{wishing you a glamorous new year}

. . . last day of the year and a wild and wonderful whirlwind it's been -- thank you for coming along on this beautiful adventure -- there's so much to look forward to, but best of all, a brand new year filled with the promise of new beginnings . . .

wishing you a happy & glamorous new year, where ever you may be,
xo

{p.s.} as always, some things you may have missed:
* colour inspiration: hazy shade of winter
* two lovely things: chandeliers + party shoes
* at home with: elie saab, paris
* glamorous guide: champagne
* new year's inspiration: little white dress

{kate via a previous post; champagne via a previous post; also: chocolate champagne truffles in sparkling sugar}

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you have a wonderful--and safe--New Year's Eve.  We are heading away for the weekend and, after the wonderful chaos of Christmas, some fun (and sleep!) are very welcome.

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2010, filled to the brim with love, laughter, and luck!

I am always terrible with resolutions, yet I can't help but want to strive for what William Ellery Channing recommends:

"I will seek elegance rather than luxury, refinement rather than fashion.

I will seek to be worthy more than respectable, wealthy and not rich.

I will study hard, think quietly, talk gently, and act frankly.

I will listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with an open heart.

I will bear all things cheerfully, do all things bravely, await occasions and hurry never.

In a word I will let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common."

Happy New Year! Buon Anno!

New Year's Resolution: A Splash of Hedonism

I grew up visiting the Plaza Hotel on every one of my trips to NYC, bought more Eloise paraphernalia in the erstwhile Plaza gift shop than I'd like to admit, and celebrated two birthdays with high tea in the Palm Court.

A few days ago I visited the Plaza for the first time in nearly two years and was so distraught to see only the remnants of its former glory. The many floors of the historic hotel were recently gut-renovated and converted into apartments, while the first floor was turned into a gallery of retail shops. The only upside to this change is the month-old Eloise shop.

Now that the location of some of my best birthday memories consists of only a few spare tables and chairs, I've decided I need to find another place to enjoy my tea in NYC.
There are many New Year's Resolutions I'd like to make, especially because 2010 marks my 25th year (and because I'll be wearing a bikini on a beach in a few weeks' time), but since I'm unlikely to KEEP many of them, I'm making one resolution I believe I CAN keep:
Sample every high tea in Manhattan.

I have many places in mind, and will blog about them when I go. If you have any recommendations, I am ALWAYS happy to hear them!

So often our New Year's Resolutions are ascetic and rigid, and it's no wonder we dread them and often can't maintain them. Most of us would do well to have a little more fun in our lives. So in general, I resolve to be more of a hedonist this year:

-Attend the ballet more often
-Read more books
-Travel as much as I am able
-Sleep a little later
-Curl my hair if I feel like it
-Drink a little more champagne
-Keep taking long walks around my beloved NYC

And I hope you do too.
Best wishes for 2010!
Cxx.

{new year's inspiration: champagne}

. . . before the clock strikes midnight tonight, we will have toasted a glass {or two} of champagne, bidding farewell to one year, and welcoming a new . . .

"Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!"

~ dom perignon, at the moment he discovered champagne

{a glamorous guide to champagne:}
champagne, a light sparkling wine made only in the champagne region of northeastern france, is different from all other sparkling wines in the world for three major reasons:
* a wine can only be labeled as champagne if it is made in the champagne region of france
* to be called champagne, it must be made only from the pinot noir, pinot meunier, or chardonnay grapes which grow in that region
* true champagne, as opposed to other sparkling wines, gets its bubbles by undergoing the fermentation process twice: once in barrels and again in bottles

{chilling}
* temperature determines the rate at which bubbles in champagne are released -- a bottle should not be opened at room temperature, as it will quickly froth up and go flat
* chill ideally to 40-45 °F {4.5-7 °C}, the lower temperature for parties and receptions where the room temperature is likely to rise
* chill champagne in a refrigerator for a couple of hours, but try not to leave it longer than a day, as the cork may stick or shrink
* emergency chilling in the coldest part of a freezer for 15 minutes is fine
* a bucket of ice and water (never just ice, as the water is essential for transferring temperatures) is still one of the best and quickest ways to chill a bottle of champagne, but faster still are the gel-filled jackets that are kept in the freezer and slip over the bottle for about six minutes

{opening}
* remove the foil to begin, or simply score around the base of the wire cage, then gently untwist the wire and loosen the bottom of the cage, but do not remove it
* holding the base of the bottle with your other hand, twist both ends slowly in opposite directions, backwards and forwards
* as soon as you feel pressure forcing the cork out, try to push it back in while continuing the twisting operation ever more gently until the cork is released from the bottle with a sigh, not a bang
* do not tilt the glass and pour gently down the inside, but top up each glass to between two-thirds and three-quarters full, and no more
* do not chill the glasses ahead of time, either by filling them with ice cubes or crushed ice, as it will have a negative effect on the release of the bubbles and the bouquet of the champagne

