Hunting the Hound

Houndstooth has to be one of my favourite fabrics. I love the heritage of it. I love its versatility. But what I am loving right now is its comeback. Yay for the hound. The four-in-four check originated in Scotland but it’s hard to pinpoint an exact date. From celebs to ageless fashion houses, the hound remains.

Bally

Heincker Design, Bally, Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Coco Republic

A new perspective

I have to admit I never really saw the super model side of Australia's Miranda Kerr. Then she had a baby. Her and her husband shined in a new way - I certainly saw her in a new light. Rag and Bone jeans DIY projects has captured this perfectly. Miranda (and Orlando) were given a polaroid and left to their own devices. The shots are beautiful and very intimate. Here is a few of the shots - but for even more go here. Let me know what you think of the shots.

Ms Lover

xxx

Wife, Mum and Lover with style

Gwen Stefani. Enough said. The platinum hair, the perfect pouting lips, the tuxedo pants and OMG those heels (I dream of the day I can walk in heels like that). And seriously how stylish are her kids? Meanwhile, mine just asked me to inspect boogies. Delightful.

Wonder Wall

Some thing that blows my mind is all the great stuff that blogs let you see. My latest favourite find is this amazing wall by Christopher Stevens. I hope one day I will have a house that I can experiment with such amazing (yet simple) ideas. The best bit is in the execution. The theme is continued in the amazing side table. You can check out more of his creativity here.

Sunday's touch of bling #6

Technically not a gold picture but the reflection off this amazing wall can appear to be gold. An amazing colabaration between Tadao Ando and artist Olafur Eliasson for the Obayashi House. Ando is most famous for his understated concrete based houses. I'm working on a post about other designs of his because at the moment I am obsessed with concrete.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.

Actually I didn't want to post about what Mr Husband gave me, or is potentially giving me, but about what i want to give to others. Sometimes the time leading up to Christmas flies past and we end up buying a random gift with little thought and spend the whole time watching them unwrapping it wishing we had tried harder.

So in an attempt to not be that uncomfortable individual, I have started to put serious thought into this years gifts (I am ahead as you know, but friends are sometimes trickier than family).

Rules & Ideas for buying a present for your best friend..

1. Something to make them remember you in 50 years.
2. Something that reminds them of the fun they had with you in the past.
3. Something that shows you remember the “I love it so much… but its not a pay week.. maybe another time..”
4. Something that reminds them of their own family.
5. A journal for their thoughts (include a note of your belief in them in the cover).
6. Some bling for the next girls night out.
7. Be secret squirrel and get a baby photo of them, and one of their significant other, include it in a custom album.
8. A case of her favourite wine.
9. A charm for a charm bracelet (if she is inclined to wear one – if she isn’t and you get her one anyway you should question how well you know her).
10. Talk to her parents and organise a framed wedding picture of them for her (particularly special if she has an upcoming wedding or a parent is deceased, not so much if they are divorced or she doesn’t have a close relationship with them).
11. Maybe a voucher for the thing you know she is secretly to scared to do by herself (SCUBA, skydive, a pottery class, cake decorating..)

Happy shopping for your best friend!

Mrs Wife

xxx

64 Days...

Can you believe there is only 64 days left until Christmas? I have to admit I try hard to be organised. I have finished my shopping for the family presents, but still have my close friends presents, the random presents and Christmas cards to go. I really love Christmas, and love the etiquette rules that go with it.

This year, I am on the hunt for beautiful luxe cards to send to those special people in my life. I thought I would share some with you.

Just one question? Any offers for licking the stamps??

{Rules for Christmas, Cranes, Crane & Co, Kate Spade}

How to claim an expat

In the Nov/Dec issue of Australian Vogue Living, Graham Moss is introduced to us as Melbourne raised, New York based. I think we should claim him despite his being born in the US originally. What a great story, while doing up his five story brownstone and blogging about it, he developed such a following that he is moving full time into the business!

Amongst his talents, styling, interior decorating and design, editorial layout, fine art and retail/window displays. I am in love with his attention to detail (his styling experience is evident) and the mix of colours, yum! The stair case is my all time fav. To die for.

