AD CAMPAIGNS: HERMES

"A breathless flit through the backstreets of Paris- the four of them like so many bright dragonflies caught on the breeze. A glance, a smile, as they run down the stairs, spin round a lamppost, catch the sunbeams bouncing of the windowpanes or the nightlights reflected in the sparkle of Seine. The magic of Paris. Here they find themselves reunited, Ella from Paris, Kozue from Japan, Courtney from America and Anna from England…Past the statues that trumpet in salute as they dance by, past the Ferris wheel and temptation of the funfair, past golden horses and proud monuments and up they whirl to the highest roof tops to breathe in the view of their inspiration. All the colours, ideas, stories and styles are theirs for the taking. Here is a city to feed the soul. Here lies inspiration and excitement – every window is a possibility, a mystery, an adventure waiting to be opened… And her story? Watch the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles like a firework and matches the twinkle in each eye. For each one this is Paris mon ami.‟ - Hermès

This collection is truly divine, and the ad magazine is simply delightful. Is it so bad that I noticed a slight spelling error? Oops.
xo ll



all photos via hermès

BOOKS: THE BALLERINA DIARIES

"The ballerina diaries: In Bunheads, former dancer Sophie Flack offers an inside look at the ballet world—and the sacrifices girls, like her main character, must make to reach the top." Read more here »

"At turns riveting, hilarious and bittersweet, Bunheads provides a backstage pass into the world of elite New York City ballet dancers. I got swept up in their routines and habits, their triumphs and disappointments, and their deep friendships, which thrive even in the face of fierce competition. This is at once a romantic page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of just how much true artists are willing to give up for their art." ( J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times bestselling author of Commencement and Maine

"Exhilaration and drudgery, passion and exhaustion, exist side by side for dancers in the exalted Manhattan Ballet, a world unto itself, which Flack (a former New York City Ballet dancer) brings vividly to life in this strong debut." (Publishers Weekly )


"In Bunheads, author Sophie Flack takes readers into all the drama, camaraderie, disappointment, jealousy, exultation, and physical and emotional pain in the life of a corps ballet dancer for a prestigious New York ballet company. . . Ms Flack writes with absolutely authority about a lifestyle she herself lived for nine years, and about what happens when lifelong dreams collide with the needs of the heart. " ( Lurlene McDaniel, author of Breathless and A Rose for Melinda

Normally, I do not read Young Adult literature as I find my interests lie in the more historical category, but I thought I would share this book with you all as it seems promising. For those of you with a long ballet history (like me), this book sounds quite interesting and undoubtedly scandalous- to some degree

xo ll

FASHION WEEK FAVORITE: CHANEL

"Beneath the soaring glass domes of the Grand Palais, the Chanel set transported us to the undersea world of Karl Lagerfeld; an aquatic wonderland of gleaming white stingrays and sea horses adrift amongst coral branches and shells on a sandy sea bed. Lagerfeld had promised “the ground of the sea, but in a very poetic way,” and his models, meandering through this dramatic set to a techno soundtrack abstracted from Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” looked like magical deep-sea sirens, from the pearls scattered in their hair to the sea- urchin shells that propped up the heels of their sandals." -Hamish Bowles for Vogue

Chanel is always memorable, this season being no exception. How darling are the pearls and the tweed? And with the Grand Palais transformed into aquatic splendour, even our wildest satorialist dreams have been satisfied.

xo ll 

photos here and here

BITS AND BAUBLES: A TEA FÊTE

As a self proclaimed history enthusiast and avid tea drinker, how could I resist this article? Whoever would have thought, in this day and age, that there was more to drinking tea than simply boiling a kettle and pouring it on top (always on top) of a store bought tea bag. I stumbled upon this article about tea and was immediately enthused.
How to Properly Drink your Tea

"First and foremost never hold your cup with your pinkie finger extended. This is improper and in most social settings is considered rude. Place your index finger into the handle of the cup up to the knuckle while placing your thumb on the top of the handle to secure the cup. The bottom of the handle should then rest on your third finger. The fourth and fifth fingers should curve back towards your wrist.

At one time it was traditional to pour the milk into the cup before the tea. This was done to prevent the glaze on delicate tea cups from cracking. We do not have that problem today, so add the milk after the tea so that you can judge how much to use based on the color change.

When stirring your tea, be careful not to clink your spoon against the cup. Gently swish the spoon back and forth without touching the sides of the cup. When through stirring, remove the spoon and place it on the saucer behind the tea cup and to the right of the handle. Of course, never take a drink of your tea without removing the spoon first, and please never, ever sip from the spoon.

If seated at a table, do not lift the saucer (this is only proper if standing; then lift the saucer with the cup.) When you taking a sip of tea do not look around at the other guests, but lower your eyes so you can see what your doing and not spill your tea down the front of your blouse or dress.

When your cup is low try to avoid the temptation of swirling the tea in the cup. How embarrassing if some should happen to slosh onto the tablecloth and we all know how easily tea can stain." - from Tea Etiquette

Perhaps my favorite brand of tea would be Numi Pure Tea. Organic, and fair trade certified, this tea is both healthful and eco-responsible. I have yet to try all of the various types (there are an overwhelming amount to choose from!) but I am I dedicated, not to mention long-time consumer of green tea. For evenings, I prefer Earl Grey or Chamomile. There is something so satisfying about a warm cup of tea after a long day. However, I am open to trying new flavors, and Jasmine green tea  sounds perfectly delightful.

