Black, White & Red + GIVEAWAY

You know how sometimes we blog hop, just from one thing to another,
not really having a goal, just looking at all the lovely pictures and reading
insightful & wonderful commentary?

That is how this post happened today.

All the credit goes to a brilliant blog called

Ruffled

& ladies, I simply took her wonderful post and brought it over here
for you guys to see.

Isn't this just wonderful, brilliant, mad, wild & crazy & perfect?

black & white photographs all put together as a table runner

with red anemones

couldn't be simpler, but WHO would think of this?

someone pretty talented...

http://ruffledblog.com/2010/03/urban-wed-event-by-brooklyn-bride/

click over to see all her commentary and MUCH larger photos which show
the entire set-up so much better...

my new

GIVEAWAY

2 Crystal Bangle Bracelets

one for each arm

Hopeless commercial,

I am trying to reach 300 followers so I can justify opening a shop on

ETSY

for my jewelry designs.

I have a new client, a wonderful boutique in Texas who will

be carrying my exclusive designs before the holiday season...I'll keep

you updated on this new venue.

RULES:  Be or become a follower, refer one of your blogging friends

to  me & tell them to mention you sent them over, leave a really nice comment,

& voila you're entered.  Each friend who comes over will count as

another 2 entries for you.  I'm encouraging all of my loyal followers to

participate...I LOVE you guys!

Joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for
Tablescape Thursday
icon on right sidebar all the way down to the bottom

Then & Now

Portrait of Edith Vanderbilt
Biltmore Estate
Ashville, North Carolina

it seems evident that Mrs. Vanderbilt loved beautiful apparel...

wonder what she would think of today's selections.

Chanel Pre-Fall Shanghai 2010

 ohhhhhh those boots

Celine

 

similar outfit shown on model Abbey Lee Kershaw a few days ago

Ralph Lauren

an outfit for any day in a girl's life...

Burberry Prorsum

has to be my favorite day look this season

Diane Von Furstenberg

hat & scarf

Lanvin Fur Beret

Precious Gloves

accessories from Bergdorf-Goodman

• 
  
  
  

if one has not been to Biltmore Estate it is a destination to be

placed on your to-visit list...during the holiday season the entire

estate is decorated for Christmas, with live music & carrollers...it is

truly a magnificient piece of American history and is still owned &

operated by the Vanderbilt heirs, a gift to all of us to behold.

the grand foyer

American's In Fashion

 

Milan Fashion Week, On The Street

Holli Rogers

Tuesday - 10:27AM

Net-A-Porter's buying director, Holli Rogers,

attended Milan Fashion Week wearing some of Fall's hit items:

a plaid cape, camel skirt,

 tough Burberry Prorsum Shearling-lined aviator boots,

and a black leather patch sweater from Duffy.

Emulate her cunning cool weather ensemble with exact items

along with similar finds from J.Crew and Ralph Lauren.

Left to right: J.Crew Cord Atlee Skirt ($60),

Holli Rogers at Milan 2011 Fashion Week,

Duffy Wool and Cashmere Sweater ($200),

Falke Gray Tights ($65),

 Burberry Prorsum Shearling-lined Aviator Boots ($1,095),

Ralph Lauren Blue Label Dunlop Cape ($1,498)

 

 

 

all from Fashionologie

 

A Very Important Date

invitation to a cocktail party,
honoring the committee for the annual gala
of one of the performing or visual arts
of the community ...
a city anywhere in the United States.

this is a hypothetical party

& our best friend's daughter & her up-&-coming husband

have been invited...the daughter will be asked to work on one of

the committees for the upcoming gala...

so what she wears to this event is hugely important to her,

as she wants to make the correct impression.

the event will be held on a

Thursday evening in a beautiful home.

 

These are the kinds of ladies who will be in attendance.

so away we went to choose something for daughter dear,

who, btw,  is tall & looks like a beautiful All-American girl,

about 35-42 years of age

& believe me we had many choices, all wonderful outfits,

mommy is buying so money is no object...

First

Aquilano.Rimondi

very young, very safe, shoes are edgy but edgy is not the right image

for this party...cultured, intelligent & elegant are what we are seeking

for this party.

•  

Second

Burberry Prorsum

so sweet & perfect, however, the dress is the dress

is the dress...in other words, no matter what she does with

accessories this dress will always be the same.

& finally

Yves Saint Laurent

 beautiful sophisticated jumpsuit with a fur-trimmed vest

an entry-making outfit

close-up of vest

 vest can be worn with everything from jeans to satin...

•  

the jumpsuit once the vest is removed,

sleek & sophisticated,

fashionable, you can wear 100 times & it never looks the same

depending on accessories...

for the cocktail party we love the long dangling gold chain with pendant

the gloves are different in this pic, we like the simple ones,

maybe fingerless if we could find the perfect pair ...

•  

my girlfriend & I both know from years of experience that volunteering

for work on charity events is the fastest way to make friends in high

places...this is not social climbing...it is net-working.

for professional women, in any field, this is one of the most enjoyable

ways to be introduced to community leaders and to become part

of this echelon...

in fact, without doing this in today's world, I think it would be nearly

impossible to meet and befriend so many lovely people. all of my life

I have enjoyed  my work on various committees, rising to the chairmanship

of many events, and have  made friendships which have lasted a lifetime. 

not only did I do some good for the charities, we had tons of fun & 

I made friends & contacts I might have missed otherwise.

therefore, I think the clothes are a really good investment.

:)

Autumn Leaves

Elie Tahari





Max Mara, the ultimate in minimalism, flawless tailoring

Ralph Lauren

DKNY

Louboutin Sneakers $925 @ Bergdorf Goodman

every designer has a pair of these leopard sneakers,

but I think I'll get mine at DSW...

a bridge somewhere in the Chicago area

tell me, what will your "go to" outfit be for Fall?

Fairy Tales

the beginning of the Fall high social season

would you please look at the gloves
TDF

garnets, freshwater pearls, large Bali filigree beads

kudos to the perfect red coat of the season

& this one might even be worth it if you live

where you actually have winters

(unless, of course, you need it for travel)

rubies with vintage locket

Natalia Vodianovia as Little Red Riding Hood

in an as yet unpublished editorial for Vogue

Dare You

be bold about fashion
?

model off-work, street style, sheer long skirt

(recommend short slip underpinning)
bronze jacket, draping petal pullover.

I would so wear this, shopping in New Orleans antique stores, art gallery opening,

dinner with friends in some quirky, wonderful restaurant.

• 
  Multi-Strand Necklace
• agate, carnelian, smoky topaz
•  

Dries Von Noten

don't you love the bold, daring combination of patterns?

•  

Dries, again, as shown on runway

•  

same outfit as shown in Marie Claire

pretty wonderful isn't it?

Do you have the courage to do this?

I mean, hey, it's neither fatal nor permanent
to wear it.   Live a little...just do it!!

big, flat red velvet bow headband, so holiday !

I am recovering from some hideous flu-like illness
which has kept me from visiting my friends for the past 10 days.
I'm definitely on the mend and will see you over the weekend.
xx's