my latest obsession . . . bensimon sneakers

i'm pretty sure i need a pair of bensimon sneakers in every color and style.

here is why:

1. they are french. enough said.

2. they have been worn by fashion icons like jane birkin and brigitte bardot.

3. they literally go with everything, from lived-in jeans and a t-shirt to a sweet summer dress.

convinced? i certainly am :)

my latest obsession . . . air plants

i admit it: i'm a plant killer.

i try, but somehow they always end up shriveled up and brown in a few weeks time. that's probably why i'm so fascinated by air plants... all these tiny beauties need is a quick soak in water once a week, and they're good to go!

grab bag of three air plants from tohold.

the shoe of my dreams.

these shoes (which i've been stalking for months) have been reduced from $1,155 to $694. still about 10 times more than i usually spend on shoes, but creeping slowly towards my price range. i know they'll never actually get there, but a girl can still dream!

i also just discovered the gold studded, angel wing, and shearling versions of my beloved 'faithful' bootie... and the obsession continues!

my latest obsession . . . chunky knits

the bigger the better... they're comfy, oversized, and some are downright unwearable. but i can't help but love them.

clockwise from top left:

1. donna karan collection 2. anny may 3. j. crew

4. giles deacon 5. lulu & loie 6. calypso st. barth

pillow love.

anyone who's ever set foot in my home knows that i'm obsessed with pillows. i just can't get enough... every couch, bed, and chair is littered with cute, colorful throw pillows. so of course i'm totally smitten with these gorgeous, uzbek-inspired embroidered cushions from niki jones. £60 each, available at heal's.

my latest obsession... retro cruisers

a few years ago, i was actually afraid to get on a bike. i'd had a couple of bad experiences riding when i was a kid, so i quit cold turkey when i was around 12 years old. at the age of 16, i was confronted by my nemesis while on a trip to germany. apparently everyone rides bikes there, but i was too chicken to get on one (meanwhile, my host stared at me like i was from mars as i stared at the bike like it was toxic)! more recently, bicycles were making a huge comeback as a mode of transportation, and i envied all the hipsters breezing by with the wind in their hair.

last year i finally decided enough was enough. i dragged my old bike out of my parents' garage and timidly started pedaling in the alley behind their house. and guess what? it was like riding a bike. all those years i'd been afraid for nothing... who knew the saying was true?

so now i'm in the market for a real, adult bike, and i'm totally smitten with vintage-inspired cruiser bikes. here are some stylish wheels that will have you riding in style in no time...

from top:

1. women's orange tahiti beach cruiser, $224.99 from overstock.com.

2. liberty of london for target "garla" bike... sadly only produced in a very limited edition, and now sold out. but if you're willing to spend a lot for a collector's item, there are a couple available on ebay.

3. custom-built dutch bike, $399 from republic. this baby is fully customizable, from the tires to the hand grips. pick your favorite colors and make it your own!

xoxo,

lesley

my latest obsession... french macarons

if you've never tried a french macaron... well, you are missing out!  though the word translates to "macaroon" in english, they are nothing like the chewy little mounds of coconut that might come to mind.  no, nothing at all... french macarons are these delightful little sandwich cookies... but to call them "cookies" doesn't really do them justice.

a good macaron is kind of an ethereal creation... the shell, made from whipped egg whites and almond powder, cracks delicately when you bite into it, revealing a tender inside.  the fillings range from fluffy buttercream to rich ganache to flavor-packed preserves.  part of the appeal is that they come in a million different flavors, and they are also totally beautiful... when they're all lined up, they look like colorful little gems inside a jewel box!

while we were in paris, we tried many a macaron... we waited in line to sample ladurée's famous macarons (packaged in a gorgeous mint green box), visited two of pierre hermé's stunning shops to try his innovative creations, and made several pit stops at gérard mulot's hectic but efficient shop in saint-germain-des-près for the macarons that became "mon préféré."

we packed a box of 12 macarons from mulot in our checked luggage, and miraculously the fragile little morsels arrived in the states unscathed!  of course, those babies are long gone now... so we are on the hunt for the best french macaron in the u.s.!  any tips, please let me know...

xoxo,

lesley

my latest obsession... gilles nouailhac chairs

i am seriously in love with gilles nouailhac's amazing upholstered chairs.  they are handmade in france and are currently only available at a handful of showrooms in europe, but an online shop is opening soon (yay!).

i am imagining a dining room table surrounded by a bunch of mix and match pieces from his collection, or a couple of chairs clustered together in a sitting room or library... to die for!  if only i had more space in my apartment... and a bigger decorating budget...

xoxo,

lesley

my latest obsession... paper cut paris map

i just discovered this paper cut paris map from famille summerbelle, and i am absolutely smitten.  ever since my first visit, i have been 100% paris-obsessed, and i would love to have this little gem framed on my wall.  keeping my fingers crossed that it will be for sale in their shop soon!

xoxo,

lesley

my latest obsession... jewelry by marquis & camus

i am completely head over heels for these gorgeous, victorian-inspired pieces by marquis & camus.  i just love how they combine different materials... layers and layers of draped chain, vintage lace collars, european grosgrain ribbon, silk covered buttons, chandelier crystals... i am totally drooling over here!  these particular pieces are currently on sale for 30% - 50% off, but of course they are still way out of my price range.  but a girl can dream, right?

xoxo,

lesley

my latest obsession . . . textile necklaces

lately i've been noticing a new trend in jewelry on etsy... textile necklaces.  

