this set makes me smile

and think about my 2 years spent in india. pretty much wherever you are in the country - himalayas down to kerala - men would come around in the mid-morning and again mid-afternoon with a caddy of small glasses filled with steaming, sweet, delicious chai. i always looked forward to this treat, along with the ritual.


i can totally envision using these glasses - for chai, milk, alcoholic beverages, etc.

find them at the lovely online store ochre, which has about three hundred other things that i love.

$32 for the 5-piece set here.

undecided...

how i feel about the resurgence of the loafer-pump.
if i'm interested in any, it's going to be this pair above. tan, with a rounded, almost pointy toe, i envision wearing them with a plain skirt and grey wool tights.

the rub? their 4.5 inch heels. tough for me to pull off, office or otherwise.

$160 at topshop.

yum

i wish i were back in sf so i could attend this show...i cannot help but love these delightful paintings of scrumptious treats.


painted by paul ferney, who, by the looks of it, usually does lovely and understated landscapes. these tasty treats comprise his upcoming show, which is a collaboration between him and his wife (jordan, of the wonderful blog oh happy day!)

i would snatch them all up if i could, and adorn them on a kitchen wall. i love the color composition, their simplicity. and, of course, the subject matter.

it's no secret

that sharon montrose is a genius.



check out her new store here.


i'll take one of each.

yes

what is your idea of misery?
bullied onto a path i have not chosen

{dries van noten}

i love dries van noten. i love how his clothes have attention to the minute details and how they speak to a classier time.

and i love him even more after reading this interview. (best trait: loyalty and perceptiveness. love)

like many ladies out there

i have a thing for handbags. i like all kinds - clutches, totes, buckets, satchels. i am always on the lookout for a(nother) good one.

but when it comes to storing my myriad bags, that's another story. i'm a bit perplexed. they're too lovely to hide away in a closet, yet i have limited open space in my apartment. i just don't know where to put them when they're eagerly waiting to be carried.

enter the hang-it-all. i love the multi-colored version, but this limited edition eames black and walnut hang-it-all by herman miller really steals the show for me.it's understated but still fun and oh-so-useful. find it at design within reach here. $249.

yves saint laurent...

i do adore you.



especially in your tunic caftan and your sweet little pup on your beautiful indian print pillow with that yummy looking table of goodies nearby.

what a perfect, late summer shot.

photo from nyt.

i have

a real thing for embroidery. it's kind of a problem. of course, it can't be just any embroidery - it must speak to my soul. but when i find an embroidered gem at a thrift store or flea market, my heart sings. when i discovered moxiedoll on etsy, my heart leapt. big time.


now i'm saving up my pennies for some of her wonderful creations. and thinking about trying to learn how to embroider myself...

get ready

i'm already excited for the target collaborations with mulberry and its new offerings from john derian (the latter being one of my all-time favorites).

so i was thrilled to hear of gilt's collaboration with target, which will bring its members access to these goodies early. tomorrow!



at 12 noon on august 20th, sign on to gilt.com to check out the goods. if you're not a member, click here to sign up.

so true...

style is mostly a matter of instinct.

{bill blass}

i just finished reading

my mother's clothes, a small, sweet, stylish book that certainly isn't new, but is definitely wonderful. as she watches her mother struggle with alzheimer's, author jeannette montgomery barron, carefully collects her mother's clothes and brings them to her mother, jogging her mother's memory with each piece. here, she presents them to the reader photographically, along with beautifully pared down descriptions.
a lovely tribute.

cooler weather is calling my name...

not only because i am so sick of this heat and humidity and my legs sticking to my chair, but also because i can't get enough of zara's f/w collection. i love their classic color palette and can wholeheartedly imagine incorporating these elements into my closet.

like this camel coat.

so, so right.

a new specialization, perhaps?

just got wind of fordham university law school's new fashion law institute, launching this fall. advised and supported by the council of fashion designers of america and its president, diane von furstenberg, the school instructs law students on the myriad (legal) issues that face the fashion arena.

think i'll stick with discrimination law, but i admit, i'm awfully curious...

i so identify with this...

"there are two kinds of people: those who see a flea market and can drive past, and those who must go in. i'm definitely the kind that must go in."

cath kidston, from lonny.

mythology + style = perfection

it's somewhat embarassing to admit, but i am a bit superstitious. i recognize that it's just a mind game, but the idea of having a lucky charm has always been appealing to me. i thoroughly enjoy watching baseball players go through their odd routines before they step up to bat, and am always eager to hear about famous people and their superstitions (john lennon and the number 9, duke ellington refusing to wear brown, etc.).

so naturally, when i came across these lovely charms, my heart skipped a beat.

the more i learn about the wonderful jewelry line pyrrha, the more i love. founded by two vegetarian, self-taught jewelry designers who are committed to green practices, the line of purposefully imperfect jewelry was inspired by a box of 19th century wax seals.

one quote from their website: "we don't believe in the idea of perfection; it's attractive as a concept, but in reality it breaks down. instead, we believe in personal signficance. we believe in finding meaning in the briefest moments, and magnitude in the smallest objects."

they are speaking directly to me. i love it.

my favorite piece is either the athena necklace above, available here or the dog necklace below, available here.

not really news

at this point, but this project in santa marta by favela?
makes me smile.

learn more about it here.

nowhere near...

i'm nowhere near getting engaged, but that doesn't mean i don't look at lovely wedding ideas or gorgeous white dresses or...breathtaking engagement rings.

this one made me do a double take.

the combination of the slightly rough hardware and the square cut of that diamond. man. it hits the spot.

perfection.

perhaps

one of the greatest compliments ever.


see more of ed ruscha's work here. this delightful art found here.

i can't inhale

these beautiful from uber talented photographer James D. Griffioen fast enough.
i love love love the feral houses series. call me crazy, but houses like these sing my name.

i'm drawn to their loneliness and their need to be loved, i think. and their completely wild beauty.

griffioen also has a series on feral dogs, which is absolutely stunning and very close to my heart. check it out here.

i stumbled on his wonderful work on this wonderful blog.

oh yum.

i have been looking everrryyyyyyyyyywhere for pots to plant the basil and coriander that i've been growing. i want something that is aesthetically appealing yet down to earth and small enough to fit onto my apartment's windowsill. so far, i've come up empty handed, despite trips to two local hardware store, the big chain hardwares, and even fancy shmancy delightful neighborhood stores like verde (which is, by the way, a fantastic store for lovely little jewelry accessories, great vegan bags and clutches, and yummy house accessories). but no luck in finding the right houses for my growing green garden.


until now:
woweeeeee. i'm just beginning to explore the lovely online store of graham & green. i wonder if they ship to the u.s.?

"simplicity is daring"

from a former creative director of kate spade, julia leach, comes chance.


the clothes look lovely of course - simple and straightforward, slightly nautical, with some humor. but what really pulls me into this site is its personality - chock full of delightful music clips and whimsical finds (like this artist's wonderful envelope collection) and other sweet discoveries.


oodles more to delight you over at chance.

weakness.

i have several weaknesses (which could be more favorably classified as true loves...):

- dogs

- textiles (especially soft textiles)

- good food
- stationery

i just got wind of the sale at kate's paperie, a deliciously appealing stationery shop. up to 90% off. aahhhhh!!! i just spent some time browsing (aka drooling) the wonderful options. this sale is for real too. i purchased this set of travel-inspired notecards and envelopes. originally $18 marked down to $1.80. what?!?!?!!!

i know.
i am just feeding my weakness.