The Birth of Venus - Summer Extravaganza

Ahhh, The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli.  Is there a more gorgeous painting? (not really, the Primavera is pretty close though).  I adore this painting.  It's beautifully composed and painted, the colors are incredible, and the myth mythical.  Botticelli apparently used his girlfriend as his model, so she was obviously a pretty hot chickie.

I thought The Birth of Venus makes for a great Summer painting, and serves as the perfect inspiration for lots of seaside accoutrements...read on and enjoy...

Above: Detail from The Birth of Venus, Chloe Scalloped Textured halterneck bikini (net-a-porter.com), Musa Crystal embellished Sandals (net-a-porter.com) , Gucci sunglasses (net-a-porter.com), Lanvin collier fleur brule necklace (neimanmarcus.com)

This Chloe swimsuit is adorable and its scalloped edge beautifully mimics the shell Venus is arriving on. For the Sandals I thought it best to go simple, but gold and bejeweled as is fitting for a goddess.  The Lanvin necklace is perfect for lounging seaside, it will remind Venus of the sea because of its color, and the flowers that fall through the air around her.  Finally, some big Gucci sunglasses, because even goddesses need to protect their eyes.

Above: Hermes Beach Towel (hermes.com), detail from B of V, Anya Hindmarch Boat Bag Large Canvas Tote (net-a-porter.com)

The Hermes beach towel seems just the thing that the wind god Zephyr and his lover/sister Chloris (you know those gods) would give to Venus for her to lounge by the pool or on the beach.  The color of it matches nicely with what Zephyr and Chloris are wrapped in themselves.  The Sun print on the towel is gorgeous, a nice homage perhaps to the sun god Apollo.  Of course, you need something to tote the towel, etc. around in, so how about this cute bag?  Goes with the nautical theme, and the color is beautiful, a teal of which Botticelli would have approved.

Above: Marc Jacobs ready to wear Spring 2011 (photo from Style.com), detail from B of V

The lovely lady to Venus' right is said to be one of the three Graces.  She is ready to cover Venus with something, and I'm pretty sure its a Marc Jacobs dress.  How lush is that color?  The side bow/flower at the neck is too amazing.  I think the dress would cover you up at the beach, but certainly be appropriate for viewing Venus in all her glory at the Ufizi in Florence.  When I went to the Uffizi last year, and saw Botticelli's masterpieces, I was blown away.  They are fun to look at in books, and are incredible in the flesh.  Also, it was really hot in there, which was worried me because it cannot be good for all those paintings, so you would be fine walking around in a diaphanous Marc Jacobs dress.  At least until the Italians figure out their air condizionamento.

Above: Detail from B of V, Belle Noel Honey Hexagon Hair Comb (shopbop.com), Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray (bumbleandbumble.com), Bumble and Bumble Grooming Cream (bumbleandbumble.com), detail of BofV flowers, Untamed Petals Large Lily Hair Clip (shopbop.com)

Venus has some great hair.  Its sexy-wavy-windblown.  She has it tied back slightly with a white ribbon, and I think this grecian hair comb would create the same effect.  The Bumble and Bumble surf spray is recommended by like everyone, and I really really need to try it.  On the bumble and bumble website they recommend using the creme avec.  With all the flowers being tossed at her, it seems as though one might land in her hair...and if it does its this gorgeous lily hair clip.

Above: Detail from B of V (Venus and flowers), photo of Chanel Make Up Summer Look 2011, face pallette, lip gloss, mascara, nail polish and eye shadow all from Chanel Summer Look (chanel.com)

La Maquillage...I was going to mix things up, brand wise, but I thought the Chanel Summer look just too appropriate for the painting, so I chose to go with their whole "look" recommendation.  The photo of the model, um, they must have been channelling botticelli, the tilt of her head, the flowing hair, the flower...its too much and too perfect!

