Back in White.

Summer is here, and the air hangs thick in Atlanta.

What better way to fool yourself into thinking you've dressed "lightly" than to frock up in glorious WHITE?

It's classic, it's crisp, it can be whimsical or stunning.

So take a cue from Anthropologie's new sister company, BHLDN, and Tom Sawyer himself. It's time to wash yourself white.

Go classic with Chanel, (no one beats this piping)

Or modern with Gucci.

Beach bound? Channel some Grace. Grace Kelly, of course!

While we're speaking of Princesses, we can't forget Kate!

This dress was princess perfect; what a Royal day.

If you're looking for regal, look no further than Carolina Herrera's signature shirt.

Be a little clandestine and grab a glorious hat, like Jean Shrimpton.

Or Transform yourself.... Okay. I'm embarrassed to admit that this post was inspired by Transformers 3. But Rosie Huntington-Whitely looked phenomenal in her white wardrobe. A white blazer with jeans and stilettos. (Were we supposed to believe those gorgeous black stilettos remained intact and on her feet during all that running and jumping and sliding down buildings? I'll buy the giant transforming evil-beating mechanically intelligent vehicles. But super-stilettos?

I don't think so.)

Or this gorgeous white dress.

Back on the runway- the detailing on this frock is art,

Much like Rodney Smith's brilliant black and white images.

White gloved art.

And Audrey, white gloved loveliness.

So take a crisp white page from some of these gals and put on your best white today. You'll feel cool, fresh, and chic.

Just don't forget your lipstick!

Float!

Sometimes the rain (or the snow!) comes down and you just have to keep smiling.

A true muse always knows how to float!

photos: Gemma Ward by Greg Kadel in Vogue Italia, Float girl from weheartit.com

It's Time For Some Pretty...

So.

It's been awhile since I've posted some aimless, thesis-less, pointless pretty.

Let's get down to business...

Pretty business.

Let's begin:

Tulle and pearls and inky eyes. Lovely.

Fuzzy Wuzzy wuzza Bunny... adorable.

BONJOUR, PARIS! Let's go dancing down the avenue.

White Contemplation...

Chapeau, frock, and feet!

Black White and So Pretty.

I don't know what I love most... the dress, the wallpaper, or the pillows...

Evan Rachel Wood as the Queen of Louisiana... Someone find me a creme suit and pearls!

There are no words.

A killer quote from the Killers, and a stellar plan of action.

It's not easy being green...

And a little memory of my climb of some 14ers in Colorado

Cup of tea and a reverie...

Gorgeous. And she looks like my mother.

50's rendezvous, whispering sweet nothings...

A roll in the wheat with some fabulous shoes.

Green Goddess on the Red Carpet.

Hold me tight, lover mine.

All on a golden afternoon....

Mountains to Conquer.

Off to Vail.

Heading westward to enjoy Bridge Street and the Coffee Shop Hill off of Chair 4. See you later this week.

Contemplating Fairy Tales.

I don't have much to say.

(it's only 1PM. As lovely as the sunshine is today,

I won't start waxing eloquent for another few hours.)

But in the meantime, I am Contemplating Fairy Tales.

Just what do they mean in today's world?

Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty (obviously my favorite) and Snow White and Rapunzel.

Cinderella's on the bedroom floor,

She's got a crush on the guy at the liquor stoor,

'Cause Mr. Charming don't come home anymore,

And she forgets why she came here.

Sleeping Beauty's in a foul mood, for shame.

She says, "None for you, dear Prince. I'm tired today.

I'd rather sleep my whole life away

Than have you keep me from dreaming."

...

Snow White is doin' dishes again,

'Cause what else can she do with 7 itty bitty men?

Sends them to bed and she calls up a friend, says:

"Can you meet me at midnight?"

The tall blonde lets out a cry of despair, says:

"Would have cut it myself if I knew men could climb hair.

I'll have to find another tower somewhere,

And keep away from the window."

Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom,

Man made up a story, said that I should believe him.

Go and tell your White Night

That he's handsome in hindsight,

But I don't want the Next Best Thing.

'Cause I don't care for your fairy tales,

You're so worried 'bout the Maiden,

Though you know she's only waiting

On the next best thing.

I don't care for your fairy tales,

Worried 'bout the Maiden though you know she's only waiting-

Spent her whole life being graded

On the sanctity of patience,

And a dumb appreciation,

But this story needs a mending

With a better Happy Ending,

'Cause I don't want the Next Best Thing.

No, I don't want the Next Best Thing.

-Sara Bareilles

photos: Cam Archer Portrait, Tim Walker image from Vogue UK March 2009, Alexia Sinclair - My Modern Metropolis, Melvin Sokolsky

Snow and Sunlight.

Honestly. Despite craving a mad, torrential downpour of epic spring-thunderstorm proportions, I cannot deny the loveliness that's lurking in the Rockies. After all those years living in Philly, this sunshine is simply...well...glorious.

And so is the Night.

Night

Stars over snow,

And in the west a planet

Swinging below a star---

Look for a lovely thing and you will find it,

It is not far---

It never will be far.

--Sara Teasdale

Hold onto Hope, Love.

iTunes discoveries elate me. Last night I came across a lovely little lady and her musical offerings. Amy Stroup has a number of delightful songs which have been slowly accumulating over the years. One of my favorites is "Hold onto Hope, Love", a delicate anthem of two of the strongest or most fragile things in our lives.

Once that violin starts whirring, I'm stuck.

"Hold onto Hope, Love, I searched high and low for you, for you.

Each day gets closer, so hold on stronger to me and you.

Someday soon I'll find you, Someday soon I'll know you, Someday..."

Even better, I found the following passage on Amy's myspace page:

2 Cor 4:15-18 “Don’t lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Despite the occasional sense of being caught in a whirlpool of time as we watch each glorious day go by, there are everlasting constants that do not age and do not tire.

Like Hope.

And Love.

photo: from Shirley at vi.sualize.us, "Hold onto Hope, Love" by Amy Stroup, available on iTunes (...so worth the $.99).

Snow...

It's falling outside, a new blanket of sparkling white to overlay the frosty remnants of what fell earlier this week. I haven't seen snow this often in my life, and it's beautiful. Needless to say, it puts you in the mood for the holiday season, and I find myself singing...

Bing Crosby's and Rosemary Clooney's voices, Vera Ellen's grace, and Danny Kaye's smile just make it feel like Christmas.

Snow stifles the frazzle, and leaves the world quiet, pensive, and oh so lovely.

It can be a little glamorous, a little sparkly, a little all-dressed-up,

or quietly magical;

nature's chance to play dress-up in the winter months,

or to change your architectural details.

You start to look at the world differently,

and you can't help but feel like a kid again.

Most of all, I love how the nights become magic. Snow flurries whisper at your window - or are they snow fairies? Street lamps become elaborate gobos and stage setters for the mundane parking lot that has transformed into a fantasy world, clean and sharp and bright. And somewhere in the stillness, your heart waits for you.

photos: RosieHardy at vi.sualize.us (i love this picture!!), LCTGloriosityColorado09, Fashion Image found online (whose is this?), Leaca at vi.sualize.us, LCTGloriosityPhiladelphia09, LCTGloriosityColorado09, MartaCernicka at photo.net, Kent Miles - English Gardens 1981 (Gorgeous!), yein~ at vi.sualize.us.