kate spade: holiday happiness

hello lovelies!  have you seen any of the kate spade youtube videos yet? for the past year the company has been making the most darling short films, most recently to correspond with their color-of-the-month campaign.  although i will admit i am not the most enthusiastic about the mutli-color choice for november, i do adore the fun vibe of this video.  thanksgiving is first, but here's to holiday wrapping ahead... xx hillary

p.s. how is your weekend going? yesterday i enjoyed the most beautiful fall day. {did you see my instagram pick of the park?} the morning was coffee & a stroll down fifth & madison to the met, wandering, constantly evermore delighted, particularly in spying the museum christmas tree being decorated.  then college football & my favorite eggs benedict with a great friend, off for a much-needed hair cut at an amazingly attentive salon {lavished with crystal chandeliers, no less}. then a leisurely stroll home through the half-light of an autumn afternoon, popping in to banana to try on some new holiday pieces i have my eye on &, oh, a necessary diversion to find the latest martha stewart living, architectural digest, vanity fair, and town & country. and today has been peaceful & productive, leaving me feeling quite prepared for the busy week ahead..  

move over cupcakes: ladurée macarons in nyc

image via {here}

have you tried a proper french macaron yet?  these light as air, beautifully colored & flavored cookies are the new trending dessert, recently becoming a staple at weddings & other elegant events.  martha stewart living magazine even featured an article on how to make the parisian delicacies at home, each essentially two disks of italian meringue held together with cream.  often in light pastel tones in such darling flavors as rosewater, pistachio, jasmine, orange flower, sea-salted caramel, creme de cassis & the palest brown chocolate, stacked in pyramids, they are aesthetically oooh so pleasing & delicious, and although they have been widely available in the us & the uk in speciality shops, the original & most beautiful & indisputably authentic brand is ladurée {& with the most enchanting packaging}. only until the last few months these ladurée macarons were exclusively available in paris, but shops have opened in london {including a mini shop in selfridges} & a proper store in covent garden.  & most excitingly, madison avenue has been graced with a laudree {71st & madison).  apartment hunting {ultimately successful, i should add} deterred our plans to stop by, but we will undoubtedly visit very soon & i cannot wait to have a beautiful box of my own perfect sweets.    

image via {here}

image via {here} 

image via {here} 

image via {here}

image via {here}

image via {here} 

image via {here} 

image via {here} 

image via {here}

au revoir weekend, passing so quickly & dominated by upper east side real estate & more amazing alumni football, but onto a fresh new week, to be filled with lease signing & a saks launch party & kate spade fall fête & perhaps my first day as an employee at j.crew collection on madison.  how was your weekend?  i hope you are enjoying the most lovely transition from summer to autumn ...  now to get organized before monday monday & bon soir.  xx hillary  

vintage glam: behind the scenes kate spade fall

: behind the scenes with bryce dallas howard for the ksny fall 2011 campiagn :

video via {katespadenewyork youtube}

bonjour mes amies!  i was so thrilled when kate spade tweeted this behind-the-scenes video from their fall photo shoot. the star is bryce dallas howard, who plays villainous hilly holbrook in the help {you've seen, yes?}.  i've heard that she is just about the opposite of her character in real life, but she is stunning in the 50's/60's inspired clothing nonetheless.  perfect for kate spade this season.  goodness do i wish mad men was returning to the air this fall.  but here, i am in love with the vintage glamour and the fun vibe {dance if you wanna}.  are beehives really back?  only time will tell!  i hope that your day is off to a perfect start.  weekend is coming coming. xx hillary 

p.s. kate spade's mantra this season is "understated is overrated." no wonder why i'm so enamored.

links & little things

farm photos via {eat boutique} : banana ice cream via pinterest :
paris wife via {here} : cupcake via {this is glamorous} : kate spade via {here}

happy wednesday mes chéries!  today a few things to share:

• photos of my farm dinner unaccessible for now due to camera malfunction (trés triste), but another blogger who did a similar dinner justice.
• have you read the paris wife?: the story of ernest hemingway's first wife, a glorious second course to a moveable feast {what a classic.  read immédiatement!}
• kate spade fall: 50s inspired glamour à la mad men {my favorite show, by the way, yours too?}
• my next party will definitely.include.these: gilded cupcake toppers.  i feel as if the early nineteenth century aristocrats consuming my life at the moment {via dissertation} would approve. so chic.
• you.must.try easiest non-fat bliss: freeze peeled bananas, then whiz away in blender with some skim milk.  same texture as ice cream.  trés trés délicieux!  

