4.30.2011

SATURDAY SHOPPING ♥ A LAB ON FIRE

I LOVE this! A LAB ON FIRE believes if a designer can make an awesome fancy soap and sell it for less than 20 bucks, then surely they can create a really nice fragrance without charging the normal crazy price, which we do end up paying. I am a big huge fan of good fragrance. I like really expensive French fragrances that smell like vanilla. I own at least 4 large bottles of Comptoir Sud Pacifique which runs about $100 per bottle. And I've been wearing CSP for at least 10 years. I have no idea what A LAB ON FIRE's L'Anonyme ou OP-1475-A Eau de Toilette smells like...other than what the site says...bergamot, geranium, blond woods, dark amber and suede leather...but I'm willing to try it for only $15.00 on their website. Amazing. It's also on the Colette site for $24. Really gorgeous packaging..."conceived in Paris....made in Brooklyn, NY". (What gorgeous packaging...what an excellent little gift!)♡







images from colette.fr

GIRL FRIDAY ♥ ANTM KASIA PILEWICZ

Yes, I admit it. I watch ANTM. I was really late when I started watching, though. I really only started   watching it last year or so. I don't see most of these girls as real models, though. Except maybe for Ann Ward. But I really love seeing the talent they bring on the show from super stylists to revered photographers. And it is entertaining and good brain-dead TV after I've worked a long hard day and want to turn my brain off a while. For this round of America's Next Top Model, I was really rooting for the "plus-size" model Kasia Pilewicz. First of all, they need to change that label "plus size", because anyone who's worked with models in the industry knows...they all look like super stretched-out 12 year olds. Sticks.  Really TALL sticks. Models don't usually look like anyone your age unless you're 12. They don't usually look anything like a "normal" skinny person. Or, on occasion they might look totally normal...like when I met Karen Elson one night at a Dazed party when I was still writing for them. She looked like a Dead-head from high school. I hardly recognized her. (She was super nice, btw.) So Kasia, for me, is pretty unique and I love love her personality. She carries herself well and her style is amazing.


I read a few interviews with her after her departure and she really laid it out there...that she was shocked (as were a lot of people) when she got cut and that they made her look "awkward" when she was posing, because apparently they used footage when the photographer wasn't even shooting and she was re-adjusting herself or whatever. I don't know how excited I am to watch the rest of this season now that Kasia is gone. I hope she gets a lot of gigs from her exposure on the show, even though she's already shot for cool pubs like V mag. We'll just have to hope and see.♡


kasia in V magazine....loving it!
loving her.
something about her.

more girl friday ♥ curly girl

images from starsofreality.com

4.28.2011

♥♥..♥..♥♥...THE ROYAL WEDDING...♥♥..♥..♥♥

IS HERE....! I'm going to watch The Royal Wedding and I'm excited! I think it's cool and I think it's really needed with all this depressing news going on all over the world (I don't even want to list it all...but it's A LOT and it's happening all over). I hardly ever use an actual TV set anymore. I pretty much watch everything from my Mac (did you see the first episode of the Southpark season? CRAZY!)...and if you aren't somewhere where you can sit and watch it on a TV, you can watch it on YouTube on The Official Royal Channel. I'll get the GIRL FRIDAY post up tomorrow. It's going to be a good one. xx PS I really really really want a cheesy Royal Wedding souvenir salt and pepper shaker. I guess I need to hit one of my UK friends up. YEA! Some happiness! We need some happiness!♡



Yes...I'm really wanting to see what she will wear! :)






THURSDAY SHOE ♥ FOREVER 21 D'ORSAY

Usually I'm not too keen on super cheapy heels solely for the fact that they usually end up looking cheap and/or they cut up your feet. No bueno. I haven't tried these Peep Toe D'Orsay Patent Heels yet, or really even seen them in person, but I am hoping they a) look good and b) feel comfy and leathery. Because the style is nice, patent leather is awesome and they're only $23 or just under that. I'll let you know when and if I pick them up and how they work out. Fingers crossed.♡




more thursday shoe ♥ dries van booty

images from forever 21

4.27.2011

WEDNESDAY BAG ♥ THE FASCINATOR

Does everyone know what a fascinator is? I was thinking maybe the super young kids are now using this word frequently? Dunno. Just a guess. I personally think it's a lovely word and I love what it refers to. Here's the definition from Wikipedia:

A fascinator is a headpiece, a style of millinery. The word originally referred to a fine, lacy head covering akin to a shawl and made from wool or lace. The term had fallen almost into disuse by the 1970s.[1]
In the early 21st century, the term has made a comeback, but the meaning has slightly changed; it is now used to describe a delicate, slightly-to-very frivolous head decoration worn almost exclusively by women. A fascinator may be worn instead of a hat to occasions where hats were traditionally worn—such as weddings—or as an evening accessory, when it may be called a cocktail hat. It is generally worn with fairly formal attire.

