what is your fashion resolution?

here it is...the last day of 2009...how are you feeling? thrilled for the new year? new beginnings? new fashion?

as always...this time of year is when resolutions are made...some are kept...some aren't...i like the whole idea of resolutions in that it gives us a chance to stop, think...and perhaps dream of doing that something we want to do...whether it be a new exciting endeavor...or some type of change in our current lives...

one of my resolutions last year was to start a fashion blog...it didn't happen until september...but it did...and through it...i have met some incredible wonderful readers...



so, as the new year quickly approaches...and most will settle back into a regular routine...after all the holiday festivities...and the new year's resolutions have been made...

my question is...

what is your beauty/fashion resolutions for 2010?

let me know...i thought it would be fun to list them in a future post...i think i will include responses i get on twitter as well as facebook...

I've got some of my own...but I'll wait to share...

to all my faithful readers...thank you for your time, your comments, your encouragement in my writing...

my hope for your 2010 is that it will bring in much love, happiness, success & lovely fashions =)

what makes a classic a classic?

oxford button-down shirts, levi's jeans, white cotton t-shirts, baseball caps, bomber jackets, little black dresses, striped french sailor shirts, a string of pearls, navy blazers, trench coats, gold hoop earrings, cartier tank watches, ray ban sunglasses, cashmere cardigans, loafers...



it's an old friend with a new twist...a clunkier heel, perhaps? an animal-print pattern? it doesn't matter - whatever makes you kick up your heels...

you buy it for what it's always been: a familiar shape that seems to weather time and is always just a comfortable reach away in your closet...
you buy it for what it lets you be: yourself...

a classic classic? it is dependable, time-less, and tamper-proof...yet open to reinterpretation...

don't "skirt" the issue...

we seem to worry more about the length of our hems than we do about the shape of our skirts...affected by stock-market crashes...wartime rationing...and designer whimsy...skirt lengths are skittish by nature...

in a perfect world, hemlines would be fitted like window shades, with built-in rollers to facilitate the inevitable ups and downs...one thing we can be thankful for is that pretty much anything goes...

the length of your skirt says a lot about you...in can indicate boldness, self-consciousness, or a flair for the dramatic...are you la femme nikita or laura ingalls wilder? will a short skirt short-circuit or recharge your career? are you wearing yours compromise knee-length?

consider your legs: should you be showing them off or gracefully hiding them?

proportion is also a consideration, in terms of both how you top your skirt and in choosing the right shoe heel to complement it...slim skirts to the knee generally need a tapered heel for visual balance, while a slender high heel will often look too fragile with a full, loose skirt...

if you're making a statement with your skirt length, decide on what makes you feel comfortable...then wear it with confidence...

shimmer & shine...

when i think of news year eve...i think of shimmer & shine...

whether you're entertaining at home or going out on the town...it's time to dress up...and sparkle...

a t-shirt or tank in any evening fabric adds sparkle to the simplest black pants, skirt or your favorite pair of jeans...



a simple shape skirt in sequins and a leopard print can add sizzle to the tamest black sweater...



or if you are pulling out all stops...it's a time to play with the colors, textures, and daring cuts that you would never consider in broad daylight...



slip into a little black dress, satin jeans, or a sequined top...swathe yourself in an iridescent silk wrap...change into your party shoes...finish the look with sparkly earrings and make a nite of it...

merry christmas!

may your celebrations overflow with loving friends & family...
luscious food...
and stylish fashions...

merry christmas!!

merry christmas eve...

merry christmas eve dear readers...
wanted to take this time and wish you all a fabulous day!

and...i'm sending you a christmas card... =)

won't you help me accessorize the snowman?

so do you texturize?

texture...think of it as the subtlest form of patterning...it is what gives clothing its richness and visual depth...


though you may be dressed in black from head to toe...the ribbing on your turtleneck...which sets it apart from the tight weave of your wool gabardine suit...which is in turn complemented by the plushness of your alpaca overcoat and the dull shine of your leather handbag...that is texture at work...


