Tag Archives: Louis Vuitton

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…

~

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…

~

Au Revoir July

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Here we are, at the end of another wildly fleeting summer month already :(  

 Are you feeling well summerized yet?  Have you been to the beach, or the lake? Maybe even the drive-in? (I have!)  

Or perhaps you’re more of the gardening type? Have you been enjoying all the fruits of your labour?! My garden is in full-on blowsy mode at the moment. To be honest the old girl is in serious need of a new “Do”- you know like when you literally cannot wait one more SECOND to get your hair done?   But no time, no time…where does it go??

 Though I can’t complain about my roses this year.  Even if I do say so myself, they’ve been pretty dang gorgeous.  Now I’m always enamored with old fashioned roses; the delicate, breathy hues and lush crinolined layers of all the regal grande dames, but I must admit to having my head turned by this new, ridiculously loud orange fellow. His sheer brazenness just brings a smile to my face and a kick to any arrangement.  I can’t possibly think of him in feminine terms. This rose is a dude who goes by the name of “Gingersnap” (Available at Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria) .

The colour is divine with turquoise, another of my all time favourite combos

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Rug available at Richard Morant

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Speaking of tangerine (how’s that for a segue?)

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Have you ever tried Lillet?  My husband recently read Hemmingway’s “A Moveable Feast” for the first time and decided that he must try Lillet (being a favourite tipple of Ernest’s)   Aaand guess who’s now drinking the Lillet and who’s gone back to his diet coke?!

Best served very cold with an orange slice.

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A little droopy but still appealing (some of us can relate to that, right?)

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I saw these somewhere but lost the credit- if anyone knows where to buy them please let me know

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Suzani from Richard Morant

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Chair available from Shades of Light

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A big bowl of loquats and tangerines from the garden

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Citrus sorbets from another of my fav cookbooks to look at  ”Frozen Desserts”

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Blu Mediterraneo by Acqua di Parma

ahhh- so light and summery

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Lily Pulitzer luncheon plates

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A summer table setting at the beach

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Another version of that delicious Louis Vuitton summer bag…I can feel the ceiling fan wafting through my hair…

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Happy August to Everyone

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Stretch each and every day as long as you can

Take time to read, relax and smell those roses :)

xx

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The Hangover Part III

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Ahhhhh….Clear blue skies, hot days, and a sultry night breeze…

and now a confession;

I went to Vegas again.

I know, right??!

This time it was a Girl’s Trip.  2 shows, 1 soiree, a concert, a couple of dinners, a smidgeon of shopping and a zillion laughs!  (We’re still looking for the tattoo :) )

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No Honey, I swear, there’s nothing under my sleeve…asziff I would ever do that…

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We started off with a bang at the 5th anniversary show of “LOVE” by Cirque du Soleil;

Slim Paley photo  (Sorry, no photos allowed during the show of course)

Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney thank Olivia Harrison for being the original driving force behind the magical experience that is “LOVE”
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If you’ve never seen it, you need to put it on your “Must Do in Vegas List”

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Slim Paley photo (snuck before the show started)

We also caught “KA” another wonderful Cirque du Soleil production

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.Backstage at “KA”

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And…

.Had ourselves a ridculously good time at the Paul McCartney concert on Friday night!

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Sir Paul is in fabulous form – Do NOT miss this concert if you can possibly help it.  I can’t wait to go again! With Mr. Slim next time, of course, and hopefully our sons too :)

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The band is really incredible.

 So many AWESOME SONGS!!

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Who can listen to a Beatle song without a torrential flood of memories rushing back??

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It’s all about love and friendship and the beautiful memories we create.

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A little flame & fireworks just in case you’re not hot enough from dancing around like you’re 16 again!

Let me tell you, some of those Wings songs? Goodness gracious- I can feel the familiar embrace of my harrachi sandals and smell the “Lemon Go Lightly”  in my hair :)

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Before the show we had a lovely dinner, fountainside at SW Steakhouse at The Wynn

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“The Lake of Dreams”,  SW Steakhouse

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And what would any self-respecting Girl’s Trip be without a little retail therapy??

