Blow-Up

Tim Walker...most of you may already know...but if you don't, (his work is astounding) he is a genius photographer/artist who teamed up on this project with set designer Rhea Thierstein. Upon seeing the April issue of W Magazine...drawn to it by the cover of Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender...and flipping through my newly purchased copy...my eyes clapped upon the article, Blow-Up...these images are so jaw-dropping gorgeous, much bigger than life itself, and so much so that I found they changed the perspective of how I view these famous works of art~how brilliant! Pure exhilaration is found in beholding and scouring the details of each picture. There are more in W than we have shown here. Click on each photo to enlarge, but better yet get a copy at your local newstand. 

We can't do these justice...you must buy a copy if you don't already subscribe. W Magazine is a large..larger than most in scale, glossy magazine. These photos are best displayed within those pages. 

You must take in every detail...each piece enhances the overall impression. 

How ironic!

Delicious bits of finery...scattered with abandon.

The setting for these scenes is a vast Elizabethan Estate in Suffolk, England...Glemham Hall. 

The concept was to cause the characters in each piece of art to fall out into the reality of today. 

Anthro Wedding Gowns

A bombshell dropped on the "wedding world", February 14, 2011

BHLDN.com

(beholden -- Dutch meaning to keep)

Anthropologie has entered the bridal and special events world. Until recent years, we were also enscounced in that world~so w-e-d-d-i-n-g-s still grab our attention! How exciting to see the winds of changes blowing through this institution at a record rate! Cookie cutter weddings are falling fast by the wayside. Have you seen blogs like, 100 layer cakes or ritzy bee? Couples are really infusing who they are into their wedding and being true to themselves, budget and all. In the end that's much more meaningful and endearing. This new addition to Anthro postures them right into the "now" mix. By the end of the year they will have  ventured into wedding receptions and the special events arena also.

What's cool about BHLDN is that their approach is similiar to the Urban Outfitter organizations model on design and lifestyle. Their website allows you to browse through times past weddings, become further inspired, and find your style be it Nostalgic Romantic, Neo-Sophisticate, La Bohemienne, or Lady With a Twist. You can view, gowns, dresses, shoes, lingerie, jewelry, coverups, hair adornments and accessories within each of those muse type categories or go with an even more eclectic selection on your own.

They plan to not only to utilize their own designers, but feature guest designers as well. Each season they will develop their line of vintage, heirloom quality, bougie wedding designs. Gowns are priced from $1,000.00 to $4,000.00 and bridesmaids or special occasion dresses will be placed at around $200.00 to $600.00. You can check it all out at BHLDN.com. 

 Sift through BHLDN's collection of past weddings for inspiration.

Do you know anyone getting married? Do they have that individualistic flair about them? Be sure to tell them about BHLDN.com

Fall Forward

~Seasons~

There are some things we can't control such as, the weather and the seasons. They teach us to go with the flow and help us realize that there are special blessings that go with each season of our lives. We love, love, love the laid back summer days, don't care much for the amped up heat some days, but all in all summer with it's bounty of fruits and vegetables and come what may attitude suits us well. Now that we are turning the page and careening into fall, we thought we would post some pictures to ease us into a new chapter. Colors are changing, clothing is changing, foods are changing, lifestyle patterns are changing~all to accommodate the inevitable...fall is here. Ta-Da!!

This picture is from one of our styling jobs, the pumpkins were fresh out of the field where we hand picked them

Really it's not so bad and by the time winter announces itself we'll be holding onto fall. Face it we love all seasons and we fully immerse ourselves in them only to be pulled away and indulged in another.

These flowers came from Mark's Gardens on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks.

Every year Mark and his amazing team of floral wizards transform the Academy Awards into an event worthy of all the celebrities who gather to honor one another's work. Mark's Gardens are sought out by major celebrities and stylists, etc for a reason. They are at the very tippy top of their field. When we step foot in their shop it is a very heady experience~the place oozes with creativity. Mark's Gardens has crafted many events and weddings for our clients. We thought you would like to see the riot of fall colors displayed in the above arrangement.

