Monday, October 25, 2010

A Post by Hope ... I Love Being a Girly-Girl




The other seven Ooh La Frou Frou girls are jealous.
When I told them the title of my post,
you should have heard the fun conversation we had
over coffee one morning this week.
Of course, each of us feels
that SHE is the most girly-girl of all.
Truth is, we ALL are.
I told them they could do their own
Girly-Girl post sometime ... I wouldn't mind.
After all, we're all girly in different ways.

My definition of a
Girly-Girl:
A woman who not only enjoys being a girl,
but embraces it and celebrates it.

I'm going to start my post with a toast
(a virtual one!)
to all of the Girly-Girl Glamorous Followers of our blog!
One of our darling Followers
shared a beautiful bottle of champagne with
Ooh La Frou Frou this week on Twitter.
(Not really, of course, just the picture of the gorgeous bottle ...
Twitter's good, but not THAT good yet!)
I thought I'd share this pretty bottle with you,
as I don't think I've seen a prettier one!
Here's to you, Lily, (you are a true Girly-Girl, indeed)
and to all of our wonderful Girly-Girl Glamorous Followers!

Duval Leroy Rose Champagne


I couldn't possibly talk about
ALL things Girly-Girl in one post,
but I'll share with you a bit of girly fantasy and romance
and three ways in which I celebrate
being a woman.



What Girly-Girl doesn't love a special occasion?
Actually, each moment of our lives is an occasion,
a moment that won't be here ever again,
so why not celebrate even those little moments as Occasions?

It takes some intention to create an Occasion.
They usually don't happen on the spur of the moment.
One way I celebrate my femininity
is by surrounding myself with beauty.
And this, in turn, makes simple, everyday things become Occasions.
For instance:
Instead of picking up juice from the grocery store,
I squeeze fresh juice the night before.
I've purchased a very special
Waterford Crystal Amethyst Champagne Flute ...
just one flute ... just for me.
A whole set would have been very expensive.
But just one ... makes my morning juice an Occasion.

I also purchased one place setting of china especially for my breakfast ~
my only criteria was that it would make me happy each morning.
There's something freeing when you don't have to make the
weighty decision of a service for 12.

As soon as I saw this dinnerware,
I knew I'd found the perfect "present" for my inner Girlie-Girl.
It's the Belle Boulevard Collection by Kate Spade.
Illustration of oranges by Sandy - artist, Ooh La Frou Frou Collection.
(c) Ooh La Frou Frou 2010 ~ all rights reserved.



If you're like me,
when you start thinking of making life's little moments more special,
you'll find yourself "planning" Occasions for yourself.

How many things in your day

could you make an Occasion?




I celebrate being a girl
by buying only what I absolutely love
and never buy something that doesn't feel wonderful on my body.
I believe in dressing well even when you think no one will see you.
That's precisely the time they will.

I love fashion.  And not in the practical way.
Sometimes I just melt when I watch the
haute couture fashion shows.
The Girly-Girl in me wonders what it must be like
to walk as a model walks, past flashing cameras,
hearing the swish of layers upon layers of tulle.

Some of you may remember this runway show earlier this year:
John Galliano's Dior 2010-11 Paris Fashion Week Runway Show
that featured dresses and gowns resembling beautiful flowers,
where the models even wore cellophane on their heads
as a whimsical nod to bouquets.
I asked very nicely
if the Ooh La Frou Frou artist
would create an illustration of me
in one of the haute couture gowns
from that Paris fashion show.
Voila!
Directly beneath my illustration is the video of the actual runway show.
Even though many of you may have already seen it,
if you have a minute, you may enjoy
viewing the video to see if you can spot the actual dress that is illustrated on me!
(There is a quick 15-second advertisement in the beginning of the show)
If you don't have time to watch the entire show
(takes about 10 minutes but it's fun!)
you can forward ahead ... the long gowns
are toward the end of the show!

Illustration of Ooh La Frou Frou girl Hope in her fantasy walk down a Dior runway
at Musee Rodin during 2010-11 Paris Fashion Week.
Artwork by Ooh La Frou Frou's artist and creator, Sandy.  (c) Ooh La Frou Frou 2010 ~ all rights reserved.









I've started something fun & girly:
hanging pictures of beautiful couture items
that I've spotted in magazines and loved.
I place them in pretty matching mirrored frames
that hang side-by-side in my dressing room.
This breathtaking ostrich-feather clutch by Valentino Garavani
is the latest addition to my wall.

Valentino clutch is from Elle Magazine, November, 2010.
Collection at Bergdorf-Goodman NYC.




