rouge blanc noir

mon dieu!

2011-12-23T18:59:00.001-08:00

oh my gosh! has it really been over two months since i checked in with you all? i can't believe that the time has flown by so quickly and now we are at the eve of christmas eve! things have been so busy in my life that i just have barely been getting everything done that i need to but it's also been really, really great.

well, i just want to let you know that we are all doing just fine in my household. lorenzo and the girl are fabulous as always and lucie, roy and the kitty cats are all doing great as well. work is going good, just keeping me very busy. in fact i have a little bit of news for you all...in eleven days i will be heading to paris for maison objet! yes, it's true, my work is sending me to paris and i couldn't be happier. however, between now and then, i have a lot of work to do. i will be setting up and working our booth at the show in paris and then fly directly to new york to do the same at the new york gift show. whew, i'm already tired!

so while preparing to go to paris, i was sure to get a hotel in my favorite neighborhood, the latin quarter, to be close to my beloved shakespeare and company. i was so sad to hear last week that george whitman passed away at the ripe old age of 98. i was hoping to see him one last time. perhaps i will light a candle in notre dame for the old codger.

i think the best thing about this whole situation is that he had a daughter he named sylvia beach who has taken over running the store for him so i can rest easy knowing that it is in good hands (and i'm sure he can too).

if you have never been to shakespeare and company in paris, the next time you are there, you must go. it is a magical little world all its own.

and i am so excited to be staying right around the corner from the bookshop at hotel le notre dame.

this cute 26 room hotel was designed by christian lacroix and it is going to be my home away from home for ten days while i'm there. oh my gosh, i DIE!

so i promise, promise, promise that i will be better about checking in with you all-- my wonderful devoted reader friends and i will take lots and lots of pictures for you.

happy christmas to everyone and i can't wait to talk to you again soon.
XO

french bow

2011-10-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

look at this cute little guy i found over on besotted. almost as cute as my little girl!

falling for fashion

2011-10-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

hi everyone! how has fall been so far? i really can't believe it's already here. even though it is my favorite fashion time of year, yeah!

so yes, i have been compiling my fall 2011 must haves for the season and this is what i have come up with so far. some of these lovelies have already made it home with me. oh i can't wait to snuggle up in my new fall wardrobe.

so, number one on the agenda is a new haircut. as you all know, after years of longish hair, i cut it off this spring into a cute new bob. i am still loving my short hair but i do miss being able to put it up so i have been growing it out a little. i found this picture of kirsten and i love, love, love this haircut. of course mine will be darker but this is such a classic retro bob. i can't wait to get over to see my girl soon to start working on this cut.

and here is my latest signature lip color, chili by mac. i'm loving it. mac really does the best lipstick, don't they?

and this was the purchase of the season. i always keep a classic camel coat in my closet and when this came through our latest collection, you know i had to have it. this is pendleton's hip/young collection, the portland collection. i absolutely can't wait for it to get cool enough to wear this.

i decided that i really wanted a buffalo check shirt this year but i wanted it to have elbow patches. then i remembered this great junya watanabe shirt from two years ago and i found a pendleton version of it. i'm just going to wear it as a shirt jacket with jeans or leggings this winter.

last week i found the softest leopard print cardigan like this one at h&m. i think it will be the perfect accessory to mix in with my collection. it goes with everything.

i have been looking and looking for a classic french cuff shirt like this one and i am determined to find it this season. it is just such a staple. i must have one!

and i die for these flared camel trousers. must have! where oh where can i find these. i cannot go on without something like this in my fall collection.

my rain boots have worn out and they have been retired to the back door for taking the dogs outside. i literally had a puddle in them last week so i finally broke down and bought these pillar box red hunter wellies. of course now i'm dying to wear them and it's been nothing but sun here!

and i know that ballet flats are not the best fall footwear but i found these gabriella rocha flats on zappos and i had to have them. the bows are just the sweetest. besides, my last pair of black ballet flats wore out in new york so they needed replaced anyway.

black converse are always a staple in my closet. nothing beats these for weekend wear.

and i'm loving my new clear dome umbrella. this is going to be so cute this winter with my new boots.

and of course i can't forget my most prized fashion accessory, my girl lu. nothing goes better with my fall wardrobe better than this little piece of love.

serge

2011-09-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

have any of you seen gainsbourg a heroic life yet? it's showing here in portland at the living room theaters and i'm dying to go see it but i just haven't had time yet.

one of the unfair things in life is that i did not know about serge while he was still alive. i'm happy to have discovered him many years ago but oh to have seen him live would have been amazing. i guess that's another guest for my dinner with anyone living or dead!

by the way, i'm so sorry for my lack of posts lately. the month of august swirled by like a whirlwind and i'm still catching up. i had a great time in nyc that i still need to post about so i'll try to get that done soon.

can you believe tomorrow is the first day of fall? while fall is my favorite apparel season, i'm just not quite ready for the rainy weather to come back. it is still very beautiful here right now so i'm trying to get out as much as possible to enjoy it.

well, it's good to be back and i hope to get back to my blogging as much as possible. thanks so much for hanging in there with me and don't forget to check out my other blog for all things portland.

plus charlotte

2011-08-10T16:35:00.001-07:00

well mes amis, i am off to nyc for the next 10 days. there are so many exciting things going on and i can't wait to get back to share them with you.

in the meantime, i would like to leave you with more of the beautiful charlotte.

images from rdujour

beautiful charlotte

2011-08-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

i just can't get enough of the beautiful charlotte with child as seen on the film shot by todd cole.

thank you renee over at montmartre's sketchbook for sharing these beautiful images!

kitchen love

2011-07-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

i love kitchens. i don't necessarily love to cook but i do love kitchens. one of my favorite things is when we are having a dinner party and everyone there is hanging out in the kitchen with each other.

so why don't most homes have better kitchens? it's a room that in most houses seems like an after thought. i mean, don't we generally spend more time in our kitchen than in our living room? i know we do.

and it's sad but true that our kitchen is not very exciting. our whole entire house needs remodeled and the kitchen is not the top priority right now. so instead, i shall spend my time on-line dreaming of a new kitchen.

and that's how i found this one.

this kitchen belongs to a musician in new zealand and was featured on the selby.

i just love everything about it. the layout, the colors, the decor, the red counter top and open shelves. oh please can i have this kitchen?

and what about that tapestry hanging on the ceiling. i have almost that exact fabric hanging in our entry window. red and gold is definitely my favorite color combination at home.

so now i know, i too shall have a kitchen like this someday.

j'adore

2011-07-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

oh i am dying over these french sole ballet flats i saw over on rdujour. must get me some sparkly ones!

happy bastille day!

2011-07-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

happy bastille day from portland oregon! you know i will take any opportunity to celebrate all things frenchie.

here in portland we had a bastille celebration in the pearl district last weekend. here are photos from the waiter's race which is the big event.

and this saturday our local french patisserie, pix will host their annual bastille block party, which i'm looking forward to. any opportunity to eat their salted caramel macarons and drink champagne is good by me!

photos

pearl district

extra msg

alliance francaise

and speaking of rafa...

2011-07-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

have any of you noticed how much ben f. from the bachelorette looks like rafael nadal? what a sweetheart, too. which definitely means she won't pick him. i always love the cute sweet guys but then they make it to the end and the girl always picks the egomaniac. what is it with that? oh well, ashley kind of annoys me anyway! i mean bentley, get over it already. there are so many other guys there who put him to shame.

and to my rafa who did not take wimbledon, you are still wonderful and have many, many titles under your belt. we haven't seen the best of you yet!

go rafa!

