Bourbon & Boots is an awesome digital retail curation of Southern-inspired and created goods.  Want to up your fashion game with a bow tie or some badass piece of handmade jewelry?  They got it.  Looking to make your house a home with some fly wall art?  No problem.  Need some Louisiana crawfish delivered to your door for a party?  Seriously…they make it happen.  They even have editorial content that teaches you everything from the how to pick a Kentucky Derby winner to bands to see at SXSW to adventures in hand-cranked ice cream and infused vodka (not together but I’d be willing to give that a try).

So when I saw a pair of ombré wood framed Lolita sunglasses from these curators of cool, I freaked out.  FREAKED.  OUT.  And with their Southern charm and inherent thoughtfulness, the Bourbon & Boots team sent me a pair to take on my travels to Mexico where I couldn’t wait to get some generally few and far between snaps of lil’ old me wearing these bad boys.  Now, if you know me (and my almost vampire-inspired skin), you will know that for all my efforts, the sun and I do not always see eye to eye.  And thus, I sunburned my face and chest within 24 hours of arriving and became a slightly less desirable tableau for my new favorite sunglasses.  I mean, I wore them all over and attracted attention because, who cares, I’m on vacation.  But when wanting to show you all how freaking awesome these shades were, my red face wasn’t gonna cut the mustard.  So here are some glamour shots I took of these fun, comfortable and super cool sunglasses.

If you’re of the slightly more understated variety, Bourbon & Boots also has a Wayfarer version.  Honestly, I can’t say enough about how much I love this product.  They look cool…I mean, ombré wood?  Come on.  They are so comfortable.  And they have fantastic lenses which may sound slightly geeky but when you get a pair of good ones, it makes a world of difference.  Not to mention every pair is handmade by one of the two folks that makes up Tumbleweed Handicrafts in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Check out the sunglasses here and make sure to visit the Bourbon & Boots site.  (In related news, the above cactus taught me just how stupid it is to go near a cactus.)

(Images c/o Bourbon & Boots and moi.  Special thanks to Bourbon & Boots for hooking me up with such a lovely gift…but just a note, all opinions are my own.)

Chanel Chance Print

Flamingo Abstract on Canvas

Which is why I am so excited to be sharing the stunning work of Anne Harwell, aka Annechovie.  While her prints and paintings strike a very excitable chord in my fashion nerve, it’s the colors that really draw me in.  And for good reason too…Anne herself says, ‘Color seems to define my style more strongly than any other element and I love to work in clear, saturated colors’.  And I love that she loves it.  Her combinations are striking and demand a head turn and a smile.  Anne’s aesthetic brings together a mix of materials and skill with a sense of humor and passion that brings her work to life.  And her work injects a little bit of life into the viewer as a result.  It’s amazing what a punch of color and a beautiful object can do to a girl.

English Roses on Canvas

Chanel No 5 Print

Ginger Jar on Canvas

Strike My Fancy Matchboxes

Working mostly with gouache/ink and acrylics, this self-taught artist found her talent as much as it found her.  ’After school, I went to work for my parents who owned a home furnishings boutique at the time. I became interested in picking up a paintbrush and trying my hand at some watercolors and then I found I really enjoyed it. I took on a few commissions from customers and sold some pieces in the shop and then decided I wanted to pursue art more’.  For those of us trying to make careers for ourselves without the same level of formal training as others we may be competing against or working with, Anne is a real inspiration.  ’As far as any formal art education, I have none (other than a 1 week art camp in 7th grade). I am pretty much self-taught. I’ve been through the school of hard work, close observation, long hours, trial and error and the passionate desire to create.’

Chanel No 5 Print

Queen Swirl Collage

Now if we really want to talk about inspiration, I think Anne’s work screams about where hers lies.  ’I am totally energized and inspired by color and living in a place where the light is spectacular and there is a great deal of natural beauty, Florida.’  As a fellow seeker of daily inspiration and beauty, Anne works to take in the world around her.  (If you need a bit of help in this, like I sometimes do, check out my post on this amazing book that works to help you ‘be an explorer of the world’, no matter where your own personal world may be.)  ’I am inspired by everything around me, nature, books, travel, different cultures, interior magazines, design blogs, fashion and especially COLOR!’  Love it.

Chanel Chance Print

Hermes Bag Print

And now…YAY, A GIVEAWAY!  Anne is going to give one lucky Thrill of the Chaise reader a paper print of their choice from her Etsy shop!  Open internationally, all you have to do is click here to enter before the end of the day on Monday, June 3rd…and don’t forget to visit Annechovie and leave a comment on this post letting us know your favorite item from the shop!  Look at all those exclamation points…I MUST be excited.  Good luck and spread the word!

