Sunbaths



My mom sent me this picture of my wild girl/ dog-hummingbird, Mlle Barker, taking a sunbath this morning at our lake house in North Georgia. Look how happy she is, snoozing in the sun. There is no where on this planet I would have rather spent my morning than sitting on our front porch enjoying the view, drinking coffee, and eating peaches and sausage biscuits with this little one.

I am going to my first Yankees game tonight. This girl wants her some cheesesteak and baseball.

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart's Parisian couture shoot with Mario Testino is one of the most beautiful magazine features I have seen in a while. She is often criticized for her awkard, standoffish behaviour but after reading the accompanying article I respect her for owning the attitude that she displays on red carpets and in interviews. She seems so refreshing, like someone I would like to know, and though she may say she doesn't look perfect in every picture...I beg to differ.

  “I have been criticized a lot for not looking perfect in every photograph. I get some serious shit about it. I’m not embarrassed about it. I’m proud of it. If I took perfect pictures all the time, the people standing in the room with me, or on the carpet, would think, What an actress! What a faker! That thought embarrasses me so much that I look like shit in half my photos, and I don’t give a f***. What matters to me is that the people in the room leave and say, ‘She was cool. She had a good time. She was honest."

All images via Vanity Fair



Writing?

I started "writing" this blog a few weeks ago and after looking back on the posts so far, am dissapointed by the lack of actual writing taking place. While the collage-type posts are beautiful to look at easy to put together, they aren't challenging me creatively or giving me an opportunity to grow or improve my writing by putting my feelings, thoughts, and emotions out into the world. I know, as a blog reader myself, my favorite posts and blogs are those that make me feel like I am getting to know the writer, where they share their personal feelings and stories. So from here on I am going to make the effort to put myself out there, tell my friends that I am writing this, and maybe, just maybe, share the link with them.

Happy Friday from me to you.

Alex Katz, Tracy On the Raft At 7:30, 1982.

Paul Costello

I love the work of photographer Paul Costello for the small escape from my workday cubicle his photographs offer. His subjects vary... travel, beautiful interiors (he is married to the one-time creative director of Domino), fashion, landscapes, portraits... but the look and compositions are all equally beautiful. My favorites are his photos that capture life's small moments, like a dog nudging his owner to be pet.  I had a hard time narrowing down which photos to include in this post. Really, the entire portfolio on his website is worth a look.

All images via Paul Costello.

It's Here....

Summer in the city. Three days in a row of 90+ degree weather on tap for NYC and I am loving the suffocating heat, so familiar and missed by my Southern bones. Excuse my absence. I am having a shockingly busy week.

This day will come for me, I know it.
Photo, Slim Aarons.



Victorious Valentino

In my opinion, the Valentino Resort 2013 show last week was utter perfection. Pop-art inspired florals mixed with monochromatic leopard, nautical stripes, and black leather; who knew these could blend so cohesively? I love the sixties-style skinny pants and weightless chiffon peplum blouses. The black chiffon/white collared blouse and black skirt look would fit into my NYC life so perfectly I promise. Also, I am happy to see that the "Rockstud" pumps (the studded, pointy toe wonders) will still be in production next spring... Maybe I will finally be able to cross them off of my dream list.

It's Like Staring at the Sun

Whenever I see Kate Moss on the cover of a magazine my heart picks up it's pace ever so slightly. She has been my favorite model for many years; she just continues to become more beautiful and fashionable with age. This month's Bazaar shoot by Terry Richardson featuring Kate was no disappointment.

All images via Harper's Baazar.

Weekend: Mlle Time




My wild girl and Me

This Friday morning I went home to Atlanta to take care of a few things and had the most energizing, encouraging weekend. I have a major life change in the works that I can share about soon, hopefully, and this weekend really made me feel I am making the right decision. Being home recharged my soul, seeing so many close friends all at once. My time in New York has taught me so many things about myself and what I value, especially how important it is to me to be close to friends, family, and my girl, Mlle B (above).



Highlights of the weekend included eating at The Optimist with two close friends, sitting outside at Kramer's (I appreciated this so much more than I would have thought possible), buying baby gifts at B. Braithwaite, going to a special baby shower, and making this amazing homemade white pizza. Thanks Ina!

I have been listening to The Lumineers album nonstop lately. They remind me of the Avett Brothers, which I love. The whole album is on their website and is a great soundtrack to work to. Happy listening!

The Lady in Gold

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, Gustav Klimt, 1907

I first fell in love with artist Gustav Klimt's work while visiting Vienna when I was studying abroad. Last night, I was lucky enough to attend a lecture by author Anne-Marie O'Connor at the Neue Galerie, a  New York museum devoted to early twentieth-century German and Austrian art, on Gustav Klimnt's famous painting of Viennese society figure Adele Bloch-Bauer, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I. I was blown away listening to Ms. O'Connor present details from her book, The Lady in Gold,  about the fascinating history of the painting while gazing at this beautiful piece that I love so much.
 

Commissioned in 1907 by Adele's husband,  Klimt spent three years completing the painting using real gold leaf and motifs inspired by Byzantine tile. The painting hung in the Bloch-Bauer home until 1945, when the assets of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, including this Klimt painting, were confiscated after the Nazi invasion of Austria. What I found most interesting and ironic to learn from Ms. O'Connor's lecture was that the painting, depicting Jewish Bloch-Bauer, was presented in numerous Nazi art shows during this time.

The painting hung in the Austrian Gallery for over 60 years until American heirs of the Bloch-Bauer estate stepped forward to formally claim the painting, suing the Austrian government, seeking restitution of this and 4 other Klimt paintings. After many years of litigation, the Austrian government returned the paintings to the Bloch-Bauer heirs in 2006. The five Klimt works were then sold through auction house Christies to cosmetics-heir and founder of the Neue Galerie, Ronald Lauder. Lauder paid a staggering $135 million for Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, referring to it as "the Mona Lisa" of his Neue Galerie. The work now remains part of their permanent collection and is on display year round.

If you ever have the time while in New York to stop by this beautiful museum, I highly recommend it. The Upper East Side townhouse housing the museum is alone worth the visit. Also on display are many other works by Klimt and another favorite artist of mine, Egon Schiele.

Charlotte Rampling

I stumbled upon photos of the British actress Charlotte Rampling somewhere in the blog kingdom a few months ago and was struck by her timeless beauty and style. Charlotte began acting in the mid-1960's, but sadly I am only familiar with her role as Kiera Knightley's mother in The Duchess (I love period-movies, and this one did not disappoint). Regardless, the photos I found of her in the 60's and 70's are serving as my style and hair  inspiration this summer.