Fashion, Art and Other Fancies

Paris Haute Couture Day 1

2012-01-28T12:19:00.012Z

Another image of me arriving at the shows
by Kuba Dabrowski for WWD.

What are you all up to this weekend? I plan on doing a bit of drawing, piano playing for friends after Sunday dinner, out for a silent walk in the countryside early Saturday morning, a spot of fashion/ art magazine reading after tea on Saturday, ballet dancing Sunday afternoon with sister dearest. Look forward to catching up on all your lovely blogs next week xx

Haute Couture Paris Day 2

2012-01-25T11:34:00.013Z

Image: A picture of me arriving at the Chanel show By Julie Ansiau for French Vogue. Do pop over to French Vogue for more stylish pictures of Haute Couture Paris street style looks. Radiant greetings from Paris to you all. xx
Image Via

Paris Haute Couture

2012-01-24T18:09:00.005Z

Image: My lovelies. Here's a picture of my vintage bag snapped by the lovely photographer for Italian Vogue in Paris. Some of you may already recognise my gloves from previous posts. For more on Paris Haute Couture street style looks visit Italian Vogue's page HERE

Refined Simplicity

2012-01-19T15:04:00.017Z

I pinched these delightfully feminine images from Crashing Red's ultra fashionable blog. Adore the dainty jewellery and her pretty, pleated dress; the epitome of refined simplicity.

The neon nails are such a treat in winter, too. Do pop over to her blog for more on fashion, fabulous Friday nails DIY and other stylish fancies. xx

Images via

Paris Fashion Week

2012-01-13T11:20:00.014Z

Quick post: Just sharing this new image of me with you all. Taken at Paris Fashion Week last October by Lena Jürgensen. Have a fun and fashionable week;)

Fashion Is Instant Language

2012-01-11T14:59:00.032Z

Whilst I adore the yellow coat in the first photograph, I must confess that I'm especially fond of the third shot with the puppy for its expression of feeling. What a tender moment. Somehow it reminds us how fragile life is.

Regarding the second image; the overalls look good on her. They are quite dominant, but the colour is lovely and she wears them well. I'm admiring the different shades of blue from overalls to ballerinas. The added effect of the sunshades is such a nice punctuation mark, too. The fourth photograph is flirtatious and fun. Don't you just love Inna Modja's hair and cheeky smile?

Images: First three via Glamcanyon and the last image via

Cooking for Friends

2012-01-10T11:58:00.036Z

It's fearfully cold out today in Gstaad, but it's marvellous to be amongst the snow. One of things I particularly adore during the winter months is cooking. It's a simple way of nourishing oneself, a sort of protection from the harshness of winter, especially after a round of skiing with friends.

Last night, after an afternoon of skiing, I invited friends round for a soup party.
Naturally everyone was exhausted and rather ravenous after all the frolicking in the snow, but everything went quickly and smoothly. I decided to make a spicy lentil soup with carrots, butternut, kohlrabi, ginger, lime and ripe plantains for supper.

Soaked the lentils in water overnight. Cooked butternut, lentils and kohlrabi together. Fried ripe plantains in seperate pan. Add fried plantains to mixer and mix with a tiny spot of cream. Add plantain mixer to soup pot. Cook slowly for 30 minutes on low flame. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the soup party. After the meal we danced to the beat of calypso music until the sun rose over the white mountains.

Image via Behance. Try making your version of the lentil carrot soup at home. I added plantains, butternut, kohlrabi, lime and ginger to the mix. Do add your favourite vegetables to the classical lentil/carrot soup pot.

For an online recipe on how to make carrot/lentil soup click HERE

Baiser Fruité

2012-01-08T21:01:00.037Z

Ah, I am flirting with my inner child today. It's important for the creative spirit to be playful. Without playfulness one's senses would be permanently asleep.

Image: It is believed that the turban is now considered 'trendy' - I think I ought to seriously re-consider wearing turbans from this day onwards.

For Caribbean women, ornamentation has always played a great role in fashion culture; elaborate headwraps, bespoke turbans and hats, sparkling jewellery, luminous colours and so forth.

During my childhood, I always saw mama and grandma swanning around the estate wearing hand-made turbans the colour of sunsets, like queens and goddesses of African nations.

The adornment of one's head with a turban has nothing to do with being 'trendy'. It's a playful way to punctuate the silhouette, and it's also an expression of who I am. My culture, heritage and upbringing. Someone has to continue this noble tradition before the turban 'trend' goes up in flames.

Pastry Fancy

2012-01-07T18:38:00.030Z

Deliciously sinful. This chilli, mangoe, passion fruit, chocolate cake is my decadent winter treat. The ideal evening all on my ownsome goes as follows: a good book to read, a slice or two of this home-made pastry fancy, a bottle of vintage champagne, hand-painted crepe silk dressing gown to slip on after a relaxing soak in an antique bathtub and I forget it's winter. What's your sinful winter treat?

Do try making your version of the cake this winter. For an online recipe click HERE

How to be unfashionable in Winter

2012-01-04T16:11:00.037Z

Be your own muse, the way we dress ourselves today is instant language.

The first image was taken after a visit to the hairdresser. My hair is never tidy - it's always a bit unruly. I prefer my curls to be a little bit mad and dramatic. No, this is not a wig. This is my natural hair. Had to sit for a few hours at the hairdresser for a self-made avocado hair mask treatment and so forth. So pleased with the final results. Click HERE to watch another take on the DIY avocado hair mask video.

I'm usually drawn to winter coats with a spot of colour, flair and distinct pattern as the ones below. Of course a brown or black over-coat is always chic, but a bordeaux or tangerine coloured coat can be far more striking. Yes, I'm a bit idiosyncratic. I love having fun with fashion especially in winter. xx

Has a woman who knew she was well-dressed ever caught a cold?
Friedrich Nietzsche

Accessorising Fashion: Part Two

2012-01-03T15:30:00.010Z

Costume, hair and makeup can tell you instantly, or at least give you a larger perception of, who a character is. Colleen Atwood

Image: This image is such a delight to look at. I love accessories - they punctuate an outfit and for this reason they are very dear to a girl's heart. Ah, I adore all the fancy, feminine details in the above photograph. The dress is so pretty, the hat is such a lovely touch and her smile is so enchanting, too. She certainly understands the power of accessories. Click HERE for part one of accessorising fashion. Above image by Style Tao.

Shoes in Love

2012-01-02T14:19:00.002Z

Images: One can never have enough high heels. Nothing makes a girl feel glamorous like new shoes. Purchased these before the holidays. Can't wait to wear the first sandals to dinner at Sandy Lane, Barbados, later this year.

Ah, I miss the warm sunbeams of the West Indies. Which of these fancy footwear do you prefer? I know the red sandal does not make it into everyone's book of style, but I quite like them. Red is such a confident and sexy colour, too. Can anyone guess the designer of the bootie?;-)

Hairspiration: How To Tie A Turban

2011-12-30T14:38:00.018Z

Image: Myself at the English countryside, December 2011.

