Squinting at Myself

Image by Jessica Weber. Jessica Weber has been a street-style photographer for over five years. She graduated with a BA Hons in Fashion Photography at the London College of Fashion in 2008.

While living in London she photographed for Elle UK. She currently lives in Berlin, but can be seen swanning around Paris, Milan and New York during fashion week. Visit her street-style blog HERE and her official website HERE

Paris Fashion Week - A Carnival of Fashion

I am as mad as birds - idiosyncratic, imperfect, and I don't give a damn.

Very busy swanning around Paris. So I'm sending you all over
to Easy Fashion Paris for more on Paris Fashion Week Darlings. Click HERE to visit Easy Fashion Blog. Image: Myself after the Viktor & Rolf show in Paris. Photographed by Fred of Easy Fashion

Nothing Tastes As Good As A Summer Read

What I'm thinking:

Every outer event has its inner meaning.



What I'm reading: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys which was set in Jamaica in the 1830s. A thousand thanks toInstitute Le Rosey for thinking of me on my birthday this year and for this brilliant read which was inspired by Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Laced with passion, lust, obsession and the loneliness that comes with raging emotions.



"I looked at her and I saw her face crumple up as she began to cry. We stared at each other, blood on my face, tears on hers. It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking-glass."



What I'm cooking: Spicy chicken tagine with apricots, rosemary and roasted ginger, sauteed spinach with orange and almonds, chickpea salad with onions and paprika.



What I'm listening to: Car doors opening and closing, the distance bark of a dog, the almost unbearable noise of high-pitched voices, a child crying.



What I did before noon: Painted life on canvas in solitude.



What I'm longing for today: The Caribbean Sea but I have the twin-nippled mountains here to comfort me. Image: taken at my balcony in the setting sun. What are you currently reading besides fashion magazines;-)

Something To Tell You

Watchful and nervous, like one in search of uncertainty, doubtful, impatient, restless, always with blackberry in hand, drinks, eats and smokes hurriedly, listens partially, drives at the highest speed, smiles too swiftly like a 100meter sprinter at a track and field game. His hair, which was once the colour of the buttercup flower, is almost grey from tension, bitterness, sadness, and the pain of having a wife who betrayed him.



There is no bleaker moment in the life of man than when he discovers that his beloved wife is singing the corrosive hymns of alcoholics, killing the inner organs and human love, blurring the memory, filling the body with anxiety and the house with a brutal drumming.



He met her at the bar at which she worked. They drank heavily during the first years of being together without knowing that alcohol heightens passion like the rush of illegal drugs. During a philosophical discourse I once asked him what was the motivational factor for him to marry and his reply was: "Passion."



Passion alone is not love, naked desire is not love, trust on its own is not love. Sadly, he has spent half his life trying to love, but often mistakes passion mingled with excessive alcohol for enduring love, so whenever he feels he has had a brush with enduring love, he cuts himself away from his lover like a doctor cutting the umbilical cord of a new born child.



I think they have damaged their souls by throwing emotional atom bombs at each other. She hates him and he hates her. Hate always destroyes. They are divorcing.It is the best for both. He met a girl last December. Let's see where that goes....



Image: En route to publisher/agent, vintage shopping, luncheon and art preview.

This story is based on a couple I once knew.

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.

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!

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.

Fashion, Music, Books & Other Fancies

Ah, the weekend was most relaxing indeed. I lingered in bed both Saturday and Sunday mornings contemplating the cradle of mystery. Saturday afternoon I played the piano for an hour, visited the flower market, met with friends from my former boarding school for tea.

On Sunday afternoon I read, listened to the Mozart Album by soprano Danielle de Niese. Sunday evening I had family members round for dinner. We dined in the garden on Ackee and codfish, Gilt-Head bream with courgettes and aubergines. Roasted organic chicken with saffron and cinnamon. I trust everyone had a nice weekend. Wishing all my blog friends a happy and cheerful Monday!;-)











Images: Churchs shoes, Happy flowers in an antique vase, Signed CD by Danielle de Niese, Weekend reading matter, Myself in vintage summer dress.

From Office To Country House

Bespoke summer hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan,
Bespoke Shirt from Davies and Son, London,
Vintage leather bag and pictures of the estate & country house.

Singing Hymns Of Summer's Heat

Images : Strawberries in season, Myself en route to market, Flowers from my garden, Picnic on a plate, A glimpse of my dressing room balcony, Fresh figs from the outdoor market.

