The High Seas

Adorable Faye

Seafood

First Mates


French Riviera, I mean San Juan Islands



Nautical Summit

Anchorage

Land Lubbers

Oh, Captain.

Lovely Bones

It's likely you're aware of Givenchy's skeleton-inspired collection, designed by Riccardo Tisci, as it was the most remarked-about of the Fall 2010 Paris couture shows. The intricate gown below generated a lot of press, featuring precise beading and feather details evocative of the human anatomy. It's a stunning work of art.

Givenchy's gown got me thinking about a much earlier bone-inspired dress— Elsa Schiaparelli's "Skeleton Dress." She collaborated with Salvador Dalí on this design for her Circus Collection (1938). Her black crepe creation featured padded ribs, spine, and leg bones— very provocative and original for its time.

Can you imagine 1930's socialites wearing this little number to high-society functions? (The adventurous ones did— scandalous!)

I wonder who will be daring (or lucky) enough to wear Givenchy's creation this year.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_Schiaparelli

I'm in a Dancing Mood

Louboutin Love

(!!!)

BANANA

San Diego

@Hotel Indigo

Al Gore, depressing me.

Just kidding, Al! It's fun hearing about the Polar Ice Caps melting!


The beach, apparently. (I was indoors, working.)

Café Chloe, our favorite French restaurant.

Beautiful décor, Man Ray photos and French cuisine.


HALL!
HALL!

OATES!
OATES!

HALL AND OATES!

City Lights


Illumination

Sally Sunshine

This post doesn't really have a point, I just love this song. It's Phil singing on the demo— I don't know why the brothers never recorded it for an album. You can find it on The Complete Cadence Recordings 1957—1960.

Sidonie

From "Vie Privée" (A Very Private Affair, 1962)

Radio On!

Britain's "Roberts Radios" are one of the oldest and most well-respected radio manufacturers.

Established in 1932, the company keeps relevant by blending classic features with new technology (get the 'DAB' for Digital or the 'Revival 250' for you analog nerds), and also by offering a variety of casings and styles.

♥

Pictured above are my three favorites— tap shoe black (patent leather), psychedelic freak-out swirl (by Jonathan Adler) & classic pastel cream (leather fabric with gold-plated accents).

♥

Diversity has long been a part of the companies heritage. According to Radiointel.net— "One of (Harry Roberts) marketing strategies was to offer many so-called “specials”…regular production radios offered in varied, sometimes outrageous coverings which allowed owners to flaunt their personal style and taste." In the '30s and '40s, the radios could be purchased in mink, pony skin, leopard skin, suede with jewel accents, and even solid gold.

♥

Want one of your own? Enter to win a 'Revival' DAB over here. Good luck!

for tommy

JOYEAUX ANNIVERSAIRE! Bonne Fete! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! FELIZ CUMPLEANOS! Hau`oli la hanau! BUON COMPLEANNO! Fortuna dies natalis! Wszystkiego Najlepszego! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Huttida Habba Subashayagalu! FELIZ ANIVERSARIO! Vill Glück zum Geburri!

cheers buddy!

Ziegfeld's Girls

The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of popular and elaborate Broadway productions, inspired by the Follies Bergère of Paris. These American vaudevillian variety shows ran from 1907 through 1931. Many of the top entertainers of the era got their start on Ziegfeld's stage.

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The chorus girls, or "Ziegfeld Girls" were not your customary faceless backup dancers. Many of these female performers would go on to become leading ladies. Louise Brooks (pictured below) was spotted by Charlie Chaplin while dancing on the Ziegfeld stage. Marion Davies (below, right), Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Blondell, and others started their careers in Ziegfeld's chorus.

Risqué images of the actresses decked out in elaborate, provocative costumes designed by Erté, Lady Duff Gordon, and Ali Ben Hagan, have influenced numerous fashion spreads. (Right click the image for a larger view.)

The Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2008 fashion campaign featuring Kirsten Dunst immediately comes to mind.

Coincidentally, Kirsten also got to portray the actress and former follies girl Marion Davies in Peter Bogdanovich's 2001 film The Cat's Meow. (Lucky duck.)

Sadly, on May 12, 2010, Doris Eaton Travis, the last of the Ziegfeld Follies girls, died at age 106. Doris began dancing with the Follies at age 14.

Source: Wikipedia.org, Variety.com

"and I seem to find the happiness I seek..."

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance in Top Hat, 1935. Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin.

