Couture #2

If you're new to reading my blog, I'd suggest you start this "Couture Series" by reading this post as to why I'm doing this.

Second round of couture. Enjoy!

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Cottages, Flowers, Tutus and Jewelry

This post is a little off from what I usually post but one I think you'll enjoy.

I recently was looking for beautiful images of...well, just about anything beautiful or exotic or red or pink, you get the idea. I came upon a website that held my interest for hours. This woman had ball gowns, shoes, jewelry, scenery, vignettes, flowers or any and all kinds—just gorgeous stuff. I loved it. The colors were every color in the paint store! It was true eye candy—lush, vibrant colors, photos of all kinds. Wonderful!

I don't do a lot of fashion or couture postings because it just doesn't interest me. Jewelry is the same way. I have some jewelry and like it but I'm not a jewelry person and certainly don't lust after it. I have a huge gold band with diamonds and I lost one of the diamonds and just haven't ever had it replaced. I just don't care. I prefer other things much more than a diamond.

But these things intrigued me and I'm going to share some of them with you today. Ooooh, there are lots more to come, but be patient. I can't show you everything at once.

These lovely hollyhocks caught my eyes. I don't think I've seen any quite this pink and pretty.

A small mannequin done up in diamond jewelry, roses and PARIS.

I knew you'd want to see more English cottages also, so here is one you'll love.

Also, another small camper caught my eye. Hubs is still fixing up our pop-up tent camper. It sustained some major water damage this past winter with the heavy rains we had. I'm not urging him on to finish this project as I normally would because that would mean he'd want to go camping and it's just not going to happen this year with a problem I've having that is requiring some surgery plus the sciatica I'm experiencing. As the new readers of my blog will learn: I hate camping!!!

This photo reminds me greatly of a favorite Mexican restaurant we used to eat at in San Diego. I loved it. We'd sit outside under banana trees and eat some of the best food in the area. Reminds me of Mexico also. I love Puerto Vallarta best of all the places we've been to in Mexico.

An exquisite drop down desk with the roses I'd want on it if I had one. Beautiful.

I'd love to have one of these bags but I can't remember what they're called at the moment or even who might sell them.

A lovely ballerina outfit. Wouldn't you love to have this little stand somewhere in your home? Oooooh, I would.

Have you ever seen nails done so prettily? These are definitely a stunner. I'm sure this woman doesn't keyboard. ;-)

A ring I just had to show you. It looks huge, but gorgeous.

A pretty diamond comb for your hair.

The colors of these earrings just struck me as unusual.

The most extraordinary cuff I've seen. Magnificent.

If I could duplicate this lamp, I would. Nothing like it that I've seen.

And last but certainly not the least is this beautiful table setting and magnificent cupcake.

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Couture #1

If you refer back to this post and read the first 2 paragraphs, you'll see/understand what I'm going to be doing for a while. I don't know how long I'll keep this up but as of now I have a bit over 300 photos of gorgeous couture. I'll only be posting 10 at a time. Please refer to that post as I may post text and may not. That gives you a rest from me and greatly relieves me of having to post stories or comments on any of the couture. You may, of course, comment. In fact, I appreciate comments!

My mother was a model for a brief time. She was very tall. She told me stories about some of the clothing she modeled. She would refuse to wear it if someone had tried it on and left a smell on it. Some women have a problem with underarm odor and it was left on the dresses. She simply told them she wouldn't put it on her body. So even high-end clothing can be made undesirable by an unclean body.

Now, for all of you thinking of getting into the modeling business professionally, I'd advise you to give up the tattoos. They are not allowed, according to a very reliable source, see below.

This is from a famous high-fashion photographer: 

This is for those models who either have a tattoo or want to get a small one... and being told by certain photographers how much of a no-no this is... and how much they won't get hired and that you don't have tattooed fashion models. Glamour models, you better listen to those guys who pay you for your beautiful, perfect and unblemished skin. Models with fashion aspiration... don't!

 
I am talking about small tattoos... easily concealed under clothing... or on wrists, shoulders, back of the neck, under the breast, under the side of the arm on the torso, over the pubic area, on the ankle etc.) which can be covered with special makeup. Even those small tattoos frequently encounter staunch resistance by the conservative photographer.

