GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAFY

. . . lately have been thinking about the things we always come back to—the crashing waves of the ocean, a favourite fragrance or countryside road, a novel or restaurant; for some, there are the same colours, designers, or interiors . . .



. . . and for me, it is this manhattan apartment, belonging to fashion designer betsey johnson—a maximalist heaven of overflowing bouquets of roses and utterly breathtaking pink walls, beautiful chandeliers and yards upon yards of antique lace . . .

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WHAT TO PACK FOR PARIS | march twenty-twelve
concept & words by sarah klassen, editing & image compilation by roséline

Last week, we shared a few favourite places in the city of lights & love, for those with dreams and plans to summer in the Jardin du Luxembourg and the tea rooms of Ladurée, and this week, in answer to all of the requests that have been pouring in over the past few months, thought it might be lovely to include a few tips and suggestions for what to take on such an adventure, and ideas for wonderful little additions to your wardrobe, such as a new scarf you might pick up in a charming shop in Montmartre or a cocktail ring from a vintage shop on a pretty side street, or perhaps your first scent from Hermès.



The memories of your trip will surely follow you home, when your scarf is trailing behind you, as you walk along the beach, reminding you of the most romantic evening along the Seine, or while you are enjoying an evening out with your love, the scent of your new favorite perfume bringing back memories of the most beautiful picnic that the two of you shared in the gardens of Versailles.



Your journey is meant to be fun and full of exploration, discovery and culture—and very much a part of the culture of Paris is the fashion and style of Parisians, with their clever mix of elegance, sexiness and ease. My Mother once taught me, the basics are wonderful and necessary, but you must give them your own twist—your personal touch, be it a chic belt, or a re-interpreted piece of jewelry given to you by your Grandmother.



And while planning for the trip, there are a number of things to consider, from simple comforts that make all of the difference while flying, to unforeseen things that may occur while you are out & about exploring this magical city. And so, today we explore these things, to help insure that you have a most pleasant and most memorable trip . . .

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. . . running a little behind today due to an early morning photo shoot, but upcoming are a few fun things, including this week's {take me away}, and a very lovely how-to, but first, coffee and two lovely things . . .

"flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world"

With the promise of spring just around the corner, can not help but daydream of the perfect beauty of blossoming rose gardens and picnics in wildflower fields, afternoon teas on the terrace, overflowing with wisteria and nearly every corner of the house filled with favourite blooms . . .

To bury one's nose in a heavenly array of petals seems to overtake the mind and soul, almost instantaneously, like great winds upon sails. Memories of dreams and hopes may spring to mind -- of possibilities, of receiving your first red rose and kiss, of candlelit pathways, sweet notes read time and time again, and warm embraces; of the words, "I love you". Such fond memories, words and feelings are truly a matter of the heart; the very deepest matter of all.



Yesterday, today and tomorrow, we celebrate roses, as their ever-returning connection to Valentine's Day and love is deeply woven in history. According to number of sources, roses are representative of love in all its forms, and more so became a popular Valentine’s Day flower during the 17th century. It all seems to stem back to the simple belief that a red rose was the favorite flower of Venus -- the Roman Goddess of beauty and love.



Hence, the rose has been claimed as the single flower of love and passion. And just who grows these delicate flowers? There are specialists throughout the world, who devote their time, expertise, passion and pursuit of continuing the tradition of growing and maintaining a beautiful part of our history. Today, we take a dip into romance, as we explore ideas on how to use, preserve and give roses, as well as three wondrous and fascinating rose gardens across the globe . . .

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. . . there is something quite mesmerising about the still life photographs of inês nepomuceno — taken in a studio with an analog camera, a series of photographs of her daily meals, "the banality of this food was transformed by the medium" into a beautiful play of light & shadow, resulting in a painterly quality that is strikingly lovely . . .

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. . . first came across this centuries-old home in normandy last november, and immediately fell head over heels, and so, was utterly thrilled to happen across it again, in the current issue of veranda; and while one is impossibly drawn to the allure of the leopard silk velvet canapé, there are still a myriad of beautiful things to captivate -- the floors, [always, the floors], the gilded picture frames and cashmere throws, the antique bergères in stroheim suede, the grand chandeliers and palest shades of gray, and most of all, that perfect mix of relaxed & refined . . .

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. . . one of the fondest memories of growing up was my mother's movie-star dressing rooms -- enormous and luxurious, and with those pretty white lights that trail all the way around the large looking glass above the vanity, upon which was always a beautiful scattering of perfume bottles and golden hairpins, and every kind of beauty product one could possibly imagine -- it was a most magical place for a little girl, and needless to say, spent many, many hours utterly lost in spritzes of heady perfume, dustings of silvery eyeshadows and dashes of lipstick, and watching my mother get ready for dinner parties and evening soirées . . .



. . . and as there have been so many requests, thought it might be lovely, [with a little winter light & p's stunning photography], to share a glimpse of a few favourite things on the vanity and of the moment . . .

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. . . the place is in a state of disarray, for, instead of spring cleaning, it's winter cleaning, for, as you know, currently in the midst of some very exciting things that involve a bit of upheaval, and so, this weekend is red wine in cut crystal glasses, films and flower shops and photographs, a romantic dusting of snow on these [cosy] chilly nights, and love, love, love . . .

hope you're having an astonishingly wonderful weekend, and that it's beautiful where you are, roséline xo

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. . . when it comes to table settings, nearly always prefer a light and ethereal colour palette -- white and gold and perhaps, only on occasion, a dash of hollywood cerise, but as the days drift steadily toward chillier temperatures, have been falling for deeper and richer hues -- cobalt & hermès, sunrise & cerulean -- intermingled, of course, with elegantly patterned table linens and astonishingly lovely chandeliers dripping in glittering crystals and bits of gold . . .





{images: eddie ross for lonny via simply smitten}

. . . a more luxuriously low-key weekend would not have been possible, for this time, [and the first in quite some time], there were no set plans, travel or otherwise -- only half-thoughts, whims & fancies, all fallen by the wayside, in favour of easy mornings and elegant dinners, the blustery romance of autumn at every turn and candlelight against dark windowpanes on early evenings, and later, ambling walks, leather boots and leaves, long cashmere scarves and very warm thoughts . . .

hope you've had a magical late-october weekend, and that it's beautiful where you are, roséline xo