of...A Very Merry Christmas!

Christmas with the Derrenbergers

Katja Verheul in Ménage

The best day of the entire year has arrived! Finally we can all relax and enjoy this day of pure indulgence, decadence, and love. Amidst the frenzy of flying wrapping paper, the endless supply of sweets, the chatter of family and friends, and the cheery christmas music, remember to take a moment, however small, to be thankful. Whether you are spending your day relaxing by the T.V watching 24 hours of "A Christmas Story" on TBS, hopping from friend's house to friend's house, going to Church for Christmas Mass, or sitting down to a feast with your extended family, never forget how fortunate and blessed you are on this merry holiday. Embody the Christmas spirit and extend your love to everyone, let us give each other one day, at the very least, of pure amor, kindness, and gratitude. As the song goes, "Have a holly jolly Christmas, and when you walk down the street, say hello to those you know, and everyone you meet!"

Merry Christmas loves! Love, Indulge, Relax.

xo, Kat


Christmas in NYC, nothing compares

of...GOOD LUCK!

Wishing you all luck as finals quickly approach! Study hard, program Self Control on your Macs, and down those cups of coffee. Only a matter of time before we can bask in the enjoyment of complete holiday leisure and cheer! 

It will all be over soon! KEEP GOING! 

P.S- try to schedule in some sleep.

xo, Kat

into...The Holiday Guide.

Decorate more than just your homes this Christmas...

Is your Christmas list growing at an exponential rate like mine? Having trouble deciding between that metallic clutch in Bloomingdales or the bright crossbody you spotted in Saks? Are you finding yourself debating between the cozy pullover you tried on last week or the oversized cardigan sitting in your online shopping cart? Well here's a quick guide that'll help narrow it down while still promising a holiday graced with trendy delights! After all, we all deserve a little sparkle and decadence this Christmas. 

1.The Red Pant.

Urban Outfitters BDG Cigarette High-Rise Jean $58

2.The Party Dress.

Aqua Back Cowl Sequin Dress $280

3.The Oversized Sweater.

Free People Fairisle Long Cardigan $168

4.The Fur Vest.

French Connection Faux Fur Hip Thing Vest$288

5.The Coveted Cuff.

Tory Burch Curved Logo Cuff $145

6.The Wedged Bootie.

Dolce Vita Heidi $195

7.The Bold Bag.

Rebecca Minkoff ‘The Chance’ Crossbody $295

of...Statement Pieces.

Michael Kors Buckle Ring $45
Lanvin Pendant Necklace $2,950
Givenchy Cuff $675
Alexander McQueen Skull Bracelet $495

Lanvin Gold Chain Necklace $775

Sara Weinstock Ring $8,960

Sandra Dini Agate Ring $725

Prada Earrings $390

Erickson Beamon Drop Crystal Earrings $480

Fenton Feather Choker $750

of...Anti-Fashion.

Vogue January 2006

Steven Klein is one of the most notable photographers of the fashion world. He is praised by top editors such as Anna Wintour and has worked with the most highly acclaimed celebrities including Madonna and Brad Pitt. The irony: Mr. Klein views the fashion and celebrity worlds with acute aversion, wishing to shatter its transparent façade of glamour and perfection. 

"Mindlessly glam fashion photography is a dead or dying form, and Steven Klein, the anti-fashion fashion photographer, helped strangle it." 

Vogue Paris February 2009

Madonna

His work extends far beyond the realm of conventional photography and typical attraction, seemingly breaking down preconceived notions of what is beautiful, what is known, and what is flawless. He has injected ambiguity, perversion, and seediness into his work creating photographs that exude reality and fascination. A paradox exists within his photography in that he is able to maintain the allure and beauty of fashion in the context of an ominous and rather demonic photo.  Klein does not consider himself an artist on the brink of creating a new photographic paradigm for the fashion world. Rather, his photography is an extension of his profound perception of people and actuality, which tends to unveil hidden truths of their existence. Shooting Brad Pitt in bondage and a straight jacket isn't to simply provoke a dark image; Klein uses this imagery to emanate his perception that Pitt is vulnerable and hidden despite his fame. After reading the New York Times article, one becomes mystified by the brilliance of his creativity; it is realized that his talent is both enigmatic and mysterious. What can be deduced however, is that the genius behind Klein's photography at least lies partly in his conceptual edge, enlightened understanding of reality, and twisted sense of beauty. 

