Off My High Horse

It's Friday, the sky is blue and the sun is shining and I'm off my high horse.
Hopefully, this weekend I will have time to check in on everyone's blogs and see what I've missed during my hiatus.
Inspired by the posts about India at Amid Privilege, I've delved into a stack of books about Moghul jewelry. It's a big subject but a beautiful one because bright color and rich ornamentation was so important in the Moghul culture. 

Amazing isn't it?
Hopefully the weather will stay nice and I can continue my reading poolside this weekend.

On the opposite end of the artistic spectrum we've got the exhibition of paintings by Salvatore Rosa at the Kimbell Art Museum in Forth Worth.

A contemporary of Lorraine and Poussin, Rosa created works in the mid 17th Century that melded elements of Classicism with Romanticism.

From the WSJ review
Whatever he was like in real life (apparently he was a combative, rebellious prototype of the bohemian artist), Rosa is not a painter you fall in love with. The first things you notice are what he does not have. There is little playfulness or joie de vivre. He was a contemporary, and knew the work, of Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin, but he lacks the gentle softness of the former and the impeccable coloring of the latter, although his mythological scenes often replicate Poussin's neoclassical geometry. His unsettling landscapes move beyond Claude's pastoral harmonies, replacing them with dangerous, wind-swept, "sublime" ravines and crags, gloom and doom.

The Kimbell's silvery light allows us to see the somberness up close. The pictures here are, by and large, dark: They have little bright color. Some come close to Goya's horrifying late black paintings. Shades of brown and other earth tones predominate even in the landscapes. The sun seldom shines. Rosa brings the underworld up to the surface. He is both classical and (pre-) Romantic.

Unfortunately, there won't be time to see the Rosa exhibit on my trip to Texas next month.
I wonder, why isn't this exhibit coming to the Getty, LACMA or the Norton Simon Museum?
That is just wrong.

Sent goods off yesterday for a Mert and Marcus cover shoot with Gisele for Vogue Turkey.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that the bad weather conditions in Louisville and New York didn't keep the goods from getting to the shoot...because you never know with snow.
We shall see.

Happy Friday everyone!

Timeless Style - Renée Pearl and 1930's French Modernism

Renée Pearl photographed by Jacques-Henri Lartigue in 1930

I found this fabulous photo and story about fashion model and muse of Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Renée Pearl, on the Bluetramontana Style blog, and I couldn't help but note how modern her look was.

The big ring, the bangle bracelets...

this is how I would rock this look in 2010 Beladora style.

Lavender Jadeite and Diamond Ring in 18K $1850

Group of 25 Bangle Bracelets in 18K $4550

For more on Renée Pearl and French Modernism
regard

Around Town - Dave McCoy Photography at the Harris and Ruble Gallery

Last night I went to the opening night show of 'Wild Eyes in the Sierra Skies' featuring Dave McCoy's photography at the Harris & Ruble Gallery in Hollywood in collaboration with Posner Fine Art.

Dave McCoy, a founding developer of the Mammoth Mountain ski resort in the Sierra Nevada, has been taking photographs of the region since the 1930s.  Now in his 90s he is still taking pictures of the Mammoth area. 

This shot of the sunset was one of my favorites

...naturally, my photo of it would be completely askew

To see more photos there is his book Tracks of Passion ,a photo essay on the development of Mammoth Mountain, and the Dave McCoy website.

Personally, I like this iconic photo of the man himself shot by Warren Miller making skiing in a t-shirt representative of California skiing.

Lara Stone In Vogue - The Naughty and The Nice

The lovely Lara Stone seems to be everywhere these days and she is most definitely the current darling of Vogue. Christina at Fashion's Most Wanted posted this oh la la image of Lara by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for the cover of French Vogue for the 90th anniversary issue. This sexy strong image doesn't actually scream fashion to me, but what do I know, I'm not French.
I'm guessing that you might not go for the full on 'Eyes Wide Shut' (a la Dash) style topless, lace masked look, but the cameo choker is doable, non?
Just buy a wide black velvet ribbon and add this.

