A Favorite Blog (& shop): The Paris Apartment

There have been 'Share the Luv' blog awards circulating the internet, so I thought I'd share 10 of my favorite blogs with you, one-at-a-time, so I can give attention to each.

beaded chandelier from The Paris Apartment

Let's begin with my longtime friend, Claudia Strasser, from The Paris Apartment. You may already know Claudia, as she is kind of a well-known gal. She authored a favorite book, The Paris Apartment in 1997.

Claudia is one of the nicest, fun, and creative women I know. Her beautiful blog is brimming with amazing photos, stories, her adventures in Paris (she plans trips there annually), flea market finds, and just about any subject you can think of.

Claudia is one talented lady. Artist, decorator, furniture designer, antiques dealer, writer, photographer. Have I left something out?

Paris is "Euro-Disney" to Claudia with its surreal & whimsical store fronts

Gorgeous Paris windows photographed by Claudia

Above: just some of the hundreds of Claudia's photos from her trips to Paris. She is an amazing photographer!

Jean Harlow...one of Claudia's favorites...so inexplicably glamorous!

Claudia is working on a book, Boudoir Noir, based on the forbidden Hollywood film sets and stars. Read more about it on her blog!

Claudia is also a movie buff. Her blog is filled with glamorous old movie stills that serve as her inspiration for her furniture creations. AND, she just loves old movies!

Painted pink chest from The Paris Apartment

Custom lucite chair that was inspired by those Helena Rubenstein had in her Paris apartment (from The Paris Apartment)

Custom Louis XVI lucite bench from The Paris Apartment

Additionally, Claudia's website, The Paris Apartment, has a boutique where she sells her custom lines of furniture, as well as, gorgeous vintage finds. She also offers design services.

So... walk through these beautiful French doors (photographed by Claudia) and visit her blog here. You will be in for a treat!

Photos courtesy of The Paris Apartment

The Look of Vintage Lanvin

I've been wanting to post about this spectacular Lanvin book for some time now. I finally got around to taking some photos and wanted to share them with you.

If you love Lanvin, you must purchase this book published by Rizzoli and written by Dean L. Merceron. It traces the history of Lanvin, from its founding by Jeanie Lanvin in 1909 through 1946, the year of her death. Did you know that Lanvin is the oldest surviving couture house?

The book is filled with the most gorgeous photos of gowns & accessories from the Lanvin archive. You will not be able to put it down. It is a huge hardcover book, 368 pages filled with the most beautiful couture collections. Take a peek at some photos below... (please click on photos for enlarged views)...

Silk tulle skirt with silver bugle bead applique, Winter 1918

"Les Petites Filles modeles,: 1925.

Ruched black silk taffeta hat with single flower detail, at center front, of pink silk and white milk-glass beads. 1922.

Bodice of irridescent silk taffeta-taffetas changeant - in peach and light blue with chiffon rose detail. Jeanne Lanvin, 1910-12.

"La Cible." Evening blouse of pave sequins in a spiraling Japanese mon motif, Winter 1931.

Robe de style of Mrs. Stephen C. Clark. Pink organdy bodice and overskirt with white organdy border. Embroidery and milk glass beading. 1921.

Youthful organdy robe de style of lavender with white scalloped border-the-self-fabric flower detail and ribbon streamers are at center front. Around 1924.

Evening dress, 1927. Pink silk taffeta robe de style rests on a oval boned petticoat, trimmed in light blue silk taffeta.

Overall view and detail of "Marjolaine, " the quintessential robe de style of Lanvin. Apple green silk taffetas changeant is used to create an off-the-shoulder-drop-waist, full-skirted silhouette. 1920.

Metallic lame robe de style with built-in pannier structure. Silk tulle shoulder straps and hemline are bound in rose-colored velvet. Clusters of rose, lavender, and golden yellow velvet flowers are placed randomly on the skirt, and a larger corsage is placed on the bodice. 1922.

"Cyclone" from 1939, a two-tiered, full-skirted, smoke-gray silk taffeta evening gown with an 18th century inspired belted purse. Embroidered in silver sequins and seed beads as well as coral-colored daisy shapes. Close-up of beading detail.

Back and profile views of bridal headpiece to the ensemble "Hymnee," present in February 1927.

Black silk chiffon evening dress with plunging back neckline. Seven diamante bow brooches are the only embellishments on this otherwise simple design. Created for the collection of winter 1948-49.

"Concerto" cream silk crepe robe with separate black celluloid collar. Collection of 1935.

Young girl's full-length party dress of white organdy with self-fabric flowers hand-tinted in various shades of light pink. Spring/Summer 1937

"Bagatelle" dress and "Mazurka" cape. Silk satin evening dress. Winter 1935.

Bedroom of Madame Lanvin at 16 rue Barbet-de-Jouy, Paris

All photos from the Lanvin book, 2007, which you can purchase here.

Come to my Party & Giveaway!

