Orange juice, Italian style.

Years ago, I had a picture of a juice stand in Naples that was, I think, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I think about it all the time, and have become obsessed with a certain kind of wall-mounted citrus press that doesn’t seem to exist outside of Italy. A reasonable facsimile of the original juice stand can be seen below.

I have also become enamoured with the mesh bags that citrus fruit comes in. Like the table skirts of a few months ago, I can’t help but feeling like there is potential in them somewhere.

Is it hubba hubba, or hubbah hubbah?

I know it’s pretty lazy to just show you things from other blogs… but these girls from garance dore are incredible!

Oh France, you are making me go all lesbian.

Jackets out of swimming pools and other amazing tricks.

This picture (from online magazine polar inertia) has a jacket in it somewhere. I don’t mean literally of course. But there is inspiration for a garment somewhere in the details.

shoes for summer

Here are my shoe picks for this summer:

I thought I was sick of ballet flats…but there you go. Also, the tennis shoes by Bensimon have been a longtime favorite, but somehow I forgot about them. I’ll also pull out my Erin Templeton lace-up sandals from a few years ago. I am going on an epic road trip this summer and these shoes will take care of all my city/country needs.

Yves Saint Laurent Funeral

I was looking at pictures from Yves Saint Laurent’s funeral, and it got me thinking about the serious nature of death. Seriously.

When I read the obits and death notices in the paper I notice a lot of “celebrations of life” rather than funerals, as though the sadness and loss can be chased away by some funny anecdotes and a sing along. I think a funeral and all the heaviness that goes with it might have some value. Because let’s face it: when you die, you are gone forever and that sucks.

So back to the Yves Saint Laurent funeral. It looked very French and very formal. Mourners lining the road, navy suits and black ties, flag draped coffin, sunglasses, cathedral. As it should be. I think it expressed the importance of the man and the importance of the loss. There is a place for formality, for tradition and for ritual. For me, funerals are one of the last places where I think these traditions actually help people cope. Funerals do not try to put a sunny face on death.

On a fashion note (this was a fashion funeral after all) I think Claudia Schiffer and Catherine Deneuve looked fantastic. France has incredible florists as evidenced by Catherine Deneuve’s wheat sheaf. Ines De La Fressange also looked great, but alas, no good photos.

Bill Blass Blue

There is a shade of blue I am always trying to describe when picking paint.

I use terms like: watery- but with more gray; Like old faded blue paint; Like a really pale aqua; Sort of green but mostly blue, but washed out. Needless to say I have yet to paint my bedroom the perfect shade.

But this might change thanks to Peter Som at Bill Blass (As you may know I’m a big fan. And I’m not a big fan of anything!) It seems he has found the perfect shade in this cardigan. It reminds me of a John Singer Sargent painting.

I like what the rich ladies like. What can I say?