Read the full article: Fashion Photographer Seeks Models/Celebrities for a Little Rough Play (New York Times, By: Simon Dumenco) 

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie

Vogue Italy 2003

 Vogue Italy September 2004

of...Thanksgiving Day!

GOBBLE GOBBLE!

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanksgiving Dinner with the Derrenbergers

Today I truly realize all that I have to be thankful for; a supportive family, my amazing fab four, an outstanding group of friends, my beloved meowface, and my health amongst many others. There exists no true meaning or happiness without those factors in my life. On this day, remember those who showed you compassion, respect, love, and guidance throughout the year; take those you have struggled with over the year and place them in your heart as well. Show those you care for the extent of your love not through the words of your lips, by through the affectionate actions of your heart. Take every day as it comes and appreciate even the smallest bouts of beauty in your life!

Enjoy the feast and have a very lovely and Happy Thanksgiving! 

xo, Kat

of...the Alluring Vixen.

The illustrious and captivating vixen is making her way back into the heart of pop culture this year. 

Yes, I am talking about the alluring Marilyn Monroe. This glamour goddess is once again seen on the big screen a la Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn, a movie that explores a seemingly illusive and fanciful week between Marilyn and Colin Clark (an assistant on the set of her movie The Prince and the Showgirl). According to critics, the validity of the plot stands for questioning; was their one week alone in the countryside of Britain an embellished memory of a captivated young men, or the beginning of a relationship that never fulfilled its true romantic destiny?  What is certain for the critics is Williams' performance. Transcending into the role of America’s greatest sex icon is a daunting task to say the very least; but Williams preserved, truly capturing not only the sensual and commanding nature of Marilyn, but also her less obvious innocent and demure disposition. Ms. Monroe saw the height of her career in the 1950s, appearing in box office hits such as, Some Like it Hot, for which she received a Golden Globe. Whether she was gracing the covers of magazines, coyly keeping her blowing gown down while filming The Seven Year Itch, or circulating the Hollywood scene, Marilyn Monroe redefined what it meant to be glamourous. Give yourself 99 minutes this weekend to get lost in the dazzling world of a great American icon and decide for yourself what ending you believe. 

“My Week with Marilyn,” will be released today, 11/23, in select theatres. 

of...Oceanic Fashion (Alexander McQueen).

Photo: Marcus Tondo / GoRunway.com

An Oceanic Fashion Fantasy. 

Alexander McQueen Spring 2012 Collection.

Sara Burton, the new creative mastermind behind the House of Alexander McQueen, created yet another gripping collection for Spring 2012. The oceanic themed collection displays stunning pieces inspired by the majestic nature of underwater life. Pulling colors of white and red from pearls and seashells, cascading ruffles from the movement of seaweed, black structures of lace and leather from barnacles and sea anemones, and elaborately structured sandals from coral reefs, a collection that showcases both boldness and softness was created. Exceptional silhouettes coupled with an air of femininity and mystery resulted in an unforgettable line of luxury fashion. This collection truly continues the innovative, avant-garde, and striking mastery indicative of Alexander McQueen fashion. 

Photo: Marcus Tondo / GoRunway.com

Photo: Gianni Pucci / GoRunway.com

Photo: Gianni Pucci / GoRunway.com

Photo: Marcus Tondo / GoRunway.com

into...Walt Whitman.