(All images c/o Annechovie)

I am completely obsessed with the idea of indoor/outdoor living.  Move the living room out to the patio.  Create a bed out on the lawn.  Set-up the dining table on the patio.  Make the most of the warm skies and a bigger world.  Get inspired and have some fun!  And if you’re down for building a tree house…I’d love to host a party there.

(All images c/o Pinterest)

Walking by one of the bookshops in the village that always seems to have adorable books in the windows, I was very excited to see that on this visit, they did not disappoint.  Flip Fashion immediately jumped out at me so I popped in to take a close-up look and ended up spending way too much time playing with this lovely little book.  Split into four different ‘flippable’ parts, you can choose parts of different styles, from jazz age to punk, to mix and match the most perfect or most ridiculous looks.  Whatever takes your fancy!

This beautifully illustrated and carefully researched book, designed by French (London-based) graphic designer Lucille Clerc, would make the perfect gift for a little girl fascinated with fashion to your favorite fashionista friend.  Pick up a copy of the book here.

(All images c/o Amazon)

The point of this ramble is that I was terrified that what I came across in the fashion industry may actually be something as horrible as that single day I had and then I really would have made a huge mistake.  But as it turns out, my luck stuck with me and I have spent the last 18 months working with not only the best of the best, but the kindest of the kindest.  I am really banging on a lot for a post that’s about a haircut…apologies.

My point is, I met the Ruffian boys.  I get to work with the Ruffians and I also get to be friends with them…which means I get to see first-hand how well they look after the people around them.  To preface, I am very particular about my hair.  If you ever think I would even trim it myself, you’re out of your damn mind.  And I spent a lot of time routinely spending a lot of money to get a really sad haircut.  So when I emailed the boys to see if they had any suggestion on someone they would trust with my lovely locks, the response was ‘Of course! Leave it with us!’  And a couple of days later, I was booked into New York City’s downtown Bumble & Bumble salon.  Where I had one of the greatest hair experiences of my life.

As someone who gets nervous about spending the money on a high-end treatment, I wanted to share my experience so if any of you are humming and hawing…I may be able to help.  First things first, a lot of care was taken to place me with the perfect stylist for my needs.  As I was up for anything, the best I could give about what I wanted was explaining that I have spent most of my adult life trying to morph into a French woman from the 1960s.  And that was all it took…Bumble knew exactly who I should see.  Now, let me say that walking into the Bumble salon in the Meatpacking district is an experience all in itself.  Taking the elevator up, it is impossible to expect that when the doors open, you’ll be greeted by a massive warehouse style room with floor to ceiling windows showing off just how beautiful the city is.  There is a fantastic shop with all the Bumble products you could ever want, a small cafe, a series of very cool couches where I sat sipping on mint tea taking in the entire experience.

My stylist Tashina greeted me and I knew I was going to adore her.  It’s a beautifully relaxed environment filled with people who you know just love being there.  Tashina listened carefully to my hair woes and quickly offered up a remedy.  And to my surprise, she didn’t say ‘let’s chop it all off’ but wanted to create a slightly more fabulous version of me.  She walked me through the process, the products, gave me tips and tricks on how to get my hair to behave when it simply refuses and really just spoke to me like we were old friends…which it felt like we were.  She said that hearing my 60s French inspiration got her really excited because she is going through a real phase of that as well, that she had spent the weekend hunting for records with her dad where they had stumbled across a stunning, baby-faced Cher on one.  We were meant to be.

The result of my entire experience was one of a real focus on me as a client, a true passion for the craft and all-around proof of what true pampering and luxury not only are but how much they can mean.  Spending a little extra money for the level of treatment and incredible attention paid at Bumble & Bumble is more than worth it.  So go, treat yourself!  A huge thank you to Ruffian and to Bumble & Bumble for taking such good care of me!

(All images c/o Bumble & Bumble.  Please note, though my haircut was offered to me free of charge, all opinions and the decision to write this post are all my own.)

I first came across Owly Shadow Puppets a couple of years ago when I saw a beautifully cut out heart that read: Your crazy emotional needs give my life purpose.  To be fair, it was the perfect gift for my search but I am not sure the other party would have found it as entertaining as I did.  So I kept it to myself, secretly coveting it and falling in love with the work of Andrea Everman, the mastermind behind Owly Shadow Puppets.

There is something mystical and whimsical about shadow puppets that has always fascinated me…and in this day and age where we begin to become obsessed with everything being done digitally and thus quickly rejecting it at the same time, the notion that this world of handmade whimsy still exists is beautiful.  Andrea’s main focus is shadow puppetry and her work combines traditional paper cutting, ink drawing and laser cutting.  In her own words, she’s ‘been making puppets and other tedious items since 2008′ which, in itself, is an adorable and refreshing outlook on art.

