gentlemen’s corner – fashion nostalgia

I had worked in the San Francisco financial district throughout the nineties and was accustomed to seeing men in suits, then I escaped the madness of downtown and settled into a more laid back suburban workplace for a handful of  years. When I returned to the financial district five years ago, I was shocked to find most work places had adopted the business casual attire or blue jeans.  I have no problem with that… except

I actually miss the suits and the care men took in looking sharp for their workplace. That’s all I want to say and perhaps/maybe ask, what do you think about men in suits vs casual business attire in a workplace?

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interior decor: five things i want this summer

I know I’ve said this before, but after moving back to the city (being San Francisco) from suburbia, I decided to dwell in a small studio until I figure out what neighborhood I want to truly call home.  Actually this particular decision has inspired me to no end to finish my novel.

So, while I contemplate flats or apartments, the Richmond district or Nob Hill,  view of the ocean or the rolling hills of San Francisco, I dream of making the following changes to my studio apartment:

Adding a distressed artists bureau

Investing in new bedding

Adding more Parisian reminders

Crown molding to spruce up the room

Shifting to bold colors to escape the gray foggy days ahead

inspiring thoughts to live by – part three

Women over forty spend alot of time pep talking themselves just to endure their daily life. This is not to say anyone under 40 doesn’t feel the need to do the same, it’s just that when over 40, the pep talks become part of a daily ritual.

With that said, some women require a visual reminder of what to focus on while others seek therapy one way or another to get them through. I, for one, understand my challenges and cope with them to the best of my ability and although I found blogging a great therapy, occasionally a good quote kicks me into gear.

Hopefully, you get my point and if not,  check out my favorite quotes from here.

choosing colors in fashion

Even though we don’t have a “true” Summer in San Francisco, I still feel the need to add color to my wardrobe during our bleakest (foggy) Summer days just to cheer myself up.

The  way I choose the hues to create my own ensemble  is, by searching the web for colorful designer gowns and putting together my own wardrobe from them. Here are my inspirations for this foggy Summer season in San Francisco:

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a view from a san francisco native

As promised , well mostly to myself, I would share my Memorial Day weekend spent in San Francisco (for the first time in a long while since we always leave town) details with you. I must admit it wasn’t bad at all to stay local:

Day 1: Breakfast in Sausalito, Drive to Napa, Snapping photos while my other half drove  ;), Stopped at my favorite winery here. Spent the entire day picnic-ing, discussing life over a few glasses of wine, napping under a lemon tree, then as promised having my first barbecue dinner of the “Summer” season.

Day 2: Spent the entire day celebrating the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary. Ate non stop from every food vendor/booth there was at the event, napped after a long walk along the coast. Listened to various bands perform live along the Marina and although it was freezing cold, we watched the fireworks no less. It was most memorable to say the least, and the most fun to say the most, well that is for us San Francisco natives.

Day 3:  I was determined to sleep in, then hang out  in an actual bookstore (the last of the few Barnes and Nobles in Corta Madera). I was there for hours on end thumbing through books and magazines.  This I terribly miss in the city and will make every effort to chase the retail bookstores wherever I go until they close them all down in lieu of e-books and  such

Happy Monday!

plans for memorial day weekend in san francisco

Traditionally, my other half and I left town for the Memorial holiday (three day) weekend, but this year in particular we decided to stay local and explore all the festivities or not around the city and outside. The biggest one this year is the Golden Gate Bridge 75th anniversary celebration on Sunday May 27th and we wouldn’t miss it for the world, since we actually walked across the bridge for the 50th anniversary (25years ago).

So, there are plans of a picnic in Napa, possibly the Carnaval in the Mission District, the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary celebration, a matinée and lots of good old-fashioned barbecue. Stay tuned…and oh happy weekend everyone!!!

if i could do it all over again

There are times, like most people of my age group, I contemplate the fact, if I were able to do it all over again what would I change. Although this adult game is mostly played over a glass of wine or two in my household with friends, I can’t help but wonder how other women feel about the question?

If I could do it all over again, I would have:

lived in Paris during my twenties and thirties

duplicated the Grace Kelly look for my wedding

Raised my children in the French countryside

Written  a novel years ago

followed my passion – acting

Became an inspirational speaker for women

How about you?

haute interior decor for my taste

Some of the best interior decorating ideas come from staying in boutique hotels, in addition of course to looking through interior decorating magazines.

I don’t know about you, but I do get inspired from my surroundings and with camera in hand chronicle the most haute interior decors to use while creating my own style.

Here are some of my favorites:

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take me here and here and here

Oh, Summer is approaching so quickly  and while my other half and I continue to discuss our annual vacation plans, I cannot help but wish I could go to:

The Italian Coast

The Greek Isles

My beautiful Paris

The French Countryside

modern classic fashion photo shoot

I go through many phases while contemplating my life and since “the wedding” last month, I have been in a retro mood, so it’s no surprise that I would fall madly in-love with the below photos, which I found here.

I am not sure who the creative mind behind the photographs is, but based on the style, Grace Coddington, creative director of Vogue most definitely comes to mind. If  anyone can shed some light on this, I would really appreciate it if you would drop me a line or two.

Anyway, love these fashion photos which take me back to an amazing era in fashion.