{a glimpse: beautiful balmain}

. . . impossibly elegant gilt-panelled walls and mirrored halls, velvet chairs and intoxicating bouquets of roses, softly pooling drapery and sexy tulle-enveloped dresses: a glimpse into the enchanted world of balmain . . .

{images: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 - joseph dirand architecture for balmain via the diversion project; 3 - magdalena frackowiak, paris fashion week - balmain spring/summer 2009 fashion show via fashionising; jacket via maison des rêveries; ;tulle skirt via a glamorous little side project; daria via a glamorous little side project}

{have a fantastically fun weekend + links}

. . . hello! it's the weekend and what are your plans? . . . currently out of town to breath in every last moment of one of the last of the summer weekends, an ivy-covered country house and floral bed linens, italian coffee and pale morning sun, vibrantly lush english gardens and azure august skies . . .

hope you're having a fantastically fun weekend and that it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{a few lovely links}
* summertime: a perfect afternoon
* sneak peek: a beach cottage
* first love: monet & giverny
* travel: the augstus hotel, forte di marmi , italy
* décor inspiration: stairways & headboards
* at home: stylist tricks
* let's picnic: french willow baskets
* photography: artist kotori kawashima's daughter {via scout-holiday}
* architecture: sand beneath your toes
* summertime: fireworks & forests
* décor inspiration: blue velvet
* colour inspiration: streets & reflections
* design: air lamp
* wedding inspiration: white lanterns
* architecture: beach wood

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* happy monday & thoughts for a new week
* lookbook: lover, spring/summer
* utterly romantic: feather clutch
* décor: unapologetically pretty
* lookbook: lover, autumn/winter
* shoes, shoes, shoes: pink suede & bejewelled
* colour inspiration: falling for fall
* travel: new york city

{& new for the weekend:}
* photographer: ellen silverman

{images: editorial - americans in paris, daria werbowy by mario testino for us vogue, may 2010; fashion editor, marie-amélie sauvé via absinthrill}

{inspiration: always the ocean}

. . . few things are more romantic than the ocean -- the lull of crashing waves, the promise of sandy toes and saltwater kisses -- and so, fell in love with the underwater enchantment of glittering and iridescent mother-of-pearl & mirrors, and the shapes of scallop shells & starfish in this charming beach house powder room . . .

". . . if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches."

~from The Princess Bride

{images: 1 - daria werbowy via a glamorous little side project; 2 - photography by james merrell for house beautiful via creategirl}

{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}

{festive style + the winner is . . .}

The season's trends are a whirlwind of embellishments, including stacks of rings and layers of necklaces, extravagant fabrics and glittering piles of shimmering sequins, and, in keeping with the holiday spirit, will most likely being wearing something spectacular in my hair for New Year's for certain, and perhaps even Christmas eve, or both . . .

{p.s.}
Incidentally, a tiara would also be fitting for Chelsea, who, in the middle of all the excitement and some serious competition, has been chosen, {with a little help from a random number generator}, winner and will be the most stylish girl around town with her brand new Hayden-Harnett handbag . . .

{Congratulations, Chelsea!}

Special thanks again to Hayden-Harnett and to everyone who entered -- it's been such fun, and a wonderful way to begin the holiday season.



{1- Lily Cole by Carter Smith; 2 - Natalia Vodianova from an earlier post; 3 + 7 - editorial: The New New Look, Vogue UK June 2007; Daria Werbowy by Paolo Roversi; 4 - editorial: The House on the Hill, Vogue UK November 2004; Lily Cole by Arthur Elgor; 5 - editorial: bollywood dreams, Vogue India October 2007, Gemma Ward by Patrick Demarchelier; 6 -Natalia Vodianova by Paolo Roversi}