Easter Inspiration

Just a little inspiration for Easter!

Prada Spring Collection 2010

Just a few items that I'll be picking up from Prada.

Vintage Bathing Suits

   I couldn't resist sharing just a few wonderful vintage bathing suit pieces with you today. Just a little hint---we'll be discussing this next week. Spring may be here, but summer will be here before you know it! Have a great weekend!

Today's Wine: Pinot Noir

 

As the week grows to a close I was thinking of some of my favorite wines (and there are alot of them!), so I decided to talk about Pinot Noir. Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. Today's wine is Rutz Pinot Noir French Cuvee 2005.  With black cherry and berry tinged with notes of tea, spice and clove. Medium-bodied and richly textured in the mouth, this wine brings layered flavors of cola, clove, cedar and chocolate to accompany its earthy black and red fruit flavors. Priced under $35.00

Fabulous Interiors

Live like a Queen!

Monday's Handbag: Louis Vuitton Artsy Handbag

This Louis Vuitton Artsy Handbag comes from the LV 2010 Spring/Summer Ad Campaign. This hobo-style tote features an exquisite handcrafted leather handle which gives this bag a refined appeal. Its absolutely the perfect bag for those who has carefree and effortless style. The bag comes in two sizes, the MM (18.1" x 12.6" x 9.4") and GM (19.7" x 14.1" x 9.8") and is available at Louis Vuitton stores for $1400.00USD and $1630.00USD

2010 Wedding Dress Trends

{Vera Wang}

Romantic, flowing dresses in floor-length styles remain popular. Brides today choose dresses with flowing, soft fabrics, ruffles, satin sashes (at the waist), and delicate floral details. Most dress silhouettes are refined and include the delicate overlaying of fabrics such as chiffon, tulle and lace. Gowns with crystal, cubic zirconia, and/or pearl embellished bodices are very popular at the moment.

The modified A-line skirt also remains prominent on the fashion runways (slim through the waist and flared at the bottom) although many designers have included ball gowns and tea-length styles in their lines as well. Strapless gowns are perennial favorites, but this season has brought back the off-the-shoulder look for brides who want to accentuate their neckline or draw attention to gorgeous jewelry. In the US, we are continuing to see color in wedding dresses which have been popular for some time internationally. Champagne, platinum and even black are currently popular.

Spring Is Here!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Alice in Wonderland Inspired Handbags

The "Alice in Wonderland" movie has become a major phenomenon, so when I happened to come across these handbagsI just had to share it with you!

 These bags were created for Furla Talent Hub (an initiative launched in 2007 which works to support promising young fashion designers by offering them the opportunity to design a collection for the renowned leather goods brand).  Leitmotiv brand, have designed the capsule collection for the Furla Talent Hub with Alice in Wonderland as its inspirational theme, presented through a series of printed images.

Hobo Handbag  Price: $475

North/South Tote  Price: 215

Satchel Handbag  Price: 445

 Tote  Price: $245

Today's Wine Favorite: Carmenere

Santa Alicia Reserva Carmenere 2006

As a wine consultant, I can tell you that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a great bottle of wine.  Today's wine is bold, ripe and delicious, with tiers of rich plum, chocolate and black cherry flavor, with elegant toasted oak and smooth polished tannins. Santa Alicia Reserva Carmenere 2006 is reasonably priced under $20.00.

The carmenere grape has a very interesting history. It was originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, where it was used to produce deep red wines and occasionally used for blending purposes in the same manner as Petit Verdot. In 1867, the phylloxera plague destroyed all the vineyards of Europe, afflicting the Carménère grapevines in particular such that for many years the grape was presumed extinct. Or so they thought. Cuttings of Carménère were imported by Chilean growers from Bordeaux during the 19th century, where they were frequently confused with Merlot vines. As it turns out, they were planted in the valleys around Santiago, Chile. Thanks to Chile's minimal rainfall during the growing season and the protection of the country's natural boundaries, growers produced healthier crops of Carménère and there was no spread of phylloxera. During most of the 20th century Carménère was inadvertently collected and processed together with Merlot grapes. Chilean growers believed that this grape was actually a clone of Merlot. In the mid 1990's it was confirmed that an earlier-ripening vine was Bordeaux Carménère, not Merlot. The Chilean Department of Agriculture officially recognized Carménère as a distinct variety in 1998.Today, Carménère thrives primarily in Chile's Colchagua Valley, Rapel Valley, and Maipo Province.

Hor D'oeuvres

{Via Brides.com}

Even if you are planning a four-course meal at your wedding reception, guests will appreciate hors d'oeuvres after the ceremony. These days couples are choosing to serve heavy hor d'oeuvres instead of the traditional seated dinner. Heavy hors d’oeuvres are best for receptions that are held around mid-day or evening, since these times coincide with meal times, and heavy hors d’oeuvres are more like a meal. If you are offering heavy hors d'oeuvres, plan for 4 to 6 options each of hot and cold foods. Also, if you have vegetarian guests, be sure to include enough portions to compensate for the other dishes they will not be eating.

                        

{Via Orangette Blog}

{Via InStyle Weddings}

{Via The Knot}

{Via MyWedding.com}

Nuage Designs

If your looking to make your next event a fabulous one, you should definitely check out Nuage Designs! Anyone that knows me (and if you read this blog on a regular basis), knows that I love everything lavish and luxurious. So when I was introduced to Nuage Designs by a collegue it was no surprise that I completely fell in love. Make no mistake----you will too!

Monday's Handbag!

I usually dread Mondays until I saw this fabulous Pirouette Leather Pouch Bag by Temperley London. It can be worn as a small shoulder bag or carried by hand as a cute little clutch. Coral leather is dolled up with golden embroidered fish scales, a metallic gold leather bow that cinches the drawstring top closed through eyelet ring openings, and a large-link gold chain shoulder strap with hook fastenings. All that and the interior is fulling lined in shimmery-beige satin twill. Retail Price: $360

Happy Friday!

 

I looked at the calendar today and realized that this Sunday Daylight Savings Time begins which can only mean that it's almost Spring! Enjoy the weekend!

2010 Oscar Fashions

The 82nd Academy Awards were presented on March 7, 2010 and here are some of my personal favorites.

Villa Blanca Restaurant

Beverly Hills has a new hot spot! Villa Blanca is the newest restaurant from husband and wife team, Lisa Vanderpump Todd and Ken Todd.  The décor was beautifully designed by Ms. Vanderpump. It is both elegant and comfortable. This would be the perfect place to host an event! Villa Blanca can happily accommodate you. From dining in Beverly Hills with 8 of your friends to throwing a 200 person cocktail party.Villa Blanca is a palatial bistro, pimped with engraved columns, pillow-laden banquettes, gorgeous arrangements of white flowers, and regal white leather furniture. The menu offers Italian, Mediterranean, and Asian influences. Villa Blanca also offers an outstanding wine list. Serving wines from California, Italy, France, and Argentina.

Corset Wedding Dresses

The corset style wedding dress can accentuates your figure in the best way possible. It adds curves to a thin figure and structure to a fuller one. These dresses enhance the shape of your shoulders and arms, and provide you with several looks. Think elegant, sexy, romantic and even a traditionally delicate look.

Reem Acra

Monique Lhuillier

Pnina Tornai

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