Paris: At The Garden Party

Images : Myself at the garden party. Am wearing: Bespoke, handmade hat adorned with antique buttons, Prada sandals, Red-orange dress by Comptoir des Catonniers, Necklace from my Mama.

Painterly Yellows Come Alive

Images: Yellow flowers from the local market, Picture of myself with grapefruits, Handmade silk head scarf. Skirt by René Lezard, Jacket by Jil Sander.

Biting Into Summer Like A Peach

Ah, to bite into summer like a peach - Don't you just adore the delectable aroma of ripened peaches? I shall be filling my body with peaches, apples, nectarines, and blueberries this weekend.

Am cooking on my own today: Tagine of West Indian aubergines with fresh pimento, ginger and buttery couscous. Grilled sardines with guava stuffing and a slice of home-made peach cake. Celebrate the day, my lovelies, and enjoy!




Images: Taken at the house.

Tagging Game And The Green Ballerinas

I was tagged by Poppies and Sunshine
Below, my answers to the tagging game questions. I do hope everyone is in good form today;-)

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I was brought up on a 14000-acre estate in the heart of the green country. Am happiest when there, though I have lived in so many countries.

2. What is your favorite band/singer?
Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms

3. If you could be someone else for a day who would it be?
I am very happy being myself and have no wish to be someone else other than my Mother for a day.


4. Concert or Broadway show?
Concert, please!

5. Do you have a theme song for your life?
All the songs my mother taught me

6. Would you choose a fancy dinner at a nice restaurant or a picnic in the park?
I prefer to marry fancy dinner and picnic. I would do picnic in the park early afternoon if the weather is conducive, and dinner at a fancy restaurant later that evening.

7.What is your favourite place to shop?
Emilia Wickstead showrooms

8. Favorite movie?
There's so much diversity in the film industry. It's difficult for one to choose a favourite film, however, I recently saw The Painted Veil with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton, and I'm quite in love with it.

Image taken on Monday: Green ballerinas by Liebeskind atop silk scarf. Thank you, Poppies and sunshine, for the questions.

I tag the following boys and girls:

Leah

Vintage Vixen

The Alternative Wife

Cinnamon And Couture

Gorgeous Glam

Inspiration In Italy

A Reflection by Tuesdai

Gracie Bella Butterly

Dreaming In Colour

Sunshine Award & Fashionable Tales

Ah, it's a glorious Monday. Today's post is dedicated to Sabine of Psynopsis. Don't you just adore the title of her blog and its contents? A very creative and artistic mind topped off with a highly intuitive nature and a delightful personality.

She's fond of tennis, travel, gold and silver heels, fashion and the English countryside. I wouldn't miss her DIY projects if I were you.

Am sending you over to her Blog for a spot of humour, fashionable tales and tea. Don't worry if you are not a tea drinker. There's enough cupcake and macaroon for everyone;-)

Thank you, Sabine, for the Sunshine Award. So sweet of you to think of me. I shall post 10 blogs for the Sunshine Award later this week. Images : The incredibly stylish, Sabine.

In The Shade Of Summer

I hope everyone is in a joyous mood this weekend. One is always happier when the weather is gay and festive. Ah, to hide oneself in the shade of summer.

To sip iced chocolate whilst reading, breakfast on fresh watermelon, admire roses in bloom. Dream of warm-scented beaches, fill the mountains with happy laughter because one is so thrilled summer is finally here. Happy, happy, weekend everyone!;-)








All images taken at my family's estate in Germany.

Rain-Awakened Morning

Nature's embroidery; I leaped like a grasshopper with camera in hand to capture the beauty that surrounds me.

Image - At my family's estate in Germany.
From the balcony after rain.

A Splash Of Red

I cannot image a world without colour. Can you? Red is scattered throughout nature and the fashion industry. Whilst I adore the shades of brown and the elegance of black, I'm drawn to red, yellow, green and blue.

Here's a spot of red's warm vitality. I am enchanted by the Red Bougainvilleas of Jamaica, Ladybird and Danebrog Poppies and the Tassel Flower, Lady's Paint Brush.

Image: Ladybird Poppy, Yves Saint Laurent bag from my collection, Jug of strawberry, lime & watermelon juice with a dash of angostura bitters, Church's shoes with red sock.