CHATEAU D'HAROUE

Sometimes, the best things don't come in small packages. They come in exquisitely overwrought, mind-blowing packages of stunning proportions. Castle-sized proportions. The beautiful French Château d'Haroué is hosting Three Great Creators, the work of Cristobal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy, and Philippe Venet from May 7 to August 17, 2010. Forty - 40! - haute couture evening gowns will be on display, including Givenchy's black duchess satin gown from Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Balenciaga's mink-trimmed wedding dress for Queen Fabiola of Belgium. But perhaps the most surprising detail of all is that this collection has been curated and arranged by the great Givenchy himself, now 83 years old. Located in the Lorraine region of France, the breathtaking architecture and grounds of Château d'Haroué would be enough to woo any vacationer (and the stunning interiors include the largest collection of French royal furniture in private hands). But a castle full of couture, chosen by one of France's greatest couturiers? Genius! 

The original LBD:  Givenchy's Breakfast at Tiffany's Gown, worn by Audrey Hepburn.

Above, Balenciaga's wedding gown for Queen Fabiola of Belgium.

Buy those plane tickets! For full details on the event, visit here:  Château d'Haroué.

Images, Château d'Haroué website.

SALVE, SALVATORE!

Salvatore Ferragamo heels are among my most beloved shoes - they are always refined, often subtle, and much more comfortable than they look. But these beautiful shots from the Spring 2010 campaign beckon us to don a beautiful lifestyle, and not simply a shoe. With pleasure, Ferragamo.

Images: Ferragamo.

ASK SANITY FAIR: PRETTY LAPTOP CASES

Today marks the introduction of a new column: Ask Sanity Fair. "If you want your roof inspected, eyebrows tweezed, or bills collected, just leave everything to me!" Oh wait - that's Hello Dolly. Anyway, Ask Sanity Fair (or Ask SF when I'm feeling lazy) is the place to ask your elusive home and style shopping questions - items you're curious about, struggling to find, or just want to see more options or opinions on. Got a question? Email me (sanityfairblog(@)gmail.com). I'll pick one a week, and answer it here.

Off we go! Here's our first question from Elise in DC: "Having to tote my laptop to work every day, I am always on the lookout for functional and fashionable ways to carry all my techie toys. While I take such care in choosing my handbags, I'm stuck with a plain black laptop case they sell in the Mac store. You should do a piece on fashionable laptop cases/sleeves/bags. There is NOTHING out there!" OK, so that was actually more of a statement. But, yes, there are a lot of wonderful laptop sleeves out there - just not usually in brick-and-mortar stores, and thus, much tougher to find. But lucky us. We all have internet access! Here are 14 great websites where you can get the case of your computer's dreams - prices and links included.

Carrie realizes she can't take her computer outside her apartment - no stylish case!

1. They had me at "zebra."This is my personal style favorite, and thus number one on the list. A series of smart and chic laptop, ipad sleeves, and computer bags from My Abbi, available at equally smart prices ($49.95 - $89.95).

2. Or, go subtle. De-glam your machine with this appropriately named Luddite Laptop Case, from Anthropologie ($68).

3. Want something a little more 5th Avenue? Saks has it in the bag:  Gucci computer case ($395) and Burberry nylon laptop sleeve ($375).

4. If plain and simple is your thing, try these smart sleeves from incase ($39.95 - $59.95).

5. Downplay modern tech with a charming blue toile bag from Etsy shop Lollington ($37.95).

6. Or go the opposite of girly floral:  a sleek, unisex case. Organic for J.Crew Kansai ($285).

7. Cheap 'n chic? Lil Slim offers these 10 fun patterns, and each is only $17!

8. If your laptop were stolen, would you cry over the computer or this case? Louis Vuitton sleeves ($670 - $745)

9. For all you Aussie readers out there, here's a great choice on your home turf (but despair not fellow citizens - Anthropologie carries them too):  darling botanical prints from charming company Mozi ($59.95 in AUS dollars or about $55 US).


10. Or go from country to the big city with creative graphics from Evan Hecox, available from incase ($59.95).

11. Feminine prints from Beach Audio will pretty up your machinery ($26.99).

12. Etsy shop JiuJiu makes these great covers in graphic prints, from Indian Ikat to nautical stripe. The prices are just as pretty at $18.99.

