Modern day apsara

I picked up this issue of Hi! Blitz in Delhi in 2010, and I've held onto it over the years for photographer Suresh Natarajan's gorgeous images of Indian actress, model, and former Miss Universe, Lara Dutta.

The idea of using body paint could be tacky, but I think the styling here is very tasteful.  

As you can see from the faded covers of this book on Italian embroidery, it's been on my shelf for years and continues to be a favorite. Every time I go through these pages, I find a technique, pattern or material that inspires me to make something new.

I discovered Szeki, a boutique in the Lower East Side, earlier this year, and continue to be a big fan of their chic, modern, easy-to-wear clothes. I was also charmed by the sprightly creator, Szeki Chan, who spent a solid half hour helping me pick the best pieces for my petite frame.

I love the fluid silhouette and shades of blue in this silk dress.

A simple yet strong piece from Szeki's line of jewelry

I swear, the first time I wore these slouchy, high-waisted pants, I had never received so many complements from so many women in one day!

Me, happy and comfortable in the aforementioned pants, between two devilishly handsome friends.

Etsy, the online marketplace for all things handmade, can be tough to navigate. You can easily go bleary-eyed combing pages and pages of jewelry for the perfect piece.

Here are some items I either own or covet that I think fit the bill of being beautiful, wearable, affordable, and, happily, handmade by modern-day artisans from Portland, Oregon, to Omaha, Nebraska, to Richmond, Virginia.

Delicate yet distinctive, this necklace from Betsy and Iya has become one of my favorite pieces. 

I love the unusual shape and mix of metals in these brass and pyrite earrings from Elisabeth Space. They are a staple in my jewelry box, and complement practically everything I own. 

These crescent moons of sterling silver are another favorite pair of earrings from Elisabeth Space.

I have my eye on this simple, elegant bracelet from Young Frankk.

A lovely statement piece from Young Frankk.

Technicolor Dreams

Bollywood cinema was a staple of my childhood. At least once a month, my parents would rent the latest four hour long, music and dance filled epic from our local Indian grocery/video store. Often the copies had been dubbed so many times we could barely make out the actors' faces or decipher the English subtitles (not that one really needed them to understand the hyperbolic plot lines).

I haven't watched a Bollywood movie in years, but my nostalgia lives on in this mini collection of posters my boyfriend and I picked up in Delhi a few years ago. I love the bold colors and wonky graphic design.

graphic design. 

I don't think I've ever managed to travel abroad without bringing back a book or two. This trip to France a few years ago was no exception. I found this beautiful edition of botanical images at the Tuilleries Bookshop in Paris.

I love how these close-up images of tree bark become abstract compositions of color and texture. 

Admittedly, I can't understand the French captions, but that has never stopped me from finding inspiration in these lush pages.