Image from astupidbag.com
31 December 2007
The anti-IT bag
Image from astupidbag.com
Labels: chic and stylish, humor, shopping
New Year's traditions
- Kiss everyone you care about at the stoke of midnight, not doing so could result in a loss of affection over the next 12 months.
- Nothing can be removed from your home on New Years Day, not even trash!
- Wear brand new clothes on New Year's Day in order to insure that you receive plenty of new clothes throughout the year.
- Make sure that the first person to cross your threshold after the stroke of midnight is a tall, dark handsome man bearing gifts....hmmm, I wish that happened everyday!
Labels: charm school, eccentricities
30 December 2007
Logo bag throw down: Goyard vs Louis Vuitton
Personally, I have been ambivalent about Goyard, then again I was always ambivalent about Vuitton. Neither logo bag is particularly attractive...they are items purchased almost exclusively to show wealth or hipness. I find this approach lacks creativity and subtlety. Perhaps they eventually become attractive because of the massive exposure we receive to them in print, on TV and on the street. I certainly was not a fan of the brown Louis Vuitton bags when they first began to build in popularity, I thought they were hideous. These days I don't find them nearly as unattractive. I like to believe I am above the pull of mastige...but of course this is completely untrue. I go through cycles were I fantasize about the fabulousness of owning a Louis Vuitton travel trunk covered in rainbow colored logos on the black background. Then I slap myself and remember that I don't REALLY want something so blatant. Then I giggle, because if I had the thousands required to buy such a piece there is no way I would spend it on luggage. I would take my generic (empty) luggage and go on a shopping spree in Paris flea markets with Claudia from The Paris Apartment as my guide instead!
Images from Barneys and geisha blog
Labels: chic and stylish, trend spotting
29 December 2007
Amy: say no! no! no! to eye makeup
Images from E!
Labels: chic and stylish, styling
28 December 2007
Lost that Loving Feeling: Sequins
I believe sequins invoke memories in us all, and that is the root of my problem. I am unable to accept a trend that carries so much baggage. How many of you can say that you look back fondly on the photographs from an event where you were covered in a glut of sequins? Personally, the closest I come to that feeling is the costume I wore for a jazz dance recital when I was seven. My hair was crimped, I was wearing makeup for the first time ever, I was hot stuff. Flash forward to 2008, am I still going to feel hot in an outfit that evokes memories of jazz fingers and bad 80s prom dresses? Do I really want this outfit recorded on film for anyone to see in 6 months when sequins have gone the way of ankle warmers?
Forgetting about aesthetics for a moment, these garments are beyond impractical. The cleaning is its own special nightmare. Your best bet is to hand wash, but for the lazy dry cleaning is the recommended course. Next, comfort I imagine is an issue, although I have not actually attempted it, one would imagine vinyl seating and and a sequined mini skirt would not be comfortable. That said, I cannot imagine anyone actually wearing a sequined mini without looking wretched, with the exception of a waif like model, who of course I already scorn on the principle of the thing. Finally, from the first time someone slips a sequined garment in the dressing room, the shedding slowly begins. Buy a cheaply made sequined dress and you may feel like Gretel leaving a shining trail to follow home after a long night out at the bars...on second thought that might not be such a bad idea...
Image from people.com
Labels: chic and stylish, fashion, love lost, trend spotting
26 December 2007
Late, but late in high style!
Find yourself in a similar situation? These cards are also on sale online at Red Stamp.
Image from redstamp.com
Labels: charm school, correspondence
25 December 2007
24 December 2007
Truly fabulous dishes
Image from rosannainc.com
21 December 2007
Preliminary Birthday Menu
Drinks!
- Deluxe Fizz Bar with pink champagne, raspberry puree, peach puree, Creme de Cassis and fresh OJ
- Jasmine pearl green tea, Black tea with rose petals, Citrus based herbal tea
- Iced Lattes
- Scones with clotted cream and rose petal jam
- Fresh Croissants: Chocolate, Apricot, Gruyere
- Sticky Buns
- Ham, cheddar, roasted tomato quiche
- Cheddar cheese grits
- Thick cut applewood smoked bacon
- Fresh Fruit with some sort of honey mint dressing
- Something else? Hmmm...
- Croquembouche
- Homemade Valrhona Hot Chocolate
Labels: charm school, entertaining
20 December 2007
Word of the Moment: Melodrama
"According to Michael Booth in his classic study English Melodrama the Victorian stage melodrama featured a limited number of stock characters: the hero, the villain, the heroine, an old man, an old woman, a comic man and a comic woman engaged in a sensational plot featuring themes of Love and Murder. Often the good but not very clever hero is duped by a scheming villain, who has eyes on the damsel in distress until fate intervenes at the end to ensure the triumph of good over evil."-wikipedia
Image from villagephotos.com
Labels: babble, words that define my life
Nectar of the Gods
Image from brillet.fr
Labels: charm school, entertaining, food
19 December 2007
Gadget Guru: Self Mixing Cocktail Shaker
Image from gizmodo.com
Labels: decor, gadet guru
18 December 2007
Darling Men: Cary Grant
My favorite feature of Cary Grant would have to be his sense of humor. Apparently he ad libbed quite a lot on set and some of his quips are decidedly dirty. I'm always shocked that they made it past the sensors. "That Touch of Mink" starring Grant and Doris Day is one of the best examples of this humor, if you've not seen it you should definitely check it out.
Labels: babble, darling men, film
16 December 2007
Blair Waldorf Style Files
In the mean time, it appears the closest you will get to Lorick's design is Gargyle, where you can sign up now for email notification of when the collection becomes available for sale on their website. My two favorite designs from her collection are pictured above. I simply adore the yellow crinoline under the black skirt with a white rick rack trim. Unfortunately, I did not see this piece available from Gargyle. My other personal favorite is the gray Audrey Hepburn like ensemble. The monochromatic gray, the cigarettes pants, the perfectly wrapped scarf, the chic sunglasses...it is so incredibly fabulous!
