An Autumn Hymn

I finally found a bit of time to post something. A little fall inspiration.

I'll end up posting something longer and more fashion related within the next week for sure. (But don't hold me to it.)

What it's like to be free...

 

(Pictures courtesy of tfs, elle.com, google)

Currently Listening: The Golden Floor - Snow Patrol

Love, Belle

Many Pardons

So sorry I've been absent lately! I really have had no time to blog in the past couple weeks. Applications are taking over (aka crushing)  my life right now-- enough said. Anyways, I hope to get on here once the whole process is good and done but I'm not entirely sure when that will be. There is so much fashion news I'd love to blog about... like the current fashion weeks! (plus some pretty stellar style-bloggers, trends in accessories, and of course the plaid craze)-- not to mention that I've been wanting to get around to another IB (insp. board) or two. But alas, all of this will have to wait. Even the debriefing on how to rock the 'cozy chic' look will have to wait until a later date. The only thing I can really offer right now is a new header! (yay?) As you'll notice it is much more in line with the season-- it's fall! At any rate, have a wonderful next couple of weeks. 

Until I find time to post something of value...

Love,

Belle

Illusions

Oh the illusions that I weave. The illusion that I am organized when in reality anybody who knows me knows that I live in a  room that quite nearly could be considered the epitome of pigsties. I am creative, sure, imaginative, artistic and good with aesthetics... but I am one of the messiest people ever. I'm probably the only person who can find anything in my carefully-crafted messes; even though my handbags and book bag and commodities that travel with me during the day give the very opposite impression. Anyways, not much time to chat but I wanted to post this inspiration board (IB) so it looks like I'm actually making an effort to get on here. Maybe this week end I'll be able to post something a smidgen more extensive? I should definitely post something on how to rock the comfort clothes-- you know, kind of like the foods (macaroni & cheese, soups, hot chocolate, cider, et cetera) but far more stylish and wheat, glutton, dairy, sugar, and peanut free. It really is an art to get the messy chic look perfectly and beautifully undone. Dirty and slob are never words one wants to associate with fashion, style, or oneself. But more on that later. Until then mes chéris!

(photos: tfs, elle, style.com)

Currently listening: If You're Out There - John Legend

Love,

Belle

Here and Gone

Can you feel it? Summer's fading, fleeting, almost gone. I know I can. And while the weather is still as hot as ever, the care-free ambience of summer feels so far away. But the thing is, it doesn't depress me or make me sad. I love autumn. I love fall. I love autunno, outono, herbst. I love whatever you want to call the season in between summer and winter. I don't know about you but I always get shivers (the good kind!) when the cool breeze ruffles your hair and smells of autumn leaves-- so much so that you can almost smell all of the colours. The pumpkins, the long walks, apple cider, the (now veg for me)  version of Thanksgiving turkey dinner, little girls dressed up as princesses, little boys dressed up as ghouls, goblins, beasts-- you know, those incredibly cute, not scary at all monsters. It's a beautiful season and I love it.

In honor of fall here's my first fall 08 inspiration board. 

(photos: tfs, elle.com, St. John's, DKNY, Burberry, sephora)

I'm predicting that purples, maroons, burgundies, and deep navy blues are going to be in this season (as well as solid oranges --which are often one of the hardest colours to wear, and blacks/ grays [but has that ever really changed from well... the 1800's?]). For everything from make up (especially, maroon shadows are going to be big) to tights (yes we all know leggings are going quickly and tights are definitely more fashionable), these colours will rock these next couple of months. (Until the winter days hit for which I'm expecting the deep reds, classic liquid-lined eyes, peacoats, romantic Victorian-esque boots (with semi-frilly edging, decoratively tasteful buttons, and lace appliqués perhaps?) and massive scarves will return as usual). If you're confused with the colours this fall just look to the Nine West ads for a little direction: Les couleurs sont très chic, non?

Currently Listening: Time to Pretend - MGMT, Autumn in New York - Frank Sinatra

Love,

Belle

Silver

So, for the second time, I’m going to reference the Olympics and deem this post the silver medalist in The Naturale’s blog history, archive, whatever you want to call it. This time, instead of ranting about its semi-chaotic birth, I’m getting right down to business-- fashion business that is. While exploring the new campaigns of my various favorite designers via their online sites, I stumbled across the fall Versace men’s ware. For those of you who watch 'Grey’s Anatomy,' have seen Enchanted (um... gag?), Made of Honor, or even Freedom Writers, you will appreciate the following photos that I was so gleeful in finding. And if you somehow don’t happen to know Patrick Dempsey, a little bit of sophisticated man candy never hurt anybody, anyways.

 

-Dempsey for Versace Men’s Ware Fall 2008-

And of course the women's line is just as good. It is Versace after all. Plus I really like Isabeli Fontana. She has such a strong, memorable face in the modeling world. The colors in the collection are definitely igniting some shopping sparks for me, what about you? I'm thinking deep purple a-line dress and shiny, black tights perhaps? Or maybe a vibrant, deep pink strappy/ mummy bandage-esque top with a faded dark leather jacket and a creamy linen skirt?

  

-Versace Fall 2008-

 Okay I must confess that it took me WAY too long to finish the 'banner' at the top. As soon as I would finish piecing one together and adjusting it just so, the program would freeze and/or quit on me. And since I have a great relationship with my laptop (go macs!), i.e. this doesn't happen very often, I didn't take the few seconds of time to save the various projects as I was creating them. So basically each time-- all three times that is, that the stupid program malfunctioned on me I lost everything I had created. This banner was the first to survive the dreaded Graphic Converter seizures. It has more of a fall/winter feel to it so as soon as I make another, sunnier one I'll put that one up instead.

Currently listening: Kings of Leon

Love,

Belle

The Naturale.

So many names to choose from, so little with that certain ring... 

la beauté, the belle, the informer, news from a fashion addict, the original stylist, the original, the original high-flying, stunt-performing, marvelous mother of all things fashion and/or related to the breezy autumn season... hah! Just joshing (what a strange expression, don't you think?).

So anyways I come up with 'The Naturale,' at which point I'm so sick of naming blog titles that anything sounded pretty fabulous to me, and voila 'The Naturale' was born! There is so much I'd like to blog about and so many people I'd like to thank for making this moment possible (que the music please)... Many thanks to my mom, my future pet dog, Iluk the Alaskan Malamute, the people who came up with hazelnut flavoured coffee, and blah blah blah. I don't know about you but I for one always find those Academy Award speeches quite touching. Although, I must guiltily admit that I was inspired by the great 'Fashion Toast' and 'Coco's Tea Party' to start this mess in the first place. Hopefully over the next few days or so I'll be able to get more of a profile and maybe a page layout/ header of my own design up here. In the meantime I'll leave you (whoever, if anybody, is actually reading this infantile blog) with one of my inspiration boards that really is only effective before the impending end of the summer of 2008. Enjoy!

"Change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like a stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass." - John Steinbeck

(photos: style.com, TFS, elle.com, illustration by Garance Dore)

Oh and you're probably going to hate me for this but I just have to comment on the greatness that is Michael Phelps. I just watched his last race, the men's medley 4 x 200m, and he is absolutely beastly (in the best way of course). 8 Golds... quite the feat and even though I'm no competitive swimmer, his achievements are definitely inspirational. All that dedication, hard work, and serious sweat makes me want to accomplish the impossible and all that jazz.

                            

   (photos:  google)          

Currently listening: Clocks- Coldplay, Anywhere Is- Enya

Love,

Belle