Candy for Clear Skin

I frequently peruse what I call the "girlie fun-time section" of Whole Foods for candles, body wash, hats, lotions, super-soft yoga tees, Toms, new vitamins and probiotics, the list goes on.  By the way, how fantastic is Whole Foods for combining clothing, health and good smelling things into a mini-boutique INSIDE THE GROCERY STORE!  

~Excitement-driven-derailment-sequence complete~

While on one of my ventures into the market for bath suds, I happened upon Zuzu Luxe cosmetics.  

I'm a pretty simple girl when it comes to makeup.  I didn't wear anything outside of eyeliner, mascara and tinted lipbalm {and sunscreen, of course} until 2 years ago.  My bestie, Sari, got me invested in cosmetics and now I'm a diehard.  That being said, I only keep 2-3 small eye shadow palettes at a time.  One of which usually ends up in my "it's not that season" makeup pouch along with a blush or a bronzer -- depending on which time of year it's not.  

I generally stick to department stores for makeup because the brands are tested and true.  However, I was lured in by Zuzu Luxe for two reasons:

• Winter-to-Spring season transition tones on display and

• VEGAN cosmetics!

I know you've heard me mention Vegan products a time or two.  To answer your question, no, I am not a vegan.  I was a vegetarian for around ten years {I started in middle school.  Call me precocious.} but my bloodstream woke up one day and screamed in an intolerable pitch "I NEED MORE IRON".  So I b-lined it to an In-n-Out.  My interest in vegan products stems from a guilt complex I've recently developed.  Long story.  Mostly rambling.

Moving on.  I decided it was time to freshen up my cosmetic collection by investing in the jewel-and-candy palette you see here.  I can only tell you that I am in-love with these little pots of powdery honey.  What's not to love.  Zuzu Luxe even says their products, while dazzling up your eyes and pronouncing your cheekbones, also clear and prevent breakouts.  With an ingredients list like spring water, herbs, vitamins and essential oils, I don't doubt it.  

Left to Right: Ice Princess, Angel and Skylar

xoxo, 

Savvy Saturdays: Elegantly España

In Spain, our way of life is all with so much passion.

  

I live my life so I need to feel alive every second, every moment, with everything around me.

I do not like to think we've come here just to eat, sleep and pray.

I believe that every human being should look inside, {examine his ego} and find a way to express himself that both benefits progress & beauty in this world AND maximizes his creative capacity. 

Esther Campodarve wrote us two intriguing letters, both with compelling reasons to choose her for this first of Savvy Saturdays.

Just by looking into those doe-eyes anyone can see she's got soul for days.  In a single sentence, Esther makes living from a place of love and good intentions sound even more fashionable than her impressive collections of Dior and Chanel. 

With a heritage linking her directly to Spain and Chile, and elders hailing from France, Argentina, Brazil and Germany, Esther is a bit of a global ambassador for chic-society, fashion culture and goodwill.

She boasts {mind you, Esther does not boast in the common sense of the word, so we'll do it for her} a lengthy background in ballet and flamenco.  She's also a registered nurse and works alongside her family {we love that!} in an international health center.

We have to ask -- Could you be any more perfect?

There's an answer and it's yes {an audible single-gal groan is heard around the world}.

Esther shared with us her love for all things vintage, from Liz Taylor to VERY VINTAGE -- a hefty knowledge of all things Cleopatra.  Now around here, we just love us some Queen of the Nile, but Esther told us that our favorite IT-girl from the end of the BC era spoke nine languages!
Cut to: picking jaw up from the floor.

Esther recently attended a Fagus wine-tasting and fashion event at the GranHotel of Zaragoza in her style-capital homeland, Spain.  She told us that these events are relatively common as outlets for folks to step out in their finest.  She also gave us a bit of history on this kind of soirée as it pertains to Spanish culture.

