The Undoubted Queen

I followed the Diamond Jubilee celebrations on line like many others in the rest of the world. The inner British freak in me enjoyed it all. I'm convinced that if I lived in London I'd celebrate in the streets. I'd probably never wear a mask or hold a flag, since the unpatriottic Italian in me find it tedious and admirable at the same time (I wish we had at least one symbol to believe in like the Queen), but I'd surely wake up very early and gather outside St Paul's Cathedral to catch a glimpse of the Royals too. 

Collage created with phtos from The Telegraph

Monarchy can be useless and aesthetically decorative, but it's the only institution that hasn't let the family, the nation and a whole Commonwealth down through the years. Queen Elizabeth II has always been there, stable, intelligent and honest, getting in return respect, affection, even love from her people, "insisting on finding common ground with a woman whose life is so singularly uncommon, on seeing the ordinariness in a figure who by definition must be extraordinarily other." - credits

60 years of amazing fashion history, too. The Queen has always been a reassuring matronly solidity in her elegance, which developped through the years but didn't change a bit: always impeccable. I'm used to the image of her wearing coloured outfits with a matching hat, neat handbag and shoes, so I was surprised to see she was glamorous in her youth. She was vibrant, exciting and spontaneous, and even wore a seductive tight dress on the day of her coronation. 

via Vogue

I loved the way throughout the 1950s she channeled Grace Kelly glamour through fitted bodices and full skirts during the day, and outfits of duchesse satin and tulle paired with furs and tiaras at night. I also loved how through the 1990s a more relaxed image of the Queen emerged, as images of her relaxed clothes enjoying the British countryside in colourful headscarves and down-to-earth tweeds.   

It must be hard to work with her to assure her outifts are always away from wardrobe malfunction. Since she's aided by Angela Kelly, her First Assistant, I notice an even better look on her Majesty. I'm so glad the Queen keeps trusting this lady's taste against all great stylists out there who would like to dress THE Royal, like disgusting Karl Lagerfeld dreamed.

"I don't know why the Queen seems fond of me - Because I don't give her an easy time!" spoke Mrs Kelly about her role to the The Telegraph for the first time, after seeking permission from her special boss. "I do think she values my opinion, but she is the one who is in control. She always makes the final decision,"

Queen Elizabeth looked utterly majestic with all her Jubilee outfits. The only sad thing on these happy Diamond days was that she was alone, with her husband hospitalized for an infection. Long live the Queen and Prince Philip, then. I hope they can keep sparkling with their marriage, the longest for any reigning king or queen in the history of British and a symbol of devotion to their dominions.

via People

It was, in 1947, that rarest of unions: a royal love match. Just like mine with London, which took a piece of my heart and keeps it there. London calls and I have to respond: I'll go next week with Alice and stay a fortnight. A bit late for the Jubilee, but surely in time for restoring a sane nostalgia :)

Diva Aurora

You know, watching colors of the Northern Lights is one of the things in my MUST-SEE list. I'm so eager that I could bear being out all night with -15°C or less to watch this natural phenomenon, leave alone trying to capture it with my camera.

Please enjoy what my friend Marco wrote about it. Aurora is in his list too.

The Myth and Science of the Aurora Borealis

Walking in the freezing-cold darkness of the Circum-Polar regions during mid-seasons, one is likely to be lucky enough as to witness a phenomenon of a stunning beauty, the Aurora Borealis (or Australis, according to whether it occurs in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere of the Earth).

Named after the roman Goddess of Dawn, Aurora, and sometimes referred to as “The Northern Lights”, this display of colourful lights has for centuries left even the most brilliant of scientists clueless as far as its origin was concerned: Galileo himself observed and reported the appearance of blue lights over the polar regions of Jupiter, but could not come up with a scientific explanation. On the other hand, the native inhabitants of the extreme northern regions of Canada, Europe and Russia, intrigued by the beauty of the Aurora, have always attributed a mythical sense to it and have, over the millennia, come up with legends whose beauty often matches that of the Aurora itself. According to the Vikings, the Northern Lights appeared when the Valkyries were out riding their horses, while other populations thought this phenomenon was due to a dance of the Gods of Dawn.