experiment with opposites: the sheen of satin with the earthier roughness of wool; luxurious velvet with basic denim; sheer voile with cotton broadcloth...


playing with contrasting textures can help fudge colors that don't quite match...and combining items of different textures is a way to vary the seasonality and mood of your wardrobe without having to buy a lot of extras...

and if you are like me...and can't do the "all black" look...add a pop of color...for me it is either a bright colored handbag...or shoes...

so do you texturize??

some designer texture facts:
miyake - born in 1938, japanese designer issey miyake has been called a sculptor whose medium is fabric...his radical experimentation with pleated, wrinkled, and folded cloth...as well as with basket-woven straw, ikat weaves, and paper fabric...has yielded designs that seem ancient, contemporary, and futuristic...using historically japanese shapes and exotic combinations of materials...miyake subjects his fabrics to punishing treatments in order to bring out well-worn textures and richness...

fortuny - mariano fortuny was born into a prolifically artistic family in granada in 1871...exceeding even his accomplished relatives, fortuny went on to become a staggeringly creative designer and inventor, perhaps most famous for the pleated silk fabric that now bears his name....each of his silk dresses required three to four times their width in material and were stored by gathering up the pleats and tying the dress into a tight ball...making it ideal for travel...the pleats were formed by crimping wet silk between heated porcelain rods, a process which held one of his twenty patents...fortuny died in 1949, but his fashion influence lived on in the collections of such designers as balenciaga and more recently mary mcfadden, karl lagerfeld, and issey miyake...

men's corner: is mad men your style?

seems that mad men is all the rage...even among the men! who knew? i love these photos that were posted in the ny times...in dressing for success, again...














photos by: Douglas Friedman for The New York Times

did someone say cartier?

quality is timeless...cartier, the king of jewelers is timeless...

on december 19, cartier and america opened exclusively at the legion of honor. exhibition will be open thru april 18, 2010...if you are in the san francisco area...i believe you will get a rare treat and the opportunity to peer back through time...

want a sneak peak?? view the legion of honor flickr photos...

here are some articles from san francisco papers touting this rare appearance:
cartier and america at the legion by: nancy ewart
"cartier and america" gems about social history by: bertrand pellegrin

"The exhibition covers the history of the House of Cartier from its first great successes as the “king of jewelers and jeweler to kings” during the Belle Epoque through the 1960s and 1970s, when Cartier supplied celebrities of the day with their jewels and luxury accessories. Derived mainly from the private Cartier Collection housed in Geneva, the spectacular array of more than 200 objects includes jewelry of the Gilded Age and Art Deco periods, as well as freestanding works of art such as the famous Mystery Clocks. Cartier and America concentrates on pieces owned by Americans, including a pair of rock crystal and diamond bracelets worn by Gloria Swanson in the movie Sunset Boulevard and Daisy Fellowes’s famous “Tutti Frutti” necklace." legion of honor...

baubles and art...

so last nite i had two functions to attend...the first of which was a reception honoring my good friend shelley bond and her eclectic, unique and beautiful jewelry...

newly opened...avenue art is a collective of professional bay area artists making original and unique creations:

photography, oil paintings, digital imaging, acrylic paintings, fiber art, sculpture...AND beadjoux custom jewelry by the lovely shelley bond...


shelley and i have known each other for years...she always says to me..."you are my sista from another mother" =) we love the same things...beautiful baubles...and handbags...and most of our conversations include one or both of those topics...

i love shelley's work in that it is one of a kind...which is what i adore...having that one piece that speaks to you...and that no one else will have...

avenue art is located at 60 e. 3rd ave #110, in san mateo, california...open tuesday thru sunday 11:30 to 7:30
bonus: if you would like to meet shelley in person...she is there every tuesday from 3:30 to 7:30...all i can say...is that she is a hoot...and you will instantly love her!


i tried to take some pictures of her work...but i didn't get shots that truly showcase the beauty of her pieces...




so last pic...shelley and i outside the reception...i have to say...i got lots of compliments on my vintage coat...i got this lovely gem from cherie at shrimpton couture...it was part of my latest vintage splurges...


