(image found here)
Archive for the ‘General’ Category
The Manifesto…
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
When Analiese contacted me today asking if she could share my Neo-Trad Manifesto I realized I’d never formally shared it here (though it can always be found the column to your right)! So, on the chance you missed it, voilà… What do you think? Can you relate? What would you add???
UPDATE: Anyone else who wants to share this with their readers may of course do so! I’d be flattered—spread the love! XO
We believe in being glass-half-full sorts of girls.
We believe that often times, granny is chic.
We believe in pedaling vintage Schwinns with flower baskets.
We believe in poetry, picnics, and piñatas.
We believe one is never too old to keep a diary, the secrets only grow more scandalous.
We believe in arranging fresh flowers unruly like an English garden.
We believe in adventure and traveling the globe, be it to Marrakech or Malibu.
We believe in mixing lucite with oriental rugs. Thrift store finds with heirlooms.
We believe in handwritten thank you notes, better late than never.
We believe in needlepoint, letterpress, decoupage and forgiving Martha Stewart.
We believe in piggy banks and cookie jars.
We believe in book clubs full of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Austen and Woolf.
We believe station wagons are hopelessly chic.
We believe in recycling our Grandmothers’ names. Eloise, Jackie, Faye…
We believe in collecting: stamps, shells, books, big glittering diamonds…
We believe in marrying the boy that writes us the best love letters.
We believe in highly competitive board games—Chess, Scrabble, Chutes & Ladders.
We believe in spontaneous road trips and charming, chintzy bed & breakfasts.
We believe there’s something to fortune cookies, wishbones and 4 leaf clovers.
We believe in classics, shaken and stirred.
(image for miss dior cherie)
Behind the Curtain…
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend! I’ve been insanely busy with the launch of my shop (thank you for all your support), but am happy to be throwing myself back into blogging this week! We’re taking a break from the Plucky Pioneer series today, but not to fret—we already have someone fantastic lined up for next Monday. In the meantime, Fallon over at A Lovely Being will be posting an interview later this afternoon with yours truly for her new “Behind the Curtain” series. Thank you Fallon for asking me to be your first guest—what an honor!
Above, me trying not to laugh holding our big, goofy sack of potatoes.
P.S. I found some amazing pieces this weekend and will be adding to the shop every day this week! Stay tuned! XO
obsessed.
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
Just opened the NEW issue of Lonny (yay!!!!) to find this ad. Oh my goodness I can’t even take it. Kate Spade I love you.
Pssssssst…
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Tomorrow is the big day! I’ll be revealing my little side project and hosting my first ever giveaway. I’m so excited to share it with you. I’m a bit nervous, it’s really nothing HUGE, but simple and hopefully, sweet. Can’t wait to get your feedback! Love you all lots. Honest, you make my day(s). XO
P.S. Today’s quote is one of my all-time favorites. Oh Coco, how I love thee…
(lovely image by sssseahorse)
Scent of a Woman…
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
I’m having a bit of a fragrance dilemma and thought I should ask your opinion. I’ve always operated under the belief that a woman should have one signature fragrance and stick with it. Well, a few years ago I thought I found “the one” (Fracas by Robert Piguet) and ever since have called it my own. I adore Fracas, I really do, but lately I’ve been itching to try something new…you know, to mix things up a bit. I am particularly taken with Burberry Brit. It reminds me of young, hip London with its traces of almond, peony and vanilla and in these cold, rainy months it seems like the perfect fit. Would that be cheating? Do you rotate fragrances based on the season? What is your scent of choice?
(image by kristybee)
This kid.
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
This red-headed stud muffin is my little brother, Joe. He’s pretty much phenomenal. I try not to blog too much about personal matters, but he has great neo-trad style so I figure it fits. Over the course of the next two weeks Joe’s auditioning for all the top musical theater programs in the country. That’s right he’s a triple threat — the kid can sing, act and dance. Some schools accept as few as five males which makes it like getting into Harvard…but harder. And it helps if you can tap. Yesterday, Joe got some very promising news. Congratulations love and thanks for making me the proudest big sis on the planet. You, my friend, have serious flair.
