Slim Aarons and the Beautiful People

I love the work of Slim Aarons. He perfectly captured the jet set era of the 50s and 60s. His subjects were primarily the upscale and wealthy, from young Hollywood starlets to Pucci-clad Italian princesses and WASPy American socialites. His photos have this amazing combination of day-in-the-life and other worldliness. Let’s be clear though, through Slim’s lense, this is aslice of life like none we mere mortals have ever lived! It has been said that he perfected the “environmental portrait,” so rather than having his subjects pose in the traditional stiff, formal manner, he featured people in their natural environment. I think Slim said it best, he photographed "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." I love that. (I also love how I keep calling him Slim, like we were best pals or something…haha.) Such a great way to have documented this lost era of style. 
His images have been very influential on modern day photographers—his work is often imitated, but nothing beats the real deal.




The brilliant Babe Paley chillin' by the pool in 1959. I love old socialite names...


This is one of his most famous pieces, featuring American socialite CZ Guest wandering poolside with her little boy and their pups.


"Two bikini-clad holidaymakers enjoy a glass of wine outside the Carlton Hotel, Cannes."
Hmmm, is a holidaymaker like a freshmaker?





This must have been closer to the early 70s...the swingin' young crowd. The credits for this image are awesome:
Circa 1970, British photographer Lord Lichfield holding a Hasselblad camera. On his arm is Marina Lante della Rovere, to the left is Ines Torlonia, and reclining is Signoria Gancia, Porto Ercole, Italy.


Please note the gentleman's pants and the dogs on the Rolls. Genius.


This dapper gent kills me...so rich, so orange!

Truman Capote "relaxes with a book and a cigarette".


Yes. It's Joan Collins. And oh yes. Her poodle is pink.


Mexican film starlet Dolores Del Rio and her itsy bitsy teeny weeny bandeau top.



This is exactly how I take my breakfast....in bed, with my monocle. FABULOUS!
Sigh. I really  adore that Slim Aarons fella. What an eye! Don't you agree??

Images and More Images

Style Files: Brighter is Better

I love color (no kidding, right??). I guess this outfit is kinda my version of preppy....and with the exception of the shoes, everything was really affordable too. I've been intrigued by the resurgence of yellow popping up everywhere. I have to say that this cardigan was something I would have nevvvverrr bought a few years ago. But ya know, it really made me feel sunny and upbeat. I'm not 100% sure on the floral top...i love the fabric but its pretty boxy and I feel a lil....how you say.....shapeless? But the pinks are pretty awesome. OK, on to the deets!

+ Canary yellow cardigan. Old Navy
+ Tracy Feith floral top, Target (in stores now)
+ Kelly green skirt with eyelet detail, Old Navy (in stores now, also in white and a peacock blue!)
+ Vintage beads, thrifted
+ Little deer pendant, Forever 31, er...21
+ Hot pink and rhinestone dragonfly sandals, Kate Spade
+ Vintage Enid Collins Butterfly bag

By the by, Old Navy has a ton of stuff on sale right now. The skirt, alas, was not. But I spied a bunch of bright fun cardigans while I was there and THEE cutest vinyl raincoat that looked so Kate Spade mod (it had a dusty blue and white pattern, super chic) and was like $8. If you have time, get over there! I love fancy snazzers but I'm also all about finding cute and affordable stuff too. Lemme know if you score anything!

Also I love this new Target collection. It's very colorful and fun. Sadly the dresses were all sold out but they are super fun and beachy cool. I'm eyeing the red lollipop top. See more HERE.

Seeing Double with L Felipe dos Santos

I'm notoriously nosey. Or maybe it's just naturally curious. I love getting a peek into people's lives, homes, closets....you name it (let me clarify, only when offered up! I'm not one of those people who opens medicine cabinets or anything like that!). So when I stumbled upon L. Felipe dos Santos sketch book, I was hooked. I looooove the amazing mix of watercolor and ink, but it's his process that is really so very clever. He begins by making a watercolor that resembles something of a Rorschach Inkblot test, and then inks on top of that. His work is really great. Take a gander:

See more of his work here. I only picked a wee selection, his other stuff is equally lovely.

The Clothes of Tomorrow.

This is brilliant. It's a clip from the 1930s where leading fashion designers were asked to speculate what they thought people would be wearing in the year 2000. The announcer is hilarious. I think "Ooooh swish!" will be my new catch phrase...

Kermit ze Frog? Tres chic.

There is fashion....and then there is FASHION. I don't know where I've been, but I only recently discovered Jean Charles de Castelbajac. ("Say what?" oh good....maybe you haven't heard of him either...) His clothes push avante garde to the extreme. Playful, outrageous, silly, amazing, shocking. You name it. JC de CB has done it. And while the kermit the frog coat it a leeetle bit insane, I would kill to wear this Michael Jackson dress. 

OK, so now you're probably thinking I've lost my mind....but stick with me here. His runway shows are more like performance art. I know if I saw someone wearing this on the red carpet I'd probably be the first to giggle and make a snarky joke. But you have to appreciate how insanely cool and zany this stuff is. This was his latest collection, I believe—and there are little elements here and there that I think the average gal could totally rock:

Lego hat anyone?? But I think the dress is pretty great.

I love the idea of wearing stacks of fun jewelry in bold primary

colors like this...the hat, not so much. The necklaces remind me

of 80s friendship beads.




Heehee, that suit is soooo Elton John. But check out this coat 

and that huge-but-darling red bow on the next photo, pretty adorable no?

And of course, this Obama dress totally rules. Love that sequin smile!

Apparently Katy Perry wore it to the European Music Awards.

Amazing. I know this stuff is way over the top, but it's a good

reminder that fashion can be playful...and we don't have to

take ourselves toooo seriously!