{layers and layers of tulle}

. . . a stunning composition of crackling paint and fairytale gowns

{p.s.} more of this editorial at the side project {thank you, felicity!}

{a glimpse: beautiful balmain}

. . . impossibly elegant gilt-panelled walls and mirrored halls, velvet chairs and intoxicating bouquets of roses, softly pooling drapery and sexy tulle-enveloped dresses: a glimpse into the enchanted world of balmain . . .

{images: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 - joseph dirand architecture for balmain via the diversion project; 3 - magdalena frackowiak, paris fashion week - balmain spring/summer 2009 fashion show via fashionising; jacket via maison des rêveries; ;tulle skirt via a glamorous little side project; daria via a glamorous little side project}

{travel inspiration: tahitian dreams}

. . . once there was the grandest cruise ship and sunny, exotic islands far away -- barbados & st.lucia and other such magical places of white sand and swaying palm trees, champagne and oysters at midnight and the moon reflected in the night waters . . . but since, a city-adoring and wanderlust heart has only traipsed narrow cobblestone streets and gilded opera houses, preferring museums and galleries and sidewalk cafés . . . but every once in a while, when the whether begins to change, the enchantment of the islands beckon . . .

{images: pia miller by darren mcdonald on location in bora bora pearl beach resort & spa, styling by karissa fanning; via studded hearts, originally from the lane}

{colour inspiration: late-summer pink}

. . . the last day of august and how it has arrived so quickly is a mystery, and while the early morning air has become a little cooler, the sun still shines warmly and whether it's ribbons or tulle, stripes on a chair or a soft cashmere sweater, whether in shades of monticello or azalea, somehow, the last days of summer always feels like pink . . .

{p.s.} today is also p's birthday and we're off to lose ourselves in beautiful things . . . à bientôt & hope your week is off to a perfect start xo

{images: photography by jose villa via follow studio; absolutely beautiful things; t.i.g. scan, martha stewart weddings; peonies: photography by sarah tucker via ada & darcy; t.i.g. scan, photography by tom leighton, styling by ali brown and kate french for homes & gardens july 2010; t.i.g. scan, j.crew august 2009}

{fashion inspiration: feather clutch}

. . . one of my very favourite shots is a detail of viviana volpicella, {assistant fashion editor, vogue nippon}, wearing a champagne-coloured silk blouse and holding a large leather clutch by yves saint laurent, photographed by tommy ton of jak & jil for style.com -- there is just something about it that draws you in -- the play of light and shadow, and all the little details that say so much . . . and now this soft and dusky image has become a new favourite -- a swish of tulle, a feather clutch, and an utterly romantic glimpse of an enchanting moment caught in time . . .

{p.s.} silver shoes & feathers and pretty, pretty things

{photography by marianne taylor for the cherry blossom girl via a glamorous little side project & the inspiration board}

{wedding inspiration: always marchesa}

. . . still in love with the idea of little white dresses all summer long, and always drawn to wedding gowns for inspiration {or is it marchesa?} and especially smitten with the ultra-short dress on the right, {although both are stunning} -- the flourishes of tulle and glamorous gold waist make it summertime perfect to wear just about anywhere, especially dancing in heels . . .

{p.s.}
* more insanely beautiful gowns
* more short wedding dresses

{images: marchesa via beautiful things to share}

{have a magical weekend}

. . . spending a little time away in the countryside, but a quick hello to wish you a perfectly wonderful weekend -- thanks for being so lovely and hope it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{a few lovely links from around & about:}
* home accessories: vintage brass
* inspiration board: lily of the valley {via lovely}
* at the office: a stylish wood mouse
* for the love of: books, books, books
* cute, cute: a mini pony
* obsessed with: this wallpaper {design*sponge via twitter}
* lovely, lovely: more wallpaper {layers & layers via twitter}
* summertime: wicker
* pretty packaging: tea time
* photography: hazy days of summer & here
* & most of all: stars

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* like a fairytale: flounces of organza & flutters of silk
* colour inspiration: petal pink & french grey
* summertime: basket handbags
* perfect elegance: smokey violet & herringbone floors
* styling inspiration: fantastically french
* runway & backstage: christian dior
* beautifully ornate: grand ceilings

{for the weekend, two new:}
* inspiration: summer, summer, summer
* two lovely things: entryways

. . . and of course, until tuesday to enter the diamond give-away . . .

{image: photography by terry richardson, vogue paris august 2006, styled by emmanuelle alt}

{happily ever after}

. . . becoming quite obsessed with little white dresses and long, flowing gowns for summer and always inspired by modern wedding gowns -- much like marchesa's resort collection, they are extraordinarily dreamy and perfectly stylish and while they may be designed for walking down the aisle on a sunny saturday in june, could also imagine the flows of organza and flounces of silk on an elegant summer's evening at the ballet or gallery or dancing until dawn . . .

{p.s.} more of this collection

{images: top - vera wang, bottom - vera wang fall 2010 bridal collection via [design] relevant; more of this collection at a glamorous little side project}

{wedding inspiration: like a fairytale}

. . . intoxicatingly dreamy gowns and thoughts of wearing nothing but wisps of tulle and flutters of lace for the remainder of spring, and well into the summer . . .

{monique lhuillier dresses via style me pretty, more at a glamorous little side project}

{fashion inspiration: tulle + runway reviews}

. . . the spring-like weather this past weekend and a perfectly wonderful late-winter thaw have filled the afternoons with wisps of balmy air, making things feel fresh and bright and filled with thoughts of light-as-air frothy little white dresses dreamed up from swaths of tulle . . .

{ a few more ny fashion week favourites:}
* more vb
* mulberry
* sophie theallet
* rodarte
* marchesa
* vera wang

{marchesa autumn/winter 2010 via a glamorous little side project}

{flickers of gold + a hint of blush}

. . . always and especially lately drawn to that elusive shade of soft blush, a hue that hovers somewhere between whiskey and rose and has sometimes been called cinderella . . .

{p.s.} also, more tulle:
* ballgowns & wedding gowns
* works of art
* swedish wedding
* on lindsay & at marchesa
* on the beach
* a collection

{image: mulberry autumn/winter 2010, style.com via a glamorous little side project}

{of golden sands and crystal brooks}

. . . whirling around in a flurry of holiday festivities, last-minute shopping, cupcakes and lunch dates, leaving a beautiful pile of pretty party dresses and layers and layers of tulle behind . . .

{p.s.} a fun new feature at the side project: runway to editorial

{images: a glamorous little side project}

{what are you reading?}

. . . time again to update google reader and, after the question was last posed, happily discovered many new and beautiful blogs -- and so:
what are you reading?






{p.s.} tulle, chiffon, sequins, and black and white film -- this stunning editorial by karl lagerfeld features danish model freja beha erichsen shooting portraits of herself

{editorial: autoportraits, la couture by karl lagerfeld, model: freja beha erichsen for numero magazine #81 march 2009}