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.

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.

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.

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.

Cooking with Style: Easy, Elegant Recipes and Menus for Exciting Entertaining (1967)

Fifty Great Buffet Parties (1974)

and, the piece de resistance…

The Emily Post Book of Etiquette for Young People (1967)

These glimpses into retro entertaining and etiquette are very fun reads!

Several months ago I came across an inspirational blog,  MaiTai’s Picture Book.  MaiTai gives lots and lots of fabulous ideas for using scarves and other accessories to create a variety of looks from a few basic clothing staples. Check out her post about how to accessorize a little black dress for several elegant looks.

In my ongoing search for fabulous vintage objects, I come across more lovely scarves than I could possibly wear.  Visit my Etsy store to see some of my finds…more are coming soon!

I especially love her street photography of women looking fabulous during their everyday life.  Tres inspirational!