As I was decorating my new apartment, I decided I needed my first piece of real art. Yep, I did. And so, my Hugo Guinness collection has begun. I have been having a love affair with Hugo (yes, of those Guinness’s – cousin of Daphne) prints for awhile now, and knew one needed to be mine. Maybe it was first seeing them scattered all over the walls in the Tenenbaum’s house in The Royal Tenenbaums, or in Kate and Andy Spade’s home in just about every cool interior magazine or blog, or in a Real Simple magazine spread a couple of years ago- the London born, Brooklyn dwelling artist’s lino prints of quirky drawings captured my heart. I love the look of a collection of the prints all haphazardly hung up on gallery wall- or even mixed in with other art. Of course I can’t wait to collect more.

 What did I choose for my first Hugo? ‘Stylish‘ of course…

Hugo and wife Elliott Puckette’s Brooklyn living room from Vogue Living, a Hugo Guinness entryway gallery, Linda Rodin’s dreamy bedroom with Hugos over her bed from Matchbook Magazine (you have to check out the rest of her place – magical), and my own ‘Stylish’ print in my Philadelphia bedroom

Check out Hugo’s fun collaboration with Men’s Coach here

♥

talula mott t-shirt

I wish I could tattoo this onto my forehead, but instead, I’ll settle for the friggin T-shirt. I have to say, this has turned into the mantra I find myself repeating out loud to myself frequently. Sometimes it’s so hard to keep yourself from thinking about the past and decisions that you’ve made and regretted or just wondered if you took the right path. Lately it’s taken all I have to just say, hey, move it on forward, sister. Because you can’t change your past and you can’t change your decisions, you can only learn from them and keep moving forward.

And when it’s hard to remember this, there is always the tee shirt. Or the tattoo, if that’s your thing.

p.s. Aritzia not sells online! One of my favorite stores, and since there isn’t one here in Philadelphia, I’ll be taking to the net to stock up on my favorite light high low hem tees. <3

clockwise from top right:  Urban Outfitters Crystal Teardrop Cuff, Topshop rhinestone ear cuff, MaggieMadeWithLove Dainty Bow ear cuff, Annelise Michelson Carnivorous Spike Ear Cuff, Repossi Ear Cuff, Mania Mania Idol Ear Cuff, Asos Crystal Stud Ear Cuff

I am ear cuff obsessed over here. It started when I first saw the ‘Mania Mania’ stone cuff on Shopbop and had to have it – and it has just kept on going. Like internet stalking see what is out there can’t decide what to get next obsessed.  I need another. I like them pretty, jeweled and girly- exhibit A: Diane Kruger, or tough and edgy cool- exhibit B: Gaia Repossi in her own design: the Rolls Royce of ear cuffs- 18k gold and 0.61 carat diamond studded- my god, there’s an ear cuff. Michelle Williams looks seriously cute in it, I’m jeal.  Did I get you into this trend yet?

Mania Mania ear cuff, old Sanctuary fur vest, Free People French Terry Moto Jacket & beaded tank, J. Brand skinny jeans, Frye boots, Patagonia quilted jacket

This past Friday while my mom was in town visiting I played hooky from work and we took a road trip out to Glen Mills, Pennsylvania to pay a visit to ‘Terrain’  -a nursery/lifestyle store and cafe by the Urban Outfitters team. I had been wanting to visit Terrain ever since moving to Philly as I had heard it was such a cool shopping experience and totally worth the trip out of the city. I love a good nursery and Terrain did not disappoint. In additional to beautiful plants and trees (including an adorable succulents wall), the store was stocked with the prettiest and most unique housewares and cooking supplies. It is one of those stores that is like walking and shopping through an amazingly decorated indoor/outdoor living experience home. My mom and I both wanted to move in, right then and there. If you are ever in the Philly area, you must go (there is also another one in Westport, Connecticut). For now, you can shop online.…

I am settling in nicely to my life here. My mom helped me move in (finally), paint and outfit an adorable 1 bedroom apartment in the middle of the city and I am so enjoying the fun of decorating the place and creating my very own little cozy corner of the universe in this semi foreign city I have moved to. It has officially stopped snowing daily (watch once I say this, it will snow tomorrow) and I am starting to really appreciate all the quirks of this old, historical city. Mom and I didn’t do as much exploring as we would have liked (next trip), but we did eat some delicious food – at a corner restaurant Mercato and at the cult favorite, Han Dynasty. We even hit up Franklin Fountain for Sunday afternoon to-die-for old fashioned milkshakes. Mom was surprised at how much I knew my way around already! go me. cheers, Tara xx

-Pictures of Lela Rose’s Fall 13 Presentation at NYFW at the Lincoln Center-

Flashing back to my weekend at NYFW…. It’s always such a fun, glamorous treat to go to Lela Rose’s shows. I love her classy-with-a-quirk aesthetic (like Oscar de La Renta after a couple of cosmo cocktails with the girls) and she always has the most gorgeous, feminine color palettes. I especially loved all her bright pink this season. The girly, classic side of me wants to wear all Lela all over the Upper West Side of Manhattan to a really fabulous day of shopping a cocktail partying. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Is everyone having fun checking in on all of the shows at London Fashion Week?! I sure am. I love me some Burberry Prorsum and Temperley!

Just a few snapshots of this past weekend spent in New York for Fashion Week(end) – so happy I got to go and see a lot of my blogging/real friends, take in some shows, both fashion and theatre, and get caught in a real blizzard!

*Me and a few girlfriends went to see ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ Sunday afternoon (and snuck in a good long catch-up brunch beforehand)- starring Scarlett Johansson ( I know, look at us, all cultured). We all loved it- Scarlett is actually really great in it as wife Maggie, and so is everyone else in the cast actually.  Now I of course want to rent the Robert Redford/Elizabeth Taylor movie version…

*A few photos I took of the Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2013 runway show- loved her bold color palette and her always too cool tomboy girl style. She had all kinds of cool multicolored hologram fabrics going on everywhere. Plus the purses! You can see more images of her show here.

*Snow storm Nemo ended up being a pretty fun event to live through in the city. I will never forget stepping out on the street with a friend after a late dinner in the midst of the worst of it Friday night to a completely vacant New York street, no cabs, cars, people, or noise – it felt like being in a zombie movie. Luckily, a cab eventually found us and we settled in for the night- and woke up the next morning to freshly plowed streets. We took a sunny Saturday afternoon stroll through Central Park and it was so fun to see the park packed with kids and families out sledding and playing in their snow gear- another in a movie moment. All kind of magical.

more fashion show snaps to come…

xx, T