Some say there is an indescribable magic and poetry in the very experience and effervescence—the way the delicious bubbles gracefully float within the flute, almost like a theatrical dance . . . a dance in celebration of new memories and old; for future moments that captivate, for new marriages just beginning, for an exciting graduation, for a touching anniversary, for the promise of a fresh, new year. They remind of the beautiful joys in life to cherish and hold onto, always. A champagne occasion relies on feeling and experience, and for one to revel and linger in the moment for as long as possible.
And as we celebrate love in all of its essence this Valentine's Day—be it love for dear friends and family, or your significant other—our hearts overflow with happiness for the simple and wonderful opportunity to love and be loved.
And so, today, let's discover how this beautiful golden elixir came about, explore its fascinating history, and tour three unforgettable wineries, as well as look at tips & ideas on how best to enjoy a glass . . .
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{take me away № 18 | a glamorous guide to champagne, part 2}
{take me away № 04 | vintage & antique luggage}
There is something significantly special about vintage and antique luggage pieces. Unlike the compact pieces that are created out of convenience and necessity today: suitable for planes, trains, ships, and automobile travel—the type of luggage needed from years past is quite different.
For instance, baby strollers today are easy to clean and maintain, can carry a number of children at time, and can fold into a fraction of their size, not unlike an origami piece; whereas in the past, more scalable prams were standard, designed with large, more industrial strength metal parts, and were produced with fine materials—some even included beautiful paintings and special storage compartments, and were often decorative and treasured for many, many years.
The same is with luggage; today, we seek quite different conveniences and scales, and yet can appreciate and enjoy the beauty of pieces from a bygone era.
Proficiently and arduously, “constructed by hand from metal, timber, leather and brass, these trunks were highly sought after and favoured by royal families and international high society alike.”
Traveling in style was considered as important as where one would travel. It’s lovely to imagine the sorts of journeys these pieces went on—exotic trips to Africa, trains through Europe, new homes and lands, discovered . . .
[continue reading sarah's tips for purchasing vintage and antique travel cases below . . .] x
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{take me away № 03 | tips for buying luggage}
With thanks to a lovely reader for the suggestion, this week’s {take me away} column shares and showcases an array of wonderful luggage options, from inexpensive, yet lovely pieces readily available at Macy’s, to exquisite investment pieces in Louis Vuitton's classic Monogram Etoile.
Whether you are looking to purchase your carry-on with a more conservative budget and splurge on your suitcase, or are looking to build a life-long lasting collection — or perhaps, are looking for the best quality set for a small budget, style and function needn’t be compromised. And so, below are some of our current favorites on the market, in an array of looks, price points, designs and functions, offering features to note and great style . . .
[read sarah's picks & tips for choosing luggage after the jump] x
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{take me away № 02 | luggage to last a lifetime}
As with many things, it is wise to purchase the best quality of luggage and travel accessories that one can afford. Luggage is an investment, and quality pieces will often last for a lifetime.
Well-made and designed luggage is aimed to make the process of your journey easier, and will take you through many years of adventures.
Whether you are beginning to put together your own luggage collection, are a well-seasoned traveler looking to replace the pieces you have, or searching for the perfect gift for someone you love, this guide will assist you in building a quality luggage collection.
No matter if you prefer a sleek, streamlined look with neutral colors, or a colorful, fun look with personalized details . . .
It is imperative to learn some of the basics of what to look for when selecting pieces . . .
[as always, more after the jump] x
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{work of art: photographic still lifes}
. . . while the worlds of décor and fashion often collide here, every once in a while, the intermingling of fashion and art, such as the glimpses of of paolo roversi's ethereal, painterly work, and now, michele gastel's photographic still life, naturalistico, an artful arrangement of fashion accessories and everyday objects, resulting quiet captures of beautiful moments in time . . .
{images: photographic still life by michele gastel for the february issue of italian amica via life is a puzzle & the terrier & the lobster}
{at the office: the ipad 2}
. . . admittedly, it has seen more play than work, for in barely three weeks' time, already, over six hundred novels, two rather tense, late-night games of scrabble, many favourite apps {especially flipboard}, a few masterpieces {created with a stylus and drawing apps}, and issues of martha stewart living . . . all that's left is to get back to work, but first, the perfect carrying case . . .
& above: double strap leather from j.j. boyles {also 4 & 7} & white cabriolet from dooney & bourke
{top image: photography by roséline for this is glamorous; thanks to reader arianna for the dooney & bourke link}
{avis de beau temps}
. . . one of the many new year's resolutions for this year is to work less & play more, and for the office, a perfect mix of tweed blazers and silk scarves, pretty cardigans and structured handbags, secretary blouses and strappy peeptoes -- and for the weekend -- nautical stripes and sexy shades for an afternoon at the beach . . .
{p.s.} another resolution
{images: patricia van der vliet by test for elle france january 2011, styling by tamara taichman via fgr}
{to sleep perchance to dream}
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
. . . one of the best things ever is to wake up at an insanely early hour and catch a flight to some wildly romantic, far-off place, even if it means a tiny cat-nap, mid-coffee in the airport lounge, moments before take-off . . .
{p.s.} and to p, thank you for being the best travelling companion in the world, and can not wait to make a million more memories on our next adventure . . .
{images: julija steponaviciute & guy robinson by raymond meier for vogue UK, february 2011 via oh fashion models}
{holiday inspiration: the spirit of giving}
. . . ever since their crystal & gold tray was featured here last autumn, many have been smitten with the stunningly lovely things found at rablabs, and since it's the season for giving, few things are lovelier than an utterly beautiful gift that also supports a great cause -- and this year -- rablabs has teamed up with tri-state bird rescue, an organization working to manage the rehabilitation of oiled wildlife in the gulf coast, to offer a new line of coasters inspired by the enchanted dreams of the ocean . . .
. . . made from natural rocks found in the heart of brazil, the exquisitely elegant ocean coasters are formed from the unique tides and eddies of mineral-rich water flowing through ancient lava streams, their deep blue-green hues reflecting the intensely saturated color and mystery of the ocean . . .
founded in response to mass wildlife destruction resulting from oil spills, tri state bird rescue & research has been rehabilitating birds since 1976; with this new collaboration with rablabs, 20% of the proceeds from these brazilian agate coasters in the special edition oceano range will be donated to this wonderful cause
. . . and so, if still searching for that last perfect gift . . . here
{p.s.} happy, happy monday! hope your week is off to a beautiful start,
{images: 1 - vt interiors; 2 - anne vvalitsyna by mark segal for louis vuitton cruise 2011}