Desert Dream via NOWNESS

Gorgeous film and Ann Demeulemeester clothes. Love the flashes between B&W and color. you dont need a wind machine in the desert. BEAUTIFUL!

http://www.nowness.com/day/2012/3/15/2000/michael-c-pitt--in-the-desert-sun

In my dreams....

LOVE this look from one of my favorite blogs: www.haneli.com  I would put this whole outfit on tomorrow - if only i had those rad vintage pants.  love it.

image via www.haneli.com

You Wear It Well !

I LOVE it when my friends/customers send me pictures of themselves wearing their pieces from Sway Jewelry.  I especially love when the occasion is not anything unusual or "special" - just how they wear the jewelry in their everyday (fabulous) lives.  

I got this photo from a friend when she had worn it out to her monthly book club meeting and was overwhelmed with compliments.  The fact that she took the time to send me this photo - it made my day :) She wears it well...

Here is another dear friend who just happened to be wearing her long necklace - tripled - in her yoga class.  She wears it well....

How Do YOU wear your Sway Jewelry ?

Hermes

Even though this event was in the spring, I came across some of my photos of it today, and was really inspired.  In March of 2011 the Craftsmen of Hermes came to the Chicago Hermes store for the Festival Des Metiers.  It was a feast for the eyes – the craftsmen, the products, the process, the people – really unbelievable!  Feast YOUR eyes on some sights from that night last March and enjoy.

 Final photo – me and my friend Donna – love you!

SCA Benefit Planning Party at Marc Jacobs Chicago

So I headed out last Thursday night to an event sponsored by the Society of Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago.  I have a few good friends who are very involved with this board and its wonderful endeavors and programming.  Did I mention the event was at the fabulous Marc Jacobs Chicago? Combine Art and Fashion and I am THERE!

As a special treat, the Spring 2012 Marc Jacobs Collection was flown in from New York and guests were able to pre-order their favorite looks from the runway.  Here are a few of my favorite looks from this collection:

LOVE !

    

images courtesy style.com

The Chicago Marc Jacobs people were perfect hosts – 

the store looked amazing and was chocked full of goodies:

I also met the CHARMING assistant manager, Andrew – 

head over there and do some shopping ladies!

The Benefit is going to be at Crown Hall (Mies Van De Rohe architectural masterpiece ! ) at IIT on June 2nd.  Great art, great crowd, in a special setting – you should check it out!  

http://www.scaaic.org/

CROWN HALL at IIT

Fashion Experts????

For some reason over the last couple of days, I have randomly heard “fashion experts” on various TV shows use the phrase “It’s all about......”.  Ladies, in my opinion, there is not a more annoying phrase used in conjunction with any style advice.  I would go even further and say, if you hear this phrase uttered by a “stylist”, or television style “expert”, grab your wallet,  hang on tight, and do not under any circumstances let go of your money.  This phrase is usually used (and overused) when talking about super-trendy items that retailers have bought heavily to be “on-trend” , but that you will wear once, wonder why you wasted your money, and will hate to look at wasting space in your closet.  
Yuck!

Better advice – You know your body and what flatters it – you know what you look and feel good in.  Look to designer collections for inspiration/ideas, and translate them into what you know works for you.  

Quality is always better than quantity.  2 cashmere sweaters is better than 5 “trendy” sweaters.  Denim comes in so many washes and silhouettes – everything from skinny, to flares, to Levis 501 -   any or all work as long as it fits you well and is flattering.  


Always spend your money on shoes and handbags – quality on these accessories lifts any basic/classic outfit about 5 notches.  Finally think “modern” not “on-trend”, and you will be fine :)  

Here are some pics of two women that I think get this whole idea of effortless and modern – 

Jenna Lyons, Creative Director of J Crew

 Judy Aldridge of the blog Atlantishome.com

  images from jcrewaholics.com, fabsugar.com, and atlantishome.com

The 7 best things you can say to a girl

As the mother of a 15 year old daughter - (how did that happen!)  I think a lot about how to raise a confidant, inspired, comfortable-in-her-own-skin young woman.  I saw this tidbit in Glamour magazine many moons ago, and thought I’d share it - good food for thought :)