Next stop, Broadway!
Weekend Plans + Fun News
Friday, January 29th, 2010
Can you believe it’s already Friday? John and I will be having an easy going, movie watching, spaghetti cooking weekend. I’m especially looking forward to reading a good book, visiting the flea market and cuddling with my baby Alfred (the pug).
We have a fantastic Plucky Pioneer interview lined up for Monday. I won’t reveal who, but let’s just say she’s an artist who has done work for a certain someone named Spade…
Next week is also going to be a big week because I’m finally unveiling that hush hush project I mentioned in my New Year’s post! I’ll also be hosting my first giveaway—something I’m very excited about! Stay tuned!
Alright, you know the routine—what are your weekend plans? Everyone must have at least one thing they’re looking forward to…won’t you share it with your fellow neo-trads?
XX your fan Kate
P.S. Thanks for all the sweet comments this week. You’re the best.
(image found here)
Girl Crush: Clémentine
Friday, January 29th, 2010
I found these photos of a French girl named Clémentine on Flickr yesterday and absolutely adore them. I know nothing about her except that she has a lovely name and judging by these photos, I think think it suits her quite well. Don’t you just love her slouchy cap, tights and scarf? Adding Clémentine to my future baby names list…swoon.
(images by le petit nicolas)
“Getting to know you…”
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
The Neo-Traditionalist was generously awarded the “Kreative Blogger Award” by Haydee at Happenstance and the “Sugar Doll Blogger Award” by Rachel at Girl Learning Along the Way. In return I have been asked to share some facts about myself and then choose a select number of bloggers to do the same. I am going to break all the rules however, and rather than choose, I’d like to invite all of you to share a fact (or ten) about yourselves with me here today. I love your comments and LOVE learning more about my readers. This way anyone who feels compelled to share may do so!
Here goes nothing:
1. I rarely drink, but if I do it’s a greyhound or some bubbly. Sometimes I go wild and add a dash of peach for a bellini.
2. I never fancied myself an animal person, but then I got a pug. His name’s Lord Alfred Tennyson and I treat him like a spoiled rotten child. My fiance, a handsome fellow by the name of John Woodrow Armour, has taken to calling me the “crazy pug lady.” Romantic, isn’t he?
3. I want to have lots and lots of babies someday (ideally a few of my own, a few adopted). Some favorite girl names: Harper, Genevieve, Fiona, Eloise, Finn and boy names: Jack, Theodore, Edward, Oliver, Hugh. I want to be the mistress of a lively, creative and affectionate household.
4. I keep a list at my desk of women I admire for their style, smarts and/or eccentricities. Diana Vreeland, Nancy Lancaster, Jackie Kennedy, ‘Debo’ Duchess of Devonshire, Fleur Cowles, Elsie de Wolfe, Madeleine Castaing, Peggy Guggenheim…it’s quite a long list. Their legacies inspire me on a daily basis.
5. I dream of John and I someday buying a historic little fixer upper and transforming it (with our own blood, sweat and tears) into our dream home.
6. I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was twenty-three years old (a few months ago…). Between boarding school, Switzerland, San Francisco and Manhattan I’d simply never needed one. Laugh it up, it was a historic moment.
7. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel and live around the world. My life motto is a line from Audrey Hepburn singing Moon River in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Do you remember? She sings, “There’s such a lot of world to see…”
And now it’s your turn. Tell me something about yourself, won’t you dear readers? You’re all “kreative sugar dolls” in my book! Oh and have a lovely weekend — see you Monday for the third installment of Plucky Pioneers!
XX Kate
(Pictured above—Princess Radziwill with her pug, Thomas. Photographed by Henry Clarke in August 1960)
Bon weekend!
Friday, January 15th, 2010
Just wanted to wish you all a happy holiday weekend! John and I are staying put and I’m very much looking forward to some down time. After you sleep in on Monday morning be sure to stop in to read our second Plucky Pioneer interview! I just know you will LOVE our special guest and her darling company. Alright, I’m off, but won’t you share your weekend plans? Who’s going somewhere fabulous???