Pretty fabulous, right? Maybe we're all headed back to days when no lady left their house without a hat? Or a fascinator? Fascinating...? (I couldn't resist.)
Here are some lovely fascinators I found online for y'all....they're all made by a really talented girl who calls her company TOPSY TURVY DESIGN. She is talented! I really like how she doesn't just stick to bridal designs. 

i love these butterfly fascinators on vintage mannequin heads.


really clever and so useful for a photo shoot. which is probably why her work has been featured all over on tv and print!

And then I got to looking through the rest of her hats and I found something I LOVE LOVE...it's called the PRINCE POPPYCOCK (my mother and I were big fans of Prince Poppycock and wish him big success!)...the PRINCE POPPYCOCK 18TH CENTURY TRICORN ! I'm not sure this counts as a fascinator, but maybe perhaps because it is quite small? I will definitely have to get one of those as soon as I have an extra $200 to spend on a hat! :) 

gorgeous and gorgeous mannequin

one day i will own this!
And here is a pic from her etsy site of Prince Poppycock! No, I didn't watch the show. But my mother did and she called me over to watch him and I loved the costume and act. PS My dear friend Adele Mildred who drew the lovely girl in my logo actually works with Stephen Jones (yes, THE Stephen Jones)...so maybe one day when she comes up for air, I can get her to make me a gorgeous fascinator. :)♡

prince poppycock


more wednesday wonder ♥ giles

images from topsy turvy design

4.26.2011

TUESDAY TAILOR ♥ ROYAL WEDDING DRESS

Everyone who reads my blog has probably noticed I do mention weddings of the past and, more specifically, wedding dresses. So of course I was going to do a post on the lovely royal wedding dresses of the past as the nuptials are going to be here soon...and yes I wonder what her dress will look like in this modern age. Though, I would kill to own something like Princess Charlotte's dress (below)....you can see how the 60s took their influence in some cases straight from the past. I wanted to embed two awesome videos that CNN put together about the bride's gown and the groom's tux...but they don't allow embeds, which is really stupid. But I'll put the links here (hers) and here (his) for you. And then you can have a longer look at some of the dresses they mention in the videos.

PRINCESS MARGARET'S DRAWING ROOM EXHIBIT
GORGEOUS ROOM WITH GORGEOUS ARRAY OF ROYAL WEDDING GOWNS. WHAT AN AMAZING JOB TO LOOK AFTER THEM.

PRINCESS CHARLOTTE 1816
This is my favorite vintage, or rather antique, dress of the bunch. It's made of silver and has an empire waist which I love love. If this dress was shorter, like a mini, it would be a perfect dress for ME! :) I also love her name...Charlotte. :)

JUST AMAZING.
THE WEDDING OF PRINCESS CHARLOTTE

QUEEN VICTORIA 1840
It's just amazing that we get to see the dress PLUS we can see the actual photos of her wearing the dress. I LOVE LOVE LOVE fashion history. And I do love love weddings.

ALSO VERY PRETTY....BUT NOT SILVER OR GOLD.
THE WEDDING OF QUEEN VICTORIA

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF KENT 1963
This is another dress from the early 60s that I adore. I do see this style a little bit around when I'm foraging for vintage. It's a very very chic style to wear, even today. Though I still love love the rockstar look of Princess Charlotte's dress.

REALLY CHIC AND GORGEOUS.
GORGEOUS VEIL AND FLOWERS.
THE WEDDING OF PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF KENT

PRINCESS MARGARET 1960
I don't know where all the images are of Princess Margaret's wedding dress. But it was equally chic...like Princess Alexandra of Kent's dress. I had the wrong information on here as to who Princess Margaret was or something. But an anonymous reader looked it up for me. And here it is: Princess Margaret was the sister (now deceased) of the present Queen Elizabeth. And Princess Alexandra is the cousin of the present Queen Elizabeth. Her father was The Prince George, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George V and Queen Mary, the Queen's grandparents. Her father was the younger brother of the Queen's father, who became King when their oldest brother abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. ( Yes, I looked it up and she is correct. I have no where I misread. Oh well.) I also learned that Princess Alexandra is also known as The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, or simply Lady Ogilvy. Isn't that amazing? :)

REALLY GORGEOUS, ALBEIT HUGE, DRESS.
THE WEDDING OF PRINCESS MARGARET

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF DENMARK 1863
Another really lovely old dress for the times. Though also quite huge and decorated, I am sure it would have made a massive impression when she wore it to her wedding.

REALLY AMAZING. BRIDE AND GROOM. THOUGH HER DRESS MUST HAVE WEIGHED A TON!
THE WEDDING OF PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF DENMARK

I also found this picture of Queen Elizabeth's wedding shoes...though it's not in any of the videos in the links above.

