{ framed inspirations }

 

 

 

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{ Clara Alonso for Elle Vietnam }

... something about the air on a June night... calls for sultry curls, black lace, smokey eyes, and dark mysterious shadows... making it so hot!:

// The Lounge Vixen – Clara Alonso turns up the heat for a sultry lingerie story featured in the most recent issue of Elle Vietnam. Photographed by Chris Colls with styling by Aya Kanai, Clara wears lacy and skin-baring bedroom ready looks in a lounge room setting. A smokey eye by makeup artist Nam Vo and voluminous curls by hair stylist Kayla Michele perfect the vixen’s outfits.
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{ craze: boyfriend jeans }

 

// If you're a shoe crazy girl, chances are you probably have more than a few, handful, or even a dozen pairs that have never or hardly been worn. Possibly they are the high heeled pumps/stilettos I bet you wish you could wear them more often but they are.not exactly appropriate for your day-to-day outing. However, I think I found a way you can get away from that. Pair them with any light washed ripped denim boyfriend jeans to dress down your shoe and dress-up your outfit for a casual 'i-just-slipped-these-on' oh so effortless look... it's like... I'm trying--but not really...

 

 

Images sourced from my tumblr
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{ diy: wire light fixtures }

// In awe of this hand made simple light fixture made by this couple's project of renovating an original condition 1940s Toronto bungalow. It costs only $40 including supplies from Canadian Tire... and although the Edison light bulbs at $15 a piece may be a bit of a spurge.... is totally worth it!


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{ london home: white accents }

 ... loving the peak-a-boo wood accent through the kitchen cabinets.

 

 // The white walls, needless to say, aren’t the product of indecision. “Clarity keeps me calm,” Anstruther explains. “I like the architecture to be the story,” she says, adding that white allows you to “see the silhouette.”

// Anstruther, however, revels in the idea of making a home that’s both striking and livable. “There’s such a temptation to overembellish,” she says, “especially if you love things, as I do.” But underembellishing, she adds, makes a room more serene. “It’s nice to come back to space, and not feel cluttered.”
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{ classic / modern dresses : ulyana sergeenko }

Today... inspired by dresses designed by Russian designer Ulyana Sergeenko... with a perfect stitching of classic and modern shapes and fabrics into a delicate balance of feminine form ...

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{ interiors: ryan korban }

// I came across these recent photographs of Ryan Korban & Julia Stegner while browsing the net, trying to escape for a brief second, from my madness of a Monday. If I where of the male chromosome... and an interior designer... I would want to be Ryan Korban. No one arrays taxidermy, stuffed exotic birds and albino peacocks in interior spaces better than he can. It has been interesting for me to see his signature style become more defined since I began following him in 2009. And he even looks more refined these days-- the black blazer (see pics 1 and 2) really adds a sense of maturity of sorts to his ever so usual over-worn plain t-shirt attire.

"His approach and mantra is simple: he toys with the idea that our living space can be exact and polished - while still comfortable and supremely livable. With a spectacular captivating eye, Korban is one of the most meticulous self-made and untrained stylists today, ensuring that the spaces he defines are both attractive and inspirational. His technique is to incorporate something unbelievably ornate, rich, or brazen and strip these unique pieces of all its aforementioned connotations. The result is something that has come to define the Ryan Korban style."- Ryan Korban in The Coveteur

.... oh, and he's only 26!

[ Images: via. Ditte Isager photography ]
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{ black velvet hangers }

// I think I have come to that stage in my life, a maturity of style--after years of experimentation (ie, shopping)--where I feel like I strongly know what I like and what I don't like. Like I don't like wearing the same thing that every other girl is wearing. And my fashion pet peeves are Uggs, TNA yoga pants, and wearing tights as pants... basically a stripping of dignity and individuality.

