Avis

My dearest readers,

This weekend whisks us up to the lovely Francophone city close to home, Montreal!  The last time I went was a mini-disaster as I was dressed for London and 'twas in fact Antarctica.  I wrapped that flimsy scarf over as many places as I could!  Shame making! Will not be making that mistake again. Anyway, we do have a sort of loose agenda, but I'd love to know of some recommendations from you, being savvy and all.  Make momma proud!

With the violence of my affections,

Baron of Quonochontaug

Image from Lost Splendor

Some velvet morning

The work of Dane Kim Holterbrand pretty much encapsulates my mood from October to April.  Signs are already showing.  These dank, humid days don't help matters.

Found at Le Zebre Bleu.

To Each His Own

Last week, when I was on my deathbed recreating the final scene of' La Boheme,' I had a chance to watch an old VHS classic 'To Each His Own.'  For those of you unfamiliar with the debacle between Olivia De Havilland and her DNA sharer Joan Fontaine, this was the film which won De Havilland an Oscar (after her younger sister). 

It starts with De Havilland, old and rich in the middle of a World War II London blackout.  She's volunteering her time with a fellow loner on New Year's Eve and the two strike up a friendship.  Before it's allowed to progress, she realizes a mysterious character is going to be in London for a week and she has to run to the train station to catch him.  That's all I'm going to say without revealing to much, but the story then goes back to 1914 where she's a young girl and progresses to when she's an old lady alone, waiting for a stranger.

The movie was absolutely amazing and really surprised me, but what really knocked me off my feet were the costumes.  So varied and historically accurate, something that the designers often turn a little campy in those span-of-time movies.  Naturally Edith Head was the designer!  These are some of her sketches.

You really must see it!  It's not on DVD, but maybe I can send you my copy to borrow or you can catch it on TCM or AMC.

In Grand Style

Just another day.  Really can't get enough of all this Pre-Code delight! 

From the March 2010 Vogue Italia.  And I rest my case, when was the last time you saw something like this in our Spiegels Catalog, I mean American Vogue.

Photography by Miesel.

Meanwhile, at the haberdasher...

I'm trapped at home, with a cold that makes me sound like Bette Davis in the later years...I'd like the cold to leave but the voice to stay.  'Twould be perfect for my "I wrote a letter to daddy" act I've got cooking up.

Anyhoo!

My clothing tastes, once more frivolous, have evolved into pretty much black, black, white, grey, black and sometimes neutrals.  Yet, if I had that house in the English country where I could spend my Art Deco'd days with horse and hound, I'd buy everything from Haversack of Japan. 

The styling is perfection!  And even the touch of color, like these red socks appeals.

For when I have to run out in the snow to grab the eggs from the chicken coop:

Whilst googling "Haversack" I came across these pictures from a few years back at the Sartorialist.  I remember seeing them and loving their look, who knew that two years later I'd be just realizing who they represented!?

 A thanks to Ancient Industries is in order for leading me on the right fox trail.  If you would like to see more, may I recommend you look at their Spring 2011 collection?  More 1920's bliss at Denimaniac.

Now off to practice my Baby Jane Hudson routine...

A Paper Anniversary

Almost escaping under my little Irish nose, today is my blog, HH and my first anniversary!  Can you believe it!?  And to think they thought we wouldn't make it. -Queue Shania Twain song

Well after waking me up with a cup of coffee, HH got me that letterpressed calendar I wanted and I gave a signed first edition 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf.  (I definitely over gave)

I think we're going somewhere ritzy for Gin and Italians later to celebrate.

Thank you all for being such great readers, may we share many more years together!

This lovely image was send to me by faithful reader and dear friend, Katie E. Lynch.  She knows me so well.

"There were never such devoted sisters"

Love this shot of Nijinsky and company.

Found at NYPL.

Hailey Desjardins

An old kindred spirit of mine, Hailey Desjardins, is a part of the collaboration between RISD and Elle.  So exciting!  To think I once shared carrot sticks with her?!  Anyhoo, she needs your votes for a chance to win the Fashion Next: People's Choice Award!

Please drop everything your doing and vote HITHER and read more about her THITHER.

There is no Hottentot, that's hotter than that!

I want to recreate this scene at our next party.  Join me won't you dears!

Next goal: finding this 78.

Does anyone want an egg?

Like the icy river I jumped in, this weekend has completely revitalized me!  My calves may be quivering from the descent down Mount Washington, but the images seen climbing it will sustain me.  Oh yeah, I'm a mountain climber now!  -Rubs snot from nose with sleeve of shirt-

Next stop: Annapurna!

(Taken from friends inspiring album of her solo trip to Nepal)

Climb Every Mountain!

This weekend whisks me up north to climb mountains, swim in rivers, jump off cliffs, squeel like a schoolgirl, get yelled at until I make a perfect swan dive and probably watch a bunch of musicals.  I'm going on the yearly jaunt with my adoptive Slavic family!

This book looks like a grown up version of "the Stinky Cheese Man."  Am I right?  Am I revealing my youth?

Nevertheless, cannot wait to get it!

Found at Blood Milk

Tape: 384. Location: Hibernian Hollow.

Seems my stalker got a hold of my surveillance tapes and put them on the internets.  How tiresome!

For my raw food harpie:

Is Daphne Hofsass your nom de plume?  Come on, fess up!

Found at the amazing Truth of Masks.