Dovima.....a picture of 1950's Elegance

I go through phases of obsessing.....currently, my obsession is with Dovima. Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba was born in New York City (where else??) in 1927. She was discovered on a side walk in NYC and the next day, had a photo shoot with Irving Penn. I've included her most famous photos, most of them taken by famed photographer, Richard Avedon. Upon her passing in 1990, Richard Avedon said: "She was the last of the great elegant, aristocratic beauties... the most remarkable and unconventional beauty of her time." To me, her stunning black and white photos are the essence of old Hollywood glamour that today, we are sorely missing. Her photos are intriguing and elegant. They leave a hint of mystery.....which is why I find myself so amazed by Dovima and her timeless beauty. (Her most famous photo is the last one: "Dovima with the Elephants" -- photographed at the Cirque d'hiver in Paris, August 1955. In this iconic photo, Dovima is wearing the first evening gown, designed for Christian Dior by his new assistant, Yves Saint Laurent.)

Here.....and There......Spring/Summer 2011 in the PNW

Cherry blossoms in the Pacific Northwest and shots of the Willamette River....and the last photo is this cool bench I found on someone's front porch in The Pearl District.

Celebrity Wedding Dressess

Since I've been working on my fashion blog (http://style4style.tumblr.com/) I'm spending a lot of time looking at haute couture gowns. One of my obsessions is wedding gowns....the tulle, the long trains....the halter necklines.....they are stunning to look at and I love imaging myself in one....someday. Marchesa (by Georgina Chapman) designs my most favorite wedding gowns. They are stunning - lots of tulle, organza and silk chiffon.



The first is Celebrity Stylist Rachel Zoe. Rachel got married in 1996 and wore a gown designed by Issac Mizrahi. I love how playful and innocent she looks...simple and happy.




The second is one of my favorite people - Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. She got married on September 21, 1996 in a gown designed by Narcisco Rodriguez. I love the straight, simple, classic line of the gown. Very elegant...very chic.





The third is Lauren Santo -Domingo, a New York socialite and contributing editor at Vogue Magazine. This is my favorite gown and one of my favorite photos. A true fairy-tale. The gown is stunning and endless and I can stare at this photo forever. Olivier Theyskins was the designer.




The fourth is another one of my favorite people - Sarah Jessica Parker. She has stated in numerous interviews, how much she regrets wearing black on her wedding day (they were hoping to avoid paparazzi) The dress was purchased by Sarah, off the rack, and although unconventional, it describes Sarah's style - individual and unique. Sarah and Matthew were married on May 19, 1997.




The final dress needs no introduction. The ultimate fairy-tale wedding....the beautiful young bride in the princess style gown.....with the gorgeous train. She was regal, dignified and a true lady who is greatly missed. Princess Diana was married on July 29, 1981.

More pics from Paris

1) My favorite sculpture from le jardin de versailles
2) A sculpture from The Louvre
3) The Louvre
4) French Macaroons - which are better then any other
5) le jardin de versailles (at The Palace of Versailles)

A few photos from Paris..

Paris.....

With summer approaching, what's a gal to do except head to Paris. So, with my french obsession, I packed my suitcase and headed to an apartment in Montmartre. The week was filled with visits to The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, the Moulin Rouge, the Palace of Versailles, Monet's House & Garden in Giverny, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, the Madeline Church, and of course, shopping along the Champs-Elysees. As I walked down various streets, admiring the amazing buildings and cafe's, I was reminded of Paris from decades ago. I imaged Audrey Hepburn strolling along the streets, for the many movies she filmed in this gorgeous city. I imaged the writers and artists from so long ago....and I could feel my brain attempting to soak up their talent and inspiration. It is truly a city of inspiration...its a magical place...one that I hope to visit again. Soon. à bientôt.

Photos of some of my favorite women

These women have always inspired me......

We had snow!

About once a year, Portland gets snow! The whole town shuts down and our 1-2 inches that stick on the ground turn into our own winter-wonderland. Its a beautiful sight, especially near the water and with the bridges in sight. I was able to capture just a few pictures. My furry little friend, Dolce, loves the snow. He would take a few steps as if he was walking through the trenches and then look up at me as if to say: "Now what?" I love the little footprints he leaves behind. The snow is fun....the crisp weather is fresh....but I am more then ready for sun and summer and warmth.

Do We Really Like Change???

If you ask a woman if she wants to go shopping to update, change or add to her wardrobe, she'll grab the car keys and race you to the car. A new hair color? We're all over that one too. What about when the change is around a job, new software at work, a new process, changing classes at school? What about when change comes in the form of a loss? The loss of a loved one, a pet or someone we admire. That too is change because now we have to adapt to a new life without that loved one. Change isn't always easy, welcomed or accepted. Its inevitable though, change is part of life -- good change and bad change. But how do our emotions distinguish the two? Should loss be considered a change and vice versa? Do you use the same emotions to deal with change as you do with loss? I suppose we do, on some level. In the past 2.5 years, I moved to a new state, left behind old friends with the hope of making new friends, lost my beloved toy poodle, was laid off from a job I had for nearly five years, discovered I have a torn meniscus and entered a new age decade. All of these changes significantly impacted my life. The move: my new city isn't what I thought it was going to be. Therefore, the move has been a huge change with a lot of adjustment and its still a work in progress. Making new friends isn't easy in a new city....and leaving old friends hasn't been easy. The loss of my 15 year old poodle, Einstein...well, that wound will never heal. It is a loss that has changed my life. The job - its a tough economy and I happen to live in an area that was greatly impacted by the recession. But I do believe this change is for the best. The torn meniscus is by no means life threatening, but it has changed my life. I miss running and yoga.....but for now, I'll have to adapt to this change as having an operation isn't something I will do at this time. I suppose maybe we can categorize the changes in our life. The one's I just mentioned above, would be considered to be the more challenging changes...changes that contain loss on different levels. Then there is good change that we welcome, we enjoy....the little changes that make us smile and are part of life. I did change my hair and I like the new color. And although this new decade I've joined hasn't had the greatest start and wasn't what I was hoping it would be, I still believe things happen for a reason and life will get better as things start to fold into place. We don't always know the reason for change or loss, but sometimes we just have to go with it and look for something better...hopefully its just around the corner. For now, I'm enjoying this mat Pilate's DVD by Trudi Styler, walking the treadmill and lifting weights. The job hunt: I'm networking and have met some good people along the way. The hair color, I'll keep it - at least for awhile. I can tell you sometimes a change of scenery is a good thing....and I was thinking just that as I was drinking my Starbucks latte in Seattle this past weekend.

The Cure for Writer's Block....

I've been hit hard with writer's block lately. Its painful, not contagious, but I am unaware of a cure. I've been afflicted for the past several weeks, so I am hoping the end is in sight....

I used to go to bed at night with hundreds of ideas floating through my mind. I'd always make a mental note and tell myself I would jot down the ideas when I woke up the next morning. Somewhere in those precious 8 hours of sleep each night, the ideas themselves would drift away...far away. Now, I find myself with more time on my hands, I'm up later at night....and the ideas are still away....far away.

So, every night, (almost every night) I sit with my lovely new laptop....I have Sex and the City on DVD playing in the background....and I stare blankly with little to no ideas on what to write. I keep SATC on for different reasons. One, Carrie is a writer, so I think of her as my muse. Two, during quiet and/or lonely times, those four ladies have become dear friends of mine - they keep me company when my thoughts can't.

My thought is now that I have acknowledged and written about my condition, Writer's Block...I've accepted the condition, stared it straight in the face...and now I am ready to move forward...with the writing and not the block. Stay Tuned...