Portrait of A Lady

There is no doubt that Real Simple's fashion feature Portrait of A Lady has been inspired by AMC's television drama Mad Men. The style is mid-60s retro with a structured, clean, modern twist. These colors are rich and cool: greens, grays, purples, and small pops of red in her lipstick and nail polish. I love it all! Unfortunately I'm only 20, a college student living in Seattle, with no reason and nowhere to wear these kinds of looks. But one can certainly admire them! From what I've heard, classic elagance is making its comeback on the runway this fall.

Carrie Bradshaw: An American Girl In Paris

Let's be honest, we all knew Carrie did not belong with Aleksandr Petrovsky, "The Russian". But their relationship and time spent in Paris gave Carrie an entirely new appeal. She looked chic and sophisticated as opposed to daring and cheap, an impression that plagued her wardrobe in earlier seasons of SATC. Clean lines, minimal accessorizing, boatnecks, stripes and polka dots, sparkle, tulle and fur dominated Carrie's Parisian look. Her style was simple and classy, and one can never go wrong with that.

Kissing My Teen Years Goodbye...Finally!

Marie Antoinette, although symbolic of extravagance and frivolity, knew how to throw one heck of a birthday party. Her overindulgent nature created the most lavish events of her time, and perhaps of history. It's not a party unless you're laughing with friends, wearing something fun (like a Betsey Johnson tulle and lace dress) and gorging yourself on decadent pastries and luscious fruits, as Marie surely did. And of course, one must not forget gigantic balloons to sail over Paris with. So here's to my 20s and sharing them with family and friends whom I dearly love!

Umbrellas

Sense and Sensibility's Willoughby said, "He threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine." Well, right now I would love to be threatened with actual, physical rain. 90 degree weather is insufferable! I'm longing for a torrential downpour, and I love prints and photos with umbrellas. Don't they add a charming touch to these classic black and whites?

Pemberley, And Those Similarly Grand

"It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Peberley." ~Elizabeth Bennet, on how long she had loved Darcy

View from Box Hill

Lyme Park (Pemberley in the 1995 Pride & Prejudice)

Chatsworth House (Pemberley in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice)

Luckington Court (Longbourn in the 1995 Pride & Prejudice)

Groombridge Place (Longbourn in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice)

Basildon Park (Netherfield)

Burghley House (Rosings Park)

Squerryes Court (Hartfied in the 2009 Emma)

Efford House (Barton Cottage in the 1995 Sense & Sensibility)

Saltram House (Norland Park)

Montacute House (the country home of the Palmers)

Chandos House (the London home of the Palmers)

Mompesson House (Mrs. Jennings' home in Chelsea)

"I'm sort of like Costco. I'm big, I'm not fancy, and I dare you to not like me."

Modern Family is hilariously funny. Watch it, you'll love it.

Some Prints I Find To Be Wonderful

I'm Loving...

Interior decorating. I've been watching a relatively decent amount of HGTV this summer, while also following the blogs Apartment Therapy and Hooked on Houses. I have always loved going on drives and looking at the exteriors of homes in fun areas of Seattle. Now I'm discovering what I love in a funky, beautiful room: dramatic color, furniture with classic lines and great vintage character, fun textures, bold patterns, vintage poster prints, and cool lighting fixtures. Aren't these items above (courtesy of Anthropologie and use of Picasa collage creator) fantastic?

Lipstick

Lipstick, as my dear friends Eloise and Nanny of the Plaza Hotel in New York City would say is, "Divine, divine, divine." After ages of my mother telling me my lips "could use a bit of color" I finally came to the realization that my face needed brightening last winter during those dreary gray months in Seattle. Since that first swipe of tangerine I have been hooked on lipstick, and have maybe even had a hand in getting a few friends to don a pretty pout as well. It's a stunning statement and confidence booster! And while wearing a vibrant shade by Stila called Outrageous, who wouldn't feel chic and fabulous?

The Farmers Market

There is something so romantic about going to a farmers market. Everyone always seems to be in leisurely good spirits. I always wish I could spend the entire day walking around repeatedly browsing over the fresh bouquets of flowers, fruits, vegetables, breads, pastries and cheeses. Maybe that's just because I'm secretly wishing I were in Paris. And besides, who doesn't love a sample of garlic-dill cheese curds or wedges of ripe nectarines?  One can't help but simply feel happy while cradling sunflowers and purple and white dahlias (go Huskies!) nestled in brown butcher paper, or smelling your freshly baked baguette with poppy seeds, sesame and anise. But the best part is that you're sharing these moments with your friends who, like you, find comfort in simplicity.