"Formerly, women were not allowed to attend these events.  They were more clandestine.  It was considered a disgrace for a woman to be seen holding a glass of wine."

Well, we are glad times have changed!

Coming to the end of what we thought was already a literary visit from one of the most fascinating individuals you should know, Esther blew our minds... one more time.

Her nephew was born with the rare congenital condition of having Clubfoot {in his case, both feet}.  Esther wanted us to be sure to spread the message that although her family was fortunate enough to afford corrective treatments and surgery, there are many families out there that are not.   

Supporting groups like Doctor's Without Borders and getting involved with local non-profits that perform outreach missions in your community {a simple Google search away, really} can make a huge difference in the lives and growing livelihood of many.

Esther Campodarve, you've won us over!

We'll leave you with one last brilliant gem that Esther gifted us:

We should use more {of our innate ability} to better understand our feelings and the feelings of those around us.  That alone would be a small step to being every day a little happier.

Follow Esther on Twitter! 

xoxo,

 

Have Another Cup of Teal

 

Desired attire & accessories conjured up over some afternoon tea, musing over a Teal Tourmaline ring I stumbled upon during yesterday's outings {hint, hint Mr. Right} and this Emerald dream of a jumpsuit by Catherine Malandrino


I have to say I'm feeling a bit blue, and a bit green {with envy, of course} that all of these items are not in my closet.

* Karlie Assymentrical Sweater by BCBG

* The KATE by Remix Classic Vintage Footwear 

* The EVA by Remix Classic Vintage Footwear  

* Teal Topaz Ring by R. Klein         

(they have the most incredible art deco jewelry EVER!) see: La Metrop - Paris  

* Straw Mohawk Minaudiere by BCBG  

Icy blue winter is still in the air, but birds are chirping and the sun is brightening our days.  Spring is only a hop, step and a skip away.  Saddle up with a warm cup of teal and let her colorful accents inspire a gemstone wardrobe. 

xoxo, 

Be Jeweled by Us

That special rose-colored, melt-in-your-mouth, love & perfume in the air day is on it's way!
Whether you're

• out on the town with your best gal pals, 
• being swept away to a surprise vacay by your sweetie 
• or at home painting your nails with some of our best friends - Ben, Jerry, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks
• (fella's, your girl would kiss you for days for a box filled with these beauts!)

this giveaway is sure to make your skin and your day sparkle!

JEWELMINT™ Cupid's Kit

To enter:

1. Follow me on Twitter, 
2. click "Join This Site" on the Home Page and follow the prompts, 
3. then leave a comment on this post with your Twitter alias and your Member name.

I'll be choosing a winner February 5th, so be sure to watch for the announcement on Twitter.

Here's to the wonder of love!

xoxo, 

 

So Sumi!

I've been aching to talk about this morsel of goodness for a while now.  So here it is!

If you live anywhere near or around Silverlake, CA and you have an ounce of style coursing through your veins, then you probably know about Sumi's.  For those of you a bit farther away, new to the area or that just plain haven't noticed all the goodness hidden between large corner fix-it garages and the few but oversized vanity boutiques that run the area {I almost can't blame you - almost}, it's time to get less "Sandra Dee" and more "Electrifyin'". 

*note: Grease ref. No love lost on the actual Sandra Dee ♥

Sumi, herself, is a total gem.  Every time I'm in, she manages to effortlessly tend to every customer with individual attention while running the shop single-handedly.  Between the sweet smile that frequently sweeps across her face, the lightness about her manner and the surrounding stage of deliciously delicate baubles she handpicks to sell, Sumi quintessentially is Mary Poppins for the grown-up girl.  I've often suspected that upon closer inspection one would find she naturally emits the scent of morning-dew jasmine and that her feet don't actually touch the ground.

Sumi's is home to some darn smart gifts for any girl.  One of my favorites is the collection of purses, handbags, clutches and jewelry/makeup pouches handmade by Sumi's own mother in Finland.  The line is called Carita Viola Designs.  Her dear mum is good friends with many Helsinki shop owners, design haus and textile factory owners who often invite her to select through their vintage dead-stock.  How fantastic is that!  

