A saved post

This summer my great uncle had his 90th birthday party. Best friends with my grandfather, my mother was raised as his niece. His daughters have become my aunts, and all the kids of the next generation are my cousins. More so than any other set of friends, I see them frequently, and I often feel like we look out for one another, just like family. 

My great uncle is so beloved that with all the party-goers, I barely got to talk to him that night. It was a relaxed evening where I made the hors d'oeuvres, and afterwards posed for some pictures while my sister had the camera and my cousin kept us riveted with his piano playing. 

I wore a dress that I abandoned for ages, and my aunts all "ooh"ed and "aah"ed as though it were brand new. That's when it hit me that I've never shown this dress to all of you. :)  

Braids and pearls seem to make a good pair. 

Playing an original composition while I'm rendered breathless

Calligraphy

I started calligraphy some time when I was in high school, if I recall correctly. For some reason, I loved the complex fonts that I would find in old German books, I was just jazzed about the first edition Gutenberg Bible. (I got to see one with my own eyes, and it seriously looks handwritten; each letter is saturated with rich ink, nothing is is askew.)

A birthday gift from my best friend. (Hi, Britt!)

I wished I could write with the spellings that Chaucer, John Donne and John Milton used. (Little did I know they used different spellings than today because the English-speaking world hadn't decided on how every word should be spelled). So I settled for at least having old-fashioned handwriting.

My friend Nathan says "Hallo"!

I would use thick paper and close it with melted waxes and seals, in order to send letters to my best friends. I felt it was a manifestation of my naturally romantic heart. Also, I loved all the old fashioned props you would find in movies like "The Interview with the Vampire", as well as what I would read in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.

After a while, I got busy with school and forgot about this aspect of my life.

Just last week my sister asked to photograph my work and some of my reference books of mine. She had to do a photo-journal for her typography class. As I opened my Prada perfume box, and took each item to explain it to her, I realized how long this hobby of mine has been neglected.

Fabulous photographer that she is, she made even my practice markers look fascinating and I realized: I must go back! This must be a part of my life again, even if I'm not as perfectionist as I used to be about it. Time to reclaim this part of me...

Much like Japanese and Chinese calligraphy, the books teach you one stroke of the pen at a time.

A Study of Carmen Dell'Orefice

 The first time I saw a picture of Carmen Dell'Orefice, it was this one. It was in a thick, glossy magazine.

 The second time was this photograph. They mentioned her name on it.
It wasn't until I ripped them from the magazines and taped the pictures to my wall that I noticed it was the same woman. All I noticed when I saw her: I knew I wanted to be just as much like her as possible.

Hey, Carmen... Is it okay if I completely copy you for this outfit? :)

 This woman holds the record for eldest professional model, and at present, she's 82. She's also a personal hero. I'm going to attempt a well-worded blog about some of the things I appreciate about her. Though I'm tempted to just stare in dumb-struck silence. Please enjoy this visual feast.

Did you know this beautiful lady has an honorary doctorate's degree?

 I deeply admire her bright, upbeat spirit, her physical poise and grace in movement. Who couldn't love that she keeps her hair without dyes? She flaunts her gorgeous white halo, which gives me all the more reason to show off my white streak. ;)

Doesn't see look very Gwen Stefani, here?

Did you know? She wrote a book! It's called "Staying Beautiful". Who better to trust than she? I can't wait to find it!

Carmen Antoinette

 She's had a long career, since she was just 13 years old, in fact, and while she went into retirement for a little while, in the end, she's unstoppable.

Her famous Vogue cover

In an interview, she told how she thought she looked "just like a boy" for her Vogue cover photo. Luckily, no one agreed.

Gracing (and being graced by) one from Guo Pei's collection.

My favorite of her younger years

"Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty."
~Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel











It should be said, out of respect for this professional model and her professional photographers, that I own nothing, but merely am an admirer, showcasing some favorites of their work. :)

Rock Princess

This summer I experimented with T-shirts and denim. I've never really done that look before, so I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I've found that I kind of like feeling like IronMan some days. Since I always like to make things a little special, I dressed it up with my nice white watch, pearls, a pave wing from Forever 21  and my very own Rock Princess tiara (sort of)! It was fun getting dressed that day!

I feel like Scarlett Johansson would wear this pave wing. Maybe that's why I love it so much. 

A waning day of a waning summer... Gotta love it while it's still here. 

look in the mirror

I'm just mad about these flats. I found them at a Payless Shoestore.

My sister and awesome photographer

My sister said I needed one hugging a tree. 

Another day in Paradise

Thanks for visiting!

The Glory of the Morning

Today I was walking to the office where my sister lets me use the extra computer. As I walked up the street, I saw the most beautiful morning glories, some in raspberry pink, some in blue. I stopped to take a picture of some, and a poem I learned in high school English came to my mind.

I can't recall the exact translation, but perhaps my memory and preference will give the world a new, creative take.

"A morning glory

Has wrapped herself around my bucket;

I'll ask my neighbor for water."

-Chiyo Uno

The day I heard it, somewhere along the academic school year of 2000, I remember getting misty-eyed and sentimental thinking of a Japanese haiku-ist, walking next door rather than kill a little flower that only lives for one day, anyway.  I found out today that the author was a woman and worked in art and fashion (maybe we'll have a blog about her, later).

At the gallery I

Today I helped out with a wonderful gallery opening. It was one of those scintillating evenings with a quiet energy. It almost felt like jazz and champagne were present, but it was all just the vibrant, happy hearts of the people gathered there.

More tomorrow. :)

Recommended Reading

Today, my dear readers, rather than write, I will send something along that I enjoyed reading. I thought there was some great advice for you gentlemen (as my best friend's husband calls them: Fashionistuds!).
Pocket squares, how to tie a bow tie, and how to understand laundry symbols are all great things to know, sometimes even if you're a lady. I know I have a lot to learn from this article by Spencer Althouse.

I hope you like this as much as I did!

You're welome, Men! (And ladies that love their men!)

~Listen to Your Heart