It’s way too much fun around here.

Thursday night’s Invade NOLA birthday bash was a smashing success! Fashion friends… “Cake Cake Cake” rather than your standard “Happy Birthday” song… a rum station (yep, that caused some of the “too much fun” moments)… and a photo booth with sassy accessories to play in….

With a mix like that there were lots of giggles and some seriously hamming it up shots. Take a look at all of the pics here and you’ll see what I mean.

Button Up Flannel (F21), Vintage Gloves (Honeymoon Bungalow), Floral Skirt (Target), Wayfarers (Ray-Bans), Crown (property of Booth232)

xoxo,

A

Oh Kylie!

Because I’ve had absolutely zero time for pictures (remember that little project I’m working on) and because Kylie Minogue is, well Kylie Minogue.

So today’s post is simply Kylie and tonight’s premiere of Holy Motors hosted by Culture Candy at The Manship Theatre.

Written and directed by Leos Carax, Eva Mendes and Kylie, Holy Motors premiered at Cannes and the NY Film Festival and then won all major awards at 2012 Sitges Film Festival.

Shadowy characters, assassins and a pretty blonde (in French!)… deliciously right up my alley.

Showtime: 7 p.m. arrive early for music and cocktails. Buy tickets here.

xoxo,

A

(image via Ellen Von Unwerth ad campaign)

Blow out the candles and make a wish.

Champagne and spirit fingers, and I simply love a birthday party! (If you need a reminder, here’s my birthday extravaganza post…not sure how I’ll top that tattoo station next year….)

But this one’s not my own, it’s my dear friends over at Invade NOLA, and they’re celebrating their third! There will be music and cocktails and the hippest crowd in town, and in the meantime, here’s all of the deets and some birthday eye candy to get ya in the mood.

See you there, with bubbles and bells on!

xoxo,

A

(image invite via Invade NOLA, remainder via pinterest)

Inspiration Board.

So, I have a little project brewing. Well, maybe not quite so little - but until it’s all officially flushed out, it’s one of those that I get nervous even discussing. Nervous mostly because it’s totally inner soul baring.

And during my first (very-early-pre-regular-12-hour-workday) meeting today - brainstorming design elements for said project - I pulled out the old school mood board via the new school way of sharing said mood board (Pinterest, of course).

The details will come soon, I promise - but if you want to try and figure it out, spend a little time on these board H&F (yes it stands for something) and Totally Sweet (just because everything here is)! 

Oh, and wow, now I’m blushing and twirling my hair (nerves!) all over again.

xoxo,

A

(all images via Pinterest)

AVEDA Holiday!

Ladies and gents: today is the day to get your shopping lists completed. It’s the Annual Paris Parker Salons and Spas Customer Appreciation Event, at all Paris Parker locations beginning at 5 p.m.

While you’re in shop for AVEDA gifts at 20% off, and receive complimentary mini-services and a customized Purefume Aroma Blend as a gift to you!

I’ll be out at the Jefferson Highway location so come on out and see me (p.s. I’ll help you finish your lists and find the perfect products for you too!)

xoxo,

A

The War of Art

“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.” S. Pressfield (The War of Art)

A great reminder from one of the most mind blowing reads I’ve had since I was, oh, like 11.

It’s one of those books I can pick up, take on two or three quick pages…and instantly, I’m reminded: get to work, focus, invoke the muse.

So on this particular day - the muse was invoked, quite easily, I may add, spinning for the 4th (or maybe 5th time) through the pages of former editor of Vogue Paris, Carine Roitfeld’s new mag CR Fashion Book. 

The pages are artfully done, visually stunning and provocative. (And man, I want to live like that!)

And what a perfect day for calling the muse: a brisk walk, sunshine and shadows and the river behind us?! (What’s your art, btw? Music, Film, Architecture, Design, Food? It’s all around us in Louisiana).

