Thursday, May 28, 2015

Giambattista Valli

Not if, but when the day comes where I am invited to a red carpet event, Giambattista Valli will be one of my top choices for a gown. Already a favorite amongst many of Hollywood's elite including Emma Stone (1) (2), Rihanna, Lupita Nyong'o (1) (2),  Lauren Santo Domingo (1) (2) (3) (4), Amal Clooney (1) (2) (3) (4) (5), Blake Lively, Allison Williams (1) (2) and others, his creations are truly magnificent. With a classic and timeless silhouette, he favorites a flair for the dramatic. The result? An elegant, but equally breathtaking masterpiece. With select showrooms, his clothes are also available via trunk shows at some of the top fashion retailers including Moda Operandi
His collections come at quite a pretty penny with ready-to-wear items priced around $2,500 - with that high of a price tag, it makes sense Amal Clooney is one of the only celebrities seen out-and-about in his designs on a regular basis! 
Following his Instagram is so enjoyable and I'd definitely recommend the account if you're looking for an inspirational, high fashion addition to your photo feed. As sampled below, the profile features many of his haute couture gowns, as well as celebrity/red carpet spottings, the accessories and ready-to-wear collection, and fashion magazine placements of the designer's collection. 
Enjoy!
































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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Hermès Twilly

As a farewell gift, my boss gave me a beautiful Hermès Twilly. The pattern of my silk scarf matches the color scheme in the first image below (isn't it lovely?!) - stay tuned to my Instagram for a picture of my my new accessory! 
The Twilly is a petite Hermes scarf, the perfect accessory to subtly add a splash to your outfits. You can tie around your neck as little neck tie, add to a handbag, weave through your hair, loop around your wrist - and many more! See the guide below of different Twilly tie ideas - I will probably wear on my wrist for most occasions. 
At $180, it's still a pricy accessory, but far more reasonable than other Hermes scarves, some of which are thousands of dollars, like Les Leopards Oiseaux Fleuris.
Even if you won't be buying a Hermès anytime soon, I still recommend exploring their website
Last year they expertly crafted a new online shop and it's utterly divine! 














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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Oak Spring Farm

Few invitations were as coveted as those to Oak Spring Farms, the Mellon's 4,000-acre estate in Upperville, Virginia - an hour outside of D.C. Guests such as John & Jacqueline Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and the scarlet-coated members of the Piedmont Foxhounds found arguably the most understated refinement this country has produced, when joining Bunny & Paul Mellon at Oak Springs. While the couple collected masterpieces of art on par with the Medici and bred some of the world's finest Thoroughbred horses, the backdrop of such 'grandeur' was sublimely low-key.
The Mellons were the crème de la crème in American high society, with Paul as the scion of Mellon Banking and Bunny, the heiress of the Listerine fortune; however the couple preferred the private life rather than the glitz and glam. Owning properties throughout the east coast, in addition to homes in Paris & Antigua, the couple prioritized the simple luxuries of life, especially their privacy. As such, their estates were a place for them to establish a serene, peaceful and fulfilling existence - and often provided a sanctuary for those in desperate need to escape from the public eye.
No place was a better representation of the unique and envious balance of the Mellon's lifestyle than Oak Spring.
Bunny Mellon once said of her vision for Oak Spring: "Nothing should stand out. It should all give the feeling of calm. When you go away, you should remember only the peace."
As you can see from the images below, Oak Spring truly evokes Bunny's vision to a tee. The couple filled their home with an impressive art collection, but relatively simple, relaxed and effortless furnishings. At Oak Spring, it was less of what their home was filled with, but more about their passions outside of the home.
Bunny dedicated much of her time to horticulture, maintaining her expansive and impressive grounds, as well as, designing gardens for the the likes of the Kennedys and iconic designer Givenchy. Bunny was a self-taught gardner and horticulturist, and tt was in nature that she found her happy place. Up until her final days, she oversaw Oak Spring's three heated greenhouses, planting workrooms, planting and cutting gardens and orchard of fruit trees - in addition to a one-of-a-kind collection of books and manuscripts on gardening.
Bunny Mellon died last March at 103 years old. While a portion of the Oak Spring property was donated to a charity established by her father, the rest of the estate (including guest homes, cottages, horse stables and a farm) was listed at $70M. Bunny's possessions, including an incomparable art collection, was auctioned by Soethby's this past fall.
Jackie Kennedy described Bunny as "an arbiter of good taste, a perfectionist with an unerring eye for beauty." What a graceful - and desirable - legacy. I'd love to be remembered in such refined and classic sentiments and, frankly, I couldn't think of a better aesthetic than Oak Springs to exude that distinguished testament.




















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