Above: Splash (amazon.com), Mermaid Tales from Around the World Retold by Mary Pope Osborne Illustrated by Troy Howell (amazon.com)

Now I know that Venus is not a Mermaid, but she is certainly aquatically inclined, so I thought that Splash would be the perfect movie to accompany the painting.  Darryl Hannah and Tom Hanks are so cute in this movie, and Darryl is certainly channelling Venus with that long long hair.  I love it!  Its the cutest movie.  I have had the children's book Mermaid Tales from Around the World for a while now.  Its a beautiful book of mermaid stories from France, England (the real Little Mermaid story is much sadder than Disney would have us believe), Japan, Native America, China, Ireland etc etc.  Its a joy to read and the accompanying illustrations are amazing as they all follow in the spirit of their country of origin.

En fin:  This goofy fabulous marc by marc jacobs necklace didn't exactly make the cut, but I thought it was took cute to leave out entirely.  Its like really Mermaidy! (Marc by Marc Jacobs Starfish necklace neimanmarcus.com)
And I thought it best to end with Darryl Hannah's derriere.  She definitely paid complements to Venus by strolling onto Ellis Island wearing nothing but her hair!

Paris - Ryan Reynolds

A little off topic:
I was just in Paris for a couple of days, on my way to the South of France, and Mum and I stayed on Isle de la Cite so I thought it would be fun to get breakfast on Isle Saint Louis.  Of course, on this particular morning they are filming something on the main road of the Isle.  Well whatever, we wanted our coffee so we walked along, presumably by the extras who were chosen for the decided Parisianness when I noticed a very tall handsome man, and it took a bit, but I soon realized it was Ryan Reynolds.  Anyhow, standing around seemed silly, so we went to two Grand Cafe Cremes and a tartine.  We finished breaky, and headed back up the main rue, this time I paused to take a couple of looks at dear handsome Ryan as he was getting his hair combed and his makeup retouched, then continued, glanced again, and once more and then continued on my way up the street, when I heard "Cameras Rolling" and all the extras who had been standing around starting walking too!  Well we both apparently decided the best thing to do was continue walking, and then I got to the corner and this french lady, apparently part of the production crew, ushered me over to her.  So we waited and saw Ryan walk along the street in his gorgeous suit and ducked into like a little makeshift area next to a cafe, and that was it.  Not sure what they were filming.  Tried to look it up.  It seems he was here promoting something, but I couldn't find out what the filming was for. Perhaps an ad? Anyhow, it was pretty fun.  Last year, Woody Allen's new film "Midnight in Paris" was being filmed, and they were filming a car scene and the car drove right by us.  Couldn't make out Carla Bruni unfortunately, so seeing Ryan Reynolds dans la flesh was much more exciting.  Hope he enjoyed Paris, poor guy.  Totally hot, no idea why his wife dumped him.

Anyways, if you see a new movie or ad of his coming out sometime soon, I'm the extra in the sunglasses and gray jacket who looks a little confused....

Las Meninas - Horchata

From left: detail of Las Meninas, Fenice Red tumbler by Nasonmoretti (michaelcfina.com), and horchata (photo from Spain: A Culinary Road Trip by Mario Batali with Gwyneth Paltrow amazon.com)

You'll notice that the Infanta is being handed a small red cup, I am assuming for some refreshment of sorts.  So, I figured, I should get a little red cup too, for whenever I need a refreshment.  If the Infanta has one, I want one.  But then, what to put in the little red cup?  Well, how about some Horchata.  A very fittingly Spanish drink.  In Spain, horchata is made with tiger nuts.  I originally thought they were like lychee's or something, but it turns out they are not nuts, they are tubers.  So anyway, I tried some in when I was in Barcelona a couple of years ago, and I really didn't like it.  I guess I don't like tubers.  Then I tried a recipe from a lovely book I got for Christmas called "Spain: A Culinary Road Trip" by Mario Batali with Gwyneth Paltrow.  The recipe in the book is called Gwyneth's Horchata and its made with almonds, not tubers.  I like it much better. So here is the recipe to try yourself:


Gwyneth's Almond Horchata
Serves 2
1 cup blanched whole almonds, soaked overnight in 2 cups cold water
1 vanilla bean, split
1/4 cup of sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cayenne pepper
2 cinnamon sticks

Put the almonds and their soaking water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.  Strain through a very fine strainer (discard the solids), and pour the almond milk back into the clean blender. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add them to the blender, along with sugar and ground cinnamon; blend well. Pour into two glasses, sprinkle with cayenne, and garnish with cinnamon sticks.

copied from: Spain: A Culinary Road Trip by Mario Batali with Gwyneth Paltrow. HarperCollins. 2008.