do enjoy!  what a beautiful day.  now to take my reading outside.  have the most lovely afternoon.  xx hillary 

charming trend: rose gold

hello lovelies!  while in new york, i was struck by the ubiquitous use of rose gold in designer jewelry.  introduced to rose gold a few months ago via the {this is glamorous} blog, i recently acquired my first piece, the kate spade women for women bangle that i discussed here.  smitten by it's pinkish hue, i was immediately enchanted by the way the metal looked against my tannish summer skin, and developed a curiosity regarding its origin.

as many of you may know, gold is quite a soft metal, and is generally combined with an alloy to create the harder substance out of which jewelry is crafted, the percentage of pure gold in the metal indicated by karats {i.e. 14 karat, 18 karat, 22 karat}, and in its pure state at 24 karats.  pure gold is generally mixed with equal amounts of silver and copper to achieve a yellow tone {for 14 karat gold, 14 parts gold : 5 parts silver : 5 parts copper}, white gold made by adding more silver, and our rose gold by adding more copper, commonly 75% gold to 21% copper to 4% silver for a lovely pink color.

due to its popularity in the region, rose gold was known as russian gold in the nineteenth century, and although a 'red gold' is fashioned by a ratio of 1:1 gold to copper, 'crown gold,' or highest quality rose gold, combines 22 parts gold to 2 parts copper.  interestingly, highest-quality flutes are often fashioned out of solid rose gold.

i absolutely adore my rose gold bangle, and am very much open to acquiring some other rose gold pieces, such as another michael kors watch {perhaps this one with contrasting navy blue}, but would be apprehensive to purchase a more expensive or important piece in the metal, for example, an engagement ring.  what are your thoughts on rose gold?  do you think it is simply a current fashion trend or worthy of enduring admiration?  during my search for jewelry i also fell in love with the general rose gold palette.  what do you think?  i would love to know your thoughts!  xx hillary

images via pinterest

words to live by

image via {here}

mes chéries!  a quick post about a most recent re-discovery.  i do recall hearing a few months ago about kate spade's idea to curate a set of seven short stories from accomplished woman authors, but had forgotten all about this marvelous project until a small card, accompanying a pair of new earrings, of course, arrived at my door via a little brown box.  the card was a version of the image above, sans the mention of a collection of short stories, and i was immediately struck by the choice of adjectives, all of which, i suddenly realized, i aspire to.  the phrase is perfectly concise and confident, and reminds me of a quirky yet romantic, independent & clever yet spontaneous & light hearted.  i think that curiosity and playfulness are trés, trés important in building a fulfilling life of adventure and accomplishment.  

and now i must get my hand on the collection of short stories {one of which, i have learned, was written by the author of the chic-lit classic overnight socialite.  you haven't read it?  you really must!}.  was anyone lucky enough to receive this collection as a gift, or to read the stories at all?  

a new week & a new month ...  my beloved monday was not so productive, but at least i have found my new mantra ... quick and curious and playful and strong ...  and two posts tomorrow, je te promets! 
xx hillary    

women for women international & kate spade

all images via kate spade

clockwise from top left: 'hand in hand gold bangle' $48 | 'women for women raffia tote' SALE $123 | 'women for women beaded bracelet' SALE $32 | 'women for women knit hair pin' $48 | 'women for women knit necklace' $98 | 'hand in hand rose gold bangle' $48  | 'women for women beaded necklace' SALE $67 

today i was lucky enough to spend several hours with one of my dearest friends.  although most of our attention {and tears} were spent on the final harry potter movie {so good}, we also got to chat about the most wonderful organization that she is involved in here in london, women for women international.  

i've been hearing about women for women international quite often over the past few months, but chatting today reminded me not only of the incredible things it does, but also the perfect partnerships it has created and fostered, particularly one with kate spade.  

women for women focuses on helping women survivors of war or conflict zones rebuild their lives though financial and emotional support, including business skills training.  the knit and beaded pieces here, in fact, were made by these women through the 'hand in hand' program with kate spade, wherein they are trained in a viable craft to make pieces that kate spade will sell.  and how gorgeous!

i am particularly eyeing the darling rose gold bangle, the outside of which is engraved 'hand in hand' and the inside with 'there's strength in numbers.' reasonably priced, these pieces would make excellent addition to any accessories collection, and would make particularly meaningful gifts. and rose gold is beyond chic!   

isn't is so wonderful that kate spade and women for women international have creating such an adorable way for us to help our fellow women in need?  which piece is your favorite?  

learn more about women for women {here}.

learn more about women for women and kate spade, particularly the hand in hand program {here}.

trés belle, non? hope your day was lovely. xx hillary