The City Sage

Pure Feminine Indulgence: Charme Silkiner Jewelry

I'm no tomboy, but I'm also not what you'd call a girly-girl; I tend to prefer structured pieces to lavish opulence. And give me a dip in the mud over a tea party any day. But these bejeweled beauties from designer Charme Silkiner have me dreaming of mornings spent languishing in my boudoir, silky negligee draped about me and a silver tray of bonbons conveniently within reach.

Because really, who doesn't dream of dripping with gold and precious stones every now and then? It's a heightened version of the fantasy that tingles down your spine when you get your hair washed at the salon, or pay for the extra foot massage during a pedicure. In reality, I'd team these stunners with my usual white tee and boyfriend jeans, buy hey, a girl can dream, right?

Images, Board One: 1. Pandora 2, 4, 7. Charme Silkener 3. We Heart It 5. Ellen von Unsworth 6. Unknown Board Two: 1, 3, 6. Unknown 2, 4, 7. Charme Silkener 5. Sander van den Bosch via SeeSaw

Decorating Inspiration: Bright Ideas!

Phew! Get out your sunglasses for this one, friends! There's been so much talk about brights on the fashion runways lately, but let's not forget about our poor, naked walls, floors and furniture! When summer rolls 'round (or, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere and want to conjure some heat) nothing beats juicy, saturated decor for spicing things up!

Of course a lemon yellow sofa, a cherry red console, or a lime green chair will do the trick. But if you're a commitmentphobe like me, it's just as easy to bring in small touches for an equally effective punch of color. There's the usual suspects: pillows, throws, what have you. But consider a stack of secondhand books with cheerful spines, or recyclable storage boxes with an unexpected print!

Right now in my home I've got a mostly neutral color scheme happening, with soft pinks and camels laying a foundation for creams and brass accents. I think a touch of vermillion or chartreuse might a welcome--if temporary--addition, don't you? Tell me: do you have plans to incorporate the brights trend into your home decor?

Images: House and Garden. Shopping: Book, Bowls, Pillow, Clock, Rug, Ottoman and Chair, Throw, Boxes.

Summer Jam: In the Sunshine by A B & The Sea

If you've been hanging around this blog for a while, you know I sometimes feel I was born a few decades (or centuries!) too late. Which is why I think I'm so very smitten with the San Francisco band A B & The Sea. Their tunes transport me back to my past life, the one in which I was a surfin' teenybopper with with a groovy bikini wardrobe (but a serious social conscience too, of course).

The band's latest song In the Sunshine was just released today, along with a dangerously alluring video that has me wanting to toss my laptop out the window and hit the beach. This music is such a bright ray of light in the grey fog of a busy day, how can you possibly resist popping open a tall bottle of soda and bopping your head along?

P.S. Download A B & The Sea's entire discography as well--I promise you won't be disappointed. It's just what Doctor Summer ordered, especially if there's a roadtrip on your horizon! xo
Images: 1 & 2. Unknown. 3. Simply Hue 4. girlhula. 5. kissssing

Retro Indulgence: Gucci Watches on Endless.com

My grandmother is one classy woman. Still going strong at over 80-years-old, she has an old Gucci watch that came with a complete set of interchangeable bezels, a seemingly endless rainbow from which to choose. One of my fondest memories from childhood is watching her dress for occasions both special and everyday; the final touch to each outfit was just the right bezel for the watch.

So when I saw that Endless.com is now carrying Gucci timepieces, I was instantly transported back to those moments in my grandmother's boudoir. I'm especially drawn to the delicate bracelet styles, the ones that rest lightly on the wrist and that complete a vintage-inspired look just as my grandma's Gucci watch still does today. Is there anything more timeless and classic? I don't think so!

Shopping Guide, Board One: Gucci watch, handbag, shoes, jacket, skirt. Board Two: Gucci watch, sunglasses, handbag, dress, shoes.

Style Inspiration: Soft Sophistication

Brace yourself for a sucker punch of gorgeousness to carry you into the weekend. Just when you think you've seen enough--macaroons, succulents, paper banners--some crafty and clever folks come along and put a spin on the tried and true, and it feels fresh and fabulous all over again! And this style shoot from Avery House, Paper Stories, and Ryan Alexander Events hits it out of the park.

This crew is coming to us out of Chicago, and I have to say that I'm beyond impressed! The balance between country soft and urban complex--the morning dew palette against the white brick and polished chrome--is exactly what I'd hope to see out of the marvelous Midwest. Little touches like buttons and pearls, moss and teacups, and a mini banner on the cake, take it to a whole other level.

You can see more from this gorgeous shoot here, but more importantly, you can vote for this collaboration to win the Inspired Creations Contest. The team put this together for less than $500, and they're in a position to win prizes valued at over $7000, but they need our help! So comment on their post at The Sweetest Occasion and show them some love. Their work is TO DIE FOR!

Credits: Paper goods, DIY projects and general styling: Kelly from Paper Stories + Indie Wed. General styling: Lauren from Ryan Alexander Events. Floral design and styling: Lynn from Pollen. Vintage Plates: Plate. Venue: Room 1520. Photography: Stevi from averyhouse. Learn more about the Inspired Creations Contest here.

