i am love/io sono l’amore

I first read about the film I Am Love (Io Sono L’Amore) in Vogue, and I went to see it yesterday afternoon as part of my stay-cation this week.   The main character, Emma Recchi, is the wife of a wealthy Italian textile manufacturer.  And her clothes are gorgeous.  They are also meaningful, with the colors and styles reflecting the emotions throughout the story.  Check out this article for the scoop.

 

what is elegance? repost

I love this recent blog post from www.garancedore.fr about “What is Elegance?” and thought it was worth a repost!

 

looklet

A few weeks ago, I discovered the website Looklet.com and realized that my true calling is being a stylist.  This super-fun site allows you to select a model and create a variety of different looks by choosing clothing, jewelry, and accessories.  I could play with it all day, experimenting with different combinations of my favorite pieces and looks for different occasions.  For me, it’s the grown-up, 21st-century version of Fashion Plates, which I spent hours playing with as a little girl in the early ’80s.

 

ayn rand

Ayn Rand

I read Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged this spring, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Published in 1957, Rand’s ideas seem very modern to me.  It’s a dense and philosophical book, but I think it was well worth the time spent to consider her ideas.

Read this interview with Rand to get a snapshot of her philosophy.

 

women, work & the art of savoir faire

I started my summer reading with a book I didn’t know was on my list.  When I picked up my books from the library,  I came across Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire. It was written by Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, which I read a year or so ago and very much enjoyed.

Guiliano was president and CEO of the champagne company Veuve Cliquot, taking it from 1% to 25% of the market share during her tenure.  The lessons she learned and her approach to life as a native Frenchwoman  inform the stories and advice she gives to working women in this fun and helpful read.

Much more than a typical business “self help” book, Guiliano is a mentor for women who want to be lovely and accomplished, stylish and interesting, and create a life that is balanced and enjoyable.

Visit Guiliano’s website to read an excerpt.

 

summer reading

I’m having fun lining up my summer reading list!  Here are a few of the books I’m looking forward to…

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte — the classic that I should have read by now and will finally get to with the support of my book club buddies.

Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard — a book that I read about in a magazine on an airplane and promptly added to my reading list.

Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland — by the author of the fantastic Josephine Trilogy.

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant — I have yet to read any of the historical novels by this author, but they are right up my alley, and I can’t wait to get started.

 

vintage accessories

New to the molly & mary Etsy shop!