . . .

{images: luca luca via style.com}

{style inspiration: woven straw + hermès}

. . . have always favoured soft leather handbags, and more so as the days fall silently shorter each day . . .



. . . but this summer, inspired by the runways and the south of france, have been carrying around a charming straw handbag {above} from a local wicker shop tied with a silk hèrmes scarft and traipsing around town picking up pretty things here and there and bouquets of pale pink roses and whatever the desires of the afternoon, feeling as if every day were a picnic . . .

{images: bottega veneta via a glamorous little side project; straw handbag and hermès silk scarf by p. & this is glamorous with an iphone}

{thoughts on a rainy afternoon}

. . . a drizzly, foggy afternoon on one of those weeks where a million things are happening at once, and today is e-mails, projects, deadlines and out the door for a late lunch, but wanted to say a quick hello -- and shall return later today with some perfectly exciting news . . .

hope you're having a lovely thursday,
xo

{p.s.} have been obsessed with florals lately

{image: scan, photography by polly wreford for easy elegance by atlanta bartlett}

{colour inspiration: tea rose & roman coffee}

. . . quite adore the idea of soft and subtle shades of pink as a neutral -- in yards and yards of dramatic silk, side-by-side in velvet or the leather of a perfect pair of flats -- paired with crisp white, luxe gold or the warm tones of roman coffee, shades of tea rose couldn't be more perfect for spring . . .

{images: 1 - purple area; 2 - high fashion home; 3 - fleuravenue via lovely clusters}

{white silk-chiffon + the winner is . . .}

. . . has been quite a while and with party dresses, dinner parties and a brand new year, hadn't a chance to announce the winner of the fun & exciting c+k design session give-away: a warm congratulations to ariel from santa monica, who needs help planning her upcoming wedding -- congratulations, ariel!

{image: a glamorous little side project}

{fashion inspiration: caroline seikaly}

. . . a happy discovery of pretty, silky, lacy, whispers dancing about collarbones and bare shoulders . . .



{p.s. more at the side project}

{images: caroline seikaly via erin ever after + seven eight}

{happy monday + a give-away!}

Good morning! After a weekend of dinner dates, sunlit walks along the waterfront and a little champagne, ready for a fun and busy week -- hope your weekend was lovely!

Crazy excited about today's give-away: an ultra-chic and summer-perfect jet black charmeuse jumpsuit from chickdowntown!

Wile away balmy summer nights in this sexy strapless jumpsuit of the softest shimmer of silk by ABS by Allen B. Schwartz, whose collections are worn by New York and L.A. fashionistas like Jennifer Hudson, Natalie Portman and Mischa Barton . . .

To enter, {click here} to visit the chickdowntown website, then leave a comment below.

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

{p.s.} facebook + twitter {+ tig twitter}

* a winner will be randomly selected after Monday, July 6, 2009; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include it with your comment for notification -- contest open to readers including international

{feels like spring}

Fallen for the amazingly lovely soft lavender silk curtains and streaming sunlight in this Parisian bedroom . . .

. . . and these quietly beautiful rooms that feel like Spring . . .

{p.s.} silkscreen journal give-away continues below

{images: 1 - the paris apartment; 2 - Perfect English by Ros Byam Shaw, photography by Chris Tubbs via the city sage; 2 - romo fabrics via apartment therapy}

{colour inspiration: daffodil silk}

Sometimes all it takes to bring a new, ultra-chic energy into a room is a few sun-drenched accessories in shades of canary and daffodil . . .

Have much more fun at work {above} with a Ray and Charles Eames Soft Pad Chair, comfortably beautiful in happy yellow leather.

A vibrant painting {this one is by Andrew Spence}, an Eero Aarnio Cognac chair, and cushions from Marimekko bring a sense of play to a modern, all-white bedroom.

Drift off with elegantly blissful dreams in a Parisienne bed upholstered in daffodil silk. {Ochre bedside lamp.}

{images 1+3: photography by Mel Yates, image 2: photography by Douglas Friedman; Livingetc. April 2008}