13. Still didn't find anything to tempt you? Boy, you're hard to please! If you like to choose your own fabric, or have a laptop in an unusual size, try something custom. Some Etsy stores, like Mabels, can work with you to match your needs (I'm in love with the Lilly Pulitzer print!) Available at $25 - $35.

14. And last, but most certainly not least:  the cadillac of laptop covers, at $830 a pop, by Goyard and featured in Vogue's Last Look. Those zipper pulls had better be platinum!

Shopping Tip:  Know your computer size (usually measured in inches). There are multi-size bags - and bags come in multiple sizes! Make sure you get the right one.

That's it for Ask Sanity Fair! Have a question you need answered? Comment below, or email sanityfairblog(@)gmail.com. I'll select a new question each week!

All images from companies, as attributed above.  Red laptop clutch from Cool Computer Bags. Pic of Carrie blackheartmagazine.com.

MODELS ARE JUST LIKE THE REST OF US

Every month, I grab the latest Vogue and Bazaar, and thumb through the spate of new fashion ads. There are ads that take my breath away, ads that intrigue me, and ads that leave me wondering... "what in the samhill is she doing in that picture?" Or "gee. That looks uncomfortable." It's true that fashion is other-worldly, i.e. not our world, so maybe we should just accept that models dwell in a rarified style garden, being clothed by famous design fairies, feeding on champagne dew drops, and prancing around in odd poses. But not me. I wanted to investigate, and see if models really live normal lives like we do. And they do! Well, not completely normal. But take a peek...

(Dolce and Gabbana)

(Gucci)

(Blumarine)

(Yves St. Laurent)

(Max Mara)

(Alberta Ferretti)

(Ekrelius)

(Miu Miu)

(Hermes)

IMAGES:  Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci, Bluemarine, Max Mara, Yves St. Laurent, Alberta Ferretti, Ekrelius, Miu Miu, Hermes.

GIVE-AWAY WINNER!

Last week was Sanity Fair's first give-away ever! The prize was a vintage First Edition of Dorothy Rodger's classic book, The House In My Head.

And the envelope please (via Random.org)...

The winner is Sarah Klassen of beautiful blog Haute Design! Congratulations Sarah!!! Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and welcome to all the new visitors to and followers of Sanity Fair. I'm so delighted you're here. 

So that's a wrap! Congrats again to Sarah, and stay tuned this week for some fine new fun, including a special shopping guide, a visit to France, and a peek into the life of a fashion model.

All the best, 

POM POM FRENZY

It's not enough that we have trendy shoes, trendy hair styles, trendy decor colors (Pantone says it's turquoise!), and trendy hem lines. There are trendy party decorations too. Last year, it was the chinese lantern. Weddings had them, anniversaries had them, parties for one-year-olds with helicopter mommies had them. But 2010 is the year of the pom-pom. They're everywhere, hovering over baby showers like so many miracle-grow fed cherry blossoms, or turning up at weddings, dangling off pews like over-sized coconut balls. But they're popular for good reason:  inexpensive, adaptable, and they come in every size! What could be better? Here's your inspiration -

             

Want to learn how to make your own? It's easy! Visit HERE.

P.S. TODAY is the last day for THE HOUSE IN MY HEAD book give-away! Click HERE to enter!

{Images: gift: http://hellosandwich.blogspot.com/2009/03/wrapping.html. On sticks: http://media.photobucket.com/image/tissue%20pom%20poms/ljprincess/Picture232.jpg. white: http://sarahlambersky.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/tissue-paper-pom-poms/. black and white tree: http://heavenlybloomsflorist.blogspot.com/2010/01/kates-minnie-mouse-birthday-party.html. polka dot: http://www.weloveindie.com/topic/listview/15/for-the-home/page/106.html. Green: http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/2009/05/fun-tissue-pom-poms.html. hung on chandelier: http://aubreyroad.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html. black and gray: http://designismine.blogspot.com/2008/10/martha-stewart-halloween-pom-poms.html. In trees: http://pinkbyecho.wordpress.com/2008/08/. With chinese lantersn: http://chekdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/07/lanterns-and-pom-poms.html. Around napkin: http://the6chicks.com/2009/07/10/inspirational-boardflamenco-pink-yellow. mini ones: http://www.favorsandflowers.com/martha-stewart-wedding-favors.htm.}