The following are two of my favorite poems by Walt Whitman, an American 19th century poet. To You is a poem of considerable length and one of Whitman’s most notable works. This poem embodies the romantic style he often utilized. A love poem of sorts, Whitman brilliantly constructs consecutive stanzas of passion and adore for his significant other. Through this candid confession, Whitman dotingly describes the extent of his love. He is not remiss in detailing every way in which he adores his beloved; every way in which she or he is perfect in his eyes. With On The Beach At Night, Whitman created a serene, elegant, and calming poem using powerful imagery. This poem extends far beyond the captivating descriptions of the night sky; it possesses a philosophical undertone. As the father and daughter gaze up at the night sky and watch the stars disappear behind the foreboding clouds, the father whispers words of faith and confidence to his weeping daughter. The very premise of this poem embodies the security and love found within relationships between parent and child.

 

(Excerpt from TO YOU):

WHOEVER you are, I fear you are walking the walks of dreams,
I fear these supposed realities are to melt from under your feet and hands;
Even now, your features, joys, speech, house, trade, manners, troubles, follies, costume, crimes, dissipate away from you,
Your true Soul and Body appear before me,
They stand forth out of affairs—out of commerce, shops, law, science, work, forms, clothes, the house, medicine, print, buying, selling, eating, drinking, suffering, dying.
Whoever you are, now I place my hand upon you, that you be my poem;
I whisper with my lips close to your ear,
I have loved many women and men, but I love none better than you.
O I have been dilatory and dumb;
I should have made my way straight to you long ago;
I should have blabb’d nothing but you, I should have chanted nothing but you. ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT ON the beach at night, Stands a child with her father, Watching the east, the autumn sky. Up through the darkness, While ravening clouds, the burial clouds, in black masses spreading, Lower sullen and fast athwart and down the sky, Amid a transparent clear belt of ether yet left in the east, Ascends large and calm the lord-star Jupiter, And nigh at hand, only a very little above, Swim the delicate sisters the Pleiades. From the beach the child holding the hand of her father, Those burial-clouds that lower victorious soon to devour all, Watching, silently weeps. Weep not, child, Weep not, my darling, With these kisses let me remove your tears, The ravening clouds shall not long be victorious, They shall not long possess the sky, they devour the stars only in apparition, Jupiter shall emerge, be patient, watch again another night, the Pleiades shall emerge, They are immortal, all those stars both silvery and golden shall shine out again, The great stars and the little ones shall shine out again, they endure, The vast immortal suns and the long-enduring pensive moons shall again shine. Then dearest child mournest thou only for Jupiter? Considerest thou alone the burial of the stars? Something there is, (With my lips soothing thee, adding I whisper, I give thee the first suggestion, the problem and indirection,) Something there is more immortal even than the stars, (Many the burials, many the days and nights, passing away,) Something that shall endure longer even than lustrous Jupiter Longer than sun or any revolving satellite, Or the radiant sisters the Pleiades.

into...Miracle Products.

Open your drawer and look in. What are the beauty products you simply could not live without?

For many women, daily routines of primping and priming are habitual processes--if one element of that process should be removed, we tend to feel a slight shift in our universe. Our slavish reliance on these essential products truly reveal our dedication to perfecting our beauty regimens. So today, I give you a brief look into my daily routine; my miracle products and the tricks of the trade that accompany them.

Smell lovely with: Calvin Klein One Eau de Toilette Spray ($40 Sephora)  

Ban grease with: Johnson’s Baby Powder, Original ($3.45 Drugstores)

Soften lips with: C.O. BIGELOW Rose Slave No. 012 ($5.50 C.O Bigelow)  

Cover it up with: MAQUICOMPLET - Complete Coverage Concealer ($29.50 Sephora)
Moisturize with: Aveeno Clear Complexion Face Cream ($15 Drugstores)

Freshen up with: Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar ($3.45 Drugstores)

Shine those locks with: Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream ($25.99 Drugstores/Salons)

Nourish skin & hair with: Jojoba Oil ($9.99 GNC)

Quick dramatic eye with: Sephora’s Long Lasting Eye Liner ($10 Sephora)

Get a little sun with: NARS Bronzing Powder ($33 Sephora)

into...New Music.

