Flowers on a Sunday

Sitting at my desk on a rainy Sunday, pouring over yet another stack of notes and materials, I'm struck my how satisfied I am that this has become my normal. I seem to put myself through these ups and downs of emotion a lot, willingly signing up for new challenges and feeling stressed about whether I'll prevail at the end of the day. It's intense and the pressure and nerves are constant. Yet I feel that perhaps at this stage in my life it might be healthy to consistently push, because if not now, then when, ever? It's a rat race to be sure. I never thought I'd be 'doing this'. And yet now, dare I say, I just might be doing it for real. Time will tell if I'll survive. I certainly hope I'll have the stamina to sustain me through the arduous climb. For now at least, just like a flower, freshly plucked is at its freshest and most beautiful for those brief few days, I'll savour these sweet moments, no matter how short and appreciate its beauty while it continues to thrive.

Original paintings by Gretchen Hancock

Days by the Water

I can't even remember how it was like to post weekly, it feels like such a long time ago. I have been away. I have never been busier, and yet I've strangely never been this content. You know how after a long day of swimming and playing and laying out under the hot sun, you have such a good night's sleep after. You fall asleep easy and you feel properly and truly well rested come morning. It's the work equivalent I suppose.

So I think what prompted this post was my recent trip to Phuket. It's funny, it's like the game, 'one is not like all the others'. It felt like my first southeast asian holiday although it wasn't really. But after the grand Europe trips and multi city tours, this felt uncomplicated and odd. The new approach to travelling will take some getting used to. It will be hard.

But back to Phuket. I swam, I baked, well I burnt and I had a joyous five days. My first true break in awhile. And I hope there will be many more pleasant little trips to look forward to, unexpected destinations to uncover and a challenging but not impossible path to navigate. And I certainly hope to be back here again more often.

In the meantime, with love.

 

 

Paintings by Janwilhelmi

To 2013!

Just like there is a Morning and a Night person, I believe there are January or December people. A January person embraces the new beginning, the clean slate, the 12 months full of possibilities ahead. I'm a December person. I walk gingerly through the first 6 months and then start to celebrate once we hit June and finally move into the second half of the year. January intimidates me a little, it's a month fraught with anxieties, people filled with resolutions, new goals to chase, dreams to dream. Once the first half of the year is over, people start to relax, take things in their stride, settle into the day to day. Once September comes around, that's when the fun begins. It's crunch time, the now or never mentality kicks in, everyone is motivated to make the very most of the remaining months and the countdown to holiday season begins. Then November and December, the most wonderful time of the year flies by. Before you know it, it's New Year's Eve and the rollercoaster is set to begin...all over again. Happy 2013 folks! 2012, you were lovely old pal.

 

For the Girl like me

A Blue and Gold theme for Christmas this year feels ultra lux. I've got the bells and whistles but with a tree decorated in shades of gold, it keeps the mood very grown up and yet definitely festive. I wasn't surprised when my Christmas shopping didn't veer very far from the colour I have loved the entire year. At the moment, my jewelry collection consists of a rose gold Eddie Borgo crystal cone bracelet, an Alexis Bittar cuff, and this Tiffany Somerset bangle. A few smaller Gorjana pieces and an Aurelie Bidermann ring round up my constants for the past 12 months. I like the weight of the beautiful metal, the subtle gleam and the touch of extravagance that gold adds to any simple outfit. I'm awfully happy this Christmas and incredibly Thankful for how wonderful things have been this year. I can't say I need much more except to relax and count the remaining days till it's time for presents and a feast!

par Lonny, Eddie Borgo, Tiffany & Co.

Alexander Wang - pulling up those bootstraps

Alexander Wang for Balenciaga? I haven't had time to properly mull it over but on the accessory front, the one thing that the two brands definitely have in common is the way those 'it' bags fly off the shelf. Whether you're a committed Balenciaga classic fan or an A. Wang Rocco devotee, they've both been smashing successes and have cemented their status on the arms of many a fashion folk. Eclipsed only perhaps by the Celine luggage. In the meantime, these fantastic Alexander Wang boots have definitely won my heart. The cut-out heel gives it an undeniable edge and make the black boots an every day classic - but not. It's strong, it's sexy, it's deceptively understated with an unexpected kick. That sentence might have been a roundabout way of saying I need these on my feet. Thoughts?

My Day to Day

I don't typically post alot of personal pictures but the compulsion to take random shots of beautiful objects and environments has been intensified with the festive season and I seem to be permanently soaking up the decorations and prettily packaged gifts through the lens of my cameraphone. There really has been quite a long radio silence on the blog which is, embarrassingly, not uncommon whenever I'm immersed in a new project. But yes, its because I'm currently working on a Giant thing at the moment and so apologies for not being more present. Therapy talk aside, here are some pictures from my phone. My candle obsession has clearly reached dizzying heights. I spent ages at Penhaligon's the other day mulling over the Earl Grey and Malabah candles and at last count, I found 5 Diptyque ones in my room. Scentwise, it's Aubépine, Mimosa, Violette, Myrrhe, Figuier. And a Le Labo Santal. So other than being 'the one most likely to start a fire in her apartment complex', that's my update for the moment. Enjoy!