But first let me make a few comments with which to begin this. Yes, these are gorgeous gowns, suits and dresses. But I want you to really look at the fabric the couturiers use and the construction of the clothing. That is very, very important. Only exquisitely talented people could come up with these magnificent pieces. But this isn't fabric that you can run into your local fabric store or Joanns and pick up. No, this is very expensive fabric, designed for each item. I cannot even begin to imagine how these people do this. I just want you to be appreciative of that talent. First, the gown has to be designed; then, the fabric has to be designed and made; then the items have to be constructed. These are way beyond the budget of the average person. Only very few women could afford these. I do not begrudge anyone these fabulous gowns. If you can afford it, buy it. I'm presenting them as beautiful creations and have absolutely no envy. Just eye candy for you. :-)

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Enjoy!

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A Beach Story

Soon, within the next day or so, I'm going to show you some of the couture items I've been looking at on the internet. I've gathered about 320 photos of gorgeous couture from all over the net. I had been posting about 18 photos on each post and have cut back to 15 each post recently which should start about the middle of July. (I was thinking it was too much for y'all and it might become boring for you.) As I've said before, I schedule them out for weeks at a time. I like to keep ahead of the game. ;-) And I've started posting every 2 days instead of almost every day or at my whimsey. It was just getting to be a hassle because of things that are happening in my life at this moment in time. (Okay, I'm having surgery the middle of July and didn't want to say anything until it was over. But as you'll read in a post for July 10th, you'll understand why. I'll be fine, no cause for concern.)

Anyway, I'm going to post the couture blog posts in between. After viewing them and salivating, I thought it was kind of mean to not show them to all of you AND I just was lazy in not wanting to take the time to grab them, edit them in Photoshop, resize them pixel wise and them upload them to Photobucket and then make a blog post for them. That takes a LOT of time. I am thinking that I'll just post them with no stories or comments, just the photos, to save myself time. However, I've been known to change my mind. In other words, I can't shut up! While I am a very good listener, I'm a very good talker also. But, trust me, you will not want to miss seeing these gorgeous dresses and gowns. They are beyond belief. You'll see. I'll need a few days just to get them ready to post on my blog. You will absolutely not be disappointed. If you are, your money will be refunded. Cheerfully! :-)
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As I mentioned earlier in this post (I think), I'm not fond of the ocean. Here is the story.

One year when we were in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, hubs and I got tired of the pools at the hotel and decided to hit the beach and ocean. There were many people on the beach that day. He's brave and fearless of the ocean so he went in first on the small alcove of beach. I tiptoed in later. We went out to about my chest or neck area and when I had my back to the ocean, a huge wave came in and knocked me off my feet and tossed me around quite a bit. I truly couldn't tell which way was up. When people talk about this now I know exactly what they mean. I looked for light but couldn't see any. Finally, my face hit bottom sand and I knew then which way to go up to the surface. It scared me like nothing ever had before. You are truly disoriented as to direction. Don't think it can't happen to you because that's what I thought. I poo-pooed people that said that.

He helped me to the beach and many people were standing there to help in any way they could. I had wretched my back a bit and was tender for a while. He led me to the outdoor shower and I had so much sand in my bathing suit that I couldn't get it out even after we went home. In fact, I had sand coming out of you-know-where for weeks after that. Yep, it got into every crevice it could. This is not an exaggeration!

This is the hotel we stayed at there.

So I have a very healthy appreciation for the ocean now. I stay away from it as much as possible. ;-)
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This reminds me of Greece with the pretty white walls, sparkling water and abundance of flowers.

Somewhere in France or Spain probably, but I truly don’t know. Just from the stone walls, tiled roof and the shuttered windows, that would be my guess.

An elegant and inexpensive way to creative a bit of relief from the hot sun. Beautiful surroundings made cozy and private.

That curved wall gives the home a lot of character. Exquisitely private setting.

A small kitchen cabinet but arranged to add cuteness even without a lot of space. Having no doors just adds to a lovely display.

A tiny hideaway.

This homeowner/apartment dweller made use of a very tiny space to grow her herbs and have a breezy perch to sit.

If it’s pink it’s got my attention. Love the pink beadboard wall. The whole area reminds me of candy.

Another idea for old buckets and hanging tea lights.

Gift for a friend, perhaps?

Lucky homeowner who snagged this vintage beauty.

Going on vacation. ;-)

A beautiful pathway down to a beach.

Cute.

A back porch made happy!

Another quaint cottage.

Now this brings back memories of my grandmother’s house. We had an old glider like this when I visited her while growing up.

I’m betting Greece with the white-washed stone wall, bougainvillea, tiled roof and gorgeous blue sea.

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Linking up with WOW today.