tid bits {feast for your eyes}

 

 

 *images from anthropologie and house beautiful

spectacles {windows to the soul}

So I discovered the coolest website for eyeglasses - Warby Parker.  I've been in the market for some new glasses for quite some time but have unsuccessfully settled on a pair.  This is when Warby Parker comes in, not only are their glasses awesomely retro and hip they also give back.  For every pair of glasses bought through their site or store WP donates a pair to someone in an underprivileged community and as a person with terrible eyesight I know how important is to be able to see.  Here are a few that have caught my interest:

What is even cooler about this company is their home try-on program.  You get to choose five frames, have these frames shipped to you for free, try them on for five days, and then send them back for ... that's right, free.  I have already had two home try-on boxes sent to me and I am pretty sure I have settled on one frame . . . I'll let you know when I get them!

I'm loving the color red right now, which is highly unusual for me.  However, after I discovered my new love affair with red lipstick I just can't seem to help myself from this heated attraction.  Of course I don't won't to be head to toe red and this combo of hot red shorts with a cool blue denim top seems to be the right combo.

Chambray shirt, $70
Red shorts, $97
Profile Portrait of a Woman, Piero del Pollaiolo

sourdough bread

         

The love of sourdough permeates throughout our house.  In order to satiate my husband's never ending craving of this particular bread I decided to try making my own.  Although the process takes quite a bit of time (as in days, yes days) it has been totally worth it to enjoy hot sourdough smothered in butter or dipped in olive oil.  You must begin by making what is called a starter - this takes the longest but you can keep it "alive" in your fridge by using it and then feeding it (I know this sounds crazy but I promise it works and is totally worth it).  I used this recipe for the starter as well as for the actual sourdough bread.

weekend musings

One-shoulder bandeau top, $16
Black bottom, $16 

Opening Ceremony sandals, $270 

Sequin tank top, $68

Pink wayfarer sunglasses, $145 

Details of Renaissance Paintings, Andy Warhol

new inspiration

 

I came home to find the new J Crew catalog in my mailbox yesterday {translation - Christmas in June}.  Here are two of my favorite looks.  I can't wait to go get those pale pink pants, in fact I already have 30 outfits in my head ready to go that involve these beauties.  Also, the color combination of the pale pink blouse with the mustard cardigan is brilliant.  I love the way J Crew mixes their colors without batting any eye - they always give me great inspiration and new ways to adjust my own closet.

cov8t {eclectic}

1. Go-everywhere tote, $148 

2. Eiffel Tower Door Stop, $12 

3. Champagne flutes, $3

4. Ice Cream Scooper, $35 
5. Wicker chair, $70  
6. Gold Chariots of Fire Wings, $185

7. Tassle sandles, $88 

8. Love bracelet, $4

lacey lookout

"Long prized for its delicacy and open patterns, lace is produced by manipulating threads independent of a base fabric. It is usually made of linen thread, but other materials can be used. Needle lace is traditionally made by placing threads on a pattern drawn on parchment; the gaps between these guide threads are then filled with stitches using a needle and thread. The second principal type of lace is called bobbin lace, since thread is wound onto spools, or bobbins. The threads are then woven or twisted together around pins inserted onto a pillow. 

The collecting of lace became popular in the late nineteenth century, and around 1900 most American museums displayed lace. For example, Thomas Wilson, an anthropologist, formed a lace collection of more than a thousand pieces, which was exhibited in 1893 at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where Mrs. Gardner {Isabella Stewart Gardner} must have seen it. Wilson’s collection was later acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art. Many museum leaders believed that examples of historic lace would be relevant to workers in the textile industry. 

This lace panel is a rare piece of point de France. The patterns allegorize Louix XIV’s political and military power. The piece consists of more than nineteen individual fragments, which have been skillfully sewn together to create a continuous panel of great delicacy."

Source: Bonnie Halvorson, "Lace," in Eye of the Beholder, edited by Alan Chong et al (Boston: ISGM, 2003): 120.

We all used the associate lace with wedding dresses and old lady doilies - you know you did.  But now lace is rearing its head in a much more fashion forward and everyday manner.  It is showing up in every shape and color you can imagine.

1. Lace the morning blazer, $85

2. Lace mini skirt, $280

3. Top handle bag, $1595

4. Lace patchwork tunic, $435
5. Cotton lace shirt, $315
6. T strap platforms, $65

hue hoo {red hot}

1. Striped tank, $30

2. Handle handbag, $20
3. Capri pants,$65

4. Flat sandals, $39 

5. Red floral bra, $36   

6. Pintuck button-front tank, $33

cheers {fare thee well}

We're getting a little fancy tonight for a cocktail party.  Although this party signifies the leaving of great friends we are joining together to celebrate their amazing talents and wonderful friendships.  Have a great weekend and pass me another bartender.

Lace dress, $1,395 

Nude peep toes, $214 

Glitter clutch, $90 

Feather hair band, $89
Madame Gautreau Drinking a Toast, John Singer Sargent

make it pop {with color}

I love the thought of simple black and white art and decor customized with a pop of color in the furniture.  Most people go for colorful art, rugs, and other accessories while tending to keep their furniture neutral.  But for the adventurous a hot pink couch can become a long time love.  Using colors in unexpected ways turns a ho hum room into a personalized masterpiece.