It's true, trends and fads come and go. Then they become outdated and end up filling up unnecessary space in the closet. I came to this realization the other day as I was downsizing my closet, picking out which clothes I hardly or never wear to donate. The remainder are the key classic (mostly black and white) pieces I feel very comfortable in and are transitional from season to season. The more I wear them, the more attention to care I feel is needed to preserve these cherished articles of clothing.

Now I have all my favorite clothes hanging in my closet with black velvet hangers in a neat and organized manner. They are truly a wardrobe staple with multi-purpose: 1. non-slip grip, 2. creates a sense of uniformity to the closet, and 3. displays each piece of clothing elegantly.

A few inspirational gatherings below:

{images: 1. chanel hangers}
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{ gold accents }

// Currently loving gold accents paired with black.... metal, sequins, or leather textures

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{ pink my desktop }

// At the end of every year, I like to clean out my computer files to make room for new ones. Bored of staring at the same old standard desktop windows design, I needed to do something new... feminine it up a bit... with pink window boxes, glamorous lifestyle background image to go with the glamorous icons. Now I'm ready to tackle any task 2012 brings my way!

How to: Desktop image via here, Chanel icons and Gucci icons
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{ merry christmas }

 

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{ house tour: house on a ravine }

// House on a Ravine, Toronto, by Munge Leung

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{ pick two tuesday }

// Beautiful black ornamental wrought iron staircase with stone tread and risers at Le Château de Montgeoffroy 
&
// Cage Sandals in silver metallic and black leather by Yves Saint Laurent...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A side note:
What sets Montgeoffroy apart from other Loire chateaux is simple – it has remained the same as it was when it was built.  A time capsule of sorts, it provides a glimpse into everyday life among the privileged few right before the outbreak of the Revolution.    Montgeoffroy was one of the few chateaux to escape destruction during those violent times of Marie Antoinette.   Nothing of Chateau Montgeoffroy has changed through the centuries  – all the furniture and household goods that were listed on inventories taken before the Revolution remain  in the house today
.... more here
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{ messy loose bun }

/ / Step 1.Wake-up, get out of bed, Step 2. Tie hair into a regular side low ponytail, leave a few pieces out in front Step 3. Wind hair into a twist around the base of the ponytail, wrapping around into a bun, Step 4. Bobby pin where necessary...

Watch a tutorial here:

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{ the sheer black skirt }

// Trending... the sheer, flowy, chiffon black skirt. I know it's winter right now and there really is no excuse to be pairing this with your wardrobe, especially if you're from where I live--but I just had to share it because I have been seeing this everywhere lately and feel a little disappointed I can't pull it off right now. So if wheather permits in your area, and you have legs for days, you must try this bewitching look.

This skirt is universal for any dress-up or dress-down look that you want to achieve. Pair it with a heavy knit top or your favorite t-shirt. Play up its feminine texture with red-bottom leopard print pumps or balance it with black leather ankle boots for an edgy feel. Whatever look you sway towards, you'll still look fabulous flowing away, with that hint of breezy drama following behind everywhere you go...

Source: [run away with drama] [ drama with a soft touch ] [ runaway drama ] [ skirt with asymmetric split, zara ] [ long chiffon skirt with mini lining, david lerner ] [ long skirt with split, zara ]

P.S. More inspiration for this look can be found here.
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{ tip: neon hints }

// { neon all wild out }

{ or refine your neon }

[ credit for photo 2 and 3 ]

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{ fornasetti christmas }

// I am in love with this black and white inspired look. Key elements to emulate for a Fornasetti inspired holiday season look are: black tablecloth, black-and-white stripes runner, and artichoke finials.

Florals are two-tone New Zealand Hydrangeas with cobalt Eryngium, orange Carthamus tinctorius thistles, and bright green Anastasia Chrysanthemum. Note the white coated bamboo style chair adorned with a cream tassel--a detail that should not be missed.

[ image and content source here ] { more of Fornasett's icon images here }
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{ white lace accents }

// A few ideas to inspire you for the holidays...
Try to seek:
1. White lace tape for gift wrapping
2. Intricately cut floral design cupcake holders...

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