dear karla....

how are you only 19??

you have more style in your little pinky than most people i know.

j'adore your blog...

xo

photo via the fabulous citizen couture

Blonde Ambition

Do blondes really have more fun? I don't know. I'm a strawberry blonde/brunette and I have a LOT of fun. I was born a redhead, then had bright blonde locks by age 2. Over time, a golden shade appeared and by the ripe old age of 18 the mane morphed into a strawberry blonde. Throughout my 20s I have dyed it all different shades ranging from honey blonde highlights to full out red. I really can't decide what I like best, but I think my heart longs for blonde....

Here's why:

{is this considered blonde? not sure, but I love it}

Something to think about this weekend...fall brings so many changes.

Are you ready to change your hair color with the season?

Anybody want to do something drastic?

What hair color photos inspire you to make that Fekkai appointment?

Tell me!

Show me!

photos via: playground lover tumblr, ?, bellechantelle, stockholmstreetstyle, skyeblack, bloom

The Hunt

The objective:

to help my friend find the perfect day-to-night bag

The parameters:

must be black/brown/neutral, must be classy, conservative & chic, not shiny

The price range:

somewhat ignored....{sorry!}

Your assignment: choose your favorites

*for the sake of unbiased judging, I have placed the prices to the right of the description, in white. First choose the bag you like most, then if you'd like to know, highlight the area next to the info for the price...thanks for playing!

*Update: My friend chose the Prada : ) She's treating herself to it soon...Looks like handbags will appear on many a holiday wish list this season!

The results:

jimmy choo, saba nappa hobo, $1,675

fendi selleria, $1,450

prada, napa small hobo, $950

be & d, garbo portfolio bag, $995

ferragamo, $1,490

dolce & gabbana, miss pillow flab bag, $1,295

botkier ruma satchel, $595

givenchy, small elschia, $1,750

photos via saks, givenchy via bag snob

Valentino's Reign: Romance, Opulence & Stardom

I recently saw the film, Valentino The Last Emperor.

Watching the icon create his final collection made me feel like

I was watching da Vinci paint a masterpiece.

As you're guided through his creative process,

you'll learn a great deal about this legendary man...

Valentino was born in 1932 in a small town north of Milan.

He went to study fashion in Paris before he was 17.

He studied & worked under Jean Desses & Guy Laroche.

In the late 1950s he opened his fashion house in Rome.

By 1962, he completed his first runway show.

Soon after, he patented the Valentino Rosso,

the brand's hallmark gown color.

In 1967, his all White Collection blew the minds of fashionistas everywhere.

The 60s brought an influx of loud colors, but

Valentino took a big risk & was wildly successful.

In the 1970s, Valentino came out with ready-to-wear lines

for both women and men. He opened boutiques worldwide.

He had six pugs at one time:

Molly, Maude, Milton, Monty, Margot, Maggie.

Anne Hathaway at the Oscars, 2008

Natalia Vodianova & Valentino

Rachel Weisz at Cannes, May 2009

Cameron Diaz at the Golden Globes, 2007

Valentino, The Last Emperor

romantic. flawless. heart stopping.

All information from this site

Photos via: chic in paris, valentino movie, anne via noh way, cameron via my fashion life, rachel via fab sugar,

Feeling Fall

What does your Fall feel like?

The smell of crackling wood burning in a fire...

The feel of soft tights warming cold legs...

The sound of acorns falling gently on the ground...

The sight of your breath filling the air as you walk at night...

The sound of crispy leaves crunching underneath your feet...

The feel of hot cocoa warming every inch of your body...

The sight of a red bird camoflauged by bright red leaves in a tree...

The feel of a soft cashmere cardigan embracing your skin...

The smell of pumpkin, nutmeg & cinnamon piercing every room of the house...

The sight of orange...everywhere...

images via: we heart it, lolita, rasone's flickr stream, oh?, fashion copious, we heart it

The Lady From Oz

come meet Australian artist, Nevin Hirik at my guest post, Beauty Illustrated:

English Muse

to view all of Nevin's work, visit her blog here

"she comes in colors evrywhere"

she combs her hair
she's like a rainbow

coming, colors in the air
oh, everywhere

she comes in colors

-rolling stones

silken bouquet hairband via Anthropologie

formula for style

(1) rick owens, exploder denim jacket, $1,019

+

(2) aesa, the time necklace, $235

+

(3) maison martin margiela sweater, $595

+

(4) jas mb, medium tie, $614

+

(5) golden goose, charlye boot, $1,292

Combine aforementioned ingredients.

Mix well.

Add __________.

everything from: totokaelo

what's in a name?

alexa: "defending men"

that which we call a rose,

by any other name would smell as sweet....

but would it?

What's in your name?

Do you know what it means?

freida: "wise judge"

leigh: "clearing, meadow"

january: "first month"

rachel: "ewe, one with purity"

michelle: "one who resembles g-d"

olivia: "elf army or olive tree"

{I'm totally serious...}

rumi: "the Roman"

*my name means "home of the blessed"*

pics via: alexa here, freida: just jared, leigh: miss at la playa, january: gq, rachel: here, michelle: vogue, rumi: fashiontoast

ohmyatwood

shit.

pic: Elle