english rose of autumn: rosamund pike graces town&country

it's a bit dated now, but i have been obsessing over the rosamund pike photos in november's town&country.  i have adored her since she was the most perfect jane in pride&prejudice {kiera knightly version} and here she is an exquisite english beauty, so beautifully dressed.  

do enjoy.  xx hillary

je t'aime brian atwood shoes & saks fifth avenue

saks fith avenue presents brian atwood via {here}

hello my darlings!  am so happy to report that i have just returned home from the most lovely event for the brian atwood shoe collection lauch at saks.  so many amazing fashion bloggers were present {as they have been all of fashion week in nyc! amazing}.  have you heard of brian atwood?  he is possibly the most gorgeous designer with amazingly parfait shoes for both day & evening.  i was so thrilled to try on his chunky animal print heels this evening & am lusting over his pony hair boots & charming heeled booties in every color, merging classic & statement.  oohhh je t'aime brian atwood.  it was also lovely sipping cocktails & nibbling hors d'oeuvres with fellow bloggers, representatives from the line, &, of course, saks employees.  shoes + party + blogging = bliss. do please enjoy! {and buy here.}  xx hillary

b brian atwood video campaign via {here}

 p.s. items referred to above (& image) via {here}

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.

autumn aura: new essie hues

clockwise from top left : carry on : case study : power clutch : glamour purse : very structured : lady like
images via {here + purchase too}

hello lovelies!  what a lovely day i had today.  a {very close to} teary-eyed quick visit back to my alma mater for a dissertation text, browsing bloomingdales with mom, a perfectly portioned lunch {and fro-yo} at their restaurant, 40 carrots & a relaxing mani-pedi at my most favorite ever nail spa, miniluxe.  it's a cross between the local nail salon & a day spa, and the result is just brilliant.  so clean & fresh & girly & with options for extended massage, oh and such fun retail things, the miniluxe experience is positively uplifting.  i had truly missed it!  and although today i chose a summer hue {orangey-red geranium by essie}, i also got a sneak peak at the essie fall collection, which is just divine, inspired by glam travel bags.  which is your favorite?  i am loving loving wine-y carry on, grey-green power clutch & burnt siena-ish very structured & the slightly muted glamour purse, case study & lady like would be parfait for weekday workday.  perhaps i should buy all six. goodness i do love essie.  the early evening air is getting cooler and its mum season.  autumn is on its cusp.  & if its nail colors are any indication, it is bound to be perfectly magical.  xx hillary  

oh & c'est absolument official.  hello christie's september. 

charmed interior: distressed french white

image via pinterest

isn't this the most lovely interior?  i adore the antique {or antiqued} carved bergère and footrest carved in that perfect french manner, painted white with just the most charming distress. so feminine.  & the floor length mirror in that gorgeous blue!  i love how it makes the area feel elongated and light.  oh & happy friday!  what are your weekend plans?  it's supposed to be perfect here, but unfortunately deadlines deadlines are getting in the way of my life.  and i signed up for this?!  at least i have a new issue of martha stewart living to keep me company.  i hope your plans are exciting & adventurous & romantic. bon week-end to you!  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

summer style: flowing neutrals

hello darlings!  is it just me {this very well could be the case} or can you not get away from silky dresses in neutral tones this summer?  my wardrobe seems to have been taken over by soft frocks, a hint of lace here, or ruffle there, which require only a belt and a bangle to achieve that easy-chic so synonymous with summer.  my tan and off-white dresses pair perfectly with the currently oh-so-fashionable nude shoes, in flat, wedge, or heels, and go from day-time casual to elegant evening simply with a change of jewelry, bag, and hair.  my suitcase for nyc this weekend will include at least six of these neutrals {not at all necessary, but they weigh but an ounce!}: camel with black dots and gathered waste, flowing camel with brown belt, palest pink with ruffled neckline and shoulders, a grecian-inspired number with bubble skirt in cream, off-white, draped, with lace shoulders, and this {above}, most recent purchased for only $58 at 344.  

beautifully detailed in swirling flowers, with thousands of little chiffon petals, the body hits just above the knee and cinches at the waist, matching sheer fabric creating an alluring but conservative top, gathered together in the reverse by a sweet bow.  add sky-high nude heels, a clutch in the same, long pearls, and a rose-gold bangle, contrasted by chestnut brown locks and bright red lipstick, and say hello to saturday night in new york. {others will be parfait for journey down, friday evening drinks, wandering the met, picnic in the park, and farewell brunch.}  although not farewell for long because i start in the city in just over a month!  but what if i were heading to the coast instead?  strappy sandals in gold, of course, and a basket-style bag in straw large enough to hold my sweater, prepared for the evening's cool beach breeze.  oh and swap the necklace for more dramatic earrings. 

more neutral beauties:

 wherever you're heading, a neutral frock will keep you cool & comfortable, with elegant composure, and a touch of romance this weekend.  {oh, and pair with a boyish blazer, and the look will last you long into september.} what are your weekend plans?  it is nearly here ...  for now, enjoying sun on my skin & perfect weather by the pool.  xx hillary

oh and one more {for good luck}

images via pinterest

entertaining inspiration: clam bake

hello lovelies! although recently inspired by the english summer to host an imaginary garden party, my most recent return to my costal homeland has ensured endless thoughts of the perfectly preppy beach party: a true new england clam bake. 

my clam bake would take place just on the beach, beginning at sunset, coordinated with low tide to ensure the most space possible for mingling and splashing amongst lingering tidal pools.  a long table dressed in summer white and overflowing with the quintessential new england flower, the hydrangea, with cottages faced in weathered shingles with bright white fences not far beyond the beach grass-dotted dunes.  mounds of corn-on-the cob, clams, lobsters, and more delicious fare steaming in galvanized basins, ready to be devoured with bubbly champagne, crisp white wine, and sweet lemonade. oh and cranberry spritzers. and we must not forget creamy new england clam chowder served in hollowed out rounds of soft bread .. 

at twilight, a bonfire, clinking glasses, and just-picked blueberry pie, sitting in mismatched chairs and rogue diftwood logs as darkness falls.  because there is nothing more magical than the glow of the fire, the smell of the sea, and the soft rhythm of breaking waves, lapping the shore. and sand is all around as we walk, barefooted, home, guided by the distant lights of the harbor .. 

what to wear?  nautical stripes, casual chic in crisp whites, nantucket reds rolled above the ankle with boat shoes and blue blazers. oh my.  for those new englanders amongst you, this is a familiar saga.  for those visiting, do come enjoy a breath of our {summer} world.  

essie's 'clam bake'
all images via pinterest

enjoy & bon soir.  xx hillary