. { ring in 2012 }

What you are your plans for New Year's Eve? Going out big or staying in? Either way, here's wishing you a very Happy New Years!

xoxo

H

. { BOSS Orange }

{ Hugo Boss Orange line, Fall 2011 }

Something pretty and fun for a Monday morning, just because. Hope your Monday goes well!

xoxo

H

images via FGR

. { seeing red }

Some days I can't get enough red. Today, is definitely one of those days (so I'm naturally wearing green). I don't own enough red ... that's something I should look into. There's something very attractive to me about a nice pop of color. 

p.s. If you had asked me about red yesterday, you would've just noticed that I was just seeing red for the majority of the day. Thank God it's no longer Monday, right?

(Amen)

* images via & via

. { glamorous friday }

Something about fall rain, chill air, and driving to work in the fog makes me feel like it should be one of those jazz-filled days where everything feels quieter, softer, and somehow more glamorous. So, I thought I'd share some of my favorite glam photos of morning champagne, Paris crystal, and Miu Miu couture. Wouldn't a little Parisan breakfast with some bubbly, background jazz, a soft sweater, and morning drizzle be lovely today?

Here's a little jazz playlist for your Friday that I've handpicked for you:

- Ella Fitzgerald: Blues in the Night

- Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole: Unforgettable

- Etta James: Stormy Weather

- Melody Gardot: Les Etoiles

- Norah Jones: The Nearness of You

- Miles Davis: All Blues

- Madeleine Peyroux: Dance Me to the End of Love

- Catherine Russell: Just Because You Can

- Diana Krall: Let's Face the Music and Dance

- Billie Holidy: God Bless the Child

And with that, I wish you a Happy Friday and lovely weekend!

xoxo

H

{ madewell }

There is absolutely nothing that I don't love about this Madewell lookbook. 

   - lighting is fantastic
   - the clothes are all something I would wear
   - the layout is great
OK. So here's the deal: someone's going to get me some money ASAP so I can shop from Madewell. 
Thanks!

*via FGR

new theme, new feel

So, I'm trying out a new theme for a new feel to my blog ... so I apologize for any random email updates, new post updates, etc. Time to brush back up on my HTML code! There will be some serious quirks around here for a little while. 
In the meantime, I was browsing through the ridiculous amount of saved images I have from the blogosphere, and check these puppies out ...

I really like this color palette for a spring feeling. With our random 45 degree days around here {soaring temps, right?} I've been starting to get spring fever big time! I will be moving soon, and instead of looking at how much of a pain in the arse it's going to be, which it will be, I'm trying to looking past the boxes, packing, search and rescue of lost items to the near future where I'll be redecorating my new home. {I'm totally going to eventually enlisting Mom and Sister for that if they'll partake}. But, these stripes, the metallics, leather, cools mixed with warms and the whole clean but rich feel makes me pretty happy. 


So, the blog has a new theme and a new address {mcgowandesign.blogspot.com}.
Similarly {and hopefully} I'll have a new theme and a new address soon too!

{ color palette: urban chic }

I love the pairing of subtle and plain textures with punches of

pattern and bright color. Something about it feels so urban and loft-like.

This Swedish home and daylook mixed with a time lapse of a night time

 highway in Atlanta makes me want navy, coral, and beige in my 

wardrobe and apartment. It seems so chic yet relaxed, doesn't it?

color palette: rich & serene

I am loving this soothing and rich color palette. GAP's Spring RTW 2011 campaign offers clean and cool lines that remind me of the quiet and muted tones of this amazing home office that I am in complete love with. Pair them with this quiet photo taken in British Columbia, and it makes a happy little trio of calm, quiet, and rich colors and textures. 

Anyone up for helping me redecorate my apartment?

{ Bon International }

The latest issue of Bon International offers up an example of amazing 

nomadic fashion with Andreas Sjodin’s studio portraits.  Starring 

Gertrud Hegelund and styled by Naomi Itkes, the images remix the 

spring collections from Missoni, Celine, Proenza Schouler.

This is the perfect example of why I love editorial fashion photography.

Not only is it a great portrayal of the model, the feeling of the fashion,

but it's edgy, and has great texture, depth, and visual interest. 

Sigh. OK, I'm done gushing.

Happy Saturday!

* images via FGR

[ juxtaposition ]

I am loving these vintage book covers juxtaposed with these looks!

via  Miss Moss

{ rucksack love }

Ever since I went to NYC this summer, I've been

looking for a fashionable way to carry a lot of 

junk in a purse/bag without taking my hiking

L.L. Bean backpack (bright red) with me everywhere.

This very fashionable lady on the subway had

a leather backpack / rucksack that I loved.

It was Fendi, however, and probably cost

her more than my car is worth. 

But, I found something! This is so cute!

P.S. I love the little studs.  

OK.   I am going to have to start saving 

my pennies for this Roxy bag.  

[ portrait: carmilla ]

I love this portrait series so much ...

in fact, it makes me want to do a great studio session

right now. Any volunteers? ps. It's raining so hard outside.

I may have to swim home from work ... just sayin'.

[ david shields ]

David Shields is incredible.

[ fashion week: Jason Wu ]

As I've said before, I'm a little obsessed with fashion

... and NY Fashion Week has just come to an end.

Jason Wu's Spring 2011 line is major.

I seriously started salivating when looked through his

look book and FGR's post on the runway show. 

These looks are seriously lust-worthy. Wouldn't you 

love to wear these looks to work ... and just watch people's

jaws drop ... and see their envy, and watch them turn green. 

OK. I got side-tracked.  It happens, don't judge. 

I mean, look at this! If you wore this to an interview,

it's a guarantee that you'd get hired. Or robbed of your

suit... and then you'd have to go home necked (embarrassing).

This dress? I died. I seriously died, and then was 

resurrected because I looked at it again. It's so 

crazy-gorgeous. That color combo makes me want to

start wearing only nude-navy combos for maybe... forever.

And then there's this dress. This dress could conquer

an empire. While it's still on the hanger. And then put 

it on someone? Gosh. No one would have a chance for

survival. Jason Wu is super talented ... and I'm a little jealous.

~

OK. So, now that you've heard me gush about fashion

(again), I'll curb my enthusiasm. You may wonder what

makes me go so gaga over clothes (after all, it's just clothes, 

right?). But, there's more to fashion than clothes 

and superficiality for me. I really love beautiful things. 

It's less of a girly-pretty-obsession thing and more of a

 ... I love all artsy pretty things. Hence, my Visual Arts 

major. Fashion is another expression of design (quite literally) 

and art. Thus, I love it. Patterns, colors, looks, and 

fabrics are so inspiring for graphic design and 

photography, and it makes me happy to see 

other artists expressing their talent so well and so successfully.

... and with that, I wish you a happy weekend!

[ ramma-lamma-ding-dong ]

Who put the 'bop' 

in the 'bop-shoo-bop-shoo-bop?'

Who put the 'ram'

in the 'ramma-lamma-ding-dong?'

(via fgr)

[ i'd rather be ... ]

Today I'd rather be ...

... goofing off in the sun than sitting in my office.


(images via fgr)

[ forever 21 finds ]

I am loving these tops from Forever 21.

The thing I love about them the most,

besides being insanely cute? They're affordable.

(images here, here, and here)

Equestrian Elegance

I love the look books for Dace, 
not mention the amazing clothes.

What girl doesn't have a part of them that 
loves that elegant equestrian look?

water color + LL Bean = love

I am in love with these business cards seen on Oh Happy Day!

I want a letterpress ... and awesome cards like these too!

L.L. Bean has a new line called L.L. Bean Signature.

I am in love with this sweater... it's so pretty.