Growing up, I mainly watched black & white movies and musicals with my mom. This was the way I pictured romance— I thought that naturally, when you dated someone, you would break out into spontaneous song.

Needless to say, when I got my first boyfriend, it was a great disappointment.

People Take Pictures of Eachother

This 1930's press photo (Clara Bow, top) and vintage snapshots below are examples from my vintage photography collection.

If you're looking for interesting, affordable wall art, photography is the way to go.

♥

Over the years, I've procured quite a few vintage press photos from newspaper photo archives, along with old snapshots and film shots I've discovered online. Fashion photos by Richard Avedon, music photos by Jasper Dailey, film reel photography from Hal Hartley's estate— the possibilities are endless, really. They're interesting, relatively inexpensive, and look great grouped together on a wall.

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Here's one of Marilyn Monroe/Bus Stop I came across a moment ago— I've no clue what the back story is on it, but if you don't care about provenance or authenticity, it's a nice looking photo.

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Press photos also make a great gift- you'll find something for your pickiest friend, if you keep your eyes open. Examples: Bardot fans? Check. Nancy Sinatra? Check. Old movies/ big drinker? Check. Sports enthusiast? Check. B-movie/ Bad Hair-do collector? Check. Paul Newman fan? Sign me up. See what I mean?

♥

I tend to favor vintage press photography over snapshots and studio photography, because you get the candid quality of a snapshot, along with the photography skills of a professional photographer. Many photos shot for newspapers have an intimate feel, and aren't mass-produced and turned into kitsch like a studio photograph.

♥

I'll share more of my collection later— they're stashed around my house. None displayed at the moment— no wall space!

Honor Your Mother & Make a Difference

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9th! Are you looking for a last minute gift?
xx

One of my favorite charity organizations, Women for Women International, supports thousands of women who are survivors of war by enabling them to rebuild their lives. If you go here, you can make a donation to the cause in honor of your mother, and Women for Women will send your mom a beautiful Mother's Day Card, designed by the women in their Rwanda program.

xx

You still have time to participate- if you donate today, your mom will receive the card in time for Mother's Day. If you miss the deadline, you can still check out their site for more info about the organization, and to donate whenever you feel inclined. xxxxxxxxxxxx♥Every little bit helps! ♥

xPhoto: "Jackie Kennedy and Caroline in Hyannis Port" Mark Shaw, 1959

Le Petit Radiguet de la Chanson

I'm having a French morning. Join me? During the occupation period of WWII, a young Nicole Louvier was separated from her family and sent to live in the countryside. During this time, she wrote many poems, and would eventually be discovered by an editor who suggested she turn her poetry into music.

Her first record came out in 1953, with a preface by Maurice Chevalier, who gave Nicole (then, age 20) the nickname "Le Petit Radiguet de la Chanson," meaning "The Small Radiguet of the Song" (after Ramon Radiguet, the French Modernist author). Chevalier was basically commenting on the maturity of Nicole's lyrics. Her simplistic, youthful voice conveyed a wisdom beyond her years and distinctly contrasted the yé-yé girl "Lolita" phenomenon that became popular in France a decade later. (Don't get me wrong- I enjoy that music, too.)

I can't find much information about Louvier online, and certainly nothing in the English language. From what I can discern, she eventually moved to a Kibbutz in Israel where she continued writing, and shared her time between Israel and France. She died in 2003 and is currently buried in Paris.

Source: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Louvier

On the Sunny Side of the Street

I'm a huge fan of Desert Modern design, and was fortunate to stay in a home exemplary of the Modern Movement while vacationing in Palm Springs. I can barely work a Polaroid, but regardless, thought I'd share a few photos from the trip.

xx

The house we stayed in was contemporary, with a deep overhang at the entrance. The back interior wall was basically entirely glass, showcasing the pool and the mountain views.

With my husband, striking a prom-pose outside our pad.

All the houses on the street were ah-mazing.

I like this regency pink door the best.

I've never seen an elevated lawn detail like this before.
I didn't snap many photos, but the house was recently sold by Christie's so I found additional shots online.

I'm absolutely in love with this front door.
Desert Modernism is noted for combining indoor and outdoor living spaces.
The objective is to highlight the mountain views (or desert valleys).
I really should have befriended the neighbors...
Movie night, anyone?
Across the street was another beauty.
A closer look at the dramatic colonnade entrance.

Can you imagine owning one of these homes? I'd need to pinch myself daily to make sure it wasn't a dream.