So what to wear on a day like this? My Bricks and Bombs sweatshirt (I have absolutely been living in it) partnered with these ancient (okay not quite, but almost) Levi’s turned cutoffs stolen from the bf’s closet.

The Levi’s were picked up in Milan many moons ago (by the way, notice that full moon over our LA skies this week?) and they’ve since made their way into my regular rotation.

So this week, I’m staying in the flow of Pressfield and Roitfeld (and with that little call out on my sweatshirt “Create & Destroy”) all for the sake of the work and what’s next.

Sweatshirt (Bricks and Bombs), Denim cutoffs (vintage Levi’s), boots (Armoire Boutique), Wayfarers (Ray-Bans), Cap (Brooklyn Industries, also the bfs), bag (Rebecca Minkoff, Mini M.A.C.), tights (American Apparel)

xoxo,

A

It’s the Easy Things.

It’s Thanksgiving Day (and I’m making this post a quick one… I’ve got someone to love on and friends to enjoy….) So, here’s a list of five easy things I’m so grateful for.

In no particular order, mind you (well, after the bf, of course) as everything on this list makes me brilliantly happy.

1. Old school closet favorites: this Liz Claiborne pleated skirt was a hand me down from my fabulous Aunt Jillian… 20 full years ago… a favorite and probably the most worn item in my closet.

2. New school Southern designers: (and pairing Liz with my “Delta Spirit” Billy Reid.) I picked this t-shirt up at the NY East Village store, possibly one of my favorite designers (and stores) anywhere.

3. Italian classics in the morning: Espresso and a ride in the bf’s vintage Fiat.

4. Louisiana Live Oaks: 75 degrees and trees like this 2 steps out of the front door? Oui, svp!

5. The sweetest man ever (who’s my best friend and partner in oh, so many ways). And, p.s. I love catching him being his usual cool self on the other side of the camera. (xo, mn!)

So ciao for now, enjoy your Thanksgiving!

xoxo,

A

T-Shirt (Billy Reid), Pleated Maxi Skirt (vintage Liz Claiborne), boots (Armoire Boutique), Wayfarers (Ray-Bans, gifted from the bf)

Because Every Girl Needs a Surfboard Print (also known as ‘have your cake and eat it too’).

If you follow me on instagram you know I had a bit of a Lisa Frank moment during an afternoon vintage shopping trip on Saturday. I needed something to wear for a pop-culture-art gallery show on Saturday night at Sarah Ashley Longshore’s uptown gallery.

So while searching for that perfect “art girl goes uptown” little number I somehow walked away with sequins, a baby bear sweater, acid washed Guess jean cut offs, and this surf board print dress.

I chose the sequins for the gallery and then, the surf board for a Sunday afternoon work session with the bf in my Bywater backyard. Sure, working in this and a pink sparkly turban could be a bit much, but ladies, a turban requires the most minimal hairstyling ever (I mean, who really wants to break out a brush on Sundays?).

And, truly, I couldn’t help but play it up a bit after Saturday night - “If you are wondering where I am, I will be lounging” was my favorite painting in the entire gallery, and this pink on pink on pink was my ode to it. 

Stay tuned for those baby bears, I have a feeling it’ll become my next “good vibe” sweater.

xoxo,

A

dress (vintage, Time Warp Boutique), turban (UO, gifted from my best designer friend Mat Arthur), necklace (also vintage, Time Warp), sunnies (Warby Parker), suede and sparkly platform (Halston for Bakers)

Floral and Falling Leaves.

The leaves are changing ever so slowly, and I love that Louisiana’s hue, for most of the year, is a verdant gorgeous green. 

I am soaking in another Southern Fall: it’s the time of year a girl can dress in easy gowns straight into the Winter months. This one is another to-die-for stunner from Libellule S/S 2013. 

Wrapped in silk and floral appliques, it feels like the sweetest, and most glamourous dressing gown ever made.

xoxo,

A

Floral Silk Gown (Libellule), Studded Bow Heel (Sam Edelman Lorna)