XX Kate your faithful “Neo-Trad”
(image found here)
Weekend Plans + Exciting Announcement!
Friday, January 8th, 2010
Hello there! Just wanted to wish you all a fantastic weekend. Do you have any big plans? Do tell! I’ll will be home cleaning. I never fully unpacked from our move (tisk, tisk) and am eager to start hanging pictures and such.
I also wanted to let you know that starting next week I’ll be launching a weekly Monday interview series! The series is called “Plucky Pioneers” and will feature a different creative female entrepreneur each week. I’m working on it with my dear friend Jane Lilly Warren and it should be great fun. There will be graphic designers, interior designers, textile designers, photographers, illustrators and more! It will be your chance to get to know and be inspired by young women in the art and design worlds who have founded their own companies. This Monday the spotlight will be on someone I know you’ll just adore (if you don’t already…). I can’t wait to begin! Until Monday…
XX Kate “the Neo-Trad”
Happy New Year!
Friday, January 1st, 2010
Hello darlings! Just wanted to pop in and wish you all a happy New Year. I have a feeling 2010 is going to be grand. Below, some of my resolutions (accompanied by beautiful photos by Danske):
- Launch _________! It’s a little hush hush project I’ve been working on over the past six months. The big unveiling will occur in the next week or two as I tie up loose ends. I’m so eager and anxious to finally share it with all of you. Keep checking in!
- Make time for fine artistic endeavors. It’s about time I break out my paints, new camera, needlepoint… I feel happiest when I’m creating art and yet, I rarely seem to have the time.
- Brush up on my Français. My dream of becoming fluent in French have fallen wayside in recent years. I fear I’ll soon forget all of it. Now I’m wondering how to pick up where I left off in college? Perhaps I should invest in Rosetta Stone—has anyone tried it?
- Dine in. John and I eat out far too often. We need to start cooking at home and I would love to make more of an effort to use fresh, local ingredients.
- Read more books. I have hundreds of handsome, untouched books on my shelves. Sure, they look lovely, but I need to stop treating them as accessories and actually crack them open. First up, Zelda, Nancy Mitford’s biography of the fascinating Zelda Fitzgerald.
- Travel—-Buenos Aires, Cairo and Marrakech are at the top of my list, but I’d be satisfied with just about anywhere. Living in Switzerland I took for granted jetting off to a new country every weekend and instantly being immersed in a different culture—the smells, the architecture, the languages, the food! Now that I’m back in the States I often find myself longing for a change of scenery.
- Keep in better touch. Write more letters. Send more birthday cards. Growing up my Aunt Yvonne and my Grandmother Rita were the two people that never forgot anyone’s birthday. They are two of the most beautiful, thoughtful women I know and I’ve always admired them for it. This year I will strive to be more like them and less like my forgetful self! Time to put all my pretty stationary to use…
- Plan a simple, intimate, stress-free wedding. My wedding plans have gone from a grand affair in California to secret elopement in Italy. I can’t make up my mind and am constantly feeling overwhelmed by the pressure. I just want something small, in a garden, with John, our parents, siblings and grandmothers. Simplicity is bliss.
- Last but not least, buy more fresh flowers. After all, it’s the little things that count.
Weekend Plans + Getaways
Friday, December 18th, 2009
My new Canon arrived and I’m positively ecstatic! Above is a shot I just snapped of my pug pup Alfie (my own wrinkly little supermodel). This weekend I’ll be spending most of my time taking pictures and planning our trip to Washington D.C. John and I are going next week for a little Christmas getaway. I’m looking forward to playing tourist and exploring the Smithsonian museums, visiting the Lincoln memorial, drooling over the townhouses in Georgetown, perhaps even catching a glimpse of Michelle’s White House holiday decor!
What about you dear friends, where will you be spending your holidays? Do you go home or jet off somewhere tropical? What traditions are you most looking forward to? Can’t wait to hear!
XXX Kate “the NEO-trad”
