Celebrations: 2017 Dawns

I am not the host of tonight's New Year's Eve Party, which means it was easy and pressure free to throw together some ideas for a fun celebration. When in doubt, I always think black and gold are the way to go. Plus, I'll tell you what my 2017 Resolutions are!

Littles: Parisian Chic

Littles: Parisian Chic by buildingcamelot featuring semi flush ceiling lights

I've seen a lot of really glamorous rooms for a little girl recently, but a lot of them are a bit too princess or a bit too old Hollywood for me. I thought that this black/white/gold/pink space was a fun departure into the elegant while still appropriate for a little girl instead of some weird Mariah Carey stuff.

Fashion: Return of the Monarch

Alexander McQueen (RIP) was a well known fashion god, working in an entirely different realm than the competition, and bringing the outlandish to life with poise. I ran across some photos of his Monarch pieces the other day, and was just floored.

Fashion: Backless Dresses

Things are getting racier by the minute in fashion with women wearing sheer drapes of fabric over bodysuits and cut outs from the collarbones to the navel. 

Littles: On the Highest Mountain Top

Littles: Mountain Top by buildingcamelot featuring Cost Plus World Market

You probably won't notice, but I kind of pushed myself here. I thought the giant, circular bookcase was a really bold piece that could grow with a child. I wasn't sure about that big circle with all the triangular mountains, but I kind of like the contrast.

Fashion: Birds of Prey

There's a beautiful superstition that feathers are a sign from heaven. There is something divine about the gift of flight and all those hollow bones, so its not an unreasonable connection. Feather/bird pieces feel difficult to wear on an average day, which is kind of unfortunate. These pieces somehow merge the romantic and the powerful, and it's so nice to see rich texture on display against a world of polyester and leather.

Fashion Crush Friday: Jamie Chung

So I've got to be honest, besides playing Mulan on Once Upon a Time (umm yeah, I'm a Captain Swan shipper, what of it?) I really wasn't sure what else Jamie Chung had done. She married a minor character from One Tree Hill, and she might've once been on a reality show, but beyond that I'm pretty unclear. However, after seeing a few paparazzi photos of her, I realized that the girl had serious style. It's been a while since we looked at street style instead of Red Carpet looks, so I thought she deserved a shout out. 

Decorating the Nest: Old Brass Beds

For something so sturdy, there's something really indulgent about brass beds. On the one hand, they're definitely old fashioned and a bit country cottage. Yet at the same time there's something very weighty and masculine about their presence. They seem to age a room up significantly, and they never strike me as trendy or as a piece that you would need to lose next time you remodeled. 

Taking a Second Look: Extend Those Sleeves

Bell sleeves weren't really a thing for quite some time now, and boy are they coming back for a resurgence. They add such fantastic drama to the silhouette, and I love the way that they border the line between girlish and chic. I have a  slightly similar black cocktail dress to Karlie's and I feel like a superstar when I wear it.

Fashion Crush Friday: Hannah Bagshaw

I was much more conflicted about this one than usual, simply because Hannah Bagshaw is famous through no real intention of her own. She is the charming wife of British actor Eddie Redmayne, and with his recent award winning streak and the upcoming launch of Harry Potter's Fantastic Beasts, the Redmaynes are on carpets galore.

Women Crush Wednesday: November

Today, I'd like to offer a shout out to a variety of women engaged in interesting projects that you may not be aware of. 

Karlie Kloss is not only my favorite super model, but she's also a good American gal from St. Louis, busily running her own empire. She's got her cookie business Karlie's Kookies, models up a storm across the world, and currently studies at NYU. The reason she's my crush right now is because of her initiative offering scholarships and training opportunities for young girls to train to code via her Kode with Klossy program. 

Fashion Crush Friday: Catriona Balfe

For those of you who somehow haven't seen Outlander, this is a PSA. Catriona Balfour is dynamite. Plus, for unknown reasons, she embodies what I imagine Rowena Ravenclaw to look like more than anyone else I've ever seen, which naturally established a girl crush. Note the Ravenclaw-esque scarf.

Littles: A Nursery for a Baby Lamb

Bunny & Lambs & Spring Flowers by buildingcamelot featuring moooi lighting

I had Springtime on the mind recently (Dear Maine, thanks for those photos of baby goats in hand knit sweaters) and I think you've all noticed by now that I'm a big yellow fan. I decided to give a Baby Animal nursery a shot and I'm really pleased with it.