• The Princess Bride

     

    Today is one very important day for one very lucky girl.  If becoming a princess is lucky that is.

    Kate Middleton weds Prince William today and much of the world will be watching.  Brits, Royal-enthusiasts

    and wedding aficionados will be tuning in by the millions to see what the bride has in store for us.  I do like the

    princess-to-be.  She’s pretty and polished and seems to have a gracious sensibility about her.  But fashionable?

    Let’s not get carried away.  If I could, I would love to give her a makeover and style her on her wedding day. 

    Plausible?  No.  But that’s what you gotta’ love about a blog.  I can indulge my fantasies right here on the internet. 

    Below I’ve pulled together what I think would be the perfect look for Ms. Middleton on her wedding day.  Guess it’s

    time to add a new title to my resume … Tricia Huntley: Imaginary Stylist to HRH Princess Catherine of Wales”.

      

      

      

     

     

     

    The Dress

     

    Ceres_A

     

    A perfect fusion of traditional elegance and youthful modernism.  This mermaid-style, lace dress

    would be a stunner on the thin, brunette bride who likes simplicity and form-fitting silhouettes.

     

    Elie Saab Ceres dress

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Veil

     

    veil

     

    Considering the formality of the occasion, I would recommend a floor length veil.  But if

    the bride were more comfortable with tea length (and royal protocol allowed for it), then

    the veil at left would look just as beautiful with the Elie Saab dress as the one at right.

     

    Homa Bridal spring 2011 collection veils

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Shoes & Bag

     

    image

     

     Intricate handiwork and one-of-a-kind details are what make these accessories fit for a

    [future] queen.  I love the idea of these pumps peaking out from beneath the hem of

    the ivory lace gownAnd the beading and stonework of the bag is just incredible.

     

    Manolo Blahnik heels and Larissa Barrera evening bag

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jewelry

     

     jewelry

     

    Jewelry is very personal and much more of a moving target than the dress.  What would I suggest

    for a young bride on the cusp of royalty?  Pieces that are exquisite, but simple.  And I would keep

    it to a minimum.  The bride’s look will live in infamy, so nothing flashy.  A pair of platinum, diamond and

    coral pendant earrings along with an antique cameo brooch pinned in the hair at the chignonBeautiful,

    unique pieces that complement the sapphire engagement ring that is at once impressive and sentimental.

     

    Lalique Salome Brooch (1904) and Cathy Waterman earrings

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Makeup & Hair

     

     

    hairandmakeup

     

    For Kate’s makeup, I would suggest rosy cheeks, pale lips and soft eyes.  And absolutley no black

    eyeliner!  For hair, a low sideswept chignon is a chic and contemporary alternative to a traditional updo.

     

    makeup by Estee Lauder

     

     

     

     

    Congratulations go out across the pond to the royal couple on their wedding day.

    Keep calm, BE HAPPY and carry on.

     

    Tricia xo

    .

     

  • Tipping the Scales

      

    What happens when you take the Caribbean sun, add a weeklong sailing trip and throw in a

    pasty lass of northern European* decent?  You get one crispy chic.  My trip to Guadeloupe

    and Isle des Saints was fabulous.  We had gorgeous weather -  cloudless skies, bright blue

    water and gentle breezes.  Just what the doctor ordered.  But maybe not the dermatologist.

    I often mention how much care I take with my skin.  I wear sunblock everyday and haven’t

    spent dedicated time in the sun since I was twenty.  The problem?  When I do go in the sun,

    I fry up faster than bacon in a skillet.  So although I do have a healthy glow about me, I’m

    also starting to peel.  Unhealthy and gross, but not without some humor.  In light of my flaky,

    peeling appearance, I figured I would feature all things scaly and reptilian this week.  I love

    texture – I just prefer to see it on stilettos and handbags and not so much on my face.