2011-06-29T16:42:00.000-07:00

have i ever mentioned before how much i love rafael nadal? i might have a time or two. and now he's heading into the semi finals at wimbledon. you rock rafa. good luck!

it's all my mother's fault

2011-06-22T17:21:00.000-07:00

i blame it all on my mother... that is the fact that i long for exotic places, interesting people and romantic yet creaky old interiors.

it all started the day that she gave me a copy of the secret garden. up to this point, i was still reading winnie the pooh and madeleine. which were very fine books indeed but once my eyes fell on the secret garden, i was ready for more grown up books. books that maybe everything didn't always turn out perfect and that sometimes people died and maybe not all children had a mother and father. those kinds of books.

after the secret garden, i would lock myself in my room reading books from page to page and longing for an attic bedroom and my own secret garden. which was a big dream because i lived in arizona and we didn't have english gardens there. to this day, i still dream of my secret garden and attic room. and i'm getting closer now because i have a yard and a house with more than one story after many, many years of apartment dwelling.

then there was the house in paris. oh what would it have been like travel alone by train to paris to stay with a spinster and her mother? to wonder what secrets they were hiding up those narrow stairs. and to meet a boy who had no mother and to learn at a young age the complicated dynamics of a girl and boy.

last year i read sophie dahl's, playing with the grown ups and it took me back to these stories that i read as a young girl.

oh if only my family had been a little more bohemian like hers and if my grand father had written the greatest children's story of all time. and what if i traveled to london and was discovered by a vogue stylist who loved the fact that i ate what i wanted and wore high heels at too young an age. oh what a life that would have been!

so today i just made my first summer reading purchase of sophie's first book, the man with the dancing eyes. i long for summer days sitting in the grass and reading frivolous things. this one will be perfect with it's naturalized illustrations. i have a feeling it may have it's own secret garden, too.

so yes mom, thank you. thank you for turning me into a hopeless romantic. and for showing me that even if we didn't have an old victorian house with my own attic bedroom i could one day live in a city with beautiful old houses and one day even have one of my own if i wanted.

well, i guess it's not so bad after all.

blanc de blanc

2011-06-21T15:00:00.001-07:00

how about a little sofia coppola blanc de blanc?

i love her simple classic style with a masculine touch. she is understated, glowing and beautiful.

courtesy of rdujour

a little f. scott in paris

2011-06-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

have you all gone to see midnight in paris yet? i was finally able to see it over the weekend and i'm pining to go see it again. it so reminded me of my time in paris 5 years ago. there really is something magical about that city, don't you think?

the scene with f. scott fitzgerald and zelda brought back such memories for me. you see, i was traveling through paris alone, on my way to visit a friend in brittany. someone had suggested i stay at the hotel st. andre des artes. so i got a room at this quaint little hotel in st. germain. the hotel is rumored to once have been a stable that the three muscateers had used as a hiding place. i don't know about the whole three muscateers thing but the hotel did resemble a stable, complete with exposed cross-beams in many of the rooms.

my room in the hotel was butter yellow and had two long french windows that opened up and looked out over rue st. andre des artes. across the hotel was a cute little alleyway that had been turned into shops all facing the cobblestone alley that was closed off to vehicles. after a long day of travel, i just wanted to relax in my hotel and get some rest. i headed over to monoprix and picked up some bread, wine and cheese and my favorite shampoo, le petit marsellaise.

when i was passing through nice, i stopped in a bookshop where they sold books in english and picked up a few for the latter part of my trip. one of the books was the great gatsby. believe it or not, i had never read it before!

i returned to my hotel and after dining on my wine and cheese, i opened up my window and sat looking out over st. germain reading the great gatsby. i guess, subconsciously, i was saving such a great book to read in a special setting. i almost read it cover to cover that night before dozing off...only to wake up in paris. no, this was not a dream.

i remember this time like it was yesterday. sometimes i can't believe i really took this trip by myself. and while paris is best to be shared with one you love, i'm happy that i took my first trip there all alone to discover it for myself. now i can go there with the one i love and show him all of the places that i visited and fell in love with. oh to be in paris...

diane's new do

2011-05-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

the last time diane birch was in the store, she was sporting a chic new shorter haircut. i thought it looked so cute on her and then a few days later, she changed her facebook pic with her long locks to this one.

i would be lying if i said she wasn't an inspiration to my new haircut!

what do you think of her new shorter cut?

le dream car

2011-05-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

yes, i would like one in black please!

iris season

2011-05-18T15:25:00.001-07:00

oh iris, where have you been all my life? if i had discovered the likes of you at say 14 or 15, i truly believe things could have been so much different for me!

that's right, i have recently discovered the person that is iris apfel. a 90 something year old former interior designer and business woman from queens, new york.

remember a few weeks ago when i said that i know what i want to dress like when i am older? well this is pretty much it. i just didn't know someone was already doing it. but that's ok, i'm not disappointed, now i just have my own muse.

you know how i have also mentioned my weird frenchie/southwestern design mix? well now i see that i'm not so off the wall after all.

many days when i get dressed for work, i have a really hard time deciding whether i want to channel coco chanel or frida kahlo. usually i pick a safe version of one or the other. but now, i almost feel that i can do both. oh how freeing it is!

here is my outfit today. with my new hair, i feel like a mix of iris and anna wintour. this is my turquoise collection with my favorite tasha polizzi tijuana jacket.

and check out her house. i love it. and while i do like things a little darker and less flowery, i really like a lot of the individual items she has. i would just style them differently.

i even have a similar setee to this one. unfortunately, our big dog ripped the fabric on it and i have been completely undecided about how to recover it. but i'm loving this ikat she has used on her setee. it would work perfect in my house.

photos of iris by the boston phoenix and architectural digest

incroyable!

2011-05-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

i'm at a loss...how incredible are these images from laduree?

a few months ago, i came across this poster of macarons from laduree on rdujour.

then last week on besotted, i came across this image of a laduree truffle box with a little frenchie on it.

oh laduree, you are killing me! first the macarons, then the cute dogs. oh what is a francophile girl to do right now when she is nowhere near paris? le sigh!

new do

2011-05-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

we had a birthday party in the park last weekend and lorenzo finally took a picture of me with my new hair. here i am with my baby girl lucie.

next week i have another hair appointment to cut it even shorter. i feel like it needs a little length off the back to make it less mushroomy and a little more edgy.

anyway, sorry it's taken me so long to get this posted. i don't really like to have my picture taken all that much. i'll try to get one up sooner than later after my next cut.

i hope you all have a great weekend. we are having a catherine deneuve film fest here in town so i hope to get out for some classic frenchie films!

and to all the momma's, have a very happy mother's day!

summer staples

2011-05-04T16:45:00.001-07:00

we have now had a few nice days here in portland so i feel i can officially start planning my summer wardrobe staples now. i'm not going too crazy this year but i am stepping out a little (a very little) on my usual dress, especially since i don't really like shorts. i guess since we have had such an extremely wet winter, shorts may very well be in order this summer. and that brings me to staple number one...

yes, i will definitely be needing some bronzer, at least at the beginning of the summer. and while the lancome flash bronzer is not long lasting (i sweated it all off in bikram yoga last night), it does have a really natural look and is great if you need it for a special occasion. i swear by this one and have been using it for years.

while i am obsessed with vintage christian dior sunglasses, i have had a hard time finding just the right style for me so now i am considering some new chloe glasses. they have a retro look but are updated for today. i would take either one of these two pair.

lately i've really been wanting a pair of overalls but since they tend to be a little frumpy, i've decided overall shorts are the way to go, definitely a little more fitted than baggy, too.

and i really have turned my signature weekend look into wearing striped shirts, i love them and can dress them up or down. i would like both of these by petit bateau please!

these cute little cleo denim shorts are perfect too. i definitely will be needing some of these.

and i love the hasbeens for h&m clogs. i don't know if there are any left but i will for sure find some cute red clogs like these for the summer.

my converse sneakers are getting a little worn out so they may need replaced as well. i just can't decide on black or white. what do you think?

what are you all planning on wearing this summer?

coco + kate

2011-05-03T17:01:00.001-07:00

i have been meaning to post these great vintage posters from the musical coco, starring katherine hepburn. i found them over on rdujour. don't you just love them? i thought they would look fabulous on my blog!

with the resurgence of all of the coco chanel inspired films that have come out recently, it would be great to see a classic like this, originally starring kate for a brief run before she bowed out of the production.

i guess if i won't be able to see the broadway production any time soon, i'll have to read the book by alan jay lerner.

gratuitous doggie shot...

2011-04-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

just because she's so darn cute!

i die!

2011-04-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

so i'm working on a set design and i really want to go with the john derian look. i'm googling photos of his designs and lo and behold, what do i see? a john derian and repetto collaboration! how is this the first that i have heard of such a brilliant mix?

being on the shorter side, i never used to favor flats because, well, the last thing i need is to look even shorter. but a few years ago i decided i really didn't care about that any more and i began collecting ballet flats. and i loooove them! they are just so comfortable and really look great with any spring and summer outfit and they are perfect for work, too.

i have been dying for a pair of brigitte bardot's signature ballet flat, by repetto, but the price is a little much for me to handle. but oh man, look at these babies.
oh yes, i die!

available at john derian 212.677.8408 $295.00

new york style

2011-04-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

speaking of personal style. have you seen the bill cunningham documentary yet? i haven't seen it come through town yet but i really want to see it.

and believe it or not, yours truly has been featured in his street style article. i will forever be indebted to him because now anytime lorenzo doesn't like what i'm wearing (including the coat i was wearing in the article), i instantly have "street cred". thanks bill!

my personal style file

2011-04-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

i'm loving this new book by amanda brooks about developing your own personal style.

as a child of the '80s, i could definitely use some help when it comes to fashion...in fact, this very day i am wearing a long sweater over black leggings, clearly not much has changed since then (my hair is smaller, though). so i'm always looking for any bits of advice i can get from the fashion front, and this one is really good.

i already know how i want to look when i'm older, i have that all planned out, it's the in between years that i'm struggling with!

get your kicks

2011-04-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

i just discovered this great band over on gretchen jones' blog. so perfect for today's mood.

nina

2011-04-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

oh man, i am just dying to listen to some nina right now. don't you just love her? i really wish i had seen her while she was still alive. definitely one of the people i would have at my dead or living dream dinner!

hurry up 5 o'clock!

old blue hair

2011-04-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

i am loving these images of the mary katrantzou spring 2011 lookbook found on rdujour.

while the blue hair is a bit much, these images are visually beautiful and interesting. it would have been a lot of fun styling these shots.

the clothing and the sets are incredible but i actually think that the photos would look better if the model just had black hair. what do you think?

last tango...

