{Postcards from Shanghai}

The Pudong at night

Hi from Shanghai!

Having spent three days in Shanghai, I understand why they call this city the “Paris of China.”  This city, a bustling, modern metropolis (having more skyscrapers than NYC), with both European and Asian influences, is primarily a city of light, with the Pudong as its crown jewel.  The Pudong, an area, mainly comprised of financial statement pieces, illuminates at night along the river, while hotels, restaurants and bars intermix among them, allowing for the most spectacular views – a sight I happily indulged in over cocktails.  Opposite this financial mecca, The Bund, a more colonial European crown of buildings sits, twinkling back at its contemporary counterpart with Shanghainese old-world glamour.  Although the massive skyscrapers remain the city’s focal points, its more quiet neighborhoods are equally impressive.  I enjoyed walking through its classic Old City and serene Yu Yuan gardens in the morning, as well as, its trendy French Concession district at night.  During my stay, I also ventured outside the city’s center to Zhou Zhuang, a water village, often referred to as “the Venice of the East.”  These areas, sprinkled throughout the city, dually remind me of the city’s history as well as its urban progress. All in all… I ❤ SH!  Now, my Asian adventure continues to Hong Kong…

Yours,  Jenn

The Bund at night

Elevators at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 87 flights high (looks kind of like a peacock)

Old City

Yu Yuan gardens

French Concession district at night

Zhou Zhuang

Advertisement in the Pudong

{Postcards from Beijing}

The Temple of Heaven

Nihao! (Hello in Chinese)

This is my first trip to Asia and I have been in Beijing for four hot and hazy days.  The city's expanse as well as its modern design infused with old-world Chinese charm is an amazing sight to see and comprehend.  Their famous Birdcage stadium, built for the 2008 Olympics, is sandwiched between two dynasties' palaces, The Forbidden City and The Summer Palace.  I loved touring these palaces because their entire structure and design is saturated with symbols, for example: lions act as father and mother gatekeepers, dragons display power, and yellow pays tribute to the imperials.  One day, after a two-hour drive through the countryside, I walked along The Great Wall of China, another ancient marvel of mass and design.  With a long, hot day behind me, I ventured to the Hou Hai lake district at night, where red lanterns glitter against the backdrop of the lake and music fills the air with energy.  On my last day of touring, I visited a Hutong neighborhood, where I indulged in an old-fashioned rickshaw ride through its small and windy streets.  And lastly, much to my eyes’ delight, I toured the Lama Temple, a Buddhist temple and monastery, where incense burns steadily, monks draped in red and yellow robes chant from their scriptures below their giant gilded god, and common-folk worship beside them.  With each day I was entranced by Beijing’s ever-present design and old-world allure.  Now, the journey continues to Shanghai...

Yours,  Jenn



The Summer Palace



  



The Birdcage stadium





The Great Wall of China




The Hou Hai lake district





Rickshaws in the Hutong





Smiling Buddha at Lama Temple




Male lion gatekeeper at Lama Temple



{J.Crew Goes Abroad}

As an American expat living in London, I am often asked “What do I miss most from the states?”  To this, I always answer, “Aside from my family and friends… bagels, Bud Light, and J.Crew.”  While I am able to curb my carb and beer cravings with chips and Guinness, my longing for J.Crew has steadily persisted.  The label is available at net-a-porter.com, but its stock is sparse, leaving me continuously unrequited – that is until now…

I am pleased to announce that as of August 2011, J. Crew is finally offering international shipping to the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan – whoop whoop!  Now, in my fleeting moments of homesickness, when the autumn rain beats down upon my window and I remain sequestered in my flat, I can take comfort in being able to order myself a cozy Dream knit cardigan that I can cuddle up into, in 4-8 business days. 

Here are my top 10 most coveted J.Crew Fall 2011 finds. 

1.  Dream ribbed yoga cardigan – I love pieces that layer well and this looks so comfy.

2. Memo dress in Super 120s – This dress reminds me of Mad Men and I am mad about it, especially in the color peacock feather!

3. Biella patent loafers – Loafers are so practical yet so elegant, especially when they are shiny.

4. + 5. Herringbone vest and Farrow trouser – I love men’s inspired clothes – so very Marlene Dietrich!

6. No. 2 pencil skirt in vintage tweed – I adore how demure yet sexy pencil skirts can be.

7. Maisie dress in waterfloral – This pattern is so feminine and can be paired with almost anything.

8. Resin and crystal link necklace – The chucky chain design in a classic tortoise color is such a great contradiction piece.

9. Cowlneck poncho – I love the subtlety chic quality that the cowlneck lends this poncho.

10. Featherknit shirred henley tee – I can't have enough soft, drapey tees!

Check out j.crew.com for more fall fashions, prices and shipping rates.

{How To Make A Pitcher Of Pimm's Cup}

In England, sunny days are fair-weather friends so it’s best to make the most of them when they appear at your doorstep.  One of the best ways the British relish the warmth is with a pitcher of Pimm’s at their local pub.

Pimm’s No. 1, a gin-based liquor mixed with herbs (a recipe known to only a privy few) was invented in 1823 by James Pimm, originally as an aid to digestion.  With its amber color and citrusy-sweet scent, it lends a perfect disposition for a summery cocktail and has become a very popular staple drink in England.

With the summer nearing its end, here is a quick and easy Pimm’s No. 1 Cup recipe, so that you too can savor the sunny days of summer – British-style.

Ingredients:  

a bottle of Pimm’s

a bottle of Sprite (or as the Brits say, lemonade)

3 sprigs of mint

1/2 cucumber

1/2 lemon

1/2 orange

Directions:

1) Fill a pitcher with ice.

