Happy Friday, lovelies! My absolute favorite find of the week is Kate Moss’ new Christmas collection for Topshop, which debuted yesterday. From an sequined mini dress to a silver-studded racerback tank, the pieces are daringly affordable but seemingly luxurious, with a splash of party-girl glamour.
I’m particularly lusting after her new lingerie and nightwear. Lingerie is another one of my “favorite things:” What else manages to be a “little special something” and a “pretty little nothing” at the same time? I fully endorse wearing sexy lingerie for no reason- it’s an extra source of confidence that nobody knows about but you. Plus, it feels nice to know that you’re not dressing for anybody’s benefit but your own. Check out a few of my favorite Kate Moss underthings, below:
blush lace silk set, rose print underwire, vintage rose set, safari balconette set, lace panty, cream sequin trim teddy
Click here to view the entire collection. Have a beautiful weekend, and a fun-filled Halloween!
KC&CO,
Bessie
PS. Shopping for racy lingerie is a sure way to snap yourself out of a post-breakup haze (temporarily, at least.) Tried and true, my dears.
Okay, okay. I know it’s a Walmart commercial. It’s almost suffocatingly sentimental, the tagline at the end is a bit of a buzzkill, and it’s cliche…but I like it. I can’t explain it. I’m hardly one to weep over Hallmark cards and Lifetime movies, but this little musical collage made me smile. Hope you’re all having a lovely Thursday!
I usually post about things that I’ve just recently stumbled upon, but today, I’m focusing on an old favorite: Stockholm Street Style. Similar to The Sartorialist, this blog features photos of chic pedestrians on the streets of Stockholm (obviously) and other global fashion capitals. Both blogs are full of photos of beautiful people wearing beautiful clothing- always a mesmerizing combination.
Stockholm Street Style is a great source of inspiration for fresh new pieces and looks; many of the outfits are innovative but absolutely wearable. In contrast, The Sartorialist provides a more indirect sort of influence, because many of the featured ensembles are a bit too eclectic for everyday wear (outside of the cosmopolitan meccas that Schuman photographs.) Check out a few of my favorite Stockholm shots from the last few weeks, below:
I’m loving the buttery leather jackets, over-the-knee boots, and vibrant red lips…
As the temperatures continue to drop, I’ve found myself craving the flavors that I associate with fall. Here are a few sweet autumnal treats that I’d love to indulge in (click images for original sources and copyright information):
banana pumpkin pancakes topped with freshly sliced bananas, syrup, and candied pecans
spiced bread flavored with mild honey, molasses, walnuts, and fine candied fruit
layers of caramel, pecans, caramelized apples, cheesecake, and whipped cream in a graham cracker crust
warm upside-down pear gingerbread cake paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
glazed apple streusel muffins- the perfect companion for a latte
spiced chai cupcakes with a honey-cinnamon buttercream frosting
I’m loving this “Fallen Princesses” photo exhibition by Dina Goldstein. Goldstein portrays what nine notable Disney princesses whose “happily ever after” endings have been swapped out for more realistic outcomes. The juxtaposition of fairy-tale leading ladies with issues that face contemporary women (like self-image, poverty, and motherhood) creates jarring images. The project reminds me of the lyrics to Sara Bareille’s “Fairytale:”
Cinderella’s on the bedroom floor, she’s got a crush on the guy from the liquor store
‘Cause Mr. Charming don’t come home anymore
She forgets why she came here
Some of the photos are humorous, while others are disturbing. Check out my favorites, below (click for full-size images):
Hello, hello! The weekend is upon us, meaning that it’s time for my favorite finds of the week. Check them out below:
I’m loving how the zipper details modernize the light wash of these super-skinny, stretchy jeans
This short film is touchingly bittersweet. It gets a bit sappy at certain points, but the ending makes up for it.