I personally had to break up a fight between two clutches only yesterday, one with the strong suit of a delectable vintage button and the other {the winner} showcasing the last of a never-to-be-made-again French art deco pattern. 

It should be noted that Sumi helped promote and sell the line for her mother long before the store-front was even a seed in the ground -- probably the reason she knows her target customer so well!

Other sunshiny trinkets include these porcelain milk carton casts.  


Used as a T-light or flower vase, they warm up any room.

Sumi's is also home to a bevy of notebooks, sketchbooks and local artist works.  Always a fan of things-not-cumbersome {i.e. clutches vs shoulder-bags} and ALWAYS a note-taker on things that interest or inspire me, I adore these recycled paper-back minis to tote around:

Last, but most certainly not least is the ginormous {it's a word} array of vintage-like and hippie-chic jewelry.  This visit, there were icy-blue cocktail rings and rock-candy beads galore.   

Last year, Sumi began designing her own line of sparkling accessories, which only means I had to linger in the shop an hour longer than usual while struggling to decide what constitutes a reasonable purchase this close to Valentine's Day -- and a birthday and an anniversary, both not far behind.

 

Finally, I pranced out carrying a small brown bag filled with my coveted one-off clutch, a lavender and white lace pouch, a new recycled-paper journal AND - thanks to Sumi's genius - a business card with my wishlist name attached to hand over to D upon arriving home.

Did I mention that buying gifts for oneself is totally très chic?

xoxo

The Unbearable LIGHTness of Being

xoxo,

Oh, the Line Forms on the Right, Babe!

Hey there ladies & gents!  I know you all came out to hear the velvety voice of Mr. Sinatra, but it seems he has better things to do.

Stay calm, we've got all the stars in the sky in store for you... a whole bunch of roses!

Lights please, in the far left corner.  There, Miss Ava Gardner, would you give us a smile?

Photo Courtesy of A. Garcia

Ava, better known as my bestie, Sari LeSueur, saddled up next to little ol' me doing my darndest to channel a long-locks Bonnie Parker version of Faye Dunaway.  To my left is our dear friend Ricki as a blonde Louise Brooks.

We all gathered this past weekend at Historic-Cultural Monument No. 267, the Park Plaza Hotel, for an evening of The Chit Chat Club, hosted by Ava's -- I mean, Sari's gentleman caller, Mr. Curtis Lindersmith.

Sari's introduction here is very, very necessary.  She's a walking vintage fashion lexicon.  Mark my words, you'll soon find yourself saying "I'll have what she's having."

This evening, Miss LeSueur & I enjoyed a warm cup of conversation over a decadent splash of Intellegentsia in Silverlake.  Doning nothing but the best in one-of-a-kind-finds, I pleaded with her to let me feature "the best costume for the day... (I have to think these things up, you know)."

  

 

Say Goodnight & Go Go Go!

What do Imogen Heap, a gypsy queen, a disco ballerina in 8 inch stilletto loafers and a Puerto Rican in a fancy Spanish fedora all have in common?

Why'd you have to be so cute/ Free People Headband

Ali came over last night to join D & I for what we were told was a costume party.  

Apparently, we were the only ones that paid notice to the memo.  

Outside of the host / birthday boy being clad in a full racing leather suit with lipstick kisses smeared about his face, the other party-goers opted for their hipster-finest.  

So, what does one - or three - do with this bag of lemons, you ask?  

If you're any one of us, {&, dear reader, you are} you get solid and rock it!  

It's impossible to ignore you/ Two9One "love music" off-the-shoulder sweater (S/S 09)

...preferably via a photo shoot with the ever-so-nice camera you brought along to take pics of the party.

Why must you make me laugh so much

Darling, the party is WHY. OH. YOU. 

