Fashion. Beauty. Health. Life. Style. Music. Art.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I Like Those Shoes. Prada

Prada Spring/Summer 2011

Nail Art. Sally Hansen's Salon Effects

















The affordable drug store brand Sally Hansen will launch two new products this spring. One of which will be 'Salon Effects' nail polish strips coming in March, which I can't wait to try. With all of the options (24 to be exact) this should be a beauty must have to keep on hand for those who can't get in for those 'minx' manicures or simply save more than a few dollars.  The strips will retail for $9.99. Another addition will be new colors with names like 'Runway Red', 'Casting Call' and 'Model Behavior' by designer Prabal Gurung whose models wore custom Hansen colors to compliment his  2011 Spring/Summer Women's Collection.




Photo: (via) www.fashionista.com

Beauty Makeover. Chanel Spring 2011




































The price might be steep for some with the Spring 2011 Les Perles Collection, but the colors in the new Ombres Perlees de Chanel palette are versatile. Whether creating a luminous understated look or something with more drama, it's all there. Flatter your eyes with just enough shimmer. Chanel shadows always have nice pigment and stay put once applied.
I just tossed out countless old shadows at the top of this new year, ready to make way for new fresh colors.

Notes.

























Dream big today (and everyday)! Work to make your dreams come true.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Notes.

A couple of my favorites:

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer."  -Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston

"I have been in Sorrow's kitchen and licked out all the pots. Then I have stood on the peaky mountain wrapped in rainbows, with a harp and a sword in my hands." - Dust Tracks On A Road, Zora Neale Hurston

Signature Style. Zora Neale Hurston























Zora Neale Hurston, folkorist, anthropologist, trailblazer and one of the greatest writers of our time. She wore a fedora like nobody's business.

Louis Vuitton Close to My Heart.




































As a longtime collector of 'fans' I'm living for this delicately constructed Vuitton!  The colorful handbags are cute too.

Notes. About Life

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Music Notes. Jonny Greenwood



This is absolutely divine.

Notes.

"Memory is the only thing that binds you to earlier selves; for the rest, you become an entirely different being every decade or so, sloughing off the old persona, renewing and moving on. You are not who you were, he told her, nor who you will be." -Charlotte Gray, Sebastian Faulks

Style Notes.

It's a new year, what are you planning to do about updating your style? Try something new be it a  lipstick or hair color - even a new moisturizer for your skin. Perhaps it's trying that new haircut you've been considering. Whatever you do, don't be afraid to try something new and step out of your same style routines.

Nature's Beauty. Lavender
























It's important to create an atmosphere at home where as soon as you walk in the door, the environment you create allows you to decompress from the day.
Lavender  be it fresh, dried, incense, candle or oil is wonderful to keep in the home. It's easy to grow in your garden or maintain potted. You might just find yourself feeling a little less anxiety, more serene and find yourself getting a better night's sleep as well!


Photo: (via) mooseyscountrygarden.com

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Music Notes. Classic

The Fashion Show.

































I am thoroughly enjoying the new and improved "The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection" with Iman and Issac Mizrahi. Creating 'fashion houses' was a genius move along with of course adding the grand duchess Iman to the mix. Though designers have their vision, team work and collaboration are key. The environment seems more akin to what the experience would be. One question though; why is Calvin still there? This guy is mean to the point of not even being enjoyable or amusing at this point. Perhaps he remains because drama usually makes good TV.

Art and Fashion. Prabal Gurung

Prabal Gurung

The Statement Shoe. Bold Colors


The spring will bring a lot of color blocking to brighten things up. This YSL Palais pump in royal blue is on my wish list.  I'm sure there will be a lot of other options aka knock-offs at a lower price. You really can't go wrong with a good shoe.






Photo: (via) www.poshglam.com

Work It Wednesday. GUCCI Featuring Joan Smalls















































































































































Work It Wednesday.

Work It Wednesday. Nail Glam

Notes.

"Love all, trust few, do wrong to none." - All's Well That Ends Well, William Shakespeare

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tom Ford's Chic Return.





Tom Ford's 70's inspiration's; along with the intimate setting of what was an ultra private showing complimented his welcome return to the runway - oozing glamour and relaxed chic. It was also cool that in an era of so little mystique, he was able to create it. Initially there were no photo's or video released from the show.

Notes.

"But life is a battle: may we all be enabled to fight it well!"  -The Letters of Charlotte Bronte, Charlotte Bronte

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Braun Winter 2010 With Thiago Santos

























Kudos to Braun for this Winter ad!

Classic Style. The Congolese Sape




















Sape is French slang for "dressing with class". From Hector Mediavilla: "Congolese sapeurs are not only concerned about elegance, but also with good manners, politeness and morality. Generally, they only dress up on weekends and special occasions. Designer brands of suits and accessories are a big deal to Sapeurs. Complete attire can cost up to 1500 euros, although ironically, many of them don have a job. To get the whole outfit that can get them the sought-after prestige can take several years. Most of them start up with suits borrowed from established sapeurs that initiate them in the secrets of the Sape.The Congolese Sape, except for very rare exceptions, is a man thing, which sometimes is inherited whereas most of the times is acquired by choice."


Click the link to view the gallery:
http://zonezero.com/exposiciones/fotografos/mediavilla/index.html

Nick Knight. A Tribute to Alexander McQueen With Music By Bjork




Intense, haunting and stunning are a few adjectives that come to mind.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Notes. About Life

It's how we LIVE that matters most. Surround yourself with people who love you and let them know you love THEM, don't wait. Create fun / good times whenever you can, they will make great memories. Weed out BS and BS people who don't mean you well. Time on earth is precious, value it. "Tomorrow's life is too late, live today"... - make it count!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Notes. From My Kitchen With Love

After kneading, place dough in buttered bowl.














