gift guide 2012: tiffany blue

If you are one of the lucky few who managed to get all your holiday shopping done between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday - congratulations! If you, like me, aren't in that first group, don't sweat. There is plenty of time left before Christmas, and over the next few weeks I'll be sharing great gift ideas for everyone on your list. And you may even find a little something for yourself along way.

I can't seem to get enough of my latest color crush. Tiffany blue, aquamarine, turquoise, robin's egg blue - whatever you want to call, it's absolutely lovely. At once elegant and cheerful, it gives a fresh pop of color to everything from kitchen appliances to cameras.

1/ KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer, $350. 2/ J.Crew Edie Purse, $238. 3/ Yves Saint Laurent Arty Gold-Plated Glass Ring, $290. 4/ Kate Spade Pixel Journal, $28. 5/ Lomography Diana F+ Camera, $99. 6/ Tory Burch Cotton Simone Cardigan, $225. 7/ Essie Nail Polish in Where's My Chauffeur, $8. 8/ Paper Source Seashell Letterpress Stationery, $10.50. 9/ Nanda Home Tocky Clock, $58. 10/ J.Crew Bubble Necklace, $120. 11/ Urbanears Plattan Headphones, $60.

summer beauty obsession: ysl rouge pur couture in le orange

I recently started working with Hour Detroit, a fantastic local city magazine, as a freelance style editor. When I was working on one of my first pieces for the mag - a round up of beauty products that offer SPF protection - I discovered my new summer beauty obsession: Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Pure Color Lipstick in Le Orange.

I have always loved a classic red lip, but I was seriously nervous about orange lipstick. Orange is so bold and juicy - I just didn't think I could pull it off. This gorgeous shade completely changed my mind. It's bright and no question orange, but it has just enough red in it to work with my pale rose complexion. The beach-ready SPF 15 formula is so creamy and smooth that it feels more like wearing a lip balm, and the color lasts for hours.

Check out YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipstick and more SPF beauty products in the July 2012 issue of Hour Detroit.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture, $32
www.yslbeautyus.com

yves saint laurent: the shoes

One of the most exciting parts of a vacation - for me, anyways - is putting together the outfits that I'm bringing with me. I usually get a little carried away and pack way too many shoes, more than I could ever wear in the brief amount of time I'll be away, but my trip to Denver was different.

For Denver, I only needed to pack one pair of heels.

Generously gifted to me by Neiman Marcus (have you entered the amazing beauty giveaway they're sponsoring?), these nude leather Tribtoo pumps were the only heels I needed in Denver. The weather was warm, the sun shining, spring was in the air, and these shoes went with everything. I was so excited to honor the house of Saint Laurent throughout my stay in Denver - here's how I wore these gorgeous shoes throughout my trip:

watch this: art beat tour of 'yves saint laurent: the retrospective'

Can't get enough of Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective? Yeah, me neither. Check out this PBS segment on the exhibit - Denver Art Museum director Christophe Heinrich and exhibit curator Florence Muller give us a tour and some incredible insight into the importance of Saint Laurent's work.

yves saint laurent: the exhibit

The iconic Mondrian dress (1965)
© Foundation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, Paris
Photo A. Guirkinger

If you do one thing this summer, book a flight to Denver and see Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective at the Denver Art Museum. The exhibit, which is having its exclusive U.S. showing in the Mile High City, documents 40 years of haute couture by one of the most influential designers of all time. For anyone who loves fashion, it's an inspiring, fascinating journey through sartorial history and an absolute must-see.

the eagle has landed

Denver Art Museum

I have arrived in Denver!!! I cannot wait to check out the YSL retrospective at the Denver Art Museum!!! Posting will be a little light until I get back to Detroit next week, but in the meantime, you can keep up with my adventures in the Mile High City on Facebook, Twitter, and - for all you iPhone users - on Instagram @beccastyle. Did I mention I'm excited to be in Denver? Because I'm excited to be in Denver!!!

yves saint laurent: the giveaway

Hmmmm, what could be inside? I bet you'd like to know!!!

In celebration of my trip to Denver to see the "Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective" exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, my good friends at Neiman Marcus at the Somerset Collection have generously sponsored an amazing giveaway for readers of paper + cloth! Let's take a look inside this gorgeous box!!!

wish list: vintage yves saint laurent

There are only a few days left until I head to Denver to see the Yves Saint Laurent retrospective at the Denver Art Museum! And what better way to get in the mood than drooling over some gorgeous vintage YSL? From ebay and Etsy to physical vintage boutiques that also offer online shopping, the internet has a lot to offer when it comes to vintage YSL. Shoes, bags, ties, scarves, and of course clothing...ahhh, the clothing. There are some many great pieces out there! Here are some of my favorites from around the web:

1/ Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Peasant Skirt
From the 1976 "Rich Peasant" collection, this skirt screams summertime. The tiered floral print cotton is accented with braided cobalt trim, a tie waist, and feminine ruffle detail. Boho chic at its finest.
$698, Free People

yves saint laurent: the brand

When Yves Saint Laurent the man founded his couture house in 1962, it was the start of a new fashion empire. The house's history is, according to Voguepedia, "a capsule version of the modern fashion industry - from its beginnings in couture to the eventual dominance of ready-to-wear to the rise of global conglomerates through branding and licensing. Saint Laurent not only witnessed these changes, he helped instigate them, with the assistance of [longtime partner Pierre] Berge."

Couture, pret-a-porter, cosmetics, perfumes, menswear, eyewear, shoes, handbags - it's an empire that eventually proved too much for its sensitive, turbulent founder to handle, and Saint Laurent began to retreat from the world in the late '70s.

But Yves Saint Laurent the brand has endured for 50 years, thanks in large part to the new generation of designers who have carried the torch for the revered founder. Saint Laurent oversaw couture himself until 2002, when he presented his final collection and retired. But Rive Gauche, the ready-to-wear collection and what today we think of as YSL the brand, is a different story.

yves saint laurent: the man

As I mentioned yesterday, next week I head to Denver for the "Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective" exhibit, which is making an exclusive U.S. appearance at the Denver Art Museum. On view March 25 through July 8, the exhibit covers 40 years of haute couture by the legendary designer.

But what exactly makes Yves Saint Laurent, the man, such a legend in the fashion world? The answer to that is simple: he was a visionary.

denver or bust!

I am getting very, very excited! Next week I head to Denver to check out Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective at the Denver Art Museum! Exploring 40 years of creativity by Yves Saint Laurent (the man, not the brand), the exhibit, which is on view March 25 - July 8, showcases 200 haute couture outfits, as well as photographs, drawings and films that show how Saint Laurent developed his style. That is a lot of fashion to drool over!

And there will be lots of YSL to drool over on paper + cloth in the days leading up to my departure and while I'm in Denver. Stay tuned for updates, including a super amazing giveaway sponsored by Neiman Marcus at the Somerset Collection. You won't want to miss it!