{have a stylish weekend + links}

. . . a sunny & blustery late-saturday morning and the carryalls are packed for a weekend adventure -- crested blazers and crisp blouses and a cozy scarf or two for overcast skies and it's off to fireplaces and turning leaves, country drives and quaint cafés . . .

a million thank you's for stopping by to say hello this week, and -- of course -- for the thoughtful comments, tweets and e-mails -- hope you're having a spectacularly wonderful weekend and that it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{a few lovely links:}
* travel: blue skies & white sand
* shopping: this collection
* design: grooves & ruffles
* fashion inspiration: lounging around
* download: customizable cartograms
* guide: top fifty wallpaper resources
* fashion inspiration: lace & tweed
* at home: bronze & mirrored
* photography: miu miu
* design: textiles & handwritten table plans
* colour inspiration: changing hues
* for autumn: coats & capelets
* art: amazing handpainted floors
* recipes: apples & bourbon caramel
* décor inspiration: wicker pendants

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* a fond farewell to summertime
* look book: secret squirrel
* décor inspiration: gracefully gilded
* a new week & a hazy tuesday in september
* falling for fall: stripes, sequins & tartan

{& new for the weekend:}
* farewell summer: croissants on a friday morning
* fashion inspiration: lauren moffat

{images: editorial - chic en seine, raquel zimmerman by terry richardson for vogue september 2007, styling by emmanuelle alt via habitually chic & the fashion spot, scans by kissmesweet; textiles & handwritten plans via a life more fabulous}

{inspiration: black + white}

When there's a moment to spend sorting through the abyss that is the closet, often find myself wandering away to do other things -- sometimes difficult to pare down and part with things, infinitely easier to sort through the hundreds of photographs in inspiration folders -- and happened upon these lovely shots of black + white -- the best of both worlds: bright airiness contrasted with bold elegance . . .









{images:1 - otis & frank; 2 - brigitte bardot via moodboard; 3 - elle decor; 4 - the french bedroom; 5 - desire to inspire; 6 - tiny k; 7 - desire to inspire; 8 - unknown; 9 - australian home beautiful june 2008; 9 - kate moss by bruce weber for vogue november 2006 via moodboard; 10 - skona hem}

{inspiration: grey + white stripes}

. . . the perfect late-summer look

{image: prue ruscoe for vogue australia via follow studio}

{inspiration: on the water + vogue paris}

A little uninspired one morning last week and the only thing to do was spend the rest of the afternoon on the water . . .

Swept up in late-afternoon breezes and sun-reflected waters shimmering like a million diamonds, was reminded of this layout for Vogue Paris:

. . . always obsessed with and inspired by the layouts in Vogue Paris for as long as can remember, and lately with this one is particular, with its varying shades of blue, ultra-thin gold belts, patent leather ankle boots, nautical stripes, and -- best of all -- the always classic crested blazer-- things are looking up for Fall

{images: 1 - Megan Young via Mary Ruffle; 2 - Vogue Paris}

{inspiration: black or white}

If you're still a little uncertain about shades of charcoal sweeping across the walls . . . a comparison: two similar rooms, one crisp + nautical, and the other, dramatic + modern . . .

{images: 1 - from a previous post; 2 - domino magazine}

{decor inspiration: endless summer}

. . . can never resist the elegance of french doors, especially when they are flung open to the intoxicating sounds of the ocean and the last fading days of summer -- and every year around this time, striped rugs and ceiling beams and the charm of a quaint beachside cottage is overwhelmingly alluring . . .

{carolyn espley-miller's beach house in carpinteria, california, photography by david tsay for house beautiful, aged and gilded via the simply luxurious life}

{afternoon in the park + the winner . . .}

. . . wednesday already and how this week {and the summer!} are slipping by . . . and finally, amazingly excited to announce the winner of last week's glamorous give-away: after two unfortunate draws of entries with missing contact information, third time's a charm, as they say, and warmest congratulations to amy, winner of the beautifully designed and stylishly iconic eames chair!

*** congratulations, amy! ***

thanks to everyone who entered and hope you're having a perfectly wonderful week so far,
xo

{images: a glamorous little side project}

{happy monday + nate berkus}

. . . had been hoping to work the room nate berkus designed for katie lee {below}, into a an upcoming charming mix, as the second-floor den has been a long-time favourite, when happened upon a happy collective of nearly one hundred bloggers who also adore the elegance and sophistication of nate's work, always a beguiling mix of beautiful things: antique french jade glass lamps, luxurious tones and textures, gilded headboards and monogrammed linens . . . and so, a few favourite rooms to begin the week after a wonderful weekend . . .

happy monday! hope it's off to a perfect start,
xo



{previous nate posts:}
* two lovely things: mirrors & chandeliers
* two lovely things: pink & purple

{thanks to @creategirl & @moggitgirls for organizing; images: 1 - a previous post; 2 - scan by this is glamorous, photography by paul costello for domino june/july 2008; 3 - brown turtleneck sweater; 4 - a previous post}

{a charming mix of things - three}

. . . oftentimes things come together perfectly and there is endless inspiration at every turn, but sometimes, and especially during exceptionally busy weeks, inspiration is elusive . . . happily, one thing that fell beautifully into place was this collection of fluttering thoughts -- and so, on this early friday morning: a charming mix of things . . .

. . . cozy reading corners



. . . raindrops on the ocean


. . . smokey eyes & windswept hair


. . . seaside inspiration


. . . pretty underthings {from agent provacateur}


. . . skylights



. . . white blouses & summer sandals


. . . perfectly ornate


. . . eiffel tower pillow cover {via ephemerette}


. . . topknots & lacy summer dresses


. . . fires in the springtime {via ephemerette}


. . . pretty packaging


. . . elegantly hidden



. . . gracefully gilded {via aubrey road}


. . . chandeliers in entryways


. . . palest pink seashells


. . . palest pink lace {via definitely golden}


. . . grand ballrooms



. . . masquerade balls


. . . settes & staircases


. . . sea & sky


. . . secret doorways


. . . always & forever, butterflies


. . . and these french words -- il n'est jamais trop tard pour être ce que tu veux être: it is never too late to be what you want to be . . .

*****************

{p.s.} past collections > original | one | two


{top image via [design] relevant], masquerade ball photographed by steven meisel, natalia vodianova photographed by michael thompson for w magazine march 2005, french print discovered via madebygirl}