{spring things: april showers}

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain."

~author unknown

. . . happily, there have been more sunny days than rain so far this spring, but there are no illusions that the rain will not fall, {for it is april, after all}, only the eternal optimism of may flowers . . . and when the rain does come, we shall greet it with red lipstick and our best umbrellas, and dance if we must . . .


{image: editorial, perdue dans manhattan; elise crombez by mikael jansson for vogue paris september 2003; fashion editor, anastasia barbieri via pretty stuff}

{have an enchanting weekend + sunday links}

. . . the midst of a lovely weekend filled with long dinners and late nights and a few world cup festivities as well, and holding my own in dresses and heels, a glass of champagne amidst a sea of pints . . . also hoping to find time for the important things -- for handwritten letters on elegant stationery, e-mails to old friends and long distance telephone calls, for bouquets of roses and morning cups of coffee and most of all, a little time together . . .

thanks so much for always taking a few moments to visit and say hello, for all the fun tweets, warm thoughts and wonderful comments -- wishing you a positively enchanting weekend . . .

hope it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{a few lovely links:}
* travel: hotel delos, france
* at the office: light & lucite
* wedding inspiration: french deco
* seaside: summertime scallops
* storage inspiration: on display
* art in the everyday: a beautiful sign
* like a fairytale: matthew williamson
* architecture: room with a view
* editorial: on gilded wing

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* two lovely things: champagne & lace
* currently reading: lonny issue five
* runway: erin fetherston one & two
* interior design: pink stripes & yellow pom poms
* hello & valentino peeptoes
* colour inspiration: august sunrise & bits of gold
* blog inspiration: paris in shades of blue

{and new for the weekend:}
* street style: captivating capes
* perfectly ornate: carved mirror & console
* colour inspiration: olive & dusky taupe

{images: 1 - a glamorous little side project; 2 - ~elena}

{have a magical weekend}

. . . spending a little time away in the countryside, but a quick hello to wish you a perfectly wonderful weekend -- thanks for being so lovely and hope it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{a few lovely links from around & about:}
* home accessories: vintage brass
* inspiration board: lily of the valley {via lovely}
* at the office: a stylish wood mouse
* for the love of: books, books, books
* cute, cute: a mini pony
* obsessed with: this wallpaper {design*sponge via twitter}
* lovely, lovely: more wallpaper {layers & layers via twitter}
* summertime: wicker
* pretty packaging: tea time
* photography: hazy days of summer & here
* & most of all: stars

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* like a fairytale: flounces of organza & flutters of silk
* colour inspiration: petal pink & french grey
* summertime: basket handbags
* perfect elegance: smokey violet & herringbone floors
* styling inspiration: fantastically french
* runway & backstage: christian dior
* beautifully ornate: grand ceilings

{for the weekend, two new:}
* inspiration: summer, summer, summer
* two lovely things: entryways

. . . and of course, until tuesday to enter the diamond give-away . . .

{image: photography by terry richardson, vogue paris august 2006, styled by emmanuelle alt}

{inspiration: summer afternoon}

"Summer afternoon -- Summer afternoon . . . the two most beautiful words in the English language."

~ Henry James

. . . can hardly contain the floods of happiness on brightly beautiful days and now that it's headstrong into summer, have been more hopelessly drawn than usual to beachside things: bare shoulders and tousled, sun-kissed strands, shimmery golden skin and strappy high-heeled sandals -- and whether beachside or poolside -- pure languidness and sunlight all around . . .

{images: a glamorous little side project}

{colour inspiration: gold}

. . . always in love with all things gold, and after covering a cocktail table in gold-leaf in early spring, even more drawn to its elegant shimmer, especially as gilded accents on walls and along ceilings, and on luxuriously beautiful carved sofas . . .

{p.s.} the fourth guest post for lucky magazine can be viewed here

{images: 1 - fendi ad, elle decoration uk march 2010; kate moss by mario testino, vogue paris january 2006 via fashion gone rogue}

{two lovely things: white + silver}

. . . have always adored white with gold, never fully considering white and silver -- that is -- until happening upon these perfect pairings of a beautifully ornate mirror & a tiny metallic lampshade and crisp bed linens & a shimmering sequined pillow . . .

