What I’ve been lusting over – and just got!

 

 

I finally got my Matouk scalloped linens from Horchow – and at a STEAL! If you read this before midnight tonight, enter the code SITEWIDE at checkout and get an EXTRA 30% off. I got all my bedding for under $60. Total.

In honor of....

My 26th birthday today, I'm giving myself 26 hours of no work - so that means no posts! Not to worry, I'll be back - and with lots and lots of new, fresh, amazing things gearing up for this blog's 1st birthday on June 7th!


Thanks for reading!

Big kisses

Die funny.

via elaney

Finally, Something To Do With All The Buttons I've Been Hoarding.

via what the cool, this really cool artwork from Ran Hwang. It's all buttons, thread, pins, etc! 

Inexpensive and Awesome: We'll Take It!

I'll take a few, actually. These great necklaces made of hand-painted fabric are great easy accessories for a summer sundress. Try the bracelet if you're a little lower on cash (like me, sad face) - too good to pass up. Available at thief and bandit's etsy shop now!

$42

$36

$42

$16

via i am a greedy girl.

Hooray for Women!

Ormond Gigli, 1960, via The Gloss

Tie The Knot

 

Taking after the style of one of my favorite jewelry designers, Lizzie Fortunato, is this DIY from M&J Trimming. Skills needed? Following directions and tying a knot, the latter of which I’m not too great at. Not to worry

Materials

• 1 ½ yards of 3/16” Rayon Twist Cord Style#00165 (Color Peach – Call 1.800.9.MJTRIM)

• 1 ½ yards of 5/16” Rayon Twist Cord Style# 00618 (Color ECRU)
• 1/2 yard of 4mm Metal Gold Chain Style#36941
• 1 Gold ButtonStyle# 88710019 (Call 1.9.MJTRIM for Exact Button)
• 1 Gold ButtonStyle#88710049 (Call 1.9.MJTRIM for Exact Button)
• 1 Gold ButtonStyle#88710009 (Call 1.9.MJTRIM for Exact Button)

• Scissors

• Hot Glue Gun

• Invisible Thread and needle

Directions:

• Step One: Important* Tape all the ends of the rayon cord, so they do not unravel.

• Step Two: To make you starting point, take both rayon twist cords and loop them together. Then make a knot within the two cords.

• Step two: From here on it’s really all about your imagination and the look you’re going for. You can leave the one knot the way it is or make knots on both sides of the middle knot, and loop different parts together, until you’re satisfied.

• Step Three: Make one knot on each side about 1” away from the larger bigger knot.

• Step Four: Now make one knot on one side about 2” or 3” inches away from the smaller knot. Then take your buttons and hot glue or sew each button on top of the knot.

• Step Five: Now cut your chain in three even pieces and wrap two pieces on different ends of the necklace. (I sewed it into place, but you can also hot glue the chain)

• Step Six: I made the necklace large enough to fit over my head, so I just hot glued both ends together and wrapped left over chain for finishing look. But you can add end caps to the end of the rayon rope and attach a lobster clasp.

Find the original posting from M&J here.

Preppy People Doing Preppy Things

Also, just learned what a “drunken preppy” is from the folks at Ditch Plains:

Arnold Palmer (half lemonade, half tea) + Gin

um, YUM.

Speaking of Ditch Plains, listen to how fabulous this is: Sundays, starting at 4pm, they have a lobster bake for just $30 and $4 draft beers. Sounds amazing!

Another era, same stuff.

 

Mr. 1968 is a hottie…I’ll forgive that he went to Princeton (joke!).

  

Looks like it wasn’t just Georgia Kappas in the 60’s and 70’s that enjoyed the tree pictures.

   

black and white images courtesy of LIFE magazine, via A Continuous Lean

color images courtesy of “Take Ivy”, via The Trad

sorority pictures from Chapel Hill, 1968 via The Trad

Spring Shoes!!

Nothing says springtime to me like Sperry boat shoes and Keds – below are some of the new styles for this season. Cannot get over the metallics, neons, skins, and tie-dyes in the topsiders and Keds, well, you all know about my love story with the original Champion. Coming clean – I have ordered the two laceless pairs at the bottom. Total Keds count? A shameful 7 pairs. But at $40 a pop, who cares!

Breaking: Relationships Matter!

 

An excellent post from Fashionista that gives me that extra little pep I when I’m a little down on working in fashion – I will get there someday!

Lauren Sherman went down to SCAD (yay Ga!) to hear Chris Benz speak about how he got his start in the industry and how to build a brand. His tips are excellent – hopefully this will help any of y’all out there with your nose to the grind know that you’ll get there one day, too!