2011-04-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

here is a little teaser for you.

i know i haven't followed up on my last post regarding my new short do. yes, i cut my hair, i love it, i just haven't had any pictures taken that are worthy of showing all of my blogging friends. as soon as i have lorenzo take some pics, i'll get them up here. i actually am loving it and want to go even shorter. weeee!

i have been working on a new project that i am really excited about so here is a little clue. as soon as i get it a little more curated, i'll let you all know. oh i can't wait!

hair affair follow up

2011-04-07T14:07:00.001-07:00

tomorrow's the day i cut it all off! if i don't regret it after, i'll post a picture of my new look.

(this photo of me is by lorenzo and is a still of a video project we've been working on for a while. i like this one a lot).

dans la chambre

2011-04-07T13:28:00.001-07:00

so i've been on a staycation here the last few days and my goal is to get some work done around the house...googling photos on-line is so much interesting though! i figure if i'm looking for photos that are house related, i'll get some motivation to do something creative.

after moving in with my boyfriend last july, we've been working to integrate all of our stuff together, the problem is, we both have a lot of things and we both like our things. our styles are similar but our collections are challenging to try to work in together. i have this weird frenchie/native american look going (i know, weird) and he tends a little more toward the asian and gothic look. so i'm left trying to put a room together of skulls, thai art, native american textiles and florals. so far i've managed to get the entry way done!

basically, what i am doing is one room at a time, taking everything off of the walls and coming up with a common theme, like in the entry, the theme was black and white stripes. then i went through the house and gathered up anything that had some form of black and white stripes in it. this plan actually worked out ok. i'll post a picture of the entry if the sun ever comes out here and i can take a decent one.

so that is my plan going throughout the house...to try to come up with a theme for each room and then rearranging our belongings together.

the bedroom needs a little work since this is where we hahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifng out the most. we have a pretty big house that is hard to heat so our room has become the place where we all hang out together. we have our bed, bookshelves, tv, stereo and computer in here so i would like to form a few little seating areas around these activities. i also would like to come up with a color scheme to go with my new bedding which is a bit brighter than my normal red, white and black. it has these colors but also with a little splash of fuchsia and bright blue. i love it!

so where i like to go for decorating inspiration is marie claire maison. i love that their rooms are not styled so perfectly but actually look like people live in them and have been collecting the items in the rooms throughout their lives.

in this photo, i really like the grouping of art and collectibles above the bed.

but this room looks more like our style. the colors in the bed and artwork are more similar to what i am working with. i love the collection of retro items, the cowhide on the floor and the funky art.

this one really looks like my style, too, though. i can't tell you how many times i've hung a tapestry above my bed and then hung artwork on it. these colors are so great together, too.

i think that this is my favorite room. i'm loving those hanging light pendants on each side of the bed and this bedding has a lot more pattern in it which is similar to mine.

ok, so i'm off to get some work done. i think i'll start with putting my laundry away!

hotty patotty!

2011-04-05T12:49:00.001-07:00

that's right, i went to see pete yorn on sunday night. hullo!

no scarlett, wasn't there...bummer. pete still rocked without her, though. i was waiting for him to give me a call to sing her parts but he must have forgotten. ha ha!

more bomo...

2011-04-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

one of my new readers kirsten m. asked me to feature a few photos from the book bohemian modern that i talked about a few months ago. i absolutely love this book and still can't wait to make a trip down to silver lake. i found this book in a great little, now defunt shop in portland but i'm sure you could find it on amazon or powell's if you are having a hard time finding it.

here are just a few photos that i found on-line and when i get home, i will scan some from the book.

and a big hello to kirsten! thank you so much for stopping by.

wouldn't a back yard like this be amazing? i would love to hang out here on nice evenings.

in the book, this first home was absolutely stripped to the bones and re-built. i really like the creative way of locating the windows. what a nice porch on the second home.

the book features art by the author and it is so cute. this is my favorite type of drawing. it reminds me of the velvet posters we would get as kids that we could color in with magic markers.

i'm on vacation for the next few days so i'll try get get more pics up soon. i'm taking a little staycation and i hope to get some more work done on our house. i have managed to get the entry painted and next are the stairs and bathroom so hopefully i'll get some of that accomplished.

happy spring! i just wish someone would let mother nature know that we are still waiting for it in portland!

images found on sb garden design and captain kk

style file

2011-03-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

have you heard that elle magazine has a book out called the ellements of style? i'm dying to get my hands on a copy! i imagine it is going to be a celebrity version of one of my favorite books the selby. we'll get to voyeurize the homes of our favorite fashionable celebs such as my girl charlotte.

here is charlotte's spread from the book that was featured on rdujour a few weeks ago.

i wonder who else's homes we will get to see?

the perfect saturday...

2011-03-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

i saw this picture over on rdujour the other day and it reminded me of a perfect saturday afternoon. all you need is a great magazine, some chanel nail polish, a cool skull tee, some leopard ballet flats and great music in the background. i'd probably be listening to charlotte gainsbourg (i know, what a surprise?) or au revoir simone.

and oh yeah, a big pot of french press coffee, mais oui!

what's your idea of a perfect lazy saturday?

chelsea girl

2011-03-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

after college, when i was still living in albuquerque and doing social work, i had a really great group of friends. there were artists, architects, bar and shop owners and of course, my little collective of fellow social workers.

there wasn't much going on in albuquerque at the time but occasionally, we would get great bands coming through town (i have since learned that many bands hate playing albuquerque as it is some sort of weird vortex). one such band that i fell in love with was pavement. remember them? oh how dreamy and broody stephen malkmus was! i went to their show every time they came through town.

when i began planning my escape from new mexico, one of the things that drew me to portland was the fact that stephen malkmus had taken up residence here. what more convincing did i need? after moving here, i did find myself in a little circle that was "friends" with stephen and i even waited on him once when still working in the bar business. i think i still have his grocery receipt that he left on the table. he was very sweet and gracious no matter what his reputation may be.

i harbored my love for pavement for many years until i saw a movie that used the velvet underground for its soundtrack and i immediately went out to buy their album. on the one hand, i was so excited to discover an amazing band (i'm a bit of a late bloomer), and on the other, i was a little bummed that pavement sounded sooo much like them. i don't know if it was intentional but it certainly sounded so to me. sadly, i rarely pull out my pavement cds anymore.

i am still loving the velvet underground's greatest hits, though. namely chelsea girl with nico. if ever there was a song that my past life relates to, this is it. and wasn't nico just so cool? i love her fashion sense, hair and dark voice. seems to fit our rainy days here in portland.

paradis theatre

2011-03-11T14:05:00.001-08:00

there is a beautiful article today on rdujour about mrs. johnny depp, the photographs are incredible.

i first fell in love with vanessa when she was hanging out with lenny kravitz. oh how my friend raney and i were so jealous! but after seeing her around a bit, i grew to love her simple french beauty. she really won me over in the film, girl on the bridge. that gap between her teeth and short wavy haircut should go down in the fashion files for sure.

i remember hanging out in an irish pub in montmartre one afternoon and the bartender told me that vanessa and johnny lived right across the street. can you imagine? what if they had popped in? no such luck!

if you love fashion as much as i do, be sure to check out rdujour. it's my daily fashion news, but i suppose i shouldn't give away all of my secrets!

and as to my hair affair question, i am still undecided about cutting it. as soon as you make a big complaint about your hair, it miraculously starts behaving itself knowing it's days are numbered. i have recently received so many compliments on how great it looks that i may wait it out a while :)

and to my friends in japan, you are in my thoughts and prayers right now. xoxoxo

hair affair

2011-02-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

i was given a lot of pretty great qualities in life, my hazel eyes, fabulous fingernails, charming sense of humor... when it comes to feeling good about myself, i really do think i do ok in the self-esteem department.

but there is one major quality that i detest, however, and that's my fine stringy hair. i've had an on-going battle with my hair my entire life.