I'm simply not dressed without perfume.
Deciding which perfume is really you is another matter.
Recently, I shopped for perfume one afternoon with Alex.
Yep, that's me in the black and white dress and Alex in the pink.
I thought I'd try something new, but haven't found one yet that I love more
than my signature scent.
These things I know about choosing perfume:
1. Never make quick decisions without wearing the perfume for a day.
It's different on everyone and changes throughout the day.
2. What someone else loves or what the designers have that's new
doesn't really matter ... it's all about you.

Illustration of  Ooh La Frou Frou girls Hope and Alex perfume shopping
by Sandy - artist and creator of the Ooh La Frou Frou Collection.
(c) Ooh La Frou Frou 2010 ~ all rights reserved.
Perfume isn't about your head.  It's about your heart.
There is nothing else that stays in your memory quite like scent.
It's a very romantic thing.
Perfume designers know that perfume pulls at a Girly-Girl's heart strings.
Thought you might enjoy a little Chanel No. 5 romantic mini-movie:



Your perfume can be such an important part of you,
you may wish to wear it close to your heart.

Maya Jewels "Crimes of Passion" Perfume Amulets

What is your favorite perfume?

Artwork of Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf, Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel and Twirl by Kate Spade
by Sandy, artist, Ooh La Frou Frou Collection.  (c) Ooh La Frou Frou 2010 ~ all rights reserved.









26 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful post full of delicious details!I share so many of your loves...Dior Haute Couture being #1 of all them!Thank you for sharing your fabulous asthetics with me. :-)

Anonymous said...

G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

A little Monday love note for:

Couture Millinery Atelier: Thanks, so much, for your lovely comment, darling! Means so much, and especially so, coming from a woman who creates beauty daily with her beautiful hats! xo

notjusanothermilla: What could make me happier than seeing G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S in response to my post? Thank you so much, darling girlfriend! xo

Annemarie said...

I am with you, Hope! I love being a girly-girl as well! What gorgeous post! Hugs xoxo

Andrea Reh said...

Rose champagne? Yes please!

Would love it if you stopped by my blog sometime.

Andrea X
andreareh.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Ah did you really buy a purple waterford glass? I love it! You are inspiring me to use mine--I have several sets but save them for holidays, I should use them every day of course! And pink champagne is my all-time fav!

Thank you for stopping by my blog--I loved your post today and hope you're having a lovely week so far!
xo

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Love notes from Hope for:

Brunch at Saks: Yay, another girly-girl! I'm so glad you liked my post darling, we all love your blog too!

Andrea@Andrea Reh: Well, hold out your glass, darling, and I'll pour you some! I would love to stop by your blog ~ thank you for your invitation! Can't wait! xo

Mary Jo from TrustYourStyle: The answer is yes and it really is habit-forming and starts small ... first it's treating yourself to a special glass at breakfast, then it's the earrings you REALLY love instead of the ones that are SIMILAR to the ones you love, then your favorite flowers by your bedside and not just for guestrooms ... so glad you love the blog as all of the girls love yours and find your style tips so helpful!!!

Vannessa@Luxuria said...

Wow! You never fail to amaze me with your creativity Sandy. I "think" Hope is my fav girl (can I say that in public?) as I am a real "girly girl" too. Now I feel like I'm betraying the other gorgeous girls :-(

So what's my favorite perfume? My signature scent is Diorella by Christian Dior. I wrote on my blog a few months ago how this perfume came "into my life" ;-)
Great post!!

Pink Champagne said...

Isn't being a girly girl the best?! Personally, I think boys are missing out because fashion is just too much fun! Cheers to you, darling for such a fabulous post. I raise a glass of pink champagne to you! XO

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Oooooh, mini-love letters to the following Glamorous Girlfriends:

Vanessa@Luxuria: Oh, Vanessa, I feel so happy that you love my post!!! All of us here at Ooh La Frou Frou just love your jewelry -- the earrings that the artist wears are too beautiful!!
Now I have to go smell Diorella -- I can't remember if I have tried that one! Thanks for your lovely comment! xoxo

Pink Champagne: Hi darling! YES, being a girly-girl IS the best and I agree with you totally ... those poor, poor boys. So sad for them. No tulle or froth or fluff in their lives. Can you feel me clinking my glass of pink champagne to yours in celebration of girliness? Thanks for your lovely comment, sweetie, and thanks so much for being a Glamorous Girlfriend of the blog! xoxo

Love, Hope xo

Posh Girl Couture said...

LOVE Your Blog & designs.
So Fabulous & so sweet you are!

OMG how did I miss that Valentino Garavani bag. Oh my gosh I LOVE it. LOVE.