Cover. Keep in warm spot for 2 hours for dough to rise.















Remove cover.  If things went well - smile!















Roll and form to size.  I use a  floured shot glass so they're tiny.















Voila!
















1 1/4 ounce package of dry active yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
1 egg, beaten well until smooth
3/4 cup of sugar
A pinch of salt
1 cup of milk, scalded
1 cup of butter, melted
1 cup melted butter (save for end process)
Flour

Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. Whisk lightly. Add egg, blend lightly. Add sugar, warm milk, melted butter, a lot of love and blend. Knead in flour until the dough isn't sticky, then place on floured board. Butter large bowl and placed kneaded dough inside. Cover with towel, keep in warm area of kitchen for two hours or one hour if using rapid rise active yeast. When doubled in bulk, smile because it means your dough did indeed rise! Knead lightly on floured board and lightly roll out - do not flatten. Use floured shot glass (for miniatures) or other circle shape cutter. Use melted butter, fold placing on cookie sheet (buttered of course). Let rise until fluffy (approx. another hour). Before baking, lightly brush tops with milk (or half and half - which gives a bit of shine) melted butter and a pinch of sugar - add more love.

Bake in preheated oven at 375, pay attention, keep the love flowing and don't lose track of time while these treats are in the oven. Remove when golden .. enjoy!

Holiday Windows. Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc by Marc Jacobs. Los Angeles

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Notes.

"Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self confident, and more and more successful." - Mark Victor Hansen

Work It Wednesday.

Giving You Attitude!





































Photographer: Mario Sorrenti
Model: Edita Vilkeviciute
Via: VOGUE Nippon, January 2011

Work It Wednesday.

Jody Watley Vintage Ad.




































I've always loved a great pair of shades. 

Holiday Windows. DecadesTwo

Art and Fashion.

Vintage Ad. Illustration:  Rene Gruau

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Notes.


"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." - Coco Chanel


Classic Film Style. Diana Ross Mahagony "Kabuki" Scene





There are so many memorable moments in this movie..what an intro.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Behind The Scenes With Jason Wu. Street Style Inspirations



It's always intriguing to get an insight into the creative process be it in fashion or music. Designer Jason Wu shares his inspirations from early 20th century French street style photographers 'The Seebergers' and Wu's modern vision for working with leather in his Pre-Fall 2011 Collection.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Music Notes. Roy Ayers and Pepe Bradock "I Am Your Mind"

Work It Wednesday.

Music Notes. Rahsaan Patterson "Easier Said Than Done"




"Like a plate of cheese grits flavored soul satisfaction.." (via Twitter). 

This is the first single from Rahsaan Patterson's highly anticipated new album "Bleuphoria", his 6th.  I don't like when I read things like 'Real music is back' - where did it go? Real music aka quality music or artists never left. Simply put, commercial radio with their shortened corporate playlists and "analysts" control the airwaves and major labels don't put the same marketing dollars behind every artist, especially those with a true vision of their artistry unwillingly to play the industry game or cozy up to the industry gatekeepers; to mention a couple of barriers in getting mainstream exposure. Truly independent artists work within a different realm and it's up to true music appreciators be it soul, electronic, modern funk, alternative or whatever, to seek the music out. Take time to get to know the new music and the artist behind it. Take advantage of personal blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and so on.
In this era fans are conditioned to judge music on sales, rather than quality. This pedantic mentality is rampant on most of the popular entertainment or gossip blogs and publications. Don't be led by what's popular, there's room for that, and I get it, but most importantly be led by what moves you. Be open minded about the music that you don't hear oversaturating airwaves 20 million times a day - and if you like it tell your friends about it, be your own radio station.


"Easier Said Than Done" is available at iTunes and Amazon.com now. "Bleuphoria" is scheduled for release Spring 2011. I'm sure artists like John Legend will be taking copious notes.

Notes.

"Now is now. Then is then. And the future will be what the future will be. So enjoy the moment while you're in it. Now is a great time." - Robert Deniro

Art and Fashion.

Illustration: Kate Mulleavy for Designer Rodarte. "Black Swan"

Work It Wednesday.






































Photographer: Solve Sundsbo
Models: Melodie Monrose & Anais Mali
Interview Magazine

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Notes.

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin

L'Officiel Paris December 2010. Fashionably Candid.






















































I really like this type of stylized photography with a candid feel. Reminiscent of vintage photo's of musicians and singer's, you feel as if you're getting a glimpse into a 'moment'. Of course this editorial layout titled "Mayfair Ladies" wasn't spontaneous, but the illusion is there. 
With everything so over the top now, it's almost refreshing to see something pared down yet still fabulous. See the full editorial here:




Model: Flaviana Matata
Photographer: Mari Sari
Styling: Sasha Lilic

Photo's: (via) beautyisdiverse.com

Rachel Roy. Fashion For a Cause
















Designer Rachel Roy has a really cool tote currently available, perfect for the bohemian fashionista or charitable minded. The tote was developed to provide disaster relief via UNICEF for the millions of children in Pakistan affected by the floods. The casual bag includes signatures from many of Roy's notable celebrity and designer friends. Learn More and Purchase Here:

Monday, December 13, 2010

Nature's Beauty. Legumes


















The winter is a great time to put on a pot of beans for a side dish, main course or prepare as a soup. Legumes or beans are full of natural protein and cholesterol lowering fiber, also typically low in fat. It's another whole food associated in lowering the risk of cancer.  Take your pick and preferably not from a can;  black, white, kidney, lima,  red (I love red beans and rice), garbanzo, navy, pinto, soy, chick and black-eyed peas, lentils and so on.

Notes.

"The chameleon looks in all directions before moving." -Ugandan Proverb

Sunday, December 12, 2010