Mother and Daughter

Posted by Gina
Tuesday, January 27, 2009

This photograph of a mother and her daughter on the street in Milan is absolutely beautiful.  The mother is so chic in her minimalist suit and the young girl is stunning in her graphic sweater and raspberry colored skirt.  Restrained elegance and youthful exuberance; both so lovely.

This picture makes me want to try harder.

photo from The Sartorialist


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The Macaroon

Posted by Gina
Sunday, January 18, 2009

I’ll never forget this image.  I was dreamily looking out on the Champs Elysees through the window of the tour bus.  There it was in its beautiful simplicity.  The color, the design … so French!  “ It”, however, was not the Arch de Triumph, but a sign for something called “Laduree”.  At the time, I had no idea what that was.  I just knew that whatever it was, it had to be good.


Later that evening, after an amazing dinner of a goat cheese salad and perfectly roasted chicken we decided to walk off some calories and the bottle of Bordeaux.  We stumbled upon Laduree.

Upon entering this beautiful tea salon, we noticed how packed it was.  The line in front of the counter was so long but we cued up nonetheless.  I didn’t even know what I was ordering.  As the line progressed I was able to finally see behind the glass.  There they were.  Rows and rows of the most beautiful little pastry sandwiches in amazing pastel colors and flavors.

This was my first experience with the French macaroon, not to be confused with a coconut macaroon.  These are small, round cakes that are crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle.  They are made of almonds, eggs and sugar and then flavored with everything from chocolate to anise.

With my little bag of treats we scurried back to the George V.  I sat on the end of the bed and bit into a lovely lavender pastry.  Light, sweet, delicious.  Sadly, I don’t think Tom even had a one, as I believe I ate the entire bag.

When Jen and I began designing Cakewalk Style, the colors of the macaroons from Laduree became our inspiration for our color palette.

If you are ever in Paris, you must go there and have a macaroon and a glass of champagne for me.  There is nothing better.


Laduree Champs Elysees
75, avenue des Champs Elysees
75008 Paris




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Garden Party

Posted by Jen
Monday, January 12, 2009

I want to have a garden party. A grey garden party. Some girlfriends and I have been meaning to get together for over a year to lounge, brunch, and sip while screening the 1975 documentary Grey Gardens depicting the eccentric mother-daughter former socialites (of the Bouvier clan) living in a decrepit 28-room mansion in East Hampton. Lounge Wear, slippers, no make-up, and all things cozy will be the dress code for our party. Powdered donuts and a sip of champagne will be part of the brunch menu. I’m ready; I’m going to push for this month.

Photo: Getty Images
image via New York Magazine Daily Intel

I first saw this cult classic about 10 years ago and was fascinated. Of course, it is disconcerting at times but the daughter, Little Edie, is completely endearing. She had such a desire to perform, live in the bustling city, and have some sort of a social life. My heart broke for her that she did not find herself there, but I was so happy to be an audience for her. Jackie O is not the only style icon to come from that family, by the way. Little Edie had quite the fashion sense and designers such as Marc Jacobs, Philip Lim, Isaac Mizrahi, Todd Oldham, and John Bartlett have acknowledged that they have been influenced by Little Edie. In fact, this film and it’s stars have been the inspiration for many and have had a huge influence on pop culture, in general. There is a Tony Award-winning Broadway Musical based on the film. Rufus Wainwright wrote a song called “Grey Gardens” for his album, Poses. I’ve even had a playlist on my iPod for the last three years titled “Grey Gardens” (that would be moody, somewhat haunting music). And, of course, then there is the movie version coming out this year starring Drew Barrymore (as “Little Edie") and Jessica Lange (as “Big Edie"). I’m waiting for that…


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Domes

Posted by Gina
Sunday, January 11, 2009

Art I would love to own:

David Stephenson Domes 1993-2003
Julie Saul Gallery

When I first saw these photographs, they were arranged in a grid.  From the distance, they seemed to be an arrangement of beautifully elaborate Spirographs.  It took me a minute to realize they were detailed interior shots of gorgeous domes from architecture all over Europe.  David Stephenson is an Australian based photographer who has spent a decade of his career photographing churches, palaces, mosques and synagogues in countries – including Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Austria and Turkey.  They are all shot straight up and symmetrically with long exposures allowing ordinarily dark spaces to shine in brilliant detail.  I am seriously obsessed with these images.


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