GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAFY

Rather synonymous with the beautifully hued and brisk autumn season is equestrian style -- perhaps it is due to the association with all that is classically equestrian— beginning primarily with the rich colors . . .



. . . at home, the warm, textural plaid blankets, and paintings of races hung in hallways; hearty, blazing fires and stylishly, meticulously finished and fitted crested blazers, buttery soft leather riding boots, gloves, and the like.



Perhaps what is so fascinating and alluring are the aristocratic appeal and the open adventures outdoors that these things also represent, or, maybe it is the old world appeal—the history, the sport, and the celebration, as well the beauty of horses to be appreciated.



Though certainly not succinct only with autumn, with layers and leaves falling, an appreciation of equestrian beauty is afresh and particular notes of equestrian style (such as beloved Hermès blankets) returns . . .





Beyond magnifying equestrian style, for many, an equestrian escape, where one might enjoy the sport, races, adventures and exploring different trails and areas, is befitting.


From an exotic and welcoming resort in India, to a classic castle in England full of comforts, here is a selection of a variety of lovely accommodations, worldwide, to visit . . .


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. . . may always love the gilded, art-deco inspired f. scott fitzgerald covers best, but the new designs by coralie bickford-smith for the penguin hardback classics series are every bit as chic and ultra-stylish with their pared-down, graphic appeal, and of the many new designs, favourites include the elegant gold chains of jane austen's mansfield park and the pretty horses of charles dickens' hard times . . .


{images: via the terrier and the lobster}

. . . must confess, still a little caught up in the romance of it all, the stolen glances and secret smiles, the horse-drawn carriages and chantilly lace, the balcony kisses and moments so breathtakingly lovely, can barely stand it . . .




prince william & catherine, the duke & duchess of cambridge




detail of the exquisite wedding gown, put together by hand by sarah burton of alexander mcqueen, it is a perfect intermingling of tradition and modernity, with a bodice of ivory satin made of hand-cut english lace and french chantilly lace, over ivory and white satin gazar {a sheer, lightweight silk organza with a glaze-like sheen and moderate stiffness}; individual flowers were hand cut from lace and hand-engineered onto the ivory silk tulle to create the design, which features rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrocks, the national flowers of england, ireland, scotland, and wales; 58 gazar & organza covered buttons ran up the back




the eight-tiered royal wedding cake was decorated with 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers, including 17 different blooms and foliage for their meaning and symbolism, known as the language of flowers


the veil was made of layers of ivory silk tulle and trimmed with hand-embroidered flowers, sewn on by the royal school of needlework at hampton court palace



the bridal bouquet included myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth and sweet william blooms; in keeping with royal tradition, stems from a myrtle planted by queen victoria in 1845 were also added; according to tradition, the bouquet of a royal bride will be left on the tomb of the unknown solider in westminster abbey; the late queen mother began the ritual by leaving her wedding bouquet at the grave in 1923 in memory of her brother, fergus, who was killed in the first world war






. . . and of course, with all of this week's talk of tiaras . . . kate's 'something borrowed' was the cartier halo tiara, made in 1936 and purchased by king george VI for his wife queen elizabeth {the queen mother} three weeks before he succeeded his brother as king; the tiara was presented to princess elizabeth, now the queen, by her mother on the occasion of her 18th birthday; the new princess catherine matched the tiara with earrings by robinson pelham, a gift from her parents inspired by the new middleton coat of arms

{p.s.} for the royal wedding reception, catherine changed into a second alexander mcqueen gown, and her sister pippa changed out of the stunning mcqueen into temperley london


{credits: one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten | eleven}

. . . with the exception of one christmas in florida, have always spent the holidays somewhere where there is the possibility of swirling and softly falling snow -- whether paris or anywhere else in the world, the holidays were always a winter wonderland in late december, and while shall always love a blanket of snow on christmas day, have sometimes wondered what it would be like to celebrate in a place where the sun shone brightly and warmly and it was summertime, and realise that it would be quite the same, if you are with those you love, with the exception, of course, that you could trim the tree with freshly picked gardenias and host a holiday dinner party outdoors . . .

{images: homelife}

. . . the last day of august and how it has arrived so quickly is a mystery, and while the early morning air has become a little cooler, the sun still shines warmly and whether it's ribbons or tulle, stripes on a chair or a soft cashmere sweater, whether in shades of monticello or azalea, somehow, the last days of summer always feels like pink . . .

{p.s.} today is also p's birthday and we're off to lose ourselves in beautiful things . . . à bientôt & hope your week is off to a perfect start xo

{images: photography by jose villa via follow studio; absolutely beautiful things; t.i.g. scan, martha stewart weddings; peonies: photography by sarah tucker via ada & darcy; t.i.g. scan, photography by tom leighton, styling by ali brown and kate french for homes & gardens july 2010; t.i.g. scan, j.crew august 2009}

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