Category — Mes Chéris

I’m reposting what I had written last year in honor of Audrey’s Birthday ~ Bon Anniversaire, darling! Ching, ching, my Huckleberry Friend!

The world sparkled and shined the day the beautiful, incomparable Audrey Hepburn was born. Her generous and philanthropic spirit was an inspiration, and made her even lovelier in life than she was in her films. Not only did she have style in spades but she was a true lady ~ she carried herself with poise and grace, and treated others with kindness and respect. In my book that makes her one in infinity.

So “clink!” to the Birthday Girl and her memorable silver screen personas – Holly, Sabrina, Princess Ann, Jo, Joanna, Eliza, Regina, Gaby – and all the other fabulous characters brought to life by the unforgettable Audrey.

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe tomorrow is another day.” ~Audrey Hepburn

“I’ve got to do something about the way I look. I mean a girl just can’t go to Sing Sing with a green face.” ~ Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“Oh, but Paris isn’t for changing planes, it’s for changing your outlook! For throwing open the windows and letting in… letting in la vie en rose.” ~Sabrina Fairchild, Sabrina

“I hate this nightgown. I hate all my nightgowns, and I hate all my underwear too…I’m not two hundred years old. Why can’t I sleep in pajamas?” ~Princess Ann, Roman Holiday

“Take the picture, take the picture!” ~Jo Stockton, Funny Face

“I’m three dimensional, as a matter of fact.” ~Joanna Wallace, Two for the Road

“The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated.” ~Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

“Marriage license, did you say marriage license? Oh I love you Adam, Alex, Peter, Brian, whatever your name is.” ~Regina Lampert, Charade

“Actually, depravity can be terribly boring if you don’t smoke or drink.” ~Gaby Simpson, Paris When It Sizzles

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Channel your inner Audrey today ~ spin a Mancini melody, pop some champagne before breakfast, and queue up the Audrey classics! Enjoy, darlings!

I’m re-posting a previous piece I wrote in honor of the incomparable Lilly Pulitzer.  She will be dearly missed but her colorful spirit and style will shine on. Heaven just got a lot brighter!

Ooh La Lilly!

You don’t have to be the subject of a Slim Aarons photo to appreciate the Ooh La La of Lilly Pulitzer, lovelies.

Classic & chic, preppy & pretty ~ Lilly is a party waiting to happen!

When Manhattan socialite Lillian McKim eloped with Peter Pulitzer and moved to Palm Beach, she needed something to occupy her well-manicured hands…

As the young bride of an owner of several citrus groves, what better endeavor than opening an orange juice stand? Lilly enjoyed this new venture but found herself covered in splashes of fruit juice by the end of the day ~ so she and her dressmaker designed colorful shift dresses in citrus hues to camouflage the stains.

She soon realized customers were thirsty for only one thing: her fabulous frocks! To the delight of local ladies and other chic girlfriends like Jackie O., Lilly closed the juice stand and opened Lilly Pulitzer Inc. in 1959.

“Jackie wore one of my dresses – it was made from kitchen curtain material – and people went crazy. They took off like zingo. Everybody loved them, and I went into the dress business.” ~ Lilly Pulitzer

Lilly running from Peter’s plane ~ fabric swatches in hand.

La Lilly in one of her designs ~ love the sassed-up pose.

A prismatic palette of pretty, preppy and posh prints was born ~ and the rest is Palm Beach fashion history.

Pool or beach, yacht or garden, patio or porch, lunching or lounging ~ if you want to make any occasion special, bring on the Lilly.

A Lilly a day keeps the blues away ~ and with her vitamin D infused spring collection, you’ll feel sunshine on your sun-kissed shoulders when you slip on her lovely looks…

“It’s always summer somewhere.” ~Lilly Pulitzer

Here are some of my favorite pattern picks, pretties. Quel dilemma ~ it’s not possible to pick only one… Looks like I’ll need to try something in every chic & cheery print!

Spring Fever Toile

Scorpion Bowl

Jungle Glam Toile

Call Me Kitty Cat

Spritz

“Life‘s a party ~ dress like it!” ~Lilly Pulitzer

Illustration credit, Lilly Pulitzer.

“Turn the beat around. It’s not just a song it’s a philosophy.” ~Brad Goreski, favorite stylist, philosopher & fashion crush.

Not only is Season 2 of It’s A Brad Brad World back ~ but I enjoyed a double-dose of Mr. G. with my other make-believe BFF, Andy Cohen on WWHL last night.

What a treat! Two wildly creative, incredibly original, hilarious handsome men ~ who also happen to be the perfect gentlemen.

“Follow your passion. Be yourself, but check yourself before you wreck yourself.” ~Andy Cohen

This faux Dior ad of Jennifer Lawrence (a.k.a. the new Miss Dior) is perfection. Love it and love her! The girl can even make a tumble look elegant.

