enchanté

I listed a few charming dresses in the shop, (one 1950s sheer number already sold) so go check em" out. Happy Friday, buds!

Photo and styling by me. Photo editing by Stacy.

Avalon

 

One fine day someday soon these lovely vintage dresses will be in the shop, but in the meantime, I couldn't resist showing you some photos I took last weekend of my kindred spirit, might as well be my niece, and aspiring model, Avalon. In Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates, we had loads of fun driving along the coast, listening to the Cure, and chatting about life.  Stay tuned for shop updates.  

Much love. 

crooked fingers and all

Hiyee. I found this photo in my draft posts. The dress sold long ago, but I love how the pink color compliments our ever-present bougainvillea. As a southern Cali native, it's so easy to take for granted the bougainvillea and the palm trees, but if they were to suddenly disappear, I'd certainly go into mourning. I wonder if I'd feel similarly if my crooked fingers were to all the sudden go straight. After all, it's the little oddities that make us special.

I'll be sharing photos of my Arizona trip just as soon as I develop the rest of my film. My last roll was pretty crappy (though there were a few good shots), so I'm hoping my latest roll will be better.

summer roses

 And continuing the theme of roses, here's a photo I shot in Big Sur, CA. Aren't they dreamy?

desert rose

Heya buddies! I’m back from a short trip to Northern Arizona. I’ll share more of my adventures soon, but in the meantime, here’s a  photo of the entrance to the Secret Canyon, a slot canyon in Page, Arizona. The pink and red gradient hues of desert rock, sculpted beautifully by nature, had a profoundly meditative effect upon me.  I could lay all over the cold smooth desert rocks for hours, but alas we were on a tour so it would probably not be appropriate.  Albeit, it was a Hummer tour (a present for Pete’s bday), in which Pete and I were the only two participants, so I could have got away with just about anything. The tour guide, a really swell young man, did his best to live up to my exclamations of Faster, Faster!

Outfit: 70s wrap dress with rose print, motorcycle boots (thrifted).  Also, I’ve been really into perfumes lately, so I wore Decennial’s Lys de Desert perfume. (I only have a sample size now, but definitely want to own a whole bottle- it’s amazing! And you can recall the desert even when working in the office in the city.) I should probably do some posts on all the amazing perfume scents I've discovered. Perhaps a perfume/adventure match-up?

Photo by Pete.

Wardrobe Inspiration: Trip to Northern Arizona

Pete and I are going to spend a few days in Northern Arizona next week (Sedona, Flagstaff, and Page - Navajo country mostly), and this beautiful editorial has reminded me how suiting long flowing dresses/slips and my ridiculously oversized cowboy hat will be for the occasion.

Photos by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue June 2013. Model Edie Campbell. Images via Fashion Gone Rogue.

let us race to the ocean

Beach days start with a trip to Angelo's Italian Deli in Long Beach.

My niece answering the call of the ocean.

Long Beach

keeping my nephew from going too far out into the ocean.

beach reading

new bathing suit bottoms

Sunset Beach, my favorite.

Lately I can’t deny the urge to run into the ocean, and the rapport I have with the waves seems like the most meaningful conversation I could have. I spent Mother’s Day weekend at Sunset Beach. A school of dolphins played within eyes sight on both days. My nephew runs to the water and yells “Agua, Agua!.” I hold him back; he wants desperately to be part of the ocean. He doesn’t understand the danger, he only feels the urge. His little heart is beating fast. I think of my mother, who loved to swim. She was a natural. I recall a trip to Point Pelee National Park in Canada when she dove into Lake Erie and swam incredibly far out like a mermaid returning home, while my sister and I watched her awe-struck and shivering from the shore.

It was foggy but warm outside when I finally took my swim. Have you ever noticed how incredibly hungry you feel after spending time in the ocean?

 Outfit: 50s red shorts (Vets Flea Market); white tshirt, sunhat, Keds (thrifted), watermelon bathing suit bottoms (American Apparel), bathing suit top (DKNY).