Thanks for all the sweet comments.
You Inspired me once again.
Kisses & Hugs
Joelle XOXO

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

A note for Joelle Dolce Bebe from Ooh La Frou Frou girl HOPE:

Hello glamorous girlfriend! Thank you for your compliments on my blog post! I KNOW, does that bag not make you just m-e-l-t??????? Your blog is fabulous too! The artist and all of "eight stars of the cards" (including me!) trotted over to your blog last night and today and so enjoyed your girly posts too!!! Next Monday, Ooh La Frou Frou girl Belle will be posting and you won't want to miss it!! xoxo

Posh Girl Couture said...

ohhh Thank you & all the girls, so much for stopping over at my blog & for leaving all the lovely comments. I can't wait to see what you blog next. I Love it all!

DREAM WITH YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN

Joelle xoxo

La'Tonya Richardson said...

Beautiful site, pinktabulous! I tried my hardest to be follower 100, but have to settle for 101. I hope you return the favor.

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

A little note from Hope to:

Joelle Dolce Bebe: Your welcome and thank you lovely! Next week's blog post is going to be by Belle!

LaTonya Richardson: YAY! A brand new Glamorous Girlfriend! Thank you so much for becoming our 101st follower (just as important as number 100!) I hope you enjoy the blog - a new post will be here every Monday! I think you'll enjoy Belle's fun post coming up next too!

Hugs .. Hope

camille said...

Such a lovely post... I agree that it is definitely important to make even little things seem like occasions. Obsessssssed with that Valentino clutch.... absolutely exquisite and definitely something to add to my daydreams. By the way, thanks SO, SO much for adding me to your blog roll... such an honor to be associated with this amazing blog of yours :) Paris in Pink

Anonymous said...

Perfume amulets! And that champagne flute just for you! SO glam. You're definitely my kind of girly girl :-)

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

A love note to Paris in Pink from Ooh La Frou Frou girl Hope:

Thank you, darling, for the compliments on my post and our blog (I'll let the other girls and the artist know!) ~ we all LOVE your blog and find it a dreamy fantasy to the place we all love ... Paris! It was our pleasure to add you to our blog roll ... we love sharing our favorites with all of our Glamorous Girlfriends!

Love, Hope xo

Julie Leah said...

Finally getting my booty over here, Miss Hope!! I absolutely adore your quotes. I think they are all words to live by, especially 'make even little things occasions.' I love to celebrate even the littlest things :)

You in the Dior is ah-mazing!! Breathtaking, actually! Last but not least, I am swooning over this darling illustration of the perfume bottles!! I need that for my bathroom :)

Happy Thursday, Hope! I so enjoyed your post as I am definitely a fellow girly girl :) Hugs and Kisses to you!!

Xo,
Julie

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

A little love note to Julie (brown eyed belle) from Ooh La Frou Frou girl Hope:

Julie! We were just over to your lovely blog today, wishing Brown Eyed Belle a happy first birthday and we LOVED looking at all of your previous posts that we hadn't seen!! Glad you liked my quotes and a compliment from a fellow girly-girl on my Dior fantasy is truly a compliment indeed!! xoxo Lots of Love, girlfriend! Hope

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

You can't get much girlier than pink champagne...hence why I'm most obsessed with moet rose!

Paris Pastry said...

The Christian Dior Haute Couture illustration is so amazingly gorgeous! And that Valentino clutch ... I. Want.
Fabulous post!

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

A little note from Ooh La Frou Frou girl Hope to:

Kristin ~ Thank you for commenting on my post, Kristin! I know, champagne seems feminine anyway with all of its festive bubbles, but when you make it pink ... you've pushed it right over the girly top! xo

Paris Pastry: Thanks so much for visiting the Ooh La Frou Frou Collection Blog, darling, and all of the Ooh La Frou Frou girls (and the artist!) just love yours! I'll let the artist know that you loved her Haute Couture illustration of me. I know ~ that Valentino clutch is probably the prettiest I've EVER seen! xo

Have a wonderful weekend! Love, Hope

Barbara von Enger said...

Such feminine details! I am eternally girlish which is why I am especially drawn to this post.
Pink champagne, painterly illustration and the fashionable girls of Frou Frou - who could miss such an event;-)

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

A little note from Hope to:

Fashion, Art & other fancies: Such a sweet comment, and so good to know another girly-girl at heart! Thanks so much for dropping by to visit me, darling. xo

Angelica Ng said...

I'm a huge girly-girl. Just give me everything feminine and I'm set for life. Loving your Dior Couture illustration. It was a heart-stopping collection.

http://red-soledfashionista.blogspot.com/