the funniest thing is that i graduated in 1988, the age of big hair. i managed by keeping my hair shoulder length and permed to somewhat fit in with the other big-haired girls.

the problem started in college when i went to the salon to get my ever lovin' perm and the stylist refused to give me one. she felt i had done too much damage to my hair and that it was time to give it a rest and let it grow out for a while. well, needless to say, i was devastated but deep down inside, i knew she was right...i needed to give my poor hair a break.

so all through college i kept my hair straight which worked out ok with the whole hippy, college thing anyway.

later in life, though, i wanted my full hair back but after all of that time being perm free, i just couldn't go there again. i decided i would embrace my straight hair. so i grew it long and didn't think too much about it. not that i loved it, i just tried not to worry about it too much.

but now that i'm in my 40s, i want it to look neater and more styled. i cut my long hair off about 6 months ago and every time i go to the stylist, it gets a little bit shorter. unfortunately, now it's a boring in between length and i feel like i need something a little bit edgier.

which brings me to today's post. should i or should i not cut my hair shorter than i have ever had it in my life? it's just so crazy how some females hold on to their hair as being a huge part of their identity. i envy those girls who can take a risk and play with different hair colors and styles. i have never been one of those girls. i think since i have fine hair, i'm afraid that if i keep cutting it, one day it just won't grow back...which is completely ridiculous, i know.

i have always admired leigh lezark's straight black hair. and while i'm sure her's is considerably thicker than mine, i think i could actually carry this one off. what do you think?

i like this cut a lot, too, i think it's just a little shorter than the one up above.

which one do you like best?

the only problem is that my stylist has corrected my hair color from it being too dark to a more natural auburn color. do you think this cut would look ok if it wasn't so extremely dark? of course i love black hair, i just don't think my stylist (whom i love and has save me from bad hair)will let me go there again.

i have a few weeks until my next cut so i will ponder this and let you all know.

happy valentines my loves!

2011-02-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

happy valentines day to all of my lovely readers all over the world! it is very wet and rainy here in portland so i thought this is a fitting photo for today. i hope you all are having a beautiful day with your friends, families and critters.

and to lorenzo, raven and our doggie and kitty babies, i love you and are so happy you are in my life.

xoxoxo

(photo by jenna holme)

i remember you well at the chelsea hotel

2011-02-09T21:15:00.000-08:00

i have long since been fascinated by the chelsea hotel. i don't remember why, exactly, except that all of the artists i love seem to have a chelsea connection.

it must have started with leonard cohen and from there joni mitchell, janis joplin, and jimi hendrix. although, i really don't know who came first. but the chelsea has always been on my mind.

several years ago, i was in new york for work and as i was going to finish my job with a few days left over. i thought i would extend my stay and get a room in the historical hotel. my good friend was going to join me in the city so this would be the perfect opportunity to check it out...i don't think i would have ever had the nerve to stay there on my own.

well, needless to say, it was eerie, very eerie. other than the tenant on the other side of the wall who seemed to be on a coke binge, the hotel was uncomfortably quiet. in a city of honking horns, sirens and screams, the chelsea seemed to reside in it's own little universe.

i had my friend snap a few photos of me outside of the hotel but as it was one of the coldest nights of my life, they did not turn out well. there was a blur of me in front of a blur of a lit up neon sign that frankly could have been anyplace. i'm ok with that, though. i've always wanted to stay there and now i have and it was an experience that i will never forget. unfortunately, i haven't been able to go back to get some better shots.

so, my whole point of this rambling post is that i was given for my birthday the new patti smith book, just kids, that documents her life with the photographer robert mapplethorpe, much of which took place at this famous residence of the weary artist.

reading this book took me to so many places that, although i have never seen them on my own, they are very real to me...as if i have read about them so many times, that i may have actually been there.

patti's recollection of their years together was such an honest, heartfelt memoir that i found myself in tears, even though i was reading it in an airplane, a restaurant or a hotel lobby much of the time. it took me to a different time and place entirely. one that i wish i could have been a part of, had i not been born a few years too late on the opposite side of the country.

and not that this time was entirely romantic, we can't forget the incredible people we lost in the 80's due to a tragic misunderstood disease. however, would we have given these artists the respect they so deserved if they were still walking among the living? i really don't know. but for now, there is still the memory of the chelsea hotel...

still shopping after all this time

2011-02-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

hi everyone. i'm soooo sorry it's taken me so long to get back to my favorite little blog.

the holidays were crazy and january was filled with a month full of work travel. i am now happily back at home with my family and critters!

i was most recently in new york for work where i had to make a pilgrimmage to the no. 6 store and bring these beauties home with me (only mine are cuter because the heels are stained dark). and what a cute little shop it was. it's always so much fun to see the flagship stores of the brands that i love.

as i've promised many times before, i hope to keep the posts coming more frequently now that life is back to normal. and for more on my new york trip, go to my portland blog to see me in the ny times!

color me rouge and blanc and noir

2010-12-30T16:20:00.000-08:00

i came across this book cover on rdujour yesterday. i just loved how it captured my rouge blanc noir obsession.

i'm looking forward to this new year and spending more time on all of my blogs (here and here). this one is definitely my favorite because it encompasses all of my favorite things.

i wish you all a very happy new year and look forward to sharing more of my happy thoughts with you next year!

xoxo hawthorne girl

scary swan

2010-12-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

lorenzo's daughter and i did most of our holiday shopping yesterday and then decided we would go to see the movie black swan.

i had been wanting to see it but then after reading reviews thought that it may not be my thing. i absolutely cannot watch anything weird or creepy without freaking out at a later time when at home by myself trying to go to sleep. and anything gorey...forget about it.

well, i thought i would give it a shot since all of the images just looked so beautiful not to mention the fabulous costumes designed by rodarte. and it was a visually stunning film.

however, the story line was just too intense for me. i still can't figure out what it was trying to do. yes, i get the whole evil twin/split personality thing but what was up with the fingernail obsession? i mean yuck and double yuck!

as i left the theater, i said i was very happy that i went to see it but even happier that i will never have to see it again!

a feel good holiday movie it is not. i'm going to have to watch love, actually twice now!

happy holidays everyone. what movies are you going to see this holiday season?

it's a rough job...

2010-12-22T16:05:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite musicians, diane birch stopped in the store again today. i just love her music and listen to it non-stop while commuting to work.

she is an absolute sweetheart and gorgeous to boot. she has a cute new bob too!

i can't wait to check out her new album.

oh joy!

2010-12-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

i blogged about this over on my portland blog the other day and then i thought that you my loyal rouge readers would probably love to hear about it as well.

my bff sent me the pink martini holiday cd for my birthday and i am loving it. i've listened to it everyday since i got it and i'm playing it in the store right now too!

those pink martinians have really put together a wonderful holiday album and gave it their own twist. it's very diverse and worldly, you know, just like pink martini. check it out, i really think you will like it.

ps. i don't really track my blog analytics very often and i hopped on today to see where my viewers are from. i could not believe how many people have been reading lately. i have readers from all over the world! thank you all so much, this definitely helps motivate me to keep the posts coming. i love this little blog, it's really just my journal of all the beautiful things that make me happy.

here kitty kitty

2010-12-21T16:43:00.000-08:00

i'm loving the holiday ad campaign for cartier that i found over on rdujour. isn't that the sweetest baby ever?

the last thing we need is another critter over at our house but that baby leopard is pretty darn cute. she would definitely give little lulu a run for the money. lu's favorite past time is hunting for kitties!

i hope you all are doing great and having a fabulous holiday season. it's getting pretty cold here in portland but just a very light dusting of snow so far.

somewhere when?

2010-12-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

and speaking of sofia coppola, when is her new movie somewhere coming out? i see that they just had the premier in new york, so hopefully soon.

i just love sofia's movies for their dreamy, ethereal quality. i mean the virgin suicides, lost in translation and marie antoinette are some of the most visually stunning movies i have ever seen. weren't the interiors in marie antoinette just amazing? i really, really want to see lost in translation again, too. it's been a while. i think that may be one i need to add to my collection.

what movies are you looking forward to seeing this holiday season?

sofia's style

2010-11-09T17:54:00.000-08:00

there is a great style file on rdujour right now of another one af my favorites, sofia coppola.

don't you love this great navy and red frenchie boatneck? i recently tried to buy one like this at free people but they didn't have it in my size.

if i didn't have a job to go to, i seriously could wear striped shirts everyday. i love them that much!

p.s. i'm getting very excited for sofia's new movie "somewhere" that is currently in the works and is promoting in the picture.

style sisters

2010-10-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

yesterday on rdujour, there was a style file on my girl charlotte. there were tons of great photos of charlotte in her trademark jeans and boots and also a lot of great red carpet looks.

go to rdujour to see the complete article on charlotte.

and a few weeks ago, there were more beautiful photos of her sister, lou on rdujour. this time at the chanel runway show.

what do i love about these sisters the most? i think it's just their understated way of being fabulous. they always looks great, but not like they're trying too hard. they must have definitely inherited this quality from their mother. maybe some things are just ingrained, i don't know.

i do believe that sometimes when it comes to fashion, less is more!

oh wellie!

