EMERSON ON COUTURE

"Love of beauty is Taste. 

The creation of beauty is Art."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

.spring couture.

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/Asada wood block print, Pagoda and Cherry Blossoms + Givenchy Spring 2011/ 

/Steven N. Meyers Parrot Tulip I + Dior Spring 2011/ 

/Mark Rothko Green White and Yellow on Yellow + Dior Spring 2011/ 

/Pablo Picasso Sketch for The Demoiselles d'Avignon + Dior Spring 2011/

/Georgia O'Keeffe White Flower + Givenchy Spring 2011/

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN

Every week, my email inbox fills to the brim (somewhere out there on the internets, my emails are spilling out onto the proverbial floor). But sometimes, as I'm desperately trying to restore order to the mailbox mayhem, I find something truly clickable, like H & H Home (that's founding friends Heather & Helen, y'all). This Atlanta-based store refurbishes worthy pieces, burnishing vintage favorites into modern marvels. The results are truly home-worthy, from Vuitton trunks to charming chinoiserie furniture. I'm so glad I organized my inbox!

H & H Home

And a few of my top picks... so much chinoiserie! You can shop H & H HERE.

/Images/ All from H & H/

THE (HYPOTHERMIA) BLUES

I have had it up to HERE baby. Right up to where my itchy scarf is wrapped around my freezing neck. Is it summer yet? Is that an ice cream truck I hear? No… it's the zamboni. Because the street is an ice rink.

The very LEAST I can do to survive this frozen tundra formerly known as the United States (and not the Alaska part) is bundle up stylishly. But it can be tough to combine function and chic, as these designers prove. Below, the hypothermia hall of shame:

PRADA:

Are you kidding me with these Prada? Where are we going in this get-up - a Versailles reception à la the 17th century (plenty of exposed space for hand kissing)? Good thing blue flesh is a complimentary color to khaki.

FRENCH CONNECTION:

Is it a cape? Is it a coat? Is it made for women with short arms? Who wants to wear three quarter length sleeves in a snowstorm? Nobody, that's who. 

MILLY:

Another glove fail. Not only do they NOT KEEP HANDS WARM, which is the de facto purpose of gloves, but they look like nasty old tube socks mauled by a glue gun and some grosgrain. An Etsy disaster. That costs $135. Shame, Milly. Shame.

/Prada gloves, FC coat? cape?, Milly gloves/

LITTLE GIRL BLUE

A little while ago I posted an ode to blue and white rooms and their charming reminiscence of sand and surf, cloud and sky. Blue is often the color of January too, whether in mood (singing the winter blues) or as a symbol of new beginnings. It's a classic pairing for clothes, for boys (little boy blue, the navy blue blazer), and girls (think Alice in Wonderland). Below, a retrospective of some favorite blue dresses. Just make sure you wear it - don't feel it!

...First Disney

Then Vogue...

Disney has succeeded in capturing in painted stills (and computer matrixes) the idealistic dreams of the American female psyche for several generations. A rags to riches, commoner to royal princess dons blue, with accents of bridal white.

Modern times:  couturiers cut the dresses of our dreams. Emily Blunt poses in Dior Haute Couture for Vanity Fair.

Softer shades of ice bleu by Roberto Cavalli.

Dolce and Gabbana's petal showered confection, an adult gown little girls would thrill to wear.

Dior recreates a delftware print for a surprising slice of blue.

Come closer...

Roberto Cavalli flips the lining inside-out, adorning a woman in the shape and pattern of an exquisite oriental vase. 

Images/ Alice in Wonderland/ Vogue's Alice with Mad Hatter/ Alice / Cinderella/ Emily Blunt/ Cavalli/ Dolce and Gabbana/ Dior/ Dior close-up/ Cavalli/ Double Cavalli/

COTTAGE BEAUTIFUL

My favorite thing in the 120 pages of House Beautiful's February decor ideas was so missable - one page of snapshots and a smattering of text about HB Contributing Editor Frances Schultz' home makeover in the Hamptons. It was so much fabulosity packed into such a small space - I had to have MORE! Luckily, House Beautiful online offered more (and larger) pictures. Enjoy!

Green and white, and oh so right. Love the layered curtains and the bold, graphic patterns (stripes, plaids, botanicals - and stripes again). 

Country whimsy: a painted bee... next to a bee hive basket. 

In the former garage cum sun room, big pattern dominates a little space. Carlton Varney paper and a shade worthy of a 1940s ice cream parlor sweeten the space.

There's more charm to come! Other rooms in Bee Cottage's makeover will be featured in upcoming issues of House Beautiful. 

/Images/HouseBeautiful.com/

WINTER WEEKEND

Don't you love a cozy winter weekend? Me neither. Sayonara, winter. My idea of cozy is a being able to touch my windowpane and not freeze to it.

That would not happen here.

Or here. Bliss included.

Of course, if you can't be in the warm outdoors, the next best thing is to pretend. A lightbulb chandelier, topiaries, and pagoda drapes create the illusion of summer.

A touch of summer will shine through in any room. Try a hint of coral and lime and a splash of laquer. 

Or just get on a plane and head South.

 Or go by boat. 

Either way, the view will be worth it.

Images/1 Elle Decor/ 2 Kelly Wearstler/ 3 Elle Decor/ 4 Joe Nye/ 5 Joe Nye/ 6 Country Living/ 7 Joe Nye/