Gallery Life

A few weeks ago I got the itch to redecorate my apartment.  Now I don't have much free space left because I have quite a bit of furniture, and really, stuff in general.  So a complete overhaul was kind of out of the question.  But I did decide to paint an accent wall in my living room bright orange.  I painted the wall that my couch is up against which had also previously showcased my favorite art - black & white photography prints.  I have one large print that I had on another wall and decide to move over the couch to showcase more of the orange wall.  But then the question was, what to do with all my art???

I moved every thing over to the other wall (where my print had previously hung) and created a great gallery wall.  Gallery walls are something that take time (to make sure everything lines up and looks great) but make such an amazing statement.  They are without a doubt one of my favorite design elements.  Especially because they can be done in so many ways.  They can showcase all kinds of art, feature many different frames.  Personally, I love when everything has a theme.  My art is all black & white landscapes (some that I've taken myself and had printed in black & white) framed in black frames with white mats.  I think it makes everything more uniform and you can really focus on the images.

Leaning is a great alternative

This is a little intense... but still amazing. 

One of my all time favorites... (I've pinned it at least 3 times...)

Interior designer Mary McDonald's office

(images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Out with a Bang

Did anyone else watch the closing ceremony for the Olympics?? Like I admitted before, I got very into the Olympics this year.  Probably more so than I have in years.  So with all the hype as to who would be performing, I could not wait to see the closing ceremony, which in many ways was a giant concert to celebrate some great British music.  I will say that at times I did not see how one thing transitioned into another, feeling that things were a little disjointed.  And while there are some performances I could have lived without (Pet Shop Boys, really? Especially being wheeled around in those strange outfits) there were some that I thought were great!

One part that I enjoyed but didn't necessarily understand was the fashion segment.  I think it largely got lost in translation due to some bad commentary during that point of the broadcast.  I could faintly hear the Olympic announces saying names of British designers as large billboards of famous British fashion models were entering the stadium.  But I hated that the NBC announcers were unprepared to tell us the significance of this segment.  Oh, and the only names they knew were Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.  Which is understandable, they are newscasters, that's probably all they know about fashion, but that's all the rest of America knows as well and it would have been nice to educate.  Especially when one of the model is Britain's legendary rock and roll band member, The Rolling Stones's Mick Jagger's daughter - Georgia May Jagger.  But alas, some further research on my part shows that all the models were indeed British and they were all clad in different British designers, therefore the segment was a glittery homage to London's current vibrant fashion scene.

Here are some images of the models by photographer Nick Night and a few of my favorite closing ceremony moments!  Enjoy!

Naomi Campbell in Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Kate Moss in Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Karen Elson in Burberry

Georgia May Jagger in Victoria Beckham

Stella Tennant in Christopher Kane

Lily Cole in Erdem

Lily Donaldson in Vivienne Westwood

David Gandy in Paul Smith and Jourdan Dunn in Jonathan Saunders and Stephen Jones headdress

(above images via British Vogue)

Russel Brand performing "I am the walrus" which was perfection!

The Spice Girls!!!!!

Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Taio Cruz

One Direction

(above images via Daily Mail UK)

Things I Love ... A Classic Trench

A piece of clothing on my lifelong wish list is a Burberry trench coat.  They are the epitome of classic.  Everything looks chicer underneath a trench.  And it's neutral color goes with absolutely everything.  But the real thing is quite pricey.  So when I spotted this classic version at J. Crew a few weeks ago, I was smitten.

(via J. Crew)

The J. Crew Collection Icon trench is the perfect shade, has a heavier feel and is unbelievably classic.  You should probably also know that I have an addiction for coats.  I love to buy new coats every year, which really makes sense considering I live in the South where winters are mild and short-lived.  But what can I say, I just love a good coat!  Every year I try to convince my mom that I need another one, and this year I think it's the Icon trench.  It would satisfy not only an empty space in my wardrobe, but fulfill my coat fantasy for the year (that doesn't mean jackets though... those are still acceptable to shop for, right??).  Plus, good news!  I just checked the J. Crew site and the trench is on sale! Perfect!

