MARY KATRANTZOU, SPRING SUMMER 2012 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIK MADIGAN HECK

These Katrantzou campaign photos are incredible. There is something so vermeer-esq about the expression on the model's face, especially on the last photograph. The general composition on the surface is so classic and flat, yet the colour and energy is so exuberant. Bravo.

MARY KATRANTZOU, SPRING SUMMER 2012
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIK MADIGAN HECK

via: http://www.nomenusquarterly.com/

The Coveteur

Kirk Pickersgill's collection of bottles and

Prada espadrilles that he finds to be a little bit too popular.

Below are beautifully organized spaces of

Kelly Framel.

I must confess that I feel the great urge to clean the mess in my room.

If you are nosy like me and like to look at other people's personal spaces, and exceptionally well photographed versions of it, then you need to be following THE COVETEUR (http://thecoveteur.com/)

Jeff Halmos' color coordinated bookshelves and liquor collection.

Dee Dee Taylor Eustace's beautiful furnace and Chanel clogs.

Just pure inspiration, isn't it.

Objects do reflect who you are.

I think.

-Cathy xx.

Favorites

Recent purchases and favorites:

Nars Roman Holiday Lipstick. This is a nice sheer finish you can easily apply. Strangely, as much as I love Nars as a cosmetic brand, this was my first lipstick from the line, and I am excited to try more. The consistency is brilliant. It is different from the luster from mac, it is more moisturizing but not too glossy looking. Love.
Some of my favorites now:

-YSL Rouge Volutpe Pearl 102: This is a very pearlescent peach with gold veil. It is not the easiest color to wear, but if you want to brighten up your complexion with a bit of shimmer. Make sure your lips are well-moisturized, to make it go on seamlessly. It tends to be slightly drying and too glittery, but I love the color. A DIVA color with high maintenance, I would call it.

-NARS Sheer Glow Deauxville: I love this foundation. Very easy to blend, and I use a Q-tip to dispense it out. The shade selection was perfect for me, and I think the NARS Primer (multi-protection) works beautifully well to make it very nice and long-lasting. I have slept with it on and it looks good in the morning. A true verdict that no one should ever do.

-ARCONA Magic White Ice: Beautiful serum/ moisturizer depending on your skin type. I use it in the morning, and it has the most beautiful berry scent and it prevents acne with Antibacterial Totara, making this a perfect moisturizer for everyday uses if you are acne prone or oily.

-Chanel Tweed Rose: Chanel blushes are my all time favorite blushes. I always tend to apply too much, but hardness of the Chanel blushes make it easy for me to apply just the right amount and it is such easy pigment to blend around.

THANKS for reading, -Cathy

Some

HAHAHAHA Nicky Hilton says "everything in moderation.... except buying shoes, and bags, and jewelry and sunglasses." (in her Bluefly Closet Confessions: note that I have been really addicted to watching this series. Fab.)

NOW lets hear what our beloved Olivia has to say about her shopping styles.

We quizzed our fave fashionista Olivia Palermo on her style rules and have come up with this year’s top 10 style commandments

We caught up with Mango’s new face, Olivia Palermo, to find out what her top style tips are and have devised a handy list of rules to help you navigate S/S11’s top trends. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Don’t forsake your old favourites We love nothing more than a trend at InStyle but there’s something to be said about hanging on to those old favourite pieces. If an item suits your shape, is comfortable and makes you smile, then forget the rules and keep a few basic faves in your wardrobe. In Olivia Palermo’s case: “I love my French Sole flats, Stubbs and Wootton slippers, and anything from DVF.”

2. Orthopedic footwear is not a fashion statement Comfy, yes; stylish, no. We agree with Olivia when she says: “I would never be caught wearing Crocs or Birkenstocks.”

3. Ask advice but ultimately go with your gut instinct Olivia told us that she was very hands-on on her latest Mango shoot (alongside her boyfriend Johannes Huebl). “When I'm on a shoot I like to make sure it’s a collaborative effort between myself and the stylist on set. Ultimately, I always have the final say on what I wear!"

4. Embrace colour This season is all about bold shades, from gem-tastic hues as seen on the Marc Jacobs and Jill Sander catwalks to the neon brights of Christopher Kane’s new collection. Being the savvy fashionista that she is, Olivia has long embraced colour and claims this as her ultimate style tip: “DVF always said color is important and I couldn't agree more!”

5. Make your wardrobe work hard from day to night Invest in Olivia’s closet staples and your wardrobe will be ready for action, no matter the season or time of day. “Every girl should own a Valentino, Giambattista Valli or Marchesa dress, two great pairs of pants (one wide leg and one cigarette), and a fabulous piece of costume jewelry that she can have forever.” 6. Invest in statement jewellery Make like Olivia Palermo and dress up a classic outfit with a stand-out piece. She says: “I love statement pieces, most of my jewellery is one-of-a-kind, but at the moment Lulu Frost is one of my favorites.”

7. Mix high street with designer

It’s the cardinal rule of fashion – avoid wearing a single designer head-to-toe. Olivia cleverly mixes high street basics with stand-out designer pieces for a look that’s elegant, original and comfortable. Her favourite labels? “Mango, Giambattista Valli, Marchesa, Valentino, and DVF.” 8. Clear out your closet Olivia says: “You don’t always have to buy something new to look amazing. Take the items that you already own in your closet, then try out different combinations that you’ve never worn before. If your lacking inspiration, browse through fashion editorials or check out Boutiques.com for new ideas.”

