A Study in OMG

Fact 1: I did not watch Gossip Girl last season because the first two episodes were beyond awful.

Fact 2: Paris makes everything better.

Fact 3: Season 4 of Gossip Girl begins in Paris.

Hypothesis: Season 4 of Gossip Girl will be better than last.

Conclusion: I will be tuning in.

I am utterly obsessed with the press photos of the upcoming Gossip Girl episodes in Paris. Seriously. The fashion, the lighting, the scenery - I've said it before and I'll say it again, everything is better in the City of Lights. In other news, I am now on the hunt for a polka-dot dress. **UPDATE: Bailey Quin to the rescue swooped in and showed me this little number, available in black and white.

A Dorm Like No Other

Ever thought you'd get style inspiration from a college dorm room? Neither did I. Elements of Style included a few shots of Maximilian Sinsteden’s fantastic room at Drew University. I was so wowed I had to learn more and share it with all of you. Does this gallery wall remind you of anything? : ) A couple items of note: the rich green wall color is Ralph Lauren's Tapestry Green and in case you're wondering what happened to the standard dorm room furniture, it's sitting in a storage locker far, far away.

Pretty sure the contents on the vintage bar cart would not meet Syracuse dorm code - right along with "no hot plates or toaster ovens." On another note, how insane are the curtains? I think that shocked me more than anything else in the room.

Not only do I love a man with great ties, but I admire Maximilian's unpretentious approach to utilizing cheap finds in his designs. His dresser was $80 at a thrift store.

Yes, the linoleum floor is lined with oriental rugs. All family hand-me-downs. Not too shabby.

Fashion vs Furnishings 8.28.10

And we're back with another episode of Fashion vs Furnishings. Have at it!

Chiasso Ring Pillow

The quickest fix to livening up your beige living room? Contrast.

$58

Ann Taylor Grosgrain Ribbon necklace

Crystal glam meets grosgrain prep. It's like an allegory for the unlikely friendship between Elle Woods and Vivien Kensington. Yep.

$58

THE CHALLENGE:

You have $58. Which do you buy?

Couch flare or neck flare?

Style Clique Quiz

How fun is this W Magazine article by Armand Limnander comparing high school cliques to adult cliques in the fashion world?

I'd have to say I'm a good mix of "Valedictorian" and "Girl Who Eats Her Feelings." I love Brigitte Bardot & Prada along with Audrey Hepburn & Calvin Klein. But where is "Prep School" girl? The one who idolizes Kate Middleton's style, pairs fitted blazers with tall leather boots, gets giddy upon entering a Ralph Lauren store, and dreams of moving to the English countryside to pen the next Harry Potter-crazed series? What was that? Just me? Oh.

Alright, ladies, fess up. Which gal one are you?

Help Needed

Happy Hump Day, dear readers! Quick question for all of you because I just cannot make up my mind. I want to paint the bar tray in my dining room but need your help! Let me know what you think. The options are:

black
(to accent the candlesticks)

grey
(to match the dining chairs)

teal
(to compliment the birdcage)

white
(like everything else in the room)

Help!

Designers I Love: Emily Henderson

Confession. I am a style blogger who doesn't watch Design Star. I've seen a few episodes here and there, but I have a few bones to pick with the producers. 1. The show moves too slow to keep me interested. 2. The low-budget projects don't offer finished spaces that wow me. 3. And quite frankly, the judges put me to sleep. And I love Candace and Vern! THAT being said. I watched this season finale last night and loved the space that winner Emily Henderson designed. I mean - the room could not have been a more literal interpretation of her client (which was the whole point - to use the client's wardrobe as inspiration for their home). It was perfect! And beautiful! And that massive canvas art in the bedroom, well, I loves it and want it for my dining room. And how adorable was Emily?! Genuine and sweet, brilliant and humble. Naturally, I had to check out more of this soon-to-be-way-famous lady's portfolio.

Each shot - no matter how simple - is stunning. It's amazing the talent that goes into styling a photo shoot. Each of these photos has the perfect balance of color, art, shape, texture, and light. And that last shot? It looks as though someone was just sitting there enjoying chocolate milk and a magazine, and got up to answer the phone. Amazing. I will definitely be tuning in next Sunday for the premiere of Emily's new HGTV series, Secrets from a Stylist.

via

The Romantic Crew

J.Crew, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. As if the brilliant fashion wasn't enough, J.Crew's marketing team hit one out of the park when they teamed up with the cast The Romantics, a film I'm aching to see when it hits theaters this fall. The dashing suits, the sparkly skirts, and a fun, normal looking Katie Holmes - what's not to love? I speak for everyone when I say, we missed you Joey Potter. And Seth Cohen.

Hmm... maybe the fun-loving laughs arose from Josh Duhamel feeding her cupcakes. On another note, I'd like to point out that I was in J.Crew this weekend and they did not have one. sparkly. item. I know. Tears were nearly shed.

Looks good, yes?!

COUNTDOWN TO RUE: 4 Weeks Left

Yesterday marked the 4 WEEK countdown to the launch of Rue Magazine. And then the wait is o-v-e-r! But as treat for being such awesome fans and to keep your energy on the rise through the final long haul, the Rue gals are debuting exclusive sneak peaks at four different media outlets every Thursday until September 16. Ahhh! The crowd goes wild.

In case you missed it, yesterday was the first installment of the Rue countdown, an exclusive sneak peak at one of the premiere issue's home tours! Shelterpop featured these two gorgeous photographs by Manny Rodriguez along with a top-notch story by journalist Amy Preiser. Yours truly got a shout-out. Holla!

Shaken, Not Stirred

I dare you to open a shelter magazine and not find at least one bar cart staring you in the face. Perfect for the perpetual entertainer or the overworked decorator, having a bar on display in the home adds color, texture, and personality with a hint of retro glamour (a la Mad Men). Not to mention its wildly convenient after a long day with a cranky client.

via

But finding the right cart is not that easy. You're more likely to find one in a resale shop than at any retailer. Fortunately, if you're in the market, Restoration Hardware's Duncan Bar Cart is currently available for half off online - only $250! I'd snatch one up for myself if I didn't already have a pretty lil' home for all my booze.

Parts in the Sum of the Whole

IF you follow us on Twitter and Facebook, then you would have already heard, Rue wrapped all photo shoots for the premiere issue a week ago. BIG smiley face. Now that images are trickling into our inboxes from the photographers, I want to pose a few questions to all of you because I myself am torn.

Do you have prefer looking at close-up detail shots where it's almost difficult to distinguish what you're looking at (like those above)?

OR do you prefer having a clearer picture of the space and seeing the parts in the sum of the whole (like those shots below)?

Which inspires you more? Do you consider one to be "better" photography over the other?

I'd like to thank one of my favorite Chicago stores, Patina, for displaying this beautiful collection of photos on their website. I just wish I could purchase these unique items online!