Some of you have requested a turban tutorial video. I thought I'd include one in this post, which was made and put together by my favourite hair inspiration blog friend, Natural Belle. You are all warmly invited to visit her delightful blog HERE for her turban tutorial click HERE

Fashion, Art and Other Fancies

2011-12-28T07:29:00.023Z

Images: myself en route to art exhibition with friends in Germany, artwork by Paul Aïzpiri from said exhibit, afterwards we were invited back to my girlfriend's house for a scrumptious meal, merry laughter and French wine. The weather was still fine after lunch so we decided to go out for a nice stroll. Along the way we called at my girlfriend's local cathedral for winter hymns and tea.

I finally managed to catch the late flight back to Paris after all the wonderful impressions of the day. During the flight I was thinking about this quote by Plato.
"Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.”

Don't you just adore the painting above by Paul Aïzpiri? I'm actually quite in love with the painterly brush strokes, the playful, pipe smokers on the blue vase, and the way the colours melt together into an impressionistic blur.

Snowfall in G Minor

2011-12-25T09:43:00.030Z

Snowflakes by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take
Suddenly shape in some divine expression,
Even as the troubled heart doth make
In the white countenance confession,
The troubled sky reveals
The grief it feels.

This is the poem of the air,
Slowly in silent syllables recorded;
This is the secret of despair,
Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,
Now whispered and revealed
To wood and field.

Images: morning coffee along with current reading matter and makeup fancies, painting: Winter by Alexandre Zakhrov, my beloved piano forte, pumpkin, sweet potatoe and carrot soup from today's luncheon, snowfall in G minor from the woods this afternoon;-)

I adore the poem above by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It captures the mystical and elusive mood of snow-covered fields so beautifully. Trust you are all enjoying the festive season with friends and family. xx

At The French Countryside

2011-12-10T12:42:00.020Z

It's so painterly at the French countryside this time of year. This is where I go to cultivate silence and patience. Have you noticed how silent it is at the countryside? As an island girl I adore being seaside but sometimes the waves can be interrupting like voices.

The photographs below were taken at our country estate. We are sharing time with family and close friends. How wonderful it is to be amongst silent mountains in exquisite company. This year has been an emotional merry-go-round. Let's hope 2012 brings many positive impressions. Love to you all. xxxx

Images taken at the French countryside this weekend. Have a nice weekend and happy holidays - this is my last post for 2011. Be positive, be passionate, be festive!

Un Hiver Chatoyant

2011-12-08T14:03:00.000Z

Images: I'm wearing vintage Dior coat. Necklace by De Beers, footwear by Mui Mui, cashmere jumper by Eric Bompard along with my painterly silk skirt from the West Indies.

My sister and I met up this morning for some winter pampering. We went to the hairdresser - had our hair done, went onto lunch, then to one of my chums who is a great pianist for Chopin and tea.

The sun came out briefly to flirt with us en route to lunch, but now the sun is firmly asleep behind a misty sky, and sister and I are busy in the kitchen cooking:

Chicken and sweet pepper stew, oven roasted lamb with honey, winter vegetables with jerk sauce, tagine of pumpkin with figs, almonds, shallots and garlic. We are having guests round this evening for a winter feast;-)

The Cruelty of Winter

2011-12-08T10:52:00.017Z

Winter, brittle and cold, bare limbs wake, under a blanket of snow. I am a child of summer - bones and emotions suffer in winter like leafless fingers. There are times when I feel as if the snow is blowing the ripe summer memories from my soul. Winter is so faultlessly cruel; it bites, it shocks; look what it does to the trees.

Images taken last weekend.
Comments have been disabled for this post, but do leave a comment on the post below.

Paris: Drinking Coffee Elsewhere

2011-12-07T10:31:00.020Z

Images: Winter rain is romantic, soulful and melancholic like persian poetry.
I love meeting up with friends and lovers for a little light music, coffee, conversation and merry laughter. Is there a better way to honour rainy days?

Music is the highest form of art - I'm listening to Julia Fischer on the violin, Bach Chaconne whilst dreaming of crushed sardines, roasted garlic, rosemary married with thyme, home-made tomatoe sauce upon freshly made pasta. What are you listening to this winter? xx

Chanel And Champagne In The Swiss Alps

2011-12-02T17:37:00.016Z

Images: Off to the Swiss Alps my lovelies. Can't wait to inhale the fresh, clean, mountain air in the mornings, paint the wintry landscape on canvas, read in the afternoons, go out for long walks in my winter boots, indulge in early evening naps, sip tea from my happy teapot with charming friends, and dance in my high heels till dawn at full moon parties. Ah, for the love of winter twilight and liguid moon! xx

2011-11-25T16:38:00.007Z

Images: I walked for a German designer at fashion week. These are some of the pictures from the day. xx

Paris: Street Style

2011-11-22T09:04:00.008Z

Images: First and second image via Le Look,third image by the lovely Dvora of Fashionistable. I adore the necklace in the second image. It has such a vibrant fruity element. Reminds one of bananas swinging from a tree in Trinidad. The blouse I'm wearing was made especially for me by one of the world's leading fashion designers. Don't you just adore the cheerful, tropical colours of the blouse? I feel extra sensuous when I wear this piece;-)

Paris: Friends In Fashion

2011-11-19T08:57:00.016Z

For men and women are not only themselves; they are also the region in which they are born, the city apartment or farm in which they learnt to walk, the games they played as children, the old wives tales they overheard, the food they ate, the schools they attended, the sports they followed, the poets they read, and the God they believed in. It is all these things that have made them what they are, and these are the things that you can't come to know by hearsay...
W. Somerset Maugham

My girlfriend and I met up last weekend after years of not seeing one another.
We played together as children, attended the same schools, shared a flat in Vienna, Switzerland and Oxford. It was so good to see her after all this time.

Images: Met up with girlfriend, enjoyed a late breakfast together, went on to whisky, wine and cheese tasting then art exhibition, afterwards we strolled along the quaint streets of paris en route to fashion show, took pictures of autumn leaves blowing in the sweeping wind, arrived at fashion show venue wearing my studded booties, a picture of my girlfriend's studded ballerinas. Happy weekend!xx

Paris, Just before dinner

2011-11-18T17:57:00.006Z

Image: I'm just about to swan out to dinner, but I thought I'd pop in and wish you all a happy Friday. These prada heels are so lovely. Am wearing them with my burgundy cashmere/silk wrap dress, antique silver clutch and long vintage diamond earrings. xx

Accessorising Fashion

2011-11-14T12:07:00.018Z

Images: Bespoke hat, second image was taken between fashion shows, antique bracelet from my mama's jewellery box, bag by Rene Storck, the German fashion designer.