 

Two looks from Chris Benz’ Spring 2010 collection

From Fashionista:

Relationships might be the most important element of running a successful business, no matter what medium you’re working in. Ashley and Chris met at age 16 while attending a summer program at Parsons. Today they’re business partners. Eugene and Kelly met while working at Ralph Lauren. Eugene and Chris met while working at Marc Jacobs. The company’s casting director is also a friend from Parsons. “Look at the person next to you, because you will cross paths with them during your career,” said Ashley.

Learning how the business works is just as important as designing great clothes. Chris worked at J.Crew for a few years after graduation, designing dresses under CEO Mickey Drexler and fashion director Jenna Lyons. “We had to deliver 16 collections a year,” he explained. That experience was as valuable as the work he did while interning at Marc Jacobs.

If you want to produce everything locally, you can. About 98% of all Chris Benz clothing is produced in New York City. While his prices aren’t low, they aren’t outrageous either. (Dresses hover in the $1,000 range.) “Using the garment center means that we can maintain control over the quality of the clothes,” said Ashley. “Anyone who tells you it’s impossible [to manufacture a collection in New York] hasn’t done their legwork.”

A big part of being a designer is selling your vision. The team travels from Chicago to Los Angeles to meet with store owners, buyers and stylists. Chris talks to the customers to see what they love and what they think could be different. “About 5 to 10% of my job is actually designing clothes,” he explained. “The rest is hitting the pavement.”

Fashion is a grueling industry, but don’t let the naysayers fool you: It’s quite glamorous, too. Chris loves fashion, and he loves his job. “It’s good to enjoy what you do!”

Theatre News You Need to Know About

Diablo Cody for Sweet Valley High?

Bye Bye Birdie movie remake?

Anna Nicole Opera?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory directed by Sam Mendes?

Katie Holmes to potentially star in Cocktail stage adaptation?

A Time To Kill on the DC stage?

 

Something that’s definitely happening – American Idiot, the stage musical with music written by Green Day, began it’s previews last month. Can’t wait to see it – grew up on Green Day.

Sweet Potatoes + Butter = One of my heavens

My other would be butter and mayo (sorry if that grosses you out, they’re my two favorite foods).

So it was awesome when I came across something called Sweet Potato Butter from Cunningham Farms in Tennessee– which isn’t actually made out of butter. My nutritionist will be so happy. It’s sweet potatoes, apple cider, and cinnamon and clove – how delicious with some ham or on a biscuit! It’s available for $6 a jar – I plan on getting a few. Add it to the birthday list.

Below, a recipe from their website:

Sweet Potato Butter and Cream Cheese Appetizer

Ingredients

• 6 Tbsp Cunningham Farms Sweet Potato Butter
• 8 oz block of cream cheese at room temperature
• 2 Tbsp very crisp bacon pieces
• 2 Tbsp pecan pieces
• 2 scallions, finely chopped

Directions

1. Frost cream cheese with Sweet Potato Butter
2. Sprinkle with bacon pieces
3. Sprinkle with pecan pieces
4. Top with scallions
5. Serve with crackers. May serve immediately or refridgerate.

Submitted by: Joan Bertaut - Jackson, MS

The Big Bad Birthday List

My birthday is coming up – officially entering my mid-twenties. Below, a list of things (realistic and not, don’t fret parents/Grandpa) I’d love to receive for my birthday:

 

 

Hermes enamel bracelet in baby blue, $530

Ticket to Buenos Aires to see my Bianca who I miss dearly!

The Cynthia Rowley for Roxy neoprene zip back skirt, $125 @ Barney’s

Tickets to Lady Gaga July 9th at @ MSG (oh wait, I HAVE those! Thanks Sis!)

An iPhone

A French tutor, preferably one named Marie-Francoise

Chic laptop case, $98 @ Rebecca Minkoff

A trip here

Karlie’s milkshake – salted caramel flavor, $4.50 @ Shake Shack

this lucite trunk coffee table, filled with Assouline books, $3000 @ Vivre

 

Feel free to send me any of the above! xo

This will warm your heart for sure.

 

Congrats to my friend Fabrizio for putting on a fantastic event!

http://www.better.tv/videos/m/30779014/down-with-fashion.htm#q=down+with+fashion

Quick Post: My Met’s Best Dressed

 

Taylor Swift in Ralph Lauren

Melissa George in J Mendel 

Charlotte Gainsbourg in Balenciaga

Amber Valleta in RM Roland Mouret

Donna Karan in her own design

Anne Hathaway & Kate Bosworth in Valentino with the designers

 

Camilla Belle in Jason Wu

Kerry Washington in Thakoon for Gap

Liv Tyler & Kate Hudson in Stella McCartney

Sienna Miller in Emilio Pucci

Diane Kruger in Calvin Klein with Joshua Jackson – my winner!!!