Many scientific hypotheses were proven wrong in the 19^th and early 20^th Century until, in 1925, scientists at the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh determined that (as Tycho Brahe had pointed out some four centuries earlier without finding proof) the Aurora Borealis is indeed related to magnetism and, in particular, to its effect on the solar wind. This huge stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun is partially deflected from its path by the magnetic field of the Earth and a number of these ions is forced through the ionosphere, i.e. a layer of the high atmosphere very rich in gases that become bright and colourful when an electric current is applied to them (just as in any commercial fluorescent light). Indeed, the different colours that occur in the sky during an auroral display are determined by the chemical nature of the predominant gas in the ionosphere, with oxygen glowing red, nitrogen crimson and a mixture of the two giving the sky the most common yellowish-green colour.

As the origin of the Aurora lies in the ionosphere, that is between 60 km and 240 km above the sea-level, the impression that the lights can be so low as to touch the ground has to be regarded as a mere optical illusion, however beautiful. Auroral displays are most frequent in a thin region around the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, due to the particularly high intensity of the magnetic field of the Earth in the proximity of the Poles and its perpendicularity to the Earth’s surface. However, occasional occurrences have been reported as far South as Rome during periods of particularly intense solar activity. In the 16^th Century, in the dark ages of the Counter-Reformation and the Inquisition, a red Aurora appeared in the sky of the Papal City and caused major concern among its population.

A very intriguing phenomenon for photographers, the Northern Lights are most frequently seen in March and September-October in the freezing cold of the Norwegian, Siberian and Canadian countryside, as far away from artificial light as possible to avoid light pollution. Photographers and observers of the Aurora Borealis are therefore always warned against venturing into these areas on their own and groups have to bring powerful flashlights, firecrackers and sometimes even guns with blank rounds along in order to scare the occasional bear away and avoid potentially dangerous close-encounters. In any case, considering the awesome beauty of the Northern Lights, even someone most unwilling to take risks is likely to consider the possibility of defying the cold weather, the remoteness of the places and possibly an occasional bear or two in order to have a chance of admiring Aurora's Winter Waltz.
Marco Sinibaldi

So, what's on your Must-See List? I'm sure any of you out there can list at least 3 things. Though, when I asked my husband, he didn't know what to say. When inquired further, all he came up with was a  Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. And he was the one who suspiciously didn't like soccer when we started to date. Men! :)

Man of the Year

One of the movies I watched this week was Les Intouchables and I adored it. I love French cinema in general, I find it so innovative in plots, brilliant in style and with a great humour as a base that never exceeds. Accidentally, this is the film that sold more in the last years and whose actor, Omar Sy, won Les Cesars as Best Performing Actor.

There must be a reason if they let The Artist star and Big Oscar Winner Jean Dujardin out at the 37th annual César ceremony in Paris. Omar was preferred and with every reason. His acting in this film was extremely portentous, plus he's funny and talented (and, hell, extremely sexy.) He has a new fan now :)

via mymovies

The Award is the highest honor in France, the equivalent of American Oscars. Plus, Omar made history, as he was the first black actor to win it since the ceremony debuted back in 1976.

Now, seriously, this guy rocks. Watch by yourself in the speech he gave. He's so alive and charmant! :)

I highly recommend Les Intouchables. Behind Omar's sensational acting there's a great plot (based on a true story, by the way), which will lead you to explore unwanted zones of illness and friendship. Then come here and share your opinions with me. I'll be glad.

Ghost song

Awake.
Shake dreams from your hair
my pretty child, my sweet one.
Choose the day and choose the sign of your day
the day's divinity
First thing you see.


A vast radiant beach and cooled jeweled moon
Couples naked race down by it's quiet side
And we laugh like soft, mad children
Smug in the wooly cotton brains of infancy
The music and voices are all around us.


Choose they croon the Ancient Ones
the time has come again
choose now, they croon
beneath the moon
beside an ancient lake


Enter again the sweet forest
Enter the hot dream
Come with us
everything is broken up and dances.


Indians scattered,
On dawn's highway bleeding
Ghosts crowd the young child’s,
Fragile eggshell mind


We have assembled inside,
This ancient and insane theater
To propagate our lust for life,
And flee the swarming wisdom of the streets.


The barns have stormed
The windows kept,
And only one of all the rest
To dance and save us
From the divine mockery of words,
Music inflames temperament.


Ooh great creator of being
Grant us one more hour,
To perform our art
And perfect our lives.


We need great golden copulations,


When the true kings murderers
Are allowed to roam free,
A thousand magicians arise in the land
Where are the feast we are promised?