The Fashion Designer's Feet

2011-11-13T20:14:00.007Z

Image: Taken at a private viewing before the fashion show. Can you guess who they belong to? I know this is a tough one, but it's good to be playful sometimes;-)

All Day Within A Sunday

2011-11-08T16:27:00.010Z

Images: Invited German friends round for a late French breakfast, gave myself a manicure after friends left, went out for a long, sílent walk in the woods late afternoon, a spot of shopping after woods walk, purchased this pretty skirt, back at the house, cooked supper - Caribbean style cod fish with olives, tomatoes and garlic served with sweet potatoes and peppers, met girlfriend after supper for drinks and gallery opening. Don't you just love her Blue heels?;-)

De l'Histoire à fleur de peau

2011-11-07T12:11:00.006Z

Image: Victorian diamond brooch. This exquisite piece of jewellery belongs to my sister. I borrowed it to wear to a charity ball in Paris last week. It looked quite striking against the lime green of the silk dress I wore. I so adore antique jewellery, the history, the individuality, the romance, the intricate craftsmanship and elegance. Warmly hope you are all in good form this week.xx

My Friends' Feet

2011-11-04T12:57:00.005Z

Image: My girlfriends' feet after lunch in Paris. She has such a glamorous collection of footwear and evening dresses - I assure you - it can be overwhelming for unfashionable little me, but I love listening to her shoe stories;-)

Paris: Before Lunch

2011-11-02T18:31:00.005Z

Image: En route to lunch in Paris. Life is quite busy at the moment. So forgive the lack of commenting. The above photo was taken en route to lunch with friends on Saturday. Back to commneting end November xx

La Saveur Du Champagne

2011-10-28T15:16:00.006+01:00

We dance for laughter,
we dance for tears, we dance for madness,
we dance for fears, we dance for hopes,
we dance for screams, we are the dancers,
we create the dreams.
Albert Einstein

Image: My D&G gold pumps. I'm wearing them to drinks, dinner and dance this evening. I adore the sparkly effect. Reminds me of sun twinkling on a crystal vase. Very busy weekend ahead. I shall get to all your lovely blogs Monday/Tuesday. xx

Designer Talk: René Storck On Creative Inspiration

2011-10-24T07:01:00.017+01:00

Rene Storck's dresses evoke feelings of femininity and mystery. They are created for the modern, liberated woman. I purchased four silk dresses at the Paris boutique after seeing his show at Paris fashion week. I'm mad about high-quality fabric - my mother is to be blamed for this. She has taught me everything I know today about the textile industry. She ran her own textile companies before retiring.

There's silk and there is Silk - the dresses I purchased feels like organic body butter cream against the skin - sensuous, luxuriously light and soft. You all know I live in the world of feeling, and that does not exclude shopping for dresses. Life is about intense experiences, my lovelies.

I had the Privilege of meeting Mr Rene Storck in person, The German fashion designer. We had a chat about fashion, inspiration, life and travel. Mr Storck is very engaging with a kind and attractive face, eyes the colour of warm molasses and laughter like the colour of the sun.

What is creative inspiration? Of course we all know that inspiration is a very personal matter. Some designers are inspired by nature and women, others are inspired by the divine, but the best description of inspiration comes from Mr Rene Storck - Inspiration is like magic - think of a butterfly - when it's there - be inspired - when it flies away - travel to Paris and be inspired by Parisian butterflies.

Images: Pink silk dress and red skirt at the Frankfurt boutique,
an unfinished dress on a mannequin and the designer's drawing table, a colourful dress on a mannequin.

English speaking readers are warmly invited to watch an interview with Rene Storck HERE
German speaking readers are invited to read German Vogue's article on the designer HERE

Paris: Fashion Art And Other Fancies

2011-10-18T08:30:00.020+01:00

Autumn is the creative season for the artist - winter is the time for reflection and poetry, spring is for thawing one's mind back to life, and summer is for being amongst the fruits in the wide, open countryside. My grandmother once told me that happiness lies in the fulfilment of the spirit through the body - I'm still trying to emotionally understand my grandmother's quote.xx

Images: En route to flower arrangement course, sculpture by Wanda Pratschke, Jamaican blue mountain coffee with chili peppers and chocolate, autumn fragments from the Parc de Saint-Cloud, a freshly sliced pumpkin from the market for tonight's supper - pumpkin, saffron soup with prawns, ginger and fennel.

At Paris

2011-10-16T13:13:00.015+01:00

Image: Purchased these studded boots in Frankfurt, Germany. They are comfortable, warm and very well-made - a welcome change from ballerinas and brogues. Look forward to wearing these cool boots to the International Contemporary Art Fair in Paris the weekend of 22 - 23 October.

Off to The Parc de Saint-Cloud for a stroll with friends, a stop at the Musée de la Vie Romantique, and to close the evening, a hot chocolate at La Charlotte de l'Isle on the way home. Have a nice week, everyone.xx

Art

2011-10-15T07:31:00.009+01:00

What is art? There isn't one satisfactory definition of Art. The most important element of art for me is the emotional and human link between the artwork and myself. Have you noticed that alot of art today lack real emotion? They are made to tickle the senses without any deeper emotional meaning.

I'm not interested in the technicalities of what art is - I'm more interested in the emotion art evokes, and the reasons behind them - happiness, mirth, pain, melancholy, fear, awe, disgust, nostalgia and so forth.

After a James Ensor exhibition my papa, my sister and I were discussing the philosophy of art. He told us art should sharpen one's aesthetic judgement.I sharpen my aesthetic judgement through ballet, photography, long walks in nature, painting on canvas, writing, and playing the piano. How do you sharpen yours?

Images: Artwork Erwin Wurn courtesy of Xavier Hufkens, second by by Markus Seig.

Jewellery - Statement Pieces

2011-10-13T17:42:00.008+01:00

My mama always told my sister and I that one should always invite one's accessories to the ball. Hence my fondness for hats, statement jewellery, bespoke turbans, silk scarves, hand-made shoes and antique jewellery.

Images: Hand-made American Indian necklaces - I adore the second - coral/crystal and sterling silver. The first is so delicate - I shall wear it with a lime green silk dress to a ball this weekend. The coral/crystal necklace would go wonderfully with a pink cashmere jumper, a well-cut trousers, brown brogues and one of Rene Storck's exquisite bags. Which of the necklaces do you prefer?

Love In A Teapot

2011-10-12T08:16:00.028+01:00

Tea, love, flowers should be handled with care. I spotted this teapot whilst swanning about Paris after the madness of fashion week. It appealed to me because it's painted so that one might dream - tea, colours and enduring love. This morning over tea I suddenly realised that some people lack artistic and human delicacy of feeling in love matters. Off for a walk in the silent countryside, lunch with friends, a photography course and piano evening.

Images: My new lovable hand-painted teapot, the view from our house, flowers from the garden. Flowers tend to fill the room with harmony and reverence. I so love cultivating an intimate relationship with nature. xx

Sweet Alchemies And Other Fancies

2011-10-09T07:02:00.024+01:00

High heels aren't necessary for a girl to dazzle - ballerinas always invites one to dance. Sadly I'm currently unable to dance. I so miss being a ballerina. To banish my sadness sister dearest sent these stylish footwear round to cheer me up. I adore the marriage of colours, the artistic details and the cut of the ballerina. Indeed. I smiled a sweet smile upon seeing them.

What I'm reading: Various Positions by Martha Schabas. This book is about the beauty and brutality of the world of ballet. Thousand thanks to Ingrid Mida of Fashion Muse for enrinching my life with this artfully written book. Thank you for this beautiful present.

What I'm cooking: Caribbean rice and peas with braised chicken, creole vegetables, duck breast with blackberries and prunes, fried West Indian dumplings with Caribbean spinach.

