Fashion
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Personal Shopper – Summer Holiday
I think I could be a personal shopper in another life. It’s like my day job, but with clothes. And with the social calendar of summer in full swing, there are a bevy of opportunities for crafting looks that suit the occasion. The coming holiday weekend alone could demand a half dozen “fashion-scapes”. With that in mind, I have styled four summer looks for my Luxe & Lucid readers. And although my own ensembles typically consist of a mix of labels and price points, each of the outfits below has been culled from a single source or shopping district to make your purchase all the less painless. That’s what…
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Tricia’s 10: UHOF
My mother always told me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Does that maternal wisdom apply to blogs? It probably should, but I just can’t help myself. We have a folder in the Huntley & Co. files labeled “UHOF”. The [yoo-hawf] folder contains images of designs we find to be, ahem, aesthetically challenging. I’ll admit it’s a little snarky. What can I say – my staff and I simply believe it’s irresponsible not to document design work that dares to go beyond good taste to, um well, the … – Ugly Hall of Fame – 1. hollywood mcmansion |…
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Lighten Up
I had a few inches chopped from my mane this week. My hair usually reaches the middle of my back, so now that it’s skimming my collarbone, I feel lighter, brighter, better. I’ve embraced all things cumbersome the last several years – heavy fabrics, chunky jewelry, pattern on pattern – and I think I’ve had enough. I’m ready to streamline and elevate my fashions, my interiors, my entire sense of style. The layering, the eccentric colors; I’ve loved it all. But it may be time to move on … for now. Tricia xo row one: Mathias Dahlgren, Aerin…
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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. …
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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…
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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”, etcetera. The 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…
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Much Ado About Nothing
I had my heart set on a particular feature this week, but I can’t find the key image. And although I have 30 or so folders containing potential posts stocked away in my computer, I’m just not feeling it for any of them right now. The truth for lifestyle bloggers is that we do feel the need to deliver something meaningful and beautiful and somewhat original to our audience. And as a practicing designer with my own firm, I feel a particular obligation to perform. Excellence in design is my professional pursuit – churning out or championing mediocrity does not hold particular appeal. So with that in mind, I…
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Spring Greens
Is there any other color on your mind this time of year besides green? Trees are budding, the grass is coming back and we’ve just celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. It feels like we’ve turned a corner and everyone is in higher spirits, so let’s rejoice in the one hue that delivers a boost of happiness just when we need it most. Kelly, chartreuse, lime or sage – whatever the shade – you are sure to find glorious greens all around you this spring. – nature / exteriors – “Green” buildings Ann Demeulemeester in Seoul and the Caixa Forum in Madrid. Spanish copper wall image c/o…
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Winter Warm-Up
While at Battery Kemble Park this past weekend with Nina, I was reminded why some people love winter. The sky was clear, the sun was shining and the snow was glistening in the treetops and underfoot. It really was magical. I later wrote to a friend that it was a perfect day – “warm and sparkly”. Not exactly a scientific description, but spot-on nonetheless. Although I don’t think I’ve ever used those exact words to describe a project, I certainly could have. I’ve embraced that concept a few times over the past few years. One renovation in particular comes to mind. Huntley & Co. redesigned a Pennsylvania Avenue apartment for a…
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T.H.
Yes, those are my initials, but I’m talking about another T.H. Tommy Hilfiger. I’ve never thought much about this brand, despite the fact that its logo could often double as a monogram. However, last week while running errands in Georgetown, I found myself in front of the store’s M Street window drooling over several ensembles. Once inside, things got even better. Not only did I find myself a pair of wool short shorts, a petal pink silk top with gold beading and some über flattering leggings with ruching at the ankles, but the dressing area had such a warm and eclectic vibe that I documented the scheme for future…