2010-10-12T18:06:00.000-07:00

i'm pretty bummed out that my favorite toile rainboots are on their last leg. i pulled them out last week and my once cute boots are now discolored and sad looking.

so obviously this means one thing--i've got to get those hunter wellies that i've been wanting forever.

one cool thing about living in portland is that you can actually wear wellies on a regular basis and not look bizarre in the least bit. well, once i was wearing them at work and the president of my company didn't quite get why i was actually wearing them inside, at work. oh well, we all know they are in fashion.

i think the hardest part of getting some new boots is deciding on the color. i love the classic black.

but the red is sooo cute too.

which color would you go for? oh how i hate these decisions!

so bomo

2010-10-10T11:35:00.001-07:00

happy sunday! it's a perfect portland sunday morning...i've got my cartalk in the background, little lulu on my lap and lorenzo working on the computer next to me. oh yeah, and it's absolutely pouring outside.

i was thinking this morning that for an interior designer, my blog seems to have been in fashion mode lately, and not home fashion mode. i think that's because i am avoiding all of the work i need to be doing on the house and it is so much more fun to look at pretty clothes.

but getting back to interiors, i wanted to recommend one of my favorit design books to you, bohemian modern. if you haven't come across this book yet, check it out. it's all about the funky designs of homes and businesses in silver lake, california.

since discovering this book, i've become fascinated with silver lake and absolutely must go there. unfortunately, one place my work never takes me is la, so i will have to make this work on my own. i'm starting to feel a girls weekend coming on.

any suggestions for my visit to silver lake? any great places to stay? i'd love to hear from any of you who have been.

and have a great fall sunday.

and still more...

2010-10-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

lou has been out on the town in paris. here she is at the h&m champs elysees opening as reported by rdujour.

here in portland, we are anxiously awaiting the opening of our own h&m!

cat in the hat

2010-10-06T16:11:00.001-07:00

the cutest girls from bollman hat company out of pennsylvania came into the store today after a meeting and let the girls and i pick out hats from their samples because they don't like to carry them back home on the plane.

i'm not generally a hat girl but i couldn't resist what i call the "sienna" hat because i've always loved this style. i don't know if i can carry it off with my stick straight stringy hair but maybe after some product, i'll give it a shot.

thank you so much to the bollman girls, that was really just so sweet of you to let us shop your samples.

look for the hats at opening ceremony coming soon.

more lou...

2010-10-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

here's my girl lou making an appearance at paris fashion week as reported by rdujour.

isn't she fabulous? i just love her!

wine!

2010-09-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

i might not have ever mentioned to you that i have had a HUGE crush on jason schwartzman ever since rushmore. there is just something so funny about him,
just watching him is funny, even if he's not doing anything. the faces he makes and his comedic timing is just too much.

have you been watching the new season of "bored to death"? oh i just love little ray!

also, any man that can consume as much white wine as i do and justify it the way his character can is truly a kindred spirit of mine.

what is your favorite jason schwartzman film? have you seen the short film he did with natalie portman as a trailer to the darjeeling limited. i think it's called "hotel cavalier". you should check it out if you've never seen it.

got spots?

2010-09-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

so tomorrow is the first day of fall and while i'm not quite ready for the rain to begin full-force, i am looking forward to some new fall clothes. this year it is going to be all about black, camel and turquoise for my fall wardrobe (but yes, i will forever love you red, white and black).

and this little leopard baby is setting the tone! isn't it gorgeous? the fabric is the softest cotton velveteen. it's made by my amazing friend tasha polizzi, who spent many years honing her craft for a guy named ralph and is now making these beautiful creations on her own.

oh i can't wait to wrap up in this beauty. happy autumn everyone!

september issue

2010-09-08T16:56:00.001-07:00

last week my coworker and i were talking and she said she was so excited because all of her september issues had begun coming in the mail and it was like christmas at her house.

i must admit, i do have a carrie bradshaw day when my issues start coming in where i sit at home and take them all in without ever leaving. i just love to see all of the new fall lines and ad campaigns.

then i started thinking that i need to rent the september issue again because i really enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes making of vogue's september issue. i highly recommend it if you haven't seen it yet.

so i just about died yesterday when i was on rdujour and saw the anna wintour and grace coddington dolls! these are so funny. it really does mean that you've made it when a doll is made in your honor.

of course my favorite is the grace doll. i love her simple style and crazy red hair. she really does make vogue what it is.

the cutest thing EVER!

2010-09-07T16:36:00.000-07:00

today over at one of my favorite blogs, erin ever after, she posted one of the cutest things i have ever seen.

it's about the adventures of a little girl and her doll in paris called kiki and coco. the photos are just so sweet as you travel around paris with kiki and coco.

oh what it would be like to do this as a little girl. i must admit i'm a little jealous my doll dorothy and i never got to do this when we were little.

oh well, at least there is kiki and coco to do it for us!

go here for a slide show of stephanie rausser's beautiful photos.

maybe lulu and i can do this one day.

design your life

2010-08-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

at my desk, i have written a quote that i must have found somewhere on a design blog. it goes like this, "your life is your biggest design project. get off the couch and start designing your life exactly how you want it."

sometimes i sit here and ponder this quote. most of the time, i have a pretty clear idea as to how i want my life to be but from time to time, my mind wanders and i think what if it could be so completely different than it is now?

today i'm thinking about things like this.

lorenzo and i would somewhat resemble margot and richie tanenbaum and coordinate our outfits accordingly.

except that i would look more french like diane birch here. not to mention looking fab in a big floppy hat like this one, i just can't carry off a hat like this!

we'd live in a beautiful falling down old brownstone, a la holly golightly.

and drive a great big black vintage mercedes station wagon.

we'd have wonderful friends like harold and maude.

i'd spend my afternoons watching french films like the 400 blows with the crushy jean pierre leaud.

in the evenings i'd sit with coffee and cigarettes and ponder.

and late into the evening i'd write dark novels like the bell jar, making a terrific salary in which i could support this lifestyle.

what would your life be like if you could do whatever you want? let's start designing it that way.

the selby

2010-08-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

have you guys heard about the amazing website called the selby? i had heard about it quite sometime ago and just filed it away but then this week, my coworker reminded me of it and i was like, that's right! it's such a cool site.

todd selby, a portrait, interiors and fashion photographer began posting his photoshoots on his own website and he has garnered a huge cult following. the photographs are generally of famous and not so famous creative types taken in their own environment whether it be their home or their studios, whichever best represents how they work and how they are inspired for their work.

hmmm... what would my living space say about me? a family who has a hard time getting rid of things, some pretty cool artwork i might say, and a few misbehaving animals thrown in to stir it all up a little. my own private grey gardens (only without the huge hampton house.)

there is also a book called the selby out right now that i really want to get. they are currently selling it at anthropologie. the book has photoshoots that he has not featured on his website, one being of my girl lou doillon's home so now you know i really must have it!

gazpacho libre

2010-07-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

all day today i was craving some gazpacho, probably because it was so hot outside.

when i lived in albuquerque, there was this great bbq place across the street from my house that made the best chunky gazpacho, i think the restaurant was called geezamboni's. they served it in a big bowl topped with home made tortilla chips, yum!

well of course, i can't even think about gazpacho without paying homage to pedro almodovar and those crazy women on the verge for introducing me to the traditional spanish sope to begin with. mmm gazpacho...

i've never made gazpacho myself but today i found an easy recipe on epicurious that i tweaked a little to my own taste and it turned out to be a fast and easy recipe for dinner but i know it will taste even better for lunch tomorrow after marinating over night. lorenzo made some home made crunchy garlic bread that was a perfect complement to the soup as well as having a nice glass of white wine to go with it. i thought the haagen daz dulce de leche ice cream would make the perfect easy dessert.

here's my simple recipe:
1/2 white onion diced
2 large garlic cloves
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
2 pounds of cored, peeled and diced tomatoes
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/3 cup chopped, fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
3 big dashes of hot sauce (i used frontera)

puree first four ingredients in a food processor, then combine the tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, cilantro and tomato paste and blend leaving it somewhat chunky. season to taste with salt and pepper and hot sauce. transfer to large bowl and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

as a garnish, i topped it off with a little more olive oil and fresh cracked pepper. it was delicious!

ooh lou lou

2010-07-23T17:35:00.001-07:00

yesterday over at rdujour, they featured another great post about my girl lou.