Not only focused on creating items for her Etsy shop, Owly Shadow Puppets, Andrea also teaches shadow puppet workshops and designing for various theaters.  A steady hand, an open heart and a sense of imagination.  All things Owly Shadow Puppets demands and creates.

Check out more on Andrea’s website and her Etsy shop.

(All images c/o Owly Shadow Puppets)

O Star (the fairest one in sight),

We grant your loftiness the right

To some obscurity of cloud –

It will not do to say of night,

Since dark is what brings out your light.

Some mystery becomes the proud.

But to be wholly taciturn

In your reserve is not allowed.

Say something to us we can learn

By heart and when alone repeat.

Say something! And it says, ‘I burn’.

But say with what degree of heat.

Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.

Use language we comprehend.

Tell us what elements you blend.

It gives us strangely little aid,

But does tell something in the end.

And steadfast as Keats’ Eremite,

Not even stooping from its sphere,

It asks a little of us here.

It asks of us a certain height,

So when at times the mob is swayed

To carry praise or blame too far,

We may choose something like a star

To stay our minds on and be staid.

- Robert Frost, 1947

Sarah Jessica Parker rocking Giles Deacon, complete with velvet tartan thigh-high boots, braids and mohawk headpiece. I mean, come on. She’s amazing.

Allison Williams in a perfectly bizarre Altuzarra gown.

Not one to ever care much for Anne Hathaway, I have to admit, girl rocked it with new hair and Valentino. As you do.

It seemed as though some people missed the memo on the theme of the night and just got far too dolled up, but there were some real winners for me and for reasons I would never expect.  Aside from Madonna who went balls to the wall with her get-up, there was a brilliant manifestation of punk in the most fashionable ways last night…and in some of the most unexpected ways.  Hair and make-up sealed the deal for many of the stars but in-your-face studs, bold silhouettes and, in the cases of the real punks (i.e. Her Majesty Vivienne Westwood), it was all about the understatement.

The understated spike belt on Cameron Diaz’s Stella McCartney gown make me love this look.

I’m bored with Ms. Cara but digging the entire ensemble, Burberry, studs and heavy eye make-up…job done.

Before we get knocked over the head with her Great Gatsby looks, Carey Mulligan showed that less is a beautiful amount of more in Balenciaga.

Emily Blunt took a beautiful Carolina Herrara gown and made it badass with bright pink eyeshadow, spike earrings and very well-done faux-hawk.

Ginnifer Goodwin balanced her good and bad girl wearing a surprising Tory Burch dress with even more surprising (but well executed) bold eyes.

Hailee Steinfeld was the perfect amount of punk for her age with edgy hair and make-up paired with a sweet (and safety-pin covered) dress from Donna Karan Atelier.

I wasn’t sure about this look on Katy Perry straight off the Dolce & Gabbana runway but it’s grown on me. Work it.

Probably the most controversial move of the night but also my favorite. Nicole Richie killed it with haunting white hair. And then killed it again in Topshop.

Sienna Miller, I almost didn’t recognize you. Thank you for respecting my theory that a leather jacket over any formal look is cool. And so does Burberry, apparently.

(All images c/o Getty Images)

Thank you all for taking the time to read my words, for reaching out when you find something truly special and for making Thrill of the Chaise as special as it is to me.

(Image c/o Pinterest)

I wrote about Stu & John for the first time almost two years ago (goodness me!) when I helped John in planning a two-week proposal extravaganza, where he surprised Stu with a ‘birthday trip’ to NYC.  And it was a birthday trip to NYC but it was also a big plan to propose and also visit my family and I in Connecticut for a week to further help them celebrate.  It was quite the whirlwind and you can read the entire, lovely story here.  I wrote about Stu & John for the second time when I used their lovely story as the subject of a school project.  You can see the video I made, complete with my attempts at being at artist, here.

This past week, my parents and I flew to England for their wedding…which could not have been more perfect.  The ceremony was heartfelt and personal.  The details, including Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote encouraging us all to type the boys a note on her ancient typewriter, a candy bar to celebrate where the boys met (a club called The Candy Bar), and cake toppers complete with their two adorable Labrador’s, were constant delights throughout the day.  Our Alice in Wonderland themed English tea was just about as precious as it got.  And it really is no surprise that we all danced into the wee hours of the morning.  So I wanted to share some of my favorite shots from the day.

Wishing Stu & John a huge congrats on their union, a lifetime of love and happiness, and a freaking incredible two weeks in Thailand!