Friday, May 31, 2013

A Few Things...

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week, but it was filled with many awesome things...

Gabrielle Aplin has a new Album out, and it is flawless. Just trust me on this:

English Rain Deluxe Edition

In 1963 a made for TV version of Pygmalion premiered on the Hallmark Channel. I have never seen it. I did, however, watch The Makeover - the channel's newest rendition of Shaw's classic.  Julia Stiles stars as Hannah Higgins in this modern version that is surprisingly close to the original, and definitely worth your time:  



Ted Baker had  20% off everything, so I finally got this:

Ted Baker


What was the best part about your week?


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The Sun and the Rain

It's raining again. Infact it has been raining for the last two weeks, and since it doesn't look like it'll  stop anytime soon, I found myself searching for a sunshine substitute in the form of a childhood favorite of mine: The Yellow Raincoat.

Asos

BDG via Urban Outfitters

Burberry Brit

Pull and Bear (sadly sold out)
They are all so perfect... 


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Good Grip

This week's IFB project features something that I have a love/hate relationship with: Clutches.  

I do love the way a dainty clutch adds sophistication and glamour to everything, but I also love having my iPad, big sunglasses, and half of my bathroom with me at all times, so the big totes usually win.  But that does not mean that I don't have one or two clutches in my collection, and my favorite is this tattered gem:

(the blouse is from Zara)


I'm not a 100% sure if it is real crocodile, as it is one of those 50 cent flew market finds, but it sure looks cool,  and that is all that matters to me. 

Do you have a favorite clutch?


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura

Sunday, May 19, 2013

New Horizons

This week's IFB project is all about shades, and usually this would be a rather boring topic for me because I used to only own two pairs:  a pair of Ray Ban Aviators, that I snatched from my mom a few years back, and the obligatory black Wayfarer's that every cool kid needs. But all this changed a few weeks ago when I set foot into the Coach outlet, and walked out with these:




I wasn't even looking for new shades, I just tried these on (in pink!) for a laugh, thinking that they would look silly. But then they didn't, and when I saw that they also came in olive green something possessed me to buy them.  



...and now I love them so much that I am actually considering going back to get a second pair  in another color, like the honey version pictured above. 


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura


Saturday, May 18, 2013

Just like Daisy...

It's Gatsby day! And here's what I'm wearing. I didn't go all out, since we're going for pizza first, and I'd feel weird wearing a flapper dress to a pizza place, but I did bring out the bling...


Headband: Claires
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Jewelry: Vintage Tiffany&Co
Lace Top and Jeans: H&M

Did you see Gatsby, yet?

Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Hump Day Homework: Not Gatsby

It's been a while since the last Hump Day Homework assignment, but I just didn't read, see, or hear anything really postworthy, that I hadn't already covered elsewhere *cough* Gatsby *cough*... Until now, because I figured why not have a Fitzgerald themed Hump Day without actually including Gatsby:

Read: The Pat Hobby Stories

read me

One of Fitzgerald's lesser known works are the brilliant Pat Hobby Stories, in which the author draws on his own experiences as a writer in Hollywood.  The result are 17 witty and (self)mocking short stories that star the Hollywood has-been Pat Hobby, and his (not always legal) shenanigans. 


Watch: The Last Tycoon, 1976


Admittedly not the best Fitzgerald adaptation, but the powerhouse cast alone (Robert De Niro, Tony Curtis, Jack  Nicholson...) make this one worth watching - and as it happens The Last Tycoon is actually my favorite of Fitzgerald's novels. 


Listen To: Lash // The Beautiful and The Damned

Listen to me

I typed in the title of my second favorite The Beautiful and Damned to see if there was a good audio book, and ended up finding this little gem. Anyone who was a teen during the golden age of Mary-Kate and Ashley and DCOMs will remember Lash. What do they have to do with Fitzgerald? Well, besides the album name, nothing. But I take any excuse to add this guilty pleasure to the list. 


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura



Monday, May 13, 2013

Art Deco(rate) Me

Gatsby, Gatsby, Gatsby... Why must you do this to me? I'm not a very girly girl, but you make want to dress up in flapper dresses, endless strings of pearls, and lots of bling all  day...

source

Of course, I'm not as lucky as Carey Mulligan  and get to sport that  $200,000 Tiffany hairband pictured above, but that doesn´t mean that  I can't get  my Daisy on. 