aside from this great article, they listed almost every other article i have seen written about her. if you go here, you can see it all.

lou rocks!

happy birthday hem

2010-07-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

since i've been MIA from bloglandia the past few weeks, i've missed out on some very important events...like hemingway's birthday on july 21st.

hemingway is my all time favorite author. i could read a moveable feast over and over and i usually find myself reading it in the summer. but there are so many others like his notorious book the sun also rises which upset all of his friends because he discussed their bad behavior while in spain for the bullfights.

i really hope to go visit his homes in key west, ketchum and cuba one day. i hear his house in key west is over run by feral kitties that he insisted be allowed to remain at the house. how cool and grey gardens of him.

happy belated birthday hem!

checking in

2010-07-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

hi everyone, i just wanted to check in and let you all know i'm still alive and well. i'm still recovering from the big move and now i'm traveling for work. i hope to check in periodically when i can and then i'll be back at the end of next week with more regular posts. thanks for hanging in there!

feliz cumpleano

2010-07-07T23:00:00.001-07:00

i absolutely cannot believe that i was too distracted yesterday to wish frida kahlo a happy 103rd birthday. she is one of my favorite style icons and has influenced me so much as a person. so frida, salut to you, this one's on me!

live forever

2010-07-07T22:45:00.001-07:00

i don't think i've ever mentioned to you that if i could go back and do it all over again, i would study art history and travel the world, buying and selling fabulous artwork and amazing antiques. all the while, documenting my adventures a la indiana jones. however, i don't necessarily have an eye or penchant for fine art.

i do however, like what i see.

several months ago, i wanted to mention one of my favorite artists, elizabeth peyton. i tried to put together a post on her but it just wasn't coming together and i just wasn't finding the best images of hers to show. i just filed it away for a later post.

well, yesterday, i was doing my usual quick walk-through of anthropologie and found a book about her and her artwork called live forever. it was a really cool book. i didn't purchase it yet because, to be honest, it was pretty pricy and i'm trying to behave myself right now but i cannot wait to get it. her illustrations are just so rich and amazing. i really feel that she paints my colors, whatever that means.

i just love this one from the book called "elizabeth and liam"

and this is the first piece of hers that i ever saw and fell in love with. i just love poppies.

so while it may not be fine art, it just fine by me!

go rafa!

2010-07-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

can't wait for tomorrow's match. good luck rafael!

pin it forward

2010-06-30T06:51:00.001-07:00

today is my day to participate in sf girl by bay's pin it forward event. i'm so excited to have some new people over to my blog, rouge blanc noir, which is basically a place for me to share some of the things that inspire me most (which happen to be somewhat frenchie). a big thank you to victoria of sf girl and pinster for inviting me to participate.

this is a perfect post to work on today as yesterday i moved out of my city girl apartment of 8 years and in with my guy and his daughter. let me tell you, merging two households is a pretty daunting task and i'm just trying to figure out what home means to me in my new country place.

well here are a few things to begin with, then i'll just have to figure them out as i go along!

now home means to me family and seeing that we all are taken care of and happy. i'm so lucky to have found such amazing people who share their lives with me.

home means coming home to my little girl lucie, who has brought me much happiness and entertainment.

home means to me cooking big sunday night dinners for my friends and family and preferably dining al fresco if weather permits here in the northwest.

and a happy sunny kitchen to prepare these meals in.

after a long day of work, nothing makes me happier at home than settling in with a glass of wine to watch a french film.

home means being surrounded with books, which remind me of my childhood and make for lazy afternoons of reading and relaxing.

there are so many things that mean home to me, these are just a few that i wanted to share with you today. thank you for joining me here at rouge blanc noir. be sure to check out yesterdays's post over at the hidden list and tomorrow's over at hey lucy.

and be sure to check out my dear friend, brooke's post over at pretty and yummy. we have been figuring out this blogging thing together which has been a lot of fun and a great way to stay in touch with one another. thank's brooke for telling me about the pin it forward event.

and a great big shout out to my friend alissa for setting me up with a brand new banner for the event today.

i hope to see you all again soon!

movin on up!

2010-06-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

i'm knee deep in boxes and newspaper and making my move out to the country to be with my guy, so posts may be a little iffy here in the next few days. here are some inspirational photos from marie claire maison to tide you over.

and be sure to check back next wednesday the 30th for my turn in sf girl by bay's pin it forward event. i can't wait to share with you what home means to me and my new rouge blanc noir makeover!

i'm loving this chalkboard backsplash from apartment therapy.

what a great turquoise bed and the red side tables are a perfect accent. decor8

this dining room reminds me of the countless hours studying at big long tables in the library. love the mismatched chairs. marie claire maison

isn't a pallet as a coffee table a great idea? easy diy! marie claire maison

here's a little retreat in the woods perfect for dining al fresco. marie claire maison

couldn't we all use a dressing room like this one? so spacious! design fling

and i would definitely love a soak in this great big tub. style files

so if i don't see you sooner, i'll see you next wednesday for sure. happy summer!

noooo reservations

2010-06-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

a few years back, when i was still single and no longer working my crazy multiple job restaurant/retail schedule that i had done for so many years, i was at a bit of a loss as to how to occupy my time on the weekends. most of my friends either lived out of town, still worked nights so weren't up for early morning brunches, or were spending their weekends shuffling the family around.

during this time, i developed the habit of getting up early sunday mornings, making a pot of coffee and settling in to watch rick steves travel the world. i guess if i wasn't going anywhere exotic, at least he could transport me there.

this little routine served me well until i found a box set of no reservations at the video store and holed myself up in my apartment for one solid weekend watching every episode. sadly, rick steves was elementary school compared to the college aged debauchery of anthony bourdain.

oh watching the adventures of rick gallivant through austria yodeling up a storm was a far cry from the adventures anthony would take us on--drinking absinthe in paris and having hallucinations of oscar wilde--this was more my kind of trip.

i mean look at the way he opens a bottle. that is exactly the same way i do. kindred spirits? i think so!

and i'm so excited to be going to see him read from his latest book medium raw, tonight at the bagdad theater here in portland. beer and bourdain, you can't beat it.

p.s. i do still love rick, just in a different way.

i'm distracted today and all i can think about is...

2010-06-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

oh la la

2010-06-17T15:27:00.001-07:00

even though i can't be in paris right now, i can at least dress like paris thanks to naomi over at the rock star diaries who pointed out the fabulous on line shop shabby apple. shabby apples features only dresses (love it)and particularly dresses that require nothing else. no cardigan, no tank top, just a good old fashioned dress.

i have this secret personal goal of acquiring 365 dresses and i'm well on my way. that way i have a new dress to wear everyday of the year and i would only have to do minimal loads of laundry which i detest doing (thank you lorenzo for always helping me with mine). here are three that i would absolutely love to add to my collection.

the oh la la is my favorite.

but the tour eiffel is pretty darn cute too.

and i might as well take the artiste to complete the collection.

go check out the shabby apple sight and pick out your favorites from the paris collection and then go to naomi's blog and let her know which one you want and you might just win the give away. oh darn, now i just decreased my chances!

oh to be french

2010-06-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure how or when this happened, but i have always been so fascinated by the french designer agnes b. i have never been in one of her shops and i don't think anyone here in portland carries her designs but i just love her simple yet funky take on the classic french style. today i was looking for an image of one of her simple striped tees but instead found these great fall looks. it must be that fact that it hasn't been above 60 degrees this week in portland that i am seriously looking at fall clothing in the middle of june!

i work for a company that makes a lot of plaids and tartans and i don't usually wear them because, well, i've seen about enough of it. however, i love the cut of this skirt and the thought to pair it with a tiny baby blue cardigan really shakes this look up a bit. i would never think to put baby blue with red and black but it looks great.

and this purse is so amazing! oh yes, as you can tell, i have a thing for red, white and black.

and this chocolate and red combo is sooo cute. this would make such a sweet holiday look wouldn't it?

and while i really hope the sun makes an appearance up here soon, the arrival of fall won't be so bad is i can find some of these looks.

summer reads

2010-06-15T12:54:00.001-07:00

so i've been compiling my summer reading list and thanks to tina over at the english muse, i have two great books to look forward to. she suggested reading a time in rome by bloomsbury writer elizabeth bowen. when i got on line to order the book, i found the house in paris which sounds just perfect as well.

it's now been five years since my trip to italy and france so it's fitting that i should celebrate my time there by re-immersing myself in the way i felt when i returned home from that trip. it was such a wonderful accomplishment for me to take a trip like that on my own, one that i will never forget.

most of this summer i will be at home in still rainy portland getting situated in my new home but i can't wait for lazy weekends outside with a cool drink and one of these reads.

hot in the city

2010-06-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

things are heating up between erin and olivia on the city. what do you think should happen? has olivia's insubordination finally gone too far? i'm dying to know if they will really replace olivia with the british journalist josie.

personally, i can't deal with olivia. she is a horrible role model for young people wanting to break in to the fashion industry. i don't care who you are, you can be replaced with someone smarter, better and more beautiful in a heartbeat. however, hard work most always pays off.

stay tuned!

it's that most glorious time...