By Olivia Palermo, reported

By Maria Milano

FLAT-out Gorgeous!

FLAT-OUT Gorgeous LOAFERS

Stubbs and Wootten

Can I say more I am so hooked on the Bespoke

Go online and play with the Bespoke, you will be surprised at how much fun you are having.

http://www.stubbsandwootton.com/

Jimmy Choo

It just looks so stunning with the sheer tights... needs one!

http://us.jimmychoo.com/en/us/wheel/invt/114wheelgfa/

Charlotte Olympia

Many celebrities have worn these recently on the streets.

Some inspirations:

http://www.manrepeller.com/

Man Repeller Blogger does the Stubbs with some crazy mix and match... and I love it!

And We cannot talk about Stubbs without mentioning our beloved Olivia.

and she does it with some formals.... this is why we love her, I mean, seriously!

Alexa Chung has been loving her Olympias

Gawd. Can I have her legs?... Please???

More purchases as of late.

I have not been to Sephora for a while. And when I did, hmmm.... this is what I get:

Peter Thomas Roth Max Correction Complexion Pad

(my skin has been suffering from zits quite a bit, and I heard this was a great way to exfoliate using salicilic and glycolic acid, and it works!!!! My blemishes died out within days. I only use it once a week or when my skin is suffering... I don't want it to stop working.)

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

(I have repurchased this over and over again and I love it to freshen up and also it controls my blemishes somehow.)

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleanser

(I don't know how a cleanser can be anti-aging, but I am saving this one for traveling purposes.)

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

(Love........ I never apply mascara on my bottom lashes because my eyes are very watery, but this boy works miracles and stay on all day. Quite difficult to get off, but I use Shu cleansing oil and its off.)

And the most exciting purchases:

Nars Pro Prime Multi-Protection Primer SPF 30

(this has been replacing my Chanel UV essentiel, and it keeps my nars foundation all day, I haven't used Nars foundation without the primer, so I cannot really tell you the difference, but I need sunscreen anyways and it is a great base for makeup.)

Nars Sheer Glow in Light 4 Deauville

(it comes out to be a quite nice matte-satin finish on me, possibly because of the primer, or because my skin is dry. No powder necessary to keep it last all day long.)

I have been uploading mass hauls and nothing else, but hope you understand.

Thanks for reading.

-Cathy xx.

Some recent purchases and Fragrance obsession!!

Let's start with some clothing items I have purchased from Club Monaco. I purchased a crisp white shirt and a pewter-glittery sweater that was surprisingly lightweight.

The shirt was not so cheap considering it was such a simpleton, but the cut is just so perfect. It isn't overtly feminine (which I hate when a shirt has a distinctive stitch line beneath the breast line). It is just perfectly flattering without trying too hard. If that makes sense at all.

So as I was suffering from my midterms and getting in the Fall-winter mindset, I thought I would do damage on my account and there is no better place than Bergdorf Goodman.

One of the most well-spoken sales associates I have ever met, introduced me into the world of Annick Goutal, and I ended up with my first bottle of Un Matin d'Orage, and I have a feeling this would not be the last bottle.

Honestly, the story the sales associate told me about the perfumer who visited a Gardenia garden in Japan, and the name refers to "a stormy morning" in English. The lushness and freshness and the subtlety of the floral notes just enraptured me immedatly.

I don't have the best skills in articulating about a fragrance, so I will lead you to a better person:

http://ismellthereforeiam.blogspot.com/2009/03/annick-goutal-un-matin-dorage-review.html

I have been sniffing on some great perfumes lately with some papers spritzed with goodness.

Next on my shopping list is definitely

White Flowers by CREED

Jersey by CHANEL (an amazing blend of Vanilla, musk, and lavender, I believe.)

I could not resist purchasing a candle named "NOEL," it puts me in the best festive mood and also it is great to burn anytime you feel lonely on a fall afternoon.

And some samples I have acquired recently:

Diptyque Do Son

(A brilliant fall fragrance in my opinion. Nice and sensual, but not overpowering by any means.)

Diptyque L' Eau Neroli

(My definition of floral+crisp.)

Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrian

(I am so in love with the citrus. It is a good one to layer with the Un Matin D'Orage.)

Thanks for reading. I love everything I purchased... ahh shopping must go on!

-Cathy xx.

Kate Foley: Apartment

My Style: Opening Ceremony's Kate Foley

By Christene Barberich, Piera Gelardi, Photos by Mark Iantosca

Kate glams up her favorite ripped vintage jeans with a laser-cut T-shirt by Yasmin Kianfar and red Opening Ceremony pumps.

When it comes to fail-safe boutiques—the ones we can pop into any time of year and find JUST what we're hankering for— Opening Ceremony is our own mini Mecca. Owners Carol and Humberto have an eye for not only the most influential (and frenzy-worthy!) designers of the moment but also the select pieces that literally make a collection. As a result, OC scouts the best buyers in the biz, one of them being Kate Foley, whose keen eye definitely extends to her own uncommon dress-code. We popped in recently to visit with this British expat's beautifully tricked-out digs in Williamsburg (which she's currently subletting), and got schooled in, among other things, pink DIY hair-color, the next really BIG designer, and the best fake tan in the world. Oh, and her kitty Weenie is pretty extraordinary, too.

Source: Refinery 29 (refinery29.com)