what i love about this coat...
as i mentioned at the beginning of this post...i had two functions to attend...one was pretty casual and the other pretty dressy...so...
to the first i topped my jeans and silk top with the 50's vintage coat...i then rushed home...and put on a gold sheath dress and topped it with the same 50's coat...did i mention how much i love versatility??

that to me is a great purchase!

so...which would you choose?

marie claire did an article about a week ago on:

the luxe list: luxury gifts for women...
turn off your guilt switch and indulge with these fantastically glamorous gifts...

the list includes...

everlon diamond pendant
gold i-pod touch
algonquin round table experience
resort vacation
designer loveseat
black caviar
airplane and pilot training
designer shoes
tiffany & co. ring
digital camera
designer clutch
chocolate trunk
sonic chair
limited edition perfume
dinner in the sky
rent an aston martin

did someone say chocolate trunk?? a girl can only dream...

"As purveyors of some of the finest cocoa confections this side of the equator, MarieBelle now offers the ultimate travel accessory for the girl who plans on seeing both sides of that line. For the posh world traveler, the chocolatier has commissioned this exquisitely designed, custom Italian leather traveling trunk — but before she can stuff its drawers full of this year's fashions, she'll have to work through 5 pounds of chocolate, 350 pieces of rich ganache, and four tins of Aztec hot chocolate. (mariebelle.com, $15,000)"

oh cherish the thought...5 pounds of chocolate, 350 pieces of rich ganache, and four tins of aztec hot chocolate...AND a lovely custom italian leather traveling trunk =)

Photo credit:Courtesy of MarieBelle

so...which would you choose?

fa la la la la...off we go to another soiree...

excerpt from our december newsletter...

fa la la la la...
(all together now!)

isn't this the most wonderful time of the year??!! even though the stores have been pummelling us with christmas thoughts since before halloween, now IS truly the time to jump into the season and let ourselves enjoy all it's goodness...

that being said, from the fashion perspective, we've been getting questions on how to update one's holiday attire...so let's talk turkey (oops! that holiday is over. oh well...) whether you're going to the office party, a dinner party, or dinner & dancing, this year's multi-tasking holiday tips (meaning, they work for men AND women) will help you get all spruced-up for the season...

*add a vest...ladies, there are so many lovely choices out there. maybe you'd like something with sparkle...or a subtle metallic sheen...or in a regal burgundy, royal blue or purple...or how about fur (faux or real)? guys, your vest can be done in the traditional holiday plaid, but would be more innovative in a rich velvet, brocade or said regal burgundy, royal blue or purple mentioned above. (however, don't try to match your lady - that's just too much!) any of these options will instantly update your look and add that special touch that says "i'm ready for the party!"

*speaking of velvet...it's classic holiday dressing. for us gals, a velvet pant and tunic or cami are luscious (and comfy too!) besides the vest mentioned above, guys look so handsome in a velvet blazer (this looks great with jeans too, for a dressy casual home party...)

*shine on...with touches of glimmer and shimmer...the operative word here is "touches". while guys are probably not going to be tempted to overdo it (a shimmery shirt or tie will probably be the extent of it), us gals have to remember not to load it on too heavily. we have all kinds of choices, from tops to pants to jackets to dresses to shoes to jewels to purses (isn't it fun to be a girl and have all of these options?!) stick to just a couple of statement items so you'll make the kind of statement that's flattering, not blinding...

*add some color...and we don't mean black! yes, traditionally it's the 'go-to' color for dressy occasions, but have some fun with your holiday attire...add a pop of bright color - guys in a great tie or bow-tie, or shirt - ladies in a 'wow' top or skirt, or maybe some fuschia satin pumps or sandals, for example...all black is just too ordinary when there are so many other options out there...

men: thought i would help you out with a few stores...

*Nordstrom has some festive vests (one in particular - a muted silver - would be great for the season) and shirts with a bit of (not too much) shimmer...