PRESS PLAY. Give your ears something to be happy about. 

Florence + the Machine - What The Water Gave Me

Kaskade - Let Me Go  (feat. Marcus Bently)

John Dahlback feat. Erik Hassle - One Last Ride (Felix Cartal Remix)

Starkillers & Dmitry Ko - Do U Love (Original Mix)

into...Modern Love.

Vogue September 2011.

The discovery of the following article is credited to a remarkable friend of mine; she is fair, wise, and intelligent far beyond her years. She is one of those intellectual hipster girls you see walking Central Park, leather bound book in hand, listening to a song by Mr. Little Jeans on repeat (or at least this is how I envision her as I blog from Boston). 

This article truly makes you reconsider the ways we perceive fate, love, and happiness. Are we setting ourselves up for failure by believing that true, preordained, infallible love can only exist within the context of a good story? When we are so blinded and preoccupied with fairytale love, how can we ever expect for it to take its most natural course -- for love to seemingly choose us? 

Read the New York Times article by Sarah Healy, When the Words Don't Fit. 

The author notes, a good story is nothing more but a good story; love doesn't effortlessly fill the pages and the ending isn't one necessarily comparable to that of Cinderella. However, what is worth realizing is that love extends far beyond a unique meeting of two strangers, it is a journey filled with kindness, fights, devotion, flaws, and forgiveness. And as the journey stands the test of time, love seems to inexplicably and unboundedly grow. And if to outsiders, that sort of journey is considered conventional (even in the slightest) then so be it -but for two people, that journey is their very own version of fairytale love. 


this post is dedicated to the fab four; my backbone and inspiration. 

of...Ellen Von Unwerth

Kylie Minogue 

A German photographer, Ellen Von Unwerth is famous for her ability to capture a sensual yet feminine image. Her notable flare is coveted by the elite of the fashion and beauty worlds including Vogue, Vanity Fair, Guess, Revlon, and Clinique. While her work may seem overtly seductive on the surface, she is actually casting light on women who are confident, independent, and secure with their bodies -- after all, what is more sexy than that? 

Keira Knightley 

Amber Heard

Emma Watson

Beyonce

Jessica Stam

Siri Tollerød

of...Elegance.

el·e·gant: 

adjective

tastefully fine or luxurious in dress, style, design, etc.; gracefully refined and dignified

Ralph Lauren Fall 2011. Monica Feudi

Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Paris, August 1955

Emma Watson in Italian Vogue 2008. 

Grace Kelly

Givenchy Haute Couture 2010

into ...the mind of Freud.

Something to ponder:

We are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love, never so helplessly unhappy as when we have lost our loves object or its love.

-Freud 

{Watch the trailer for the upcoming film A Dangerous Method; a brief look into the life of Sigmund Freud) 

of...Modern Mod.

Edie Sedgwick, Chuck Wein, Andy Warhol & Twiggy.

Seeking inspiration from the iconic Twiggy image and the eccentric flare of Edie, Mod fashion has been reinvented in 2011 terms. Geometric prints, oversized luxurious coats, pleats, and bold colors define this Fall's trend.

Prada               Yves Saint Laurent       Louis Vuitton             Versace 

   (Photo 1: Monica Feudi Photo 2: Marcus Tondo Photo 3: Monica Feudi Photo 4: Yannis Vlamos)

Shop "It's a Mod World" on Free People to channel your inner Edie.

{View Designers' Fall 2011 Collections and more at Style.com}

into...Inspiration.

"I accept Time absolutely. 

It alone is without flaw -- it alone rounds and completes all;

That mystic, baffling wonder I love, alone completes all. ” 

Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass