{fashion inspiration: antonio berardi, london}

. . . after the beautiful nostalgia of revisiting the photographs of our countryside picnic once again, was happily reminded that there are still many perfect summer days left and still time to wear sexy summer whites, and what could be better than the elegantly cuffed trousers and tailored jackets, little white dresses with flouncy skirts and delicately sheer and lacy blouses paired with city shorts and strappy sandals of antonio berardi's resort collection?

{images: style.com}

{at home with: alexander wang}

Flipping through a past issue of domino and happily came across Alexander Wang's NYC apartment {above, styled by Lili Diallo} and remembered completely falling for its perfect mix of rock + refined -- a Terry Richardson photo hangs above the bed and beside a fantastically pretty flea market dresser about which Wang has said, "People are so self- conscious and afraid of things that might make them look cheesy. The coolest people are the ones who aren't afraid to look like dorks."

above + below: images of the bedroom from decorator and friend Ryan Korban's porfolio


above: amazing leather handbag {definitely on the fall shopping list} and shoes with see-through heels from the fall 2009 collection + a sexy, body-conscious dress from the resort 2010 collection

above: home office with perfectly arranged and framed portraits of models styled as oil-field workers, drifters and miners

above + below: bright and spacious new office space photographed by Todd Selby



above: a perfect mix of rock + refined

above + below: worn leather Chesterfield sofa


above: among the coffee table books is the work of iconoclastic photographer Helmut Newton

above: an all-time favourite from the resort 2010 collection -- assymetrical + blue sequins

{images: 1, 5, 9, 11 - photography by david black for domino magazine february 2008; 2 + 3 - ryan korban via desire to inspire;4 - nitrolicious + style.com; 6, 7, 8, 10 - the selby; 12 - style.com}

{runway inspiration: marc jacobs, new york}

. . . had mentioned earlier that have been positively living in light and floaty dresses all summer long and have absolutely fallen for the polka dots, pretty pastels, iridescent paillettes, shiny lamé, and embroidered lace flowers of marc jacobs' resort 2011 collection, undeniably stylish and perfectly pretty, and as perfect for a trip to the shops as for stargazing on a midsummer's night . . .

{p.s.} a few things:
* more fashion inspiration: how to wear sequins
* three more days: for the eames chair give-away

{images: style.com}

{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}

{runway inspiration: stella mccartney, new york}

. . . thursday, thursday and literally dashing out the door for a late lunch, a light trench and sophisticated ponytail kind of day, but a quick hello and leaving you with yet another perfect collection by stella mccartney . . .

à bientôt / see you soon,
xo

{p.s.} previous resort collections:
* christian dior
* erin fetherston
* burberry prorsum
* nina ricci

{stella mccartney resort 2011 via style.com, seen on julia, also posted by kate}

{runway inspiration: nina ricci, new york}

. . . and while we're on the topic of sexy summer dresses, peter copping's resort 2011 collection for nina ricci, inspired by jackie onassis and 1960's greece, is pure ultra-feminine gorgeousness, awash in pale and pretty neutrals -- shades of buttercream and blush intermingling with flourishes of ruffles and lace, perfect for early mornings in sunny cafés and late, starlit ferry rides . . .

{p.s.} favourite is the sweet sheerest lacy little white dress with a hint of august sunrise beneath -- so lovely!

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

{runway inspiration: erin fetherston, new york}

. . . utterly smitten with erin fetherston's resort 2011 collection, a whirl of blush silk crepe and perfectly draped knits, pretty silhouettes and a relaxed elegance made for a sunlit parks and rooftop lunches, afternoon shopping trips and dusky discothèques . . .

{images: style.com via studded hearts, more of this collection at the side project}

{runway inspiration: burberry prorsum, london}

. . . have begun the momentous task of spring cleaning the closet {a little late, it's true, but where has the time gone?}, in hopes of finding a mysteriously missing pair of favourite summer wedges, but hopelessly sidetracked by christopher bailey's resort 2011 collection, with its trademark ruching and always elegant details, beautifully paired with clean lines and cinched waists and a perfect mix of rock and refined . . .

{images: style.com; via [design] relevant, more of this collection at the side project}