      

      

     

     

     

     

     

    Handbags

     

     

    handbags 2 

     

    left: vintage (top), Temperley London (bottom)

    middle: Alexander McQueen (top), Bottega Veneta (bottom)

    right: Amber & Babzoe (top), Lanvin (bottom)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Footwear

     

     

    shoes 3

     

    clockwise from top left: Dior, Roberto Cavalli,

    Elizabeth & James and Fendi

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Fashion

     

     

    fashion

     

    left to right: Burberry, Bottega Veneta, Zara

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Furnishings

     

     

    furnishings 4

     

    top left & bottom right: Huntley & Co. custom collection

    bottom left: David Iatesta

    top right & bottom middle: R&Y Augousti

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    guad group 2

    Wishing you (and your skin!) a safe and festive season of sun.

     

    Tricia

    * Norwegian, German, English & Irish   ; )

     

     

     

  • Swan Song

     

    My vacation officially starts Wednesday at 9:30AM.  Hallelujah!  I’ve heard

    You need a vacation” a little too often lately, so clearly it’s time to get the

    hell out of Dodge.  Luckily, my partner-in-crime has a good friend with a Swan

    51 sailboat currently docked in Guadeloupe that’s just waiting for some guests. 

    Drift around, sip cocktails, eat good food and explore the island.  BRING IT ON! 

    So in the spirit of checking out physically, mentally and socially – all you’re going

    to get from me today is a hello and goodbye … and, of course, a couple of teasers.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    image

     

    Guadeloupe

     

     

     

     

    ClubSwan Carribean Rendezvous 2008 (c) Nautor's Swan 08

     

    Swan yachts gather in the Caribbean. 

      

     

     

     

    image

     

     Me in T-minus 24 hours.

     

     

     

     

     

    See ya!

     

    Tricia xo

     

     

     

  • Quips and Quotes

     

    This week I stumbled upon several meaningful quotes while thumbing through newspapers

    and magazines.  It was like finding water in the desert.  I dedicate so much time to visual

    consumption that I have neglected one of my first passions … the written word,  I love a well-

    crafted phrase.  The right combination of words can be truly magical – evoking sentiment, laughter,

    insight or inspiration.  I may produce a blog about “all things design” – that I admit is 85% photos

    but I do consider the words as important as the images.  Hopefully I engage my readers with each

    opening paragraph by delivering a thoughtful, humorous and/or compelling statement that reaches

    them as much as the subsequent eye candy.  I guess I’ll find out when I review the stats for this

    post since it’s heavy on prose and light on pics.  With that in mind, I should probably cease typing

    my amateur novella and bring you the words of those much wiser, wittier and emboldened than I. 

       

     

      letter-writing_springfield NJ library

      

      

      

      

      

     

      

      

    Career / Success

      

      

    “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.”

    – Benjamin Franklin

      

      

    “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes of your goals.”

    – Henry Ford

     

     

    “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

    – Jim Rohn

      

     

    “Nothing bothers me more than people who suck up and scream down.”

    – Katie Couric

     

     

    “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

    – Winston Churchill

     

     

     

    churchill

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Humor

     

    “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.

    – Jim Carrey

     

     

    “Guilt, the gift that keeps on giving.”

    – Erma Bombeck

     

     

    “Great ideas often start on cocktail napkins.  Especially when you consider a large vodka martini a great idea.”

    – Advertisement for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas ; )

     

     

     

     laughter

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     Love

     

    “If you press me to say why I loved him, I can say no more than because he was he, and I was I.

    – Michel de Montaigne

     

     

    “Love does not dominate; it cultivates.”

    – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

     

     

    “Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.”

    – H,L. Mencken 

     

     

    “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

    – Lao Tzu

     

     

     

    image

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Life & Wisdom

      

    “Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.”

    – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

     

     

    “Be polite to all, but intimate with few.”

    – Thomas Jefferson

     

     

    “Wise men make more opportunities than they find,”

    – Francis Bacon

     

     

    “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”

    – Lucille Ball

     

     

     

      ball-lucille

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Writing That Inspires 

     

    My taste in writing is about as random as my taste in movies, music and art.  If there is a

    common thread among the writers below, I don’t know what it is.  They’re just all so good!

     

     

     

    authors

     

     

    Charlotte Brontë

    Jane Eyre was the first book I read that made me sob aloud uncontrollably.

