Showcase Showdown

More RED Valentino...

Every season I gather some of my favorite looks, and I shop based on them.
Now, I am no millionaire...and chances are I will not be spending over $1,000 on a Missoni Dress or Donna Karen Peeptoes, no matter how fabulous they are...but they serve as ideas upon which to build on.
I tend to keep my accessories HOTTER than my clothing, which tends to be on the basic and classic side with a few trendy pieces I love.
Take a look, and then get to gathering all your faves!

Style Mags

I have woefully seen many of my favorite home style magazines go down under...and I am not talking about dingos and kangaroos here!
Domino...possibly my utmost favorite of all times, even surpassing my love affair with Elle Decor...even tanked.
However, I have discovered a few replacements, that serve to make my grand perusals a tad more interesting and fun...and I think I have a new winner.

House Beautiful!

I love House Beautiful. It is full of pics...it has small tips and tricks, and I absolutely love how they showcase new finds, from discount to expensive based on the magazine's monthly theme.
Here a just a sampling of some of my faves that have graced the pages of HB so far:

















Pick up a copy of House Beautiful the next time you pass your local magazine rack, and get inspired!

Buck the Rules

I have this sort of love affair with deer heads, you know, the deer heads you see in the study on Dallas or Falcon Crest? Okay, I know those shows have not been on since 1979, but still...you know what I am talking about.

I had gone back and forth between getting one or not, and I finally decided that I was going to make my office a cross between a man's study and a bachelorette pad...wanna see what I came up with?


Rhino Trophy...I went with a play on the deer head...and made it a rhino covered in book pages...how neat! Available at Anthropologie


West Elm Windows Daybed (the room doubles as my office, workout room, and spare bedroom)


West Elm Parsons Desk


Ikea Skruvsta Chair

With a few movie posters of Audrey Hepburn and Diana Ross...some stylish file and paper boxes, a good Ikea bookcase...and an ode to gay Paris on the wall....I think I would have a hit!

Dressed to Impress

A well-fitting dress is JUST as important as a stylish dress...and it is even BETTAH when they are one in the same.
I was perusing Anthropologie when the Everywhere Dress caught my eye.
I am a curvy girl, so a curvy girl needs a great wrap, jersey dress in her stash...in black, it is a go to for every occassion, in red, it can be both daytime and nightime.
Let's see it take us Everywhere:



For Day:




For Night:




NOw that's...and EVERYWHERE dress!

Green Goddess

I have been thinking about doing a little something to my backyard lately.
We are getting a fence soon...but that is not enough...I want a fantastic outdoor garden fantasy, come to life...
I see two lemon trees, blue and yellow hydrangea, a swing for my son, a beautiful hanging chair, a hammock, a nice patio, and a fun seating area...can you see it? CAN YOU?

Well...see it now:

Gray on Gray

Z Gallerie Index Photo

We here at DeLuxe LOVE ZGallerie...we might border on obsessed.
The shine, the glam, the texture, the richness, the luxury, the personality, and the style...are all SO right on!
This image, the first one you see when you enter the site, is maginificence personified. The beautiful velvet gray sofa and chairs, the rich black and silver tables, the silver chandelier, and the silver shell vessels on the table. If you don't love this...you must be a wallflower...because this room is meant for the person who wants to be noticed and seen and the center of it all!
Visit Z Gallerie for all these wonderful luxe items and more...make your room, the center of attention!

Dark on Dark

The above room belongs to contestants in the Apartment Therapy Small Spaces Contest.
I have to say, that I was not really a fan of mixing brown and black, but this does it in such style and luxury, I am a convert.
How gorgeous are the pairings of that semi-circle wallpaper with that striped zig zag rug. That splash of gray also brings a splash of interest to the room!

Little Wedding Chapel in the Yard...

My wonderful business partner is getting MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY for her, and her ultra lucky husband to be (and she is mighty lucky herself, so shout out to the both of these awesome people)!!!

It got me to thinking...what if someone wanted to get married in their own backyard...how could they decorate, or better yet, how would I decorate & plan it for them? So...here goes!

The Dress
We have to start out with a dress for inspiration!!!



The Accessories


You may as well get some shoes you can wear again...and not those satiny things!

The Cake

I love this...and I would use these yellow hydrangeas instead:


The Bridesmaids



The Decor


Favors



White Hydrangea for Centerpieces at Tables (middle image)



White Tissue Poms Hanging from Trees



Seating Arrangements presented in Bed of Grass Table


These Yellow Pomander Branches would be staked throughout the backyard with tiny lights on them, to light up the evening!