 

Antique Victorian Bacchante Cameo Brooch in 14K from Beladora.com $1035

American Vogue leaving the naughty to the French, because they do it so well, instead gave us the nice, with Lara as the girl next door in an editorial also photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
Well coiffed and cashmere covered, we get the good girl ingenue complete with a diamond cross from Tiffany & Co. Perhaps the full on 1950's style Nina Ricci sweater and skirt are too much coverage for you, consider instead the diamond cross because it is a classic.
Of course you could go to Tiffany's and buy it for $8750 with the in store experience and the little blue box. Or you could skip the hassle of going to the store because Beladora has the same diamond cross for you for $3500 less than the Tiffany store price.

Tiffany & Co. Diamond Cross Pendant in Platinum from Beladora.com $5250

et voila

Lindsey Lohan Channels Grace Kelly in Vanity Fair

It's cold and damp and drizzling outside and guess what...
I am happy

Look what came in the mail today
I've been anxiously waiting for the October issue of Vanity Fair to arrive so that I could let you know that some vintage jewelry from Beladora2.com made the Grace Kelly inspired Lindsey Lohan photo shoot styled by Jessica Diehl.
OK, so Beladora2 did not make the cover shoot
but we are more than thrilled to be in this sensational two page photo by Norman Jean Roy.

Here's the bracelet

Cultured Pearl and Diamond Bracelet in 14K from Beladora2.com $1250

Here's another simple yest elegant bracelet that was also used in the shoot

Cultured Pearl and Gold Bead Bracelet in 14K from Beladora2.com $265

So please, if you don't subscribe to Vanity Fair, pick up a copy or borrow a copy from a friend so that you can see these gorgeous photos.

The Selby Project

I have so much blogging and business to catch up with after a week away from the internet and the office.
Hopefully I will get back to reading the bazillion or so blogs that I follow in the next day or two. 


In the meantime I leave you this video from Vanity Fair with portrait, interior and fashion photographer Todd Selby who shoots creative people in their natural habitats. The video focuses on his collaboration with Louis Vuitton but check out his website The Selby if, like me, you love interior design and are just a t'wee bit voyeuristic.
Yes, I admit it, I love to see how the creative hipsters from London to Los Angeles, from Milan to Mexico, live.

Ralph Lauren's Next top Model

Ralph Lauren, I've found your perfect model!

From America's Next Top Model the 6'2' Ann

No need to over photoshop here....

perfect proportions...her actual waist is smaller than her head!

No need for thanks Ralph...we're here to help!

More Fun With Photoshop

Look...Ann Taylor has pulled a Ralph Lauren!

Daring to Go Gray

I've never been a fan of supermodel Kristin McMenamy.  There was always something about her androgynous eyebrow-less look that I found unappealing.  But now that she has matured to the ancient age of 45, I find her more attractive, especially because she has allowed her hair go gray.

I think that she looks great

I'm not giving up my unruly long blond locks anytime soon, but I do find premature gray hair, especially when it is this long, to be striking.
Opinions?

Sharing the LOVE

And what's not to love?

Go over to Fashion's Most Wanted and share the love with Christina for Love Magazine

Twisted Prep or How to Wear Your Hilfiger Duck Boots

Tommy Hilfiger's tailgating ad campaign is continuing to get play in the blogosphere, with Look Muffy An Ad Campaign For Us! at Habitually Chic.  Perhaps for me there is more nostalgia for the vintage 1980's Jeep Wagoneer than excitement about the actual clothes themselves.  Still, now that I see Hilfiger's OTK duck boots in action in this photo, I'm becoming more partial to them.

Christy Turlington by Steven Meisel and Karl Templar - Modern and Classic Indeed

If you haven't already picked up the latest edition of Italian Vogue...go out and spend $18 to buy it right now!

The Christy Turlington cover story photographed by Steven Meisel and styled by Karl Templar is one of the most beautiful fashion editorials that I have ever seen.  (and I'm not just saying that because Beladora was asked to provide jewlery for the shoot, which they didn't use but was fine with us because the jewlery was barely noticable)  Each of Turlington's looks were wonderful, from the big hair to the fabulous frocks to the gorgeous gloves to the stylish shoes, and she has never looked more beautiful.