W.E.

This past Sunday my resident fashion-designer/roommate, El, and I watched the film W.E., co-written and directed by Madonna about the love affair between divorcée Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII. The movie jumps from New York in 1998 where a young woman, Wally Winthrop, becomes infatuated with Wallis Simpson while trying to figure out her own relationship and Simpson's passionately unfolding relationship with Edward.

The movie, while lacking in real depth of historical details, was beautifully set with fantastic costume design. The costumes used in the film were combinations of vintage pieces and recreations of Simpson's actual designer clothing from houses like Balenciaga, Dior, Vionnet and Schiaparelli. El and I were enthralled with every scene and the 60+ costume changes. My personal favorite: the blue and white striped day dress and the midnight-blue velvet evening gown below.

Before watching this movie, my knowledge of Wallis Simpson, her affair with Edward, and his subsequent abdication of the throne was limited to what was included in The King's Speech. After watching this movie, I am fascinated by the woman, the relationship that Edward chose over his position, and the scandal caused by his abdication. I just added the Simpson biography, That Woman, to my Kindle and cannot wait to start reading.

Tennis Anyone?

I have been listening to the song "Marathon" by the band Tennis on repeat for months now. Tennis' debut album, Cape Dory, was written while the husband-and-wife artists were on a yearlong sailing trip in the Atlantic; you can almost hear the influences of warm ocean breezes and rolling waves throughout the album. The song has had me dreaming of sunburns and sailboats all winter, helping me get through the dreary NYC subway commute with a taste of sunshine.

Weekend: Memorial Day at Meeting House



Foggy morning on Meeting House Lane, Amagansett



I hope that everyone had a happy, sunny, and safe Memorial Day holiday!

I spent my weekend in Amagansett at the house I am a 34th-part-owner of for the summer. One weekend down, 6 more to go. The weekend went by in a flash of waiting in line (lines, lines, and more lines...), Cyril's BBCs and lobster rolls, and hearing "Call Me Maybe" more than a few times.



I am a wee bit of a breakfast connoisseur so I was beyond excited when I saw that our house is walking distance from the Amagansett Farmers Market. They have a make-your-own iced coffee station, beautiful flowers, and killer breakfast sandwiches. I walked to breakfast there both mornings and can see this becoming my summer weekend habit.



Self-service. Come to Mama.



Saturday: Iced coffee, oatmeal with granola, Hamptons Cottages and Gardens



While I had the best time this weekend, and am excited about more to come, I feel a sense of dichotomy about weekends like this. Location, lifestyle, choices... I was daydreaming while walking to breakfast Saturday about the alternative... Waking up feeling 100% rested, no-dull aches from sleeping on the floor or anxiety-ridden hangovers to battle. The only conclusion I can reach is this will be a summer of wanting "both/ and". I am not ready to give up it up, but I want more at the same time.



Frat beach? Not quite the original (St. Simons) but it worked!



I came back to the city Sunday night to beat the rush and meet a good friend who was visiting for brunch on Monday. We got to catch up, split a prosciutto sandwich, and have a cupcake for dessert then went off to enjoy the rest of the Mem Day scorcher in NYC.

Going to Foster the People tonight in Central Park. Happy Tuesday to all!




I found these little ditties on my way home from brunch.
Mara Hoffman for Soludos.

 

J.K. Place Capri

I visited the island of Capri a few summers ago before studying abroad in Milan; it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and leaving left me dreaming of returning some day. We stayed in Sorrento and took a boat to Capri for the day, but on my fantasy return trip I will be staying at boutique-hotel, the J.K.Place Capri. Sometimes I take a quick break from my stimulating day job to browse through pictures of dream hotels I'd like to visit; the J.K. Place Capri is near the very top of the list. The hotel, designed by Italian architect/interior-designer Michele Bonan, has only 22 rooms, breathtaking views, and award-winning interiors. I bet it also smells divine, like Capri lemons, gardenias, and heaven.

 These friends would also be joining me on my fabulous vacation: 

In other news, I am heading out to the Hamptons for the first time this weekend.

Human-to-bed ratio: 7:1

How will that work you wonder? No idea. Hoping a visit to the Talkhouse will have me more excited to be sleeping on the floor.

Ultimate-Fighting: The Book Edition

 


"Ideal Bookshelf", Jane Mount

 

Since I began reading at a young age, I have been a passionate, voracious reader. I love the escape and fantasy of slipping into and losing myself, anxieties, and worries in an imagined world. I went through a borderline-unhealthy period of reading only historical romance novels in high school (don't judge). Thankfully, in the past few years have really diversified my choices. I no longer discriminate by judging a book by its' cover and have read, and loved, works from all genres. I typically try and vary my choices: fiction/nonfiction, romance/fantasy, historical/current, etc. Currently reading: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin, the fourth in the Game of Thrones series.

My sister recently sent me this Time article, "The 10 Greatest Books of All Time", profiling Peter Zane's The Top Ten, in which 125 famous authors pick their top ten favorite books. The lists were then compiled into one list-of-all lists and came out as follows:

1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
2. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
3. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
4. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
7. The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald
8. In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust
9. The Stories of Anton Chekhov by Anton Chekhov
10. Middlemarch by George Eliot

I would voice my opinion on these choices, but considering I have only read two of the ten.... I am no expert. Great-Books read: Anna Karenina (I will save my critique on Anna and resist my urge to share any spoilers on this one) and the crowd favorite, The Great Gatsby. I am embarrassed at my poor great-book reading past, and after realizing most of these books are free on my Kindle, will be starting Madame Bovary as soon as I finish up in Westeros (Game of Thrones).