*Barcelino (one store in hillsdale mall, three in the city) has lots of great italian-made jackets, sweaters and silk shirts that are perfect for the holidays...not to mention fabulous pants, shoes, belts, you name it...you'll get fabulous personalized service too.

and above all...remember to have some fun!

the little black dress...

one is never over- or underdressed with a little black dress ~ karl lagerfeld



aahhh...the little black dress...both mysterious and chic, understated and provocative...its color is the foundation for its success...once symbolic of mourning, black slims the body, frames the face...and hides imperfect tailoring...

the little black dress is easily the quickest way to look sophisticated and endlessly elegant...

inspired by the utilitarian uniforms of maids and shopgirls, coco chanel introduced the black dress in the 1920's...at the time, vogue magazine likened its inventions to that of the model t... rechristened the "cocktail dress" in the 1950's, and it was immortalized in the 1961 movie "breakfast at tiffany's" by audrey hepburn, who accessorized it with sunglasses...and pearls...and how can we forget the long luxurious gloves...les sigh...



nina garcia states in her book "the little black book of style"...fashion legend has it that coco chanel created the first little black dress...it represents all that chanel stood for: comfort, practicality, and self-assured sexiness...but fashion legends always try to be associated with coco chanel...in fact, the LBD (little black dress) was not the brainchild of the brilliant french designer...it was simply born out of practicality...years before chanel debuted her LBD, the garment had found its way into women's closets...as women grew busier, they needed stylish items that were also versatile, comfortable, and practical...the little black dress emerged as a product of necessity...but, yes, it was chanel who perpetuated the legend in 1926, when she debuted her famous "ford" design, which to this day remains an item that is elegant, seductive, flattering, and practical"

if you would like to know more of the history of the little black dress...malie of the vintage shopping guide wrote a great post...

when i think of the little black dress...this comes to mind...

the embodiment of sophistication, simplicity, versatility, and timelessness, the well-fitting black dress is one of the few pieces you will never give away...

organize your closet...organize your life...

so yesterday i posted about organizing your "gorgeous" shoes...today...i thought i would take it a step further...as a wardrobe consultant...one of the services that i offer is a "closet audit"...i have many people ask me what that is and/or what it entails...

so...i thought i would let you know...

imagine...

a closet brimming with possibilities...

the allure is hard to resist for the modern man & woman...
but most of our closets are full of almost - not quite right - basics...

with so many choices, getting dressed actually can be stressful, a time waster and an energy zapper...for most of us, we wear only a small percentage of what is in our closet...

if you can relate to and answer yes to any of these questions, you owe yourself some relief...now!

do you agonize over what to wear?
do you feel you have nothing to wear to special events?
do you change outfits two or three times?
do you find it difficult to accessorize your outfits?
basically, do your clothes say what you want them to say about you?
do you feel great in every outfit you wear?

the closet audit will pare down in every category; only pieces that fit right now, that are in the best quality fabrics and in the best condition...the result will be a closet of wardrobe pieces that work today, look fabulous and suit your lifestyle...

you should be able to be dressed for any occasion in 5 minutes...

less stress, more time, more energy!

as your professional fashion and wardrobe consultant, i offer this service to my clients...in approximately 3 hours, together we can clean out and organize your closet to allow you a delightful experience in the process of getting dressed every day!

please contact me to schedule your closet audit today! and if you are not in the california bay area...look up a consultant that could help you...at times this "project" can seem overwhelming...but a good keen set of eyes can make all the difference...

"Creating a stylish unique image is often the key to positive self-esteem and success in both business and social spheres."

organizing your "gorgeous" shoes...

i was having coffee with a friend...when we got on the subject of shoes (i know...big surprise...) she was telling me that although she loves shoes...and has many...she had reached a wardrobe organizational low point...

how you ask?

her wardrobe organizational low point occurred one day last week at work when she looked down at her feet at an important business meeting and noticed she was wearing two different shoes! i know...mortification (is that a word? i think so!)

so after coffee...i headed over to her place...in opening up her closet door, i found dozens of shoes thrown all over the floor...she didn't know what she owned...let alone what matched or was in fashion...