Shop Girl Feature

So, this blog is more of a day-by-day/ short story fairytale meets fashion and inspiration.  However, today I came across some incredible finds that I HAVE to share with you.


This FRIENDLY FEATURE is Shop FRANKIE's

The Cropped Shearling Jacket is the bees knees!  I’ve been wanting a cropped aviator, but I’ve had a really hard time finding one that’s vegan AND still fancy-pants.  This one is!

This Oversized Wide Neck Tee & the Striped Batwing Sweater are two go-to pieces & must haves! They’re season-versatile and can be mixed n’matched for day or evening wear!

Their many colors of Tissue Knit Infinity Scarfs are fantastic.  I’m so obsessed with these right now b/c they double as hoods when the wind picks up at night {& every girl looks adorable with a little hood framing her face}.

 AND how sweet is this little Leopard Dress!  I’m not a big animal prints wearer but this piece is subtle w/ only the black & white print {hints of gold underneath} and the tan blocked-in. It reminds me of a vintage BCBG blue & gold tea-dress I have.  Also, the leather straps are faux {vegan-fashion-lovers alert}!

Way to go Frankie’s! Simple & Classy.

The Box Tops {an all-time fav}

My baby wrote me a letter... << click for a good time {wink}

Or, perhaps my ignition key simply was turned.  Either way, with all this energy I-you-we have been conserving, I do believe it's time we trade it all in for top dollar and some new shoes for baby!
{Translation: Spend those saved calories & blow-off that steam on a better you in whatever manner you fancy.  Yes, I do advocate resolutions!  One of mine is to tend even more to relationships with friends & loved ones.}

Tonight, as we strolled down the avenue with our three darling pups, I happened upon a tiny hibiscus.  Just one.
Perched on the edge of a hearty bush outside a row of eggshell-white town homes.

This survivor of sorts was extraordinary on her own, but gained strength in her very existence and meaning when amidst my lost*in*thought*walk I found myself much further down the way being dragged into a sad yellow rose bush.

Her two towering roses, so full and asking to be crushed into any winter-weathered face of a passer-by, had not so much perished as they had aged -- like I-you-we.

The anomaly of these two species - one being a tropical flower and the other a wintery bloom, the first surviving in no condition at all and the latter suffocating in her own home - reminded me of Karl Lagerfeld.

I know, I know... "WHY?"

Allow me to show & tell you.  If you have never read Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, well then please do {also, I'd like to have a word with your high school English Lit. instructor}.

-images from
A Portrait of Dorian Gray 
by Karl Lagerfeld
feat. Eva Herzigova & Larry Scott

It's Delightful, It's Delicious, It's De -- well, you know

Lovelies, my apologies for going amiss!

Yesterday, I received a delivery filled with the tender lacy goodness of a peachy-pink asymmetrical blouse {one might call it a poncho?} of which, thanks to one of D's precious sisters, I am now the proud owner!

Lacy Poncho by Billabong, Booties by Aldo  Pin It

I paired it with an India green paisley camisole, a camel-colored mini and some wide-ankle booties.

Swathed in my new attire, I stepped out with Ali -- also in her beach-city finest -- to enjoy some baja cuisine, an inspiring lecture and panel discussion followed by a late-night trip to the theater.

I had the pleasure of watching My Week With Marilyn.  Applause all around to Michelle Williams for her portrayal.  However, I was disappointed in the writing and make-up for Julia Ormond {be she ever-so-exquisite} as Vivien Leigh.  