One of the more incisive poems I've ever read, possibly. Jim may be derivative (William Blake is the guru he openly admitted to take inspiration from) but his creativity and sincerity, even in hiw wrong doings,  contributed to music a lot. And to the world in general, let me add.

source

My parents met and lived the debut of their toxic relationship in the 60's, unaware of how Jim was devastating America with his scandals. The innovative sound of his band was spreading around the globe but wasn't certainly my parents theme. When Oliver Stone's movie became so popular, dad decided to come with me to the theater to see what the fuss was all about. It was 1991, the peak of highest popularity in the band's post fame history. Many people started to listen to The Doors after getting intrigued by Val Kilmer's sexy interpretation of the King of Lizards.

Of course I was happy to go with dad. We had never done anything like that. At that time I still admired him for being responsible of my confident ego. Still, I wanted to disappear from the face of earth when Pam - Meg Ryan went down on Jim -Val Kilmer trying to improve his voice abused by alcohol whilst he was recording in the studio. I sooo wanted to be alone or with some friends, like anybody else my age (who the hell goes watch such movies with a parent after all? What was I thinking?) rather than being there feeling so terribly embarassed.

Then I glanced at his face, a mixture of awe, admiration and extreme curiosity. He wasn't shocked at all. And I immediately knew why. He hadn't come to finally do something with his daughter. How silly of me to hope that after so many years of negligence. He just wanted to understand what he lost. And judging from his dreamy interest, I'm sure he was trying to figure out how he could catch up with his years wasted listening to melodic Italian pop. 
 
The vortex of destructive choices in which he ended up to be in the following years were only just a confirmation of how I was right that night. I think he took Jim's teaching literally.  

"If my poetry aims to achieve anything, it's to deliver people from the limited ways in which they see and feel." Jim Morrison

Too bad Jim didn't have kids and dad didn't even notice. Maybe it could have made a difference. 

One more thing

Thank you oh lord

For the white blind light

Thank you oh lord

For the white blind light

A city rises from the sea

I had a splitting headache

From which the future's made

Bookalicious

Battling this nasty infection of mine, something that I had to learn to deal with and that surely has to do with my wrong habits, forced me to stay indoor this morning. Fortunately it wasn't something that took long to pass, I suppressed it just in time. Still, man! How hard is it to feel sick? It sucks, both physically and morally. And what kills me most is the thought I can't be useful and alive for my daughter. 

But well, I'll save these thoughts for some other time. Because what I want to share with you today is this amazing site I found while I was waiting for a decent time to call the doctor trying to ignore my pain. I spent some lovely quality time flipping through its images, the only thing that made me forget to waist time while I could be outside enjoying this warm debut of Spring.

The beautiful libraries site opened my mind about a few things. I learned that there's a library hotel in Manhattan to start with. Mental note to self on where to stay next time I visit the Big Apple. 

 And maybe in a ship with a library like this, I may reconsider cruise vacationing.

It taught me the fact they have to rely on their bodies to work doesn't necessarily mean that celebs are totally dump. Some do care about education and culture and have their own cute libraries at home. Like Diane Keaton's here. 

I realized that books are perfect in bathrooms too. There's something so very intruiguing in the following picture. Of course books are perfect companions for long hot baths but then I'd be afraid to let them accidentally drop into water.

And it forced me to envyregular jobs for a few minutes. Having libraries like this in the office every day could be the only condition for which I can give up freelancing.

I even found what I badly need right now, a chair like this, because lately I developped this insane habit to read different boooks and magazines at the same time. I think it's more related to oldhood that to my compulsive reading, indeed.  

Then I spotted this cute old photo and I can't imagine a more romantic and better place where to fall in love, like Woody Allena and Romy Schneider in the library of What's new pussycat (1965).

Ther's also who shares his modest libraries. Modest? Maybe, but I surely like their style.

All in all, thank you Beautiful-Libraries.com to suprise me with your pics. Now up to you guys to do your homework, spot your favorite photographs in there and report to me :)

Dita for President

Seems like something is slowly changing in the crazy world of fashion. Dita Von Teese launched her underwear campaign last month and she refused to hire skinny models. The girls with shape she chose look terrific on her runaway, don't they?

via skinnyvscurvy

This is how a woman should be, enough about sick role models. We need more voluptuous and down-to-earth women out there. Thus go, Dita, go!

