{style inspiration: spring's sexy brights}

. . . absurdly in love with spring's vibrant hues -- lips in shades of coral & cerise and belted dresses in riotous purple, frolicsome jumpsuits in shimmery turquoise and flirtatious dresses in peach and long skirts paired with tangerine -- such a wildly welcome change from winter's grey days and suddenly, the air feels electric . . .



{images: karl lagerfeld and silvia venturini for fendi spring 2011 rtw, photography by marcio madeira via vogue}

Vintage Chanel

Do you notice a difference in Chanel from 1979 to 1983?

1979

1983

Do you know what the difference is?

1979

1983

The difference is Karl Lagerfeld. He was hired as the head designer at Chanel in 1983 and brought the floundering company out of the doldrums. His fresh designs appealed to a new crop of younger women while still paying homage to the spirit of Coco.

{holiday inspiration: mostly metallic}

. . . looking forward to dressing up for holiday parties, and especially to shimmery things and cocktail rings . . .

{p.s.} metallic leather dress + silver sandals, karl lagerfeld for fendi

{image: a glamorous little side project}

{what are you reading?}

. . . time again to update google reader and, after the question was last posed, happily discovered many new and beautiful blogs -- and so:
what are you reading?






{p.s.} tulle, chiffon, sequins, and black and white film -- this stunning editorial by karl lagerfeld features danish model freja beha erichsen shooting portraits of herself

{editorial: autoportraits, la couture by karl lagerfeld, model: freja beha erichsen for numero magazine #81 march 2009}

{inspiration: birds of a feather}

Feathers, feathers everywhere -- ostrich on evening gowns, in vases on fireplace mantels and in pretty up-swept hair -- but best of all, atop four-poster beds all draped in French fabrics, as if awaking on a magical, misty morning in le château de Versailles . . .







{p.s.} more feathers

{images: mary kate by margo silver, you magazine june 2007; clockwise from top left, desire to inspire; selina lake; desire to inspire;shabby chic via daisy pink cupcake; hervé pierre's manhattan apartment, tig scan from house & garden, november 2002, photography by james waddell, also seen at moodboard; style bytes; art partner; entryway - domino; flickr, siri tollerod by cedric buchet for v magazine december 2008; mon chou; domino; a glamorous little side project}

{runway inspiration: karl lagerfeld + milan}

. . . the runways of milan were wispy pink, ivory and ecru, in linen and tulle and ruffles and frills, all mixed with softly frayed edges, loosely piled hair and high, high heels wrapped in bows . . .



{p.s.}
* more wispy loveliness at the side project
* aren't the perspex clutches stunning?

{images: style.com}

{karl lagerfeld photography + the winner is:}

Immediately fell for Karl Lagerfeld's photography after discovering the lovely {Harper's Bazaar editorial} at Versailles and of course, the stunning {ad campaigns} for Chanel.

These beautiful photographs of billowy, gauzy white dresses against wonderfully ornate backdrops are perfect for today's sunny mood . . .

{p.s.}
* warm congratulations to Camila P, the winner of the lovely cluster necklace give-away!
* nantaka joy stationery give-away continues below

{editorial: 24 hour couture; magazine: Harper's Bazaar June 2007; model: Gisele Bundchen; photographer: Karl Lagerfeld}

{work of art: paper-flower tiaras}

Have been completely caught up in the brilliantly creative and exquisite bleached flower cut-outs and sculpted paper blossoms strewn about the walls, tables, and floors of the all-white space of the Chanel Spring 2008 Couture show.

Wondrously enormous and intricate paper roses, magnolias and camellias were transformed into beautiful paper-flower tiaras. According to Karl Lagerfeld, to prepare for the collection, he cleared everything away and "started with a clean sheet of paper." The result was a flutter of Spring, a stunning celebration of magic and romance . . .

{p.s.}
more information about the artist:

* the 65 different headdresses were created out of two stacks of plain white copy paper by Japanese designer Katsuyo Kamo, a master hairdresser, and his small team {hudson's jeans blog}
* kamo's work first appeared in t magazine
* more paper works of art featured here

{images: Chanel Spring 2009 Couture via style.com}