Sep 10

2012

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On the Road: The Adirondacks

Here I am. I’m back in England for good now and will be finally resuming my daily posting schedule. This summer was pretty much a write-off in terms of getting enough time to myself to do anything creative. I’m not complaining though. I think I really needed the break. I’ve been with my kids 24/7, setting up our life here in England, traveling a lot and having loads of friends to stay. It’s been great, but I am ready to get down to the daily life I imagined for myself here – spending most of the day in my garden shed / office writing and being creative while the kids are at school, with maybe a break in the day to go for a ride on my Polo, my favorite horse...

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Aug 20

2012

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Life in England: Gifford’s Circus

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Ever since my children were toddlers, Gifford’s Circus has been a major highlight of our summers in England. It’s a small, family run “homemade” circus that is cozy enough to feel intimate but big enough to create a festive dose of energy in the room. The beautiful sets are hand-painted, the inspired costumes are hand-sewn or plucked from vintage stores, and the acts are unique, impressive and thoughtfully curated. You simply can’t believe something this personal, charming and creative still exists in the world of global Ringling Brothers and Cirque du Soleil domination. It is the antithesis of the worldwide, mass produced, profit-seeking spectacle. Every year there is a different theme – past ones have included everything from Janis Joplin to War and Peace to Greek Mythology – that dictates the design of the tent, the characters, the costumes and the music. The stories are high-brow enough for adults to appreciate but subtle enough that they don’t get in the way of a 3 year old being able to equally enjoy the show. I have yet to find a better combination of entertainment and personal style.

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Aug 16

2012

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Snapshot: The best Birkin bag I’ve seen

In a world of Hermes-bag-toting reality show superstars, it was such a revelation to lay my eyes on stylist Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele’s 30 year old, worn-in and personalized Birkin the other day. I walked on the set of a photo shoot and it was just casually lying there amongst her static guard and lint rolls. You could see that it was a different kind of leather than they use these days, and the stitching looked more handsewn. I don’t think I’d spend the money on a new Hermes Birkin bag today, but if I had one that looked like this I certainly wouldn’t let Kim Kardashian keep me from carrying it.
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Aug 13

2012

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I ♥ Your Style: Jerry Hall, part 4

Last post on Jerry Hall. Hope I haven’t bored you. There are just too many great photos not to share.

So obviously the last chapter is the one of her with Mick Jagger. Although I love the stylized perfection of her and Bryan Ferry, I am also moved by the more natural quality of her style in her years with Mick, compounded by their obvious love for each other. It’s plain to see that this was a happy relationship and a happy family, at least for a time...

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Aug 03

2012

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I ♥ Your Style: Jerry Hall, part 1

Continuing with my interest in classic American beauty, I’ve been looking at lots of pictures of Jerry Hall recently. I just love how she transformed her girl next door looks into total high fashion glamour.  For her, it has always been and will always be all about the hair and make-up. The way I see it, this worked for her because she never went too far out there with the clothes. One of my favorite 70’s looks is a woman in jeans and a t-shirt with big hair and glossy makeup. Jerry Hall took part in defining that iconic look and then stuck with it through subsequent decades. She had a brief, more decorative period in the 80’s (didn’t everyone?) which was genius in its own way, and I will share that with you in a future post.

But for now I want to start at the very beginning of Jerry’s career, when she met legendary illustrator and photographer Antonio Lopez. ..

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Jul 26

2012

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On the Road: Spain, part 3

When we decided to go to Spain, the first thing I did was call my friend (who happens to be my husband’s first wife) to find out where we should take our horse-fanatic daughter riding in the countryside. The first Mrs Brooks is a fan and connoisseur of all things riding and all things Spanish and she has great taste, so I knew she was just the person to ask. She thought Trasierra would be prefect for us, as its causal enough for kids but chic-enough to make adults happy, and there is great riding nearby...

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Jul 23

2012

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On the Road: Spain, part 2

Trasierra may be the most inherently stylish place I have ever visited. A former private house lovingly rebuilt, restored and redecorated by English ex-pat Charlotte Scott, it sits on a 450 acre site just 30 miles north of Seville. The house has everything you need – chic, cozy rooms done up in a mixture of English chintz, Spanish pottery and classic antiques; fantastic home cooked food using fresh fruit and vegetables from their massive kitchen garden; and most importantly, a laid back and personal vibe that has you feeling you’re staying in someone’s home, rather than in a hotel...

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