Teal wingback chair, $1,299 

Yellow settee, $579
Kite kilim rug, $250
Hot pink couch, $229 

Orange and white desk, $79 

Female Nude Seated on the Ground, Henri Matisse
Cafe Terrace at Night, Vincent Van Gogh

blueberry lemon bars {yum}

 

I have never been a huge dessert fan . . . meaning I can forgo sweets at almost every meal {however, if you put a plate of salty french fries in front of me you might want to move your hand out of the way before you loose it}.   My husband on the other hand is always craving something sweet, so in order to satisfy both of our needs - his need for something sweet and my need for something on the healthier side - I make these blueberry bars.  I like to use kosher salt even though it doesn't call for it because it tends to give you a salty surprise in every other bite.  Enjoy! 

mom knows best {no wrinkles}

I've learned a lot from my mother especially from an early age.  I could never understand why she told me not to squint in the sunlight until it was ingrained within me that every time I would squint I was getting closer to crow's feet!  I religiously wear sunglasses in order to prevent the inevitable thanks to my mother.

Two qualities that the perfect sunglasses must hold (at least for me) are 1. they must be able to withstand my constant wear and tear (a.k.a throwing them in my purse and fishing them back out only seconds later) and 2. they must cover my abnormally large eyes, peripheral coverage is super important in my book.  Here are a few I would love to get my hands on:

1. Retro resin frames, $93
2. Classic wayfarer, $145
3. Aviator shades, $98
4. Square sunglasses, $245 
5. Helter Skelter shades, $178
6. Oversized sunglasses, $325

          

          

We spent this past weekend rummaging through the farmer's market in Marion Square as well as attending the crafts fair.  The weather was quite nice for a Southern morning in the summer and we were able to enjoy our regular ham and swill crepe that truly makes it a relaxing weekend for me.  We even had beignets (french doughnuts - being from Louisiana we grew up eating these but rarely see them elsewhere) and ironically the vendor grew up in our same hometown - it was a delightful coincidence.  I even contributed to the local arts by getting a "bowls with holes" that double duties as a banana holder during the day and a bread basket at night.

                    

Three-quarter sequin tee, $295
Mini skirt, $50
Napa flat, $50
Gliteratti clutch, $90
Sequin wedges, $120

Sequin crepe tank, $295

The Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh

hue hoo {blush and bashful}

1. Ralph lauren cardigan, $266

2. Gold cocktail dress, $97

3. Miu Miu silk jersey dress, $425

4. Theory silk ruffle blouse, $300
5. Elizabeth and James fringe dress, $365 

6. Kain silk racerback tank, $155
7. Dorothy Perkins platform heels, $62
8. Theory halter top, $200
9. Hache short shorts, $230

still life in motion

Petite pink bicycle top, $36
Navy trousers, $195
Flip-flops, $10
Cross body bag, $55
Flowers, Henri Matisse

menswear

The days are getting hotter and to me there is nothing more comfortable than a comfy take on menswear when the air begins to feel sticky.  A nice pair of tailored shorts and loose fitting button down are sure to keep you cool yet stylish on muggy days.  If it didn't feel like twenty below in the library I would make this my uniform.   

Jane button down silk blouse, $209
Bedford street shorts, $115
Oxfords, $70
Cross body handbag, $50
The Ballet Master, Edgar Degas

le papillon

Tuck shift dress, $95
Heister heels, $70
Glamour mint necklace, $500
The Madame B Album, 1870's, Marie-Blanche-Hannelle Fournier

hue hoo {chartreuse}

1. Chandelier earrings, $100

2. Convexity breaker tank, $109

3. Summer lemon dress, $1355  

4. Christian louboutin heels, $995
5. French lace balconette, $195
6. Pied a Terre tote, $285

Chartreuse: a color halfway between yellow and green that was named because of its resemblance to the green color of one of the French liqueurs called green chartreuse, introduced in 1764. 

As I was working on last week's hue hoo my husband lovingly asked (dared) me to do chartreuse this week - all of this stemming from his fond memory that our niece's favorite color when she was three was "chartweuse."  After taking on the challenge I have come to the conclusion that chartreuse is a much better accessory or pop of color to an outfit rather than the main event.  The bold color can be quite overpowering and gaudy if not controlled. 

guest room {reves doux}

Our guest room is my nemesis.  Every time I think I have come up the perfect design my dreams are dashed by the awkwardly small space filled with our awkwardly large furniture.  I am fully aware that my office is a much better suited room for a guest room but I just can't justify giving up my "studio" space for a room that will only be used a few times a year.  So, in order to not feel bad about my selfishness, I have made it my goal to create a french boudoir for our visitors.  A neutral palette beginning with a light gray wall and flax colored fabric, textured accessories, and bright punches of color.

Cov8t

As you can see there is absolutely no theme within my Cov8t today.  Although I seem to be all over the place I still believe that anything and everything you like can be integrated into your world - you just have to be creative with some things!  I guess one underlying theme here could be neutrals.  All of these are good foundation pieces to build upon whether it be wardrobe or interior design.  And, yes, I do feel leopard is a basic foundation for any good closet.

1. Gold Athena tray, $45
2. "Eat me" necklace, $23
3. Striped belt, $5.80
4. Metallic oxfords, $25
5. Boxy top, $33
6. Fleur Embroidered Pouf, $69
7.  Faux sure bag, $158
8. Leopard shorts, $64