I grew up in a small town in

Viven Leigh
Courtesy of Fashion Loves Film

the South and as a Southern girl, it is a right of passage that we watch Gone With the Wind countless times from the age of understanding {I was nine} on.  That being said, many of us dreamt of being Scarlett, inheriting her  decadent wardrobe, her temper complete with inescapable charm, terra and, of course, Clark Gable's affections.  Often sided with that obsession is one with the devastatingly beautiful Ms. Leigh.  Hence, the following {I'd like to think} educated assessment: 

Viven Leigh's bouts with manic depression and real-life Scarlett-isms are widely known.  Julia Ormond, with her innate delicacy, indeed played Leigh as a warm and loving individual yet, overall Leigh was written as a bit weak-willed and/or mild-mannered {call it what you will} and her beauty not properly pronounced.  

Albeit, the film is My Week With Marilyn, this bitter pill was swallowed & is now duly noted.  

Moving on.

I'll end with two new finds 

{soon to be gifts for unsuspecting friends!}: 

Left: DELETTA  Halter: 

Beige w/ Coral accent & Mustard tie
Right: Beautiful Bottoms London 

Antique Bird Drop Back Playsuit

PLUS, a Friendly Feature   :

   Bohemian Bisoux Vintage 

Pin It
Deletta Halter pairs best with:
BBV's The Cora (cir. 1960's) 

& BBV's The Hepburn (cir. 1950's)

Don't You ❥ Wouldn't You ❥ You'd Better

Free People headpiece

I know I promised to update you on our Three King's Day conviviality


... so here it goes.  D did the right thing and went to Anthropologie.  Who knew a scientific study of humanities would become the key to any girl's heart!  I'll definitely be showing off some of the most outstanding choices he made -- in the future {wink}.  One of them, the Spindly Stripes Cardigan was a huge hit.  I'm a bit of a glutton for loungewear that also poses as stylish daywear.  In the case of this dashing piece, I've already found it useful as

•  a California-winter jacket over a favorite sequined party dress
• a wrap-blouse, when paired with a waist-cinching belt or eye-catching brooch 
• the perfect touch to your skin when fresh out of the shower or climbing out of a warm bed (pair with lacy chemise & hot tea)

Anthropologie Spindly Stripes Cardigan

In the meantime, I spent months, days and hours combing the photos of our many travels around the world.  D has forever asked "when will we (we means me) put together albums?".  It must be noted that we ARE foto-rific folks and never return from a journey without at least one-thousand pictures.  
I digress.  

Picking through, redoing so, editing, printing &  framing, DONE.  22 photos in total surrounded by candle-light, one package of croquettes and 2 caramel éclairs from Portos {Burbank} ...and a couple of gifts still in the shipping vortex.

By the way, if you haven't been to Portos {they have two more locations in Glendale and Downey}, this is one of the BEST places to 

A. sit down and eat with dear friends (I went with my best gal pal and her dapper gentleman courter), 

B. do as I did and bring back a collection of delectable delights in one of their proper pastry boxes as a gift for that special someone or, 

C. order to-go for any occasion and simply enjoy!

Darlings, I must be off to prepare for this evening's outings.  Of course I'll tell all tomorrow.  

...Somebody to love ~Jefferson Airplane

Grace Slick: (Person, v, adj): fierce to the power of the cat's pajamas

v. I'm gonna go Grace Slick this thing.

adj.  That was so Grace Slick of you.

Silent Night

Today has been very soft, as I'm sure you can tell from this sole late-nite post.

After a wild night of dreams - the third night in a row, to be precise - I woke to find that D was taking the day in... completely!  Although this seemed like yet another glittered illusory design of my subconscious, it was instead reality met with the unfortunate truth of my tangled-web-workload.

  

Look by M pom-pom beanie

O'neill v-neck striped hooded thermal tee

GUESS? golden -khaki  (softest ever!) low-rise cargo short

I did, however, take the time to put on a fetching getup, inspired by the summery-spirited-days and 

bursts-of-blustery-cold-winded nights in Southern California.

Free People snuggly snowflake wool legwarmers

Pocketflops in Floc Print  Pin It

More details on our Three King's Day celebration to come.  

For now, I wish you the happiest of weekends with those that you love and send you my utmost appreciation for your friendship here each day!