{p.s.}
* more: two lovely things
* ornate mirrors: here & here
* pretty, pretty: headboards

{images: 1 - editorial: yves forever, photography by alasdair mclellan for vogue paris, stylist: jane how via tfs; 2 - tony hutchinson}

{inspiration: garance doré + vogue paris}

. . . adore this scrapbook layout of photographs intermingled with garance doré's wonderful sketches and beautiful handwriting for vogue paris . . .

{p.s.} the full layout here + here

{two lovely things: luxe luggage}

. . . while summer is weekend carry-alls and light-weight luggage, fall comes with deeply-hued and heavier pieces such as the always classic LV and stylishly cool Globe-Trotter in maroon, perfect for autumn adventures . . .

{via vogue paris}

{inspiration: on the water + vogue paris}

A little uninspired one morning last week and the only thing to do was spend the rest of the afternoon on the water . . .

Swept up in late-afternoon breezes and sun-reflected waters shimmering like a million diamonds, was reminded of this layout for Vogue Paris:

. . . always obsessed with and inspired by the layouts in Vogue Paris for as long as can remember, and lately with this one is particular, with its varying shades of blue, ultra-thin gold belts, patent leather ankle boots, nautical stripes, and -- best of all -- the always classic crested blazer-- things are looking up for Fall

{images: 1 - Megan Young via Mary Ruffle; 2 - Vogue Paris}

{inspiration: vogue paris}

Vogue Paris is inspiring me to spend the summer with smokey eyes and windswept hair. . .

{image: editoria: Florilège; Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier; Styled by Véronique Didry; Model: Isabeli Fontana; Vogue Paris June/July 2009}

{cake & candles}

Had mentioned in passing that it's a week of celebrations and today is the first -- getting ready for tonight's plans, for today is my birthday . . . Will be back tomorrow with more lovely things to share.

Have a beautiful Wednesday, everyone!
xo

{images: 1 - domino; 2 - from the Sofia Coppola feature in Paris Vogue February 2009 via Miss at la Playa; 3 - unknown}

{a new week + happy february}

Happy February, everyone!

Hope you had a lovely weekend and are looking forward to a brand new week.

{image: Sofia Coppola feature in Paris Vogue February 2009 via Miss at la Playa}

{a charming mix of things}

Felt as if I were forever running a little late last week , and if you were to glimpse inside my thoughts, a charming mix of things would tumble out, including . . .

this crimson {entryway}

this vogue paris {cover} - still

this nap

this {fan} & this fixture

this {photograph} & this {dress}

this {valentine}

{p.s.}
The Mango Spring/Summer 2009 ad campaigns are pretty, pretty.

{images: 1 - martin rusch via tatielle; 2 - First published in Ideal Home, March 2005; 4 - desire to inspire; 5 - fixture via flickr; 7 - kate towers via {frolic!}}

{happy new year}

. . . such excitement for what lies ahead . . . always a little sentimental at New Year's, and wanted to say thank you for making the past year such fun -- it's been lovely, and there are exciting things planned for 2009!

Wishing everyone a beautiful New Year, filled with love, happiness, and the promises of many new adventures ahead . . .

Happy, happy New Year!
xo

{images: 1 - flickr via tutti dolce; 2 - editorial: Noctambule; magazine: Vogue Paris May 2007; model: Daria Werbowy; photographer: Terry Richardson; credit: berlinrocks at TFS; this is a scheduled post}

{patterns + prada}

Inspired by the wonderfully cheerful mix of colours and patterns in this workspace, especially when paired with an antique telephone, industrial desk, and {if you look closely}, a pair of Prada blossom-heeled pumps strewn beautifully and carelessly on the floor . . .

{1 - from an e-mail from cameron: 2 - editorial: Pyjama Party; magazine: Vogue Paris, November/December 2007/2008; model: Sasha Pivovarova; photographer: Mark Segal; image via Vanessa's lovely blog}