As much as white is one of the symbols of winter and the winter holidays, associated with the image of falling snowflakes and blankets of soft snow, wearing bright colors only feels natural to me in warmer weather. Airy, soft and semi-transparent fabrics seem the perfect fit for the beach or a hot summer’s day. While a large, beige, cable-knit sweater or a button-down white shirt are must-haves in any wardrobe, in winter they are usually worn with jeans, a darker pants or skirts. Even while observing the well-groomed images I am sharing with you today, you are probably still won...

A recent and recommended article from The New Yorker quoted a demographic report on Silicon Valley workforces, confirming what everyone already knew: "Tech is a man’s world." Tech rock stars like Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg and Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer with their senior leadership positions are rare, and men make up 60 to 70 percent of employees at the participating tech companies, while the number of female computer science graduates has almost halved. As mentioned in Writing, a previous post in The Road topic, reading about people, especially women, who have made it to th...

Tokujin Yoshioka: Crystals create spider's thread chair The seeds of our inner drive are planted sometime in early childhood either by our own dreams or by the expectations of others. For years we irrigate this inner source, plowing and trimming, but when the time come to harvest, we realize that either we used the wrong seeds or that we are left with no energy to continue the pursuit. By rewinding, I went back to look for the original drive and motive, that preliminary dream that may have been the start of my journey. It took me a great deal of time to start listening to my inner vo...

Winter can be a golden opportunity to explore new ways to keep warm while at the same time building a signature capsule wardrobe. Wearing layers, wrapping yourself in big snuggly sweaters, cozying up with a blanket scarf or donning a statement coat are only some examples of an endless list of possibilities. So yes, contrary to summer when it's too hot to cover up, the cold weather is an opportunity to mix and match in creative and new ways. Yet for me, dressing up for a more festive event—a dinner or a party—when it is cold outside is always a challenge. The days are long gone...

I am an emotional person. I find myself crying from a romantic teen movie. Tears fill my eyes whenever I read a birthday card aloud to my loved ones. But nothing touches me more than observing an individual's achievements. It is the human ability to envisage a goal, work for its accomplishment and, through its outcome, touch and influence the lives and inclinations of others that makes me so emotional. I admire people who do amazing things and maybe that is why I believe so strongly in striving to reach the potential you believe you have.  It is often not exception...

"Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.” Coco Chanel         The all-black outfit has for years dominated women's choice as the ultimate for an elegant, chic and flattering look. But how did it get started? Maybe it derived from the "little black dress” concept? Maybe it evolved as the easy and safe way of combining? Unless you are looking to adopt a gothic style, however, I find the all-black look a somewhat boring choice which limits s...

Much advice has been written on how to start blogging, on the rationale and motivation, and how to avoid common beginner's mistakes. This and this are just two examples, both including a long list of dos and don’ts. I also like the advice given by Amanda Fuller on the Kaleidoscope Blog, and her confessional "8 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging" is certainly worth reading. Research can help you benefit from the experience of others and avoid, as much as possible, mistakes which require a lot of time and energy to fix at a later stage. However, blogging is a person...

It is both for and because of my three daughters that I lost myself—for the good and the bad; but it is also because of them that I was alerted to the need to stand up for myself.   As I watched them grow up, I would occasionally see myself reflected in them: a facial expression, a gesture, a choice of clothing, but more importantly: an observation, an opinion, their choices and their plans for the future. I came to appreciate the enormity of our influence as parents and to realize that they will follow in my path, whether I like it or not.  They will either mimic my behavi...

Since I started writing my blog, so much around me seems to take the shape of the ideas I am discussing. It makes me wonder whether it is my own awareness that has sharpened my observations, highlighting things that I had previously overlooked, or whether it is, in fact, new winds blowing around us. I was debating this with myself when I saw the pictures from the latest Chanel fashion show held by German designer Karl Lagerfeld during Paris Fashion Week in September 2014. After displaying the Spring/Summer 2015 women's ready-to-wear Collection, on a catwalk fashioned to look like a Parisi...

It is only when you accepts and loves yourself with all the rough edges and imperfections that you are able to embrace the same love of others. And, at the same time, be able to love others regardless of their deficiencies and maybe even because of them.   "Cause all of me   Loves all of you   Love your curves and all your edges   All your perfect imperfections"John Legend     A beautiful, beautiful song describing the essence of love and all that we wish for.   Enjoy! Imag...