Paris : From Bakery To Picnic

Images: Am wearing Hermes scarf, Cashmere jumper by Blumarine, Prada sunshades, Bespoke trousers.

A Spot Of Shopping And Lunch

Image: Salmon lunch. Recent addition to my wardrobe - A pretty silk and cashmere cardigan set by Blumarine.

Summer Has Made A Comeback!

Images: Hand-made shoes by Rocco Pistonesi ( otherswise known as Rocco P ). Antique lace gloves, Vintage silk floral dress and my bespoke summmer hat.

The Ballet Dancer

Elegance
A ballet dancer is a swan
Without the beak or feathers
A ballet dancer is the seasons
Without a change in weather
A ballet dancer is a portrait
With a difference to this art
The picture captures feeling
The dancer embraces heart
- Mary O. Fumento, 1981

I hope you enjoy the poem above by Mary Fumento as much as I did. For me, this poem encapsulates the very essence of the ballerina. As many of you know I am a trained ballet dancer - educated and trained at the Royal Academy of Dance, London, England. Am performing this weekend so wish me luck. Happy weekend to one and all!;-)
Image: The lovely Kira Craft

Leif Andsnes Grieg Concerto Part 1

Am planning a visit to Berlin, Germany, and cannot wait to see Leif Andsnes at the Berlin Philharmoniker where he is currently Pianist in Residence. Read more on Leif Andsnes HERE

Enjoy - am off to practice on my piano - like art and poetry - classical music is an expression of sentiment - be it anguish, torment, joy or love. I do believe music is the highest form of art! For thore of you who are unfamiliar with the Norwegian composer, Edward Grieg - read more about him HERE

Paris : En Route To Drinks At Le Fumoir

Life has been very busy lately - but I wanted to post a photograph of my newly purchased footwear for all my sweet blog-friends. I have a similar pair but I was unable to resist the temptation - here's wishing everyone a fun week ahead!;-)

Dreaming Of Crème Brûlée

Another week of travel, art exhibitions, business meetings is drawing to a close. Am looking forward to an exciting weekend of afternoons in billowing silk dresses, home-made Crème brûlée, strolls along the quaint streets of an ancient German town, lingering over breakfast and brunch, entertaining friends, a spa visit on Sunday followed by piano music and magazine reading.

Though summer is currently slightly slummbering - am sitting comfortably in the tea house with both legs stretched out. There's also a picture of wildflowers in my head. Wishing everyone a laughter-filled weekend - enjoy the poem by Thich Nhat Hahn below.

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if it is the axis
on which the world earth revolves
- slowly, evenly, without
rushing toward the future;
Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.




Images: Crème brûlée. A shot of my new ballerina at the office

Reflections On Family

Mother's personality : Warm, embracing like islands in sun.
Daring, lively and energetic. Everyone adores Mother for her
sweetness of temper and girlish laughter.

Father's personality : An intellectual cheesecake.
Father thinks body is seperate from the soul and
Mother keeps body and soul together like a family.
Sister is blinded by youth and luxury. In her world, the body is
for others to gaze at like a supermodel swanning down the runway. She is yet to discover its soul.

Brother is a philosopher and poet. He does not see body seperate from soul; he embraces the whole. During a philosophical discussion on the eternal feminine, childbirth and the soul. He once said to Father: Human life begins within the womb; the body and soul are forever related; like twins.

Am still thinking about my brother's words. Today I'm reading, eating cheeries in nature, listening to music and nurturing my mind. Have a nice week, everyone. Hope you are all enjoying summer!







Images from my sunday afternoon in the garden.

Meet French Model, Anais Mali

What a dramatically beautiful girl. Meet French model, Anais Mali. My sister went to school together with her in France, and even back then I always thought she has the most wonderful bone-structure, sweet-sounding voice and personality to match! Must remember to ring her up when next in New York. She is such a bundle of energy and very grounded, too. Visit her charitable foundation HERE Get to know her better HERE

The Shoe Sculpture By David Gerstein

Read more about David Gerstein HERE. The piece above is called 'The Lady' - I was besotted with this shoe sculpture at an exhibition in Paris recently and thought it would be a wonderful addition to my ever-expanding art collection. The fact that it's made of metal makes it all the more alluring. Don't you just adore the detailing, colours and all those butterflies!

As Colourful As Summer Itself

Images: From my garden, Myself en route to farmers market and second hand bookshop, Bespoke summer hat, Painterly ballerinas. Click on pictures to enlarge.

The Garden At Paris

Images : Myself at parent's country estate.

The Allure Of French Girls

Image: Fred of Easy Fashion.

Daring And Irresistible Fragrances

Image: A glimpse of my dressing table before leaving for the office. Fragrances: Mandragore, Petite Chérie, Passion by Annick Goutal and my antique scent bottle.