awww....i love projects like this!

so i thought...maybe there are others with this dilemma...maybe i should blog about the most popular tips for organizing shoes, boots, and sneakers so you start your day off on the right foot... =)

so...as i switched over to twitter...mid blog post...my girl linda is posting a pic of her shoe closet...she so graciously let me post her pic...see below? talk about a well organized shoe closet...btw...please visit her blog as she has great fashion tips as well...AND she posts the most glorious shoes...at princess dominique

tip 1 - take a polaroid or digital snapshot of your shoes and attach the picture to the outside of the shoebox...i have to admit that when i first saw this done by a client, i thought she was a little compulsive...over the years...i have come to respect this practice, especially for those who have lifestyles that justify extensive shoe collections...

tip 2 - invest in clear shoeboxes...not only does your closet look well put together when you stack two or three of these together...but it becomes so easy to access shoes through the pull-front compartment

tip 3 - if you like to store shoes in the bottom of your closet...place a three- or four-level shoe shelf under the short hanging items in your closet so you can better see (and organize) them...getting them off the floor and hanging them in over-the-door shoe pouches is also a good idea if you have limited space and want to see your shoe options more clearly in the morning...

tip 4 - a client confided in me that she places clothes dryer sheets in the toe of each shoe in her closet to keep them all smelling fresh and clean, especially in the summer months...

tip 5 - if it's in the middle of winter and you keep tripping over your beach sandals...purchase a large, clear tub with a cover and throw all your strictly summer shoes inside...store it somewhere where it is easy to access should a winter vacation to a warm climate present itself...use the same strategy for sneakers, boots, and other seasonal footwear you use for various sports at different times of the year...most people only need one or two pairs of "everyday" sneakers in their main closet...

tip 6 - keep your knee-high boots in upstanding condition by purchasing plastic boot shapers specifically designed to support boots...you can also use rolled-up magazines to get the job done...

oftentimes...freshening your shoe collection is the "first step" to a more well-dressed you...taking the time to retire shoes that are uncomfortable, worn out, or out of style and then organizing the ones you want to keep will do wonders for the organizational state of your closet as well as your self-confidence...

photo by: princess dominique

voluptuous velvet...

when in doubt about what to wear to an evening or daytime holiday or winter celebration requiring a dressy casual outfit...consider wearing velvet...

velvet has lost its evening-only status over the years and is available in both jean and pajama-style pants, tunic tops, dresses, and skirts of all lengths and styles...you can dress velvet up or down just by changing your accessories...

with the addition of spandex, lycra, and other fabrics that stretch...many velvet pieces also allow you to be as comfortable as you are elegant!

caring for velvet: the best-quality velvet has a deep pile and is made from cotton or a cotton-rayon blend...acrylic is also used to make velvet...but it is less durable and the pile is easily damaged when moist...areas in velvet that show wear most after only a limited amount of use are the seat and crease areas at the hips, knees, and elbows...

check the care label on all your velvets...although some are machine- and hand-washable these days...it still might be best to have all your velvets professionally dry cleaned...dry cleaning is the gentlest method of cleaning velvet...reputable dry cleaners also have specialized equipment to help restore it after each wear...

men's corner: classic with unexpected color...

on the street with bill cunningham from the ny times...what is he following?? men!

and...if you look real close...you will spot brad from the rachel zoe project looking ever so dapper...

for me personally...i love a man in a suit...and as bill cunningham shows...men are tweaking classic looks with unexpected color...even better! and the best part...no one look is the same...which gives you men some options!

take a look...
on the street - standouts...

i believe...

i believe in pink...

i believe that laughing is the best calorie burner...

i believe in kissing, kissing a lot...

i believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong...

i believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls...

i believe that tomorrow is another day...

and i believe in miracles...

audrey hepburn

accessorizing the tree...

among the figuring out what outfit to wear to what soiree...there is also the matter of decorating the tree...i call it...accessorizing the tree...after all...isn't that what we are doing? making it pretty...or i should say...prettier...

