In My Imaginary Life....

....I would wear amazing, bold, big HATS! I truly wish hats were still in style; I belong in the time when everyone still wore them everyday. I think that as an older woman, I will wear hats a lot. Maybe because when you reach a certain age, you stop caring what anyone thinks of you. So I'll look forward to that....getting old and wearing fabulous hats! Doesn't sound so bad!

This is as close as I've gotten to my hat dream, and I was only wearing it because the sun was burning my fair skin while having lunch with Scott at the beach.

Here are a few selections from the Barbara Feinman Millinery of NYC. First of all, I love the fact that it's called a "millinery". How often do you hear that word? It has quite a ring of authenticity to it, so if I were to spend $300 on a hat, it would be from here. Her hats are handmade on the premises at her shop in the Lower East Side. According to her website, her hats have been featured in many magazines and newspapers and she has an impressive list of celebrity clientele. She bills her millinery as "Couture Hats at Ready-to-Wear Prices".

Try to disregard the creepy mannequin heads:

Woman's Spring Wide Brims - 501a "Saratoga Saucer", $295.00

Woman's Winter Cloches - 295 "Peekaboo Cloche", $225.00

Evening, Formal, & Bridal - 543 "Sleek Feather Cocktail", $195.00

Woman's Winter Fedora - 527 "Loose Change", $250.00

Woman's Spring Cloches - 459c "Constable Cloche", $195.00

Images via barbarafeinmanmillinery.com

IDOLISM

AUDREY HEPBURN

Audrey Hepburn is my favorite actress of all time. I have all her movies, books about her, posters, etc. I even dressed up as Holly Golightly for Halloween a few years ago. Not enough can be said about her beauty, kindness, talent and iconic style. So I wanted to do an Idolism post on her, because that seemed only natural, but there are just SO many amazing photos of her to choose from! So I leave you with some (*a lot) of my favorites.

For any fans out there, may I highly recommend the new Sam Wasson book, Fifth Avenue, 5 a.m., about the making of Breakfast at Tiffany's, undoubtedly one of Ms. Hepburn's greatest films. It's a really great read; incredibly well-researched and written, and I think anyone who appreciates Ms. Hepburn, movie-making and New York City in its golden era will love it.

Images via lampshade-days.livejournal.com, blog.gemvara.com, serpahicpress.com, style.catologs.com, picspeople.blogspot.com, princessmonkey.com, isastaffing.com/blog/, oak.cats.ohiou.edu, nymag.com, wwd.com

DAILY WANT

Right now this is my FAVORITE bag. To me, it is perfection.

Rebecca Minkoff

Alligator Morning After Bag in Teal

FOR SALE on RebeccaMinkoff.com for $525.00

Image via www.rebeccaminkoff.com

In My Imaginary HOME....

....I would have an ornate vanity in my luxurious dressing suite where I would wear my floor-length white fur robe! How glamourous!!!!

Above: Margaret Sullivan in a promotional shot from the film "The Moon's Our Home" (1936) with Henry Fonda. I have never seen this film, but I'm adding it to my Netflix queue right now! Here's the films poster (oh, how I love vintage movie posters) -

And here's the queen of boudoir shots, Jean Harlow -

These shots are from the film "Dinner at Eight" (1933) starring Marie Dressler, John & Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery. Here's the poster -

I want a feather boa!!!!

Images via www.art.com, www.imdb.com, www.art-deco-style.com, www.shessmart.com, www.loveyourplace.blogspot.com

DAILY WANT

iPhone/iPad/Macbook Retro Rainbow Decal/Sticker - by IncredibleDecal

How cool are these? Although I find the overload of decals on Etsy really tacky, these adorable logo stickers have just the right amount of subtly, nostalgia and brand loyalty. They're the definition of a 'conversation starter'. And only $8.99 for all three!

FOR SALE on Etsy.com for $8.99

Image via www.etsy.com

My New Favorite Thing: WANELO.com

I love this site! It's so simple and clean and the interface is very user-friendly. It's essentially a catalog of all of your favorite things on the web. Your "collection" is a grid of thumbnail images of these items. When you click on the image, it takes you to another page with a link to that product. Other Wanelo users can save the item you've added to their own collection, and vice versa. Like I said; very simple.

