{at the shops: dollybird design, chicago}

. . . and for all those upcoming holiday parties under glittering garlands and the twinkle of fairy lights, or romantic dinner dates on nights of softly falling snow, rings made of gold dust and pendants filled with a million shooting stars . . .

{p.s.} also perfect as gifts for your sister, best friend, {or yourself}

{also} previous at the shops:
* lulu frost
* ralph lauren, paris
* neology by mina, brooklyn
* mrs. press, australia


{images: dollybird design one of a kind handmade artisan jewelry. , also here via oh hello friend}

{give-away: cable & heart bracelet}

today's give-away is an impossibly romantic cable and heart bracelet from chicago-based jess lc jewelry, who is celebrating a brand new site re-design, just in time for spring

a wonderful infusion of tough & sweet, it's perfect for late lunches on breezy terraces and candle-lit dinners on sultry summer nights:

to enter, {click here} to visit the brand new jess lc website, or {here} to view the fun new lookbook, then leave a comment below

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

* choice between all gold, or gold heart with silver chain; one winner will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail after wednesday, april 14, 2010; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include it with your comment for notification; open to all readers; top image: viviana volpicella by tommy ton of jak & jil for style.com via definitely golden; yves saint laurent large leather clutch

{give-away: three-strand necklace}

Today's give-away is a lovely three-strand bold stripe necklace* from Chicago-based Jess LC's brand new Madison Ave collection!

The Madison Ave collection features hand-wrapped Swarovski crystals in bold patterns and rich shades perfect for Fall:

To enter, {click here} to visit the Jess LC website, then leave a comment below, stating your favourite piece from any collection.

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

{p.s.} congratulations to the winner of the previous give-away!

* choice of navy/shade, plum/shade, or black/shade, in sterling silver or 14kt gold-filled chain; {top image via a glamorous little side project;} * winner will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail after Wednesday, October 21, 2009

{lost in love and chicago}

While it may be true that shall never tire of Paris or the south of France, always ready for new adventures and sometimes fun to go somewhere completely different, and on the last long weekend of the summer: The Windy City . . .

. . . despite there being not much use outside the hotel lobby for gold strappy heels, sequined jackets, and silk and linen dresses -- all of the things in my carrying cases -- there were, happily, fresh lake breezes and miles of beaches, afternoon boat rides and expansive parks, marble fountains, and art and architecture . . .

cloud gate, outdoor sculpture by british artist anish kapoor


endless summer, navy pier

toasted coconut & strawberry marshmallows

dusk

frank gehry-designed jay pritzker pavilion in millennium park

cocktails + view from the ninety-sixth floor

the modern wing of the art institute of chicago, designed by pritzker prize–winning architect renzo piano, whose work includes the centre georges pompidou in paris; the art institute's impressionist & postimpressionist collection is considered the most important outside of france

buckingham fountain, made of pink marble and modeled by edward bennett after the latona basin at versailles


afternoon on the water

{and afterall:} pink cotton candy, afternoons along the beach and on the water, a late-summer picnic, sipping champagne in the courtyard of the art institute by moonlight -- and especially -- all the time in the world together on the last long weekend of the summer . . .

{images: 6, 12, 13 - this is glamorous; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14 - p for this is glamorous; 10 - via renzo piano}