2010-06-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

oh world cup soccer. how i love thee! one glorious month of unadulterated soccer viewing.

can christiano ronaldo get his team portugal through the tough draw and into the finals? we will see, oh yes we will.

i know i could have given you a much beefier shot but let's leave a little something to the imagination--and something to look forward to. besides, i love him in a suit.

STELLA!

2010-06-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

so yesterday i posted on some fall looks and now today i have come across an amazing spring 11 look courtesy of stella mccartney.

i am absolutely and completely in love with the dress second to the right. i love floral dresses and the cut and color of this one is sheer perfection.

oh i need to get my hands on one of these!

image from rdujour

good "yves"ning

2010-06-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

i'm dying over the fall yves st. laurent look book found on rdujour. here are a few of my favorites.

oh my gosh, the dress, the feathers, the red gloves. i die!

i love, love this modern take of the classic suit and again, those red gloves and the great hat are tres fab.

what a beautiful silhouette of the billowy jacket with the pencil skirt. and the red shoes are the perfect hit of color.

oh midnight blue, the other black!

the plum trim on the lapel is perfection.

and i really love this modern holly golightly.

if this is what some of the fall trends are going to look like, i will be a very happy girl.

did someone say souffle?

2010-06-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

while reading the english muse this morning, i discovered that the film breathless (a bout de souffle)has been remastered and is being re-released to celebrate it's 50th anniversary. this is one of my all time favorite french films and i can't wait to sit and enjoy it in my favorite portland theatre, cinema 21, when it hits portland in august.

and even cooler, is the fact that rodarte is recreating the famous new york herald tribune t-shirts jean seberg so casually rocks in the film. they will be available at barney's.

i MUST have one of those!

la belle lou

2010-06-04T13:07:00.001-07:00

oh i was so excited today when i got on rdujour and found this article featuring my girl lou doillon at home. i already had a feeling that we would be great friend's if only we were to meet but now i am really convinced after seeing her pad. i mean, let me point out the similarities between lou and i.

we could share clothes 'cause you know how much i love the black and white combo (except that i'm not tall, skinny and leggy).

i have wallpaper in my dining room almost exactly like this so we could talk interior design.

lou has a little bulldog and i have a little boston terrier so our babies could have play dates.

our kitchens are decorated in the same haphazard way and my fridge has a collage of prints similar to these covering it. we could throw awesome cocktail parties out of our little kitchens.

i collect day of the dead memorabilia so we could compare our skull collections.

yes, i'm sure lou and i would have a great time together and if her actress/musician older sister charlotte wanted to stop by to hang, even better!

images courtesy of the french magazine l'officiel

new addiction

2010-06-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

have you seen the new reality series nine by design on bravo? OMG i am so addicted to it now. i really want to run home and catch up on all of the past episodes.

their designs are amazing and those kids rock. i love that they include their kids in important business decisions. i have often thought as an adult that i wish my parents included me and my siblings in some of the more important decisions they made when we were younger. kids are very insightful, you know. of course these kids are uprooted on a regular basis due to their parents "flipping homes" habit but it is cool that they have a vacation home that they never want to sell because it has been the one stable residence in the kids lives.

hey, if my parents were this cool, i could sacrifice a move now and then for them!

the "nine" family

the glass facade of the manhattan highway home

their new book (you know i'm ordering this one)

has etiquette left the party?

2010-06-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

hello my dears. i hope you had a wonderful long weekend. i know i did, i got in some relaxation, hang time with friends and family and some much needed bikram yoga...oh yeah, and i watched the latest sex and the city movie. and so for today's post, in true carrie bradshaw style, i need to ask, "has etiquette left the party?"

i bring up the subject of etiquette because in the past week, one of my closest friends has experienced the complete opposite of etiquette if you ask me. and i'm no etiquette police, believe me. i grew up in the west and now west coast and laid-back is definitely our style of living and i like it that way. but these latest occurences are so tacky that even i can't take any more.

offense #1 occurred after said friend attended a destination wedding for her east coast friends in the dominican republic. when this particular group of people were invited to the wedding, it was clearly stated that no showers or gifts were expected, only the presence of their dearest friends. well most people, my friend included, still opted to give a little something as a gift. however, one couple in particular, who had just recently gained a baby and lost an income chose not to give a gift as they had spent more than their fair share to attend the wedding. a few weeks after the wedding, the groom texted the guest asking if something was missing from their card. as i type this, i hear in my head a loud record scratching and somebody saying, "wait, go back..did you just say he asked what happened to his gift?". oh yes he did! is this what our generation has come to? i'm not saying we are all like this but come on, so not ok. if you expect guests to pay thousands of dollars to fly down in the middle of the year to attend your blessed day, not to mention tell them no gifts are necessary, then you by no means ask what happened to the money that should have been in their card. am i wrong here?

offense #2 followed up this latest offense to the very same friend when a girlfriend of hers emailed her to let her know a party was being thrown for her girlfriend's signicant others' 40th birthday. in this email, girlfriend stated that she would like various guests to bring food in which she assigned them a particular dish to bring based on the theme of the party. my friend's dish is taco rolls and her girlfriend included a link to the recipe and noted that there would be approximately 40 guests at the party so to be sure and double the recipe. are you kidding me? i have thrown many a party and i would never, ever dare to ask someone to bring a dish to feed 40 people!

is this what we have come down to? if you cannot deal with the consequences of the possibility that you may not a. receive a wedding gift or b. cater your own party, then perhaps you should rethink your plans. maybe i'm still a little old fashioned in that way.

image courtesy of mad men

sofia's style

2010-05-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

i'm planning to cut a few inches off of my hair tomorrow and when i was looking for the style i like, i kept coming across images of sofia coppola. i have always really liked her hip yet classic style. she always looks put together but remains age appropriate and never dowdy. i also really like the way she often adds a little bit of masculinity to many of her ensembles.

who knows if her wavy cut will work with my stick straight hair but i'm going to try my own version of her angled bob. cross my fingers!

oh yeah, and her movies rock, too. i love, love, love lost in translation.

oh lou

2010-05-25T17:51:00.001-07:00

here are some images from the latest h & m lookbook starring one of my favorite frenchie girls, lou doillon.

photos courtesy of rdujour

cannes it

2010-05-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

the royal couple johnny and vanessa were out on the town while at the cannes film festival. ooh la la!

images courtesy of rdujour

la chanteuse

2010-05-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

guess who popped into my store yesterday? yes, the talented and beautiful diane birch. turns out she grew up right outside of portland and stayed here a few extra days after playing the aladdin on may 15. she is a very sweet down to earth person and was a pleasure to help.

if you are not familiar with diane's music...familiarize yourself...now! she is truly amazing with her deep, soulful and velvety voice. she is one of my favorite young musicians out there right now and i can't believe i'm just telling you about her. i guess sometimes things just need to be right in front of you to jog your memory.

and she's absolutely gorgeous to boot!

claudie day

2010-05-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

i was just thinking that some days i just want to look and feel like amelie. wouldn't life be great if all you had to do was run around paris looking cute as a lady bug, flirting with cute boys, and skipping stones in the canal st. martin? oh yes, i could handle that.

so i was looking for amelie inspired outfits and happened upon this wonderful french clothing line named claudie pierlot. it is the quintessential french/amelie ( be it a more grown-up version) of fashion.

in fact, here is my girl crush audrey tautou wearing claudie pierlot.

and if there was any question that i have fallen in love with this clothing line, i found this wonderful photo with her muse and logo, a little french bulldog somewhat resembling my little girl lulu found over here.

this is a perfect summer look for me, the sundress and boots. i love these boots by the way!

i love the contrast of this long silhouette with the little sailor's hat.

but this relaxed look with jeans and a striped sailor's shirt is more my style.

i wonder if you can find claudie in the us? the search is on.

so vera vera

2010-05-13T16:52:00.001-07:00

when i was in new mexico last month, my bff turned me on to the fabulous vera neumann textiles. my friend has gone mad for vera. ordering napkins, tablecloths and scarves off of ebay on a daily basis. and i'm afraid this (lady)bug may have rubbed off on me too.

i'm ready for some new kitchen decor and i think the funky vera look would be perfect. this is great because i have recently begun vintage shopping which in the past has not really been my thing. now i have a mission though so that will make it so much fun.

while looking for vera images, i came across several great blog posts on the subject, this one being my favorite.

i also discovered that the vera neumann archives were bought a few years back and so they are now producing new vera product through the vera company.

here are some of my favorite pieces.

well you already know how i feel about the red, white and black combination.

and this tea towel is so freaking cute complete with utensils.

this her classic tablecloth style. i must have one of these.

and i can't forget her great scarves. my friend has one like this. i absolutely love poppies!

the only problem is now my friend and i may be having bidding wars on ebay. sorry raney!

images:
true up
retro renovation
mr. peacock
ruby lane
high street market

maybe a nice chesterfield...