What I'm painting on canvas: The still-life within my head.

The music that enchants me:Le Salon de Musiques Chamber Schubert Cello Quintet by fellow violinist and friend Maia Jasper. Listen HERE

Footwear images taken by myself. Ballet image by a friend.
Click HERE to visit Maia Jasper's delicious blog. The sun is out today.
Have a happy week, my lovelies;-)

Dresses In Colour by Rene Storck

2011-10-07T10:52:00.014+01:00

Image: Dresses in Colour at the Rene Storck boutique in Frankfurt, Germany.
I took this image with the permission of the manager whilst shopping at the boutique on a warm and happy September day.

My lovelies, I thought I'd pop in shortly and wish you all a nice weekend with dresses in colour by my current favourite German fashion designer, Rene Storck. I thoroughly enjoyed his Paris Fashion Week Show - detailed post next week. Click HERE to visit Rene Storck's online boutique or read German Vogue's article on the designer HERE. Which of the colours are you most attracted to?

After Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-05T04:01:00.038+01:00

Here I am in the first picture below by Vogue Black, Italy. Click HERE to visit their website for Paris Fashion Week Recap;-)

I was anxiously awaiting my driver after the Barbara Bui show when this image was taken. My feet were already hurting then. Paris Fashion Week was fun but exhausting. You cannot imagine how tired I am. My poor little feet are hurting - they are actually crying. One must recuperate from the Fashion Carnival, business meetings, dashing from show-to-show and champagne lunches. Back to blogging next week or the week thereafter.

I miss nature, the green country. It's almost six in the morning. I sit by the window and marvel at nature slowly awakening like a new born child, and I give thanks for a new day.

Image: First image by Italian Vogue, second image by David of Nyanzi Report, Jil Sander brogues. I have disabled comments for this post. Feel free to comment on the posts below. All e-mails will be answered after the forthcoming weekend. Off to the country house. Click HERE and HERE for more photos of Paris Fashion Week.

I am not a "Fashionista" nor am I "Chic" - and I'm not always fond of being "elegant", but I adore experimenting with fashion. xx

After the Haider Ackerman Show

2011-10-04T08:47:00.013+01:00

First image by David of Nyanzi Report, second Image by Photodiarist

The last picture was taken after the Barbara Bui Show by French photographer and /illustrator, Anne Pome. Click HERE to visit her blog.

Shall catch up on all your lovely blogs later this week. Off to Geneva. In the meantime visit Photodiarist and the Nyanzi Report for their take on Paris Fashion Week. I leave you all with a Smile;-)

Vogue, France - Fashion Art & Other Fancies

2011-10-02T16:36:00.008+01:00

Here I am in Vogue, France. Click HERE to visit the page.
Image: Via Vogue, France - Street looks à Paris - Jour 4. Off to drinks, dinner.xx

Paris Fashion Week - A Carnival of Fashion

2011-10-01T22:57:00.016+01:00

I am as mad as birds - idiosyncratic, imperfect, and I don't give a damn.

Very busy swanning around Paris. So I'm sending you all over
to Easy Fashion Paris for more on Paris Fashion Week Darlings. Click HERE to visit Easy Fashion Blog. Image: Myself after the Viktor & Rolf show in Paris. Photographed by Fred of Easy Fashion

Buy It, Wear It, Share It

2011-09-26T19:36:00.013+01:00

Images: Today I went shopping with a friend. Purchased these fanciable footwear.
A girl's feet must be kept warm during the colder months of the year. The first bootie is so lovable - I adore the elegant/ subtle shade of browns. The second is ideal for work - very comfortable and the height is perfect for busy office days. The last bootie is quite different - I shall wear them on my walks in the country to cheer my feet up in winter. Which of these do you fancy?;-)

The Scent of Backcountry

2011-09-23T18:55:00.058+01:00

Late September at the country:
Smell of berries floods the memory with sweetness, leaves turning, thoughts ripening, red apples dropping about my feet. Over the painterly hill top nature is reluctantly preparing for autumn/winter.

To be in communion with nature is so emotionally nourishing. I shall be roaming about in the spiritual wilderness of the countryside this weekend - trying to balance the mind which creates and the soul that suffers. If you are unable to get to the country. Try and sit quietly for awhile - stillness is the greatest inspiration of all. Wishing you all a happy week.

Images: En route to Paris: Here I am at the outdoor market, parmesan cheese in hand, wearing silk blouse by Celine, the local cathedral, grapes from a nearby vineyard, the view of the French mountains from said vineyard, myself looking out the window, antique teacups before tea, the picture I'm currently painting.

Berlin: From The Streets by Katja Hentschel

2011-09-21T10:04:00.014+01:00

Images: All photographs via Glamcanyon

I'm off to Paris, my lovelies, (regular readers know that I call Paris home). Anxiously awaiting Paris Fashion Week. Here are some photographs for you during my absence. I'm especially fond of the last image - "The Paperboy" - how stylish the paperboys are in Germany, too. The first image is especially lovely - I'm always drawn to a cheerful smile. Which of the images do you like best? xx

Fashion, Nature And Other Fancies

2011-09-19T15:33:00.031+01:00

Apple picking, mushroom gathering, a meditative stroll in the woods, riding with friends, a lengthy lunch on Saturday, relaxing in mellow sun on Sunday. A very active weekend indeed. Have not ridden since April. Glad to be riding again;-)

Trust everyone enjoyed the weekend. I certainly did.
What do you think of my vintage coat above? I'm drawn to it, but I know it's not everyone's cup of fashion. I adore the collage of colours and the detailed embroidery.

I'm also very happy with my new Jil Sander brogues and pretty dress. Don't you just love that shade of green? An artist friend of mine made this very charming silk dress for me. She paints on textile as well as canvas. Off to the kitchen. I'm making mushroom risotto this evening. You are all invited round for supper;-)

Fashion, Decor, Travel

2011-09-17T11:17:00.000+01:00

Images: A smile for my readers en route to meet Martina Voigt-Schmid,
the Editor-in Chief of Kids Life Magazine, Germany, a visual taste of our first course, a well-decorated table before dinner, a corner for after dinner relaxation and the view of Frankfurt from the Taunus Mountains in Germany. Hand-painted dinner-ware by CapeHouse.

Had to remove my shoes as soon as I arrived at my hotel-room that evening - feet were tired after much walking, but I managed to arrange a foot-massage for the following day;)

Wear, Share, Love

2011-09-13T19:20:00.011+01:00

Images: Prada pumps, footwear by Stuart Weitzman, heels by Jimmy Choo.

Yes, my lovelies. I have changed shoes three times today - that's the life of an art advisor - hectic. I wore the Prada heels to a museum opening, the Stuart Weitzman shoes to lunch and the Jimmy Choo to an art talk at a friend's gallery. Tomorrow is also fairly busy, but never too busy to check in on my sweet blog-friends;-)

Rainy Day And Chocolate Cake

2011-09-11T11:49:00.049+01:00

Today is one of those cold, bleaky early autumn days - the sky is unsmiling and distant with a hard shade of dirty grey. Yesterday's sun is now replaced by a light and tender rain, which invites one to unfold within oneself, chat with one's family, bake home-made chocolate cake, read art magazines in bed and watch the rain as it slips and slides across the window pane like new shoes on freshly polished tiles.

