This image (shown above) began my love affair with Valentio. His dresses are clean with the perfict balance of femmine with and edge. Build your wordrobe around one of these dresses and you can't go wrong.
A New Light. Mood board #5
A New Light
For this transition into early fall I start to think about those long shadows cast by a sinking sun. The photos in this mood board conjure the elegant contrast of a California light. Th editorial shoot featuring Mia Wasikowska expresses dressing for the west cost life, in a glitzy yet laid back mix of black, cream and gold (and desert Kachina print dress by Hermes). Classic, rock and roll, and Hollywood these contrast will make you strut into a new light.
Find inspiration in this light from The Row
Find inspiration in this light from The Row
Green Story for Pre-Fall
Mood Board #4 Prints
This mood board is all about the prints. Some of my absolute favorites! Notice the origami cat print by Piamita* in the head to toe look and the reptile-esque print on the Anthropologie dress. Adding a whimsical playfulness to the spirit of summer, the looks stay polished by keeping the palates monotone and the silhouettes structured. If the other style elements stay refined then the thoughtful prints really stand out!
-This post goes out to my friend Felicity, a true master of print and design. I always imaged her being able to pull of the hot pant striped blazer ensemble!
mood board #3: Cutting Loose with Decorum
Mood Board #3: Cutting Loose with Decorum
In this town were I reside (Portland, Or.) The first warming and sunny days seems signal women to step out of the house, quite suddenly, totally scantly clad. All pail flesh. This mood board is about the glory of a transition. These woman look cool and put together in lovely lose long pants, so breezy and so many playful colors. Give yourself the time to acclimate to the new weather, the new spring fever and the new style you adapt. It's never becoming to bare-all too soon.
Franny & Campari
Franny who? Franny wears brilliant trousers and
holds her hands in a purposeful, suggestive manner. Franny is one in
a series of character studies inspired by photos.
Mid-day sun pierces Franny's eyes. Blithely, she
positions her hand above her head, reminiscent of a Victorian lady prior
to a fainting spell. What lies in the distance. A bird? No. A flock
of birds? A ship? No. An Armani-swathed gentleman holding two Campari
sodas approaches Franny. The bold color of Campari parallels Franny's
belted, chic trousers. The hour strikes 18 30. Aperitivo seems more
than appropriate. Franny coyly takes the Campari soda. Tomorrow she
will be adorned in her traditional day-time armor. An ideally balanced
homme-femme blouse, bright tailored trousers, gold pseudo (faux?)-tie
necklace lingering sensually. Sunglasses borrowed from Jackie O's personal
collection hide memories of mysteries from the night before. Franny's
red, nearly pursed, lips suggest self-imposed alienation, albeit inciting
endless invitations. She will accept a few. Politely decline the masses.
Friday evening arrives. Franny dons a new-age garden kimono, revisited.
She glides from the New York City Ballet to a jazz bar in the East Village
as seamlessly as her kimono. White slacks command simplicity and sophistication.
Will she accompany Claude or Giovanni to the next bar du jour for Sazeracs?
Franny couldn't be bothered to decide. She ponders a spontaneous flight
to Oslo or Vienna.
Madeline Pearl at madtothewords.blogspot.com