It is official. The furry little guy saw his shadow today. Let the count down to Spring 2012 begin! Check out these six great spring looks that you have to look forward to in just six short weeks!
Nina Ricci Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear
Barbara Tfank Spring 2012
Erdem Spring 2012
Vionnet Spring 2012
Ellie Saab Spring 2012
Chris Benz Spring 2012
Royal Russia Up Next!
I have been looking forward to the beginning of fall since Beijing’s first summer day that reached 100 degrees. Hallelujah! Fall is here. The morning air is crisp and the breeze adds just the perfect amount of chill down my spine. So…why I am already wishing for spring?? I suppose I should blame Jonathan Saunders and Ms. Vivienne Westwood for that!
Here are my favorites from Day II of London Fashion Week Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear:
Sheer nude dress with yellow detail by Jonathan Saunders.
Printed romper OR separates by Jonathan Saunders. Honestly, I can't tell if this is a romper or not. Either way - I think it is a fun casual look, but of course, I hope it is a romper!
Silk nude and baby blue dress by Jonathan Saunders. I love the femininity of this dress.
Look by Jaeger London. This hat is fantastic. The perfect outfit for widow shopping on vacation or meeting the girls for lunch.
Look by Jaeger London. It would definitely need a camisole to be PTA appropriate, but I think this colorful short suit could work at a number of daytime events.
Romper by Jaeger London. I like how they added a pop of yellow in the shoe; however, I think I would have preferred it at the waist with a thin bright yellow paten leather belt.
Jumpsuit by Julien Macdonald. Simple and chic. Plus, how convenient are the pockets!
Sheer gown by Julien Macdonald. Okay - so you need a knock out bod for this dress - but isn't it stunning? I love the heavy feel of the fringe details at the bottom on such light and sheer fabric.
Perfect safari chic look at Vivienne Westwood Red Label.
WOW me RED at Vivienne Westwood Red Label
Look by Nabil El-Nayal shown at Fashion Fringe. It is not overly "springy", but the volume of the blouse is great, and the pencil skirt is the perfect proportion to the top.
Dress by Issa. A great, easy everyday dress. It is borderline too simple (for me anyway!) but I think this would look good on a lot of different women, and I love the cut.
Jumpsuit by Issa. Can you believe it? I like another jumpsuit. Shocking. But seriously...this one is super cute.
Cerulean blue gown by Issa. This gown has such a beautiful flow. It looks effortless - which makes it perfect for vacation or for a last-minute fancy dinner date with your husband!
Images courtesy of http://www.style.com
There is a reason that a song was written for this time of year in Paris…because springtime in Paris is absolute perfection! And while one doesn’t need an excuse to visit the city in all of its blooming glory, what better reason to go than a Parisian Wedding of a fellow Kentuckian childhood friend?!
Like any trip to Paris – ours was filled with delicious cuisine, tasty wines, outdoor cafes, rich culture, high-end window shopping, and a highly contagious “c’est la vie” attitude. I think I can best describe the trip through our photos…they speak much louder than my words!
First though, on a quick practical note – I would like to share with any Beijingers traveling to Paris that we flew on the direct flight from PEK to CDG on Air France which left around 11AM getting us to Paris by 2:30PM. This was actually really convenient timing – it allowed us to check it, take a quick catnap, and freshen up before hitting the town that night. On our last visit we took a redeye on Aeroflot and connected through Moscow. This trip was much easier and we were more adapt to “Parisian time” (i.e. waiting until 10-11AM to really get the day started!).
For the first 2 nights in Paris, we stayed in a lovely Relais & Chateaux hotel in the 8th Arrondissement near the L’Arc de Triomphe. Lucky for us – we were able to communicate with our taxi driver very easily…because he spoke English? NO! Because he was Chinese/French and he spoke Mandarin! www.hoteldanielparis.com
Hotel Daniel in Paris
Living Room at Hotel Daniel - So Cozy!
On our first night, we started at Hotel Amour in the 9th Arr. for a romantic dinner for two in their outdoor courtyard. The hotel is a bit edgy with a fashionable crowd, and the food was tasty. Not Guy Savoy tasty – but not Guy Savoy prices either. It was a very reasonable dinner (great prices on wine) and the setting was lively and Parisian chic. I recommend a reservation – specifically for one of the hidden tables in the back, tucked among beautiful hedges in a glow of candlelight. TIP: It is a bit difficult to find a direct contact online. I suggest emailing your concierge to make the booking for you.
Outside the Amour Hotel. Not our best photo – but the crowd was a bit too cool for tourists! Clearly – this is a self-portrait.
Bird's Eye View of Amour Hotel's Outdoor Restaurant Seating
After dinner we grabbed a taxi to the recently renovated Royal Monceau Hotel (a Raffles Hotel) for a few drinks at Le Bar Long. It was here where we found our second wind…a second wind to the level of a couple of 21 year olds and we would pay for this later! Specifically, we would pay for this the next morning! Maybe we can still go out like 21 year olds – but we can certainly not recover like them!
From The Royal Monceau we headed to Le Baron (in the 8th Arr. Opens around 1AM). Proud of ourselves for getting “in” ahead of a line full of 18-22 year old extremely put together Parisians, we danced the night away and left around 4:30 AM with sore feet, hungry bellies, and an inevitable headache on the way. But…what a fun way to get there!
Needless to say, we slept in on Friday and room service seemed the only option for our first meal of the day – around 11! Afterwards, we threw on some clothes and hit the streets with the intent of buying a wedding gift for the happy couple. Unfortunately, after unsuccessful visits to the bridal registries at Galleries Lafayette and Printemps, we realized that Jennifer and Jean Marc were actually registered at Bon Marche. With too little time to get there, we scurried back to the hotel to get ready for the rehearsal dinner and shop for the betrothed online at www.mariage.lebonmarche.fr. Finally…success! And let’s be honest, a bit of window shopping in two of the most famous department stores in Paris was not so bad…
Unsuccessful Shopping Excursion. I apparently decided to dress like a human traffic cone.
I love that he is still this jolly after two failed attempts at bridal registries. What a good husband!
Our very kind cab driver made a quick stop by the L'Arc de Triomphe for a photo op on the way to the rehearsal dinner. Who says the French are snobs? I think they are quite lovely!
Outside the Buttes Chaumont Park in the 19th Arrondissement. The dinner was inside this beautiful park at Le Pavillon du Lac. It was a fantastic evening full of great conversation with old and new friends alike! FASHION: Vintage 1980's Silk Carolina Herrera Jumpsuit & Red Bottega Veneta Clutch
Paris in the Springtime…Part Deux COMING SOON!
A Blonde in Beijing 