Here's some more trench inspiration!

Emma Watson for Burberry... the true classic. 

The Duchess of Cambridge

Also on the market for fall, the Kate Spade Dianne Trench

(images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Miss Priss

Mila Kunis is the current face of Christian Dior's Miss Dior accessories.  She's such a perfect choice because not only is she witty and beautiful, but she's such a star on the rise.  Mila can basically do no wrong in Hollywood right now.  She's perfect mix of siren and hilarious comedienne.  Her new fall campaign for Dior featuring Mila looking like a 1960s starlet with large bouffant and chic styling.  Also, notice her giant bow! I'm in love.  There's also a video teaser that Dior put together to go with the shots.  The storyline shows Mila as the type of girl who is used to be constantly stalked by paparazzi.  It's all so chic.  J'adore Dior.

(images via FabSugar)

Under the Big Top

I saw this amazing canopy bed this morning on Pinterest and it got me thinking that maybe canopies can be for grown ups too.  When I was a little girl, my room was all pink and white and I had a canopy.    I think there is something very whimsical about being a little girl and having a canopy, it makes you feel like a Disney princess or a fairy tale character.  But because it's so whimsical, I sometimes think it can feel a like inappropriate after a certain age.  It's very tricky to have a canopy that still feels grown up and sophisticated.  I think the real key is to not do something traditional.  For instance, a lot of height, curtains only or just relegated to over the headboard, can make a canopy more elegant and less girly.  But it's still my favorite choice for a little girl's room too.

This is beyond amazing! Love the height!

(images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Posh Life

One of my style icons is Victoria Beckham.  It started because I was the perfect age to be obsessed with the Spice Girls back in the late 90s when Girl Power was everywhere.  I even went to the Spice Girls concert wearing a posh black dress, heels and VB bob (I was 10).  While I will always love the Spice Girls, my love for Victoria has grown stronger with time.  I admire how she's been able to take her notoriety from her singing career (which she admits she wasn't great at) and propel herself into her real passion: fashion.  Her eponymous line of dresses are now the go to for luxury clients that want an amazing, chic fit.  And last year she launched a less expensive (but still very pricey) line that is more girly called Victoria, Victoria Beckham.

While her chic, tailored style is one I look up to, I also admire all she's accomplished.  She's created an amazing business that doesn't rely on her celebrity but rather her talent.  She also has done all this while being married to fellow celebrity David Beckham and parenting their four children.  She's a dedicated business woman who has it all.

Victoria is also the cover girl for Glamour's September issue.  Here are some of her fun editorial shots (she really does have a great sense of humor, even if she doesn't always smile in red carpet photos).

P.S. Rumor has it that the Spice Girls are going to be performing at the London Olympics Closing Ceremony - I can't wait!!!!

(image via Glamour)

Dreaming of Fall

I had a great time at the beach this weekend - lots of sand and fun, a maybe little too much sun (I got burned the first day, but at least it's starting to turn golden now).  My impromptu trip was the perfect ending to summer.  But then I realized, it's not nearly the end of summer.  Bummer.

Reasons why I hate August....

It should be the end of summer, but instead its hot.  Like really hot.  And it has no chance of cooling off anytime soon.  Also, by August all my favorite stores are receiving fall trends and selling boots, sweaters and coats (oh my!).  This inevitably makes me crave fall clothes.  So I buy them, and then can't wear them until maybe the end of September, maybe.  If we're lucky, and I don't mind being a little too warm.  Hence, I hate August.

Also, while everyone else is going back to school already, I still have over a month.  Which should be nice, but I'm excited to start back up.  I can't wait for my friends to be back in town and to be busy with projects.  I am a little anxious that I'll end up being too busy, but I'll deal with that train when we get to the station.

So for now, I'll be dreaming of brisk fall temperatures and lots of sweaters.  Here's to hoping summer ends soon!

(images via 1, 2, 3, 4)