How many have you read? Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

City Escape



Me.
<substitute three-legged terrier in lap>



I have long been a lover of John Derian's eponymous store in the East Village and his signature decoupage trays. I currently have two of his small trays, a letter "D" and a rhinoceros, in my bedroom that I use as a landing place for my favorite jewelery. I love Derian's store and aesthetic so it is not surprising that it was love at first sight when I saw Derian's second home in Provincetown, Massachusetts, recently featured on Bon Appétit.

I can imagine spending weekends at this much-worn and well-loved escape from the city with my three-legged terrier mix, Mlle. Barker. I would lounge away the days reading and listening to music by the beach while enjoying a muddled Bluberry Smash or two. Or Three. The house would be full of family, friends and delicious, fresh seafood. I have signed on for a half-share in a Hamptons house this summer and something tells me that my city escape will not resemble this daydream one bit. More on my reality after the first visit this coming weekend.






Another favorite, prints by Hugo Guinness.



 


Anagrams? Yes, please!

 

 All images via Bon Appétit.

Weekend: Rosé Colored Glasses

It's amazing what a dose of sun can do.




Reading by the Highline: my sliver of paradise.



A full weekend of happy things: perfect weather, dining al fresco, bowls of pasta, reading in the park, brunch at Gemma, new birthday vests, Georgetown cupcakes, reminiscing while making very important lists, Wren visiting, Rosé tasting, and installing... an air conditioner (finally!).



Georgetown Cupcakes and Svetich





Gemma 





Becoming Obama




Image via Vanity Fair

  

My favorite article in the current issue of Vanity Fair was "Becoming Obama", a portrait of young Barack Obama by David Maraniss about Obama's time spent in New York and his relationship with then girlfriend Genevieve Cook. I particularly enjoyed this humanizing glimpse into Obama's feelings of identity crisis at the time:

“Caught without a class, a structure, or tradition to support me, in a sense the choice to take a different path is made for me. The only way to assuage my feelings of isolation are to absorb all the traditions [and] classes; make them mine, me theirs."

And this excerpt from a letter written to Genevieve describing his ritual-like runs:

"I run every other day at the small indoor track [at Columbia] which slants slightly upward like a plate; I stretch long and slow, twist and shake, the fatigue, the inertia finding home in different parts of the body. I check the time and growl—aargh!—and tumble onto the wheel. And bodies crowd and give off heat, some people are in front and you can hear the patter or plod of the steps behind. You look down to watch your feet, neat unified steps, and you throw back your arms and run after people, and run from them and with them, and sometimes someone will shadow your pace, step for step, and you can hear the person puffing, a different puff than yours, and on a good day they’ll come up alongside and thank you for a good run, for keeping a good pace, and you nod and keep going on your way, but you’re pretty pleased, and your stride gets lighter, the slumber slipping off behind you, into the wake of the past."

Agree or disagree with the President's political decisions, admit he is one heck of a writer.

Hopefully soon...

I saved images of Jacqui Getty's Hollywood Hills home months ago and still love the cultivated, fresh feeling. The rooms are chic yet comfortable, filled with light  and loved belongings; just what I like in a home. 

In my opinion, one of the best parts about living alone is that you can design your space entirely of your own aesthetic, being selfish to your tastes, preferences, etc. For me this means living in a bright, modern, fairly feminine oasis like Getty's. When I am back in my own space in the coming months these will be some of the first images I turn to.





All images from C Magazine.

 

C'est parfait.

I haven't yet mentioned my absolute adoration of French culture; I feel such an inexplicable, magnetic draw to the language, style, and music. I can imagine myself strolling along the Seine in Paris after a long night of dancing in this fabulous dress. Set to Sydney Bechet's "Si tu vois ma mère", the title track from Midnight in Paris, I would stop at a cafe for a café au lait and an almond croissant. All would be right in the world.

C'est parfait, n'est-ce pas?

Weekend: A Taste of Summer

Finally, sun and warmth on a Saturday and Sunday. My prayers answered. Until this weekend, it has seemed that the most beautful days of the week were Mondays and Tuesdays when I can't be outside to enjoy them.

Friday night I went to a late dinner with some friends at Kittichai. My happiness over the perfect weather was magnified by borrowing this lovely blouse of my sister's and spending a night catching up with one of my favorite people.




Bad self-photography.
Top, Sandro.



I spent most of Saturday and Sunday laying out in the island of grass by my apartment and enjoying little luxuries: a delicious grilled cheese from Lucy's Whey in Chelsea Market, new bedroom lilies, reading Vanity Fair cover to cover, and watching Birdsong. Last night I topped it all off with a bowl of spaghetti pomodoro and a pilgrimage to Ben and Jerry's. It really doesn't get any better than that.

Oh, and I met this guy who was also enjoying his Saturday strolling through the West Village. We bonded over a shared love of M&M's.

Tom Palumbo

When I began following fashion blogs a few years ago, the above image of Grace Kelly, taken by photographer Tom Palumbo (1921-2008), was one of the first images I saved as inspiration.

Palumbo's talent was discovered when a photography editor at MOMA saw his photo of a stable in Athens, Georgia. He went on to work for Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, where he captured the essence and spirit of fashion in the fifties and sixties.

I love my personal connection to Palumbo's work, having been blessed to live in Athens, Georgia myself. I find his work truly beautiful; his photographs have me longing to have been born in a different generation.