{all images via Graham Moss, here.}

Ms Lover

xx

Three Husbands

Madame Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, the famous French style guru, decided back in the sixties that there was only three kinds of husbands in the world; The  Blind man, The Ideal Husband, and The Dictator.

So, whose your husband?

The Blind man: Come on - we've all been there, you wear the same thing you've worn in the past two years and he finally asks if it something new. Madame Genevieve points out that there is really no point in correcting him, and at least he lets you dress yourself.

The Ideal Husband: To be honest, I'm not sure I would find myself in the best situation even if I did have Mr Ideal, it is this elusive creature that notices everything. He makes suggestions and comments, understands fashion and even enjoys talking about it. These creatures are apparently very rare.

The Dictator: This is one to look out for... BEWARE... this one knows better than you, they choose your outfits for you. His taste may appear to be up-to-date but in fact he is simply reliving his mothers outfits.

Cheers Madame Dariaux

I hope you found them as amusing as I did...  Who do you take into your closet ladies?

Mrs Wife

xxx

Friday item of Lust

I am so in love with this DVF dress I can't even explain. I love the pattern, with a hint of flirtyness. The collar and sleeve length makes it suitable for work and trans-seasonal.

To Mr Husband... Christmas is coming...hint hint

A Painting, a Table and a Lamp

Sometimes simple is best. Not trying to over style the space, or the top of a dresser, desk or set of drawers. Sometimes, a mirror, vase, lamp or flowers is all you need. I like how this collection shows that the wall behind the simple vignette can be as varied as the contents. Whether it be panelled walls, wallpaper or plain painted it all looks good. Hall ways, living spaces and bedrooms alike are all suited to this easy (yet I imagine thought about) styling.

Bungalow 5 via The Zhush, via Marcus Design, Thomas OBrien via Habitually Chic, Elle Decor, Katie Rosenfeld, Katie Rosenfeld, Katie Rosenfeld

Sunday's touch of bling #5

Today's touch of bling is a day late because I have been busy having fun with my family, a rare event for me.Not the having fun part - the having time to have fun part!

Anyway, I'm glad I was delayed because this weeks bling goes out to my friend at My Secret Rooms. There is a starburst out there for all of us, and the swings and round abouts of life are the journey we need to have.

via Simply Seleta

Goddesses and Doormats

“There are only two types of women: goddesses and doormats.”

Picasso

I saw this quote by Picasso recently and thought to myself, 'I wonder if he prefers goddesses or doormats?' I didn't feel any closer to an answer when I started to look up his work featuring women.

Regardless, the man can only provoke curiousity. It's well know of course that he had several muses throughout his career, but in the early 90's one expert (Rubin formally of the Museum of Modern Art) claims that several of his paintings were in fact other a woman he barely knew - Sara Murphy and not his wife Olga. What a player.

In any case he was a talented fellow.

Sunday's touch of bling #4

I love this bar cart. It's totally old school and modern all at the same time. I love the colour of the walls and the gold frames and scones. The crisp black and white pieces add the modern touch. A big well done to Ashlina for her great work (check it here). So good that Adore home magazine picked it up. If you love the Stanton bar cart as much as I do, it's available here. The colour I matched against the wall is Dulux 'Stream'.

Hello old friend...

I was delighted to open up the online magazine Adore today, and after drooling over Ashlina's entry (a dark and stormy apartment in Manhattan) I came across the George side table from Coco Republic that I had posted about earlier in the year. It's such a versatile piece. Adore has teamed it up with shades of pink and grey - worthy of a manhattan cocktail! Yummy

You can check out Adore online magazine here.

Sunday's touch of bling #3

So shiny it's blinding!

Gold Wall hanging (found thanks to La Dolce Vita)

Ms Lover

xx

Covet and Confessions

I have a confession to make. At the beginning of the year my darling husband purchased an awesome tan leather skirt for me. I haven't worn it and I am racked with guilt. It's lovely, a short length but no mini. I don't know why I haven't worn it, I'm scared I'll spill something, I'm scared I'll look try hard, and now heading to summer I thought I had missed my chance.

Apparently not. Winter fabrics can work in warmer months. My pick is this hot kirrily johnston black leather number. Available here. 

Mrs (bad) Wife
xx