{favourite five: artist michelle armas}

Beauty without colour seems somehow to belong to another world."

~ Lady Murasaki

Colour affects emotions, design, art, and trends; it dictates our fashion, changes our mood and it epitomizes so many, many things without the need for words. Ruby red lipstick can be worn to signify ardent love and desire; pink blush conjures romantic rendezvous, and a bouquet of yellow daffodils can be given to symbolize friendship . . .



. . . lavender candles in a powder room can symbolize femininity, grace and elegance; a black evening gown that flows in the moonlight can represent sophistication and style, and the colour of a string of heirloom pearls worn on a wedding day is said to represent marriage.

Colour has its own language and painters are its masters.



Michelle Armas, an Atlanta-based artist, doesn’t simply paint with colours, she fuses colours with thoughts, blending magic to canvas -- each whimsical brushstroke takes your mind away to almost a heightened state of being and awareness, as you follow the light she creates through colour in paintings that have the power to light up a room.



By profession a graphic designer & illustrator, Michelle began painting to break away from the structure of work, but she says that ”the longer I paint, the more structured and narrative my work becomes.” Like many artists, Michelle’s design education began before she entered the classroom, making arts and crafts with her father at home, everything from clothes for her dolls to oil portraits.





Through her blog, Michelle offers a glimpse into the mind of an artist, and the motivations behind some of her loveliest works. This week, we sat down with her to talk about:

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{the top five things that inspire her work:}

1. Day dreaming.
I pretty much fantasize about beautiful things all day long, and then I think oh wow, wouldn't a lavender and dark green something be the best . . . off to paint!

2. Fashion.
The prints! The proportions! The drama! I am recently drawn to spare, modern clothes in the perfect shade of black, blue or grey, and it is making me want to do paintings with less color, and softer compositions and lots of nice clean space.

3. Travel.
I love to see what other people are wearing, how stores in different cities do window displays, the light and the sky and the ocean in places that are not land-locked Atlanta . . . even the trees, the colors of leaves. I am going to California soon, and I am super excited to look at some cool new plants!

4. Food.
I just made an almond yogurt cake with blue berries and peaches on the top, and when I took the layer of parchment off, the colors were so stunning! I love the color of cooked blueberries, and that purple blue next to the soft orange of the peach was super cool.

5. The Ottoman Empire.
Yup, those people knew how to do a mosaic, and how to use color. Wow, one, maybe two colors, in the most amazing, stunning, geometric splendor you have ever seen. I am researching right now to start painting a bunch of portraits, and I can't stop adding details that I have seen in mosaics.

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* jewelry designers: megan & moira flynn
* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro
* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay

~ laily


{images: paintings by michelle armas, all other images from once wed: one & two}

{favourite five: the jewelry designers at m.flynn}

Jewelry is made by creating bonds: melding precious metal and stringing luxurious pearls, jewels and gems, melting pieces of glittering gold; but the most important bonds are not made with jewelry, but through it -- the bonds between people that a piece of jewelry can create are eternal.



M.Flynn creates the kind of jewelry that memories are made of, whether the bracelet that glistens in the summer moonlight on a stroll after a first date, the sparkling crystal earrings that glitter in photographs from a best friend’s wedding, the necklace that marks a first anniversary, or the the ring that is passed down to a granddaughter.

Elizabeth Taylor, who owned one of the most admired jewelry collections in history, once said, “My pieces of jewelry are my most cherished stories about a lifetime of fun and love and laughter.” Memories can be made of the details--after all, it is all in the details . . .



The savvy duo that makes up M.Flynn is comprised of Megan and Moira Flynn, two sisters with a passion for jewelry who got their starts studying business and marketing. Turning their passion into a business, Megan and Moira recently opened a boutique {second from top} in Boston's South End neighborhood to showcase their enchanting designs.