for as long as i can remember, i've been collecting little bits of fabric, lace, ribbon, and string.  i stash them away until i find the perfect use for them, but much of the time i just keep them intact so i can admire them and use them for inspiration.  so of course i'm totally smitten with the idea of wearing little textile treasures around my neck!  

here are some of my favorites...

clockwise from top left:

1.  gorgeous ruffled vintage lace dangles from an oxidized brass chain... i would wear this every day!  $18, from dinosaur toes

2.  this necklace is so unique... a piece of antique handmade lace is affixed to a backing of floral cotton, and strung up on a strand of rose colored beads.  $28, from elizabethan punk

3.  this piece is like a modern, subtle version of an elizabethan neck ruff.  all the little pleats and tucks are so lovely!  $96, from tinctory

4.  i love this crocheted linen neckpiece... it is a great statement piece that can dress up anything from a casual tank to a basic black dress.  $180, from hedda vatter

5.  these charming necklaces are made from swatches of cotton lace affixed to colorful pieces of felt.  $17.50, from corrieberry pie

xoxo,

lesley

my latest obsession . . . mixed metal jewelry

in the past, i've kept my gold- and silver-toned jewelry strictly quarantined for fear of clashing... which meant going to such extremes as ditching my platinum engagement ring so i could rock a pair of antique brass chandelier earrings.  i would even fret over the tiniest details, like whether the grommets on my jeans matched the hardware on my purse.

it was becoming an obsession... but now i've found a cure: mixed metal jewelry.  hallelujah!   there is something about the contrast of different shades and patinas of metal that has that exotic, worldly, bohemian feel.  and even better, for obsessive-compulsive types like myself, it matches everything!

right now i'm totally craving braided chains, ethnic-inspired bangles, and matte finish drops in a spectrum of silver, gold, pewter and bronze tones.  here are my picks... hope you like them!

clockwise from top left:

1.  braided chain earrings, $28 from urban outfitters

2.  dip dye chain effect necklace, $16.10 from asos

3.  fern pendant necklace, $68 from tessa kemp jewelry

4.  tribal bangle set, $5.80 from forever 21

5.  perfect little pieces necklace, $34 from local library

6.  set of three printed bangles, $11.56 from asos

7.  trio stacking rings, $30 from tickle bean

xoxo,

lesley

etsy find . . . quercus silver

i am totally obsessing over quercus silver's resin and silver jewelry.  the bright, saturated colors and simple shapes are so, so beautiful and her product photos are insanely gorgeous.  here are a few of my favorite pieces from her etsy shop.

isn't this ring just amazing?  it has this glow from within, and all the little flecks of color inside the resin make it look like amber.  warm orange avatar ring, $55.

these little earrings are such a lovely shade of aqua... they will look like little rain drops dangling from your ears.  teal resin and silver earrings, $50.

something for the man in your life... round orange resin and silver cufflinks, $78.

and check out her gorgeous packaging... who wouldn't want to receive this little gem in the mail?

xoxo,

lesley

my latest obsession . . . lladro niagara chandelier

can't you just imagine sitting down to dinner every evening under this ethereal flock of porcelain butterflies? heavenly.

now, does anyone have $15,000 i can borrow to buy one of my own? :)

xoxo,
lesley

my latest obsession . . . abstract photography

i have been kind of obsessed with abstract photography since my college years. i was an art history major, and one of the classes i chose to take was an exploration of photography after world war II... ever since then, i've been completely hooked.

photography is such a compelling medium with a lot of unique issues and advantages. i find it really interesting that it took people so long to accept that photography could, in fact, be more than a recorder of history... it could be art.

i find abstract photography especially intriguing because of the way it challenges people's perceptions and expectations of the world around them. it is almost as if the artist is using the camera lens to force the viewer to see what they see... and it can be beautiful, or scary, or strange. tomorrow i will post about a couple of my favorite photographers, and share some of my own abstract macro photography... but for now, check out these amazingly talented etsy artists:


i am completely obsessed with these absolutely stunning large-format polaroid prints by grant hamilton, sxseventy on etsy. i'm also completely in love with his shop banner... you really have to check out his shop.


i love the sharp geometry and dramatic composition of this shot, of a building in houston. by maritere casillas rice, etsy shop mariterecr.


i think this image has an ethereal but also slightly forboding quality... very interesting. by duncan b. fauvel, ojmjakon on etsy.


this could be a painting... the blurriness and rich, saturated colors are wonderful. stunning work by liasynthis.


absolutely perfect composition by fuetere. only 2 items in their shop right now, but i would so love to see more!

hope you enjoyed my picks... stay tuned for more photography tomorrow!

xoxo,
lesley

another obsession . . . fascinator headbands

so, here is another new obession of mine. bold statement accessories were all over the runways for fall, and fascinator headbands are the perfect way to acheive this look. here are my favorites from etsy:


absolutely stunning butterfly headpiece from whichgoose... if only i had a place to wear this!


lovely fabric rosettes in one of my favorite color combinations for fall... from houseoftelsa


feathers in versatile black and white add a bit of elegance to any outfit... from charmschooldesign


feathered and bejewled headband with lace ties from theheaddown... perfect for that vintage glamour look.

xoxo,
lesley

my latest obsession . . . freddy & ma

i just recently discovered freddy & ma, and let me tell you, they are amazing. they make custom handbags, pillows, and melamine plates that you design from their library of, like, a gazillion patterns. i am obsessed with pattern and color, so i could literally spend hours on their site designing stuff. here are some of my favorites i came up with today while playing around.

arm candy for fall:



retro cuteness for my couch:



black and white baroque for my dining room:



now go over to my shop immediately and buy something so i can start saving up for one of those glorious bags ;)

xoxo,
lesley