Art, Dance and Culture links:
London: Degas and the Ballet:
Picturing Movement at the Royal Academy of Arts from 17th September to 11th December.

Vienna: Rosa Loy and Neo Rausch
Behind the Garden at the Essl Museum in Klosterneuburg, Vienna from 2nd September to 16th November.

Berlin: Once upon a Time at the Deutsche Guggenheim
The exhibion focuses on how fairytales are represented in video art today.
Runs until 9th October.

Lausanne: Van Gogh, Bonnard, Vallotton at the Foundation de l'Hermitage.
Was at the opening party. Bonnard is one of my beloved painters because he captures everything so painterly. I was especially drawn to La Blanche et la Noire by Félix Vallotton. Exhibition runs until 23 October.

Antwerp: Dream the world Away at Momu Fashion Museum.
Solo exhibition by local fashion designer Walter van Beirendonck.
Runs from September 14th - February 19th. See you there!

Images: Morning reading after breakfast wearing my silk antique kimono, watching the rain, gave myself a manicure, home-made chocolate cake made from 100% pure Jamaican cocoa, catching up on art news in bed, flowers on my dressing table, view from a French village. Have a nice Sunday and a happy week.

At The Close Of Summer

2011-09-09T07:33:00.022+01:00

People appear happy and relaxed when the sun is shining. I'm trying to recall my first memory of sun, but it's difficult. There is no control over memory, but I can still recall the mangoe tree at the estate. As a child, I would climb the mangoe tree, sit amongst the branches in the shade of the leaves; away from the scortching sun, and dream of my mama's mangoe icecream.

To banish the memory of yesterday's rain, the dripping, sad trees in the garden, and Wednesday's disappointment. I asked a friend round for home-made bouillabaisse and honeycomb griddle cakes. Afterwards we went out for a spot of icecream, people watching and cafe reading.

Image: A gloriously warm day spent with a friend.
Here's wishing everyone a sunny weekend. xx

Fashion Memoire

2011-09-06T15:01:00.021+01:00

Images: Myself after French macaroons cookery course. These tiny sugary goodness are the hardest things to make. I almost gave up during the course from frustration, but I somehow managed to get my act together. The macaroons were so good that I forgot what I was wearing;-)

Cafe Contemplation

2011-09-03T21:40:00.009+01:00

Arrived at Frankfurt airport, drove to city, languid lunch, tea with friends,vintage shopping, wine festival, a stroll along Goethe Strasse, dinner with good friends, back to my dwelling after dinner, upload photos to my blog, foot-bath, bed.

Image: Myself at the wine festival in Frankfurt, Germany. Sunshades: Prada Baroque sunshades limited edition. I'm so exhausted after all my running around as you can see from the above image;-)

In The Twilight Of Summer

2011-09-01T15:24:00.013+01:00

What I'm thinking: We cannot think if we have no time to read and relax

What I'm reading : A spy in the house of love by Anais Nin

From the market : Naseberries, peaches, mangoes, jackfruit, plantains and oranges

What I'm drawing: The back-streets of Cannes

What I'm cooking : Aubergine salad with coriander and yogurt, chargrilled sardines with sweet mangoe stuffing, baby red mullet with guava and parsley.

Images: Chanel lipstick, Max Mara blouse, Ralp Lauren silk skirt, hand-made jewellery from Mustique, shorts made by my sister, footwear by Prada.

5 Things From My Studio

2011-08-31T12:06:00.023+01:00

Luxury is taking time to celebrate the beautiful and the sublime. Today I'm luxuriating in love, warmth, sun and solitude. Hope you enjoy the pretty fancies below. Have a sweet day, my lovelies. xx

Images: Limoges antique teacup ( 100 years old), candles along with scissors on a gold tray, books at a window, my watch on an antique saucer, shells from my last seafood supper.

Paris, Cycling To Lunch

2011-08-30T08:20:00.018+01:00

Sometimes I dream of food and wake up feeling like rum poached figs. Is there a better way to start the day? I think not!;-)

At Lunch: Clear skies, birds and flowers dressed in colours bright,
steamed vegetables, green and orange alike, served with French bread and red wine.

Restaurant's Location: High up a winding street of Montmartre.

Image: Myself en route to lunch. I love these handmade shoes.
They are ideal for cycling, swanning around the city and evening strolls.

Yesterday, After Cultural Delights

2011-08-27T16:18:00.020+01:00

Images: Allow me to introduce my new bespoke turban. Picked it up at the milliner's today; I'm doing a happy dance in my drawing room now. The reason I'm fond of bespoke turbans and hats is because they are very individual, made to one's measurements, which ensures a perfect fit, and uniqueness.

Necklace; present from my mama, Carrera sunshades, white tee, jacket present from my papa. Prada heels, green ballerinas and summer sandals, skirt purchased in Vienna. Images taken in Vienna.

At Lime Kay, Jamaica

2011-08-25T19:04:00.013+01:00

Images: Myself at Lime Cay, Jamaica, sailing with friends at Lime Cay, A street vendor selling fresh coconut water, the hibiscus flower of Jamaica, fresh papaya. Wishing all my sweet blog friends a wonderful weekend.xx

Flirting With My Inner Muse

2011-08-22T21:42:00.011+01:00

Both my happiness and unhappiness I owe to the fondness of pleasure. I adore that special feeling when pleasure floods the senses like sunshine streaming through a hotel room.

It's meant to be summer here in Germany, but the weather, like the eternal feminine, is in a very capricious mood today. These photographs were taken after a pleasurable brunch with a friend. Have a nice week.xx

Images: Myself in Mainz, Germany.xx

Nothing Tastes As Good As A Summer Read

2011-08-20T11:48:00.030+01:00

What I'm thinking:
Every outer event has its inner meaning.

What I'm reading: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys which was set in Jamaica in the 1830s. A thousand thanks toInstitute Le Rosey for thinking of me on my birthday this year and for this brilliant read which was inspired by Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Laced with passion, lust, obsession and the loneliness that comes with raging emotions.

"I looked at her and I saw her face crumple up as she began to cry. We stared at each other, blood on my face, tears on hers. It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking-glass."

What I'm cooking: Spicy chicken tagine with apricots, rosemary and roasted ginger, sauteed spinach with orange and almonds, chickpea salad with onions and paprika.

What I'm listening to: Car doors opening and closing, the distance bark of a dog, the almost unbearable noise of high-pitched voices, a child crying.

What I did before noon: Painted life on canvas in solitude.

What I'm longing for today: The Caribbean Sea but I have the twin-nippled mountains here to comfort me. Image: taken at my balcony in the setting sun. What are you currently reading besides fashion magazines;-)

How To Dress For A Summer Weekend

2011-08-11T07:02:00.026+01:00

Summer weekends are for sailing, letting one's hair down, champagne on the back deck, love in the afternoon, music festivals, picking sunflowers, painting one's nails orange and green, full-moon parties with precious friends, reading books by Anais Nin, wearing radiant beach-inspired colours and bejewelled ballerinas.