Time to get out into our garages and storage areas to dust off our fall decor, make some new additions, re-purpose some things in new ways, plant our fall gardens (we're in Cali), pull out our warmer clothing and hold on and get ready for a fabulous fall splurge. Love and kisses to all our Beckwith Roadies.

Anything can become art

We found this chandelier at Anthropologie in Carmel by the Sea, CA. It is a testament to the fact that if you give a true artist just about any medium, they can delight the eye with the most amazing things. Take for instance all the gathered objects, from spoons to silver trays turned upside down to create the layers, to strands of vintage jewelry, an old wind up alarm clock, and so on. We ourselves have been fortunate to be a part of Anthropologie's design team and to help with the artistic frosting of a newly acquired space. A visual team from all over the United States swoops in to rescue a plain Jane, turning her into a visual treat for the eyes.

~Is this art or utilitarian, or both?~

~A close-up view~

British Invasion

Vivienne Westwood's Pillow for The Rug Company

It's faded glory is smart looking so it is no wonder designers have embraced it as a "must have"

~The rug version~

(I know just the place for this~bring it right over here!)

Contempory, yet classic

~as a painted, lacquered dresser~

Even the family pooch is getting in on the bandwagon!

Crown & Crumpet

~Crown & Crumpet, Ghirardelli Square

San Francisco~

900 N. Point Street

(415) 771-4252

~cheeky gifts~

~No stuffy Victorian fare here!~

This establishment is a riot of color and whimsy. The brainchild of proprietors, Amy & Christopher Dean. She a yank who studied in Britain, ended up in London in the antiques trade and eventually for Ralph Lauren & movie sets-he a proper English gent who also was in the antiques trade-they married and decided to start a business here in the U.S. and we are soooo glad they did! All of the fabrics used at Crown & Crumpet are from Cath Kidston. There is so much to see, it will take numerous visits to take it all in. They describe the experience there as, "A room with tea and wit". This was a wonderful experience and not to be missed if you are in the bay area any time soon.

~There are plenty of choices, we tried them all!~

The fairy cakes were a must!

Even the shades are embellished!

Queenly places to sit!

Summertime And The Living Is Easy

Ah! The Summerhouse!

It's time to switch out the winter gear for warmer climes.

~Great Reads~



~Edisonesque Lighting~

~A great bed you can languish in~

picture from Country Living

~Then Followed that beautiful season...Summer...Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light and the landscape as if new created in all the freshness of childhood ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

No Doilies Zone

Roberto Cavalli's Home

Lacey windows add a softening element to a very modern home.

~ A close up of the windows~

Brocade Home Bedroom

Whilst doilies are not en Vogue these days, lace is being used in some remarkable ways. I found these inspiration shots at Brocade Home. It would be easy to take one of granny's doilies to Kinko's and have it blown up and colored in black and white.

Mother's Day

Thou art thy mother's glass,

and she in thee calls back

the lovely April of her prime.

~William Shakespeare~

Look What the Shoe Fairy Whipped Up!

~My My Mrs. Porter~

Tracy Porter has outdone herself with these enchanting pieces of footware!

They can be found at tracyporter.com. If the price seems too steep for you,

never worry~Tracy has sales from time-to-time, just get on her email list and you'll get all the details.

Spring/Summer Accesories

Add a little style to your spring and summer dresses, especially if they are long cotton ones, with smashing accessories.

This differentiates you from everyone else and says you have chic style.

Here is one way, although there are many.....

Simple dress, sandals and.....tons of bangles.

We put this look together at Forever 21 for the mere price of $20.00 and we mixed them all up (this was 4 seperate bracelets)! We think that you shouldn't spend too much money on trendy jewelry, so look at places like Forever 21 and H&M. Then spend the most on your shoes (because cheap shoes are a dead giveaway).

The season trend is statement jewelry but don't get a fashion ticket by violating this law by wearing all of them at once.

If you are going to wear bangles don't wear a ring on the same hand and skip a necklace and earrings (unless they are very simple).

Or wear a Statement necklace alone or just earrings and a ring....you get the idea.

"Being Stylish takes time, patience and above all practice. Gore Vidal said, " Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a Damn".