Delta of Venus

While browsing through the lovely blog of Mady Dooijes, Abundance, I came across a quote by Anaïs Nin. I was reading more about Anaïs Nin and am so intrigued by what a passionate and poetic life she lead. I am looking forward to starting her autobiographies and looking into some of her novels.

"It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before, to test your limits, to break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

"I am an excitable person who only understands life lyrically, musically, in whom feelings are much stronger as reason. I am so thirsty for the marvelous that only the marvelous has power over me. Anything I cannot transform into something marvelous, I let go. Reality doesn't impress me. I only believe in intoxication, in ecstasy, and when ordinary life shackles me, I escape, one way or another. No more walls." ~ Quotes by Anaïs Nin

Beautiful Balenciaga

Today I went to the Balenciaga exhibit at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute. I had never looked into Balenciaga very much in the past, but today's exhibit was amazing! He was truly a master of construction, fit and drape. My friends and I stood puzzling and guessing over the construction of each piece and marveling at the detail and how he used his culture as inspiration for each lovely piece. If you are in the area it is worth checking out, the exhibit will also be going to the De Young Museum in San Francisco.

                                               Some of the pieces from the exhibit.

                                                    A few other favorite looks.

                                                               Like a rose.

                         

Spring 2011 Couture

                            1950s style for Dior. I love the way Galliano uses his inspiration.

                               Lovely Valentino. Gorgeous colors and gorgeous layers.

                                                      Gaultier classy in black.
Just a few of the looks that caught my eye. You should definitely check out the collections here.

Inspire Me

I love the Ziegfeld Follies....and I am in love with this for having extensive inspiring imagery.

song for the day

                                                                        

World in Black & White

I have just been messing around with my camera and playing a bit of dress up. (wearing lace dress I made with an amazing black 1920s velvet coat)

Outside my apartment window, I think the fence looks like two connecting hearts.

Isabelle de Borchgrave

I am completely blown away by Isabelle de Borchgrave's paper dresses and paintings! She is going to have an exhibit at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. (and luckily I will be able to check it out!)

Diamond Fields

Trying to find some decent light in the apartment.....Hair after henna.

                                                     Lovely video of the day!!

    

Piece I made while sick.

Bonnie & Clyde

Luckily my cold is starting to fade, but being sick has given me plenty of movie watching time and one I was thinking about is "Bonnie & Clyde." I so love Faye Dunaway's style!

I also got this Dear Creatures dress for 50% off thanks to this site, Swirl.com. I can't wait to pair it with some black tights and prance about NYC in it. (with newly hennaed hair of course)

Henna Hair

So, I am a huge Karen Elson fan as well as a fan of any other lovely lady with gorgeous red hair. I read in Lula magazine a few months back that Karen Elson gets that lovely shade of red from henna.(Christina Hendricks and Lucille Ball are/were also henna enthusiasts) Thus began my 'quest for red hair' obsession. Henna is awesome because it works with your natural hair color and is not full of chemicals (it even conditions your hair).

                                                                 Karen Elson

                                                            Christina Hendricks

                                                                 Lucille Ball

Tomorrow is going to be my relaxing henna hair day but I always make it the night before. I use about 200 grams of Henna and mix it with Celestial Seasonings 'Red Zinger' tea. (I use a cup or less of water and like 5 tea bags so it is very red/thick) I also add a few drops of tea tree oil and a dash of cloves. You want the consistency to be like yogurt. Then I cover it and let it sit over night and in the morning add a bit of lemon juice and then apply to my hair. Then I cover my head with plastic wrap and let it sit for about 3 hours. I have done it a few times with different mixes, it is all a matter of trial and error. This mix is proving to be my favorite. I suggest you check out this site if you are serious about hennaing your hair. I also suggest you do a test hair sample to be sure it is a color you want to live with. (it takes 3 days after you henna for the final color to oxidize and be set)

When Henna shopping I try to go for the freshest stuff. I get mine at an Indian grocery store. (my new favorite in NY is Kalustyans)  Be weary of the kind that comes in boxes that have been sitting for a long time. Also be careful what kind you buy online. If the henna is too old it is not going to dye your hair.

Set aside a day to relax, enjoy and pamper yourself since this is a lengthy process.

Have a happy henna hair day!

If I Had a Drop....

I am sort of obsessing over the Dead Weather right now. (I know I am kinda behind on this one...) I think this video is AMAZING! (it is a bit Fever Ray-esque....maybe that is why) The song makes me feel bad ass and like I should be wearing leather skinny pants with bangs in my face.

                                                                   VS.

Just a Thought....

Today can also use a bit of cheer.

Now would the world be a better place if more people adhered to these rules? I found this guide rather amusing.

                                                                         love

A fallen monument lies

Such as sad loss, the lead singer of the Broadcast passed away yesterday, Trish Keenan. What a lovely and haunting voice.

Little Women

Tonight my sister and I watched Little Women (the 90s version). I had not watched it in so long and my goodness, the costumes and setting are so gorgeous!

I just want to run around in gorgeous dresses with lace hanging down my back and a lovely parasol.

Dream World

I have been sick again! I guess I tried to do too much too fast since last week's illness. I have been doing a lot of "Sex & the City" watching (starting to get old) as well as sleeping. I have been having the craziest and most crazy dreams....they remind me of surreal photography/artists. (thinking Man Ray/Salvador Dali)

                                                           Salvador Dali Costume

                                                                    Man Ray

In my haze of sickness I felt like baking a cake, so I made this chocolate cake whose recipe I got out of an American Girl magazine when I was younger. (and yes, it is vegan as well)

Ingredients

- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 6 Tbsp. oil
- 1 Tbsp. white vinegar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup cold water

(use 8" square or 9" round pan, preheat oven to 350 degrees)

Directions

- Mix together dry ingredients.
- Add oil, vinegar, vanilla and cold water. Mix thoroughly with a fork
- Use middle rack in oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean
- Let cake cool and then Enjoy!!!

(I drizzled hershey's syrup on top and sprinkled brown sugar over it, mmmmm good!! )

A Sunday Smile

Today my friend and I enjoyed a cup of coffee and braved the cold and explored around Fort Tyron Park (absolutely my favorite place in NYC). I love going there to see each season...in the early Fall is was full of color and now it is a gorgeous winter wonderland.

                                                        Just like a frozen waterfall

                                                All photos by me, thank you blackberrry!


<3

Inspiration For the Day

Today I went to the Museum of Sex. (I went once 6 years ago when there was a pin up exhibit, which inspired my pin up girl obsession) I found the exhibit "Comics Stripped" inspiring. A lot of the illustrations were beautiful especially those by John Willie.

                                                                 Ketty Blog