Images: Vintage dior bag, my favourite summer dress, bejewelled ballerinas, second image: pink cashmere/silk jumper, third image: shoes by Mui Mui.

Something To Tell You

2011-08-10T20:35:00.000+01:00

Watchful and nervous, like one in search of uncertainty, doubtful, impatient, restless, always with blackberry in hand, drinks, eats and smokes hurriedly, listens partially, drives at the highest speed, smiles too swiftly like a 100meter sprinter at a track and field game. His hair, which was once the colour of the buttercup flower, is almost grey from tension, bitterness, sadness, and the pain of having a wife who betrayed him.

There is no bleaker moment in the life of man than when he discovers that his beloved wife is singing the corrosive hymns of alcoholics, killing the inner organs and human love, blurring the memory, filling the body with anxiety and the house with a brutal drumming.

He met her at the bar at which she worked. They drank heavily during the first years of being together without knowing that alcohol heightens passion like the rush of illegal drugs. During a philosophical discourse I once asked him what was the motivational factor for him to marry and his reply was: "Passion."

Passion alone is not love, naked desire is not love, trust on its own is not love. Sadly, he has spent half his life trying to love, but often mistakes passion mingled with excessive alcohol for enduring love, so whenever he feels he has had a brush with enduring love, he cuts himself away from his lover like a doctor cutting the umbilical cord of a new born child.

I think they have damaged their souls by throwing emotional atom bombs at each other. She hates him and he hates her. Hate always destroyes. They are divorcing.It is the best for both. He met a girl last December. Let's see where that goes....

Image: En route to publisher/agent, vintage shopping, luncheon and art preview.
This story is based on a couple I once knew.

Dressing For Oneself

2011-08-08T16:08:00.010+01:00

Images: Bespoke turban, prada sunshades, gold earrings, linen top, creole flower gold cuff, antique crocodile bag, silk skirt by Rene Lezard, handmade shoes by Rocco P. Wishing everyone a happy Monday and a glamorous week. xx

Let This Moment Stay...

2011-08-05T10:52:00.017+01:00

Being idle is such a luxury. It allows one time to paint, to laze about under the orange trees, to swing in a hammock, to dance about in sunlight, in shadow, and by moonlight.

The painting below is the result of my relaxing at the beach in Barbados contemplating the ingredients of summer. Ah, happy thoughts are bursting in my head like high-pitched laughter, and I can smell the scent of crushed flowers, gloves, orange blossom and ginger. Hope my artistic composition brings the feeling of summer to everyone. xx

Image: Summertime, Barbados, 2011, made by my busy little hands;-)

From Country House To Brunch

2011-07-29T15:01:00.033+01:00

I'm so thrilled with my new yellow dress. The colour reminds one of a warm, golden saffron risotto. Think I shall make said risotto along with homemade French apple tart for supper this evening. No special plans this weekend. Relaxing at the country house with good books and films. xx

Images: Vintage yellow silk and wool dress, headscarf from a village in Venezuela, prada sunshades, necklace purchased in Copenhagen, hand-jewellery from Petit St. Vincent, antique crocodile bag in first picture and vintage bag in last, handmade shoes by Rocco P. Click on images to enlarge. Have a nice weekend and a happy week.

Design - Photography - Fashion

2011-07-28T16:46:00.022+01:00

My new red mui mui shoe, scum light by Jerszy Seymour , Buckely cut off phone bangle and a fashion scene in Jamaica by Kyle Mcpherson. Anyone for fresh coconut water?;)

Saw an exhibit in Paris of Jerszy Seymour's work and was fascinated with his "Scum Light" design. One of my chums gave me this cut off phone bangle designed by Vaz Buckey. It's not everyone's cup of fashion but I'm a bit idiosyncratic;-)

The Fancies Of A Whimsical Girl

2011-07-23T18:03:00.003+01:00

Am looking forward to a weekend of reading, feasting on fresh figs from the tree, a morning drive in the country, berry picking, an afternoon at the farmer's market, cooking with Oliver Heberlein, adding the final touches to a picture I'm painting, a quiet stroll with a friend, sipping hot chocolate, listening to The Pearl Fishers with Barbara Hendricks, John Aler and Gino Quilico. Now off to see the artworks of Francesco Clemente at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt, Germany.

Images: Myself en route to exhibit in Frankfurt, "She came to stay" by Simone De Beauvoir, sunshades and miniature handmade winestube, tree-ripened figs from the garden, Friday evening's supper with friends; roasted sweet potatoes with pomegranates, tumeric, cumin, peppercorns, orange flower water and cinnamon sticks, my new orange skirt in the late afternoon sunshine and my new Chloe boots. Wishing everyone a nice weekend and a happy week. xx

Rain In A Teapot

2011-07-17T12:10:00.055+01:00

I gathered wild flowers this morning, arranged them in a crystal vase, made a hearty late breakfast of herb, potatoe omelette, finished reading "Lunch in Paris" by Elizabeth Bard. It's about falling in love over food in Paris with toothsome recipes.

During the course of the afternoon I sat at a beautifully dressed table, sipped tea from my polka dot tea cup, kept company with art, and read poetry aloud to the rain.

Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning
can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day
--like writing a poem, or saying a prayer.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea

Images: My new fancy tea pot, D & G pink sandals, painting by Jean-Jacques Venturini, from my garden, colours raise their heads in a field of wild flowers.

For those fond of art and exquisite garments. I recommend the Madame Grès, La Couture à L’Oeuvre exhibition at the Musée Bourdelle in Paris. The exhibition runs untl 24th July. Catch it if you can or read more about the exhibit HERE

What Makes My Heart Sing

2011-07-12T21:24:00.024+01:00

.....red lipstick, antiquarian books, cooking, photography, nature, writing, poetry, art, vintage fashion magazines, painting, drawing, ballet, car-boot sales, foreign films with subtitles, colourful exotic flowers, long, solitary walks in the woods, being out of doors in summer, capturing the beauty of the land.

Images: My new chanel red lipstick, recent reading matter, vegetarian risotto, French bread on a plate, pink flower against a blue sky, two chairs in solitude, walking shoe. Hope everyone is out and about enjoying the season and its offerings. xx

Fragments Of A Day

2011-06-20T13:02:00.001+01:00

A collection of daily scenes from the past week.
I'm so charmed by the antique teacup and the quirky picnic basket. I wore one of the necklaces to luncheon on Wednesday. My lunch companions were enchanted by the lovely design.

Don't you just love those orange tights? I think they marry well with my creole boots. Soap making fascinates me, one of the things I'm fond of making myself is cold-process soap, which is a combination of chemistry and craft. Am still trying to excel at it;-)

Exhibition of the Day.
Went to the preview of Guts for Garters in Camden Town, London. The exhibition is celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Surrealist movement. Read more about it HERE

Images: My antique teacup/Gustav Klimt art book, necklaces by Althea Johnville, my new Reisenthel picnic basket, myself en route to soap making course, a sample of a soap from the course made with oil from the essence of cold pressed rose hip blended with hibiscus. Have a nice and a sunny week. xx

Doctors United

2011-06-19T12:11:00.002+01:00

My darling niece, Dr Kareema Matthews, at her wedding in Kingston, Jamaica today.
"And then she arrived, traditionally late like millions of brides before her, but a vision of loveliness in a Vera Wang gown, and smiling from ear to ear.

