All I Want For Christmas

I was saving this post for after Thanksgiving, but Rue Magazine just came out with their new issue and this is their cover:

It must be the blog gods telling me it's time, so here we go!

All I want for Christmas is...  a man's gold watch.  I know, it sounds odd, but bare with me.

 In Amanda Brooks' book, I Love Your Style, she says, "I love the tomboy feeling of a men's watch on a woman's wrist sticking out from under a rolled-up shirt sleeve."  Whether you have sleeves or not, I love the proportion of a chunky watch to a woman's delicate wrist.  I think it is the accessory equivalent of wearing a man's dress shirt as pjs.  Hot. So Hot.

Let's take a look at who agrees with me:

Rachel Zoe



Victoria Beckham via CelebrityFashionTips.com



Charlize Theron

Elizabeth Hurley

Jennifer Anniston

Taylor (an ex-member of the Rachel Zoe team)

Did I mention Victoria Beckham wears one?



In all honesty, I want a vintage Rolex, but then again, who doesn't? 

18K Yellow Gold Porcelain Dial Zenith Daytona by Rolex via 1st Dibs
They won't even list this price, lol.

Rolex 18K PG Oyster Perpetual ref. 6551 c. 1958 via 1st Dibs
This one is a bargain at $7,850



Rolex 18K PG Day Date President ref# 1803 circa 1970's via 1st Dibs
It can be yours for the small price of $13,950! Naturally, this is the one I like best.

 Amanda Brooks continues in her book, "There are some incredibly beautiful and expensive watches out there.  We've all drooled over them, but I have seen Swatches and Timexes look just as chic."  Whew!  Let's look for some more realistic options now:

Michael Kors 'Bel Aire Chronograph' Watch via Nordstrom
$250 and GORGEOUS. **hint hint to the husband**



Nixon 'The Time Teller' Watch via Nordstrom
Timeless styling, simple, and $100.  Can't beat that!
**hint hint,again, to the husband**

Timex Vintage Gents England Made Watch circa 1958 via Bonanza
Needs some TLC but is a really cool vintage piece for $65!


Do you think I hinted this to my husband subtle enough?

{I'm not sure about the credits for the celeb images.  I've been collecting them for awhile now so let me know if you know where they're from!}

EDIT!

It's been a few days since I first posted the above, but I have found another drool-worthy vintage watch.  Check it out!

Seiko circa 1970s watch via Etsy for $180.

Love.  And I would pair the watch with this bracelet:

Vintage Mesh Bracelet via Etsy

Can This Be Made Into A Room? Michael Kors Mens Fall 2010

This one is for the boys.  The first time I saw this look from Michael Kors, I thought to myself, "Rarrrr... now THAT'S a man!"  I like a man with a little ruggedness to him.  Maybe it's because I come from a family of hunters, fishers, and campers and I myself was once a white water guide on the Salmon River (I like to granola it up with the best of them, but always with a little glam).

 Michael Kors Fall 2010 RTW

 

 

 

 

 

 

  The color palette of this room is all about earth tones.  If the color could be in a camo print, it fits in this room.  And don't forget the leather.  Lots and lots of leather (is there anything more manly, really?).  The sofa (Restoration Hardware) is upholstered in a waxed top-grain leather which will only get more crackled and worn-looking with age (this is called 'patina' and believe me, it's GORGEOUS). The leather trunk, to be used as a cocktail table alternative, is vintage Louis Vuitton, circa 1920 (1st Dibs, I don't even want to know how much this costs). Behind the leather sofa, instead of a standard console table, I would place a desk, like this French campaign desk (William-Sonoma Home), fill it full of leather bound books and cool industrial accessories, and add a carmel-colored leather desk chair (all  Restoration Hardware). 

Flanking the sofa, I would place a pair of moss-green wingbacks (William-Sonoma Home) and dress any windows with chocolate velvet panels (Restoration Hardware) to add a little bit of a stodgy men's club feel.  For a bit of whimsy, I would add some moose antlers and a mariner's floor lamp (Restoration Hardware).  A large 9x13 (Surya) grounds the grouping and ties all the earth tones together. 

So what do you think?  Would you let the guy in your life have this as their 'man cave'?

Love Me Some Leopard

Michael Kors RTW Fall 2009

Open up any fashion or design magazine lately and you'll see leopard print is all the rage.  My question is, was leopard print ever out?  I don't think there is another print more well adjusted to luxurious living and from the pictures you'll find below, it's been style maker's favorite for decades.  

1960s Vogue via My Vintage Vogue

1960s Vogue via My Vintage Vogue

Metropolitan Home

I told my husband before we married that he must be willing to have at least one room of our home with wall-to-wall leopard print carpet. I still remind him of this about every 6 months and his reply: "Whatever you want, dear."  He knows how to keep a girl happy!

Diana Vreeland Office at Vogue

1970s Trench via This Is Glamorous

Vogue

Unknown

Elle Decor

Miles Redd

via This Is Glamorous





Ralph Lauren Paris 2010
(notice the beyond gorgeous parquet floor, another must for my future home)

My absolute favorite, Christina Hendricks for London Fog 2010

One word of warning, a little leopard goes a long way, so use with restraint or you could look like this:

Thom Filicia's Tacky House 'before' shot

 OK, I just threw up a little in my mouth.  I can't leave you with such an atrocious image, so I'll leave you with dreams of Michael Kors...

Michael Kors RTW Fall 2009

{sheaths of silver & gray}

It's been a while since I found a design that I was as crazy about as the {3.1 Phillip Lim Citron silk pleated Grecian dress with boned bodice}, but this {Donna Karan Bi-color halter dress}, made from sheaths of chalky white and silver gray satin, comes close . . .

{paired with: Michael Kors rattan rectangle clutch; Jimmy Choo Elipse leather sandals}