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We were told a visit to Crystals Mall was in order…

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Slim Paley photo of the staircase in Crystals Mall, Las Vegas

and we were not misinformed, thank you very much.

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Even if you visit just to take in some of the architectural details…

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Pink stone (agate?) stair risers lit from within.

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Intense shoe & handbag research was conducted…

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Fun retro style travel books were sourced at Louis Vuitton

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Where the windows literally dripped with gold…

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A beautiful Assouline bookshop was also discovered.

(PS. a friend bought me this book about the “La Mamounia” Hotel in Morocco and it’s absolutely divine- both the book and the hotel.

Hmmm…a Girl’s Trip to Morocco in the not too distant future, perhaps!?)

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Of course one must pay a visit to Stella McCartney’s shop when you’re going to be seeing Dad later that evening…

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Little Sargent Pepper’s at Stella McCartney

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Shoe research continued at Miu Miu…

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And more decisions were reached at 

The place to stop in Crystals for delicious gelato and a vicious machiatto

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My personal favourite; White Expresso

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Finally,

after Miu Miu, Dior, Balenciaga, Stella, Louis, Prada, and YSL …

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Homage to Mr. Handsome must be paid.

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BTW, did I mention we went to Crystals twice??

Research in the desert can prove to be tricky.

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Especially if you’re not wearing the appropriate field attire.

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Don’t you just LOVE a great Girl’s Trip?!!

xxxx

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A Page From My New York Diary

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A beautiful botanical extravaganza in a Bergdorf’s window  (Carolina Herrera)

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Don’t you just LOVE New York?!  There is just so much to do and see in this city it’s crazeee.  One week is really not enough! wa wa…  I hope I can come back soon.  We’ve  had such a great time and I will always remember getting up early and watching the Royal wedding from my hotel here.

As always, the shop windows were fabulous…

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The film/book “Water For Elephants” was the theme for some of Bergdorf’s windows

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Such pretty detail- love the contrast of the sequins and floral against the circus straw.

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As I mentioned in my last post

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Cherry blossoms were everywhere…

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Even growing in…

.and back out of the windows at Van Cleef & Arpels

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In fact,

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Extending out of the confines of window spaces appeared to be the theme along 5th Ave this week!

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Louis Vuitton

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A particularly fun window filled with vintage sewing machines at “All Saints”, an outpost of the London store.

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Spring’s bounty was abundant in all the hotels & restaurants

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The Plaza Hotel

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President Obama decided to be in the same area of town as me. Coincidence??

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We even managed to get out of the city one night and enjoyed

 an AMAZING dining experience at

Blue Hill at Stone Barns  in Pocantico Hills (Westchester,NY)

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Straight from the farm to the table, everything served at Blue Hill is either grown or raised or produced there.  The photo above is of fresh baby vegetables presented in such a charming way. Who knew a simple leaf could taste that delicious?!

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Crazy fresh salad is presented on individual triangular slabs of granite.

My favourite thing, besides the insanely delicious seafood soup?

A smoked Kale cocktail.  You heard me.

I’m sorry I couldn’t take more photos, but a girl’s gotta be discreet (sometimes :) )

Blue Hill at Stone Farms is about a 50-60 minute drive from Manhattan. Jackets required.

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And speaking of cocktails…

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 I finally went to the Pegu Club

Delicious cocktails there too!

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BTW,

If your plans are taking you to NYC in the near future, I strongly recommend this little book;

eat.shop nyc

It’s hip, fun to read & accurate

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The view up 6th ave. from the hotel bath window

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I was struck by the dark, shrouded silhouette of this building against the night skies of the Village.

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And lastly,

Talk about being in a place that you’ll never forget when something momentous happens-

I’m now in Washington, DC and the streets are filled with people yelling and running towards the White House with the news of Osama Bin Laden!

This certainly will be a trip I’ll never forget.

Well done America

What a week!!

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