Classic Books

I love visiting Anthropologie - a reminder of the natural and simple life being the good life.

Today, I found and became fixated with a table full of vintage novels.  The sleeveless, nostalgic hardcover, the texture of the floral designs, the simplicity of the title font ...  I imagine curling up with these books on a cold day with fuzzy socks while residing in a cottage overlooking the snowy meadow; with rich cocoa and a fireplace, lost in old-world romanticism...

I found 7 of these books with Amazon for a little a lot less. 
Here's Sense and Sensibility.

Wuthering Heights

This was my favorite cover of them all (Great Expectations)

Equally exquisite candle tins

Golden Gate Morning

I've always wanted to open up my own breakfast & coffee house.  My coffee house would have locally named brews served in colorful hand-painted mugs, the freshest bread and sweetest biscotties, and my walls would be filled with local art for sale.  I'd play everyone's feel-good music and people could stop by and feel like they're coming home for Christmas. 


I spent my morning near the Golden Gate park at a Cafe much like the one in my dreams... with wireless.

Hard to imagine in a cafe full of hidden gems, but the owner was the best thing about the place.

Clearly coffee for San Franciscans.

A piano in the hallway with framed photographs, local art and a National Geographic stand to the side.

Best seat in the house?  A personal alcove with a desk, easel and a bookshelf full of books. 

(His name is Thomas and he's coding an iPhone app)

Having my Fog Lifter . . .

Lux Gone Viral

It's interesting to see luxury retailers move into the social / viral / email marketing arena. I wonder if it not for the recession would we have seen a slower entry into this channel?  Anyway, glad they're here.  Welcome, friend!

This email landed in my inbox this A.M. - I give it a B.
You can also follow them on Twitter (US version).

Check out the online version for the video for
spring summer 2010.

To Eat or not to Eat?

I've been enjoying dine-about-town here in SF (NYC restaurant week equivalent) when I stumbled upon SFoodie's insightful diagram.

Handy. 
Thought I'd share it here.

Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger passed away today at the age of 91, R.I.P.

Catcher in the Rye has been my all-time favorite book as a young adult (I'd like to think I still am) and arguably every American teenagers' closet fave in English class.  Thanks, J.D. really.  For giving teens everywhere an outlet for angst before the internet.  R.I.P. 

This was what my copy looked like, you?

The bookbook

Apparently, this has already made the rounds on a couple blogs, but how genius is this idea and how beautiful did it turn out?  My MacBook feels completely under dressed.

Hardback cover softens the blows.

Protecting your MacBook is a top priority and it’s job one for BookBook. Slip your Mac inside the velvety soft, padded interior. Zip it closed and your baby is nestled between two tough, rigid leather hardback covers for a solid level of impact absorbing protection. The rigid spine serves as crush protection for an additional line of defense. BookBook creates a hardback book structure that safeguards your MacBook like few other cases can. Far better than any floppy neoprene bag ever will. End of story.  (via Bookbook)

Sequined Jacket

Sequins swept us away last fall and made our holidays more festive.  But, with the slow approach of Spring, will sequins fade away with the cold?  I'm a little attached to anything that sparkles, so I'm really hoping to hold onto mine for as long as I can!

Here are some great sequined jackets (a staple piece that's fun) any girl would love at every price range.

Row 1: (L) Robert Rodriguez at Bergdorf Goodman - $545 / (R) ABS Cropped Jacket at Saks - $285 
Row 2: (L) Victoria Secret's Sequin Blazer - $159 (proceed with caution with VS)  / (R) Urban Outfitter's Sequined Bed Jacket - On sale for $79.99

I love both the cropped (first two) and the loose-fit (latter two) versions of the jacket.  But, keep in mind that sequins require lots of care. 
Personally, they're too difficult and high maintenance for a clutz like me, so if you're the same, I'd recommend going with a low/moderately priced version of this trend.  You're bound to get a lot of mileage out of it without feeling too badly about sequins bending or falling out of place.  ... for example, I can never own a sequined skirt.

Here's how I've worn mine . . .

Couture Spring 2010

Couture.  Often thrown around to describe anything "high fashion" or exquisite, and though couture could be both, couture actually means hand-stitched - derived from Old French's cousture seam.

A couple years ago when baby dolls and tent-style clothing (or "maternity" clothing for the gentlemen?) came into fashion, most of us embraced it.  It was comfortable, not body-conscious, and most of all, it was suddenly trendy.  At that time, a friend said to me, "waist lines and structure will come back with a vengeance".

First came waistlines with thick belts, skinny belts and Herve Leger dresses.

Then came structure (and ruffles) in Spring 2010 . . .

From Armani Prive

From Givenchy

(a little gothic looking?)

My favorite from both sets for award season.

From Armani Prive

Left:  This gown is drop dead gooorgeous.  I die.. I die......
Right:  The one on the right resembles the silhouette of Drew Barrymoore's Emmy '09 Monique Lhuillier gown. 
Kate Hudson's also been on a white streak lately. Either of them would look beautiful in this one.

From Givenchy

(gothic eyeline: check.  stunning burst of color: check, check, check!)

Left... Right... where do I begin?  Talk about redefining the "poodle skirt".  They're both spectacular and take my breath away.
I'd like to nominate to see myself in the gowns, goshdarnit.

images / Style.com

Inspirational Content

In marketing, direct response is often king.  But, sometimes a silly marketer will come along and say, "I want some inspirationalcontentgoddamnit"... (guilty).  Woke up this morning to this simple, clean email from J.Crew announcing I could look easy-chic-fab with my own personal shopper Erica.  Did it add points to the relationship building column and make me feel extra special?  Yes and yes.  Did it make me spend any money?  No.

(Or at least not yet.)

Has anyone ever test drove J. Crew's personal shopper program?  If so, how was it?

Andrew Gn

Some of my favorites from Andrew Gn's gorgeous 2010 collection.

  

  

  

  
The blue off the shoulder gown is my absolute favorite. 

Rachel McAdams wore one the Grecian gray gown to the Sherlock Holmes premiere in London.

  

Stunning.