Sundays after church, my wife and I enjoy brunch at one of several of our favorite dining establishments. Before our drink orders are taken, we divide up the New York Times for our enjoyment. Our most cherished section of the Sunday Times is the Sunday Style section -- and our favorites within the Sunday Style section are On the Street and Evening Hours -- both of which consist of the photographs of the incomparable Bill Cunningham. It's tremendous fun to see what has caught Mr. Cunningham's eye this week -- and even more fun to see if Mr. Cunningham happened to snap a photo of you or a friend walking down Fifth Avenue!
My friends who have enjoyed the pleasure of meeting Mr. Cunningham remark that he is quite delightful. I am confident this must be true. His voice, as we discovered in the recent film Bill Cunningham New York, is distinctive and captivating. And his eye proves time and again to be impeccable.
Being a gentleman, I always allow my wife the first opportunity to peruse the Sunday Style section; however, I must admit to often finding myself peering over the top of the Arts section and across the table wondering when she will pass the Sunday Style section to me -- wondering whether I will spot myself, my wife, or a friend in On the Street.
Since spring is officially here to stay, it is time for Lilly! Although Lilly can be worn in the winter, it is much more apropos for spring and summer. Her prints are not for the faint of heart, and many are a bit too much in my opinion, but I do love the bright and feminine prints. I adore the dress featured above, and the print behind her that was from last season. These dresses are perfect for a casual summer wedding, lawn party or just a hot summer day. Remember though, the stronger the print the simpler the accessories. Stick to simple pearl or diamond studs to even out the boldness of the outfit.
The downpour of rain and pollen this week in my part of the country, leads me to anticipate the return of my spring wardrobe. Although I much prefer fall, spring has its special items that I look forward to welcoming back into rotation. Seersucker, madras, pastels, Lilly Pulitzer, white, and Jack Rogers are some of my favorite spring items!
It seems that the collection of one's meaningful photographs has been relegated to computer hard drives, social media websites, and even mobile telephones. While I do see some advantages to modern storage of photographs, I believe there remains an important place for proper photograph albums -- filled with the photographs that tell the story of our lives and the lives of our family and friends. I am fond of the handsome leather photograph album with the gold tooling on the spine and corners offered by one of my favorite stationers, Smythson. The front cover may be monogrammed or personalized in gold. Perfect to leave atop an old LV trunk in your den or on a shelf in your study within arm's reach of your desk. I promise -- it's something you'll treasure forever.
Yes, it is true: j'adore la France. I know many of you are going to be appalled and instantly defend England. Whilst it does hold a unique place in my heart due to my heritage, I also love France. French is one of my second languages and I thoroughly enjoy continuing my lifelong study of the language and culture.