2) Pour in 1 cup of Pimm’s and 2 cups of Sprite.

3) Cut the cucumber (I prefer in quarters), slice the lemon, slice the orange and add to the pitcher.

4) Take the mint leaves off the spring, ripe them up a little and add them to the pitcher.

5) Give it a quick stir, serve, and then cheers!

{Richard Avedon: Shooting Star(s)}

The talent of a photographer lies in the capturing of truth.  In our current world of celebrity photography we are inundated with images of celebrities taking out their garbage, eating burgers, or bagging their own groceries.  Recently, I ventured to the Nassau County Museum of Art in New York where the exhibit Richard Avedon: Photographer of Influence is on display.  There I discovered a revitalized meaning of celebrity photography. 

Richard Avedon, (b.1923- d.2004), a commercial fashion photographer turned artist, is legendary for his ability to capture movement and emotion.  Avedon’s approach to fashion photography was dynamic in that he created scenes around designers’ products, selling a lifestyle.  His models became actors, rather than figures.  He used cities as backdrops.  Ultimately, he created emotional advertising.

As an artist, his portraiture was progressive because of its intimacy.  In contrast to many of today’s celebrity “photographers”, who sneak up on their subjects, Avedon preferred to work in a studio, creating a white canvas.  His subjects were able to escape into the solidarity of his safe space, thus allowing their inner essence to be photographed, affording viewers glances into their psyches.  Armed with his camera, Avedon captured the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly.

The museum’s exhibition houses over 50 photographs ranging from high-fashion advertisements to various portraits of prominent celebrities, including Audrey Hepburn, Bob Dylan, Dorothy Parker and The Duke and Duchess of Windsor.  Richard Avedon: Photographer of Influence is on display until Sept. 4, 2011 and if you are in the New York area, I highly encourage you to visit the museum for a chance to see what truths photography can tell. 

Here is a link to the museum’s exhibition site. http://nassaumuseum.com/exhibits_special_richard_avedon.php



"Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955," Photography by Richard Avedon © The Richard Avedon Foundation




"Marilyn Monroe, actor, New York, May 6, 1957," Photography by Richard Avedon

© The Richard Avedon Foundation

These photos are displayed for educational purposes only.

For more stunning examples of his work, check out The Richard Avedon Foundation’s archive.
http://www.richardavedon.com/

{Postcards from... Provence}

Bonjour!

I just got back from taking my summer vacation in Provence.  Among the fields of gold, green and purple, chateaus with pastel-painted shutters, framed by mountains, speckle the landscape.  While walking through the countryside, I stumbled upon this charming abode.  Parched from my walk, I headed back to my lodgings where I indulged in a glass of Pastis, a locally-made liqueur, with a cloudy, pale-yellow color and the flavor of black liquorice – a refreshing treat at the end of a hot day.  The next day I lunched with friends in Aix-en-Provence, a small city nearby, famous for its artistic patrons, as well as Van Gogh’s “Night Café.”   And from there I proceeded to and ended my vacation in Marseille, a port city on the Cote d’Azur - holy boats and what a sunset! 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer too!

Yours,

Jenn

{Why Not Peridot!}

Peridot, pronounced with the “t”, or as per-i-doe, is the traditional August birthstone, and is also infamously known as the poor man’s emerald.  It can often be found on the bottom, back shelf at Saks, to the left, past the pearls, behind the amethysts; or in the sadly displayed birthstone earring stand near the guy that pierces ears at the mall.  Ultimately, it is the underdog of the birthstone family.

As an August baby myself, I never took much pride in my monthly gem, until I realized how much the stone actually reminds me of summer.  Peridot, with its green coloring and subtle luminosity, reminds me of the seaweed drifting in the ocean, the grass that I picnic upon in the park, and the relish on my hotdog.  Its color ranges from an elegant olive green to a more whimsical citrusy-lime.  The stone transcends all boundaries because its color works as a neutral, stands up to blacks, plays with purples, and adds interest to reds. It is the answer to all wardrobe malfunctions. 

With the beginning of August here, we can sit back and savor that we still have one more month of summer to enjoy.  But why let the summer end with September?  Why not enjoy its essence all year?  Why not peridot! 

Below are some beautiful pieces of peridot-infused jewelry, designed by Ayelet of Coco & Lime.  See how well the lime green stone plays alone and with others. Check out cocoandlime.com for more gemstone creations.

{Peacock Party}

Peacocks are one of my favorite birds.  I often find them gallivanting around my neighborhood park in London.  You can hear their squawks and calls from a distance, as they prance around the property, looking for food, peering at people from elevated heights or sunning themselves among the roses.  With their vibrant colorings of indigos, turquoises, and bronzes, from their necks to their tails, and their spray of feathers upon their heads, they always appear dressed to impress.  Recently, I discovered, via National Geographic, that a group of peacocks is actually called a party, and with that my imagination went wild.  It’s no wonder they always looks so fashionable!




{Welcome}

Welcome to Peacocks & Peridots – a curated collection of all that’s beautiful and lovely throughout the world.

As an art, fashion, and style enthusiast, I am driven to travel the globe in search of new and delightful discoveries. It is my intention to leave my readers amused, enchanted, and inspired by life’s aesthetics – from museums to galleries, from runways to real world, and from London to beyond the horizon.

I cordially invite you to travel along with me during my jaunts with rose-colored glasses. And I encourage you to share your thoughts, create conversations, and revel in life’s charms during this trip.

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I believe that beauty is, more often than not, accessible and communal and it gives me much pleasure to share my favorite findings with you.

The launch of this expedition kicks off with articles: “Peacock Party,” “Why not Peridot,” and the first in my “Postcards from…” series.

Enjoy, and bon voyage!