Category Archives: Film

Red & White Stripes (Part IV?)

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It could even be part V

In any case, it’s that time again!

When I drag you all along on my capricious love affair with Red & White Stripes.

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Remember these from yesteryear?

Marc JacobsShe could be a little happier about carrying that bag, couldn’t she?

013fullscreenPerhaps the models weren’t too thrilled about their hair. Seriously. I could have done the hair for this show.

And don’t worry… your computer hasn’t developed dandruff. It’s snowing!!

I always forget about this cute WordPress feature and I’m charmed when it returns every December.

A happy little vignette

L1140587and even happier strawberry cakes at Fauchon in Paris this summer

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View from a cafe in Fecamp (1904) by T.F. Simon via Bloomsbury Life

Someone got their bold on

L1140351A beautiful example of turn of the century red & white wicker at the Marches aux Puces in Paris

Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2013

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L1140581I even found red & white striped macaroons in Paris.

Damn. You can find anything and everything in Paris.

You know what I love? The grandness of the pillars with the down-homeness of the red & white stripes & bamboo-a bold combo in its own way.

_VIE0235.450x675Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2013

02-paper-straw-wreath-mdn-65136761DIY Straw wreath instructions HERE via Woman’s Day Magazine

and lastly, take just a minute to watch this beautiful video

PS. Would it be overly precocious to add a red & white striped hot air balloon to my Christmas Wish List?

Up, up and away…

~

Loco For Rococo

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Well, just as I predicted (genius that I am) while 1/2 the country is elated this week, the other half  is deeply in need of some botox right between the eyebrows.

Sorry I can’t help you with that (Virtual Blogging Botox Party?!) but I can offer some completely over the top, nothing even vaguely tethered to reality escapism for just a couple of minutes.

If you’ve picked up  just one fashion magazine lately no doubt you’ve clocked the fierce force of ornamentation, brocade, bling, bang & baroque that assailed the runways this Fall.

Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Balmain, Alexander McQueen, and Valentino were only some of the big boys that pulled out all the stops with needlepoint and pearls.

Seriously I don’t even want to think about how much these jackets must cost (or how much they weigh for that matter…couture as exercise?)But the exquisite workmanship and beauty  cannot be denied.

Unless of course you’re a dyed in the wool “Grunge” devotee’

In which case these Celine sandals from Spring ’13  might be more up your ballroom

I admit, chances are very slim we’re going to see anyone wearing most of these, but it’s certainly Fantasy Fashion at it’s best.

Speaking of Baroque, Rococo and Fantasy…When I was in Paris a few weeks ago I saw John Malkovich in the Hotel Costes restaurant. (Well, actually one of my girlfriends spotted him-literally the first SECOND we walked in. She’s rather genius at that. She can also read a guest list upside down. In French) It took me a minute or two before my one lasik-ed eye was able to confirm that yes, indeed it was J.M.  He looked, you know, pretty good, pretty cool & pretty louche, much how you would expect John Malkovich to look holding court in a french bar at 1:00am. Afterwards, my friends had a little visit with him and said he was utterly charming. Don’t ask me why I didn’t go with them. If it had been Sawyer I would have.  Anyway (sorry-this is getting so long!) when I got home to Santa Barbara a friend called and said she was having some people over to watch “Dangerous Liaisons” and would I like to come. Would I??!

Do you remember how GOOD that film was and can you believe it was made in 1988??

Does this jog your memory?

Of course we’ve had several films with similar sensibilities since then

Sophia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” comes to mind. It was beautiful and fun but didn’t even come close to the naughtiness and wit of “Dangerous Liaisons”

Marie Antoinette’s bedroom at Versailles


Alexander McQueen

Valentino

Valentino. Magical, right? I love thistles.

Subtle Baroque by Bottega Veneta, Fall 2012

Balmain Fall 2012

Dolce

I think Dolce

Dolce Fall 2012

Karlie Kloss in Dolce & Gabbana

Judith Leiber minaudière

Balmain- wow. I would just hang this on my wall and touch it every day.

Nicholas Kirkwood

and possibly my favourite coat of the season from Fendi

The moment Malkovich realizes she is completely in his  power is staggeringly good. The dude can act.


Valentino. I love the way the metal studs hip up the needlepoint, don’t you?

This has to be a Tim Walker photo, right?

He loves those boots

Happy Day to you and give yourself a treat and watch “Dangerous Liasons” again.

~

(any uncredited images via Tumblr or Google, Kate Blanchett in first Vogue image)

Slow Dance

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Greetings from my home in Sun Valley, Idaho, where Summer and Fall are just beginning their slow dance.

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The view from my bench at the river’s edge

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The water level is lower than I can ever remember it in all the years of coming here

I could actually walk out, almost to the middle and fish.

(if I knew how to fish. Love those cute waders though.)

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It also revealed this big pile-up of wood  right below my house, which I suspected might be the work of naughty BEAVERS!

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So after going back in and changing into Rabid Beaver Bite Protective Gear…

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I carried a long stick and bravely ventured closer.

(everyone that could save me from attacking beavers was still sleeping)

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On closer inspection, the wood was all charred and was just the stump of an old tree felled by the forest fires much farther north this summer.

Phew.

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But Mother Nature had also been very busy creating new life, even as we approach this season of dormancy.

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The Hops vine I planted eons ago finally took root and decided to blossom.

I’m not saying I’ll be starting a home brewery anytime soon, but I might have some nice garlands to festoon the mantle for Fall.

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But the biggest and best surprise of all (and boy, was it a surprise!) was opening the door of our home to find New York Son standing there waiting for me!!

