Tag Archives for fashion

Parcs

“Live in the present and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.”

-Ida Scott Taylor

I returned to Paris at the best time.  Spring time.

Flowers are blooming.  The Frenchies are in better moods.  Pique-niques are in abundance.

The banks of the Seine are covered with people.  The parcs are filled with sunbathers.

Life is wonderful at best.  Sporting my amazing fashion sense and charming the Frenchies with my American girl smile and outlook on life.

Of course, it’s impossible to take photos of me and not have one with my mouth open.  Laughing as I try not to kill the lovely daffodils in the parc and avoiding getting yelled at by the French police for sitting in grass that is “resting.”

But, I can say, my friend Bex took amazing photos of moi.  Sporting off my favorite white pants (that I tried hard NOT to get dirty sitting in the grass…..).

I have also been mistaken for a Frenchie…that is until I open my mouth.  Mmmm…somethings will never change will they?

shirt: karl marc john // pants: ny&co // shoes: thrifted (paris) // suns: ray-ban

xx

hillary rose

Neutrals and Paris Cafés

Mmmm…Paris…

…And your abundant cafés,  fabulously mixed neutrals and bright red lips…

I was brought up to believe that navy and black can NEVER be together, and lipstick is for old ladies at church.

But you proved me wrong.

xx

hillary rose

PS:

Photos are owned by The Sartorialist…

(but this should be common sense seeing as how my photography is nowhere near this amazingness)

The Messy Bun

Once, I chopped ALL my hair off Audrey Hepburn-esque like in Roman Holiday.

All off.  All gone.

C’est chic.

…

Then I had the fun and slow process of growing it all back.  Sadly, growing hair isn’t as easy as cutting hair.  But my hair is finally past my shoulders.  And I’m able to [almost] contort my hair into different styles and look.

Like the, I just simply threw this on top of my head into a casually messy bun…

Or, in my case, I almost succeeded in casually throwing my hair into a casually messy bun…

bun

Hairspray and bobby pins and hair ties prove ever so helpful in this look.  One that is ALMOST as très chic as the Parisian women gracing the streets.

Or this one:

….

Practice makes perfect, right?  Even if it means practicing until the casual est parfait?

xx

hillary rose

PS:

This is more of my, I’M EXCITED ABOUT MY SEMI-SUCCESSFUL MESSY BUN face…

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PPS:

Messy buns do oh-so-well at looking fashionable at the gym while “working on my fitness“

Le Chat

I have a problem.

It involves “pinning” images to online inspiration boards and independent, four legged animals…

Of all my Pinterest boards, “le chat” wins in “the most pins” award.

But then again, who can resist cats wearing berets and pretending to be Parisian?

Despite folks’s beliefs that my outgoing personality renders me a dog person, I’ve always been a cat person.  And lucky for me, majority of the “Paris” population opts for this whiskered feline.

Including, Karl Lagerfeld and his lovely Choupette.

Now, if you haven’t heard of this adorable kitty, you’re going to have to do your own research on how this charming kitten stole the heart of Chanel’s creative director.  (Her presence has been known since this past summer…)

Meeting Mr. Lagerfeld is on my list of “fashion world to-do’s,” but, now, I think meeting Choupette is starting to rank higher.  Maybe in doing so, I can convince Mr. Lagerfeld to let me be Choupette’s “au pair.”

Thankfully, I’m in somewhat of luck.  For it is known that Mr. Lagerfeld frequents Café de Flore (as I have).  So, come springtime, I might be propping up at this infamous Parisian café stalking watching for Choupette and her Karl.

mmm…

Truth is, all I want is an apartment in Paris with a window, and a cat to join me while we sit on the ledge acting all introspective and French (Luckily, one of these should be coming true).

xx

hillary  rose

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LOOK! C’est moi avec mon chat, BC.  Note how my young, fashionable self pulled off that Santa hat. Sadly, I lost touch with my fashion sense until about college….

“Sometimes I think to myself in French and listen to old records from the ’60s”

Seeing as I am not currently in Paris (minor hiccups…don’t worry), I don’t have the wonderful opportunity to gawk at chic Parisian women while I trying to emulate them.  Instead of the catwalks being on Rue de Rivoli, I have the viewing pleasure of “Rue de Wal-Mart.”  And I can promise you (while even though some folks try), honey, it ain’t the same as Paris.

So, to prevent myself from going crazy over ill-fitting jeans and “Insert-Brand-Here” logo shirts, I take to my dearly beloved fashion magazines and blogs.  One of my favorites: Nylon.

And whilst I was perusing their lovely and oh-so-inspiring blog, I stumbled onto a post about this very enjoyable fashion film staring Lizzy Caplan.  But since Vimeo is being a bitch evil, here is the linky-link: Lizzy Caplan for Viva Vena.

xx

hillary rose

PS:  When I do have French women compliment me on my style, I secretly jump for joy and immediately want to frame the outfit.  For, you see, the French women aren’t very apt to give out fashion compliments (but French men on the other hand….)

PPS:  I shouldn’t be too harsh on “Rue de Wal-Mart” seeing as there are some (note some) stylish dressers around my small town.