Black & White Stripes Redux

Posted on 04/05/2012 by Slim Paley

Poolside, the Tintagel Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka

It seemed everywhere we turned in Sri Lanka, black & white stripes beckoned.

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The Tintagel Hotel

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Lobby of the Tintagel Hotel

We were so inspired!

Of course I had to answer the call.

Now as shopping meccas go, Sri Lanka’s not, well, Mecca, but I did manage to purchase a few things.

I found a great woven cotton black & white striped tablecloth and napkins (which didn’t make the post due to laundering concerns, having been packed with the black rubber coasters I bought that turned my bag into a tire factory for the rest of the trip ( picked up in our first port of call too. A lot of them.)

Well, honestly, who knew they would smell so pong-y?!

(have you read “King Leopold’s Ghost”? A startling book about the history of the rubber trade in the Congo)

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Gazpacho & stripes. (Note rubber charger )

Ga.

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We loved the black & white striping at The Kahanda Kanda Hotel, Galle, Sri Lanka

apparently somebody else was also digging the combo

and didn’t attend his “Lizards #101 Blending In” class.

Ralph Lauren does it beautifully

Going to be pulling out my black & white shirt with the itchy collar and soaking it in Downy til it cooperates.

I even ordered these straws. Probably won’t use them with the tablecloth, but…

Never say never.

I did buy coasters made out of tires.

PS. Straws can be ordered here

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Paradise Road, The Gallery Cafe, Colombo

19th century Swedish corner bench via Balsamo Antiques NY

Amelia Handegan

Great little pop of blue from the bedside lamps!

My beach house stair railings from the second floor

Love this mix in AD

Cute idea for a tea towel bar.

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Tea towels from “Bed Bath & Beyond” $9.99

via

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Gourdon, France

credit unknown

black & white stripes with wicker always works

photo of Miranda Kerr

been there.

Natasha Poly. Isabel Marant jeans if memory serves.

If memory also serves, I had a couple of these little crocheted numbers…

a far cry from last week’s Costco porno dummy suit (still sitting in my car)

Growing up, my mom used to say with a sigh; “Every Dog Has His Day”

( my mom’s from Dublin, she has 50 million of these expressions)

I never really liked that one because I never understood it,

and now that I do , I still don’t like it

but it did come to mind when I saw these

swimsuits hand crocheted in Australia and available on Couture Lab .

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.D Will Black & White stripes inspire you, or are you all about COLOUR for Spring & Summer?

How about combining colour & stripes and having it ALL and we’ll just thumb our noses at those “Dog Days”?!

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If you’re so inclined, you can find last year’s Black & White Stripes post here

Stay tuned for more travel and “Springing into Summer” posts soon!

Black & White Stripes

Posted on 09/19/2011 by Slim Paley

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Still bagging some roses from the garden

We enjoyed a gorgeous weekend here in Santa Barbara, hope you had a lovely couple of days as well. Did you watch the Emmys? I don’t think there were too many upsets or surprises, other than perhaps Charlie Sheen who was shockingly subdued and well-behaved. Good for him-maybe he is Winning after all. I was happy that “Downton Abbey” won several Emmys. The 2nd season premiered in the UK tonight (Sunday) It’s going to take some willpower on my part not to grill my friend in London for details! I thought Jane Lynch was funny and made a fine host but here’s my guilty little secret; I’ve never once watched “Glee”. Of course I never tried out for school plays, the band or cheerleading either so maybe it’s just not in my genetic makeup. As I’ve mentioned once before, my stage debut as a tiny ballerina was a rather traumatic experience that rendered me performance anxiety-ed through high school so suffice it to say no drama teachers were exactly falling over themselves to cast me as “Sandy” in “Grease”

But, enough about me. Drew Barrymore’s dress was stunning, as was Sophia Vergara’s and while the preponderance of red gowns at the Emmys came as no surprise, it was a little unusual to see virtually no black, don’t you think? Gwyneth Paltrow was one of the few stars wearing it in a midriff baring lace gown by Pucci. Thoughts?? Her black & white diamond earrings, diamond bracelets and a diamond & onyx ring, supposedly weighed in at over 100 carats.

Wait, back to me…maybe I should have persevered with the ballet.

Oh well, next life.

Speaking of black & white (How’s that for a segue?!)

This is after all, a post about stripes not dashed dreams, so let’s get started;