     

    Edgar Allan Poe

    I love a good fright and Poe knows how to build suspense and fear like no one else.

     

    David Sedaris

    Quite possibly the funniest !@%$#% person alive.  Just looking at the bookcover above makes me laugh. 

     

    Malcolm Gladwell

    I have devoured his first three books – The Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers – so What The Dog Saw is a must read.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    And since we're on the subject of writing …

    Thank you to the following blogs for their recent accolades and mentions.

     

    A Thoughtful Eye

     

    Bijou and Boheme c/o Breakfast at Toast,

     

    and Providence Ltd. Design

     

    Stylish blogger 

     

    for the "Stylish Blogger Award".

     

      

     

    Thrilled to be recognized by such talents!  Tricia xo

     

  • Branded

     

    There is one question I receive more than any other from prospective clients, writers, editors, vendors and

    the public-at-large.  “What’s Your Style?”  Simple enough I suppose.  After all, most designers and novice

    decorators have a catch phrase … “edited elegance”, “shabby chic”, “retro glam”, etceteraThe funny thing

    is that despite having worked as an interior designer for fifteen years and having my own firm for five, I’ve never

    been able to provide a nice neat answer to that all-important question.  I guess I found it difficult to sum up all

    of my professional passions and aspirations into a few choice words.  And perhaps subconsciously I realized

    that I needed to soak up as much as I could from the talented pool of designers, architects and artisans around

    me before attaching myself to a specific slogan.  Or maybe I’m just a knucklehead.  Whatever the reason, in this

    era of branding, I think it’s time to find a trademark for TRICIA HUNTLEY INC. and certainly for HUNTLEY & CO.

    I believe I have a contender, so I’m hoping the Luxe & Lucid audience will help me with my decision.  Based on

    the cues below, let me know if I’m on target.  I welcome comments and suggestions from my clever readers.

     

     

     

     

     

    – Influential Designers -

     

     

      sills huniford

    JB group 3 

    SB group

    Sills Huniford (now parted), Jeffrey Bilhuber & Solis Betancourt (top to bottom),

    Three stellar firms that deliver genius with every project.  Of course, I may be a little partial to SB

    since it is headed by my former bosses who happen to be the nicest, most gracious men on earth.

     

     

     

     

    - The Glamour Found in Nature -

     

       hydrangeas0001   natural glamour0006 

      jacques garcia temple 1   rock

    I love me a manicured hedge and a nice hunk of rock.

    Jacques Garcia temple photo c/o World of Interiors

     

     

     

     

    – Gorgeous, Dramatic Art –

     

     

      image

     

      elliott pink 

     

    goya-the-third-of-may

      

    The-Giacometti-Variations-2010

     

     John Singer Sargent, Elliott Puckette, Francisco Goya & Giacometti (top to bottom).

     

     

     

     

    – Sexy, Laid-Back, All-American Fashion –

     

     

    fashion 3

    Tory Burch, Gwyneth Paltrow and one of my favorite looks -  skinny jeans, flats and a [faux] fur coat. 

     

      

     

     

     

    – My Collected Thoughts-

     

     

    IMG_5266

     

     

    hippie chic

     

    eyelashes

    dogs

    gloves

    layers

    romantic

    turquoise

    This scrapbook is a collection of images I have pulled because they are beautiful

    and inspiring, regardless of context.  I started this “stream of consciousness” project

    to help me with the idea of branding and to jump start the design for my own house.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    – My Own Work –

     

     

    H&C combo

     

    Whether I’m working on a modern apartment or sprawling traditional home, there are always

    three elements key to my interiors; they need to be beautiful, original and unpretentious.  Not 

    only do I want them to reflect the spirit and lifestyle of my clients, but I want them to be livable.

     

      

      

      

      

     

      

      So taking all of the above into consideration, I think the best way to describe my style is …

     

     

     

     

    “NATURAL GLAMOUR”

     

     

     

     

      Wacha’ think?  Tricia xo

     

     

     

    * Refer to blog posts Designer DNA and Wuzzup?

    as well as the Huntley & Co. website for more info.