The make-up is flawless, endless lashes with subtle but professionally applied eyeshadow. Her attentive matron of honour ensured every hair was in place and the train was positioned for a smooth glide down the aisle.

The radiant bride, Dr Kareema Julee Mae Matthews, was escorted by her father, Horace Matthews, to meet her Dexter Huxtable-clad groom, Dr Daryl Anthony Daley." Read the full article HERE

Tiptoeing through Colour

2011-06-17T14:18:00.006+01:00

Colour is everywhere. On buildings, in the sky, in the streets, in art, in food and in the sea. It affects us all on a daily basis and has the ability to make us happy or melancholy.

Carl Jung once said that colour is the mother-tongue of the subconscious - I quite agree. How does colour or the lack thereof affect your mood?

Images: Poolside at the Art Gallery villa in Grenada, La Boca, Buenos Aires by Karen Su, second image From the Turks and Caicos, Last photo by Cheryl Casey.

Ballet: Flirting with Sensuality

2011-06-15T16:38:00.059+01:00

Today I'm sending you all over to the fabulous online home of fellow dancer, the Dancing Branflakes. You'll love her Dancing Branflakes Dinner Party;)

Regular readers know that I'm a trained ballet dancer. I injured my ankles and knees during a dance class recently so I'm resting my poor little feet this summer. An aromatherapy foot bath is on the programme tonight.

Art news/exhibits: If you happen to be in Paris.
Go see the Gustave Caillebotte and the the DOGON exhibitions.

Ballet news
Strictly Come Dancing: Ballet News
Royal Ballet: A new era awaits
Australian Ballet: Australian Ballet return to New York

Images: Jump by Will Brenner, Dancing Branflakes, Tamara Rojo, last photograph by Robbie Jack.

The Colourful Palette That Is Fashion

2011-06-11T18:35:00.045+01:00

Anything can be a source of inspiration. I was deeply inspired by the tangerines, grapefruits and pineapples at the local farmers market this morning. Nothing embodies summer like the fruity, cheerful shades of yellow, turquoise, orange and lime green.

What I'm cooking today: Vegetarian patties, West Indian roast chicken with ripe naseberries, preserved limes and saffron rice, followed by cardamon tea and homemade ginger cakes.

What inspires me today: Art, poetry, nature, cooking, the farmers market, Sebastian Bach solo concertos and the luminous colours of summer.

Images: Silk orange blouse by Valentino, silk maxi skirt by Ralp Lauren, vintage brooch/turban, footwear purchased in Spain, fruits from a farmers market. What are your favourite colours for summer?

From My Mother's Jewellery Box

2011-06-10T13:02:00.026+01:00

My love affair with antique jewellery began as a tiny girl admiring my mother's jewellery box as she painted her face for dinner parties. When daddy made mommy cross he would mysteriously place a precious family heirloom piece on her dressing table.

The next day mommy would swan around the house with the sparkling freshness of a citrus sorbet. Therein lies the power of jewellery, my sweet things. What is favourite piece of jewellery?

Image : from my very own private collection, 1830s Emerald, diamond brooch, late Georgian, early Victorian earrings with coral cameo, recently purchased handcrafted Tibetan ethnic tribal necklace. Here's wishing everyone a sparkling weekend;-)

How Not To Be A Fashion Victim

2011-06-05T08:18:00.036+01:00

Life is a theatre. I dress the part I wish to play.
Inner style cannot be bought. It's a creative way of expressing one's culture, one's past, one's present, one's passions, one's identity and one's spirit.

There are no set rules to style. It requires inspiration and inner strength. I find that women who are imaginative, original and authentically stylish always have an aura of intrique. They see style as a matter of self representation, a creative way to express its supreme singularity.

A stylish woman wears the beaded bracelets she purchased at the beach in Brazil with the same confidence she would her grandmother's antique diamond emerald brooch. How do you blend designer fashion and individual creativity?

Accessories/images: I think accessories should sublimate the silhouette. They tell the world who we are. For example, my "bracelets" aren't what you think they are - they are actually my Creole gold earrings. See pictures 4 & 6;-)

The headscarf I'm wearing was purchased in a tiny village in Asia. The antique lace blouse; a present from a dear friend, the brown jacket by Luciano Barbera, the cream embroidered jacket by Chloe, bespoke red trousers, vintage clutch & gloves by Goldpfeil, green sandals purchased in Barbados whilst on holiday there.
Have a fun week, everyone. Am off to the La Biennale di Venezia

How To Be Imperfect

2011-06-02T13:28:00.024+01:00

...be a little dramatic, idiosnyncratic, have a lot of fun!

Images: Myself en route to an assignation, myself en route to the pool at Hotel du Cap Ferrat, myself amidst nature in the French countryside. Three very different outfits. Which outfit do you prefer?:-)

What I'm wearing: Bespoke shirt/gold cufflinks paired with denim shorts, bespoke hat by my German milliner, bespoke pink dress by Emilia Wickstead, floral vintage dress.

What I'm cooking: Summer ratatouille with oven-baked sardines, fried plantains, chicken tagine with West Indian pears, mint and cinnamon, butter beans with cherry tomatoes, black olives and roasted garlic. Ah, there goes the doorbell, off to greet my dinner companions, my lovelies. xx

Style Week, Jamaica

2011-05-31T11:50:00.000+01:00

This is the forerunner to the Caribbean Fashion Week 8th-13th June. Can't wait for the opening night at the Spanish Court hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.

Images by: First image is of model Jeneil Williams, 2nd image by Rachel Scroggins, 3rd image of Jaunel McKenzie.

Jamaica Mi Crazy

2011-05-29T11:05:00.022+01:00

I was feeling a wee bit sad this weekend, my lovelies. That was until my brother sent me these photos of Jamaica reminding me of many happy memories, with the promise of more to come. xx

Images: Crazy schrimps on a painted plate, carnival in Kingston and the north coast. Taken by my brother. Click on images to enlarge.

Fashion Is Instant Language

2011-05-21T10:13:00.017+01:00

Images: Rachel from Capturing Italy, June Ambrose and the author of Worship at the House of Blues. Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend. xx

Contentment in the Countryside.

2011-05-13T20:20:00.017+01:00

Images from my recent picnic in the woods.
The crème brûlée was gloriously decadent.
The wine reminded one of the golden apples of northern Germany and the ready-to-eat pineapples of Barbados; we married wine with strong Swiss cheese - exquisite!

I love walking side by side with nature, picnicking with friends in the woods, living only for the moment, planting our pleasures in the roots of trees like a new sun in the sky. I cannot think of a lovelier way to be inspired. Can you?

Fashion, Beauty, Art

2011-05-01T10:28:00.032+01:00

What I'm dreaming of: Water melon with port, the curve of the Blue Mountain in Jamaica, a chocolate portrait-painting course, the crumbling churches of Pembrokeshire in Wales, a Stuart Haygarth optical chandelier and my Notting Hill mansion flat.

