More French Chic: Olivia Chantecaille

I love her style and always look forward to seeing what she's wearing.
Credit: Park venue Peerage

Perfect Summer Picnic

I'm currently on the lookout for a nice basket and blanket. Any suggestions?

Mon Foulard (inspired by Une Femme)

I love scarves. Absolutely cuckoo for them. I think a lot of people my age think a silk scarf may be a little mature and pretentious. But I don't care. They add a touch of class and charm to my outfits. I would much rather wear a simple black turtleneck or white dress shirt or trench and jeans and dress it up with a scarf than wear the latest trendy monstrosity. Yesterday, I wore favorite scarf that I purchased in Switzerland for 20 francs. (I'm still yearning for the grand dame of scarves, Hermes. Un jour. . .)

I'm somewhat particular about what I like in terms of colors and prints: navy, beige, hunter and kelly green, equestrian themes, etc.

I also have a love affair with pashminas, but they are not all that weather appropriate now. So, I think I will just throw on my silk scarves when I feel bare.

L'Hymne a L'amour

Le ciel bleu sur nous peut s'effondrer,
Et la terre peut bien s'écrouler,
Peu m'importe si tu m'aimes,
Je me fous du monde entier.

Tant qu' l'amour innondera mes matins,
Tant qu'mon corps frémira sous tes mains,
Peu m'importent les problèmes,
Mon amour, puisque tu m'aimes.

J'irais jusqu'au bout du monde,
Je me ferais teindre en blonde,
Si tu me le demandais.
J'irais décrocher la lune,
J'irais voler la fortune,
Si tu me le demandais.
Je renierais ma patrie,
Je renierais mes amis,
Si tu me le demandais.
On peut bien rire de moi,
Je ferais n'importe quoi,
Si tu me le demandais.

Si un jour, la vie t'arrache à moi,
Si tu meurs, que tu sois loin de moi,
Peu m'importe si tu m'aimes,
Car moi je mourrais aussi.

Nous aurons pour nous l'éternité,
Dans le bleu de toute l'immensité,
Dans le ciel, plus de problème,
Mon amour, crois-tu qu'on s'aime?

Dieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment.

Perfect Skin

If you didn't know, the MAC mineralize skinfinish liquid foundation is a hit! I use this along with the Mineralize powder and I love how my skin looks. I haven't been photographed in this makeup yet, but my sister sent me photos of herself with it on (she's a makeup artist) and it looked like she had perfect skin.

My skin is NOT perfect, but I've started using a mild strength TCA peel and my skin is getting so much better! This acid actually causes your epidermis to fall off and the stronger the acid is (or the more layers you use) the more peeling you get. The first time I did it, my skin peeled for a solid week. This time, I used one layer an I'm getting a nice gentle flaking. I should say I started out with Lactic Acid peels before using TCA. I STRONGLY recommend that you do your homework before using it. I've known about TCA peels since 2004 but it's taken me all this time to do my research and think carefully if I wanted to use it. It's possibly the best skin decision I made!

My skin use to be really finicky but it's really calmed down the past year. I know skincare in France is life, and the next time I go back for a visit, I will be making time to get some French goodies to use on my skin.

Hyeres Photos

Photos from the Hyeres fashion festival in France. I am in LOVE with this girl's glasses. I think they are Ray Bans? I wear thick black glasses too but I need this pair in my life!

Photo credit: Cafe Mode

Simply Vera

So I got this Simply Vera Wang skirt on sale at Kohl's and had the opportunity to wear it to a Junior League social. I really haven't purchased anything from her line, but I likes the ease of this skirt (silk material with an elastic back waist). It looks a lot better than in the photo (the bottom doesn't flare out like that).

It was a chilly evening so I wore it with a black turtleneck (a staple for me during the winter) and black rainboots. I felt chic and appropriate for the event. I'm a new member and lemme tell you, these ladies go all out! Everyone was really nice and I couldn't help checking out what the other ladies were wearing. I'm definitely going to have to step my game up.

I never did the sorority thing, and I look forward to having a more active social and volunteer life. I don't know what the organizations are like other areas of the country/world (I imagine it's a bit more stuffy in the Northeast and South--where you may need a sponsor to join!) but it's really laid back with lots of young women.

I'm really liking these two dresses as well:




Here's another dress I bought for another day as seen on The Bag Snob.