They need to use this for the real campaign! JLaw is in good company ~ the current Miss Dior is the très chic and feminine Natalie Portman.

Her “La Vie En Rose” commercial (by the uber-stylish Sofia Coppola) is one of my faves ~ ever since I first saw it, Grace Jones‘ version of the song has been permanently placed on all of my playlists. J’adore!

Topping off an already fun & fabulous weekend by staying up to watch the Oscars (followed by Jimmy Kimmel’s Movie: The Movie v2) has left this fashion lover lacking some zzzz’s and in desperate need of an Oscar hangover disguise…

Lots of prettiness promenaded down the Red Carpet this year but if this is supposed to be the Super Bowl of Fashion, you’re going to need to step it up, starlets! Bring back some of that Hollywood glitz & glam while you’re at it.  If I’m going to lose my beauty sleep over this, you’ll need to take my breath away, mesmerize me, wow me, knock my socks off.

Here’s the breakdown, beauties:

Kerry Washington, my best dressed pick for the evening, looked simply marvelous in Miu Miu! She sizzled in a sparkly crystal-encrusted, coral-skirted, bow-accented gown. This is how you rock the red carpet, ladies.

Charlize Theron in Dior ~ not my absolute favorite look of hers, but who am I kidding ~ her “so-so” is a mere mortal’s Best Day Ever.

Also loved her soft-shoe serenade with Sexiest Man Alive Channing Tatum!

Jennifer Garner ~ beautiful & statuesque in violet ruffled Gucci Première. Her best accessories are her hubs and those dimples.

The always lovely Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta ~ I imagine the strapless ice blue gown with cascading ruffles was even prettier in person! Scroll down further to see her slinky switch for the Vanity Fair party.

Jennifer Lawrence glows in Dior. She’s such a breath of fresh air ~ and even makes tripping on her gown look charming.

Anne Hathaway ~ transparent in Prada. Not an altogether unfortunate dress but underwhelming style & color on her.

Jessica Chastain ~ pretty in copper Giorgio Armani with lovely Veronica Lake locks.

Jennifer Hudson ~ looking feisty in Roberto Cavalli, this beautiful blue is a great color on her (and much better than last year’s ill-fitting tangerine mishap).

Adele in a Jenny Packham black embellished gown. Love her!

Halle Berry ~ very Bond Girl in art-deco themed va-va-Versace.

Jen Aniston looking pretty & happy in Valentino signature red. The full skirt was new for her and I loved seeing her in color for a change.

Amanda Seyfried in lilac Alexander McQueen halter gown with key-hole neckline. Not enough contrast against her skin and wish she had at least swiped on a pop of pink lipstick.

Reese Witherspoon ~ Louis Vuitton cobalt strapless gown. Fit was off but her hair was pretty.

Naomi Watts in silver sequin Giorgio Armani. Love her, don’t love the dress.

Helen Hunt in wrinkled H&M ~ I’m as bored with her as she appeared to be throughout the entire show.

Nicole Kidman in L’Wren Scott ~ she looks beautiful but I’m confused by this gown. On another note, Keith is getting so big!

Jane Fonda  in canary yellow Versace.  All of those leg warmer-laden workouts & feeling the burn have paid off!

Kristen Stewart~ a trainwreck in Reem Acra. Crutches, limping, bed head, bruised arm, looks like she hasn’t slept in days. Daniel Radcliffe seemed horrified to stand next to her.

Zoe Saldana in Alexis Mabille gown. She’s a gorgeous girl, but the belt, bow, and triple-toned split at the bottom are just too much. I think she redeems herself at the Vanity Fair party (scroll down).

Renee Zelweger looks like she was dipped in gold with this Carolina Herrera gown that fits her like a glove.

Speaking of being dipped in gold ~ why didn’t Dame Shirley Bassey ever win an Oscar for Goldfinger in 1964?

Sandra Bullock ~ pretty in an Elie Saab beaded lace sheer black gown. Not my favorite but still love her.

Robin Roberts ~ stunning in blue velvet Marc Bouwer. What a gem!

Salma Hayek in navy blue velvet Alexander McQueen with gold embellished collar and Cindy Chao jeweled hairpiece. Love that she made the look her own.

Kristin Chenoweth ~ never again. Nails on chalkboard.

Babs was fabs in DKNY and had me at Memories. “Your girl is lovely, Hubbell.” Sniffle…gets me every time.

Speaking of Donna K. ~ is this just a creepy Travolta photobomb?

Stacy Keibler ~ statuesque in a Gatsby-esque Naeem Khan dress.

The men of the evening making their own style statement  ~ Ben, George, Hugh & Bradley rock the beard.

The bubbly flowed long after the awards at the Vanity Fair party…

Amy Adams shimmied into some shimmery metallic fringe.

Jennifer Lawrence slipped on some silver.

 Zoe, back in black.

 Naomi slinked on some more sexy sequins.

Fini.

“You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”