A nice surprise

Hello, world!

This is not a fashion blog and I'm not interested in Pippa Middleton's urban runaways. She became more popular than Kate after her royal wedding and is now a fashion icon. But what I saw her wearing today while being regulary followed during her usual errands in London put a smile on my face.

Spotted on People

I love this bundled-up ensemble and I never thought my same scarf could match with those colors so well. Just Lovely! Good job here, Miss Middleton. And you also reminded me something more important today: "Judgements prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances." (Wayne Dyer)

I've always thought this girl wasn't all about 'derrier' only! :)

Travel companions

Look at this photo: don't u find it fascinating? If so, can you also tell me why?

Lonny Magazine

I know why. I find it particularly charming because of the suitcases. They add a special touch of vintage that reminds of good-old-days travelling and adventure, when trains and boats were common modes of transportation. This is an essential aspect for an avid traveller like me. Suitcases also carry that aura of mistery that makes you think the older they are, the more intricate their history is, which is another prerogative for us writers.

They're stylish, too, and spill glamour all over. Look at all the luggage Marlene Dietrich took with her when she relocated to America in the 30's. What a real icon diva!

source

I'm sure many of you like vintage suitcases as much as I do. I saw some beautiful ones at the Vintage Market they had in Verona when we visisted last week, and I regret not having bought any.

But then, they didn't come cheap and anyway, I wouldn't know how to bring them home with me, since I was travelling by train. Maybe I can find some on ebay or even order some from Anthropology or some guy from Camden stables in London, because they could be perfect for my hallway.   

(The Locker)

source

There're endless possibilities to use vintage suitcases to decorate our houses. I spotted some inspiring photos today and was amazed at how some are so creative and clever. They can be used as side tables or even stacked on top of other furniture pieces.

Elements of Style

Design Fixation

Apartment Therapy

(Design Sponge)

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(Style carrot)

Their functionality provides excellent storage and organizing possibilities.

source

(Country Living)

Also, a suitcase can become a cabinet by simply hanging it on a wall, like this eccentric medicine one and this beauty cabinet desk.

source

(greenme)

And by adding a few wheels, it can become a rolling bar cart!

source

It can also be transformed into a pet house. Who whould have thought?

The decorologist

The interior of an old suitcase can be completely refurbished as well. New fabric can be used to replace old, yucky lining. Add more pockets, as well as some ties, loops and dividers and it can be repurposed into a case for your craft supplies that you can carry from one room to another.

(Pottery Barn)

(craftzine)

(Heartandmadeuk)

(Heartandmadeuk)

(Vintageindie)

They can also be used to make a wedding special, go figure!

source

Not to mention trunks. They open a new world of possibilities ...

Apartment Therapy

(Style carrot)

Okay, I'm all set now, I want a few suitcases. Let me start the search! :)

In 'da house

I'm glad to announce that our home improvements are over. It's with great relief that I can comfortably sit on my new sofa now and enjoy the neat order and more spacious living room we created. It was about the time, really. The fact we invested so many energies and money in our house before moving here had only gotten an excuse for procrastinating over this.

I started from our bedroom, which was in urgent need of more intimacy. It's the smaller room of the house so I opted for something practical, thin and fresh like a roller blind. 

The kitchen was already there, no need to be changed, but things had to be reorganized. I had some shelves that were there only to support photos, while now they play a vital role in supporting the products we use daily, like bread and cereals. I added another roller blind here. It changes the atmosphere completely. 

As for the living room, my main concern, the problem was with space. Our two old sofas were bigger than necessary and we ended up not having enough space when friends come over for dinner. Time to get rid of them and buy an unique solution with a new tv corner. 

The area is much spacious now and Alfie also has his own desk. We don't have to move his computer every time friends visit. I'm pretty satisfied with this plan.

I'm in love with the way our house looks now. Finally! 

Home sweet home.

There's no place like home, right? So now we're all set up for those chilly Fall nights and afternoons when you don't venture out and stay indoor in the coziness of your home, sipping a tea and watching old movies. Early days for that, we're having an Indian summer. But I've got my favorite blankets ready, the precious ones Alfie's grandmother knitted. Because you never know!

Testing the new sofa

It's finally here, our new sofa. I wanted something very different from what I always had, so I opted for a brilliant red. I'm in love! And now you have it too:

Reading, of course. What else?