{gauzy party dresses + the winner is . . .}

. . . one last thing -- a little {fashionably} late to announce the winner of the lovely, lovely champagne satin clutch by emma gordon london -- and the winner is: kirsten from idaho!

{congratulations, kirsten!}

{stunning dresses by roberta furlanetto via lace & tea}

{inspiration: smokey walls + florals}

Insane for the soft grey walls and white floorboards of this cozy Georgian cottage in Sussex, especially when mixed with charming florals . . .

{p.s.} more florals:
* a sunny morning
* in bloom
* the scent of lilacs
* impossibly romantic

{images: from livingetc september 2009, photography by chris everard, styling by mary weaver}

{at the shops: crucial trading}

. . . back after a spontaneously extended and beautiful weekend away and always delighted to discover new shops with great products, but even more so with equally lovely photography -- two current favourites being Plumo {and here}and Toast, and now have happily discovered the very British Crucial Trading, a creative floorcoverings and rugs company whose gorgeous photography is a captivating mix of a fashion editorial and a brisk and blustery afternoon curled up beside a warm and romantic fire . . .












. . . more at a glamorous little side project

{at the shops: rothschild & bickers, uk}

. . . can hardly tear myself away from these stunning arts & crafts style floral pendants, designed by victoria rothschild & mark bickers, the royal college of art graduates who combine traditional glass techniques with contemporary design, creating signature as well as bespoke pieces; each is beautifully handmade at london glassworks, one of the last workshops in the uk, and can only be described as a work of art . . .

{p.s.} previous at the shops:
* mrs. press, australia
* billy bride, australia
* satomi kawakita, new york

{images: rothschild & bickers}

{give-away: champagne satin clutch}

Today's give-away is a stunningly lovely Georgia clutch in champagne satin by Emma Gordon London!

As perfect with jeans by day as it is with sequins by night, the Georgia clutch is entirely handmade by Emma in her home studio in London:

Incredibly, Emma still hand makes every order herself from start to finish and offers a special made-to-order service for weddings or parties or even to custom match your favourite outfits . . .

To enter, {click here} to visit Emma Gordon London, or {here} to visit Emma's Etsy shop, then leave a comment below.

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

* one winner will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail after Wednesday, October 7, 2009; give-away open to all countries; image 1 - via a glamorous little side project

{at the shops: rose & grey}

British family-run online store Rose & Grey has the perfect assortment of lovely things -- current favourites include: rustic wooden boxes on retro orange wheels for storage and charming cut-out hearts tea light holders for late autumn evenings . . .

{online magazine: fashion156}

. . . fun new London-based online magazine, fashion156, has new issues every 12 days and lovely, lovely editorials



{images: fashion156 discovered via lace & tea}

{photographer: craig mcdean}

. . . have long admired the work of british photographer craig mcdean, and with september's arrival, have been especially taken with this recent editorial for w magazine, featuring georgia may jagger and a beautiful mix of sequined gowns and leopard print, luxe hair and smokey eyes, opulent ornamentation and an elegantly blasé and decadent moodiness . . .

{p.s.} this shot of jessica stam is another favourite

{images: editorial: georgia on our mind, georgia may jagger by craig mcdean for w september 2010, styled by alex white via smile}

{pear martinis + summer's end}

. . . every thursday, a late lunch with my sister, and yesterday was not unlike any other, with the exception of the discovery of a magical and secret garden terrace for drinks and laughter, and while catching up over pear martinis to the sultry sound of late-august leaves rustling in the golden afternoon light, had wished that summer could last forever . . . on the way home, however, a reminder in all the shop windows that the crispness and energy of autumn has its own romance and must confess that the fall lookbooks in late summer are nearly as exciting as the spring books in the last of the winter days, which can only mean one thing: le changement est bon / change is good . . .

{images: warehouse via katie armour}

{eco chic: decanterlights}

. . . p's mother has a beautiful cut crystal decanter collection displayed in their formal living room and have always loved the way they glimmer and add such elegance, and so was much delighted to discover another use for them -- decanterlights, by british designer lee broom, are pendant light fixtures created from vintage crystal decanters sourced from antique markets and vintage shops and available in a natural clear crystal or polished gold -- aren't they lovely?

{p.s.} more stylish eco chic inspiration:

cushions | cork | wine bottle centrepieces

{images: lee broom via moco loco}

{fashion inspiration: mint velvet}

. . . always adore beautiful things shot beautifully, although sometimes fall more for the photography, mint velvet's spring/summer collection is filled with romantic and delicate pieces with their trademark relaxed glamour -- perhaps stripes for a late spring picnic, or silver sequins for sexy summer nights -- but mostly love the mood of the these photographs, which feel as if they were taken on a perfectly bright and wonderful afternoon spent relaxing at home . . .

{p.s.} also today, a guest post: 10 things

{images: mint velvet spring/summer 2010 lookbook}