Images: Myself en route to French Bread Baking course at the Ritz, Paris, a bird's eye view into my dressing room, painting: Venus Dance, the modern love affair, made by my very own hands.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Sunday. It's deliciously warm here today. I'm off to play hopscotch in the garden with childhood friends. Click on images to enlarge. xx

My Spring Is Just This...

2011-04-24T12:57:00.032+01:00

My recipe for unwinding: Lunch poolside, to swim on sunny days, brunch with friends, still days alone inside my head, long walks in the green countryside, poetry reading on moonlit nights, home-made dinner on starry nights, to feast on tree ripened mangoes in the afternoon, to quench one's thirst with fresh coconut water, to dine on grilled fish straight from the lake, to walk barefoot on grass and keep company with art.

Images: My new summer sandals by D&G, myself, pool at the family's estate, painting by Gunter Wenzel and home-made mangoe icecream. Click on pictures to enlarge. Wishing everyone a nice week. XX

Art, Fashion & Other Fancies

2011-04-13T13:28:00.016+01:00

Images: Art: Power within by Susu Paris, hand-painted tea cup, handmade shoes and a rose from my garden. The teacup was purchased yesterday and the shoes last week. I think they are both brilliant, and I'm sure you can understand why this charming teacup appealed to me;-)

All Things Fashion

2011-04-12T17:45:00.007+01:00

More speculation regarding Kate Middelton's dress. The May issue of British Vogue is all bridal in honor of the bride Kate — er, sorry, Catherine — Middleton, whose wedding to Prince William on April 29 has everyone playing a daily guessing game about her dress and tiara. Read the full article HERE

Make your summer Pink
Evocative of beachy sunsets, warm-weather cocktails and juicy, just-picked strawberries, the color pink is a virtual harbinger of summer delights. Continue reading HERE

Une Escapade chez le Chapelier

2011-04-09T17:47:00.017+01:00

Images: Meet my new bespoke spring/summer hat. I picked it up today at the milliner's. I adore the cheerful colours, form and playful adornments. Here's something on fashion to read this weekend.

Red Soles:
Christian Louboutin sues YSL for copying his signature red sole. Read the article in its entirety HERE

La Plus Petite Cuisine de Paris

2011-04-06T09:20:00.028+01:00

Let's have dinner with Rachel Khoo after a day of delightful pleasures such as the François Morellet exhibition at the Pompidou, tea at Mariage Frères, macaroon tasting at Pierre Hermé, vintage shopping followed by an afternoon stroll through the Bois de Boulogne. I promise you'll find her culinary concept very refreshing - like a luscious lime mangoe sorbet made from tree-ripened mangoes. I love to watch her flirt with food. Visit her cozy online home HERE

Early Spring

2011-04-03T09:24:00.023+01:00

Winter grimness is behind us and the gentility of early spring is upon us. Spring always manages to lure one out to play, to smile at the cherry blossoms of the season, to dance at spring festivals, to sit in the warm, shy morning sun and dream.

Images: Am wearing my new bespoke hat along with vintage handmade lace dress. Here's wishing everyone a nice Sunday and a happy week;-)

Ah, Those Mui Mui Shoes!

2011-03-30T16:15:00.009+01:00

Am sitting out on my balcony reading 'Spring' by Rainer Maria Rilke as the sun shines out through the clouds.
Image: This is my new obsession - purchased on Tuesday.
Can't wait to dance in them through the ballroom of life.

Gone Sailing in Blue Waters

2011-03-19T11:56:00.002Z

Paris : Sitting Out In Sun

2011-03-08T09:34:00.010Z

Image: My morning meal in Paris, myself en route to luncheon at La Fontaine de Mars. It's a radiant day. The sun is out, the cafes are tingling with life and people have a spring in their step. Ah, how wonderful it is to feel the rays of the morning sun upon one's face like an invigorating gift from a friend. xx

Feeding My Shoe Fetish

2011-03-01T14:52:00.010Z

Image: Ah, I adore the shoe above so much that I had to call on the nice folks at Balenciaga in Paris, and can you believe it, they even had them in my size. The colour has such a warm brilliance. It reminds me of crimson autumn foliage.

Paris

2011-02-24T16:45:00.006Z

Image: Myself en route to Le Fumoir in Paris.
Sweet laughter, grilled lobster and scallops, french white wine, warm chocolate cake and the smell of spring in the air..... wishing you a delightful week filled with pleasurable goodness and fun...

Fashion and other painterly Fancies

2011-02-18T12:56:00.015Z

Images: 1830 Emerald - diamond brooch from my collection, new ankle boots, chanel bag, a glimpse of my table, a bottle of my favourite vintage champagne. Am dining out this evening. I plan on wearing the antique brooch above in my hair. Off to the spa for a purifying face mask, a detoxifying body wrap and a manicure with parrafin wax. Have a nice week, everyone;-)

Frankfurt at Ten o'clock

2011-02-15T10:36:00.011Z

Images: Jacket by Chloé, Close-up of a tulip flower, tights purchased in Rome, hand-made footwear by Rocco P.

The Rite of Spring

2011-02-13T13:22:00.013Z

I live in the world of feeling hence my fondness for 'The Rite of Spring'. It reminds one of the underneath of the understory of music's complexities. I find it enthralling, sublime, sensuously disturbing, haunting in nature, shocking and absorbing whilst portraying anger, pain, fear, madness, art and violence.

Whenever I listen to the Rite of Spring a musical thunderstorm comes to mind - the drumming of feet reminds me of the tintinnabulation of island rain on zink rooftops.

Berlin at Four o'clock

2011-02-10T16:15:00.005Z

Image: Berlin was hectic. Here I am resting on a bench after luncheon, art exhibition, shopping and tea.

Lipstick, Lingerie and Nail Varnish

2011-01-19T10:30:00.010Z

Images: Body creme, chanel lipstick, a selection of nail varnish and my new lingerie.
Hope everyone is having a nice week thus far. Caught myself dreaming of the intimacy of winter rain, homemade Jamaican rum cake, love at four o'clock, spring flowers in bloom on an antique table, church bells ringing in an ancient town and whiling away the afternoon with sister and company. Out to luncheon with precious friends. Have a sweet day, my lovelies!

Meet My New Shoes.

2011-01-11T10:43:00.010Z

Image: Myself at cocktail party wearing silk/leather boots. Aren't they divine? My first pair of shoes purchased in 2011. Ah, for the love of beautiful footwear and all things fancy. xx

I'll Tell You.... What Real Love Is.

2011-01-10T09:38:00.019Z

Love, love is naked, sensuous and spiritual, unquestioning, sticky sweet, passionate, tender, frightening, intense, liquid, mysterious like the moon, warm, surprising, trust married with belief, fragile and submissive, but only if said Love has no "buts."

"The fever of the senses is not a desire to die. Nor is Love the desire to lose but the desire to live in fear of the possible loss, with the beloved holding the lover on the threshold of a swoon. At that price alone can we feel the violence of rapture before the beloved." Georges Bataille

Image: Antique teacup, my watch, reading matter - The Act of Love by Howard Jacobson. Wishing everyone the warmest thoughts on this fine Monday. Hope you all enjoyed the weekend. The first quote above was composed by myself. The second by Georges Bataille.