Friday LOVE

French diva in red pants.  LOVE.

Oh, Jane...

Jane Birkin.  Big sigh.  With her long brown hair, bangs & just so clothes -- she's sort of perfect.  (I realize I'm being utterly obvious with my crush, as I have a personal thang for bangs and long dark hair -- yeah, yeah, an obvious crush --) but still, an eternally chic woman, I think everyone can agree ...

Jane and Serge.
I don't think this glam duo ever married?  So this isn't their wedding shot, but even if she's a pretend boho bride, I buy it and love it.  She informs my brunette ness all the way.

Mexican Monday.

Mexican tiles make a pretty backdrop for this colorful bouquet and lace dress.
Photo by Paul Johnson

Mexican fabric.

Claudia Schiffer as Frida Kahlo.
Image Credit.

Ethnic inspired sofa by Wisteria

Aida Coronado

Piece by Varro - Mexico City

Frida Kahlo.  Hail to the queen.

Audrey time.



Image/Artist Credit: Ashley Longshore

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls .. and... i believe in miracles."
- Audrey Hepburn

I believe in Audrey.  Always always always.

Lilly's iced tea & asparagus.

Jackie in a Lilly Pulitzer shift dress.  So chic.  Probably about to go have an iced tea.

Tonight, I'm going to be jogging in the rain (probably in something fleecey and understated) and dinner is going to be a kale salad with wild rice and red table wine.  Not exactly a scene from a Lilly Pulitzer movie. But nonetheless, I've been thinking a lot about Lilly and even though I'm feeling very un Lilly ish and it's possibly the most unlikely night for a glass of iced tea, here goes.  Just because.  (And the asparagus would be lovely for an Easter brunch ... ?)  Both recipes are from Lilly's book on being Lilly entitled, Essentially Lilly: A Guide to Colorful Entertaining.



Lilly in her store. 
Image from Life Magazine, 1963.

 Recipe for Roasted Asparagus with Lemon and Toasted Nuts

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh asparagus
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped toasted macadamia nuts or toasted pine nuts
Salt and Pepper
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Bend ends of asparagus, snapping where they break naturally. Discard tough ends. Spread asparagus out in single layer on large rimmed baking sheet. Whisk olive oil and lemon juice in small bowl. Brush asparagus with mixture, turning to coat all sides. Sprinkle asparagus generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.  Roast asparagus until crisp-tender, bright green and just beginning to brown in spots, about 7 minutes. Sprinkle toasted nuts over asparagus and serve.



Lilly on the go. 
Image from Life Magazine, 1963.

Recipe for Orange Iced Tea
Stir equal parts of your favorite iced tea with fresh squeezed orange juice. Ice if you like and add a big slice of orange.

"La Lupa"

Anna Magnani.  Rome Open City, 1945.

Attractive & Interesting Royal Couple.

Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe

Here is a close up picture of the Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, (who in this picture is pregnant with their twins).  They were visiting the Ozeaneum maritime museum and aquarium last fall in Stralsund, Germany.  I think they are far more visually interesting than the other royal couple, (think England) that is getting way too much press for topics that I usually might want to know about.  Like wedding dresses & handbags and where to honeymoon.  But I just don't think Kate's that cool, (except her sister is named Pippa - that is cool), and though I wish them all happiness & hot love, there is not a lot of visual interest for me.  All to say, I would like to turn our attention to Prince Frederik & Princess Mary.  It just so happens that one of my good friends is named Mary and she is married to a Dutch man that looks a lot like Prince Frederik (especially around the eye & lip area), which I find kinda fascinatingly coincidental.  Also, Princess Mary's red head piece is lovely.  Also, their twins have since been born, but I could not figure out what they decided to call them.

Toasty knit love, a la Marilyn.

With black leggings, coral red lips and great flats, anything can happen.  Add a cable knit sweater, and you might hit the ultimate in darling factor.  Keep in mind, though, that these sweaters can go wrong on the body.  I have been there & seen it happen first hand; a glimpse in the mirror reveals the unfortunate news that said sweater is not looking hour glassy - it's just looking bad & misbehaving on the girl curves.   My ways to avoid the bad ness include:  pushing the sleeves up, wearing a darker color or belting it (as seen on the model pictured).  Sadly, a true cable knit sweater is not low cut.  If it was, then there would not be the un flattering issue.  But like most things in life that are challenging, the cable knit is worth perservering for. It just is.  When worn responsibly and carefully, these sweaters are quite, well --- bangin'.  Marilyn wore one perfectly in Let's Make Love.  The French designer Gerard Darel actually purchased Monroe's original sweater at auction and has replicated the cable knit in cream, blue and khaki.  I am personally thrilled that we will have some Marilyn inspired, wool-wearing woman walking the streets, and though I will not be purchasing the $195 Darel version, I plan to whip out my own knit number, reapply my lip stain, step into some flats and go do me some Marilyn.

Monday song shake down.

Click on the title of this post to hear Stevie Nicks singing Wild Heart.  She's just hanging out in a perfect peach dress, primping, during a Rolling Stones photo shoot.  It's outta control.  Perfect for a late night laundry folding session.

Oh Etta, you're so cool.

Etta James.  The ever classic, ever cool.  (Can't locate photographer's name for credit, or year that this was taken.)

Grace Hartigan: moody & pretty

Oh, Grace, you cool cat, you.

Pretty Girl with Perfect Lips.

Oh, Beyonce.  I think your pink lips are just perfect.

(and I love the real ness of your left knee cap, if that makes sense ...)