The Vanity Saga, Cont'd.

As you may recall, I have been on an obsessive search for a vanity table. I did come across a promising candidate but I'm really on the fence.

It's a vintage rattan number, which is just what I love. A 1960s vintage Hawaii kind of feeling. Not dirt cheap, but definitely not crazy expensive. A petite 36" wide, which I need for the space. But it's got some condition issues...a rotted area which is definitely not fixable.



So I'm torn. Should I settle for this almost-perfect number, knowing I may eventually want to upgrade it? Oh, and it's not in NYC so I can't see it in person and get a really good look at the rotted area.

Kind of tempted to do it. Thoughts?

Truckin'

Mr. Natural via Reference Library.

Viva Venezuela!

All kinds of awesome, if you ask me.

Wild 'n' Wooly

Yes I did just buy this book.



And I might buy this one too.



Is there a problem with that?

Lil' Suitcase

I am thinking of getting a little suitcase for my daughter on her 4th birthday. We are going on a big trip this summer and I think she will be very proud to carry her own things through the airport. I have very fond memories of the little psychedelic mini-suitcase I had as a child. My sister and I each had one--mine was green (with pink flowers) and hers was blue and violet, or the other way around (?)-- and we were responsible for using them to carry whatever toys we wanted to bring along. I have a very clear memory of my sister arriving at one of our destinations and dumping out her suitcase which was full of dozens and dozens of items big and small, all clanking around together, a total mess with no organization whatsoever. She had just thrown in piles and piles of things, very sweet...the mind of a child. I'm sure my daughter will pack similarly random items.

Some vintage suitcases just like the ones my sister and I used to have are available on Etsy:




They are adorable, but something about vintage suitcases gives me the icks. Plus, a rolling suitcase seems like an improvement over the little handle. Still, I'm not loving the options I've found so far.

These guys are hard cases, I like the Lavender one:



I'm not crazy about the Pottery Barn Kids ones, but I like that they can be monogrammed. My daughter has just learned to write (and recognize) her name so she would really like seeing her suitcase labeled with her name. But the patterns are kind of meh.



I did come across a photo of last year's patterns from PBKids, which are much cuter, but that doesn't help me much:



Have you found any great kids suitcases?

Bohemian Grove

This Missoni M bag is great if you like a eclectic bohemian feeling. It hits that matches-nothing-so-it-matches-everything sweet spot. Especially love the plastic links of mismatched shapes. Buy it here.

Remind Me

Remind me to get a professional portrait just like this one taken of myself. A cellphone pressed to the ear is truly the best accessory for any posed photo. Ir's also ideal to have a slightly dated landline phone nearby in case there is any question about how in-demand one is.

Der Freshmaker

This is a German couple, some actors, from The Selby blog. There is all sorts of weirdness going on here but I do love the way their "gallery wall" has a complete randomness. It's a real relief after all the painfully similar tightly clustered gallery walls that litter the blogosphere (and the world). Because there is something very practical about grouping all sorts of random artwork together--most of us have a collection of this sort and how else to display it all?--and this couple has proved that it is possible to do so without looking totally stale.

Score

Loving this Stella McCartney blazer I managed to snag for 80% off on The Outnet. Planning on putting it to use for some Realistic Chic moments.

Incognito

Wild Heart

You know, I like Stevie Nicks as much as the next person, but this---this is truly AMAZING. You would probably never find something so raw and pure today---celebrities are so closely controlled and there is never any access that is not manufactured.

More Mom Chic

Here is Uma Thurman working some realistic mom chic. Not sure if this is the most unique outfit, but something about it is working--age-appropriate, hitting the right chic/casual balance-- while at the same time seeming achievable for the rest of us. Her kids also look so refreshingly normal.

Dirty Old Town

No idea where I got this picture from, but it reminds me of being young and going to parties all over downtown NYC. Do places in NYC even look like this anymore?

Nailed It!

Love this nailhead patterned headboard, which appears to be on solid wood instead of padded fabric. Might not be the most comfortable thing going, but it's strangely appealing.
In truth, I like most things that involve nailhead trim, and this bulletin board is no exception:

Yep

Fluff

Leather Shorts

Love these Carven leather shorts. Definitely will not be wearing them myself, but love them.

Speechless

Really, isn't it beyond amazing that this kind of thing is happening in the world right now?

Lava

Amazing.

Ole

If there were such a thing as bullfighter chic, and I believe there may be, Balmain is selling it for Fall 2013. These looks are actually surprisingly wearable. (I shudder to imagine the cheap ripoffs of these looks that we will inevitably be seeing...)