From their chandelier tiered drop necklaces to their antique Swarovski flower earrings, each charming and elegant piece is made with the utmost attention to detail. Their special occasion accessories line, faire la fête, (French for "to party") features the perfect accessories for weddings, galas, balls and soirées.

Along with their own designs, Megan and Moria re-create timeless pieces from their grandmother's expansive costume collection and also re-work antique heirloom jewelry.



This week, in a special two-part Favourite Five feature, Moria and Megan each share with us:

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{the top five ways a background in business can contribute to artistic endeavors:}


For Moria, the top five ways working in banking & attending business school has influenced the jewelry-making process and the creation of their business:

1. I worked at the bank during the Argentine economic crisis -- it was an extreme circumstance, but it made me realize that things can change quickly and that being flexible is important. With business we realize that we may need to change or adjust our model every once in a while.

2. Sloan [business school] taught me how to analyze a balance sheet and income statement.

3. Our style is timeless and easy-to-wear. Business school taught me that you don't need to chase trends in order to be relevant. We stay true to our customers and set ourselves apart with high quality and customer service.

4. Our operational budget is always a work in progress -- we are small but we know it is important to keep overhead and production low.

5. Argentina is known for their classic, sophisticated style, which has always influenced our design.

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For Megan, the top five ways working in marketing & receiving an Master of Science degree have influenced the jewelry-making process and the creation of their business:

1. We realize that we can be creative, but school taught me that we ultimately need to make things with our customer top-of-mind.

2. Writing was a focus of my program at Medill and is the most-valuable skill a person can have . . . well, Math is important too. Every day we need to write our customers and potential customers in an effective, concise way.

3. Communication is changing so quickly, but I think I have learned that picking up the phone or talking face-to-face is incredibly important and will never be replaced by email, Facebook or Twitter. My first job in PR made me pick up a phone and forced me to sell my clients to editors who didn't want to hear from me. When you own a business you need to put yourself on the line every day. I force my employees to use the phone -- they don't like it but I feel it's important to be direct.

4. Measure, measure, measure. Every piece of communication should be measured. We are still working on this, but today's direct marketing programs make it easy to track your effectiveness. Even a small business can evaluate an email campaign.

5. Success in fashion is about skill, a good marketing plan and doing the math to see if you can afford it all.

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro
* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay

~ laily


{all images created by this is glamorous from M.Flynn}

{favourite five: floral stylist denise porcaro, part 2}

Summer is in full bloom, and that means being whisked away in flowing chiffon dresses to park picnics that have been long-awaited, basking in the glowing sunshine. Summer means long leisurely walks in the city, it means holding hands watching the sunset over the lush poppy fields of the countryside, it is the time when we can slow down to savor every moment and connect with the outdoors again.



And of course we couldn't help but to notice it all being more beautified with flowers, flowers everywhere. Whether in lush park gardens flooded with sunlight, in the bright floral prints worn poolside, afternoon dinner party tables adorned with peony arrangements, or in the crowns of daisies in our hair, flowers remind us that planting a seed and putting in the hard work has the most alluring and divine results, and that the warmth of summer is finally here to delight in.



This week, in a special follow-up interview, we called on the expert of glamorous bouquets and blossoms, Denise Porcaro of Flower Girl New York, to share with us her:

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{top five favourite flowers}

1. Lily of the Valley
"This blossom reminds me of my childhood, as it was always blooming in the spring on my block in my hometown of Jackson Heights, Queens; my grandmother’s home was on that same block and this flower always reminds me of her."

2. Honeysuckle
"This is another flower that takes me back to my childhood summers -- my aunt and uncle had the most beautiful honeysuckle vines behind their house; my mother showed me how to suck the honeysuckle out, and I was fascinated by that as a child. Their scent is intoxicating."

