GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAFY

. . . if you have been reading for a while, you will know about a longstanding love affair with vaulted, soaring and perfectly ornate ceilings, intricate crown moulding and wood panelled walls, and so, fell completely for the design of the most recent apple store, paris opéra, in the 9e arrondissement; known as the 'most un-apple apple store', the glass-and-steel of trademark elements like the staircase, have fallen away to wood and wrought iron, creating a perfect juxtaposition of old & new, traditional & modern . . .



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. . . and around here, a terrible weakness for perfectly decorated hotels, and the greenbrier most certainly fits into the category -- the intoxicating intermingling of vibrant colours and patterns, leaves and florals and elegant drapery, gilded flourishes and enchanting chandeliers are just the thing for these overcast autumn days . . .









{p.s.} more photos after the jump x

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Holiday galas and winter soirées await, and since we already have the glittery heels, shimmery makeup, satin manicures, and sequined party dresses, all that's left to worry about is the hair . . .



. . . but if you happen to live in one of the 12 cities with a Drybar, then chances are you needn't worry. Drybar is a blow dry hair salon created around a very simple concept: they only do blowouts, and what glamorously chic and perfectly-polished blowouts they are! Whether you opt for the straight and sleek Manhattan or the fun and curly Cosmopolitan, Drybar offers a menu of hairstyles for any occasion.



Alli Webb, founder of the ultra-stylish salons, began her career in the fashion industry working with designer Nicole Miller, as well as in public relations, working with clients such as Faith Hill and Paul McCartney. After a few years, she followed her heart and decided to pursue her true passion: hair styling. Alli trained under the expert instruction of Toni&Guy and spent several years honing her skills working for the renowned John Sahag.



Recently, we sat down with Alli to hear more about how she came up with the idea for Drybar, and found out that it all began as a result of realizing what she needed, personally, as there were no good choices in the marketplace for blowouts. She also noticed that there was no pretty, fun place to go without feeling guilty for spending so much money on a blow dry every week.



So, teaming up with her husband and her brother, she set out to create that ideal place, a place many are calling "girl heaven", complete with flat screens playing sweet, feel-good movies, hors d'oeuvres, and cozy, chic white interiors, and all at a perfect price.



And having personally visited three different Drybar locations, in New York City, California and Texas, can attest that it truly is an escape, an oasis in the middle of the chaos of the big city -- with one of the best parts being that you can be completely relaxed knowing that you will get consistently perfect results every time . . .



This week, we are excited to share a special double installment of {favourite five}, where we asked Alli, her:

And also, [because we just had to know] Alli's . . .

{top five favourite hair styling products she can't live without:}

1. Morrocan Oil Hydrating Styling Creme
It's fantastic. I colour my hair so it often gets dry and this product is great for hydrating it.

2. Morrocan Oil Luminous Hair Spray, Flexible Hold
I'm not a big hair spray person, but I love the smell of this product! Better yet, it tames fly-aways and won't make hair look like "helmet head". I love that you can still brush through hair when using this hairspray.

3. L'Oréal Pomade
This is a great light pomade for a piece-y, messy and beach-y look like DryBar's "Mai Tai".

4. TIGI Catwalk Transforming Dry Shampoo by Toni&Guy
I use this product like crazy! It is a great blow dry extender.

5. Morrocan Oil Gold Glimmer Shine
This light, airy spray gives great shine that lasts.

"At the ballet, you really feel like you're in the presence of something outside the rest of your life. Higher than the rest of your life. "

. . . always and forever photographing little snippets of life -- beautiful vignettes and new french desserts, glimmering chandeliers on warm summer nights, captured in memory and forever in time, and so, completely fell in love with the concept behind creative director, jane cameron's, blog, which is filled with these little magazine moments . . .



{p.s.} a few of my magazine moments























r e c e n t p l a c e s :

* at the gallery

* at an oceanside cottage

* in the kitchen

* backstage at valentino





{images: all photography by jane cameron at a magazine moment}

. . . with summer days flying by, irresistibly drawn, more and more, to the lure of the ocean, and to slowing things down, just a little . . . and this light and lovely oceanside cottage, with its billowy curtains and seashell chandelier, bright white & seaglass palette and spectacularly breathtaking view, was made for nothing more than to lounge about in the ocean breezes . . .





{images: veranda magazine august 2006 via desde my ventana}

. . . and while we're on the topic of magic, heartstoppingly lovely backstage at valentino couture . . .







{backstage at valentino couture from vogue.com via studded hearts}

. . . must confess, these days, would most likely find me anywhere {most likely in the office} other than the kitchen, unless it is to pour the champagne, or to linger about the hors d'œuvre, and of course, when there are cream-filled cakes and heart-shaped shortbread cookies sprinkled with confectioners' sugar . . .

{p.s.} a recent places feature, where one might also find me: here


{images: photography by anna kern; photography by sussie bell, styling selina lake for tesco; by yvestown, yvonne eijkenduijn on flickr & blogged here}

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."