Guest Post: Rustic Interiors on Mountain Living

I've been having a blast guest blogging over at Mountain Living! This month I shared my favorite resources for rustic outdoor decorating--everything from vintage Beatrix Potter-inspired to rough-hewn gnome's abode (above). Head over to the Mountain Living blog for the full post and all the goods!

Outfit to Room: Jaimie Alexander for Papercut Magazine

Do you guys know about Papercut Magazine? It's a relatively new publication that focuses on fashion and culture, with a focus on independent and emerging designers, and they're blowing my mind. The latest issue features actress Jaimie Alexander on the cover, and these are some of the most incredible--and inspiring--fashion photos I've seen in a long time.

Shot by Alvin Nguyen and styled by the phenomenal Alvin Stillwell, I'm in love with this shoot not only because it's gobsmackingly gorgeous but because these outfits are so real, so wearable, yet they make me want to aspire to a higher plane of wardrobe greatness. The colors, the layered textures, and the fact that ban.do's abound? You can bet your sweet patootie I'm jumping on board!

To justify sharing them with you here on the blog I had to do some outfit-to-room pairings. Luckily it wasn't hard. The thoughtful mix of chiffon and leather, wood beads and draped linen translates beautifully into rooms characterized by earthy materials, organic hues, and the occasional touch of feminine blush or silk.

This last photo? Simply too incredible to pair with anything, right? I encourage you to check out Papercut--you can read the whole magazine online, get daily behind-the-scenes updates on their terrific blog, and dive into the fun and fabulous world of indie fashion with these ingenue editors! I am seriously so impressed with these guys and can't wait to see what they do next!

Fashion: Alvin Nguyen for Papercut Magazine, May 2011. Interiors: Interiores, June 2011.

Behind the Scenes: Rue, Kimmel Kids, and Feet First

One of my favorite Rue pieces to produce each issue is the Survival Guide. I love coming up with the theme, then bringing on just the right creative partners to bring the crafts and DIY's to life. Since the May/June issue was all about entertaining, I couldn't imagine a better person than Karen Kimmel of Kimmel Kids to share a party favor project with readers!

Karen developed this simple yet showstopping succulent plant project--you can get the instructions on page 52 of Rue--and then it was up to me to style the shoot. I imagined a bunch of mischievious kids (little OR big!) at an old-west sleepover, doing this craft amongst a kitchen table littered with syrupy pancake plates, cowboy hats, and half-eaten taffy sticks.

Most of the props were rentals from a crazy cool resource in LA called Nick Metropolis--seriously, check this place out if you're ever in the area. Nick sells tons of vintage books, artwork, knick-knacks, all for super reasonable prices. I also did really well at Cost Plus Market for baskets and retro candies. More of my styling tips from this shoot are on page 56 of Rue!

The best part? Max Wanger and Our Labor of Love held their Feet First photography workshop the same day, and they photographed our spread! Their students got to see an editorial shoot in action, we got some amazing images, and everyone had tons of fun! Son of Sharkpig made this video of the event--the song is 'Now It's Mine' by Miracles of God, Courtesy of Public School Records. Enjoy!

P.S. A massive thanks to Rebecca Bee for her styling assistance on this one. Couldn't have done it without her!
P.P.S. All photos in this post are by Jesse Chamberlin of Our Labor of Love.

Obsessed: Bellbottoms from David Kahn Jeans

Yeah, yeah. I know. We're finally getting used to the mantra of 'all skinny, all the time' when it comes to our denim wardrobe. But hear me out: some days, nothing satisfies like a wild and swinging pair of bellbottoms. Especially when you're rocking them with sky-high platforms, a killer satchel, and a nipped-at-the-waist blazer. Am I right, or am I right?

I'm especially fond of the Katherine Trouser from David Kahn Jeans. A perfect mid-rise and clean wash, these babies will take you from lunch with colleagues to dinner with your sweetie, all without missing a beat. Switch it up with a leather jacket for a night on the town, or dress 'em down with a flowy silk blouse for a sweet boho hippie vibe.

My perfect summer bellbottoms outfit? A drapey buttondown and flat leather sandals, with a casual jacket and shoulder strap bag. A gold bracelet from Ariel Gordon and dangly earrings would complete this sunny sidewalk strolling look. It's just right for June in San Francisco, when you're never quite sure if the weather is your friend or your foe. At least your fashion should be spot on!

 

Lamps Plus Giveaway on the Rue Magazine Blog!

One of the most popular home tour features in the current issue of Rue is this stunning Hudson River farmhouse restoration. And is it any wonder why? This 19th century estate was near to ruin when the family of stylist Meagan Camp bought it and returned it to its former splendor. Now you can have a little piece of it for yourself, as Lamps Plus has generously put the lighting in this story up for grabs!

Lighting is actually one of the toughest things for me to make decisions on when decorating my own home, so I really appreciate how the table lamps and wall sconces blend so seamlessly into the interiors of this charming space. These pieces would translate beautifully into many different styles, from vintage boho to traditional to coastal casual and beyond!



To enter, just pop on over to the Rue blog and tell us: Which feature in Rue Issue 5 shined the brightest for you! Thanks so much to Lamps Plus for lending the lamps to complete the look in this gorgeous article, and for donating the items in this giveaway. Bonne chance, everyone!

Images: Emily Gilbert for Rue Magazine, Styling by Meagan Camp.