Just Peachy: Kate Moss's Beautiful Cover

UPDATED! below . . .

This morning my eldest daughter and I walked to the farmers' market for fresh vegetables and bouquets of gloriously faded zinnias.

Although I do like jewel tones, a faded flower, in shades of peach, pink, and saffron, is so pretty at this time of year, when the light begins to change from summer bright to fall warm tones.

I also bought, though not at the farmer's market, August's Vogue UK (at the end of the month, I know), so struck was I by Kate Moss's cover.

Not only does she look more elegant than I've seen her for years in an editorial (I was actually reminded of this image for Liz Tilberis' Harper's Bazaar):

except that she is wearing a gently faded peach dress, delectably embroidered with sequins and silk:

I do hope to see more KM editorials like this one (photographed by Mario Testino).

But wait:  what's this?  A dress so terracotta-y, bordering on "rust," that I ignored it on style.com?

How can this earthy dress be the peachy confection far above?  Ahh, the tricks of the light . . .

What's Black and White and Read All Over (and Orange and Green . . .)

Ahh, picking up the daily paper could be such a cheerful errand if all vendors were decked out in pretty prints.

*Image from Waverly

Watercolor for the Beach

When I was in my early twenties I looked forward to buying a new swimsuit every summer. 

My label of choice then was Gottex, prompted by the then enticing ads I'd see in Vogue. 

Valeria Golino in Gottex

Once I saw a Gottex ad of Paulina Porizkova (one of my very favorite models, now and then), who was wearing a bandeau one-piece, in light turquoise blue embellished with a silvery-gold crackle design.  I ran right out to a swimsuit shop in Ottawa and got it. 

(I still have the Paulina ad, but it's home.  I'll try to scan and post upon return.)  The beauteous Paulina-for-Gottex is also above, top image.

Another time I saw a matte-gold maillot with a bandeau top and retro straps (gathered at the top of the swimsuit, wide on the shoulder) in Flare magazine and embarked on an immediate telephone search.  I'd located and purchased it by lunch.

Naomi Campbell in Gottex

Since I no longer live on a small island where beaching can be a career in the summer, I haven't been so much in tune with swimwear for the past years.

But when vacationing on Nantucket last week, I saw some watercolor prints that are helping me get back into the swim of things, so to speak.

The first print is by the Italian company Leggiadro. This shop has a crazy cap/lower-cap-mix "handwritten" label and boasts a hearty helping of cheetah print, but can also be subtle.

These swimsuits were in the shop window, and were particularly appealing, given the island light:

The second print, below, is by Manuel Canovas, a name I hadn't thought about in years, but was delighted to remember.  I particularly like the flattering cut of the maillot, though the bikini looks equally wearable:

One of my favorite swimsuit models from the great 80s is Ashley Richardson.  Her patented pose was the extraordinary leap:

I liked her work for ELLE (not so much SI, thanks).  Here she is with Rachel Williams: 

And of course, Rachel is another athletic model who could work a swimsuit:

Do gentle readers have any favourite combinations?  Swinsuit/model; swimsuit/designer?

Pink and Green

Indeed, the pink and green mix is known as classic preppy, but even on Nantucket, one can tweak the standard to produce a new look.

I've written both this summer and last about the tunic salad available on the island, but was hesitant to take a bite till I found the most unusual colour combination, tucked away in an unlikely shop.  It's a bright mossy green with rich fuschia flowers, a slim fit, and, well, just pleases me.

As I looked at the Indian cotton block-print, I realized it reminded me of one of my favourite hand-blocked wallpapers, from Adelphi.  That image is above.

But it also reminded me of the Priory Garden wllpaper from J. R. Burrows, seen below, although the colors in this historic print are more subdued.

And you know, it's impossible to be a wallflower in this "Proustian wallpaper" tunic.

Hue, Britannia!

This summer is all about colour for me. 

I've completed two quilts, one a crazy melange of Liberty prints, the other a dialogue between vintage applique squares and primitive quilting (which means larger stitches and freehand designs) I've done with coloured embroidery floss. 

My family even beat the NYT to the punch with its Elvis-would-be-proud colourful-shoes story.

Now I want to turn to my home in a way I have never done: I want to paint parts of it.  I've already noted that I plan to reimagine my fireplace a la Vanessa Bell at Charleston, if I get the nerve, but a less public-room project might be transforming a chest of drawers. 

As you may know, I have a "thing" for the Union Jack as decoration, and have just seen a fantastic DIY project that I would like to emulate.

Look above at the bureau painted by clothing designer Sheridan French.  She was inspired by the chest of drawers painted in tradition Union Jack colours but updated it.  Would it not be a lark to try this as well?

Now for the colour palette.  I love the orange and pink pictured, but think that a turquoise or aqua and jade or pink combination could be smart.  (OK, maybe funky rather than smart.) 

Have gentle readers seen the Union Jack dressed up in any utterly desirable colour combinations?  I'm open to inspiration!

Possibilities: red and purple (inspired by a Zac Posen dress)