"This season the Lorick Lady is being introduced to society. She is polite and considerate. She make it a point to keep her manner in check even when everyone around her has forgotten her please and thank yous. Her etiquette naturally transcends her wardrobe, but she would never overlook her attire. She is always pulled together and timeless, but still modern. As classic as she may be, she known she is a rarity in today’s rather immodest society and openly celebrated her eccentricities by selecting quirky prints, accessories like gloves, scarves and suspenders. She danced late into the night, slips out of her “il sotto” crinoline skirt, changes her heels to flats and effortlessly looks perfectly put-together for her 8 am!"Where to buy Lorick Collection: Buydefinition, Gargyle
Looking for more Gossip Girl?
Images from Lorick
Labels: chic and stylish, fashion, gossip girl, styling, tv
14 December 2007
Looking forward to Spring: Jason Wu
Image from style.com
Labels: chic and stylish, fashion, styling
12 December 2007
Fashion TV on my computer
I don't actually get the style network through my cable company. But, it doesn't seem to matter much because these days you can get your fashion tv fix on the internet. There is, among many other videos, the CandyCast on style.com brought to you by a poorly illustrated Candy Pratts Price. Then, there is lx.tv with beauty and styling tips, fashionista.com stalking NYC women to ransack their bags for all the world to see and entertaining interviews, including this one with Mo Rocca interviewing Tim Gunn (new word of the day: semiology). Not to be left behind, WhoWhatWear just sent me my daily email with a little video clip explaining how to navigate the minefield that is the office holiday party. Tragically, they suggested full on sequins and t-strap shoes...which might be alright if your boss misses the 80s. Apparently the staff at WWWD are all blond and hot, or at least those are the only ones they think are fit to show the world. Anyway, I liked the general idea of the WWWD TV clips, I am sure I will like the next clip better!
Image sources on flickr
Labels: blog life, chic and stylish, fashion, trend spotting, tv
Mirror Mirror on the wall
Images from amazon and 80spurple
Labels: chic and stylish, jewels
11 December 2007
Tragedy of EPIC proportions
Labels: current events, decor, glossies, home
Oh so sick...
Labels: beauty, chic and stylish, home
10 December 2007
If you like small cuddly animals, you might be offended by this post
Image from corneliajames.com
PS-I'm sorry if I've hurt the feelings of pequitobun and all other bunny lovers.
Labels: chic and stylish, fashion, styling
07 December 2007
The Holiday Guide to Etsy is Complete!
Flutterbyblue:
- Stationary
- Jewelry
- Art
- Homegoods
- Clothing
- Bath Products
- Fuzzies and Fluffies
- Flutterbyblue also has an etsy shop
06 December 2007
Etsy Holiday Guide: Vintage
Kori at the Fashion-y Blog presents a guide to shopping etsy for vintage pieces today. Go check it out!
Labels: chic and stylish, shopping
Etsy Holiday Guide: Sfgirlbybay's Picks
Images from each artist's etsy site
05 December 2007
Etsy Holiday Guide: Home Goods
Images from each artist's etsy shop
04 December 2007
Etsy Holiday Guide: Art, Oil Paintings
Images from each artist's etsy site.
Etsy Holiday Guide: Art, Photography
What Would Gossip Girls Wear?
Looking for more Gossip Girl?
Images from anthropologie.com and youngbrokeandfabulous.net
Labels: chic and stylish, gossip girl, styling, tv
03 December 2007
Secret Santa
Image from Sephora.com
Labels: chic and stylish, shopping
Etsy Holiday Guide: Art, Illustration
Brooke Hagel, of Brooklit's Shop, also produces custom work, specifically, custom bridal portraits. If you simply cannot bring yourself to buy from the couple's registry one of these custom portraits would make an excellent wedding gift. Booklit's Shop also sells fashion illustrations, some of which you might recognize! Both of the above illustrations have been featured in the banner of Toast and Tables.
02 December 2007
Fabuless: Designers at Payless
Image from payless.com
Labels: chic and stylish, shopping
01 December 2007
Words of the Moment: Desperate Tawdriness
Desperate Tawdriness, as used by Tim Gunn:
- An expression used to described an item of clothing to which sequins have been applied in such away that the backing is visible.
- FYI: Tawdry: "Cheap and showy and of poor quality"-allwords.com
- Also, Tawdry rhymes with Audrey
Image from ew.com
Labels: babble, words that define my life
Santa Baby: Eye Mask
Labels: chic and stylish, shopping
Etsy Holiday Guide: Pequitobun's picks!
First up, is Miss Bunny's Shoe Boutique and Art House. Bunny paints her signature whimsical designs onto shoes to produce fabulous wearable art. This shop is actually also on my favorites list, for the above shoes and the darling skull Mary Jane's. Pequitobun is also a fan of the very daring bat shoes.
Inspired by my stationary post, pequitobun sent along one of her favorite stationary shops: Ink+Wit. This shops sells a range of products, including letterpress and printed stationary, prints and tshirts. I simply adore the letterpress wall calendar, I might have to buy one for my craft room!
Another fabulous etsy shop that pequitobun and I share on our favorites list is Annejulie's Garden. Bookmarks, jewelry and prints in a signature style which is dark, moody and beautiful! Pequitobun is a fan of of the mini laminated bookmarks.
Finally, pequitobun suggested clothing from leanimal. I've never really investigated clothing options on etsy before, so I was excited to see her suggestion! I think this coat is my favorite piece from leanimal's collection, romantic and funky.
Images from each artist's etsy shop.
Labels: chic and stylish, craft, shopping