Beauty

Everyone should embrace beauty and incorporate it into their everyday lives.  Call it elegance, style or grace, but make it as critical to your existence as fresh air.  Take a big breath of beauty when you’re stressed.  Open a window and let beauty into the room--an azure sky, the delicate scent of fresh flowers, the lightness of the air after a summer rain. 

I took these lovely photographs while traveling in London and Paris. When you feel knotted or broken take a walk through these pictures, then seek out everyday beauty.  You'll find it all around you!

London 2012

Lime Tree Hotel - London 2012

Windsor Castle 2012

Shop Window - London 2012

Opera House - Paris 2009

Shop Window - Paris 2009

Paris 2009

Paris Rock and Roll Fantasy

"Said my name is called disturbance"*

Become the unrepentant punk god that will vault you from your mind numbing existence. Scream. Snarl. Leap. Cajole and whip them into a froth. Make them yours; hold them in your palm. Inject yourself into their dreams, their plans. Become the fantasy.

*Lyrics from “Street Fighting Man” written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

Windows 2009

Parisian shop windows pull you in deep – like the eyes of a lover. Parisian shop windows are also the pathways to your wallet. They seduce, drawing you into a colorful, sophisticated world far removed from your drab everyday existence. Artful, thoughtful displays switch on the id. You stop, look, and want as your reflection bounces off the almost transparent cases of joy.

The beauty of the windows, the planning and vision of the window artists surprised me, and elicited unbridled joy in other passersby. Clothing, jewelry and hats are all arranged to catch and hold the eye.

In these photos you can practically hear each window whisper, “Step into our pool – quench your thirst – change your identity – change your life. Come in, come in – I can satisfy you, glamorize you …”

An American in Paris

I met an American fashionista on the trip. She was a member of my travel group, a young textbook editor from Chicago. I spotted her on Sunday afternoon at the group’s first meeting -- she was a standout. Her haircut is reminiscent of the 1960s Vidal Sassoon bob. The side fringes drew my attention to her fabulous earrings, which resembled the scales of Libra.

Slim and stylish, she looks like an extra from the Beatles debut film, “Hard Days Night” or a member of the new incarnation of The Bangles. Everyday she pulled French style out of her suitcase and slipped it on. Large glamorous sunglasses, mini skirts that showed off long legs, and liberal, but not gaudy use of color. Always appropriate and spot on.

During the week that our group wandered through Paris, I asked her about her style influences and got the surprising answer, “Well, no one in particular.” She intimated that most of the women she admires are not in fashion. This coming from a woman who crosses Audrey Hepburn’s gamine quality with Twiggy’s mod, swinging London look! She told me that she dresses by imaging her “personal future” and dressing like that person.

She doesn’t spend much money on clothes, says that there is no reason to do so. One of her favorite spots for fun accessories is Target. She scoured the few modestly priced shops in Paris and scored shoes, dresses, t-shirts and other items on sale (or prix massacres) that will increase her cache of stylista points.

Here are a couple of pics that showcase her summer style savvy and fashion sense. Keep on stylin’ girl!

She Makes It Look Easy

French women look great zipping around the city on scooters in wedge sandals and scarves. They know it.

Oui - French women are effortlessly stylish. Never too casual. Never sloppy. Rarely overdone. Always working the personal style. Right now they are wearing beautiful leather knee high boots or rose petal soft suede ankle boots with airy summer dresses. Elegant ballet flats with knee length slim skirts. Colorful chunky necklaces. Sandals in heavy metal colors of gold, silver, and bronze. No oversized anything.

Women over 40 are the most fabulous. They're rocking graphic tees with flat front slacks or slim boot cut jeans and Chanel-influenced jackets. Skirts are worn above the knee but never as high as mid-thigh. They're wearing floaty layers of mocha silk or pewter linen on the warmest days with bare legs and 4" wedges or flat-as-a-crepe sandals in primary colors. Sporting sharp edged designer eyeglasses in hot colors like raspberry red, crabgrass green or white.

And, as with the French men, no basketball sneakers for casual wear. No sweatsuits. No clothing that make them look like old draperies or armchairs. There are always a couple of eye catching pieces of jewelry and something that accentuates their femininity: a jacket pulled snug around the waist with a wide belt or a neckline that showcases sexy shoulders and collarbones.

French women do not leave the house without makeup. I'm not talking about layering it on Kabuki-style, just mascara and eyeliner, lipstick and a maybe hint of color on the cheekbones. No 80s-style eyeshadow sunsets on the eyelids, no harsh lipliner. Less is more. Hair is not overdone. You won't find crunchy overprocessed hair but will find lots of expensive color and cuts. I haven't seen a Hair Cuttery anywhere in Paris.

Leggings are worn as a first layer, not as slacks. Minis are worn two ways in summer - as a second or third layer over a tank top and capri length leggings, or as lightweight frock worn with barely there sandals.

Within a week I'll post pics of our guide for the Louvre and Versailles; she's the epitome of French style. I'll also post pics of an American that I met on the trip who left the States with a suitcase full of French style. She inspired me every day. In the meantime, pick up a copy of French Vogue and get inspired!

A bientot!