The Talented Mr. Berkus

I thought a couple pictures of Nate Berkus's stylish Chicago apartment would be just the thing to brighten up the day. It is eclectic while still being sophisticated and masculine. His apartment doesn't feel overly decorated, which as we all know is surprisingly harder to do than you might think. I love the mixture of texture and pattern with some dashes of blue, gray, green, yellow and a little hint of gilt. It strikes just the right balance between comfort and style. Enjoy...

Photos via Elle Decor.

Oh, Happy Day!

J.Crew has really stepped it up over the past several years. I can only assume that this super stylish evolution is attributed to the genius of Jenna Lyons and the army of people she undoubtedly works with. All I have to say is, well done! When I flip through a J.Crew catalog these days I dog ear at least half of the pages. I want it all! These images from the Spring collection really make me smile. They are so cheery and colorful it makes me want to throw caution to the wind and buy that shorts jumpsuit and say the hell with it. Who cares if I look ridiculous in shorts, they are just so stinking cute! Happy Spring!

Photos via Jcrew.com.

Actress, Musician, Muse: Charlotte Gainsbourg

Daughter of French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg and English actress/model Jane Birkin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, is a star in her own rite. She has released several albums, the latest of which is called IRM and is a collaboration with Beck. Her lyrics are haunting and provocative, much like those of her famous father. Charlotte is a permanent fixture in the front row of countless fashion shows both in the US and in Europe, and is a muse to many with her exotic look and carefree demeanor. She is indy-arty aristocracy, and how could she not be with parents who personified the decadent, free-spirited nature of the 60's and 70's? I admire her talent as well as her style. Her gamine physique coupled with her effortless, feminine, edgy musician aesthetic is truly chic...and very French.

Serge & Jane

Serge & Jane

The exterior of Serge's Paris home that Charlotte is turning into a museum. He lived here for many years and this is the site where he wrote and composed his music. Charlotte has left it exactly as it was the day he died 20 years ago. I love that she refuses to let anyone paint over the graffiti. It really adds to the urban charm. Vanity Fair got an exclusive peek inside the house in 2007...

Entry

Statue in the entry.

Hallway

The interior still really remains a mystery. The images from VF don't tell you a whole lot about the inside other than the walls are upholstered in black fabric and that he was an avid art collector. It certainly piques my interest. I would love to see more!

Photo credits: Image 1- via last.fm.com; Image 2 by Kurt Iswarienko for Flaunt; Image 3 by Jean-Baptiste Mondino; Image 4 by Kate Barry for Very Elle; Image 5 via last.fm.com; Image 6 by Jean-Baptiste Mondino; Image 7-11 via Vanity Fair.

Alexa Chung for Madewell

Brit it-girl Alexa Chung has designed a line for Madewell that she debuted in February. I just saw the look book and thought I would share it with you all. I probably wouldn't wear any of these looks the way they have been styled here simply because I can't pull it off (ie tights with shorts or overalls), but I definitely have my eye on a couple individual pieces. I think it is a solid collection of closet staples with an updated edge. They will be available through the Madewell website in August. Perhaps more exciting is that Madewell will be launching their e-commerce site around the same time. Yay! What do you think of this collection?

Sofia for Louis Vuitton

These images are all from the 2009 Louis Vuitton ad campaign of handbags that Sofia Coppola designed and modeled. She collaborated with LV with the goal of designing the perfect daytime bag that she and her girlfriends are forever searching for. She wanted to make something that can carry all the necessary items without being too big and heavy while maintaining the beautiful quality and craftsmanship for which LV is known. The result is this capsule collection...

I just think these photos are so, so beautiful. I love the shot with the polaroids casually strewn about and the red shoes kicked off onto the floor. My favorite of these bags is definitely the little black clutch with the gold piping along the edge and buckle closure. There are no LV bags in my future, but that's ok because I almost enjoy looking at the photos of them more.


Photos via theenglishmuse.com.

Sofia's Inspiration

I always think it is fun to see what other creative types tack up on their inspiration boards, don't you?

Images via French Vogue 2005.

Sofia Coppola: Renaissance Woman

Sofia Coppola has long been one of my favorite directors. I remember walking out of the Virgin Suicides and being totally blown away by it. Disturbing, yes. But an unequivocal masterpiece. She wears many hats: director, designer, photographer, model, muse and is basically just the all around definition of cool. I am really drawn to her photography. She has a unique style and impeccable eye for composition and light. Here are a couple shots that I think are amazing...

Sofia manages to give the photos a vintage and soulful feel. I just love the end result. If you liked this post stay tuned, I have a couple more posts cued up on Sofia. Have a lovely day!

Photos via www.jadoresofia.com.