wedding wednesday: purple tulle

a bride after my own heart - pretty purple tulle under the traditional pretty white dress.  and a purple sash.  AND killer sparkly purple shoes.

heck yeah!

photography by she-n-he {via style me pretty}

celeb style: fan bing bing in atelier versace

yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!  i could not be happier right now!  okay that's a bit dramatic.  i could definitely be happier - if i weren't sick, if my dogs weren't barking, if i had complete faith the bulls would win this game... but anyways, as far as red carpet fashion goes, i couldn't be happier about this: the gorgeous and always fashion-forward actress fan bing bing stepping out at cannes wearing one of my fave gowns from the atelier versace ss 2011 collection.  it's even slightly altered to make it even more amazing than the original! 

not only did fan choose a breathtaking gown, but her beauty and poise really brings the dress to life.  stunning, stunning, stunning.

my love for ombre continues to grow...

[picture from red carpet fashion awards]

i want: purple bow belt

as seen in elle belgium, oct 2010.

no idea who made this belt, just know i wantwantwaaaant it!

see more of this beautiful nouveau retro photo shoot featuring model esme here

by photographer maria dawlat

pretty picture: malgosia bela - up close & beautiful

i just think this photograph is stunning.  love the eyeliner, love the freckles, love the bright purple scarf.  i'm completely captivated.

beautiful malgosia bela was photographed by vincent peters

from vogue germany, march 2007

image via

fashion: monique lhuillier pre-fall 2011

the collection has a little bit of everything...

classy-professional work wear : 

shimmer & sparkles:

beautiful dotted print, in both long & short:

intricate detailing:

flattering draping:

bold & beautiful color:

of all 28 beautiful looks, i think this is the one i would most want to wear:

 loooooooove.

all images via style.com

pretty pictures: family circus

       a personal note:
i hate winter.  hate.  hate the frigidity, hate the sun setting so early, hate the death of green... even hate the snow.  well, i hate the cold and wet slushiness of snow, but it really is pretty [when observed from inside a warm home, of course].

so in commemoration of the sometimes loveliness of snow, on this first of december, i share this snowy photoshoot ~ kind of a haunting beauty, reflecting my love-hate relationship with this season's weather [apparently i'm in a very "deep" mood this morning] :

my favorite image.  it just draws me in - i can't help but be captivated - maybe it's the oscar de la renta gown, maybe the snow, maybe the somewhat random pigs with satin pink ribbons - who knows... :

  what are your thoughts?  beautiful, creepy, or both?

by photographer paolo roversi 

found in W magazine dec 2010- click here to see the whole photoshoot

p.s. loooooove that lavender dior haute couture gown ~

design: perfectly quirky purple bedroom

from the dutch home of claudette halkes, author of the books uitgeverij snor

 

love

- unique corner structure [their house used to be a primary school & they kept many of the original architectural elements.  how cool!]

- deep purple bedding...

-....with funky patchwork pillow

- bed frame with built-in shelving for books.  oh & the reading lamps!

- soft pink & cream curtains.  lovely.

- quirky lighting

** pairing of woodsy wallpaper with pretty lavender paint **

i simply love this bedroom.  it has such a beautifully perfect combo of natural elements, soft and romantic colors, and quirky accents.  love, love, love!

also love this quotation on style from the writer-owner:

"[style] means knowing what makes you feel comfortable, happy and beautiful. Knowing what suits you best, in fashion, living, everything. And style also has to with to be able picking beautiful little things out of a bunch of crap."

yesssssss.

see the whole quirky-awesome house here.

design: lavender accent dining room

...with that same pink blossom chandelier with swarovski crystals that i was obsessed with in gwenyth paltrow's beach house dining room...

love:

- comfy chairs/benches 

- deep wood dining table & floor

- huuuuuge windows...

-....with lovely lavender curtains

- beautiful purple flowers tying it all together

and the chandelier.  the breathtaking chandelier.

in case you forgot, here it is:

i'm still madly in love with it.

love this dining room & love this chandelier.

image from decor pad [via]

design: lavender in the living room

love:

- high loft ceilings

- cool artwork 

- this remarkable light fixture [the owners of this loft are actually the designers for the brand -- ochre!]

- double mirrors across from the window, to expand the room & double the light

- no tv! i love that in a living room.

- lavender couch. obviously. i mean, it's incredible.

so lovely.

found in elle decor [scanned by greige]

design: ruffley beds

i love, love, love frilly & feminine ruffles in fashion so it's only natural that i love ruffles in home decor as well!  & can you think of a better place for ruffles than on beds?  i can't!  here are just a few examples of ruffley bedding ~ ~

duvets/throws

incredible ruffle duvet by urban outfitters

the always fabulous blogger ish & chi bought this duvet in white for her bedroom revamp.  take a look:

another ruffle duvet from urban outfitters, this time mimicking a neapolitan ice cream bar:

dark purple throw

find more colors on overstock.com found first on purple punch


duvets

 by delias [found on everything turquoise]


pillows

john lewis [found on style & the city]

 rufflely rose pillows by angella eisman [found on the blue house]


ohhhh how i love ruffles!

