The Eternal City

Last week, I finally had the chance to see Valentino: The Last Emperor. I had been wanting to watch it for a good while, so I was happy to see that it was available to watch instantly on Netflix. I thought it was touching, poignant, and funny. It was fascinating to see the ins and outs of Valentino’s empire and to learn that every one of his garments has always been made by hand. The beauty and craftsmanship of each garment is truly incredible. His relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, which has spanned four decades was just as interesting. Their dynamic is both hilarious and touching.

A great deal of the film takes place in Rome, which I had the great fortune of visiting three Christmases ago. Since watching the Valentino documentary, I have had the Eternal City on my mind and have been longing to go back and experience la dolce vita yet again. Rome is a city filled with history and wonder. Beauty can be found in almost every corner, even the dusty ones. A couple of days after watching the film, I came across Francesco Lagnese’s absolutely stunning portfolio and was elated to see that he had several gorgeous images taken in Rome. Brilliant!

If you haven’t seen Valentino: The Last Emperor, I am sure this trailer will make you want to see it immediately!

Ten Things I Can’t Live Without

Now that my “Personal Style, Defined” series has come to a close, it’s time for a new, exciting series! Next Tuesday will mark the official debut for the newest series on La Dolce Vita, “Ten Things I Can’t Live Without”, which is inspired by Shortlist, one of my favorite features in ELLE DECOR. The bloggers who will be participating in this series all seem really excited about it, so I think it will make for many fun reads.

Before Eddie Ross officially kicks off the series next Tuesday, I thought I would share my own “can’t live without” list with you. I hope you’ll comment and let us know what you absolutely cannot live without!

1. My husband is not only the love of my life, but he is also my best friend. He knows more about me than anyone else in the world. He knows how to get under my skin, but he also knows how to make me laugh and feel like the most special woman in the world.

 2. Travel feeds my soul. I have a major case of wanderlust and am constantly dreaming of our next trip. I find so much inspiration when I travel, whether it is to a brand new place or one that I am already familiar with. There is something so special and exhilarating about being removed from your usual surroundings. I love nothing more than walking through the streets of a beautiful city and taking in the sights and sounds.

3. To-Do Lists: I make one nearly everyday because they keep me organized and I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I am able to cross something off of it.

4. I absolutely adore beautiful flowers, but then again, what woman doesn’t? My absolute favorite are pink peonies, whether in a bright magenta or a soft blush tone.

5. I cannot imagine my life without blogging. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that my blog would allow me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people. I have grown so much as a result of my blog and have explored new interests because of it. It is ingrained in me and is most definitely a part of my everyday life.

6. My Heritage: I have grown to love my heritage (Mexican and Spanish) more and more as I have gotten older. I am so thankful that my parents taught me to speak Spanish. I think that helped inspire to study other languages and cultures as I have gotten older. I cannot imagine what it would be like not to delve into the wonderful history, food, art, and literature of these wonderful cultures.

7. Good food and wine are always better  in the company of good friends! There is nothing worse than wasting calories and money on less than thrilling food.

8. Inspiring Interiors are a huge part of my life and my blog. I love looking at a room in a new light or being inspired by a lamp or a rug. I absolutely love interior design, so when I see a new space that inspires me, it makes for a bright spot in my day.

9. I could not live without antibacterial gel! I am a major germophobe and I still work with students, so I am constantly washing or sanitizing my hands.

10. My puppy Tate has become a huge part of our lives. My husband and I always joke that he is like our first-born child. We adore him with all of our hearts and have spoiled him rotten. He always manages to put a smile on my face, even if I am in a rotten mood.

 

Image credits: Paloma Contreras, Francesco Lagnese, Kate Spade, Mark Lund, ELLE DECOR, Francesco Lagnese, Richard Fulsear, Miles Redd for Domino, Bath & Body Works, Paloma Contreras

A Peek into my Family Room and This Week’s Quote

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.”

- Jane Austen

The lovely Crystal, of Plush Palate invited me to share a room in my home with her readers. Of course, I couldn’t leave my own readers out, so I invite you to read my guest post and take a look at my humble family room which is a constant work in progress. I hope you like it!

Happy Monday!

Guest Post on Bits of Beauty

Jennifer of Bits of Beauty invited me to participate in her "Everyday Beautiful Life" series in which different bloggers share what adds beauty to their lives on a daily basis. I hope you'll check it out.

New Stella and Dot Giveaway!

Be sure to visit This is Glamorous before Thursday, November 12th to enter a fabulous new Stella and Dot giveaway that La Dolce Vita is co-sponsoring. This time, a pair of the Perfect Faceted Smoky Quartz Earrings earrings is up for grabs. Click here for details and to enter the giveaway.

Stella and Dot’s fabulous line of jewelry has been featured in countless magazines and publications including InStyle, Lucky, Elle, The New York Times, and on the Today Show and is a favorite of celebrities and women everywhere. So what makes Stella and Dot special? It's their line of versatile, high-quality (the jewelry is made by the same people who make jewelry for Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Barneys), celebrity-coveted jewelry with many options under $50. They carry everything from bold statement necklaces to glamorous chandelier earrings, to delicate, customizable chains and charms. There is literally something to satiate any fashionista's desire to spruce up her fall wardrobe with a few new accessories.

Here is a little showcase of how you can get the look of expensive designer pieces for a lot less with Stella and Dot:

Jenna Pearl and Ribbon Necklace

 Adrienne Chain Earrings

The Gorgeous Garden Party Chandelier Earrings from the Last Giveaway I seriously wear this little Jardin Ring all the time. I love it!

Soiree Earrings

Glint Flower Earrings

The Kelly Necklace also comes in black and was inspired by Grace Kelly.

The Lulu Vintage Glass Necklace is just gorgeous and it is on my Christmas list!

