Sensual Sunday

Images- fashionising, alicebgardens, janeheller, jerseymaids, dronzie, emily dreaming, arialmages

Life of an Opera singer

While searching for original watercolours that I have begun to addictively collect, I discovered this talented artist.
Interestingly, he paints as a hobby- he is a professional Opera singer!
It was an unexpected detail that shows his definite artistic leanings. Watercolours is something that he has done for years, painting scenes that catch his eye while living and working on the road.
Bass-baritone Christian Van Horn has performed in the famous La Bohème with the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Roméo et Juliette with the Berlin Philharmonic , Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Chicago Philharmonic, and as Mozart's Figaro with Chicago Opera Theater. On top of that, he holds a Masters Degree from Yale University!
Also, each piece of work is accompanied by a short anecdote that explains how he was compelled to capturing the mood of the moment.


{This guy is definitely running from something or someone. Perhaps he is running from the suit he is wearing. Came alive at my kitchen table in Munich Germany.}

{This was inspired by a photograph to these two amazing people I captured while walking around downtown Munich. It was very early in the morning and they were dressed to kill. I had to be quick and took a blurry picture with my phone that eventually turned into what you see here.}


{This is a painting of a favorite place of mine called the Copper Kitchen on Chapel Street in New Haven, Connecticut...right in the middle of the Yale campus. The Copper Kitchen is a real greasy spoon place where you are lucky if what you ordered is what you got. More coffee was in the saucer than in the cup. I had a standing weekly breakfast with great friends there while I was a student.}

Frivolité essentielle

Irresistable new loves...
My J Crew picks for perfect additions to any wardrobe.
Have a great weekend!

Let the Art Speak

Designer Jill Stuart undoubtedly has a good eye for beautiful things and she has chosen to surround her abode with modern art done in various mediums set against a clean classic backdrop. I like that it brings out the character of the oversized pieces and captures one's interest yet seem to still remain so much a component of the family home. Keep everything simple and the Art speaks volumes.
Too lovely.

All images par Elle Decor

Chanel goes Country

As likely as marie antoinette was a shepardess, chanel was your typical farm attire.
Yet Couture was the garb that Karl clothed his models in before sending them for a literal roll in the hay in his latest Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear showcase.

It was utter madness yet almost helplessly funny, the most ridiculous of backdrops- you couldn't have staged a better contrast for the exquisitely expensive suits.
All that was needed to complete the picture of idyllic country bliss was a couple of cows and a few muddy pigs to send the immaculately dressed front row crowd into a tizzy.

No one but Karl could have dreamt up this wild romp as a vehicle to imbue the collection with a renewed sense of youthful abandonment and carefree vigour. If channelling milkmaid was the key, well cowboy it worked like a charm.
We're living The Simple life all over again...



Also, I counted at least seven unmistakable Red White and Blue [or Bleu Blanc Rouge most likely] outfits that matched right down to the floral tricolore heels. I didn't quite know what to make of them but it really does stand out from the usual black white and pink Chanel palate.

Covetable clutches still the unwavering norm

And if you haven't already heard, watching the video might reveal a cheeky surprise.

All images from Style.com

Billy Elliot The Musical

One of the highlights of my trip was to finally watch the musical that won an amazing 10 Tony's at the most recent Tony awards in June. If any of you watched the broadcast you would have caught a glimpse of how good the performances are during the opening montage as well as the explosive 'Angry Dance' introduced by Elton John. They took the Best Musical, Best performance by Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Direction, Best Choreography among others but I was hugely disappointed that they lost out on Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics).

The wonderfully moving music by Elton John and meaningful lyrics by Lee Hall really stuck in my head. I found myself humming it after leaving the theatre, still hearing the notes while queueing at the Starbucks in Times Square for my close to midnight hot chocolate fix, listening to it on my laptop during a flight stopover in Frankfurt (I bought the CD) and finally playing the lovely music on my piano when I got home (yes, I had to buy the musical score too!).

Its no secret that I love musicals. I think there are few I haven't watched and most I've watched twice. Its my 'thing' - I haven't truly seen it until I've seen it on both sides of the pond!
Anyway, amidst the convoluted chatter, what I'm trying to say is that this ranks High.

Tickets sell out fast and sadly only 2 of the 3 original Billy's remain. Kiril, [the one with a brother and sister] sadly took his final bow as Billy Elliot two nights ago on October 3. He grew too tall for the part but I'm sure he's going to become a great ballet dancer with the amount of talent he has already displayed! You can still see David [two sisters] and Trent [three sisters] in the title role.

If you're planning a trip to NY around Christmas this would be a fantastic thing to do with the family, pretty perfect as well since there's Christmas celebrations and fake snowfall in the musical itself!





All images by Rachel Papo for an article in NYmag.