i finally made it to the Yves Saint Laurent retrospective at the petit palais this weekend, and it was more than worth the hour-long wait in line. it was really incredible- very visually satisfying, and i learned so much about both the designer and his work. the exhibition was made up of fifteen themed rooms, each of which celebrated a distinct aspect of laurent’s four decades as a couturier. i couldn’t take photos inside, but i found some beautiful images on the official website. below, my favorite pieces from the retrospective:
yesterday, i spent a sunny afternoon at the place des vosges, the oldest square in paris. somewhere in between my visit to victor hugo’s former home and my freshly-baked pain au chocolat (still warm, the best way to end a day,) i stumbled across the most perfect perfumery. the owner, christian louis, is one of france’s remaining master perfumers. christian is wonderful: he says “with pleasure” (or rather, “weez pleasure”) instead of “you’re welcome,” and when he talks, his eyes light up and his hands gesture wildly. i finally decided upon “un jourà Biarritz,” which has head notes of turkish rose, bergamot, and blackcurrant. to me, it smells like . . .
warm laundry,
flowers,
. . .and a little bit of vanilla.
if you’re ever lucky enough to visit paris, i highly recommend monsieur louis’ lovely little shop:
i’m a huge sucker for beauty products in pretty packages, and i swear that i’ve tried half of sephora’s offerings. here are a few of my tried-and-true favorites:
1. bare escentuals- bareMinerals (medium), 2. benefit- benetint, 3. guerlain- terracotta blush & sun (sun kissed,)
4. too faced- chocolate soleil bronzer, 5. guerlain- prismissime mat & glow (sunny) 6. stila- smudge pot (golden noir)
7. bare escentuals- buxom lash mascara (black), 8. smashbox jet set liner (bronze), 9. givenchy- magic kajal eye liner
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.
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.
Happy Friday, my dears! My “favorite things” this week all come from Need Supply Co., a Virginia-based boutique. From clothing to accessories to shoes, their selection is slightly edgy, completely wearable, and consistently impressive. I like the way that they style their items- it makes potentially intimidating pieces (like a bustier corset top or biker-inspired gloves) seem lustworthy. Check out a few of my favorite picks for this season, below (click on images for links):
feminine ruffles are balanced out by a strong structure and color
a casual take on the lingerie-as-outerwear trend
such an effortless outfit, love the contrasting silhouettes. dress it down, or up with…
…a boyfriend blazer and these beautiful shoes. badass.
Current/Elliott rocked the boyfriend jean; their translation of the slouchy skinny is equally impressive
these accessories manage to be simultaneously bold and pretty
casual elegance is hard to achieve, but the cotton shirt/pencil skirt combo of this dress gets it just right
this belt could easily transform the look of a dress (like the one above,) high-waisted skirt, or loose-fitting top
…see what I mean? Click here to shop Need Supply Co.’s entire inventory. Have a lovely weekend!
It’s Friday, hurrah! Today’s post is full of food porn, in honor of Vida: my dear friend, fellow gastronome, and first reader. My little Vida-Margarita, I know you’ll have a blast celebrating both your birthday and one-year anniversary this weekend. Happy birthday/congratulations/love you bunches!
Anyways, here are a few of my yummiest-looking finds from this past week:
sweet potato gnocchi. brussel sprouts. walnuts.
Luxirare’s bento box. Please do yourself a favor and click the images- you will be amazed.
loaded baked potato: bacon, cheddar, green onions.
fresh basil. roma tomatoes. mozzarella.
seared filet. smokey white beans. fried kale. roasted red pepper sauce.
triple chocolate cake with chocolate praline frosting (this one’s for you, Vida)
Fashion Week has wound to a close in New York! Here are my favorite images from this year’s runways (I know there’s a ton, but there was a lot to love:)
All of these images are from my favorite shows of the week: Alexander Wang, Doo.Ri, Milly, Donna Karan, Nanette Lepore, and Sophie Theallat. Have a happy weekend!
KC&CO,
Bessie
All photos by Getty Images, from official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website
I’m into these airy, vintage-looking photos of beautiful people in beautiful clothing. I’m lusting after this blazer, these riding boots, and the male model. Sigh.
This looks like something that should be on This Is Why You’re Fat, but I’m weirdly intrigued. My mind says “no,” but my body is screaming, “I wannnnt!”
4. Random, but the other day I snuggled into my bed right after I had done laundry and I swear it was one of the best moments of my week. Surrounded by my fluffy pillows and freshly washed sheets (still warm from the dryer and smelling lightly of lavender and vanilla,) I felt like all was right in the world. I know, I live a crazy life.
5. Notte Sento
Roughly translated, the Italian title of this short film is “The Feel of the Night.” The seven minute long film is actually made up of over 4500 still photographs- how cool! Check it out, below:
