Tag Archives: Hermes

The City of Brights

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So many posts…so little time

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Via

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Hence, here we are, almost at the end of summer (say it ain’t so!!)

and me still sitting on a stash of unfinished seasonal posts that never had their moment in the sun

Though most of you could have probably lived without seeing this shot of Gisele,

 I did, so now you have to.

Besides, it’s a great pic to leap into a little post about the preponderance of fluorescents this summer, is it not?

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Damien Hirst cufflinks

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Did you notice the brights too?

 I’m sure they were in all the magazines, but it didn’t really register until I went to Paris.

The flash of fluorescence was everywhere.

My great girlfriend, who lives there, had her nails painted like so;

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I thought it was adorable. (please forgive the poor photo- it wasn’t originally intended to be a hand shot)

Then another friend joined us from Australia- she too had little touches of fluoro in her look; a sweet combo of tiny bright enamels on chains around her neck.

Suddenly I felt terribly beige.

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Slim Paley

Furry Fluoros for fashionable kids at Colette, Paris

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Butterflies on trend

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Fluorescent Fendi Fall 2012

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I could have used these sweet sandals from Net A Porter.com in Paris

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Fun, easy DIY salad bowls for a day-glow picnic perhaps?

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Net-A-Porter.com

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The Louis Vuitton-Marc Jacobs exhibition in Paris

( pretty much the same consistency as my hair most of the summer so I was sort of in style)

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Peter Som designed tennis ball for the U.S. Open

Gotta say- that’s my kind of tennis

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I do have these cute little fluorescent rubber sandals-

but did I bring them to Paris?

of course not!

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The Hermes, Paris windows were gorgeous.

 Each one a different fluorescent colour, these circles slowly turned causing the sand within to create art in motion.

So clever.

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another easy DIY via Pinterest

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Upon returning to California and finally getting my hair dealt with

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What do I see?

My colourist’s adorable assistant sporting the very same trend, though slightly more embellished

Oh what fun to be a girl!

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Amber Valetta and son via Vogue

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I left Paris with a bottle of wildly fluorescent pink polish nestled in my bag

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And the reaffirmation that

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One can never visit Paris without coming away inspired, n’est ce pas?

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Old Bags

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Seasonal Hectickness is upon us isn’t it-I’m already feeling anxious, aren’t you? Many thanks again for all your great Thanksgiving day tips though-they were fabulous!

One thing I like to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed is organize my closets. Call me crazy because, quite frankly, I have so many other things I should be doing but there’s something about clean closets and drawers that calms me.  The only problem is I have a terrible tendency to get side-tracked at the moment. Actually, truth be told,  I’ve always been that way but lately it’s become chronic! I was packing a suitcase and the next thing I knew, I was playing with purses.

Whatup?!  I make lists, but as quickly as I cross off items, more appear.

I know the  real key is to prioritize, focus and breathe deeply.

I’m trying, really I am.

In the meantime, I’m tidying my vintage bag collection.

Prioritize Schmioritize…

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Two of my favourite antique bags

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Little black velvet sac with sapphires…

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Look how the top folds out to reveal a mirror & built in rouge cake -just like my grandmother used to have. Even the original puff and label is still intact.

Alas, does not accommodate iphone.

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Turquoise, pearls, bakelite, rhinestones…you name it, this bags got it.

Could also work as a heavy weapon if you were caught in a dark alley.

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Silk and velvet with a fringe, this bag is really big – sort of unusual for an evening bag. I love the long fringe-so Boho for it’s day!

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Several years ago my husband bought me a fun book full of wonderful images of handbags called “Carried Away” published by Vendome Press. 

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Image from “Carried Away”

A purse belonging to Napoleon’s notorious sister Pauline (1780-1825)

 I was going to say I guess no soap was found in it, but that was Josephine wasn’t it? :)

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My Tiger’s Eye bag. Also not the lightest bag in the drawer.

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An antique silk bag from “Carried Away”

Reminds me of the canopy on an antique baby carriage.

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Antique velvet  & silver bag via “Carried Away”

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Long time readers might recall a couple of these bags from “vintage” S.P. posts but after well over 300 posts a girl is allowed to show up with an old bag or two once and awhile isn’t she?

Like beaded grocery bags-I told you I was recycling this month!

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OK, time to bid you adieu and go take one last loving look at my clean closet before I go to bed and count lists jumping over fences.

PS. Do you have any secrets to keeping organizational anxiety at bay?

Do share!

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(first photo via “Carried Away”)

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Bandwidth

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Do you ever get a song stuck in your head?

So it is for me at the moment with colour blocking and the colour orange.

Good thing orange is one of my favourites.

Once I had  ”I shot the Sheriff” stuck in my head for several days. I mean really stuck.

I don’t want to say I hate that song,

but…

I hate that song.

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Blouse- Carla Zampath, skirt- Charlie Brown, scarf & hat- Hermes

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My Gingersnap roses

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Giambattista Valli

Paging Lyndsey Lohan…:)

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Bottega Veneta

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.Hermes reversible orange/caramel tote

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Hudson International

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Celine

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Hermes always gets orange perfect.