2010-05-11T13:58:00.001-07:00

as much as i love my old pottery barn over stuffed sofa, lately i have been dreaming of replacing it. the fabric is so old and worn on it that it either needs reupholstered or a slip cover made. unfortunately, both of these options are far more pricy than the sofa is actually worth. so i'm thinking about replacing the piece. problem is, i'm in love with the chesterfield sofa which is a. hard to come by or b. very expensive. i have been combing craig's list in hopes that one will pop up and magically, it's owner has no idea how valuable it is and sells it for a steal.

here are some of my favorites. i would take any one of these!

i know, i know, a person with pets has no business owning a white sofa. one can dream though can't they?

how about black, that could work.

this brown leather one is just such a classic. i would definitely take this one.

i love how they have used french tea towels to upholster this one in a patchwork style.

but the bright patchwork is so much more fun and funky.

and this one is my absolute favorite. i actually saw this exact style at high point furniture market a few years ago and fell in love with it. the price tag however, not so much!

keep me in mind if you know anyone who just needs to get rid of their fabulous old chesterfield. i would even drive to pick it up!

would that make her dona juanita?

2010-05-10T14:05:00.000-07:00

last night lorenzo and i watched the brigitte bardot film "don juan (or if don juan were a woman)". the film was made in 1973 by bardot's then husband roger vadim.

bardot plays a man-eater in the tradition of don juan's womanizing ways. she virtually destroys every man she comes into contact with whether it's by seducing him, falling in love with him, or seducing his wife instead of him (as was the case with jane birkin's clara), and then humiliating all of the players involved.

bardot is her usual gorgeous self but the scenes with jane birkin were my favorite. jane seemed very awkward and her acting was a little silly but she was young and beautiful in the birkin/gainsbourg/doillon tradition and it was a treat to see how much her daughters really look like her.

the only other enjoyment that i got out of this extremely over-the-top campy film were the scenes filmed in bardot's submarine home. it was very 007 in it's decor. imagine living in a submarine. i don't know if i could deal with that being somewhat claustrophobic!

i'm not sure if the film is worth recommending but the scenery was nice.

oh chanel, how i love thee

2010-05-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

here is the look book of the latest chanel collection, "latin lovers" found over on rdujour.

as i do have an affinity for the latin look, i do love this collection. and the styling of the shoot is perfect. can i just go there right now?

hot tamale!

oh this long one shoulder dress.

this shot is amazing, i love everything about it.

and that green door is perfect.

and the little short baby doll dress.

this whole shot is perfection.

ooh that bag.

great ad campaign.

ay chihuahua!

more charlotte

2010-04-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

and welcome back to the charlotte channel where it's all charlotte all the time.

just kidding but that is how it is starting to look!

i came across these great photos of her on rdujour and since it is basically the way she looked when she played here in portland, i thought these pics did her much more justice than my iphone pics. so here she is, these photos are from the chicago show.

i could never pull them off but i love her balenciaga biker jeans.

le salle de bain

2010-04-27T16:35:00.001-07:00

lorenzo has been working on his bath remodel for a while now so i hope to help him finish it up. i never noticed how indifferent i was about bathrooms until i tried to think what i would like. i don't have any kind of dream bath in mind at all. my bathroom is very simple and white, which works with the style of my apartment, but lorenzo's is very different and needs a little more character.

here are a few that i like the look of and that i think would work in his house.

i really like the look of raw concrete like here on the tub.

the distressed and textured paint in this bathroom is very nice. this is one perhaps my favorite bath out of all of these.

again, the concrete look is nice here on the floor and as the counter top.

lorenzo has mentioned using strips of wood and i like this look here with the white tile.

i like the simplicity of this bath with the simple table and the old office door.

and this concrete/tile/tin combo is nice too.

which look do you like the best?

(all images from marie claire maison)

paradis found

2010-04-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

i was so excited last week when i picked up the latest issue of marie claire and found my girl vanessa inside. what a great shoot.

tres belle vanessa!

(photos courtesy of rdujour)

charlotte for ever

2010-04-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

so tonight is the night i see charlotte play here in portland at the wonder ballroom. i can't wait to see her and i imagine she doesn't tour very often so this may very well be the only chance i get. oh what to wear...

i have loved charlotte from the first film i saw her in many years ago called the cement garden. a very bizarre movie but charlotte was cast perfectly for the role.

and i recently watched my wife is an actress which she filmed with her partner yvan attal. i really loved it and couldn't believe i had never heard of it before. check it out if you haven't seen it yet.

and the science of sleep is my absolute favorite film of hers. plus it has gael garcia bernal in it. meow!

and of course zefferelli's jane eyre was a beautiful movie.

there is one of her film's that i could not get through called the lemming. have you seen that one? i did not like those little critters!

i'll give you a full report tomorrow on how the show went.

school house rocks

2010-04-08T16:26:00.001-07:00

for many, many years, the old albuquerque high school sat sadly vacant taking up a huge piece of prime real estate in downtown albuquerque. it was undecided what was going to happen to the old school and demolition was threatened many times. however, fate had planned something so much more for this beautiful landmark and five years ago, it opened up as lofts and retail space.

i had never been in the old building in all of the years i lived in albuquerque but i had a soft spot for it each time i drove by since my mother had attended the school briefly before they closed it. i always loved the building because it represented a time in albuquerque, architecturally speaking, that you did not see much any more. there are very few red brick buildings left in the city and an over abundance of brown stucco.

i was so excited last week when i finally got a look into the interiors of the "new" albuquerque high and i could not believe what an amazing job they did in restoring it, complete with halls just as if you were going back in time to high school. i was told that with each loft, the tenants get their own allotment of lockers to use for storage.

this particular loft that my very stylish friend lives in is a studio space. i love the way that she had it decorated and she was kind enough to let me photograph it to feature it on my blog.

check out the giant chalkboard in the living room. this would be cool to use like the character in 500 days of summer did when he did architectural drawings all over his walls in his apartment.

and instead of using the upper loft space for her sleeping area, she left her bed downstairs and then turned the upper space into a cool lounge area with bean bags.

what do you think? could you go back to high school if it was this cool?

blue eyed girl

2010-04-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

i spent my entire vacation last week listening to volumes one and two from she and him and i absolutely love, love, love both albums. this got me thinking about another one of my girl crushes.

have i ever mentioned my girl crush on zooey deschanel? i can't remember, but jeez, can she be any cuter?

i love her hair..

i love her big blue eyes...

i love her fashion sense...

and she even got a cool name that i love, a la jd salinger. some girls have all the luck!

the only thing i don't love about her is that she no longer dates jason schwartzman because i thought that they were the most perfect couple ever.

reading frenzy

2010-03-26T12:46:00.001-07:00

as most of you know from previous posts, i love books and book cases. so why can't i find a good book to read?

it seems that lately every book i pick up, i read a little and toss it aside. nothing has really caught my attention in quite some time and it's driving me nuts.

what are you all reading these days?

i generally like biographies, historical stories, anything based in exotic foreign locals. one summer, i read everything i could find on picasso and another time i read all of hemingway's novels one after the other.

help!

guess who i have tickets to see...

2010-03-25T14:05:00.001-07:00

oh yes! my girl crush charlotte gainsbourg is playing in portland at the wonder ballroom april 15th. i will be one of the groupies there early in the day to get a good spot up close.

now that's my kind of tax day!

drop me a line

2010-03-20T17:08:00.000-07:00

i was checking out one of my favorite blogs, erin ever after, and came across this beautiful image of a clothesline.

i have always loved clotheslines and take pictures of them whenever i see them. when i was in italy, it was like clothesline heaven. the italians take clotheslines to an art form and have many crazy contraptions to make them easier to use. my hostess in lucca had the coolest one that would be perfect for any apartment dweller. i really wanted to buy one but the thought of dragging a clothesline across italy and france seemed pretty ridiculous at the time. next time i'm there, i'm shipping one home!

oh these whitewashed walls with the bright laundry. jane lake, erin ever after

ancient venetian laundry. times union

the chaotic neopolitan lines. wikimedia commons

simple turkish style. media melon

beautiful, rundown cuba. felice willat, tools with heart

does this inspire some spring cleaning?