THEODATE POPE RIDDLE
DISCLAIMER: Today is my mother’s birthday, so send good thoughts out to the world and reblog this like crazy so she feels special. This post was her suggestion.
Most of you probably won’t know who Theodate Pope Riddle is, so let me enlighten you. She was one of the first women architects in America and paved the way for many women working in the field today. She graduated from Miss Porter’s School (now just Porter’s/my backyard) and designed her family estate, Hillstead, in town.
Hillstead
Knowing Farmington as I do, I’d expect her style to be approachable, elegant and understated…more of the J.Crew and kate spade vibe than the Lily Pulitzer vibe. Hillstead now exists as a museum housing Hokusai prints, De Gas ballet dancers and Monet’s haystacks. We also walk the dogs here, it’s fun. Enjoy!
1. Taking a stroll on the lawn
Dress by Ralph Lauren, jacket by Proenza Schouler, shoes by Celine
2. The Annual Garden Auction
Dress by Ralph Lauren, shoes by Valentino
3. Sketching in the sunken garden
Coat by Marc Jacobs, dress by Chloe, shoes by Jonathan Saunders
All images from Vogue UK.
HERMIONE GRANGER, HARRY POTTER WEEK
As you well know, I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter books & films. With the impending release of Deathly Hallows, I’ve decided to dedicate this week to our favorite Harry Potter characters. Many of them have made appearances before, including my all time favorite post, Luna Lovegood. Today, I tried my hand at Hermione Granger. Hermione was exceedingly difficult because the runways of Paris, Milan, London and New York don’t really cater to the denim and striped sweater wearing Witch we’ve all come to love. So imagine this as a “high fashion Hermione,” lame I know but whatever. Enjoy.
1. “We’ve looked a hundred times!” “Not in the restricted section…”
Suit by Proenza Schouler, coat and clutch by Michael Kors, shoes by Dries Van Noten
2. “Is that Hermione Granger? With Viktor Krum?”
Dress by Jason Wu, shoes by Nina Ricci
3. Casting a Confundus Charm on Cormac at Quidditch Trials
Coat by Derek Lam, dress by Jonathan Saunders, shoes by Paul Smith
Any suggestions for the next character?
All images from Vogue UK.
BELLE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Do I really need to explain Belle? I know you’ve all seen the movie…She’s got her nose stuck in a book and she fell in love with a beast. Done. Enjoy.
1. A beauty but a funny girl
Skirt by Jonathan Saunders, top by Derek Lam, bag by Proenza Schouler, shoes by Matthew Williamson
2. There’s something there that wasn’t there before
Dress by Erdemn, shoes by Dolce and Gabbana
3. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme
Dress and shoes by Christian Dior
All images from Vogue.
UNDINE
AHOY! Below is an e-mail I got from a reader/friend yesterday. I laughed, so it’s the subject of today’s post. p.s. e-mails are always welcome (john.jannuzzi@gmail.com)
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Was just reading your textbook post on the Little Mermaid, and thought you should look at Undine by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. It’s pretty twisted.
This water sprite girl (Undine) is raised by two old people all alone in seclusion until a knight who is scared by ghosts in the forests finds her. The knight falls in love and they get married. Cool, cause now she has a soul. Apparently she didn’t before? Hard to say. Then he takes her back to the city where the rich girl he was supposed to marry is royally pissed off and is all like bitch, I can’t believe you married some water sloot instead of me. Cat fight ensues. Well guess what? That girl is actually the two old people’s real daughter and she was switched with Undine as a baby. Woah. So she’s upset because she was super rich and now she has to go to her poor real parents and she is still single. Eff. Undine feels bad is all like no, cmon you can come with us to the castle. Mistake. Because of course the knight and the other girl totally have sex and Undine is betrayed. She ends up (for reasons I can’t quite remember) being obligated to stab the knight to death with some coral. Then she is so sad about what she did, she turns into a river that circles his grave forever.
I don’t know, I just feel like she could be wearing some pretty cool things.
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1. I’m just a poor sprite from a poor family
Skirt by Jonathan Saunders, shirt by Derek Lam, shoes by Peter Pilotto
2. Now I’m a princess, yaaay
Dress by Peter Pilotto, shoes by Gucci
3. I’ll cut a bitch
Dress by Christian Dior, shoes by Meadham Kirchoff
All images from Vogue.
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BEHOLD, it’s Artemis time. Like all the Olympian gods, Aretmis was pretty kick ass. The Greeks worshiped her most commonly as the goddess of the hunt, but she was also the patroness of young girls, disease, wild animals, wilderness and virginity. Artemis’ attributes are what you might expect from any leading Olympian goddess, a chariot drawn by gold antlered deer, a bow and arrow, some fishing supplies and of course a lyre. Give it up for Artemis. Now that I’m on this Olympian kick I might just have to do all 12 of the majors. Hmmmm…
1: Going for a quick hunt: dress by Jonathan Saunders, shoes by Diane von Furstenberg
2: Hanging around Olympus: dress by Mary Katrantzou, shoes by Rodarte
3: DANCE PARTY!: dress by Matthew Williamson, shoes by Erdem
All images from Vogue.