for my tree...i usually opt for glamourous & elegant...big surprise there...right? i mix my metallics...gold & silver...with a splattering of burgundy & hunter green throughout the house...simple...yet...right for me...

i also make it a point to visit union square in san francisco...to see all the beautiful window displays...and of course...my favorite...the neiman marcus tree...so high & regal...i gasp...every year that i see it...and it never ever gets old for me...

i enjoy hearing how others decorate...some get so creative...sometimes it makes me think...maybe i should change mine...but the thing is...when friends and family come over...and i hear "that tree is so you"...i know i've done my part...

i was reading an article in the the new york times titled "hey, tannenbaum, nice outfit!"...one tree in particular caught my eye...look at this creative beauty...

G. Paul Burnett/The New York Times

eric wilson wrote: Holiday displays often relate to a designer’s signature aesthetic, meaning that you are not likely ever to find a big blowup plastic Santa at a Prada store. But you may discover touches of whimsy, like the Christmas tree in the window at Oscar de la Renta (772 Madison Avenue). Actually, it’s in the shape of a ball-gown skirt on a mannequin, made for the designer by Miles Redd, the interior decorator. It’s faux fir!

i love the faux fir...creative...and the tree "skirt" idea...hmmm....maybe for next year?

so how did you accessorize your tree this year?

puttin' on the tux...

men always fuss about dressing up, (well...not all...but most...) yet they look so delicious in tuxedos...and...most women love a man in a tux...so why not skip hearing them fuss...and wear a tuxedo yourself? you are certain to look fabulous, too...and feel like a sexy woman of mystery and intrigue...

how can you find a men's tux that fits? well you probably won't...every so often a designer such as yves st. laurent or ralph lauren will come out with a high-priced tux outfit for women...



but i think a better bet is to find yourself an oversized vintage tuxedo in a resale shop and take it to a tailor...have it cut down to fit your own curves perfectly...and accessorize to your heart's content...don't stop at the tuxedo itself...find some elegant cufflinks to wear and a jazzy silk cumberbund to wrap around your waist...perhaps wear a flouncy skirt or silk blouse to make the outfit more feminine looking...

and by all means...don't forget...wearing one piece at a time jazzes up a casual outfit to perfection...

men's corner: sneakers with style...

today, sneakers are a staple in most men's wardrobes...and your choice speaks volumes...so it's important that you choose wisely...

first of all...let's acknowledge we're not talking here about the shoes you wear to the gym or for your daily run/walk, but rather...sneakers that you can wear out to dinner with your dark jeans and collared shirts, or even with wool trousers and crewneck sweaters...

it's important that you find a pair that fit you properly...and then buy a couple of pairs, so you can give each pair a proper rest between wearings...

these cole haans are available through bullock & jones...who have quite a number of good-looking dress sneakers, by the way...almost every department store now carries dress sneakers...so there's no reason for you to wear your athletic shoes except for athletic purposes... =)

who is your style icon?

in my previous post...i blogged about the beautiful audrey hepburn...
love her style...so simple, so elegant, so lady like...

but there are others that i follow as well...a close second...if not tie in first with gorgeous audrey...would be jackie o...i once had someone tell me that i look like her...well...believe me...i smiled the whole day! she was also a classy lady who always looked so beautiful and well put together...but simple, elegant...and lady like...

seriously...what is there not to love?



i guess now that i think of it...i have a number of my self-indulgent idols when it comes to a clothing style...here is the lovely wallis duchess of windsor...so beautiful & elegant...



and...one cannot talk of style and not mention diana vreeland...



and of course...coco chanel...



there are moments in my life when i stop and think, "how would coco handle this?" or what would jackie do?" to heck with who i think is worth modeling...why not choose a style icon of your own? it might be a glamourous figure from the past, or perhaps your style icon won't be a name others would recognize...it could be a real live person that you know and admire for the certain something she possesses...

could it be a stylish and learned woman in your own community? one of my dear customers, a stylish woman herself...has told me stories of the two big icons in her life...her mom & aunt...born at the turn of the last century, these incredible women did loom large in my customer's life...and in mine as i heard the stories...how amazing it was to see the verve and beauty they brought to their daily lives...

