Picture perfect

This iconic Slim Aarons photograph of C.Z. Guest at her oceanfront estate, Villa Artemis in Palm Beach , epitomizes American glamour.

If you look only at the forefront of the photo you see the preppy, wholesome good looks of a mother and son and the family pets. Look at the photo as a whole and they are American royalty against that Grecian temple pool.

This and other brilliant photographs from "Poolside with Slim Aarons" are available for sale at photographersgallery.

It's an Italian thing

Sophia Loren.

Bulgari, gelato, Capri, chianti, the Uffizi gallery, a vespa, bolognese sauce, Donatella Versace, fettucine alfredo, lamborghini, Fellini, espresso, Leonardo DaVinci, mozzarella, opera, Rome, Piazza San Marco, biscotti, Etro.

Yeah, I'm proud.

Church

Reading the Sunday New York Times is a reward at the end of the week. If anything happened anywhere, it's in there, so I know I will get to whatever I missed Monday through Saturday. If you want to know what smart people think, read the week in review section. If you want to know what everybody else is reading, read the book review section. Save the style section for last.

So cool

These super-dark sunglasses suit females and males equally. They are a little tough when a women wears them, but friendly on a guy. They give gravitas to a young face, and impishness to an older face. Doesn't everyone just look better in ray-ban Wayfarer sunglasses?

LOVE

I don't think I looked at this sculpture enough when I lived in Pennsylvania. Such a small word with huge meaning rendered in this massive sculpture in that red/blue color combination. Nothing timid about it. Nothing timid about LOVE.

Favorite things

I want one of everything at http://www.jonathanadler.com/. These are a few of my current favorites, but honestly I am happy just to wander through the shop on Lincoln Road because it is the cheeriest store there.

The lacquer nesting cubes also come in white, brown and orange. I love that they are utilitarian and glamorous at the same time. How many things can you say that about?

The letter pillows are a great, bold graphic accent piece. The muse candle votive set would make a great hostess gift for a couple...one on each nightstand. After the candle is gone I would use the muse to hold paper clips or change on a desk or dresser.

Simple, perfect style

See, this is what I mean about style. So simple, so perfect.

We recently got an amazonKindle in our home. The idea that it stores all of your books inside itself appeals to the minimalist in me. The look of it, kind of futuristic but not at all "tricked out" with useless stuff all over it appeals to the design lover in me.

The best thing about it for me is...60 seconds! That is all it takes to get the latest thing you want to read. So now I want to download and read John Adams by David McCullough beacause I heard that President Obama has included it in his collection of vacation reading material. I thought about reading that one for a couple of years now, but since I heard that the President will be reading it, I have to read it right now.

Fall Fashion

Contemplating fall fashion is an altogether different matter when you live in Miami. Obviously it is warm, even hot, all through the traditional fall fashion months of September, October, November and December. You do dress in weightier fabrics, but unless you spend your days in air-conditioning, it is just too warm to even think about layering - so forget the tank or tee under a sweater, and really forget the jacket over anything.
But, still, you want to make some sartorial concessions to the season. I want a few fall-ish accessories. A leopard clutch from, anntaylor, chanel Dazzling nail polish ( a perfect, laquer red) and a spritz of kiehls original musk will do the trick for me.

Welcome to the Jungle

This zebra rug from ballarddesigns is making me very happy in its new home at the foot of my bed. I've wanted one forever and was content to be on the waiting list for the one by Jonathan Adler when I saw this one in the new Ballard catalog. It looks and feels great and is more affordable too.
I think every home, like every wardrobe, needs a little animal print.

The September Issues

For some people it's Christmas, or their birthday, but for me there is no annual event that I look forward to more than the September issues of magazines. I love that they are enormous, and even though they are mostly filled with ads, I do not care, I love the ads too. I love that they are filled with winter clothes, coats and boots even though I live in Florida. I especially love that they last me long enough to get to the October issues.

Here we go

I think often about what makes life good and how to live it with style. I also love a good list-so here is a list, in no particular order, and certainly not comprehensive, of what this blog will be about...decorating, fashion, books, food, travel and the never-ending curiousity I have about what it takes to live a simple, stylish life.