{runway inspiration: j. mendel, new york}

. . . one of the very few designers that could rival affections for monique lhuillier, {with the exception of chloé and stella mccartney}, would be j. mendel, whose purely romantic sensibilities are impossible to to resist, and whose spring collection was an ethereal dream of mousseline and tulle, exquisite hand-pleating and ruching, and stunningly elegant draped silk chiffon . . .

{style.com, more of this collection at the side project}

{a stunning combination}

. . . would have never thought to pair the palest champagne with vibrant vermillion, and yet, in delicate sheers and pretty pleats, the combination is both striking and perfectly stunning . . .

{image: no. 21 style.com via wildfox}

{lookbook: lover the label}

. . . one of the loveliest thoughts is that somewhere in the world, soon it will be spring, just as our days will soon fall into dramatically overcast and blustery skies, slightly chilly and romantically melancholic mornings, somewhere, blossoms are set to bloom and wrap themselves beautifully around branches and there will be pretty shorts and the sheerest blouses, elegant blazers and lacy, champagne-coloured dresses, and since shall always hold on to the very last golden and fading rays of summer sun, lover's spring.summer 2010.11 collection may be just the thing for these last, languorous late-august days . . .

{images: lover the label via studded hearts}

{lookbook: lover the label, part two}

. . . and of course, in the even that you are ready for autumn, elegantly cut blazers with pleated & puffed sleeves, insanely stylish belted dresses, perfect trenches and the softest champagne-coloured cowl-neck sweaters . . .

{p.s.} if you've just arrived, see below xo

{images: lover the label; more of this collection at the side project}

{runway inspiration: preen, new york}

. . . could hardly tear myself away from the preen resort 2011 collection -- it is just so, so good - perhaps it's that designers justin thornton and thea bregazzi took inspiration from brigitte bardot, or they easily and perfectly combined prim and sexy, with buttoned-up dresses and sheer, shimmery tops, pretty pleats and bits of lace -- or perhaps it is the slight nod to the wild wild west that is just too impossibly cool . . .

{images: style.com}

{sheer romance: white lace + soft light}

. . . a late spring morning of coffee and croissants and an early monday afternoon of soft whites and upswept hair . . .

{p.s.} a little inspiration from the end of last week:
* first day of spring: balloons + flowers
* weekend: romance + links
* powder room inspiration: picture rails + bits of light
* styling: time-worn nostalgia
* fashion forward: roland mouret
* an enchanted forest: leaves + chandeliers

{linda vojtova for the andres sardá spring / summer 2010 lingerie look book, more of this collection at a glamorous little side project}

{spring collection: vicente villarin}

white elegance, joanne cordero reyes' spring 2010 collection, was inspired by bisazza, the art of glass mosaic and the roman baths, city of bath -- a beautifully graceful collection with goddess-like drapery and wistfully delicate seams resulting in softly shimmering and floaty fabrics of sheer romance . . .

{images: vicente villarin spring 2010 lookbook}