-kait

link love 9.22.10

design & decor:
- incredibly creative uses for old cabinet doors
- an fabulously design home
- an ode to hermes boxes [with a super cute story!]
- so, in case you haven't seen this in the blog-o-sphere, check out the coolest tub ever.  seriously.
- framed wallpaper : love this!
- most incredible ottoman possible.
- fun & colorful rooms
- is purple the color of 2011??  hell yeah! [& the color of all years for me!]
- oscar de la renta inspired interiors

fashion:
- blazer & tennies = one of my fave looks!
- awesome fall fashion looks: prep, date night, chic, & weekends in new england... i actually love all of these looks & would definitely wear them!
- 2 ways to be mrs. business
- food & fashion pairings
- black & grey outfit

etc:
- an ode to bicycles & bicycle inspired design
- "breakfast club" stereotypes done by etsy.  [my faves are from "the princess," although i would say my stereotype would have to mix in elements of "the brain" & "teacher's pet"]
- does it make me a lush if i want this soap dispenser?!
- completely adorable, completely unnecessary, abc ice cube tray

design: pretty purple armchair & art

 i just can't get over how beautifully this lavender armchair goes with the incredible artwork above the fireplace.  wow.

via

first found on little blue deer

decor: coolest purple chandelier

ever.

i think i need this in my bedroom.  now.

photo from the floral lab

via

link love: 9.18.10

i do the searching so you don't have to :)


design & decor:
- window treatments: bold patterns
- incredible photography [& design!]
- need inspiration? -> cool vintage collections
- more inspiration: indian design amazingness
- i keep getting drawn to colorful doors.  here are even more!
- brightly colored upcycled candle holders
- black & pink [including a pretty pink chandelier]
- lighting love

fashion:
- not sure how i feel about this as a wedding dress per se, but it's incredibly gorgeous
- lovely outfit [& purse!] by the cherry blossom girl
- eva mendes looks incredible... & i want her dress!!

etc.:
- incredibly cute printable notecard
- i don't typically like gold, but there's a whole lot of pretty in this golden touch post
- to commemorate my new office job, i think i need this incredible jonathan adler gear
- i'm glad someone shares in my love of polka dots
- adorable little kiddos
- *hilarious* cards
- i want this picnic backpack!
- this week's purple love
- gold & lilac
- nerd alert!!

link love: 10.15.10

some links to check out.  some are new, some are old, but all are fab.
design:
- ridiculously incredible rug
-highlighting my fave color, the underestimated purple
- more purple!  well, technically it's plum
- european trulli houses that will take your breath away
- decor meets beauty [inspired by opi]
- more incredible front doors. wow.
- fun & colorful fridges

fashion:
- is a great shoe sale the next best thing to sex?  um, yes.
- zara kids = cutest kids & cutest fashion ever.
- blogger wishlist - shari & dj -- i want all things on both wishlists!
- i truly could not think of a more perfect outfit for fall.  this is me.
- shoe & purse soulmates by etsy
- lingerie inspiration board
- i love totes!

relationships:
- manual to long distance relationships

etc.:
-another fave: audrey hepburn.  aka, the girl who sure knows how to do a makeover movie
- i want to live a pink life ~ fab pink pics!
- why not...improve your life - part deux
- an ode to bicycles
- an ode to emmanuelle beart
- i heart fishtail braids

design: deep purple dining room

love:

-deep & dramatic color of walls

- fun table cover

- b&w framed photos

** amazing artwork on wall **

now i'm not sure what exactly is going on in this piece of art - it sort of looks like a mosaic of broken glass.  maybe it is glass, maybe it's just paint; either way, i love it.

photo from elle decor, via tobi fairley

design: deep purple bathroom

love:

-mosaic tile on wall

- dramatic deep purple wall color

- intricate wire design in window [creating an amazing shadow!]

via the decorista

celeb style: blake lively in purple

so, not only is blake lively stunningly beautiful in this photograph, but she also apparently looks incredible in purple.  and oh boy is this purple frilly frock amazing!

photographed by guy aroch

via vintage rose garden

design: purple princess bedroom

look & fall in love:

there isn't anything about this design that i don't absolutely adore.

i think the shades of lavender are gorgeous; what do you think: pretty or purple overload?

pictures courtesy of home designing

via grayson

i want: purple shoes

purple is my favefave color, so naturally i want a pair of purple shoes for each day of the week. 

here's what i would buy :

for days when i want just a pop of color:

christian louboutin suede pumps

for days when i wanna feel like a pretty ballerina:

looooove that bow.  badgley mischka

[also blogged about on absolutely ladylike]

for rainy days:

pretty deep purple rainboots by chooka

for workout days:

 

puma running shoes

for days when i wanna be tall average height:

           

yves saint laurent platforms

for days when i'm fine being just 5' :

tory burch suede ballerina flats

for beach days:

bedazzled roxy flip flops

~~ gotta love the purple! ~~