Come to think of it, they pretty much get everything perfect- except their  prices :)

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Giambattista Valli

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Furla bag

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BCBG

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Orange watch Hermes

Love

Super Archimoon Outdoor light

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“You and Me Bed” by Ennio Arosio

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Celine

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Miu Miu

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Zara

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Giambattista Valli

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Frosty Orange Creme 

Recipe ( I would substitute real cream for CoolWhip & thick coconut milk for condensed milk)

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Narcisco Rodriguez

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.Maria Pergay sofa circa 1972

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Katie Waissel

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Public bike

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Limoges

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Kimberly McDonald

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A ‘Summer Orange’ shelf in my closet

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Slim Paley photo…kidding!

Hermes photo

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I have to go now.

This photo has just stirred up the terrible memory of selling my Hermes black & gold Collier de Chien belt on Ebay in a moment of insanity

(convinced I wouldn’t wear belts high on the waist any more)

Ugh! Shake it off Slim, Shake it off!!

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Even worse, I’m starting to hear “I Shot the Sheriff” in my head again

I’m going to cleanse my mental jukebox with a song that I don’t mind listening to over and over- In fact it’s a favourite;

I dedicate this song to my belt, where ever in Australia it lives now :(

“Can We Still Be Friends” by Todd Rungren

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(first photo- Daria Werbowy)

The Happy Blues

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A Beauteous Blue Day in California

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One of House Beautiful Magazine’s most popular contributing editors, Lisa Cregan has a brand new book out about decorating with the colour BLUE.

Despite it’s diminutive stature (just 5″ x 7″)  the book is brimming with ideas in which to incorporate this most popular of colours into any room in your home, and proves that good things do indeed come in small packages.

(Available on Amazon)

 

.Slim Paley photo of a page in the book

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The cover wrap removes and unfolds to become this fun colour chip chart

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Dries Van Noten

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photo Don Farrall

Aquamarine & tourmaline cabochon bracelet by Sidney Garber

Paraiba Tourmaline & Diamond bracelet by Henry J. Sillam

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CND Anchor Blue

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Crystal Renn

Versace dress

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Estee Lauder Pure Colour nail polish #015

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This tranquil, exceptionally private destination on a small island  in Fiji,  was developed, ironically, by the creator of “Red Bull”

Go figure.

This is perfect for me…it’s like “Survivor” without the yucky survivor part.

This could finally be my chance to be the last remaining person on the island!  (I used to be a Federal Agent you know. Only Survivor nerds are going to get that :) )

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Just watching this video is like taking a mini vacation;

Go ahead, treat yourself and click here- you deserve it!;

Laucala

 

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What I would take if I were going to Laucala;

Bottega Veneta “Palm Beach” Limited Edition bag

I could eat this colour

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Mikael Jansson

Me, poolside in Laucala Daria Werbowy in Salvatore Ferragamo

OPI “Yodel Me On My Cell”

 

Rug by Lachlan Allen

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Even oil tankers can be beautiful

Australian photographer Anne Penman Sweet lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of N.S.W.

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Hermes Bleus D’Ailleurs Porcelain

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Joe Nye


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Please pass the calamari

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“Storm in a Tea Cup” by John Lumbus

Turn the handle and the golden boat rides the mechanical waves, above, the stormy clouds reveal a shining bolt of lightening.

 

What more does one need really?!

 

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Mighty Nature

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A very wet morning

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As Mighty Mother Nature continues to flex her powers all over the globe, we are attempting to stay afloat here in Santa Barbara….

The rains have been epic, with more predicted in the next few days.

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Lilies outside of the library this afternoon

 

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Needless to say, everything is very green which is nice and seasonal,

However…

 

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We said goodbye to a dear old sentry this morning

 

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But I know that conditions are far worse in other places.

There are friends and family stranded all over the world, so I send good wishes and prayers for everyone to get home to their loved ones, where ever they may be.

 

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Courtesy of Slim’s English Countryside Correspondent

 

Meanwhile, back indoors…

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The lush Angel finally made her way from propping up the bar to a more dignified position  (just this morning!)

 

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Decorating has commenced

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Freshly cut magnolia branches await arranging on fireplace mantles

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and the Nature theme will be carried over to the Christmas table, including these reclaimed wood chestnuts from “Maison K” in Montecito,

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and these charming Hermes mushrooms I found at auction many years ago.

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And lastly, in keeping with the green theme, I’m going to share my latest favourite snack recipe with you;.

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Krispy Kale Chips

(trust me, they taste much better than they look!)

 

1 pound curly kale, stems and large inner ribs removed

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic cloves minced

Salt & freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 375.  In a bowl, toss washed and totally dried kale with all but 1 tablespoon of the oil .

Spread the kale on two baking sheets and roast in the upper part of the oven for about 15 minutes or until crisp. (Shift the pans from top to bottom 1/2 way through)

Season the kale with salt and freshly ground pepper and transfer to airtight container after it cools.

Lemon Yogurt Dip

I cup fat free plain Greek yogurt

1 tespoon finely grated lemon zest

2 table spoons fresh lemon juice

1 garlic clove minced

The last tablespoon of olive oil

 

In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt, lemon zest and juice, minced garlic and remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt & pepper and serve with chips.

(Recipe from Food & Wine Magazine)

 

Note;  We haven’t even tried the dip yet- the chips are so good on their own!!

If the chips lose their crispness you may pop them back into a low temp. oven for two or three minutes and they’ll crisp up again.  (If you have a food dehydrator (brilliant inventions) you can crisp the chips in that as well)

 

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Bundle up, stay cozy and Safe Travels!

xx

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