is there someone like that you've overlooked in your life? seek her out and sit at her feet to learn...a style icon worth considering is letitia baldrige...the author of the book a lady, first...she writes of her life in the american embassy in paris, the kennedy white house, and the headquarters of tiffany & company...how could you not learn from her?

one classy lady...

as you can see from the tiny array of books i've accumulated...i adore everything about audrey...i have seen all her movies (some over & over...never to tire of them) read anything i could get my hands on about her...she to me...was a class act...a lady...but not only in her dress...but i've read about her character...her desire to think of others...and help others...one classy lady...



her style of dress consisted of simplicity..."for her, what was important was not decoration and lots of embellishment. she liked very simple things - less was always more for audrey" said auctioneer kerry taylor...

so imagine how badly i would have loved to have been in london this week...why you ask?

i guess you could call it the week of audrey hepburn going on in london this week... kerry taylor auctions will be handling an auction of dresses and other items owned by audrey hepburn...les sigh...

the two most endearing stories i've heard were the following:

one was a friend of audrey's by the name of tanja star-busmann...they met in london when tanja was 15 years old and audrey was 20 or 21...just before her career took off...the two remained long time friends...

tanja used to receive a lot of audrey's hand-me-downs...over the years, boxes filled to the brim would arrive...tanja had stated that opening them was like christmas all over...audrey had even requested that monsieur de givenchy leave larger seam allowances for this purpose...

most of the lots for the auction come from the closets of tanja star-busmann...

the other story that i heard that so touched me was that of audrey's wedding dress in 1952...made for audrey by the rome-based fontana sister's...after her marriage to james hanson was called off...audrey asked the fontana sisters "to give the dress to someone who could never afford a dress like mine, the most beautiful, poor, italian girl you can find."

if you would like to read more on the auction...here are a few bloggers that i thought were interesting...AND with great pictures...

cherie of the shrimpton couture blog wrote: once in a life time

martin of fine estate sales blog wrote: audrey hepburn's wedding dress

and malie of vintage shopping guide did two great posts this week...
audrey goes to auction

audrey hepburn wedding gown to be passed on

so are you an audrey fan?

cashmere & rosemary...

love my cashmere...i have a closet full...to me...there is nothing more luxurious...

how about you?

if you are like me...and have a closet packed with cashmere...how do you keep it princess-perfect? few things are as heart-stopping as the sight of a tiny hole in your favorite sweater...just because you now know how to turn an old cashmere sweater into a snug headband and a decorative pillow...doesn't meant you want your entire wardrobe to end up that way!

mothballs are smelly...i say no no no to the mothballs...

cedar is one way to go...but at times i get tired of that scent...and want something different...

what's a girl to do?? simple...just go out to the garden and snip some rosemary...i've battled those hungry moths myself and was delighted to learn that fresh rosemary wards off the little guys...cut yourself a few stalks (or pick them up in the herb section of the grocery store if you don't have rosemary growing) and place them in and around your sweaters...you might cut a nice bunch and wrap the ends in twine and hang it upside down in your closet...cutting fresh rosemary and replacing it every few weeks is a nice little ritual that gets you out into your garden...and the real bonus is that your closet smells like an talian bakery all the time...ahhh...fresh focaccia! what could be better?

do you have some tricks of the trade to keep your cashmere safe?

domenico winery christmas soiree...

what a fun nite last nite...where?? at domenico winery in san carlos...an estimated 300 women came out for some sipping & shopping...(and a few men as well...most likely to hold all the purchases...)

adena & i set up shop with a beautiful background of the winery barrels...the christmas trees were lit up...and everyone was in festive spirit...





adena & i dolled up in our christmas colors...

theresa, me & etta
theresa & etta...two of my long time customers came by to sip some wine and support me...etta...who just turned 90 this last week...is always dressed impeccably...love that about her!

and isn't the winery backgound incredible??

the shoppers mingling...

more shoppers mingling...

and even more shoppers mingling...