{décor inspiration: tufted velvet}

. . . keep coming back again & again to this stunning chaise -- the watery hue and luxurious sheen . . . what is it about tufted velvet that captivates so?


{image: vt interiors, the cherry blossom girl via seaside dreams}

{inspiration: pretty totes & whisps of chiffon}

. . . a very favourite blogger collaboration must be alix from the cherry blossom's girl's with french lingerie company étam -- the pieces are so perfectly pretty and draped in sheer romance, it's nearly impossible not to be swept up in the delicate ruffles, elegant lace, and powdery whisps of chiffon . . .


{image: photography by the cherry blossom girl}

{travel inspiration: versailles la nuit}

. . . one of my most favourite places in the world is versailles, a place so filled with the magic of history and the perfectly ornate stories of times gone by, it nearly overwhelms; often filled with travelers and admirers, one can only imagine how it must have been in the quiet of nightfall, especially the wonderfully mysterious appartements privés de marie antoinette / private apartments of marie antoinette, and the majestic hall of mirrors, enveloped in the beautiful shadows cast by a sea of chandeliers . . .

{images: all photography by the cherry blossom girl}

{travel inspiration: madrid, spain}

. . . if you've been reading for a while, you'll know about a certain fondness for glimpses of the vacation shots of others {paris: one two three, bella italia}, and while this afternoon may have been a flurry of speeding along busy highways, still unpacked carryalls and a million unanswered e-mails, everything seemed to fall away at the sight of perfectly ornate domes, venetian mirrors and chandeliers, soft and pretty pastels and the palest pink roses in marvelous madrid . . .

{all images by alix of the cherry blossom girl}

{at the shops: ralph lauren, paris}

. . . there has been much talk about ralph lauren's new flagship store in the quartier latin on the left bank in paris: housed in an 18th-century city mansion across the boulevard saint-germain from the café de flore, it was built on the foundations of an old monastery and completed in 1754; over the centuries, it has been a private home, the dutch embassy, the carnegie foundation for international peace, and, most recently, a government office building

through the carriage entrance and cobblestone courtyard is where you will find ralph's, the shop's polo-chic restaurant with tables in the old stables, {in the summertime, the courtyard}; there is a bar in the old tack room, and the place is enveloped in warm wood and leather chairs; here, you will find a menu of american classics -- new england clam chowder and maryland style lump crab cakes, crispy southern fried chicken, and, of course, seared double RL ranch steak . . .

{p.s.} previous at the shops:
* neology by mina, brooklyn
* mrs. press, australia
* rothschild & bickers, uk
* billy bride, australia
* satomi kawakita, new york

{all images by alix at the cherry blossom girl; some background from newsweek}

{fashion inspiration: feather clutch}

. . . one of my very favourite shots is a detail of viviana volpicella, {assistant fashion editor, vogue nippon}, wearing a champagne-coloured silk blouse and holding a large leather clutch by yves saint laurent, photographed by tommy ton of jak & jil for style.com -- there is just something about it that draws you in -- the play of light and shadow, and all the little details that say so much . . . and now this soft and dusky image has become a new favourite -- a swish of tulle, a feather clutch, and an utterly romantic glimpse of an enchanting moment caught in time . . .

{p.s.} silver shoes & feathers and pretty, pretty things

{photography by marianne taylor for the cherry blossom girl via a glamorous little side project & the inspiration board}

{hello + a few things}

. . . dashing out the door -- sexy tousled hair, a light linen summer dress, suede heels and coral lips -- but first, a quick hello and two new & lovely things:

* summertime: a dreamy & languid light
* two lovely things: bits of green

{p.s.} isn't the miu miu bow satchel in palest pink the loveliest thing?

{image: the cherry blossom girl via beautiful things to share}

{hello + happy monday}

. . . hello! . . . monday, monday and sincerest apologies for the long absence, both here and on twitter -- delightfully surprised by unexpected guests from out of town on friday, and after the afternoons around and about and the late dinner reservations, dancing in heels and conversations long into the night, quaint british pubs and brunches of eggs benedict and bellinis, spent an unintentional and very rare few days nearly completely offline . . . and lovely to be back again to what has been missed while away and while still much to get caught up on, also many wonderful things to share this week . . .

hope you are well & wishing you a perfect start to the week,
xo

{p.s.} more feathers

{images: 1, 3, 5 - maria lucia hohan’s atelier, the cherry blossom girl via beautiful things to share & what anna loves; 2 - tumblr via felicity -- thank you! xo; 4 - scan by this is glamorous, photography by polly wreford for at home with white by atlanta bartlett}

{inspiration: grand ceilngs}

. . . one of my very favourite things is an evening out in a stunning dress and a perfect pair of impossibly high heels and to look up, up to discover a grand chandelier, or a luxuriously ornate ceiling, or perhaps, on a very good night, both . . .

{images: 1 - a previous post; 2 - tumblr; 3 - the cherry blossom girl}

{fashion inspiration: yves saint laurent}

. . . the holiday decorations have been taken down, and there's nothing left to do but dream of open-toed shoes, and especially silver ysl cage heels with navy velvet ribbons . . .

{p.s.} more spring things:
* the garden collection
* pretty pastels

{via the cherry blossom girl}

{a crown of blossoms}

Just as Sofia Coppola's commercials and print ads for Dior have begun a love affair with balloons, Alix's Cherry Blossom life has city girls everywhere fluttering around like lovely wood nymphs wearing crowns of blossoms . . .

{more lovely headdresses:}
* the cherry blossom girl
* paper flower tiaras
* tiraras & headdresses
* blossoms on the side

{images: 1 - miss at la playa; 2 - lover}