French onion soup is one of my all-time favorites. This Swiss Onion soup is a lighter rendition (it swaps out beef stock for chicken and cognac for a pale ale) but the generous dose of shredded gruyere and swiss cheeses makes it just as satisfying as the original.
Statement necklaces are ubiquitous this fall, but the twisted metal chains in this version add enough edge to keep things interesting. They provide a perfect contrast to the girly, light silver pearls and the silk ribbon tie.
Check out this article on the “Quarterlife Crisis:” like a midlife crisis, but for those in their twenties. Trust me, it’s much, much more interesting than it sounds. Why did I choose this photo? It's too sexy to ignore and it looks like the subjects are in their twenties. A bit of a stretch, yes, but just go with it.
Burburry’s pretty, feminine twist on their signature trench is absolutely lustworthy.
I had heard about GOOP, Gwenyth Paltrow’s lifestyle newsletter/website before, I but I’d never actually read it until yesterday. I like the elegant aesthetic of the site, especially the “Make” and “Get” subcategories, which focus on food and fashion, respectively. Her approach to food is incredibly healthy- all of her recipes are organic; most are vegetarian or vegan. She even has a frightening post on her liquid detox diet. I mean, homegirl named her children “Apple” and “Moses,” clearly her judgement is a little off at times. Scary diets aside, there were a few recipes that looked delicious (like the vegan BLT pictured above.) Here are a few more of my favorites:
eggplant with fresh mozzarella, roughly torn basil leaves, and finely shredded parmesan
halved avocados filled with a crab salad- lump crabmeat, lemon, shallots, and a marie rose sauce
penne with fresh tomato sauce, red chili, fine olive oil, and grated pecorino cheese
chicken with spanish onions, preserved lemons, saffron threads, pomegranate pips, and green olives
dark chocolate chunk, dried cherry, and pecan cookies
blondie brownies- peanut butter, shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows
I’m loving this decadent rocker-chic photospread from the October issue of Vogue Latin America. Each photo is inspired by an American rock song, from Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” to the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black.” My favorite photo is the one above, where the model (Hana Soukupova) manages to make bunny ears and a band of tulle look sexy in a “I don’t give a damn” sort of way. Girl’s got a gift. The accompanying Jim Morrison quote is a bit morbid but glamorous, nonetheless:
Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders, smooth as raven claws.
Check out a few more images from the shoot that are less macabre, but equally captivating:
As the weather gets chillier, I gravitate towards heavier foods like piping hot soups, creamy sauces, and cheesy pastas. Perhaps my favorite comfort food is grilled cheese sandwiches, which evoke great memories (my mom would always make them on snowdays when I was younger.) It’s also a textural thing- I love the contrast between the buttery, toasted bread and the gooey, melted cheese. When dunked in a creamy tomato basil soup..mmm, no words. Although my snowdays are long gone, I’ve found a few grown-up versions of my childhood favorite. Take a look, below (click on photos for recipes and copyright information):
grilled tallegio, escarole, and onion jam on sourdough bread
grilled aged cheddar, onions, leeks, shallots, and garlic on country bread
goat cheese and havarti, red and yellow tomato, prosciutto, and arugula on cracked wheat sourdough bread
cheddar, provolone, and pepperjack, fresh salsa, pepperoncini, and button mushrooms on crusty french bread
grilled gouda, ripe tomatoes, and basil and fresh basil on good sourdough bread
grilled gruyere with carmelized sweet yellow onions and fresh oregano on rye bread
grilled cheddar, havarti, and jarlsberg on crusty jalapeno bread
Ah, heaven. By the way, here’s a nifty idea from Mark Bittman’s “101 Simple Salads” article: make a crisp grilled cheese sandwich without too much cheese, let it cool, cut it into croutons, and serve it over a salad of tomatoes and fresh basil. Yum!
I’m loving how Leighton Meester’s vest gave her pretty dress a cooler, more casual vibe at the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2010 show in Paris. Here are a few more pieces that I’d pair with fancy frocks to dress them down a bit:
