{inspiration: backstage at lyell}

. . . shall never tire of backstage photographs . . .

{p.s.} more backstage:
* gold shoes at rodarte
* tiaras at chanel
* red lipstick at prada
* more lyell

{images: photography by tamara schlesinger for lyell -- thanks, felicity!}

{inspiration: paris in black & white}

completely enchanted with these black and white photographs by elisabeth toll -- not only for the fond memories of sacré-cœur and rooftop views, but also for the languid and gauzy nostalgia pervading every parisian moment . . .




{p.s.} more elizabeth toll:
* perfectly plaid
* autumn sunshine
* elephants

{weekend + links}

. . . this weekend is soft silk scarves and mid-october sunsets, long evening gowns and red lipstick, and along the way, a little time to reflect on the wonder of it all . . .

have a beautiful, beautiful weekend, everyone!
xo

{as always, some things you may have missed:}
* at the shops: cranberry milk
* two lovely things: iron console + on the water
* side project: camilla belle
* falling for fall: mustard + gold
* roberta furlanetto: dreamy dresses
* give-away: three-strand necklace

{a few lovely links:}
* nyc: the classic trench
* shopping: gold teapots!
* adore this calendar: paris: a love story {via decor8}
* pretty paper chandeliers: here + here
* DIY: antique wallpaper
* polka dots: in rooms + on tights
* joy's fun new blog: happy lady eats
* roberta furlanetto: dreamy dresses

{p.s.} still time to enter the give-away for a lovely, lovely three-strand necklace . . .

{images: editorial: secret passion; edita vilkeviciute by mario testino for vogue germany june 2008; chandelier, heart - previous post; holding hands - previous post}

{a new week + happy monday}

good {late} morning! monday, monday . . . and hope you've had a perfectly stunning weekend -- here it's been afternoon drives and magical turning leaves, dazzling nightskies and romantically cozy cashmere nights . . . but now, it's back to work, and since we're still away for one extra day, it's strong coffees and out of the office, laptops and iphones and that wonderful feeling of being on holiday while working, although must confess that being immersed in such beautiful things hardly feels like work at all . . .

happy, happy monday! hope your week is off to a perfect start,
xo


{p.s.} for those that may have missed:
* this week's give-away: a simply exquisite crystal & 24 karat gold tray

{images: originally published on march 28, 2010 at a glamorous little side project}

{a hazy tuesday in september}

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

. . . hello! a new week and the unofficial end to all things summer, sun-kissed faces and bare shoulders, lunches on terraces and leisurely midnight swims . . . but with every end there is always a beginning, and always beautiful things to look forward to -- skinny jeans and tall leather boots, camel coats and nights by the fire . . .

hope your week is off to a perfect start,
xo

{p.s.} first evening of the season by the fire at the country house this past weekend -- so romantic!

{also:} how wonderful: {sexy & updated} beehives are back {via}

{and:} if you've only just arrived, new & wonderful things:
* colour inspiration: shades of hèrmes
* two lovely things: black & white
* happy september: live it up in a delicate dress
* at the shops: satomi kawakita, new york
* a fond farewell to summer

{images: editorial - diva; laetitia casta by marcin tyszka for harper's bazaar russia, september 2010 via fashionising}

{late summer nights}

. . . crazy, crazy for this stunningly beautiful valentino dress, belted and worn over a vintage christian dior haute couture brassiere and utterly perfect for this summer's endless dinner reservations and sultry nights in the city . . .

{p.s.} nearly always drawn to softer colours & focus in photography, and yet quite adore the drama and high contrast of this shot

{image: jacqueline jablonski photographed by willy vanderperre for v magazine, styling by olivier rizzo via a glamorous little side project , belt by prada}

{have a romantic weekend + late sunday links}

. . . hopelessly and happily spent after a week of dashing about, but utterly ecstatic to be in the midst of a perfect weekend, for no matter what wonderfully extravagant plans we may have, everything always seems to take on a little slower pace . . .

hope you're having a beautiful weekend,
xo

{a few lovely links:}
* summer inspiration: sunday picnic with biscuits & honey
* sarah loves beige & i, gardénia, but both adore: les exclusifs de chanel
* perfect for daydreaming: a summer attic {jessica helgerson}
* have been wearing this forever, and so: was happy to read this
* equestrian style: perfectly preppy coat hooks

{as always, a few things this week you may have missed:}
* happy monday: & nate berkus
* two lovely things: summer wicker
* fashion inspiration: ewan mcgregor & natalia vodianova
* lookbook: by malene birger
* two lovely things: light & lavender
* hello: & brand new things

{& new for the weekend:}
* design inspiration: gracefully gilded
* runway inspiration: nina ricci, new york

{p.s.} thanks so much for all the wonderful thoughts, fun tweets, lovely comments & e-mails about the new changes around here!

. . . and for those that missed, new & wonderful things:
* photography | fashion | travel
* features & favourites

{images: editorial - storia d´amore, photography by kalle gustafsson for shufti}

{give-away: antique lace bangle set}

today's give-away is a hopelessly romantic antique lace bangle set from 24karas, a brooklyn-based shop by elizabeth karas that specializes in artisanal handmade collections of jewelry for dreamers . . .

this handmade antique lace bangle set evokes the beauty and nostalgia of old world lace and is as perfect with a white eyelet dress on an early afternoon picnic as with satin peeptoes and glass of champagne on a starlit evening . . .

. . . a work of art, each set is unique and takes up to two weeks to create, and contains three bangles: 1 flower lace bangle and 2 european lace bangles, in antique silver, bright silver, and antique brass:

to enter, {click here} to visit the 24karas online shop, and {here} to view the spring/summer 2010 lookbook, then leave a comment below

{bonne chance!/good luck!}



{p.s.} fun facts: 24karas is a favourite of the cherry blossom girl, and this antique lace bangle set was recently featured in the may issue of jalouse magazine

24karas > shop | blog | facebook

* one winner will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail after wednesday, june 9, 2010; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include it with your comment for notification; open to all readers; images: the side project}

{runway inspiration: john galliano, shanghai}

*** more of this collection here ***

. . . always look forward to the dior shows, but with all this talk about diamonds, nearly forgot the resort collection {thanks, felicity!} and, as always, it was one not to be missed -- part imagination, part fantasy, and always a work of art, the resort part of the collection was le savoir faire français, with bardot-inspired hair, red lipstick and floaty fabrics, but by far the favourites were the couture pieces -- pure romance in the form of corseted lace dresses and grand ball gowns showered in embroidery, and dégradé silk organza that made everything feel as if it were a fairytale . . .

. . . and of course, wouldn't dream of leaving without a few . . .








{p.s.} a few things:
* more of this collection: at the side project
* more dior: here & here
* more backstage photos: here

{images: style.com & the love magazine}

{fashion inspiration: sexy & summery}

. . . spring's rather unpredictable weather this past weekend has given way to sunny skies once again, and with it, come thoughts of summer and moving cashmere scarves and neatly folded stacks of cardigans to the back of the closet to make way for flounces of ruffle and flourishes of ribbon, for tiny pleats and shorts & heels and most of all, sexy and summery little white dresses . . .

{p.s.} photographer & model:
* more patrick demarchelier & here
* more edita vilkeviciute & here

{images: edita vilkeviciute by patrick demarchelier for vogue china april 2010 via [design] relevant, styling by nicoletta santoro; & more little white dresses here}