Photography: Bruno Dayan

Warm and sweet, wispy images.

November is coming to a close, and I am so looking forward to all that December holds. It is an exciting month! I wanted to mention one thing before we head into the last month of this year... You may notice that posting about Christmas has been kept very light. This is because I have been planning a daily countdown to Christmas—each day, starting tomorrow, an inspiring Christmas post will be created—from gift wrapping with tissue and wax seals, to pretty party fashion. To begin, tomorrow I will be sharing my own Christmas decorating inspiration board for this year. I hope you will enjoy...

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images: Bruno Dayan

Fashion: le fou

Beautiful, silky pieces from Wilfred: Le Fou collection.

Good morning! I hope that you have all had a wonderful and restful weekend, enjoying family and friends, or simply just enjoying some solitude... my weekend flew by, as so many often do, but I enjoyed some early Christmas festivities, putting me more and more into the Christmas spirit. Speaking of such, this weekend, I was happy to be a guest on Greige, sharing some wonderful gift ideas for Christmas—do stop by if you have a few minutes.

+ in the tradition of gift giving, here are some finds to share: a wonderful book, full of useful little secrets / a chic voile skirt for upcoming parties / (I think I will always be obsessed with tassels) a Burberry leather tassel keyfob / a haute foiled pouch with embossed details + a bow-style velvet clutch / a book documenting LV's most iconic luggage to date / sweet wooden Christmas trees / + lastly, pretty heart–shaped solid perfume sets...

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images: wilfred, le fou collection

Artist: Miss Clara

Whimsical and delicate works by the lovely Miss Clara.

She carefully and majestically works with paper to create some of the most enchanting characters and pieces I have ever seen... from princesses to mischievous elves, her figures is both expressive and imaginative—a whole new world. And just as beautiful are her painted purses, tea cups, crowns and other decorative accessories. Those to purchase and treasure for years and years, to pass down to your children, and to your children's children... please click here to explore her equally lovely website...

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images: Coté Ouest Déc–Jan '03, Christine Fleurant

Interior: A Venerable Home

A spacious home containing beautiful spaces.

The perfect refuge after a bustling day... as wonderful and fun as it is preparing for Christmas, I find that more than ever, one needs a few moments of silence and solitude—to take in the day and relax, don't you find? To me, the best kind of house is one that operates as a home—offering space for entertainment, space for refuge, space for creativity, space for fun—no matter how large or small it may be. This home seems to embody all of these things. From the large dining room and bath to the intimate library and canopied bed, there are so many thoughtful and lovely details to appreciate. One of my favorites is those wooden chairs in the dining room with the painted bows—and yours?

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images: scanned from Coté Ouest Dec—Jan '08, by Guillaume de Laubier

Photography: Magically, Tiffany & Co.

For someone extraordinary.

Another incredibly magical advertising campaign from Tiffany & Co... "A celebration of the joy of true love, the warm embrace of family and the magic of the season in New York, the striking scenarios were shot by renowned photographer Peter Lindbergh and feature models Doutzen Kroes and Inés Sastre as well as motion picture star Patrick Wilson and actor Neal Bledsoe." Winter is upon us, and as chilly winds have blown in and temperatures have dropped, I have become more and more excited for Christmas and all that it entails... What do you look forward to most about this time of year?

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images: Tiffany & Co. via their facebook page

Fashion: Little Bookstore

One of my favorite ways to spend the evening.

Just minutes away from my home is a cozy bookstore/café. Set on the corner of the village main road, it is a wonderful place to gather for delicious food, conversation and book shopping; to grab a latté, tarte, a new book or magazine, and just enjoy... especially during Autumn and Winter months. Bringing quality food and books together seems like the most natural combination—a winning combination—and a favorite place for so many. Do you have a favorite little bookshop/place like this?

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images: Olivia Graham, Smart Dressing—The Gloss

Spotlight: Katie Ermilio

A look into a fashion designer's space and treasures.

Good morning, friends! I hope your weekend was filled with much fun and relaxation. We had our first little hit of snow here, leaving just a bit of white on the ground to enjoy this week. I thought I would start this week off with a peek at one of my favorite features in the *new* issue of Rue magazine—fashion designer Katie Ermilio's space. Isn't it fabulous? One of my favorite pieces is her old, old treasured hanger—what's yours?

+ Monday's finds to share: atelier couture / cool hunting for Gap, a pop–up shop / a gorgeous winter ski lodge / magically captured: "winter sonata" / a beautiful cashmere shawl for cozy evenings / a perfectly imperfect inviting table / gentle, paper–like ceramics (fill with twinkling lights for Christmas?) / notes from fifi / a beautiful store with many great pieces / well done: modern + classic appeal / necklaces to dream about / lovely brights / + stunning inspiration: femininity meets masculinity...

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images: Rue magazine, photos by Jamie Beck

Saturday Sidewalks

A relaxing weekend.

I hope your weekend has been wonderful so far! All of the sudden, I've noticed that Autumn is starting to transition into winter... though quite thankfully, the sun is shining and well balanced by the crisp and fresh air. I love this time of year. And as I looked outside this afternoon, people were walking along the sidewalks, clutching gift bags—no doubt enjoying their Christmas shopping—bundled up in numerous cozy layers, with rosy cheeks, or walking their dogs, and stopping at their favorite café for something warm and comforting... while I stayed cozy inside with Louis Armstrong and plans for Christmas baking, decorating and wrapping floated through my mind...

+ just in case you missed: my guest post this week on A Diary of Lovely, followed by a few more coming up very soon. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

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images: 01, 04, 08, / 02, 03, 05, 06, 07

Detail of the Week

Piled high jewels.

Good (Friday) morning, friends! Do you personally dress each morning to suit your current mood? I certainly do... sometimes I wake up and feel that a pretty dress is in order, along with my favorite trench coat or perhaps that pants will do with a cozy, chic sweater. This morning, after seeing this pretty photo, almost a whimsical Marie Antoinette–style, for H&M's winter magazine, I believe a little glamour is in order for today! On with some richly colored lipstick, an abundance of jewelry and cozy fashion, and then, off for a morning manicure...

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image: Frida Gustavsson by Andreas Sjodin for H&M Magazine Winter 2010, fgr