I suppose this is as good a time as any to mention that Gwyneth's own cookbook which just came out, totally rocks my socks.  My Father's Daughter by Gwyneth Paltrow (available at amazon.com) is a lovely, beautifully laid out cookbook, with great, easy, unfussy recipes.  I hate fussy recipes that are impossible to followand blab on and on (That’s right, Judy Rodgers, I am talking to you).  This book is none of that.  Good ingredients, clear directions, fabulous ideas.  Its just a gorgeous cookbook and its nice reading her intros to the recipes.  I’ve already tried her stuffed artichokes, and I photocopied a bunch of recipes to take with me to the South of France this summer.  She has a whole section on sandwiches and they all look amazing...especially the duck burger.  I had one in Rocamadour, it was so good.  I have to try hers. Yum!

Las Meninas - The Dress

Well, I think this is pretty spot on!  The cinching at the waist, the flowers in the hair, the shape of the skirt, the flower on the belt matching the flower on the bodice, the way the pink of the dress spilling beyond the waist is just like the pleat below the Infanta's waist! ...if Marc Jacobs wasn't looking at Las Meninas for this collection...well I don't know.  This dress from his Spring 2011 collection has a definite Spanish feel.  I think Balenciaga would have loved it.  It's perfect to go running around Madrid in.  It would look fabulous in the Spanish sun, the colors are perfect for the city, it would look great at the Prado.  It's incredible how those two dresses look alike.  The Infanta would have loved it.  I love it! (photo from Style.com, Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear)

Las Meninas - The Makeup

from left: Nars Nailpolish in Orgasm (Sephora.com), Guerlain Blush G Serie Noir (Guerlain.com), Chanel Aqualumiere gloss in Candy Glow (Saks.com)

The Infanta has a lovely orangey-pink glow to her.  Her lips and cheeks go with the flowers on her dress and in her hair.  I'm sure she would have loved nail polish, and certainly would not have had to do her own nails!  The orangey-pinks are really nice for Spring and Summer, and give a healthy, beachy kind of glow, great for touring around Madrid when you go to visit the Infanta!

Las Meninas

As an omage to the Balenciaga and Spain exhibition at the de Young in San Francisco, and in light of the recent Royal Wedding (because after all royals are royals), I have chosen Diego Velázquez' Las Meninas as my next painting.  I saw Las Meninas in all its glory at the Prado last summer.  It is a huge painting, and quite incredible.  For some, Velázquez, or Vay-lath-kez if you want to be Madrileño about it, is the most important painter of all time.  He was hugely inspirational to Picasso, and indeed as I found out at the de Young exhibit, Balenciaga was influenced by the painting as well.  Interestingly, Picasso was also an influence on Balenciaga.  After five days in Madrid, I was in love with the Infanta.  She was everywhere.  And I can not resist a little girl in such an opulent gown so sure of her own royalty that she need not look at anyone waiting in her.  Nothing is more haughtily royal than turning your head one way and reaching your hand out in the other.  Isn't it just awful being a commoner?

A little Marie-Antoinette to start

I have to start out with an absolutely edible, amazingly gorgeous painting: Marie-Antoinette 'a la rose' by Vigee le Brun.  I saw it when it came to the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco and could not live without a poster of it in my room.  It's too fabulous.  Marie-Antoinette is too fabulous.  So I thought about the painting and what lovely things I would love to have/afford to "go with it." Like an 'a la rose' lifestyle. I made a collage of it all and then I will break it down into parts.  What to wear to the museum (or Versailles if you see it in its home), the makeup, what to eat after, what to put in your living room...

A la Rose Lifestyle Collage