Let's be kids for a day! I usually don't post about my birthdays, but I just had to share the wonderful surprises I received today from my best friend Janet at FrenchBlue. AND, to make this day even more fun, Janet is having a birthday "giveaway" on her new blog, FrenchBlue. Come celebrate, open the presents with me (below), and then mosey over to FrenchBlue to enter the giveaway and you too can receive one of her wonderful gifts...

My husband displayed the presents in a Dorothy Draper chest. Cute, huh?

Janet and I love candy. Here are some delicious treats; watermelon sour balls, chocolate-covered sunflower seeds, Laduree candies in a carriage and a glittery faux cupcake!

Vito had to get in on the fun!

I am going crazy over this custom stationary that Janet made for me using images from Paris Hotel Boutique. Love it!

How clever is this? Janet took a box of leopard-printed stationary and added an "I Married Adventure" sticker to make it look like the image of the vintage book that we're all so fond of. She is so creative.

Amazing large, lavender-scented candle in a lavender-colored bisque jar from my favorite, Bergdorf Goodman! (hint, hint...there is one in the giveaway!)

For the sweet lover...Juicy Couture candies in pink plastic cupcake holders. Actually you can use these plastic cupcake holders in the oven.

You can't take the 80's out of me. Love the glitz on this softest cotton shirt with faux jeweled embellishments.

Not one, but two pairs of metallic sandals from Steve Madden. Janet, you're crazy, but I love them!

This unusual silver-coated horn can actually hang on the wall. So unique!

Thanks to all of you for sharing my birthday with me and to you Janet for the most special birthday gifts! You are a treasure!

NOW ALL OF YOU GO OVER TO FRENCHBLUE FOR THE GIVEAWAY, HERE!

The Waldorf Goes "Mod"

There is nothing more fun than thumbing through old magazines. This spread in the November 1970 issue of House Beautiful features a custom-designed celebrity suite at the Waldorf in New York City. Is history repeating itself? Of course it is. Note the candy-colored and mod furnishings that we see so much of now. (Please click on the images for detailed, enlarged views).

(above) "This suite was created for special visitors; entertainers appearing in the hotel's Empire room, State Department guests, U.N. dignitaries. Peggy Lee might relax with old friends, or Diana Ross give an interview from a silk sofa." (18-century furnishings blend with the steel and plastic of the 70's). The background of neutral shell tones is punctuated with sharp, pure color contrasts in the mode of Matisse."

The foyer has a stenciled floor design executed by Cile Lord. To quieten the sound of lively greetings, a Wallscape of Verel modacrylic carpeting-texturing a soft background for the Wendy Vanderbilt painting over the shell-motif table. (Love the chrome benches)

"By day, the dining room is an airy pastoral, mellow, timeless, as if the basketed flowers had grown just beyond the hotel windows. At night, the room becomes a vibrant art-filled cloister behind silk curtains inspired by a Truman Egleston painting. Albrizzi candlesticks and shells from Karl Springer, Ltd." (Interesting...there are the faux bamboo chairs that have made a huge comeback)

"A Flowered Retreat for Private Hours." Bright 1970's florals. Do you remember those? I think I had a set of those exact sheets. Note the zig-zag curtains. Back in style again.

Well, I don't think that celebrity suites look quite like this now, but it's fun to see what was "in vogue" in the 70's.

Photos from House Beautiful, November 1970

Displaying Treasured Calligraphy

In this photo Martha groups 19th century calligraphy in all white frames. Makes a nice display, doesn't it? (Photo from Martha Stewart Living)

I was thumbing through my February issue of Martha Stewart Living and enjoyed her feature on calligraphy and some nice ways to display it. Sad that penmanship is slowly being replaced by the computer, but the good news is that penmanship classes are in demand again. I've posted about calligraphy before, but thought I'd share some photos from "Living," as well as some recent calligraphy acquisitions on my website.

Pages from student's copybooks with images, calligraphic scrolls and ornamental swirls are now appreciated as art. (Photo from Martha Stewart Living)

This 19th century hand calligraphy is from Paris Hotel Boutique. I love the detailed birds.

19th century French calligraphy pens from Paris Hotel Boutique look great on a desk or stack of books

Interesting fonts from this 19th century French calligraphy print from Paris Hotel Boutique

Masterpieces and Doodles --"Penmanship reflects a dynamism and wit far beyond the alphabet. Birds, including eagles, falcons, peacock, and doves, were a favorite subject, as were mythological figures." (from Martha Stewart Living)

Pages from calligraphy manuals and antique copybooks are treasures worthy of framing (from Martha Stewart Living)

A grouping of antique calligraphic sketches can add a charming accent to a room...small works of art. You can find antique calligraphy from $5 for a printed calling card, to thousands of dollars for a detailed mid-19th century animal signed by the penman. Purchase an inexpensive frame, and walla! You have a unique piece of art that is not mass-produced.

Photos from Paris Hotel Boutique & Martha Stewart Living