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Hello, Gorgeous!
Style File
Dress the Part
Sit & Sip
A Belle’s Essentials
P’s & Q’s
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Last week, one of my friends on Facebook reminded me of this song which, per the usual, sent me on a bit of a musical tangent. Women really don’t use their wiles enough these days! We should do something about this.
Hope your weekend has been absolutely lovely! Mine was relaxing & productive and filled with champagne & culinary experiments… in other words: delightful! Here are a few random things to ensure that the beginning of your week will be the same.
:: Listen ::
Last week, Husband played this song for me, and I have to tell you that I’ve been listening to Nina Simone ever since. Her voice is transcendent!
:: Read ::
Recently Stefano Pilati, creative director for YSL, did an interesting interview with Vice.com that was eventually titled, “The End of Elegance.” He makes a lot of statement about the fashion industry that I thought were interesting but the one that got to me, and has seemed to make the rounds on twitter this weekend, was this:
My idea of elegance – and this refers to women as well as men – is that someone is elegant when he or she shows a good knowledge of what fits them, where you can find naturalness and self-esteem. Not showing off. Elegance is the idea of showing an optimistic depiction of oneself, and to lose oneself in the frivolity of style and fashion. Nowadays nobody gives a shit about being elegant, or chic. If you’re doing it, you’re doing it for yourself, because it’s your way of being. When you’re not thinking, “This is fashion,” and you’re not buying clothes to create statements, you’re on the right path.
As a Southern Belle who was raised to value elegance above most this makes me so sad. What do you think? Do people still care about elegance? Do you? And, what is your definition of elegance?
(Obviously this subject has sent my mind on a bit of a tangent. You will hear more about this soon…)
{ Rugby // Red Carter }
:: Dress ::
Ruffles! For some reason, I have become pretty obsessed with this bold, feminine detail lately. If only that swimsuit can a little bigger than size 6. ( /frown / )
:: Do ::
If you’re looking forward to the season finale of Downton Abbey–And, of course, by “looking forward to” I mean dreading the end but too caught up in the story to delay watching it–then you may get a kick out of these Downton Abbey trading cards from VanityFair.com. (The titles are the best part!)
Now, get to bed early and dream sweet dreams!
Here’s hoping your week will be *lovely!*
xo* ~ Hannah B.
So Belles, have you been watching Fashion Week? I have to admit, I am a teensy bit obsessed. I may be the only gal in East Tennessee that is watching runway shows on her lunch break but, if you don’t mind, I’d love to share a few of my favorite shows.
:: Michael Kors
I am notorious for being a Michael Kors cynic. For at least the past 3 years I’ve been able to pick his clothes out of a line-up with no problem because:
a.) they all looked alike and
b.) he only seemed to make clothes that were black, white, or tan.
Well, not this season! I am absolutely in *love* with the patterns and furs. Doesn’t it just make you want to pack up and spend a weekend in the mountains? (Maybe here or perhaps Amanda Brooks’ home in the Adirondacks?)
:: Anna Sui
You know why I dig this Anna Sui show? Because each piece looks like something you may find in the closet of an eccentric aunt…
She moved to California when she was 18, and now she only comes home for holidays and funerals. She supports poor artists and musicians just like Auntie Mame, drinks martinis with no olives (they take up so much room in that tiny little glass) and she wears large round glasses the next morning (that are somewhere between Audrey and Lennon) to cover up any sign of a hangover from the night before. You dream of going to see her each summer and when you finally get there, she lets you raid her closet. This is what you take…
:: J. Crew
My very *favorite* women’s collection this year? J. Crew–I know. I was surprised too. Why do I love it so much? Well, on a personal level, you must understand that Husband is very bent toward the ‘prep’ side of things while my everyday wardrobe walks a fine line between the 1960′s, Southern staples, and old ugly sweaters. This collection is like the crazy cousin from backwoods Kalamazoo that goes to the North East to stay with her cousins Muffy & Clayton and their Lisa Birnbach-esque family. Note to self: This is how I want to dress every day from now on.