Furthermore, I came across this photo through some of my own internet browsing:

Isn't that the most superb and whimsical thing you have ever seen?  How do you feel about tea culture/what are your favorite teas? I would be immensely glad to hear your thoughts.

xo ll

HISTOIRE: THE QUEEN'S THEATRE

Inside Marie Antoinette's Estate: Le Théâtre de la Reine

" While the Opera of Versailles was a theatre of court, the small room at Trianon was a theatre of society, as many existed then in residences in the countryside where, to pass the time, the owners and their guests would put together plays or operas. During her childhood in Vienna, Marie-Antoinette had gotten used to these familiar performances. She wanted to do the same with her close relations, princes of the royal family and some rare friends.

In 1780, on the orders of Marie-Antoinette, Richard Mique built this theatre whose severe exterior contrasts with the refined interior which, through its harmonies of blue, white and gold, recalls the opera of Versailles, only smaller since it has a capacity of only a hundred people: the domestic service on the floor and the guests on the first floor behind the boxes with grids. But the greatest luxury is not in the wooded room painted in a false, veined white marble and adorned with sculptures made of pasteboard, it lies in the machinery used for the scenery changes, which was fortunately preserved. On the stage of Trianon, plays by authors who were fashionable at the time, such as Sedaine and Rousseau, were acted out and entire operas were sung, and everyone agreed that the Queen was very good."

xo ll

MUSIQUE: NOAH AND THE WHALE

Artist: Noah And The Whale
Song: Give A Little Love

xo ll

FASHION WEEK FAVORITE: VALENTINO

Perfect nude hues with simple, but effective belts. Modest, but ever so subtly

hints to a state of dishabille. A perfect understated look at feminine fragility.

Light, delicate fabrics with intricate detailing. Simple, but highly elegant.

Sophisticated lace and a detailed, yet refined, floral design. Printemps seems

so close, yet still so far away.

xo ll

 

photos via vogue

FILM: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Directed by: Joe Wright

"Director Joe Wright has fashioned a totally captivating screen version of Austen's comedy of manners. The screenplay by Deborah Moggach does a beautiful job conveying the romantic entanglements, the misjudgments, and the mishaps that ensue as the very rich mix with those they deem to be their inferiors. Wright has created two festive dance sequences that are filled with telling nuances about all the characters." -Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

xo ll

screencaps here.

MUSIQUE: FLORENCE & THE MACHINE

Artist: Florence & The Machine
Song: Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
Directed by: Tom Beard and Tabitha of Queens of Noize.

xo ll

 

photos via here.

AD CAMPAIGNS: MULBERRY A/W 2011/2012

Models: Tati Cotliar & Julia Saner

Photographer: Tim Walker

Director: Luke Losey

Cinematographer: Serge Teulon

Music: Miike Snow "Animal"

photos via here, courtesy of mulberry

PHOTOGRAPHER: DAVID HAMILTON

Les Demoiselles d'Hamilton, 1973.

images here

ART: PAINTING OF THE WEEK

Nymphéas by Claude Monet- Oil on canvas

FASHION WEEK FAVORITE: MARC JACOBS

How adorable are these shoes from the Marc Jacobs Spring 2012 show?

xo ll

FABLES IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographer: Karen Knorr- Fables Series

"Karen Knorr’s most recent series is entitled Fables, but the morals of the individual images are not immediately apparent. The colour Lamda prints, staged in the Musée Carnavalet in Paris, feature classic animal characters: the cunning fox, the foolish pigeon, the parsimonious squirrel and the pesky rat. Yet these creatures—borrowed from a taxidermist’s shop rather than a zoo—are not doing much to move a narrative along. Rather than earning some kind of humiliating comeuppance, these intruders are mostly sitting or standing quietly. Their gazes draw us into the highly loaded recessive space and provide an allegory for the way we look at this strange rarefied world of culture and at the photographs themselves."

xo ll


quote and photos via karen knorr and musée carnavalet.

MUSIQUE: OH LAND

Artist: Oh Land

Song: Sun Of A Gun

"I think my music has become a mix of all the ... sounds that I've been hearing growing up," she said, citing her parents — both classical musicians — and her discovery of electronic acts like Portishead and Massive Attack at the age of 12 as major influences. "And, of course, it's blended into being my unique mix." - Oh Land (taken from an interview by Rya Bucker)

xo ll

FASHION WEEK FAVORITE: LOUIS VUITTON

Admittedly, the only show I was really looking forward to seeing in Paris was Chanel. (Weren't we all?) And then the Marc Jacobs' designed Louis Vuitton collection caught me off guard. The inner child in me delved at the sight of  the carousel, and with all the girls on the runway wearing ladylike skirts with handbags, I felt almost immediately as a child who was playing dress up. With music reminiscent of a child's music box, and almond colored tea dresses, this collection played upon childlike innocence ingenuity. The candy colored dresses in tones of almond, candy floss pink and sherbet lemon made Jacobs' collection seem like a box of candy (Ladurée, anyone?). The detailing played to hints of femininity, and with tiaras and parasols, it seems that my childhood dreams were coming to fruition on the runway of Louis Vuitton. Ivory broderie anglaise with small floral applique made for an innocent collection, with the icing on the cake being Kate Moss in a shimmer of white. A perfect end to a Vuitton fairytale and putting the coveted brand back on top. Truly divine.

xo ll

 

photos via vogue