3. Grass
". . . reminds me of weekends in Long Island, taking in the summer sun and putting my toes in the grass."

4. Orchids
"There are so many different types of orchids, each unique and beautiful in their own way. Orchids remind me of going to the flower market when I first started my business -- I was just in awe of how amazing these flowers are and how many varieties of orchids there are. The vibrant colors they come in really struck me -- realizing that these vibrant colors actually grow in nature was such an "aha" moment for me!"

5. Garden Rose
"I just love the simplicity of this delicate flower. We take roses for granted because they are everywhere, but if you see a true garden rose, it is just so stunning when it is not processed."

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{p.s.} Roséline adores all flowers, but especially roses & stargazer lilies; I love ranunculus, lilacs and peonies -- what are your favourite flowers?

~ laily

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay


{images: 1 - fleur; 2 - the cherry blossom girl via pinterest; 3 - wyck garden; 3 - portrait of denise porcaro by garance doré}

{favourite five: designer nina freudenberger}

There is no doubt that city living is eternally cosmopolitan and exquisitely chic, with energizing inspiration at every turn, and whether through the real-life catwalk on the sidewalks, the refined architecture, the flowing colors in paintings on the walls of art galleries or the sights and sounds of majestic opera houses, dreams of bringing the beauty and class of this world into one’s living space are only natural. Bustling cities mean small cozy quarters, and modern fashionistas often struggle with making the most of limited space in their urban settings.



New York-based architect and interior designer Nina Freudenberger knows that when it comes to urban dwellings, space is sparse, but that doesn’t mean that style should be compromised. Nina attended the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Architecture.



Shortly after, she moved to Manhattan to accept a position at the prestigious interior design firm, Kondylis Design, where she worked for four years as a senior designer, before leaving to begin her own company, Haus Interior. A stylish boutique shop and interior design service located in the trendy Nolita neighborhood, the company is a favourite home design destination of many, including fashion designer Zac Posen.





Nina’s talent for putting a modern spin on traditional spaces has won her the praise of industry experts, features in the glossy pages of every major design magazine from Elle Decor to House Beautiful, and the IFDA’s Rising Star award; she is also listed as one of Trad Home's 20 "New Traditional" designers.



Born in Munich, Nina loves sourcing pieces for her boutique from abroad, and finding young international designers to support. This week, she shares with us her:

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{top five favourite pieces of decor from around the world}

1. Giarimi Design, Sweden – love their beautiful etched glassware.

2. Nouvel Studio – speaking of glassware, we love carrying this collection from Mexico.

3. Brushes – the Institute for the Blind in Berlin employs 15 blind artisans to create these absolutely stunning, all natural brushes.

4. Airedelsur – from Argentina, their beautiful pieces are truly works of art.

5. Scent & Feel – physically located in Miami but made in Tunisia, these fouta "Turkish hammam" style towels are absolutely stunning, they feel great and look wonderful in the bathroom or on the beach.

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay

~ laily


{images: trad home; headshot of nina freudenberger from the designer}

{favourite five: actress & writer shiva rose}

Shiva Rose is an accomplished actress, playwright, writer, jewelry designer, former spokesperson for Amnesty International's Refugee Program, life-style reporter, and director who does it all with impeccable style.



Acclaimed for many on-screen roles, the actress won the Best Breakthrough Performance Award at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival for the romantic comedy David and Layla; her television credits include Gideon's Crossing, The Practice, and CSI: Miami.



Shiva's eclectic, chic and laid-back style stands out everywhere she goes, ensuring her a place, time and again, in the glossy pages of magazines such as Vogue, Allure, and Harper's Bazaar.



Throughout her life, Shiva’s style has been influenced by many of the most unforgettable fashion icons in history, and in an article she once wrote for Vogue, she revealed, “ever since I was a child, I have associated clothes with who I want to be, or the life I want to live.”





If her looks on the red carpet or appearances on best dressed lists are any indication, Shiva's daily life is filled with a certain charm and glamour, and this week , she shares with us her:

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{top five favourite style icons of all time:}

1. Artist Frida Khalo
Frida inspires me with her rebellious nature and passion . . . the way she was influenced by her heritage and made it part of her everyday life. Her life was a work of art as her dressing proved.