I'm so glad they've started to market this as a holiday shopping list, because that's what I've used it for and it's a huge convenience. I sent my collection to my Mom and my boyfriend so they can pick from the list without me having to tell them exactly what I want and where to find it.

I have found some really cool things and websites from other users' collections that I probably never would have stumbled upon had I not joined this site. Most of the users have great taste and very interesting and UNIQUE items in their collections.

Here are a few things that I have found from other people's collections through this great site!

Recycled Camera depth-of-field cuff bracelet $236.00

www.oyemodern.com

Gardenias Saltwater Lavender Kimono $146

www.spanishmossshop.com

Z Gallerie - Eddie Accent Chair $1199.00

www.zgallerie.com

Images via www.oyemodern.com, www.spanishmossshop.com, www.zgallerie.com

DAILY WANT

....do I even have to say why?

Marc By Marc Jacobs

D4 Classic Q Natasha Crossbody bag in Ellsworth Blue

FOR SALE on Zappos.com for $348.00

Images via zappos.com

In My Imaginary Life....

....I would ride a scooter. More specifically, I would ride my Mini Scooter down River Road to the Edgewater Ferry that would take me into Manhattan. And that would be my commute to work. Pretty sweet, huh?

These are the Mini Scooter E concepts. They are entirely electric and smartphone compatible, which is manifested in the scooter's key, display and central control element (essentially, the dashboard). They are beautifully styled and of the highest quality, which one would come to expect from a brand such as Mini, which is owned by BMW. Since it is a concept, the scooter that will actually be available for sale to the general public may not be exactly like this, but it's a close match. Here's some more about the concepts from the press release:

"The MINI Scooter E Concept transfers the brand’s hallmark driving fun to the two-wheel segment for the first time.

Equally unique features are the link between the scooter’s alternative drive concept and its unmistakable design, intelligent functionality and detailed personalization options in true MINI style. The MINI Scooter E Concept is powered by an electric motor integrated in the rear wheel. The motor’s lithium-ion battery can be recharged at any conventional power socket using an on-board charging cable. The concept study, which is being launched as a world premiere at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, meets the mobility aspirations of a target group that sets store by premium quality and advanced technology as well as placing sustainability on a par with individual style and an emotional driving experience. The MINI Scooter E Concept also highlights new ways of attracting in particular a young audience to the MINI brand."

Click on the link for the full press release on the Mini Scooter E Concept.

Images via bmwblog.com

In My Imaginary HOME...

REcreate

Interior Design & Extra Ordinary Recycled Furniture

I somehow stumbled upon this site of amazing, bespoke furniture called Recreate. Katie Thompson, an interior designer from South Africa, started this company in 2009 with the philosophy that she could turn seemingly useless 'pieces of junk' into wonderful pieces of functional furniture. They are not only environmentally friendly, but also incredibly unique. Every piece is one-of-a-kind! She also makes lighting fixtures and interior accessories. Personally, I adore the "Suitcase Chairs". Here are two of my favorites:

The Suitcase Chair

"A broken old brown suitcase, having been around the block a few times, through Africa and via Dover now takes on a glamorious new functional life as a comfortable occasional chair. Using a steel reinforced internal structure, upholstered in a contemporary wide purple stripe fabric and dark timber tapered legs."

The Suitcase Chair - White Samsonite

"An old worn out suitcase takes on a new life as a comfy chair. Steel reinforced internal structure, upholstered in 100% white linen with Liberty floral fabric covered deep buttons and whitewashed timber turned legs."

Images & product descriptions via recreate.za.net

In My Imaginary Life....

....I will have a wedding like the amazing ones featured on my new favorite blog Ruffled.

This site features quirky real-life wedding pictures & stories from all over the country and the world, from all different kinds of couples. There's your indie-hipster-Brooklyn-tattooed couples, the homemade-country-farm-wildflower couples, the vintage-Gatsby-birdcage veil-glamour couples, and a bunch in between. Ruffled also features gorgeous engagement shoots, incredibly unique invitation ideas and samples, great wedding photographer portfolios, and DIY ideas for the bride-on-a-budget (who isn't these days?). If I could, I would feature almost every single Ruffled post on my blog, because I love them all! But I guess I have to choose, so here are some favorites:

Images via ruffled.com