Write Up My Alley.

Have you ever opened a book, or even an e-mail, and discovered it to have been written by a soul-sister, walking the earth in some distant place or time?

Aren't those glorious moments?

Finding a friend through the written word- someone with whom you may never share a single word of correspondence, but into whose thoughts you briefly step to tread among them and think, "So maybe I'm not quite so alone in the world, after all."

Most notably in my life? Discovering L.M.Montgomery's wonderful Avonlea as a child.

My roommate started reading Elizabeth Gilbert, not even on my recommendation, and would stop every few pages to say, "Chesley. This woman is you. It's so weird."

You know those books that make you laugh out loud? That you read in a single sitting and carry around with you when you scoot to the kitchen for snacks or run to answer the phone because you just can't put it down? 84 Charing Cross Road.

The book that makes you laugh and cry and sigh and smile? (Whoever would have guessed by the title?"

Or the books that have been frosted with magic and just-a-little-bit-larger-than-life dusting of fairy tales for the not-so-common everyday girl?

And the throwbacks, romanticism (in its literary and art historical sense), and still romantic? I mean, with a first line like, "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink," you know you're in for a treat.

Well, call me daft, but I opened up my inbox today and found a lovely little marketing e-mail from J.Crew, that purveyor of all things classic, slightly nautical, casual-chic. And much to my delight, (after falling in love with this delicious looking bag),

I found that kindred spirits don't only write novels. They write marketing copy as well. After reading that "Alison, Editorial Copy Director" for The Crew "singlehandedly keeps thesaurus.com in business" I was briefly reassured that there is a job out there, even for a wordsmithing wit. And that even a girl who likes to "carry around a notebook and writing utensil at all times in case i get inspired to jot down an idea, but it never happens. I usually just end up scribbling down to-do lists that I never look at again" can make it. It gives me hope.

Wordsmithing, scatterbrained, classy, fabulous females, speak out. You are among friends here!

Paris @ Midnight

Have you ever seen Paris at Midnight?

You should.

I am an Italophile, through and through. But like all good Europeans in pursuit of personal fulfillment and an enviable cache of life experiences, occasionally I dally on the side.

After seeing Woody Allen's latest film last night, I'm pretty sure Paris would make an ideal mistress. She's always dressed perfectly for any occasion, and she has plenty of secrets and stories and grace.

I've never been to France at all. I may just have to find a way.

Paris at Midnight. The film is the improbable combination of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Woody Allen's inimitable comedic style.

It's every romantic's dream, combining multiple memorable Parisian epochs to weave quite a story.

Add to this the delight of not only seeing actors and actresses pop up on screen that spur the thought, "Oh I love her!" "Oh I love him!",

and oohing over the inspired costume design (fashionistas beware; you'll be aching to accent your wardrobe with 20's-inspired items), but the characters themselves make up an echelon of the cultural icons who challenged the mores of society and created cultural milestones, markers, and entire classifications of art. You'll come home and pull out all your school books, desperate to begin reading and learning and reacquainting yourself with these greats.

And until you can feed the hungry intellectual giant that no doubt broods inside your skulls, you can just ooh and ah over the costumes and sceneries, and giggle over Allenisms given renewed vitality by contemporary actors.

And you'll probably find yourself making plans, like I did, to somehow, some way, go dancing in Paris.

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!

Paint it Red.

So. Let's talk Red.

I went out on the town the other night and took with me some red, red, red lipstick.

And red makes everything better.

Be it on your walls,

on your lips,

or on your frock,

red can make ordinary simply extraordinary.

And it makes you feel fabulous, too.

My challenge to you? Wear red somehow, someway, every day for a week. See if you don't double your fabulosity.

photos: Marilyn Monroe, red painted lips from loveyourchais.tumblr, Gossip Girl spot from sirendoll.tumblr, Pia's Red Rose by ilina s on flickr, Just another shy princess by ~Enaaa on deviantART, Untitled by CrunchyLashes on flickr, zucch3rino.deviantart, Sex in the City image, Red Dress from lesmads.de, Little Red Riding Hood image by Rocio Montoya, your heart is an empty room by ~Danuva at deviantART, Marilyn Monroe

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....