:: Michael Bastian
Finally, my favorite men’s show: Michael Bastian. Do you remember Clayton? (see J. Crew story above) Well, he grows up and goes to an Ivy League School only to major in… Liberal Arts. He has a dog, a Porsche, and a 2.5 GPA. It’s a good thing he’s so fashionable… and that Mummy loves him.
Please Note: All photos are from The New York Times. That’s where I go for my main Fashion Week coverage. These are not the shows in their entirety, only my favorite picks.
*More picks from Fashion Week on HB_Belle’s Pinterest!
This weekend, I spent some time leafing through the latest Harper’s Bazaar. I snapped some of my favorite pages for Instagram. I love that the editors are taking advantage of the print medium and really having fun with typography and layout. It’s so refreshing to see a magazine embracing print instead of rejecting it.
Most days I feel as if I’m living in a Thin Man movie… beautiful clothes, martinis, and a witty husband & loveable terrier that always keep things entertaining.
Life is what you make it! Now if only our lives called for more evening gowns and silk!
So I thought I’d share a few cocktail recipes to give your mid-week a little lift. Consider these a little late Happy *Hearts* Day present! xo* Hannah B.
Jackie Kennedy introduced America to the home of the president. A couple things that struck me immediately: how lovely that a first lady took on the task of making the White House a tribute to our country’s past and present and how graceful Jackie really was. That voice is just magical, isn’t it?
:: Listen ::
On Friday I may or may not have gone on a bit of a Suze Orman kick. Every once in a while, I completely nerd out and go on a tangent You Tubing everything I can about random people. On Friday, it was totally worth it! This little gem is a talk that Suze did for Google employees that is full of helpful hints, especially for younger people. Watch it. Listen to it. Take notes.
:: Read ::
I would argue that there are few skills quite as important as learning to write. These 10 tips from ad man David Ogilvy will truly help you hone the craft.
:: Dress ::
I am happy to report that winter has finally come to East Tennessee! Between the cooler weather and the fact that it is still dark any time I get to go outside, I’ve found myself wearing more and more bright colors. My 2 favorite colorful items of the moment: my new Cole Haans and a pair of yellow cords I got on sale from Loft! Try to work a bright piece into your wardrobe every day this week, and it will truly brighten your perspective.
{ Cole Haan for Me & for Husband // Anthropologie // Loft}
:: Live ::
Above, I mentioned my new pair of Cole Haan Skylar Oxfords so I simply must take the opportunity to share a really amazing customer service experience I had recently. Last Christmas I bought the most comfortable pair of heels I’ve ever owned and, after 2 wears, I discovered that something just wasn’t right. Naturally, being the social butterfly I am, I posted something on Twitter. @ColeHaanInsider got back to me immediately and let me know that Cole Haan has Restoration Services. So I eventually mailed back my shoes and, as it turns out, they turned out to just be a bad pair. (When you make as many shoes as they do, it’s bound to happen.) So a couple of weeks ago I got a letter back that reimbursed me so I could get a new pair of shoes. Since then, not only do I have a gorgeous new pair of Oxfords that may be some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned, we’ve also had an old pair of Husband’s wingtips restored. I love that Cole Haan makes shoes that will be your most comfortable (and cutest) pair for years and then are willing to do the maintenance themselves (replacing a sole here and there, etc.) to help you wear those same shoes for years to come.
We both own a few pairs of Cole Haans now, and they are some of my absolute favorites. However, the real point of this story is to encourage you to interact with the brands you love. In the world or Twitter and Facebook, brands can really show their customers what they’re looking at, what they love and also what values they hold dear. I’ve discovered that I really want to support brands like Cole Haan that make customer service a high priority. All that to say, as someone who tries to live a life of intention each day, it’s important to me to take advantage of the ability to communicate with the brands I love.
With all of the New York Fashion Week attention, I can’t help but daydream of the perfect closet.
I believe mine would include:
~ wallpaper
~ wooden hangers
~ beautiful places to display scarves, baubles, & jewels
~ and, of course, lots of room for shoes!
{ the closet of Laura Vinroot Poole }
{ House & Home in Apr, 2007 // MarthaStewart.com }
In case you’re looking for a bit more inspiration, I have a board on my HGTVHannahB pinterest account completely devoted to “Places to Get Pretty.”