The Rachel Necklace features crystals and freshwater pearls and it is a very versatile piece that can be worn in so many ways.

The Natasha Embroidered Bib Necklace is one of my favorite Stella and Dot pieces. This hand embroidered bib with glass beads, faux pearls, Swarovski crystals, silk rosettes and ribbon tie closures was created at the same couture house that services Lanvin, Prada, Dior, and Jason Wu.

 

Click here to enter the giveaway at This is Glamorous.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Where has the last year gone? It has truly flown by, but I am so grateful because my 27th year was a wonderful one filled with personal growth, new discoveries, travel, a new puppy, and some amazing opportunities. Today marks my 28th birthday and I am hoping that this old adage will ring true this year: “May the best of the past be the worst of the future”. Here’s hoping!

Thank you for the gift of your readership and support. It means so much! Since it is my birthday and all, I do have a tiny favor to ask. As you know, La Dolce Vita is nominated for a Divine Caroline award. If you haven't voted yet, please do. I am currently in sixth place and could really use your help. You can click here to vote or you may click on the button on the upper left corner of the blog. It only takes a minute to register (it’s free) and they won’t fill your inbox with junk mail…promise!Thank you!

Image 1: Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton

Image 2: Nate Berkus for Glamour Magazine

Personal Style, Defined: All the Best

Today’s installment of “Personal Style, Defined” marks the end of the series, at least for the foreseeable future. It has been so wonderful to see where other bloggers and designers find their inspiration, and essentially how they define their personal style. It is actually a more difficult thing to do than you might think, so I am glad that so many of my talented blogging friends were up for the challenge. Thank you for the great response throughout this series! I have a new series in the works that will officially debut on November 17th, with a sneak peek next Tuesday, so stay tuned!

We are closing out the series with none other than Ronda Carman of All the Best. Ronda has made a blogging career out of profiling some of the most talented designers and style setters of our time, so it should be fun to see how she defines her own style. Enjoy!

I thought it would be quite difficult to define my personal style. I am very ADHD when it comes to design, and there are so many styles that I like and admire. I started with one of my all-time favorite images. This Kate Spade ad captures my personal style on so many levels. I often find that my fashion preferences play out in my interior preferences. I love red and black against a natural background, open my closet and it a sea of black—but you will always find red! While I tend to lean towards classics styles, I adore playful touches. Contemporary art in a traditional, uncluttered room always makes my heart sing. And, like jewelry, it’s the unique accessories that make all the difference in the world. They can make or break a room or an outfit, and of course, it's all about editing! Thank you for including me Paloma, it was really a lot of fun.

After looking at the Kate Spade ad again, I realized that many of the photos in my "favorites file" follow a similar pattern.

Elizabeth Mayhew’s living room makes me smile. The playful and unexpected art is a great punctuation mark against white walls. Not to mention that sofa brings the room to life!
 

 
The work of Alex Papachristidis is imaginative, creative and surprising. He confidently juxtaposes the boldness of modern art with sumptuous elements of traditional décor. His use of red is superb!

  
These two rooms are wonderful examples of contemporary art giving life to beautiful, unfussy living space. Brilliant!

 
Accessories, accessories, accessories. Edit, edit, edit. Todd Romano is King!

Angie Hranowsky and the Coastal Living Idea House 2009

From time to time, I like to check in on the websites of some of my favorite designers. Some update fairly often, while others go months without doing so. While checking in on Angie Hranowsky’s website, I was excited to see a new (to me) project! Angie designed Coastal Living’s 2009 Idea House in Charleston. The use of bright, cheerful colors stood out to me, especially as we approach winter. Angie always employs colors and patterns so beautifully, so it was no surprise that she did so in this house, too.

I am a huge fan of her work because she really understands how to make a room look layered. She mixes styles, colors, textures, patterns, and price points. She mixes old and new, traditional and eclectic. This house, like Angie’s style, is beautiful and well-designed, but equally warm and inviting.

The downstairs living area, like the rest of the house, features breezy colors and tons of beautiful fixtures, like these Goodman Hanging Lamps from Circa Lighting.

The portrait in the dining area is not a painting. It is made from vintage bottle caps. How cool is that?

I like that Angie plays upon the height of the room through her use of long, sheer drapes and tall vintage lamps with sixties-style shades.

Looking from the Staircase to the Kitchen

The kitchens Angie designs always feature the most incredible tilework and this one is no exception! I like that she chose smaller pendant lighting. Anything larger would have felt too cumbersome for the size of the room. The Boston Functional Pendants are perfect!

I love the modern look of the cabinetry!

Downstairs Powder Bath

The library is a study in purple. Notice how many textures are present in this room alone.

All of the furniture chosen for this project is both cozy and chic.

Lovely Details

This bright, little nook is sure to be inspiring for whomever is lucky enough to work in this space. I love the clean lines of the Parsons desk against the curves and warm color of the seventies chair. Thomas O’Brien’s Terri Tall Table Lamp in Alabaster is the perfect accent!

The master bedroom features a bed with a dramatic canopy. I really like the combination of the ethnic print fabric and the luxe, silk lining.

The room certainly has a global vibe. Ethnic fabric, Moroccan-inspired tables, and rattan furniture with a Caribbean vibe.

I absolutely love this gorgeous dresser!

Brass fixtures are definitely gaining in popularity! Not the shiny stuff of the 1980s, but hand rubbed antiqued bronze, like the finish on these French Deco Horn Sconces from Circa. The gold hardware and lighting paired with the creamy cabinetry makes for a very luxe look.

 

Images via Angie Hranowsky and Circa Lighting

This Week’s Quote

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope your day is filled with spooky surprises and lots of treats. Have a wonderful weekend!

Image 1 via Thanassis Krikis

Image 2 via Ruven Afanador