I just caught a lovely post on gingham at The Adventures of TartanScot. I immediately gushed to Scot about my longtime love of gingham. It's so summery, so fresh. It's at once uber preppy, yet country. Right now, it's even couture. Is there any fabric more all-American?
Images: The Adventures of Tartanscot; Atlantic-Pacific; Alexandra Rae's fantasy shopping files; Audrey Hepburn, Bridget Bardot, via my pinterest boards; last collage from The City Sage;
I just bought a heap of gingham shirts from JCrew. For summer entertaining, I keep piles of the cheap stuff in every color. It's less than $4/yd and makes any party so festive. I just pick my color to set the tone and whip out the pinking shears. My fav scheme is the cornflower blue with my blue/white Spode dishes and pink and orange garden roses. This first image, via Scot, will be forever filed in "favorites." Unfortunately, I can't see my husband agreeing to those hot yellow pants.
Of course, this inspired a fantasy shopping spree....
Fantasy Shopping resources for those of you lucky enough to care:
Dress, Giambattista Vallie, $719 (on sale from $1800) at barney.com
Snake skull clutch by Alexander McQueen, $1360 at harveynichols.com
Diamond earrings, Munnu $7500 at barneys.com
Shoes, Reiss Women, $290 here
Watch, Michael Kors at net-a-porter
When I walked out of my apartment this morning, I was thrilled to be greeted with mild temperatures and the faint smell of fresh-cut grass. It reminded me of early spring, when most of the landscape is still muddy brown, there's frost on the ground at sunrise, and the very first pink and red flower buds begin to pop open. With that inspiration in mind, I decided to do a little digging to find some pretty, little items that would remind me of that feeling all year long -- delicate, feminine florals, vintage-inspired frocks, pale and shimmering neutrals and of course, roses everwhere.
Left to right: 1. Kimchi Blue Floral 80s Strapless Dress (Urban Outfitters) 2. Tissue Sparkling Rose Tee (J.Crew) 3. and 4. Cabbage Rose Underpinnings (Anthropologie) 5. Slub Silk Daydream Floral Lorelai Dress (J.Crew) 6. Smith's Minted Rosebud Salve (Anthropologie) 7. 1928 french paperback book (French Blue & Company)
1. Abundant Callas Necklace (Anthropologie) 2. Rose Fight Knuckle Ring (Free People) 3. Tea Rose Necklace (Urban Outfitters) 4. Girl's Night Out Necklace (Bejewelled Bespoke) 5. Iced Rosette Clutch (Anthropologie) 6. and 7. Rosette Necklaces (Flora Bond)
1. The Warbler Embroidered Collage Pillow (La Pomme) 2. Filigree Gocco Print (Flower Press) 3. Moonflower Pillow Cover (MishMosh) 4. Vintage 1960s Flat Top Sheet (The Linen Lavoir) 5. One of a Kind Ceramic Plate (Anthropologie) 6. Garden Party Curtain Tie Back (Urban Outfitters)