{glasses}
* a flute or a tulip-shaped glass is ideal, but nearly any vessel other than a coupe will do -- the wide, shallow coupe is the worst possible choice for champagne, as the mousse goes flat far too quickly and the wine's aroma can not be appreciated
* whatever glass shape used, the finer the rim the better
* if you have fine crystal, be sure to use it -- the irregularities in this elegant glass keep the bubbles alive longer

santé! / cheers!
xo

{images: 1 - scarlett johansson for möet et chandon; 2 - style me pretty; 3 - livingetc; more information: laurel hiestand, marie claire, bbc, tom stevenson's champagne & sparkling wine guide}

{at home with: elie saab, paris}

. . . completely swept away by this stunningly beautiful bedroom in fashion designer elie saab's paris apartment -- the mirrored screens and four-post bed, the satin-trimmed pillows, and most of all, the spectacularly over-sized blossoming branches that may be just the thing for getting through the winter . . .

{p.s.} more at home with:
* jessica alba
* marc jacobs, paris
* carter smith
* alexander wang

{image: ad via white & wander, interior design by chakib richani architects, photography by marina faust}

I Like Your Style: Margherita Missoni

I think Margherita Missoni is gorgeous and always looks so great.

 

Photos:  InStyle, Style.Com, FabSugar

Alla Prossima

Decade Countdown: 2009

We started 2009 with a lot of hope, as we ushered in the country's very first African American president who was promising lots of change. News of the Swine Flu scared us all and we began searching for our next vaccination. The death of the King of Pop shocked the entire world, and we all sat in theatres lamenting the next era of Michael Jackson that would never be. News of the OctaMom leaves us confused while we search for other news on the newest craze of mini-notebooks. We learn more about Tiger Woods than the fact that he plays golf really well, and so do his many sponsors. We watch with a loss for words for how diluted Kanye West is, as he not only can't handle him losing but other celebs as well. Bravo Beyonce and Taylor Swift for remaining classy. News of Rihanna's abusive relationship surprises us, and Twilight continues to be a phenomenon as the second movie is a huge box office hit.

80s-tastic.

Peace and Love.

Risque.

Furry.

Lengthening.

Best of 2009

The biggest post of the year is here: my top 10 favourite Nicole Richie looks in 2009.
I'm sure you will disagree with some of my choices, so please let me know what your favourite outfits were this year in the comments section.
BEST OUTFITS
1. - Shopping at the Chanel boutique: Dries van Noten cardigan, JET skinny jeans, Balenciaga "City" bag, Givenchy cut out booties, House of Harlow 1960 jewelry

2. - At the Art of Elysium 2nd Annual Heaven Gala: Jasmine di Milo dress, Pierre Cardin vintage clutch

3. - At the Jenni Kayne and Andy Lecompte Salon party: Issa London dress, Louboutin pumps, vintage snakeskin clutch, House of Harlow 1960 headpiece

4. - At the Proenza Schouler fall 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York: Sonia by Sonia Rykiel double breasted coat, Yves Saint Laurent Trib two platform pumps

5. - At the Zac Posen fall 2009 fashion show: Zac Posen dress, Yves Saint Laurent pumps

6. - At the Rachel Zoe and Decadestwo charity benefit: black taffeta and organza Katy Rodriguez skirt, vintage Pucci scarf, Yves Saint Laurent pumps

7. - At the launch of her jewelry line at Kitson: cream halter long dress made by Larissa Williams for Nicole's stylist Simone Harouche, House of Harlow jewelry

8. - Promoting her jewelry line at Holt Renfrew in Toronto: vintage sweater dress, Yves Saint Laurent pumps, House of Harlow 1960 jewelry

9. - Out and about in Los Angeles: Modern Vintage boots, Chanel lunch box style bag

10. - Launching her House of Harlow 1960 holiday collection at Bloomingdales: L'Wren Scott dress, Christian Louboutin "Bianca" pumps, House of Harlow 1960 jewelry.

FAVOURITE TREND
Tye-dye was definitely one of Nicole's favourite trends of the year. We have seen her sporting a tye-dye bag, Love Tanjane and MoMo FaLana dresses


FAVOURITE DESIGNER
In 2009 Nicole Richie was a fan of Issa London's boho-style dresses. She was photograped wearing four different dresses - a blue kimono dress with butterfly prints, a red poncho dress, a black and white frock and an eye-catching aqua blue maxi.


MOST POPULAR HOUSE OF HARLOW 1960 DESIGN
We all know that Nicole Richie's House of Harlow 1960 jewelry line has been a major success in 2009. Her collection has definitely been accepted in the world of celebrities.
The Queen of pop herself rocked Nicole's designs.
The most popular piece was the 14KT gold pointed necklace with black resin or black leather.
Kumi Koda, Katie Cassidy in Melrose Place, Jessica Michibata, Alani Vazquez, Kim Kardashian, Kara DioGuardi

Nicole, Monet Mazur, Jennifer Rade, Kourtney Kardashian, Vanessa Minnillo, Paris Hilton,

BEST MAGAZINE COVER:
Nicole on the cover of BlackBook's magazine April issue, channeling her inner Lady Gaga

Happy New Year everybody ! Thanks for visiting my blog and for all your support this year. See you in 2010!