2.Photojournalist & Former Fashion Editor Lisa Eisner
I love how Lisa collects items that she loves regardless of what is in mode at the time. She truly creates her own style. She has an amazing eye for Native American Jewelry, anything with feathers, and great men's suits.

3. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
Carolyn with her red lips, alabaster skin and mysterious gaze was truly an icon. She made me want a camel skirt and sweater ensemble. She embodied cool elegance and I only wish she was around longer so we could be inspired some more.

4. French Film Actress Anouk Aimee
Maybe it was the era she was from, but the way Anouk wore her eye liner and simple black sweater truly impressed me as a young lass. I went through an Anouk stage where I just emulated all her looks from films like Justine, Man and a Woman, 8 1/2, and more.

5. Actress, Singer & Muse Jane Birkin
Jane truly made a pair of easy jeans, a white t-shirt and a country basket chic and sexy. Her style and influence are undeniable.

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay

~ laily


{all images from closet visit}

{favourite five: food editor & author, donna hay}

When one thinks of food -- one of life’s greatest passions -- style and design aren’t usually the first things that come to mind. But Donna Hay, Australian-based food stylist, author and magazine editor, beautifully unifies the two potentially contrasting worlds of glamour and gourmet food.



Donna, who has a flair for food styling, knows that good food never goes out of style -- in fact, it signifies the very essence of style. Cooking since she was just eight years of age, Donna's passion for food would lead her to an extraordinary career as a best-selling cookbook author {18 books to date}, a homewares designer, and a leading food editor, becoming the food editor at Marie Claire at the age of 25. She was named one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ cookbook authors by the international Gourmand Awards in January 2007.





Donna's signature style is comprised of the display of delectable recipes made with basic ingredients, and all beautifully photographed -- a style that has become the standard for food publishing worldwide, and the inspiration for a new generation of amateur cooks and would-be chefs alike.



Today, what's on your dinner plate and inside your pantry has become a kind of self-expression -- much like the contents of one’s wardrobe or jewelry box -- and of course, who doesn’t love to indulge in a little of both!

So, this week, we're positively thrilled to invite Donna to share with us:

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{the top five most essential items for your pantry:}

1. Cheat’s Ingredients
These ingredients are an easy way to add plenty of flavour. Chilli Jam is great for stir-fries, mixed through vegetables, or spread over chicken, fish or pork as an easy marinade. Caramelised onion relish, makes a great base to an onion tart, or a tasty pizza mixed with shaved potato and gorgonzola.

2. Wide Neck Glass Storage Jars
I like the convenience of seeing exactly what and how much of an ingredient is inside. Plus, the large neck opening makes them easy to scoop from - you can get a full size measuring cup and your hand inside.

3. Good Selection of Dried Pasta, Rice and Noodles
They are pantry staples and make a great base for a simple home-made meal. Just throw in a few fresh ingredients and in no time you have a fuss-free lunch or dinner, perfect for the family or unexpected guests.

4. Time Poor, Sweet Solution
This is a self indulgent one, but being as time-poor as I am, I love baking and my friends often expect a home-baked sweet treat when they drop over for a coffee. That’s why I developed my new range of baking mixes including cupcakes, an indulgent chunky brownie and chocolate-filled macaron – they’ll never know they were made from a mix and you don’t have to spend half their visit working in the kitchen.

5. Asian Based Ingredients
My favourite vibrant ingredients: soy, fish sauce, palm sugar, sesame oil, all combine for great sauces and dressings on Asian salads or noodles. Simply mix with fresh flavours such as lime juice, coriander and mint, and you’ll have an Asian feast in no time.