Top: Asos clip and headband 
Bottom:  Anthropologie  hair ties  and headband


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Refusing to Sink...

This week's IFB project asked us to showcase a striped outfit. Those of you who have been following me for a while  know that there could not have been a more fitting assignment, as I rarely wear anything that doesn't involve stripes. So instead of featuring one outfit, I decided to put the spotlight on my favorite striped item: 

The French Sailor Shirt 

I think the picture suffices to demonstrate my love for it (and I didn't even include the sweater versions), but what makes these striped cotton shirts so awesome?

They are easy: 
Striped shirt + jeans = classic and put together. 

They are versatile: 
There is no other item that is easier to dress up or down. Add a suit and heels and you can tackle any business meeting or wear it with shorts and white Converse to enjoy a day at the beach.

They are timeless: 
Originaly designed for members of the French Navy in 1859, the shirt became popular after the Saint James Company first set up shop in 1889. The Normandy based clothier specialized in the striped shirts that were also known as "the seafarer's second skin",  and over a 100 years later the company is still going strong, and the classic design is as popular now as it was back then. 

They are iconic: 
No other item has been worn by as many movie and style icons as the striped shirt

source
source

There is one for everyone (and every wallet):
You don't have to spend a small fortune on a Saint James Shirt, when you can find an equally cute one for  a fracture of the price  at H&M.

...basically there is no excuse not to wear them. 


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura

Friday, May 10, 2013

Garden Party II

The Garden Life was absolutely magical this year, there was just so much to see:


Blue sky and even bluer car...




...it's always tea time!


A perfect pair...



...and lots of pink.




Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura

Thursday, May 9, 2013

The Great Game

If there weren't already enough reasons to love Out of Print, then here's a new one:  


PLAY


The longer you play this amazingly old-school jump and run game, the more books will get donated to communities in need. This means you can do good without leaving your couch, or opening your wallet, but if you do want to open that wallet, check out the company's special edition Gatsby tees. You know you want one.  

Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura

Round and Round the Garden...

It's Garden Life Weekend, aka my favorite weekend of the year. And as every year the dresscoat  calls for florals and shoes you don't mind ruining. Here's some inspiration:


Look 1:


Wearing a pair of brand new yellow shoes to a garden festival seems crazy, but after getting caught in a storm when I wore them for the first time last week I found out that there's nothing these babies can't take.

Parka: Burberry Brit (similar here)
Dress: H&M (similar here and here)
Shoes: Gap

Look 2:


This proves once again that a good jacket can fix everything. Even worn out Converse and an ancient H&M children's dress.

Jacket: Burberry Brit (similar here
Dress: H&M (similar here)
Hat: H&M (similar here)
Necklace: ASOS
Shoes: Converse

Look 3:


And my favorite, by day three Wellies are a must if you don't want to lose a shoe in the mud.

Sweater: H&M (sold out online but still available in stores)
Shorts: H&M 
Wellies: Hunter 

Which one is your fave?


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Rebel Rebel...

This year's Met Gala was held under the motto "Punk: Chaos to Couture", and while some guests took that quite literally (Madonna, Miley, Christina Ricci) these ladies played it safe with a more minimalist approach. And sometimes playing it safe is the way to go:


Carey Mulligan in Balenciaga 


 Dakota Fanning in Rodarte


Emma Watson in Prabal Gurung

Notice the safety pin detail on Carey's dress? Punk Minimalism at it's best.  


Peace, Love and Garden Parties
Laura 

Pictures via Style.com

Thursday, May 2, 2013

I Love Lacy

I am a little bit  obsessed with this Burberry Prorsum lace dress  (here seen on Miranda Kerr)


But as it is the case with most of my obsessions it's completely out of my reach. Even if could afford it it's not exactly the thing to wear in a lecture hall on thursday morning...  

So I had to find a suitable alternative:  

River Island via Asos

floral lace? check!
sexy cut-outs? check!
jewel tone? check! 
looks fantastic with jeans? check!

And the best? it's under 30 bucks.


Peace, Love, and Garden Parties
Laura


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Pick Me Up...

It's finally May, and I should be outside enjoying the sun but with the weather being as miserable as it is that's not really an option.

Thank god for these bright pick me ups...


Essie Tart Deco