Ruby Press » vintage

West Coast Love…

Melissa — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:05:45 +0000

Jen from The Haystack Needle blog asked me if I’d contribute a guest post to her blog for the this week, and of course I obliged!! The theme is West Coast Love, and my post is about what I love about San Francisco… Check it out here! Thanks Jen! xx

{image from here}

Fitzgerald Thursdays at Old Village Hall

Angela — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:20:24 +0000

If you’re an NYC dweller and haven’t been to Old Village Hall yet in the East Village, today is THE day to pop by. Welcome Fitzgerald Thursdays- a weekly reward to those spending the summer weekends in the city.

Browse Scott Hill’s silk screened beauties, masterfully edited antiques and locally crafted gems and meet the man himself. See something you like? Just mention “Fitzgerald” for an instant 20% discount and score one of Hill’s totes for free if you spend $150-a $25 value.

{If you happen to be there after 4pm, indulge in a complimentary mint julep or gin and tonic while you shop-it’s summertime after all!}

{Image by Gentl Hyers}

Mademoiselle

Melissa — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:05:10 +0000

I worked at Mademoiselle magazine from 1995 to 2000, right before Conde Nast sadly shuttered its doors. It saddens me that it’s now been almost ten years since it’s been in publication. Of course I have all of the issues from when I was an editor there saved {at my parents’ house- sorry mom!} but I’ve also bought many vintage issues over the years, some of which I’m selling on eBay. {We have to make room for the newest addition to the family two months from now!}

My faves are this one, for it’s gorgeous and totally unique cover, and this one because of the great fashion career articles….

My Mother’s Clothes

Angela — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:46:21 +0000

After spotting this book on Mrs. Lilien Styling House and doing a little digital page flipping, I’m anxious to get my hands on a copy. My Mother’s Clothes by photographer Jeannette Montgomery Barron is a tribute to her late mother, a fixture in Atlanta society who tragically developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Part memoir, photo essay and fashion journal all jumbled into one, the book became a way to spark her mother’s fleeting memories and document her fashion legacy. Watch the book trailer here.

{Image from here}

The chicest trunk ever?

Melissa — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:08:55 +0000

I envy the person who will undoubtedly snatch this white leather studded trunk up from Paris Hotel Boutique today! It’s a new arrival that Lynn just put up on the site today….wow.

Cabin 7

Melissa — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:00:13 +0000

Just launched today, Cabin 7 is the brainchild of two childhood friends Jennifer Jafarzadeh L’Italien {she’s a former editor that we’ve loved working with for years and is now the blogger behind The Haystack Needle!} and Chris Haber. {They met many moons ago at summer camp- and yep, stayed in Cabin 7!} Jen and Chris make- and sell- gilded wood objects, like gold gilded vintage children’s wooden blocks and gorgeous wood chunks spliced to turn into a chic business card holder! (Learn more about gilding here.}

Chillingham Castle

Melissa — Thu, 06 May 2010 14:24:29 +0000

My favorite part of traveling is often the hotel…and this castle turned hotel makes me want to make a trip to the Northumberland countryside in England JUST to stay there. Built in the 12th century, Chillingham Castle has an amazing history, complete with gorgeous formal gardens and even a creepy torture chamber. But what I really love are the rooms {suites really, or ‘apartments‘ as they call them} which were transformed into unique, charming spaces that aren’t trying to be ‘perfect’. {But they are perfect for traveling with a family or a few friends!} Don’t you just want to move in??

Check out the Gray Apartment…

Or the Lookout Apartment…

And the Dairy Apartment…

My 40th in Palm Springs

Melissa — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:20:26 +0000

This Thursday {my actual birthday- it’s no April Fools Day joke!} I’m heading to Palm Springs with 4 of my favorite girlfriends- and I can barely wait!! We are renting a chic little house with a pool and the plans over the 4 days include dinner at Citron at the Viceroy, breakfast at Norma’s at the Parker, hikes, vintage shopping, drinks at the Ace Hotel, spa treatments at the Yacht Club at the Parker, and of course lots and lots of pool time!

I found this stylish house on a Palm Springs rental home site, but Kate also came across my “birthday house” a few months later on Habitually Chic! I’ll give you a full report, of course…

Cartier and America at the Legion of Honor

Melissa — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:07:09 +0000

If you live anywhere near San Francisco and haven’t been to this Legion of Honor exhibit {which celebrates Cartier’s 100 years in the states} yet, you still have until Mother’s Day to see what we at Ruby Press considered to be an overwhelmingly breathtaking display of Cartier jewelry from the Belle Epoque through the 1970’s.

{Tip: When you go, make sure you don’t miss the adjacent rooms which house the design sketches of the jewelry on paper- which were almost as stunning as the pieces themselves!}

Some of my favorites included the Duchess of Winsdor’s bib necklace, which would look so modern even today! {This is necklace and the designer’s sketch, which I fell in love with as well.}

Grace Kelly’s jewelry, which included the necklace you see in this photo and her spectacular 10.47 carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring…

And this carved emerald and diamond brooch belonging to Marjorie Merriweather Post, as seen in this painting.

Blog It Forward….

Melissa — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:16:26 +0000

Call it the modern day version of a chain letter, but I call this fun! Victoria from SFGirlByBay started this Blog it Forward and everyone participating is blogging about what inspires them and then passing it onto the next blogger…but alas, today is the last day, so it ends here! {Thanks for the intro from yesterday’s Blog It Forward contributor, River Dog Prints!}

What inspires me? There are so many things it’s kind of tough to choose, but here are a few-

Vintage photos, especially portraits. I’ve spent hours upon hours sorting through bins at the flea market.

Old houses and their architectural details…especially old doors, original bathrooms and kitchens.

Gorgeous food blogs/photography…like Canelle et Vanille or Sunday Suppers. They inspire me to put on an apron and get in the kitchen!

Vintage calligraphy and calligraphic prints.

Music- especially women who rock. Dying to see the new Runaways movie. Have you seen the documentary that came out years ago?

Vacations- the lazy kind!

{Image #1 from here, #2 from here, #3 from here, #4 from here, #5 from here, and #6 from here.}

This was fun! Thanks!!

xxMelissa