Northern Women in Chanel

If I wasn't saving like mad this amazing book would be on its way to me now.

via mymag

CHANEL LOVE

I love this dress and I love how Cam has worn it so minimal.  10/10!

"Between the fear that something would happen and the hope that still it wouldn't, there is much more space than one thinks. On that narrow, hard, bare and dark space a lot of us spend their lives." Ivo Andric

As I mentioned in a previous post, for years and years I haven't marked my birthday whatsoever.  Something always happened in the lead up and this year was no different, but I'm so glad that I organised to see my dear friends and mark the occasion!  Life is too precious and too short.

I met with my first group of friends after work for some drinks.  I probably haven't been 'out' all year! Hmmm.  We had a lovely booth at a bar with lots of drinks and some nibblies to share.

On Saturday, my actual birthday I spent the day with B in South Melbourne, visiting an endless amount of shops, bookstores, antique furniture stores, drinking too many soy lattes and lunching on the most amazing fruit toast with home made jam at St Ali.  It was such a lovely, warm-ish early spring day, spent doing my favourite things with my favourite person!

Today I was joined by some other friends for a long lunch at St Kilda beach, including my newest friend, baby A!  I can't get enough of him and will be so sad when he moves away with his mummy (who is one of my closes friends) so they can finally be together with his daddy in Adelaide.  

And tonight B and I had a wonderful, romantic dinner at Donovan's. It's such a lovely, warm and intimate restaurant with an open fire place, serving hearty, wholesome and rustic food.

Thank you to each and everyone of my wonderful friends for making it such a wonderful, memorable birthday.

And of course the gifts, which have been trickling in all week!

My friend D, surprised me with a package at work.  The lip balms are brilliant, and there's enough for each hand bag no more dry lips when forgetting one in another bag.  Brilliant.  And anything Aesop I love!  Am yet to try and moisturising oils.  Thanks babe! 

Now, B knew how much I wanted a remote for my camera, and he was more than happy to oblige so that he'd also be relieved that he would no longer have to take photos of me!  Little did I expect something from Chanel too!  He went early in the morning to get a hair cut, came home, yet there was no hair cut! Only a gift from Chanel =D

It's a lovely, elegant, crystal pendant...

The Chanel birthday continued, thanks to my sister in law!

My friend D totally spoilt me with a gorgeous bow clutch, 4 mini Essie polishes and a bottle of the new Gucci Guilt fragrance!  

And my friend A and baby A got me some stunning jewellery.

Everyone knows my tastes far too well!  Thanks guys!  I'd be nothing with you all! xo

How frickin' cool is Karl?

The huge lion - Coco Chanel was a Leo.

No black dress in sight - Karl figures all women have an LBD.

Modern Pearls

Did you know that about a century ago, Pierre Cartier exchanged a double strand necklace of natural pearls for a mansion on 5th Avenue that belonged to the financier Morton F Plant?  That mansion is now Cartier's flagshop store on 5th... Hmm Mrs Plant must have really wanted the necklace, eh?

I got a pair of pearl earrings from my aunt for my 12th birthday.  She got them for me because her aunt got her a pair of pearl earrings for her 12th birthday.  My aunt was born in New York City to Hungarian migrant parents.  She went to boarding school and converted to Judaism because her best friend was Jewish.  She was a high flying executive in the advertising world in Manhattan and after her husband died, she moved to California, where she met my uncle.  They were never married, but she is still my aunt.  Neither of them have children of their own and when I stayed with them for a month when I was 16, lets just say that I was spoilt rotten.  I think I got more gifts that Christmas than I have for the other 25 Christmases all together!  She is a complicated woman (and so am I) but one I admire, even though we are no longer on very good speaking terms.

The earrings sat in their little box until I was about 22 and I have pretty much worn them every day since then.  It is fair to say that my love affair for pearls has well and truly blossomed.  I have a lovely set of (unfortunately) faux pearl Mimco necklaces with a crystal clasp and ONE DAY I will add a few from Chanel, don't worry about that.

Chanel Cruise 2011

It's been a long 2 years since my last summer in Europe.  Melbourne winters may not seem so harsh when you look at the temps (4C at night, about 13C during the day), but believe me, the winds from the Antarctica go straight through to the bones, no matter how many layers you're wearing.

The Chanel Cruise show was presented in St Tropez last week. 

Karl can be a bit stuffy, but this collection was so summer appropriate.. It had a lovely, carefree, bohemian feel to it.  Perfect for lounging around the French Riviera, after you've left your ordinary life behind.  Sigh

Anja Rubik in my favourite look.. a printed, light caftan with gold sandals.. love

style.com

Gift time

A very dear work colleague has just returned from a 3 week trip to NY, LA & LV.  He was kind enough to come bearing a lovely gift also.  And as you know from my "what's in your bag post", I had virtually finished my other bottle!

YAY, THANKS :)

Chanel Fall 2010

I thought that Karl's idea of clogs would never take off, but everyday I see women sporting that awful footwear out on the street.

Will people really take to fur as ferociously as Karl wants them to come fall?

I did adore the setting though!

Undecided..