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. . . and to this we say: bon appétit!
~ laily

{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama

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e d i t o r ' s n o t e:
have been a huge fan of donna hay's for as long as can remember, owning nearly all of her cookbooks despite not being able to cook, and so, completely & utterly delighted to welcome her as a guest today . . .
~ roséline xo

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SPECIAL UPDATE: this post from thursday, may 12 was removed during blogger's harrowing nearly twenty-four hour outage, and as there is currently no indication when or if it will be restored, it has been re-posted -- thank you for your patience! & new posts soon x

{p.s.} thank you to everyone who took the time to comment -- unfortunately, all comments before the outage were lost -- sincerest apologies!

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{favourite five: artist photographer romina shama}

It is true that a picture can convey a thousand words through just one still image -- but what if that image is so divine it simply takes your breath away and there are no words?

Romina Shama is a Swiss-born, Egyptian-Italian fashion photographer and film director whose works will leave you utterly speechless, for she does not merely photograph her subjects, but rather, it would almost seem that she is illuminating their thoughts. Romina, who lives and works in Paris, combines the raw beauty of natural light along with the classic style of an analog camera to produce a strikingly delicate and cinematic effect in her photos. Her photography leaves us wondering about the romantic daydreams of her subjects and makes us long for the heavenly, dream-like escapes portrayed therein.



Having studied film in addition to photography at Central St. Martin's School in London, Romina and the work she produces have undoubtedly been impacted by aspects of cinema. This week, we asked her:

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{what are the five most intriguing ways the study of film has influenced your photography?}

1. Roland Barthes wrote: "... an image produces death while trying to preserve life". This very feeling is exactly what attracted me to photography. I started thinking that in avoiding life, I may be able to portray it. I started focusing on capturing "absence", or the "let go" feeling in all my subjects and landscapes. I decided I wouldn't "take" them.

2. There's a cinematographic feel to my photographs and a very photographic feel to my films. They are linked. Together they help me avoid the fact that we perceive time as linear.

3. Films that are made for the sole purpose of creation inspire me very much. To me, they make time feel dimensional. Sometimes, they make me want to capture every frame of them.

4. The timelessness of great films.

5. The fact that I always wished I could pause life and rewind it at times.

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* interior designer: tricia foley
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré

~ laily

{images: all photography by romina shama}

{favourite five: photographer garance doré}

The New York Times refers to her as “the guardian of all style”, her beau calls her the “Illustratoriste” for her commended work as a fashion illustrator, Vogue.com named her one of the 40 women of the decade . . . clearly, French fashion blogger and photographer Garance Doré’s ultra-stylish influence has been felt by not only the fashion world, but the world at large.



Whether she is covering fashion week in Milan, snapping portraits of fashionistas in New York, posting personal chatty, witty -- yet simply charming -- monologues, sharing her photographs from the latest French Vogue editorial she shot, or displaying her collages and fashion illustrations, the street-style photographer & fashion illustrator's blog evokes a style that goes far beyond trends: the scope of her work is timeless and chic; it is for this reason, the fashion world is at her feet.


above: snaps of doré & a feature in interview magazine

Garance’s musings give us a rare glimpse into the thoughts of a fabulously stylish Parisian woman, and even though her posts imply French women are the masters when it comes to effortless style, they still have a few tricks up their sleeves, and this week, she lets us in on some of her style secrets . . .

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{the top five things french women never leave home without:}

1. Baume Crème de Rose from Dior, for the pot & the perfectly pouty lips.

2. A pair of sunglasses -- to provide mystery!

3. A book by Françoise Sagan because she has an incredible perspective on life and was so rock'n roll -- in the French way, of course.

4. A pair of Repetto ballet flats (the real dancer ones with very soft soles) -- great after long hours in heels.

5. A pen. To write, of course, but also to put your hair up when you're tired of having it in your face. I don't know why, but every French girl does that!

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* interior designer: tricia foley
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell

~ laily

{images: from garance doré's blog, as well as previous posts, here & here; all collages compiled by this is glamorous}