My husband was in on the secret, but somehow managed to keep it under wraps (truly, a miracle ) so when I said “I’ll turn off the alarm” and my husband said “I told them to leave it off for us” you might well imagine the split second of horror I experienced upon seeing a big dude in a black leather jacket standing in the mud room!

Once my heart started beating again, it was overflowing with happiness!

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That afternoon we hit all our favourite spots in Ketchum

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The Iconoclast Book Store

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Where the husband picked up this beautiful edition of  ”The Beautiful and Damned”, my son bought the latest Junot Diaz book and I found an old book about coconuts (can you say obsessed?!)

 I finished “Gone Girl” and I’ll say this; it was a real page-turner.

In fact I really didn’t want to put it down until the end, which-oh I hate to say it!

was so implausible that it ruined it for me.

soorrreeee :(

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Hot dogs were consumed at Irving’s. Me: 1.  Son: 4.

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Some fun window shopping at Jensen Stern Jewellers 

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How fun and unique and very “Sun Valley” are their windows?!

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Good beaver hunting chandelier earrings

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Vegetarians look away now

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Mighty Man-sized steaks were grilled

Books were read and football watched(ish)

No hiking for me due to the tail bone injury.

We also enjoyed the documentary “My Best Fiend” by Werner Herzog about his relationship with the actor Klaus Kinski.

Listen, if you’re ever worrying that you might be going crazy?

Watch this documentary and you’ll feel better. You’re like, so normal compared to Klaus.

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All in all, a most excellent time was had by all.

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The leaves of the trees on our property snapped with my iPhone, and not enhanced in any way.

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So I might even go so far as to say I’m almost ready for Autumn…

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But not for the clocks to be adjusted.

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In the park, downtown Ketchum.

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Wishing you a terrifically splendid and sane week

xoxo

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~

J’aime Marc et Louis

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I had the wonderful opportunity in Paris last week to sneak away with a couple of girlfriends to take in the Louis Vuitton-Marc Jacobs exhibition at Les Arts Decoratif.

What fun!

Although I never got the chance to see the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met (missed it by one day, not that I’m bitter)

I did see the Princess Grace exhibit in London and I must say the “Louis” show is far superior.

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While my menfolk were climbing the stairs of la Tour Eiffel, we girls were engaging in some good old fashioned Fashion New vs Fashion Old chat,

Which included the big “What the hell happened to our waists in the last hundred years” quandary

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Several walls covered in video screens bombarded your senses with cultural icons, film clips and the multitude of ways in which Jacobs, in his role as designer for Louis Vuitton, is inspired.

Definitely one of the highlights of the exhibit.

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Funny how the Steven Sprouse collection already feels like a total blast from the past.

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Fan Dance Video  from the exhibition

Can we just pretend I had included this on my previous “FAN-TASTIQUE” post-

you know the one I posted the morning before I went to this exhibit!

(hate when that happens)

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 little mini Marc Jacobs in a case as you exit the show

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The Marc Jacobs Fall 2012-13 collection for Louis Vuitton is a veritable Alladin’s Den for those

who truly appreciate over the top luxe decadence & glamour.

Who…

MOI??

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Although hardly befitting my lifestyle-as I live in the land of sweatpants & Uggs, and though I often bemoan that fact, I’m guilty as charged :(

Still,  we can all dream.

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And really,

One does need someone to carry this to prevent snagging One’s coat on the gems, duh

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A-line coats, jewelled  leather skirts and cropped trousers in tapestry fabrics adorned with flower-shaped buttons…

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  Embroidered jacquard, sumptuous brocades, jewel toned holograms and resin gems appear throughout the collection.

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Enormous  hats embellished with fur plumes and high heeled mary-janes heighten the drama.

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excruciatingly gorgeous

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Here you can watch a beautiful video of the shooting of the Fall campaign by Steven Meisel

with Marc giving a little explanation;

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Video of Fall 2012 campaign 

This is really quite beautiful, please take the time to watch!

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Amusez-vous and we’ll rendezvous on the train platform, oui?

 I’ll be appearing from amidst billows of steam, right below the giant clock as the last whistle blows hauntingly…

~

FAN-TASTIQUE

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Wow. It’s the first day of August already people!

Time to get out your fans of all descriptions.

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Boldini Lady with Fan

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Lady with Fan John Singer Sargent

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I’ve been traveling a lot and I’m here to report that more than a few spots around the globe are sweltering!

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Are you quite comfortable swishing a fan or do you find it too much of an affectation?

I brought a couple of mine to Greece.

Just, you know, because.

I’m a 19th century gal after all.

We were in the company of a lovely Spanish couple.

After watching both of them using their fans…well, let’s just say, I’ve never felt more ungainly.

It’s all in the wrist apparently…

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How about the parasol?

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Are you cool with it, or do you feel like an elderly Asian woman?!

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Our parasols on the drive at The Amanwella, Sri Lanka

I’m torn, but no doubt about it, they were a requirement here.

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.Duvelleroy fan

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My fan at breakfast in Greece

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A still from “The King & I”.

 Can you imagine wearing those dresses in the suffocating heat of summer in Siam?!

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Fan by Duvelleroy

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The language of fans

(where’s  ”Are you going to eat that last french fry??”)

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Gustav Klimt

Diego Docini

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Louis Vuitton Eventail chinoiserie fan $2,515

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Lulu Guinness Fan clutch

THE place to find both beautiful and fun fans- DUVELLEROY

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Cab Calloway; The Lady with the Fan video 

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I’ll be home very soon.

Until then, stay cool!

xox

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