Sunday Morning : Lingering Over Breakfast

Image: My Sunday morning break-fast. Fresh papaya, organic yogurt, oats with ginger tea.

Ovo Drenth By Fritz Kok

Meet my good friend, Nigerian model, Ovo Drenth. I adore the dress she's wearing in this photo-shoot. The colours are bursting with vibrance and vitality against her luscious skin.

Olivia Palermo In Valentino

Image by Tamu McPherson.

Sun Flower On The Brows Of Morning

This cheerful sunflower is my muse and inspiration today. I am watching the languid sun from my balcony while the day drums along like marching carnival bands. Happy Saturday - Take a break from the rush of life and allow nature to embrace you!

Image: Sunflowers in my garden.

The Tall Dancer

For the dancers amongst you. I purchased this piece at an auction in April. I adore shoes and fashion as many of you know, but I am in love with dancing and art. This tall dancer made of exotic wood is the underneath of the understory of gracefulness and the aesthetics. I do hope everyone is happy and bouncing;-)

Image: Tall Dancer, 1930, Hagenauer, Vienna.

Style Me Colourful

Here are some links for your weekend reading. I especially enjoyed the interview with Tom Ford and the Colour Blaster video.

(1 ) Fashion & art news/links:
Does Vogue's influencer network exploit fashion bloggers? Read the article in its entirety HERE

( 2 ) I am really a loner afterall:
Interview with Tom Ford. Read the interview HERE

( 3 ) Paint yourself happy with this Colour Blaster video HERE

( 4 ) Sad news for the art world. Lucian Freud died on Wednesday. Read more on his life and paintings HERE






Images: Meet fellow island girl Kezia Frederick. A graduate of Central St Martins, fashion and textile designer. Am adoring the bold textiles and the way she flirts with different patterns. I feel transported back to the West Indies. The first image is my favourite. I know the second is a bit mad, but therein lies its uniqueness;-)

A Girl As Mad As Birds...

1. Describe your personality
As mad as the hummingbird

2. What's your public style
I'm still trying to define it...


3. Private Style
Barefoot elegance

4. How do you handle boredom
Boredom is unfamiliar to me


5. Happiness is...
Freedom, love and philosophical contemplation


6. What do you do for relaxation
I play the violin, meditate and flirt with nature

7. Which forms of exercise do you enjoy most
Riding, walking, ballet, polo, rowing

8. Name two philosophers you admire
Friedrich Nietzsche and Epicurius

9. What keeps you grounded
Dancing and cooking

10. What keeps you motivated
The gravity of Life

11. Fashion tip
Be a leader not a follower

12. I write beacuse....
I'm in love with Words and their meanings.

Images: Hummingbird and myself before dinner wearing long silk skirt.

Art: The Shoe Sculpture

This fabulous sculpture was created by the French painter Alexandrine Van Duijn. Her philosophy is 'Art is to express life and trigger emotions' - One cannot disagree with Alexandrine on the above. I thought my blog friends might enjoy a spot of art and fashion today. I would have loved to see her designing this shoe sculpture!

Weekend Pleasures

Saturday: Thinking about the pastoral nature of humanity. Writing, drawing, humming.... blue sky, scortching morning sun like warm oil on skin. Breakfast, croissants, blueberries, green tea amidst beloved nature .

Reading matter, fashion magazine and the International Herald Tribune. Late morning, a delicious walk round the golden fields and horse riding. Have a fun weekend, everyone;-)

The Antique Gold Pfeil Clutch

Lingering In The Garden With A Book

Yesterday I sat in the garden, nibbled on home-made Swiss nut cake, and read poetry out aloud by one of my favourite artist/painter Egon Schiele.

Egon Schiele had a very short life and whilst some are not particularly keen on his artworks I must confess that I am drawn to the painful oddness that punctuates his work. Below, a poem by Egon Schiele, called White Swan. I adore swans. They are so graceful, too.


Over the moss-scented black-bordered park lane
Glides amidst the rainbow-hued spume
The high, calm, round swan.










Images: At the estate, Flowers from my garden, Home-made Swiss nut cake, Egon Schiele Poems and letters from 1910 - 1912

En Route To Sunday Brunch

Hat: present from my Mama, Shirt: Eterna Excellent, Leather skirt: A present from my sister, Bag: Kelly bag by Mark Cross, Footwear: Jimmy Choo.

Turquoise Chic

Image: I love these beachy chic turquoise, mint chrysoprase, and diamond earrings by Irene Neuwirth. I can imgine wearing them to a fancy dinner at the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados.

Images: Bespoke Hat, Blouse by Valentino, Necklace a present from my aunt, Antique handmade bracelet stamped made in Vienna, Trousers by Joseph, London, Vintage alligator bag.