beautiful symmetry

decorating with maps

tina louise — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:01:33 +0000

Maps fascinate me. I think it’s the awareness that our world is so big — and knowing that there is so much more to see and experience out there than just my tiny pinhole of space.

I also think that maps make beautiful art. There are so many varieties out there and a plethora of ways to use them to decorate with. Here are a few of my favorites.

eye spy street art

tina louise — Fri, 06 May 2011 22:46:16 +0000

… in my neighborhood. I love when art like this just pops up out of nowhere. When did they do it? I just imagine someone at 3am sitting on the sidewalk having a cup of tea (and a shot of Jameson) lovingly knitting this bike rack.

Thank you!

elegance: le fin

tina louise — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 22:28:38 +0000

Here are two gorgeous, vintage beach shots to end my posts on Elegance.

Voila!

Le fin.

elegance: trois

tina louise — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:24:38 +0000

This lovely lady is showing us how to go from the boardwalk to the beach in what was called “beach pajamas.”

According to this book, “Worn since the war by both sexes as casual, indoor clothing, pajamas appeared at the beaches and casinos in 1929 and received their popular name in the summer of 1931. Ridiculed, sung about, and prohibited by the church, pajamas were finally accepted when the courtiers thought to feminize them and erase any hint of ambiguity.”

This photo screams badass.

elegance: deux

tina louise — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:07:37 +0000

With the weather in Chicago still cold and rainy, I’m yearning for Spring to come back — better yet for Summer to be here!

To continue with my favorite photos from “Elegance: The Seeberger Brothers and the Birth of Fashion Photography,” here are some fun beach photos.

This first photo is by far my favorite from the book. This woman has such grace and style. I don’t know where she’s going but watch out world here she comes!

Check out these kitschy shades…

elegance: une

tina louise — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:53:52 +0000

The 1920s-1940s had an elegance to them that I don’t see very much nowadays. That’s precisely why I love watching black & white movies — for the fashion and gorgeous sets.

I recently picked up one of my favorite books “Elegance: The Seeberger Brothers and the Birth of Fashion Photography.” According to the book they were the first fashion photographers. The photos chronicle high society ladies, mostly in France, from 1909 through 1939.

I wanted to share some of my favorite photos but there are so many so I’m doing it in sections. This is partie une. These ladies are all wonderful examples of how timeless fashion can be. From the fabrics to the cut of their suits, I can see woman of today wearing any of these outfits.

… and of course the ultimate star of this time — and to this day.

parisian sidewalk art

tina louise — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:44:16 +0000

Talk about making lemonade out of lemons. Artist Juliana Santacruz Herrera patches up cracks in the street with colorful yarn. It’s such a unique and amazing idea.

I put this in the same vein as street art, what do you think? I love all forms of public artistic expressions.

hipstamatic: a toy story

tina louise — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:18:52 +0000

I took these hipstamatic shots at a recent trip to Target. I love the way this app seems to add life and personality to these toys.

white spaces

tina louise — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:25:08 +0000

I love white spaces! They are so crisp and clean — and seemingly unrealistic to maintain — that they make my heart skip a beat.

Here are a few of my favorite rooms. Using white as a main color in your room makes it easy to freshen the look up with colorful accessories. Brilliant!

girly girl

tina louise — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:37:22 +0000

I never thought of myself as a girly girl until a few years ago when my best friend was describing someone and said, “well, she’s not as girly as you are.” Me? Girly? I had to look behind me to make sure she was talking to me. Not that I thought of myself as a tom boy, I guess I just never thought about it at all.

My idea of “girly” was someone who wore lots of make up and jewelry, and always wore pink and floral prints. I guess the word high-mainenance came to mind — which is NOT me.

But, the fact that I love this photo of pink tutus, dance, fashion, flowers and kittens makes me a girly girl. Since then, I’ve learned to embrace my femininity and inner girly girl!