FUN!!!

Play that Funky Music

I don't know about you, but there is nothing like the sweet sounds of my favorite music wafting through the speakers and enveloping my home in soul, R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz, Old School Rock, and occassionally some Alternative Pop. But that,is out of my new fangled iPOD with all the bells and whistles and Bose speakers.

However, NOTHING beats that ripe and crackling sound of Prince's "Uptown" or Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" on a record player...NOTHING!



This cute little wood number from Urban Outfitters fits the bill. It is modern in style, but old school in flavor! So you can still get that good old fresh outta the crate sound, with some stylish flair!!!

What a Beauty!

This has ABSOLUTELY, NOTHING to do with home style...but is she not just gorgeous!!!! And that Isbael Marant striped silk top is working hard for the money too!!!

Masculine Appeal

This is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE pieces! It is a Mayfair Steamer Double trunk from Restoration Hardware, that I think would be fantastic as a chest of drawers in the bedroom or even a unique bar in the diningroom, basement, or library. I love love love the leather and metal design elements, and the nailhead trim. This is one gorgeous piece of furniture...
Hint: I recently saw an episode of my favorite HGTV design show, Divine Design with the fab Candice Olsen, who used this piece in a set of two, as a short of shelving unit in a basement. FABULOUS!

Sample Sale-icious!

Okay, it seems like there are SOME people still stuck in
Ipayfullprice.com mode...which is so '80s!
Come on, we are in a recession...and it is time to start acting like it,
even if we still love Louis, Gucci, and Prada.
There is NOTHING better than Louis, Gucci, and Prada...AT DISCOUNT!

SOOOOO, for all you fashionistas of wardrobe and home, check out these AMAZING sample sale and auction sites. Click on the link to get a free invite.
Oooh I Love is an auction site. You can buy bid packages, each bid costs 99cent, and yodu will have a certain amount of time before the bid ends. If your bid is the last, you pay ONLY the final auction price...up to 90% off the price of the item...includes handbags, jewelry, gift cards, shoes, etc.

Gilt Groupe : a sample sale site, with everything from Marc Jacobs, Diane Furstenburg, Tory Burch, Stella McCartney, and housewares. On Monday, April 19th, Marc Jacobs Handbags will be on sale.

Gilt Fuse : a sample sale site for mid-priced designer clothing and wares.

Haute Look : another sample sale site with some of the best designer products you will find at a discount anywhere on the web. Michael by Michael Kors starts on April 20th.

Editor's Closet : high end designer sample sales

Check 'em out, you might just find that one little something you coveted, but never wanted to pay full price for!

Shoe Stoppers: Bite Me

Giuseppe Zanotti is KNOWN for sexy and glamourous shoes that are anything but "cute"...to call them edgy wouldn't even suffice...they have a sort of...BITE! And these Multi Strapped Sandals with gold, silver, and gunmetal details are no different.

To translate these from your feet to your home...is actually rather simple. Vivre is a style site, which focuses on unique and ornate objects for your home, wardrobe, and life. Check out these picks:


Arabella Mirror


Stainless Steel Boat on Bamboo


Coin Chair


Mossi Vase


Black Quartz Spider Lamp

She's a Purple Man Eater...

Cbandeliers set the mood in the room...whether it is rich and decadent, stark and modern, moody and dark, or quite simply, fabulous...

This is the kind of girl that chews you up and spits you out...but sort of makes you feel sweet like a sticky bun...all at the same time!
Imagine it in a dining room, complete with lacquered table, simple chairs, a big poster of Marilyn Monroe in The Asphalt Jungle, and a sideboard lined in filled decanters with crystal name plates...
Nothing like the kind of lighting you would find in your Grandmother's dining room...this chandelier...is a maneater!

Interior Inspiration: Polyvore

I am sure you have heard of Polyvore, it is a site where you can play stylist or simply create interesting graphics using images you find online.
Well, I use it for style inspiration, and most often, I find most of my interior inspirations in the fashion world.

This set combines a denim Lanvin dress with gold and orange accessories and Louboutin espadrilles. LOVE!

If you wanted to take this look from your wardrobe to your home, here are some basic pieces you could use:


Garrett Sofa by Jayson Home and Garden


Audrey Chair by Room and Board


Safavieh Sante Fe Damask at Horchow


Mirroed Cocktail Table at Horchow


Ikea Rattan Footstool


Kuba Cloth Pillows at Wisteria


Gold SUzani pillow at Jayson


Alia Lamp at Neiman Marcus