 

All images, my own.

A Uniform of black and white

You know, if I could, I would be the type of girl who wore only black and white. Well, on some days that's the type of girl I think I'd like to be. There's something severe but quite alluring about sticking to a colour scheme that really conveys nothing about a person. It's secretive and mysterious, your personality hidden behind a a blank slate. These few weeks I've been addicted to this disciplined yet conversely easy combination.
It's important, I've discovered, to always keep your makeup impeccably fresh when working this palette. Skin that doesn't glow could easily slide towards the tired looking end of the scale and completely ruin the chic factor. A rosy blush is essential. And shiny healthy hair pulls everything together neatly. Black and white is graphic, whether worn structured or loosely draped and instantly creates an aura of power, faux or not.
It's my uniform of the moment but self awareness dictates that it won't be long before a blue blazer sneaks up on me!

via

A Thing of Beauty

Taking a bit of a mid week breather, I've dug up some old images that have been languishing in my archive folders. I've collected these pictures of wire and light fixtures for ages and am waiting to stumble across just the perfect phrase that would gain a permanent place on my walls, lighting up my life so to speak (bad pun, yes, but you knew it was coming). Surely you've seen the ones with naughty lines, infused with just the right amount of charming loopiness to make you consider hanging the mischevious words on the wall. And then there are the stark ones that simply spell out oops, or sorry, or I love you. While my heart still has not settled on a particular turn of phrase, this sentence below resonates for today. For the times when you are caught between two places, two directions, two people, two deadlines, or find yourself floundering somewhere in between, it's nice to think that it could be beautiful right Here.
Have a happy week!

The Poet, Intellectual, Romantic, Dreamer

No matter how familiar I am with the surroundings, the romanticised little vignettes never fail to make me reevaluate. Almost recalibrate. I think when we become entrenched in a particular place, in a routine, in the bustle, the noise and dirt and daily frustrations, we lose the rose tint and trade it for grey. Clichés, for all intents and purposes, rekindles the spark.

I realised that as I was cataloging these images, I unthinkly labelled them pause, linger, read, scribble, wonder, look, ponder. Sure, it could be the backdrop of Paris that makes such editorials an enduring staple. But beyond that, it's the idealised Life associated with Paris that tugs at our heartstrings. The life of the poet, the intellectual, the romantic, the dreamer. Having experienced Sorbonne nurtured philosophy, I can attest to carefree days being quite tainted by papers and actual research. What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't have to be Paris and it doesn't have to be endless days of sitting in cafes and strolling the streets. All we have to do is find some time, once in a while, to Live these lost moments. To retrieve the magic in our days and pause, linger, read, scribble, wonder, look and ponder.
Enjoy your weekend loves.

par shopbop

A few good rays...

Weekends are for brunches, beautifully poached eggs and gossip. Weekends are for art. And weekends are definitely for catching a few good rays. Beachside or Poolside, as long as you're armed with a hat (maison michel), sunscreen (la roche-posay), book (take your pick) and....iphone (who are we kidding), I'll say you're all set! Now I'm off to follow my three simple rules for the day!

Art by SusanSumner

Two weeks to Fashion week

With two more weeks to go, are you already looking forward to more beauty and inspiration at Fashion Week? I personally love backstage glimpses, the quiet moments amidst the storm. The candids and the friendships. Here's a start.

images, Preen via TheFormula

Best Concert Ever!

Of course, you immediately know what I'm talking about. The closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics was rocking fantastic! All that great music jammed into one amazing venue, filled with the most unbelievable people, all in one utterly glorious night! All the British Greats, legendary musicians, bands and even supermodels came out to play. Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell strutted their stuff on the largest catwalk ever, accompanied by Stella Tennant, Karen Elson, Lily Cole, Lily Donaldson, Georgia Jagger, Jourdan Dunn and yes, even David Gandy. Too bad one of my favourite iconic Brit models, Agyness Deyn wasn't there. And then there was the SPICE Girls. Quite the highlight for me I must say, it definitely took me back. All five looked fabulous! The Adele rumours unfortunately were not true but since she's pregnant it wasn't a huge surprise that she couldn't be there to perform. Wouldn't that have been the cherry on top though? The Brazilian segment brought more beauty in the form of Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio, the much adored football star Pelé and lively, traditional drumbeats. Goodbye London, it's been so lovely. See you at the Carnival in Rio!

all Adidas by stellamccartney