Prettier Than Everyone Else: Start to Summer Style

Despite what you may suspect, this kindasorta traditional girl attempts to avoid solely worshipping at the Trust Fund Trinity of Style - Grace, Audrey, and Jackie, of course. Though any lady worth her pearls - ironic or otherwise, as Invisible Internet Friend Privilege might note - likely adores that Pantheon of Pretty, we risk getting stuck in a style rut if we merely imitate the past without incorporating some current iconography in our wardrobe dreaming.

That being said, it's been a while since we've taken a look back at Prettier times. Plus, it's my blog. In these challenging past few weeks of parenthood, I keep revisiting these favorite summertime images & reminding myself that one day I will be tan, glamorous, and well attired - preferably all at the same time, but right now I'll take any of the above.

We'll start off with some genuflection at the Pretty Icons altar, and then move along to a few of my favorite start-to-summer finds, both in bargain and dream edition:

I'd give up any number of favorite vices, save perhaps complaining, to be able to tan guilt-free again.

With thanks to Matchbook Mag for recently reminding me of this one.

Slim Aarons again at his whimsical best. Sometimes you just need a pink parasol.

Show of hands - who else wants an invite to this Slim party? 

As for a few summery finds, here's the beginning of my "best of what's around" budget/dream list as well as shameless pillaging of song titles:

Calypso St. Barth for Target "Straw Tote with Sequins" ($24.99) vs. Kate Spade "A Day Away Gemina" ($225)

Anthropologie "Shore House Shift" ($54.99) vs. Marc by Marc Jacobs "Schooner Dress" ($148)

 

Old Navy "Embellished Gauze Top" ($29.94) vs. MM Couture "Tunic" ($78)

Calypso St. Barth for Target "3/4 Sleeved Sequin Tunic" ($29.99) vs.  Jack Rogers "Provence Adeline Kurta" ($118)

More of the same once my wee CEO's ever-evolving schedule think he's dropping down to one nap ZOMG help me allows . . .

Vintage Travel Photos, Slim Aarons Style

Some people find writing inspiration in music.  Others slog through writer's block via pharmaceutical assistance.  Alas, I'm neither a musician nor a Beat Poet*, so this boring lawyer often finds her big girl words by flipping through old pictures, be they of the family or the famous variety.  

*Although my haiku skills are beyond reproach (or help), yo.

To that end, while I was mulling over tomorrow's first enthralling installment of Featured Blogger Fridays, my itchy Google finger let me towards that absolute finito of travel** & American lifestyle photography, Slim Aarons. I'm not sure what it is about his work - I don't mean this in the "I'm so retro! I love Sinatra! And martinis!" sense*** - but it just transports me to a different, more elegant place.

**Foreshadowing!

*** Although - duh.  And before they were cool again, so there.

Mr. Aarons has made a previous appearance here at the Pretty, but in keeping with Monday's travel theme, I'm bringing you some of his best photos from abroad all in an attempt to distract you from the fact that I'm not actually coming up with anything creative here, again.  God knows my iPhone camera didn't come up with these.  Please see tedious lawyer disclaimer above.  Thank you.

This also gives us a welcome break from my shoppy, spendy posts of late.  At worst,  I imagine that these photos will make you want to seize your passport, quit your job, and head somewhere interesting.  Given that I constantly live in this state of mind and have found myself less likely to act on it than I am to buy yet another purse, I'm going with the less expensive of two evils today.  Positively frugal, no?  Without further ado-do:

Barbados.  

Florence, scene of Pretty study abroad shenanigans (although my version had more Chianti bottles strewn about)

Portofino, tied with Lake Como on my next must-see Italy list.

Athens - if only Intro to Art History had featured more handsome men lounging about . . .

Rome - if only Art History had also featured fabulous musicians . . . 

Lake Tahoe - it isn't "abroad" for the Americans here, but this is my blog & this California girl is going to feature one of her homeland's favorite vacation spots.  Nanny nanny boo boo.

Where do you feel like going on vacation today?

(Credit all photos Slim Aarons / Getty Images)

Democracy in Action!

Pretty here, reporting to you from the front lines of Raging Crankiness. While I'm off conducting in-depth complaining and meditative perusing of those Slim Aarons photos, I invite you to exercise your right to vote in rather different manner than the Americans amongst us did recently:

poll by twiigs.com

Yours in wine and whining,
With heartfelt apologies for the latter,

Legallyblondemel

Pretty Photos - Slim Aarons

As a fan of observing "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places", I've long enjoyed the work of Slim Aarons, the famed American society photographer who coined that phrase. His work transports me to that delusional happy, glamorous place in my head (thanks to the ever-stylish SLynnRo ,who recently wrote about this sort of imagery) where I'm the type of woman to take my vintage convertible out for leisurely drives down the Pacific Coast Highway, Hermes scarf fluttering softly in the California breeze, giant sunglasses and driving gloves in place, on my way to sail around Balboa Island and sip vodka sodas for the day.*
*I've got the giant sunglasses sorted out already. As for the rest . . .

Imagine my delight on happening upon seeing a piece Aaron's work in the December "InStyle", of all places, where I learned that certain prints & portfolio sets are for sale online at Assouline, a boutique publisher of sorts with fantastic fashion reads like this and this. Just think of the holiday shopping potential, I cried! I was slightly less delighted to then learn that to purchase such prints for my friends would require my actually going to live in that same happy, yet fictional place in my head where I swan about in Hermes - a nice thought, but slightly out of the question financially.

Nonetheless, let's look at and enjoy these glam snapshots of the past, with apologies to my Christmas list that I can't yet gift these to you in actual fact. Like the vintage convertible, someday . . .

(credit: Photographer's Gallery via Getty Images; Find it here at Assouline)

"Nice Pool" (1955) - The socialite, writer, and Pretty Icon C.Z. Guest and son at their ocean-front estate, Villa Artemis, in Palm Beach.

(credit: Photographer's Gallery via Getty Images; here at Assouline)

"Four Kings of Hollywood" (1957): Rhett Butler Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper, and James Stewart. Yes.


(credit: Photographer's Gallery via Getty Images; here at Assouline)

"Poolside Gossip" (1970) - a Palm Springs, California home known as the "Kaufmann House" designed by Richard Neutra. Wonder if they're swapping tales about that Palm Springs institution himself, Mr. Sinatra?

(credit: Assouline)

"Sea Drive" (1967) - Kevin McClory and wife Bobo Segrist in the "Amphicar" at Nassau. Looks like a pink parasol-worthy occasion, don't you think?

(credit: Assouline)

"Family Snapper" (1959) - Mrs. William "Babe" Paley, another Pretty Icon, and Mr. Paley (note him in the background snapping a shot of the photographer) at Round House, their Jamaica cottage.