Ines de la Fressange

One of my earliest fascinations was with French super model, Ines de la Fressange. Perhaps it was her mastery of effortless French Style. It could of been the fact that as a young girl I rarely saw anyone who resembled me. Dark bushy eyebrows, chocolate unruly hair and belle laide features were not prevalent in Missy or whatever they were called, those fashion magazines for teens in the eighties. Oh sure once in awhile I would see a Gia type in my mom's Glamour, but in my neighborhood it was dishwater blond hair and blue eyes...EVERYWHERE. My dark unconventional looks made me an outcast and quite unsure of my own person. It wasn't until we moved to a Jewish/Arabic neighborhood that I finally felt like I fit in. Never mind that we were not Jewish or Arabic, I had finally found my people!
But Ines always reminded me of a cousin or Aunt I wished I had. She embraced her looks and made them work for her. She never wore frosted pink lipstick, purple eyeshadow or highlighted her hair. She didn't try to fit in or fit the mold of blond, busty American models. Plus that infectious smile is still the sexiest I have ever seen.I love her for it.
Yesterday I saw a picture on The sartorialist that looked exactly like Ines, her sense of style is so consistent with who she is and really has not changed over the years. Yes, she updates her hair, but it still stays in that short, tousled look that suits her so well.
She is my favorite model in all the world.

Things to come in Chi-Chi and the greek

1950's day dresses...so Prada it's sick, Vera scarves, Gypsy Wedding Dresses, Oleg Cassini Couture Coats and so much more. My head is spinning from all the photographing and measuring I am doing. Once the site is up I will be able to update and add new products...DAILY.

Top model Katoucha Niane's body found in river

"French police have confirmed that a body found in the River Seine in Paris was that of the Guinean former top model, Katoucha Niane.
Her body was spotted under a bridge by a passer-by a month after she vanished.

Officials said her death seemed to be accidental, but that a post-mortem examination was needed to determine the exact cause of death.

She was one of the first black African models to become a global catwalk star, in the 1980s.




The mother of three, originally from Guinea, disappeared after being dropped off from a party. Her handbag was later recovered near the houseboat where she lived.

Outspoken campaigner

Aged 47, and known simply as Katoucha, she worked with some of the world's top designers at the height of her career, including Yves Saint-Laurent and Christian Lacroix.

I embodied the most arrogant and admired kind of femininity, I who was supposed to be diminished

Katoucha Niane

She left the catwalk in 1994, but in recent years made headlines as an outspoken campaigner against female circumcision, launching a foundation against the practice.

Having undergone the procedure herself at the age of nine, in Guinea, Ms Niane recounted the ordeal in a recent book, called In My Flesh.

She said she saw her career as a top model as a form of "revenge" for the horror of genital mutilation."

reprinted from BBC news

Junya Watanabe

Etro envy

I've always been partial to Etro, ever since an ex-honest-to-god-Italian-boyfriend introduced me to their line.
He went to boarding school with a few of or one of the brothers. His closet was stocked with a billion variations of the blue buttoned down shirt. Checks, stripes, gingham, dots etc. etc. Even though my style ran amuck from Salvation Army to T.J. Maxx; I knew INSTANTLY that my boyfriend had a certain "old-money" class that I would never ever emulate.
We broke up eventually, but not before he taught me about Campari cocktails, Vanessa Paradis, Italian Marlboro cigarettes (very different from American cigarettes) and the importance of good shoes and earth colored make-up. He bought me an army green Etro wool wrap shortly before we went our separate ways. It still is one of my favorite articles of clothing, which is odd as it is not actually a piece of clothing but rather an accessory!
Anyhow, I still worship at the alter of Etro, although the perfume is more accessible to me nowadays.

Helen Morgan

After the peroxide

I promised to write about clothes that have S.M.A but I happened upon the latest issue of Domino this week and developed a new fashion crush: Linda Rodin. Featured on the back page, this fashion stylist turned beauty entrepreneur tells of 10 things that make her happy: seashells, vintage tortoise shell eye-glasses, vintage phones and Chanel two-tone crushable flats, to name a few. I too adore/collect/covet these things but what really cemented my crush were her looks. After googling her I found her to be 57. 57 and no obvious traces of blond highlites, tight fitting blue jeans, fake nails, fake breasts or puffy lips.
I am forever in love!
Linda, to me, equates what a woman should look like after living well. She's put together, stylish and very much unique.
Need more? Take a look at another star versus Linda.
Aren't you a bit scared?

Morgan Fairchild-57
Linda Rodin-57

Beauty Routines

In my past life, (read: before kids!) I was a make-up artist for MAC cosmetics. The best part about my job was the quarterly gratis we received. I never was tempted to purchase cosmetics anywhere else and with good reason. At that time the MAC foundations were spectacular, the eyeshadow was like gold and the lipstick stayed on through cigarettes, coffee and pasta (my unfortunate diet of my youth.)
Fast forward to today where my 2 children often are more in need of socks in the morning, after school activities are frequent and starting my own business is a wee bit overwhelming. MAC as a whole no longer offers everything I need. I need a great skincare line MORE than a foundation and lets face it, false eyelashes, which I lived in, just don't cut it at the local Kroger's.
So here are a few products that have become life-savers to me:

Repercharge skincare line has eradicated a need for heavy thick foundations, concealers or powders. This line has drastically improved my skin like no other. I simply cannot live without their cleanser, hydrating mist and opti-lift moisturizing line.

Mirabella foundation-Whether I use the loose mineral foundation or the compact mineral foundation I look like I have great skin as opposed to great spackle.

Un-Stress Vitamin and Herbal Formula-I picked this up at Whole Foods based on a recommendation from a friend and it had truely had an effect on my over-all mood. Thats code for: it kicks PMS in the ass!
Bonus, it has stopped 95% of my hormonal break-outs!!


Mirabella Custom Eyes Kit- A complete no brainer for eyeshadow placement. Plus they are customised for different colored eyes. Each kit contains 4 eyeshadows, a lash primer, mascara, liner, sharpener and a huge mirror. All for about 35.00 retail.

Tomorrow I'll share some basic clothing pieces that save my butt on a daily basis.

Jovovich-Hawk at Target??!!

Milla says: “Our Target line will have all our classic pieces: smock dresses, tunics, minis, all vintage-inspired, great prints. We took the things that sold the best for us but we’re doing it on a bigger scale. To be able to do it with a big company that can afford to do it for a good price so that real girls can afford it. That’s the reason we were interested.”
I absolutely love Jovovich-Hawk. Their clothes are ethereal, dreamy and enchanting. I see a specific type of woman who wears their designs. A patchouli infused, long hair, eccentric artist type.(Sometimes I see a harried mom of two, but that's not often.)
Actually what I really admire about this line is that everything they create looks like something they would wear. I love how true they are to their esthetics's.

leah and dan

I would kill to look as good as Leah in these moschino jeans

Victorian loveys

Beautiful Dreamers

Found this on a French online boutique called: Le Corner des Createurs
I love the severity of her hair mixed with the soft make-up and toile and fur capelet. Its so very romantic and modern.



gorgeous Dame Darcy Illustrations:

Since I was captured by Dame Darcy's illustration for Jane Eyre I have been a bit obsessed....



deco flowers.

I am, as ever, a huge fan of 1920's art and fashion. The floral piece above is to die for.