REALLY GORGEOUS.
I will try to do something on the wedding cake (do they have wedding cake at royal weddings? Or fancy wedding desserts?) as I LOVE cake. And do watch both videos above. One of them goes into the whole Savile Row ( Ozwald Boateng ) doing Prince William's military suit. We'll also probably have a SURPRISE GUEST BLOGGER who might do something more on wedding dresses! But I can't disclose that yet. :)

Thanks again for reading and have a lovely lovely day. I personally am very excited to watch the wedding. ♡


more tuesday tailor ♥ jcdc fall 2011

images from the following links:
royalwedding.aol.com, oldbroadonparade.blogspot.com, photogallery.thestar.com, gogmsite.net, madeleinesdaughter.blogspot.com, everaftermiami.com, forum.alexanderpalace.org

WHAT'S ON MY DESK ♥ ME APRIL 25, 2011

Wherever I end up working, be it a kitchen table, a desk, a coffee table or a desk at work, inevitably I accrue a lot of inspirational knickknacks and tchotchke  which also includes make up and maybe some lip or skin balm. And while I'm working, I sometimes shoot a picture or two or ten of these things as a little "portrait" of myself. Like a time capsule photo, if that makes sense. If I get a new lipstick that I really really really love, I will probably keep it on the table. While I write or conceptualize  for projects or dream, I'll look at it and the other things on the desk. Dunno...I've always been like this since I was a kid. I keep my favorite things or new things right there. But I think a lot of creatives do this. If you've ever gone to a studio that belongs to someone who works in a creative field, you know exactly what I mean. Well, maybe everyone does this. Anyway, I just shot a little pic of this in the dim light with my IPhone and thought it would be a good little bit for the blog. See what's on my desk....

WHAT'S ON MY DESK clockwise from left to right:
I see a lot of little lists of things I want to accomplish and bits of inspirational quotes on Post-Its. And a vintage green floral coin purse that I use as a mini jewelry bag. It's a really cute bag, but I can't remember where I got it. I think I've had it since I was a teen. I keep my favorite rings and necklaces and things like a bobby pin with a  fresh-water pearl wrapped onto it with copper wiring from Ver-Unica in San Francisco (a very posh high end vintage clothing shop my friend Cindy owns...the Traina sisters and people like Winona Ryder shop there). These are different, but they're very cute. Then there's a cherry sore throat spray and a black Sharpie marker (have those all over everywhere in every bag and box). Then I see the bottom of Cosmetics à la Carte's Shine Illuminator which I wrote about in another post. Next to that is a Starbucks giant tea and ELF's Conditioning Lip Balm in Peaceful Pink. I think this balm is amazingly moisturizing and pretty. And I love the little jewel box it comes in. I always have this with me. Especially now that I'm sick and my lips keep drying out. Below that balm is the Overnight Skin Cream with Bergamot from Boots. I love the old-fashioned glass packaging. Then there's a milk chocolate colored lighter for my candles. I see Mac's Freckletone lipstick next to a Jemma Kidd lipstick in Belle de Jour (which I have not worn so much as it is really really pale). There's a moisturizing hand cream in the scent Vanilla Coconut by ELF. I love the smell, but it's not moisturizing enough at all. I need to keep reapplying. But I do love the scent. Then I have some samples from Cosmetics à la Carte. Under that (you can't really see the box) is a tinted moisturizer by Paula Dorf in the color Cannes (Why doesn't anyone review/use Paula Dorf in the vids I watch? Her products are awesome!). It makes my face really tan. Like I was in Cannes. :) Then there are two lip plumping glosses that I LOVE by Lip Fusion in the colors Sugar and Dream. Next to that in black is a Paula Dorf sheer lipstick in First Love. It's a really sweet shimmery sheer color. I love it. And there's Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm, also in a really lovely old-fashioned tin. And then finally next to that are two gold-y hair clips with tiny black metal roses on them from Forever 21 (I bought them a long long time ago). Oh yeah...there's also a nail file. Crooked and chipped nails drive me crazy. If one chips, I have to take care of it immediately.

I'll probably try to get some of my interesting creative friends to show me what's on their desks, too.  And I'll definitely be writing about some of the product above in detail, like the Paula Dorf products as well as the Lip Fusion plumpers. Stay tuned...the TUESDAY TAILOR post is going to be up later! Thanks for reading, lovelies!♡

PS This isn't my desk...it's someone's coffee table that I've been using as a desk at their place...

4.25.2011

MAKEUP MON ♥ PORCELAIN SUGAR GLOW

I love LULA magazine. Always have. But MATERIAL GIRL magazine  (which I've never been able to get in the States) is really killing it...in a good, original way. Especially with this PORCELAIN SUGAR GLOW story. I love it. I think it's more fun to do editorial and especially beauty editorial this way, using young candy-colored lenses.♡







more makeup monday ♥ "erin" hair & make up

images from material girl magazine